Sustainable living and gardening

The weather is finally warm and we have spent most of our time preparing the garden. DK books Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century and Indoor Edible Garden has inspired us to do a few projects this spring like building a compost bin and getting our seeds started indoors.

Indoor Edible Garden by Zia Allaway teaches how to make the most out of our space, from using balconies and windowsills to countertops, walls, and even ceilings, to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers that look amazing and taste even better. There are 28 innovative step-by-step projects, practical tips and stylish ideas for how to create edible indoor gardens using whatever space we have. The step-by-step instructions include how to create a hanging chili and basil ball, how to sprout microgreens in cupcake liners, and more. 

The book guides us on how to use our space and light in clever ways, brightening our home with unique living decorations. Inspiring from the start, this book shows off its lush garden projects through beautiful design and full-colour photographs. There are tips on how to grow and care for 30 top herbs, edible flowers, fruiting plants, and vegetables including straightforward explanations of scientific methods such as artificial lighting and hydroponics. Indoor Edible Garden helps create stunning edible home decor, so our living spaces will be fruitful and beautiful all year round. 

Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century by Dick and James Strawbridge shows how we can adapt a more sustainable lifestyle. Over the years, we have done a variety of different lifestyle changes to keep our carbon foot print as less as possible to benefit the environment. This book inspires the readers to embrace sustainability whether they live in a small townhouse or on a rural small farm. 

We have been using this rain barrel for a few years, which we bought in 2012 at the Green Living Show. You will be surprised how fast it fills up, which is really good for the plants. 

Garlic cloves planted last fall. 

Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century contains invaluable advice on making the most of our own resources. This comprehensive guide to modern sustainability covers everything from how to conserve energy in the home, keep bees, and grow crops in an urban garden to recipes for smoking fish, creating nut milks, and preparing greener cleaning products. Each project is fully illustrated and easy to follow, allowing anyone to try their hand at something new. There are plenty of advice and anecdotes celebrating the importance and the satisfaction of a do-it-yourself lifestyle, the authors demonstrate that self-sufficiency doesn't have to mean packing up and moving to the country. By making a few small changes and learning the importance of sustainable living, we can all help the planet.

Here are a few of our projects from this spring...

Giving some love and decor to clay pots using DecoArt acrylic paint. This is a fun project even young children may enjoy. You will need a pencil, paint brushes, a sealer, and acrylic paint. 
First, draw a design using a pencil.
Then, paint over the design with acrylic paint.
Once the paint dries optionally spray an outdoor sealer so the paint design lasts a little longer.

If you have old plastic pots that look boring, see the project we did last year to give colour to some of our old plastic pots using DecoArt outdoor living and texture paint. 

Started most of our seeds indoors, the above picture is of mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds from the kitchen cupboard. 

Building a compost bin to put kitchen scraps and garden waste. 

Indoor Edible Garden and Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century are two handy books to have and read for anyone interested in moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Giveaway:
If you live in Canada and would like to win a copy of Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century enter the giveaway using the giveaway tool by June 20th. Please leave comments and follow my social media networks to be eligible to win.
Update: The winner is Alison 

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Disclosure: This post is in partnership with DK Canada. Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2020. Please Ask First