Comments on: The Cottage Smallholder February gardening competition http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/the-cottage-smallholder-february-gardening-competition-6480 Stumbling self sufficiency in a small space Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:52:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Polly http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/the-cottage-smallholder-february-gardening-competition-6480/comment-page-2#comment-66009 Polly Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:50:50 +0000 http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=6480#comment-66009 I hang unwanted free CDs as bird scarers around the veg patch. They catch the light, so flash and glint and send the pesky pigeons packing. But I've eventually found a use for those cardboard cylinders that Scotch bottles come in. Make a few holes near the bottom with a skewer, fill with John Innes, and plant carrots. Very useful on flinty soil. If anyone else has other suggestion, I'd be pleased to hear - supply is outstripping demand at the moment! I hang unwanted free CDs as bird scarers around the veg patch. They catch the light, so flash and glint and send the pesky pigeons packing.

But I’ve eventually found a use for those cardboard cylinders that Scotch bottles come in. Make a few holes near the bottom with a skewer, fill with John Innes, and plant carrots. Very useful on flinty soil. If anyone else has other suggestion, I’d be pleased to hear – supply is outstripping demand at the moment!

]]> By: mrspao http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/the-cottage-smallholder-february-gardening-competition-6480/comment-page-1#comment-65995 mrspao Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:51:59 +0000 http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=6480#comment-65995 I've saved our Christmas tree to cut up into twiggy bits to grow peas and beans up. Also, saving dripping to make fat balls for birds. I’ve saved our Christmas tree to cut up into twiggy bits to grow peas and beans up.

Also, saving dripping to make fat balls for birds.

]]> By: Ruthdigs http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/the-cottage-smallholder-february-gardening-competition-6480/comment-page-1#comment-65992 Ruthdigs Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:58:34 +0000 http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=6480#comment-65992 Sorry to be here 2x in a row but I forgot to include a recycle tip earlier. Hang an old roof slate up in your shed/on the ouside and it makes a great looking chalkboard for a 'things to do' or planning guide or reminder which seeds to buy etc. Can also be used in the kitchen as a message board / shopping list etc etc. I think they look lovely too being a natural product. Old row of coat hooks - school type ones (rescued mine from going in a skip) to be reused to hang tools up on. It's always worth keeping an eye out if there's any refurbishment going on around you. Lots of things establishments throw out in favour of shiny new things I think are actually a lot nicer, better made and have more charm and character. If you ask most places don't mind you helping yourself to skip contents. I have reused some metal library card file boxes for my seeds - I can sort them by month to be sown and being metal no rodents are munching on them. Sorry to be here 2x in a row but I forgot to include a recycle tip earlier. Hang an old roof slate up in your shed/on the ouside and it makes a great looking chalkboard for a ‘things to do’ or planning guide or reminder which seeds to buy etc. Can also be used in the kitchen as a message board / shopping list etc etc. I think they look lovely too being a natural product.
Old row of coat hooks – school type ones (rescued mine from going in a skip) to be reused to hang tools up on.
It’s always worth keeping an eye out if there’s any refurbishment going on around you. Lots of things establishments throw out in favour of shiny new things I think are actually a lot nicer, better made and have more charm and character. If you ask most places don’t mind you helping yourself to skip contents.
I have reused some metal library card file boxes for my seeds – I can sort them by month to be sown and being metal no rodents are munching on them.

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