Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | May 3, 2012

Repurposing the Shed

We had a previous guest post about cleaning the shed in spring, and today we have a new guest writer with some tips for repurposing the shed. I just love these creative ideas (especially the outdoor study)! I’m almost inspired to clear out all the useless crap from our shed to make it into a more usable space. Then again, what would I do without all that stuff that I haven’t even looked at in years? Clearly it’s much too important to throw away….

Repurposing the Shed

The humble garden shed can often be a neglected, sorry looking thing; more often than not used to store ancient pieces of gardening equipment and old tins of paint. With this in mind, and with the summer months approaching, it is worth considering giving the shed a makeover or even a complete transformation.

Outdoor Study

For those working from home, an outdoor study can provide the best of both worlds in the summer i.e. the pleasure of being outdoors but the convenience of being indoors. The biggest challenge, or perhaps expense, with this endeavour is getting an electricity supply out to your shed; this is a job that should only be performed by a professional electrician and should not be attempted by the amateur. I would also recommend investing in extra security if you are repurposing the shed into an office, as it will now contain expensive electronic equipment that will be appealing to thieves.

Outdoor study

Summer House

By adding some extra windows, a comfortable place to sit, maybe even a dining table or a bar if you have the room, it is possible to turn garden sheds into structures more closely resembling log cabins or holiday homes. Summer houses can simply be a place to relax during the summer months, but with adequate insulation and decoration they can become an enjoyable space, or spare room for visitors, at any time of the year.

Kids Play Area

Much like the summer house, the addition of certain décor can transform the shed from dank storage space into a magical play house for children. By covering the inside walls of the shed with splinter proof coverings and decorating the space with the kids favorite characters from books and cartoons, converting the shed into a play area is a cost effective and charming way to get your children playing outside.

Garage

Wooden garages are very much the “in thing” and if your shed is large enough to accommodate your car, there is no reason why you cannot create one from the structure you already own. As with the outdoor study, the main thing to invest in here is locks and alarms. It goes without saying that your vehicle will require more security than your lawnmower did.

The ideas above outline just a few of the possibilities that an unused outbuilding, shed or garden cabin can possess. Creating an outdoor space can be an enjoyable project that will be rewarding for a number of years after completion.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | May 2, 2012

Who Mows the Lawn in Your Household?

I don’t watch a lot of TV (we don’t even have cable), so I don’t see a lot of commercials. I do catch the shows I like on Netflix streaming or Hulu Plus, and happened to catch the following Sears lawn mower commercial last night. It got me thinking about lawns and gender roles and deep stuff like that.

 

Clearly this ad is targeted to men. Not being a man myself, I’m curious if this sort of war imagery is really effective. Guys, does this speak to you? And ladies, how does it make you feel? Personally, it makes me want to avoid all those giant stores and find a local alternative (or shop online), but I may not be representative of the average consumer.

To be clear, I don’t have a problem the Sears/Craftsman low price guarantee, it’s more the presentation of it that rubs me the wrong way. Please discuss.

Oh, and I thought I would throw in a poll, just out of curiosity…

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 30, 2012

The Worth of a Worm: Infographic

Today we have a guest post about worms!  This is awesome for two reasons: 1.) It came with a cool infographic, and 2.) We just got power back this morning.  Remember the well pump saga from Friday’s post?  Well, that was just the beginning… The brand new pump worked for about 24 hours and then we found ourselves waterless yet again.  On a Saturday.  On an island.

But, the good folks of Peaks Island rallied and the plumber discovered that it was an electrical issue, not a pump issue.  This was evidenced by the fact that half of the house suddenly had no power.  So, we stayed with a neighbor and turned off the main breaker, which was apparently wise because this morning the electrician discovered that it was indeed shorted and arcing (and therefore very unsafe).  All of that just to say… I’m grateful for this guest post since I haven’t had time to write something myself!

Worm InfographicThe Worth of a Worm

Most people do not know the many benefits earthworms can have on a lawn. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your lawn green is to keep it full of earthworms! Throughout the course of one day an earthworm can dethatch your lawn, distribute water, fertilize your lawn, and prevent lawn diseases.

Dethatching

Thatch is created when soil has been compacted full of dense material such as dead grass and leaves, stems, and grass roots. Over time these dense materials create a mat of thatch that does not allow water to flow through evenly, or sometimes not at all. As earthworms move through the soil they break up the dense materials that form thatch. Earthworms also create tunnels as they move through soil. The tunnels allow water to flow freely though the soil and reach plant roots.

