Deal of the Day

You won't believe the bargain I found today!  I found myself at the Kmart on Buford Highway at Buford Highway and 285.  Actually, this Kmart is right up the street from Angler's Corner of red wiggler fame.  I was on the hunt for an Earthbox and an earlier Google search led me to believe that it might be possible to find one at Kmart.  No such luck.  Bummer.  But, in the meantime, what I did find was this:

Bucket Organizer

Now, I have been looking at these at the big box stores and they sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of $15.  That's actually a lower price.  You can get boutique ones for more.  It would be nice to have, especially for my beekeeping supplies, but I am a little on the frugal side and $15 felt like a lot when what I was using was technically working, sort-of.  And, they are usually made in dark colored fabrics.  Not ideal because the bees are attracted to dark colors.  I don't need them buzzing around equipment I am trying to get to.  Or, hanging out in a bucket I am about to plunge my hand into. 

Well, at Kmart, they were selling them for $9.99.  Oh yeah.   Under 10 bucks.  I can swing that.  And, they are my favorite color of blue.  I know.  Does this really matter?  No, not really.  But, it sealed the deal.  I'll take one of those, please!  I also grabbed a bucket for $3 and I was feeling pretty happy.  I starting making big plans to organize my beekeeping equipment after the kids went to bed.  I got to the register and as the lady was ringing it up, I noticed that it was on sale.  SUPER DUPER sale.  This baby was marked down to $2.50.  I practically leaned across and hugged the poor woman ringing me up, asked her to put that transaction on hold and made my way back to the gardening center to get another set so I could better organize my gardening bucket.  Now, I am the very proud owner of two organized buckets, one for gardening and one for beekeeping.  And, I got it all for under $12, the cost of ONE of the organizers at the other big box stores.  I just had to share this in case anyone else is in the market!

My beekeeping supplies all tidy and organized.  No more digging in a reusable, soft-sided grocery bag with a frame of bees in my hands.  Yay!  It even has pockets and elastic on the inside of the bucket.  And, a velcro closure pouch that I put the Epi-Pens in. 

GREAT Events: Container Gardening and Home Depot/GiGi's Cupcakes/Master Gardeners Events

Two great gardening events coming up this weekend in the area:

Urban Gardening Program Presents: Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces

There is no need to have a yard or farm to grow your own veggies.  Grab a container and soil, and start growing!  Learn everything you need to know about growing and harvesting your own food on a patio or back porch.  View the PDF of the event -->here<--.

Speaker: Sarah Brodd, Program Educator, UGA Cooperative Extension in Dekalb County
When: Saturday, April 2nd @ 11 AM
Where:  Brookhaven Library, 1242 N. Druid Hills Road, Atlanta, GA 30319
Contact: Brookhaven Library, 404-848-7140

Home Depot and GiGi's Cupcakes teams up with Fulton County Master Gardeners

Stop by your local Home Depot this Saturday and ask Master Gardeners your gardening and landscape questions.  This is a free event sponsored by GiGi's Cupcakes.  Yum!

When: Saturday, April 2nd, 10 AM - 2 PM
Where: Home Depot, 6400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30328 (next to Costco)
Contact: Cyndee Lucia, Home Depot, Horticulturist, 770-804-8065

Happy Georgia Master Gardener Day!

In honor of Georgia Master Gardener Day, here is the 2011 edition of the Spring Garden Packet, a series of links with gardening tips for the upcoming growing season:

 -->click here for the good stuff!<--

Image credit: Stephanie Schupska/UGA

In the Garden: Hello, Asparagus!

I almost missed it digging through the bed.  In fact, I found it by nicking it with my fingernail.  Oops!  I can't wait for fresh roasted asparagus... 

Grow Your Own: Supermarket

(http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/01/16/food-deserts-in-the-u-s/)

Recently, a friend asked me why I had decided to become a Georgia Master Gardener. After hearing my goals (thank goodness I didn't fall off my soapbox during my explanation! It's slippery up there!), she sent me the above image. I think that summarizes my reasons better than hopping back up on my soap box right now. Really, I had a tough workout this morning that included a 6 minute wall sit and so my gams are a little (read: LOT) too unreliable this afternoon to withstand any time on a slippery box. Having just healed from a fractured kneecap, I see no reason to risk further injury.

At any rate, this post is for anyone who would like to grow something this season but doesn't think they have the time/energy/equipment/know-how/resources/etc. Maybe you have visions of plucking a fresh tomato off your vine, slicing it and putting it, still warm from the sun, right onto some bread slathered with mayo. Or, you can think of few things better than biting into a crisp, cooling cucumber on a hot summer day. You could grow beans or peas or some fresh, leafy greens. Or, all of the above. And, the best part? You don't need a traditional garden, lots of space or all your spare time and money. But, you could use this:
These come in a variety of sizes and are not terribly expensive. To give you an idea, a 5 gallon Smart Pot, which would give you plenty of room to grow a tomato plant, is under $6. They are lightweight and space-saving. I could easily see these on a balcony. This website/store also has some excellent soil selections. And, even better, right now, you can buy a voucher valued at $100 for only $50 at Half Off Depot. Click here for the deal!

I bought the deal because I am planning to grow in a few of these this season. And, I am planning to start some seeds and want a prettier light fixture than what I could find at Home Depot or Walmart. I know, I know. But, in my own defense, it is not THAT much more and it will be in plain sight, not hiding out in the basement or laundry room. And, I just have a thing for that crisp, clean white. I am also going to build this, but that is an entry for a different day...

Here's the store's website --> FloraHydroponics

And here's the store's new Atlanta location:

1239 Fowler St. NW

Atlanta, Ga

Phone 404-532-0001