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Hello everyone! 

I can officially say that I’ve caught terrarium fever thanks to my fellow gardening friend, Jayme Jenkins.  Jayme is the owner of a brilliant online boutique called aHa! Modern Living that features standout, modern and earth-friendly home and garden accessories.  aHa! is Jayme’s dream business that was founded in November of 2008 and since then she has grown her small biz by specifically seeking out products that appeal to the gardener, foodie, entertainer and bird lover.  If you are looking for something that’s a little different, unique and stylish, then aHa Modern Living will be a fun shopping experience for you!

One of the products that aHa! carries is called the Roost Recycled Wall Glass Terrarium that is 7 1/2″ wide x 10″ high x 4 3/4″ deep, that literally made me squeal when I saw it in person.  What I love most about this bubble terrarium is it’s rubbable belly-like shape and its hand blown look and texture.  Since each vessel is blown without a mold and made with recycled glass,  it is typical for the terrarium to have “irregularities such as bubbles, dimples, flow and grit marks and rippling”, which adds to its unique appearance.  There’s also an adorable smaller version available that is 6 3/4″ wide x 8″ high x 4 1/2″ deep that looks too cute words.    

 If you are new to terrarium making, like me, or love the look of these enclosed indoor gardens and don’t know where to start, all you have to do is follow these steps that Jayme Jenkins has laid out for us:

10 Steps to Plant in Your Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrarium

 

1. To begin building your terrarium, place a layer of pea gravel or aquarium rocks at its base. This is necessary for proper drainage.
2. Next, layer a 1/2 inch layer of horticultural charcoal, which will help to keep your soil from developing a stinky smell.
3. On top of the charcoal, add 1/2 inch to 2 inches of relatively dry soil. You can find potting soil that is specifically made for terrariums, or just use any good quality organic potting soil mixed with one part coarse builders sand and one part humus. The soil should be dry enough that it should not stick to the sides of the terrarium.
4. Use your Terrarium Hand Tool Set to spread out your soil and create a hole in which you will place your plant.
5. Transplant your selected plant(s) into your hanging terrarium.
6. If you wish to include items from the outdoors such as rocks, shells, or driftwood, make sure to first rinse them with clean hot water. You don’t want to introduce any diseases or critters into your terrarium.
7. Hang your terrarium in a spot where it will receive sunlight, but NOT full or direct sun. Try to place it no further than 10 feet away from a window or skylight.
8. A terrarium is pretty much a set-it-and-forget it kind of thing. You don’t need to mess with them much. To water your soil plants, simply give them a misting with a spray bottle about once a week.
9. Steps 1-4 involve soil and therefore apply to plants that are not air plants. Air plants need no soil- only sunlight and water.
10. For air plants, it is best to give them a good soaking two times a week. When your plant needs to be watered, its leaves will feel soft and weak. When it has been watered sufficiently, its leaves will feel hard and strong. To water air plants, it is best to remove them from your terrarium and give them a dunk in a sink full of water. If you can’t remove the plant, just give it a good soak with a watering can inside the terrarium. Your plant should be dry within 4 hours after watering {be careful not to leave it in a swampy condition}.

Please note:  aHa! Modern Living provided a complimentary Roost Terrarium for me to review. The content of this review is entirely of  my own, and is not, in any way, influenced by aHa! Modern Living.  I love this terrarium and in my opinion think that it is the perfect gift for any gardener!  Thanks Jayme! For more information on their products they can be found at www.aHaModernLiving.com , on Facebook on Twitter. Happy Gardening!

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Authentic Haven Brand Manure Tea is what I am going to be fertilizing my garden with this summer. No more chemicals or synthetically produced fertilizers are going to be used and no more storing or lugging around heavy bags of fertilizer .  That’s right, my garden is going green with a little tea bag I affectionately call moo poo tea.

After using moo poo tea on my indoor plants all winter I was sold.  My plants are healthier than before and growing lush and beautiful.

Are you skeptical about using manure teas on your houseplants and in your gardens? Annie Haven answers all those questions you may be wondering about, especially if this is the first time you’ve heard of manure tea:

Myth #1 – Manure tea will have a bad odor.
Authentic Haven Brand manure teas do not have a bad odor. After the sun-dried, composting procedure is completed, neither the tea bag nor the tea itself contain an offensive smell like raw manure would. In fact, our manure teas hardly have a smell at all. At best, it may have a very slight “barn-like” scent that is vaguely noticeable.

Myth #2 – Manure teas are difficult to brew.
Our manure teas are packaged in an all-natural cotton tea bag, which makes brewing a snap. Simply place a tea bag in five gallons of water and allow it to steep for one to three days. In most cases, the manure tea can be ready to use after just a few hours of brewing. It’s just that simple.

Myth #3 – Using manure tea may burn my plants.
While it is true that raw manures can burn plants, well-aged manures will not if used in the appropriate amounts. Authentic Haven Brand uses nothing but well-aged manures that are composted in the sun over the course of several months.

The manure tea provides a great balance of nutrients and minerals that will never burn your plants. You can water plants with manure tea every day without worry of damaging plants. You can overwater your plants, so maintain a proper watering schedule.

Myth #4 – Manures contain harmful pathogens.
In recent years, there has been increased cases of E.coli and salmonella in the beef and produce industries. These cases have been directly linked to unsanitary livestock husbandry and produce handling. Instances of E.coli can increase with grain-fed cattle because their digestive systems are not “built” for grains such as corn.

Seriously, these make great gift for gardeners

It's just that easy. Throw the bag in and fill with water. No smell or measuring.

Let steep for 1-3 days

Thanks for letting me talk poo with you today.  For more information on Authentic Haven Brand products check out their websites at http://www.manuretea.com/   http://www.ahavenbrand.com/index.html, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Note: I purchased the products myself and was not asked or influenced by Authentic Haven Brand to write this review. 

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Being a lover of repurposed and green products I was very happy to come  across a company that makes baskets from old tire scraps. 

 When I received my basket via UPS I opened the box and my first impression of it was how well it is constructed. 

 Not only is it very sturdy in also looks A LOT like leather!  These baskets not only have a variety of uses in the home and garden but would also appeal to a large clientele such as those that prefer environmentally friendly products or those that purchase non-leather goods and completely animal-free products.

Here are some examples of how to use a Flat Tire Decor basket:

Use for chilling beer! Photo courtesy of GardenKim

Baskets with trays underneath to catch the water

Or you could use the basket for holding plants.

Cute bike, huh? Photo courtesy of GardenKim

Fruit basket

Please note:  Flat Tire Decor provided a complimentary basket for me to review. The content of this review is entirely of  my own, and is not, in any way, influenced by Flat Tire Decor.  For more information on their products they can be found at http://flattiredecor.com/ , on Facebook on Twitter.