Organic Fertilizer

An earthworm consumes mostly dead plants and leaves. This not only helps to keep your lawn clean, but it also makes a great formula for organic fertilizer. The castings they produce are rich in nutrients which help to improve the quality of the soil and grow a healthier lawn. As worms eat the dead leaves and grass they help the lawn to decompose at a quicker rate. Earthworms are commonly used for composting. Earthworm farming and composting, or vermiculture, are great ways to use the nutrients earthworms excrete to benefit your lawn.

Disease Prevention

Among the pests living in soil, nematodes can be one of the most harmful to a lawn. A nematode feeds on the roots of plants. Earthworms feed on nematodes. The presence of earthworms in soil can help to decrease the numbers of nematodes. This will help to keep your lawn green, even, and healthy.

The Bottom Line

In order to keep your lawn healthy you should limit the amount of chemical fertilizer you spread on your lawn. The chemicals in inorganic fertilizers will kill the earthworms. Earthworm populations within a lawn are very easy to maintain and generally do not become too large. Managing an earthworm friendly lawn simply means limiting the amount of chemical fertilizer you use and leaving plenty of lawn clippings for the earthworms to eat!

Many thanks to Roxanne for these handy lawn tips!  If you are interested in writing a guest post, please get in touch at info@greenergreengrass.com.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 27, 2012

Fill in the Blank Waterless Friday

Our latest adventure was a broken well pump, which means no running water! Fortunately, we have a great landlord and he solved the problem in a couple days. There was some concern that the new pump wouldn’t arrive before the weekend, but the plumber arrived this morning and we’re back in action.

Being without water definitely got me thinking about how totally lucky and spoiled we are to have such a comfortable life. I have a recent obsession with homesteading and this experience made me appreciate even more how challenging it would be to live off the grid. To be clear, I don’t want to be a modern homesteader, I just want to read about other people who are brave enough to do it.

I’ve been a lazy blogger and have skipped a few Fill in the Blank Fridays, but I actually have time to sit down and think about it today.  If you have your own blog, fill in the blanks and post them here.

1.  When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is hit the snooze button and sleep some more. I’m terrible at getting up in the morning, unless I need to be somewhere. When I do finally get up, the routine usually something like: brush teeth, walk the dog, drink coffee, plop down in front of computer. Glamorous, huh?

2.  I can hardly wait for GreenerGreenGrass to go retail. It’s a lot more challenging (and expensive) than we initially thought, but we’re still plugging away at it!

3.  The quickest way to my heart is to make yummy food for me because I like to eat good food but I can be a lazy cook (sometimes).

4.  A little known fact about me is that I’m a total crossword nerd.  I think I would be really good at making them, perhaps this will be my next hobby…

5.  The best part about my job is talking to a new customer and convincing them that organic lawn care is the only way to go. It’s actually not a hard sell; any logical person will understand that 1.) a portion of whatever you put on the lawn ends up somewhere downstream, 2.) organic fertilizers are more readily absorbed by grass plants so runoff is reduced, and 3.) an organic lawn is a healthy lawn, which means you actually spend less money on lawn treatment. Healthy soil sustains itself, but when you add chemicals that kill off all the good bacteria and organisms, you just have to keep adding more chemicals to keep the lawn alive. Organic lawns are simply the most logical choice. Ok, rant over.

6.  Something I just couldn’t live without is running water, apparently. It really wasn’t such a big deal because it was only a couple days, and we’re fortunate enough to have neighbors who are happy let us grab a shower and fill up water buckets. But seriously, indoor plumbing is pretty sweet.

7.  Something useful I wish I knew how to do is knit. Like, real stuff, not just a million scarves.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 26, 2012

Five Things You Need to Know About Zoysia Grass

Zoysia GrassAs I continue to explore different grass types, I’m increasingly intrigued by zoysia grass.  The Internet provides a lot of positive information about it, but also some warnings. I’m going to explore the good, the bad (and sometimes the ugly) so you can decide if zoysia grass is right for your lawn.

1.  Color Matters

The good: Zoysia grass is lovely, rich green in the warmer summer months.  It also creates a nice cushiony turf that both looks and feels nice.

The bad: Zoysia grass does not do well in colder weather and turns brown during the cooler months, usually from mid-October through mid-May, but of course it depends where you live.  An early cold snap can also cause a zoysia lawn to go brown early, which can be a major drawback if you want a green lawn for as long as possible.

2.  Climate Concerns

The good: If you live in a temperate climate with long summers, zoysia is great.  It tolerates heat well, and in fact will thrive when other grasses will not.  It will also keep its nice green color while cool season grasses tend to fade in the heat.

The bad: Although it is often promoted as a cure-all for lawns, zoysia does not do well in areas without long periods of heat.  It may survive and continue to grow, but it won’t look nice as nice as you may expect it to.

3.  A Word About Weeds

The good: Because it grows so thickly in summer, zoysia tends crowd weeds out (including crabgrass), providing a lawn that is fairly easy to maintain.

