Aunt Norie’s Sewing Room
I’m sure we have talked about this one before. However, it’s been a long, long while and it’s that time again.
We’ve always saved newspaper — the black and white, not ever the slick, glossy pages. That paper is great plant food, from the small flower pot to the wide open garden.
Newspaper, crumpled and soaking wet, packed into the bottom of those flower pots instead of pebbles and rocks, actually feeding the plants (as well as it draining excess water), keeping the plant from drying out much longer.
Always remember: no colored ink; just plain, old newsprint. It’s made from wood — a plant, too — and as it decays, is also good plant food.
After your plants are up in the garden and you’ve hoed them and loosened the soil, spread newspapers down between the rows and scatter loose dirt on top to keep the paper from blowing away. Also, scatter the weeds you’ve just pulled over the paper. Rain or watering will wet the paper and settle it down also. It keeps the soil from drying out. Then, plow or till it under in the fall or spring.
Newspaper torn into shreds’ and dropped into a pail of water, then spread and hoed into the soil, feeds and keeps the soil loose as well.
This an oldie from way, way back, in fact passed on to me from my mother-in-law, back from those covered wagon days. When you find starting new plants from cuttings difficult, try starting them in a tin can. An old rusty nail into the soil of a sickly plant may be all the plant needs — also a great tip.
Just gotta’ get out there and dig in that dirt. Bye now.
— Aunt Norie, PO Box 265, Tonganoxie, KS 66086; auntnorie@att.net