The Maximum Living Way to Garden Green!
In this time of heightened awareness about global warming and the balance of nature, it is important that we all start to get into the groove of living and gardening green. It's not just about separating plastic, aluminum and paper. It is also about repurposing, reusing, redefining, and recycling. From old pennies for slug bait, to paths featuring beach glass, gardening green can be really fun.

To achieve a Maximum Living Garden, I am always on the lookout for organic products to use with my plants, or flea-market finds that will add a sense of fun and whimsy. Here are some ideas:

Silverware Wind Chime
Supplies:
5 pieces of silverware (make sure one is a fork)
Drill
Fishing line
Pliers

Directions:
Drill small holes into the ends of the handles of the silverware. Now take your fork and, starting at either side, take the teeth of the fork and bend the ends up in alternating directions, to make the ends into small u-shaped hooks. Next, cut different lengths of fishing line and tie one through each hole in the silverware, making a large loop. Now hang your silver off the fork teeth you made into hooks, hang the fork from a tree limb in the garden, and you have just made your first Maximum Living green wind chime!

Other ideas:
--Use Shaklee H2 for your garden plants. I use one capful in a gallon of water and spray all my plants. It breaks down the waxy coating on insects; then when I water, they drown. H2 is made from corn and coconut, so it is natural and biodegradable. You can also use it as a soil conditioner, mixing one capful with a gallon of water in a bucket. Then spread the water over the soil and watch as it releases the surface tension of the dirt, so the plants can better absorb fertilizer and nutrients, and the soil is easier to work.

--Beach glass makes for great pathways in the garden. I like to spread it throughout the garden paths, mixing it in with the rock or other elements in the pathway. The glass creates beautiful reflections, day and night.

--Use copper pennies around the base of plants to keep slugs and snails away. They don't like copper; using pennies is more economical than buying copper tape, and keeps garden soil free of chemical slug bait.

--Create an outdoor lighting element for evening summer parties by taking an old metal chandelier and stripping out the wiring; take out the light and sleeve as well. Secure candles onto each bobeche - the arm plate where the light bulb was -- and hang this with a rope tied onto a tree.

Just a little thought and imagination can really make gardening green an entirely new and fun experience.

Have fun and remember…YOU CAN DO IT!
Randy