The bad: Annual winter weeds can be a big problem in lawns that have only zoysia grass.

4.  Zoysia Lawn Growth

The good: Once established, a zoysia lawn is fairly easy to maintain and requires comparatively less fertilizer than cool season grasses.  It is also resistant to wear and tear in the summer, so you can enjoy lots of lawn games and other outdoor activities without worrying about damaging the lawn.  It also grows in various soil types.

The bad: Establishing a zoysia lawn can take awhile.  While you may get some color in the first year, it usually takes two to three years to get fully established.  The most desirable types of zoysia need to be planted with sod plugs or stolons.  Much of the zoysia seed you can purchase will grow a coarser variety, which may not be what you have in mind.  In winter, zoysia lawns are more vulnerable to wear and tear, so if you have a lot of foot traffic on the grass it may not be the best choice for your lawn.

5.  Mowing and Watering

The good:  Zoysia requires less water than many other types of grass, particularly the cool season grasses.  It can also tolerate lower mowing, so if you like a short, neat lawn this is a good choice.

The bad: More frequent mowing might be required in the summer months because zoysia grows so densely.

I’m guessing you have noticed a trend here: zoysia grass is awesome in summer and not so awesome in winter.  One way to mitigate the negatives during the cooler months is to over-seed with ryegrass or tall fescue in the fall.  When the zoysia goes dormant and brown, these cool season grasses will stay green.  They will also help keep winter weeds away and make the zoysia less vulnerable to foot traffic.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 23, 2012

Five Things You Need to Know About Watering Your Lawn

Watering an Organic LawnThis rainy day has inspired me to write about lawn watering. Whether you have an organic lawn or not, watering is key to keeping your grass green and healthy. However, many people actually over-water their lawns, which, in addition to being wasteful, can lead to disease and weaker grass plants.

So, how much should you water? It depends on several factors, but if you understand these five facts about lawn watering, you can make a more informed decision next time you think about turning on the sprinkler.

1.  Watering infrequently increases plant strength.

Watering your lawn every day is not good for it. In fact, in many regions, watering every other day is too much. Over-watering makes grass more susceptible to fungus, lawn diseases, and unwanted pests. Allowing your lawn to get just a little bit stressed before you water will actually make the grass plants more hardy and resistant to these problems.

You don’t have to be a grass whisperer to know when your lawn needs water. Just look for any of these three signs:

  • Color change – Your grass may start to look a little grey or brown
  • Wilting – Look for curled edged or wilted blades
  • Resilience – If your footprints linger after walking across the lawn, it’s time to water. Read More…

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 19, 2012

Five Online Earth Day Activities

Earth Day ActivitiesHopefully you’ll be spending this Earth Day weekend outside enjoying the spring weather. Whether you get outdoors or not, there are plenty of cyber activities that you can do to celebrate and maybe even make a difference for the environment.

We have compiled some fun and meaningful online activities for Earth Day. If you give any of them a try, please let us know, we’d love to hear about it!

Look at the Big Picture

NASA has some pretty cool events happening on the National Mall in Washington, DC. If you can’t be there in person, you can watch the live stream on the NASA Ustream Channel on Saturday at 1pm EDT. The web broadcast will include a presentation and chat titled A High-Tech Checkup of Earth’s Vital Signs. You can see what NASA’s orbiting sensors have learned about the way our planet is changing, and you can even ask the scientists questions.

Understand Your Impact

Use the Earth Day Network Footprint Calculator to learn just how much your lifestyle impacts the environment.  It’s actually really fun – you create a little avatar and the interactive program walks you through questions about your diet, how much trash you produce, your purchasing habits, your home, and more.  It’s pretty fast and you have the option to provide quick answers or detailed responses to get a more accurate calculation.  I went for the detailed answers and it didn’t take long at all.  Plus, it’s kind of fun – as you provide responses, your avatar is surrounded by more and more stuff.  Makes me want to simplify….

I have to admit that I’m a little embarrassed by my footprint, especially since I make a concerted effort to minimize my environmental impact.  I live in a car-free household, I’m a vegetarian, I try to eat locally, I recycle, and I’m very conscious about my purchasing decisions.  Even with all that effort, it would take 3.8 planet earths to sustain the global population if everybody lived like me.  Yikes!  And, to support my lifestyle it takes 16.7 global acres and 17 tons of carbon dioxide each year.  The program also provides recommendations for reducing your footprint and gives stats on the effect it would have if every American did the same.

Take Action

In an effort to generate one billion acts of green, the Earth Day Network allows you to take an online pledge to take real action.  As of this writing there were more than 980 million and counting. All you have to do is go to the site, select an action, and make the pledge.  I pledged to eliminate the use of pesticides and toxic cleaning products.  As an organic lawn geek, eliminating pesticides is a no-brainer, but I know I’ve got some nasty cleaning products lurking around the house.

Play a Game

I’m a sucker for games, and I think the right kinds of games can be educational for kids.  Funschool has some great Earth Day games for kids.  And I won’t lie… I totally got sucked into a game of Michael, Michael, Go Recycle!  I got through about five levels before the maze made me feel a little nauseous.  I should probably stick to Scrabble…

Make a Donation

Every little bit counts for the environmental nonprofits that work so hard to make a difference.  If you don’t already have a favorite, check out Fundraiser Insight’s top 12 list of environmental nonprofits who use their donations well.  These are trusted organizations that have proven track records so you can be confident that your donation will be used wisely.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 16, 2012

Artist Studio Roof Transformed into Green Oasis

I can always count on Inhabitat to keep me informed about cool urban gardens. Their latest discovery is the rooftop garden created by Caliper Studio for the restoration of artist Roy Lichtenstein’s studio and residence in New York City. The rooftop was transformed into a stunning rolling garden with sculptures made by the artist. And check out these cool skylights:

Caliper Studio Green Roof

Being that grass geek that I am, my first question was: How is that grass going to survive? I dug a little deeper and discovered that’s it’s not grass at all; it’s a plant called sedum, which is actually a succulent. This explains why so little soil is required. The plants in the sedum family are generally flowering – I’m curious whether this rooftop garden will bloom! Because it is a stonecrop, sedum is also edible, so these folks are all set for the apocalypse (clearly I have been spending way too much time reading Homestead Survival).

New York Rooftop Garden

I discovered another cool fact about sedum (from Wikipedia, of course) – Ford’s truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan is covered with more than 10 acres of the stuff! Rolls Royce in the UK also uses sedum for their green roof.

Well, I learned something this morning. Not bad for a Monday before 10am…

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 14, 2012

TROSA Lawn Care Provides Job Skills

TROSA Lawn Care | Durham, NCTROSA, which is short for Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, is an innovative recovery program in North Carolina. Part of the path to recovery includes work-based vocational training through businesses that TROSA owns and operates, including lawn care, moving and storage, Christmas tree sales, and even a grocery store. These revenue-generating ventures are also one of the reasons that TROSA is able to provide treatment services for free.

The lawn care business provides both residential and commercial lawn maintenance throughout the Triangle area. In fact, they are so good that local residents name TROSA as one of the best local lawn service companies year after year. They provide all the lawn services you would expect, and a few more:

  • Mowing, trimming, and edging
  • Leaf blowing, collection, and removal
  • Lawn aeration
  • Weed removal and mulching
  • Lawn fertilization and over-seeding
  • Gutter cleaning and debris removal

Some residents of the Durham, NC area who use TROSA for lawn care will get the benefit of GreenerGreenGrass Quick Greening Blend. TROSA contacted us about a donation of liquid iron for lawns and we were happy to oblige.

The TROSA program is an asset both to the local community and to the residents who benefit from their services. The program started in 1994 and since then more than 1,100 people have graduated. More importantly, it’s a program that works. Relapses are common among substance abusers (40-60%) but the TROSA formula and ongoing support system has as relapse rate closer to 15%, which a significant difference.

We applaud TROSA and hope our modest donation makes at least a small difference. If you would like to make a donation (either cash or supplies), you can do it online through GuideStar.

We love to profile lawn care companies that are making a difference in the community, for the environment, or (ideally) both. If you have a lawn care company in your area that you think we should know about, please let us know in the comments section.

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Posted by: GreenerGreenGrass | April 12, 2012

New iPad App for Moon Gardening

I know very little about moon gardening, but I am really fascinated by it. The moon has such an impact on our planet, it only makes sense that it would have an effect on plants. Think about it. The gravitational force of the moon creates tides, but that is not the only water that it affects. The moon also affects the water in our own bodies and the water below the surface of the earth. Gardening by the moon can tell you the best time to plant, water, and harvest in your garden.

Although moon gardening originated centuries ago, it has now entered the tech age with an app. Lifeware Solutions has just introduced their Moon Gardening app for iPad and it looks stunning.

Moon Gardening App

Using your specific location (whether you have an Internet connection or not) and the date and time, the app will tell you all of the moon and sun parameters for the day, including which sign of the zodiac the moon is in and what that means for your plants. For example, when the moon is in a fire sign, it’s a good time to harvest to help prevent spoilage, and not a good time to plant.

You can also set customized alarms for watering all your various plants based on the calendar, and track your watering events. And, if you want to learn more, the app lists other online gardening resources to explore. Now, if only I had an iPad….

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