I recently stumbled upon a cool, eco-friendly, low-cost gardening hack that has truly transformed the way I look at my garden. I picked it up from the JADAM book and found a different take on it by Nigel Palmer. Both versions have been equally enlightening. This simple yet powerful extraction technique is referred to as WCA (water-soluble calcium), and it’s an absolute game changer.

Vinegar and Eggshells – The Magic Potion

So, it turns out your kitchen holds some powerful secret ingredients that’ll make your plants go “wow”. The humble organic apple cider vinegar, eggshells, bones, or even sea shells you have lying around can be turned into a potent plant booster. When mixed together, these ingredients extract calcium and other minerals that are perfect for your garden.

I sourced eggshells from my neighbors as they have a couple of chickens in the garden.

The best part? The minerals are in a form that your plants can absorb and use immediately, without any additional processing required. Imagine it like a ready-to-use, plant-friendly multivitamin.

The Power of Vinegar Extraction

Now, I bet you’re thinking, “Vinegar? Isn’t that going to kill my plants?” Well, not exactly. While it’s true that vinegar is known for its acetic nature and can be a potent weed killer, it’s all about how you use it. When extracted and diluted properly, vinegar actually turns into a gentle yet effective fertilizer for your plants.

How to Make DIY Vinegar Extraction

• Crush the 8x eggshells and bake them for 1 hour (150C/300F)
• Add to a jar
• Add organic apple cider vinegar
• Add a breathable cover on top and strain in 1 week before using

Alright, here’s the important part – getting the dilution right. For every 15L (4 Gallons) of water, add either 1 or 2 tablespoons of the vinegar extraction. That corresponds to a dilution ratio of 1:500 or 1:1000.

Benefits of this Gardening Hack

Besides the obvious cost-effectiveness (no more expensive store-bought fertilizers!), there are a whole bunch of advantages to this DIY vinegar extraction. The concoction provides essential nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium to your plants. This not only promotes healthier growth but also results in robust blossoms. It’s like giving your plants a supercharged energy drink!

And don’t worry about harming the good microbes while watering your garden. As long as you stick to rainwater or filtered water, the beneficial microbial activity remains intact. I’ve been using this mostly as a foliar spray and it’s been a great solution for issues like blossom end rot on tomatoes, or for a quick absorption of minerals!

This vinegar extraction technique is a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way to supercharge your plants. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. I can’t wait to hear about your lush, vibrant garden!

Happy growing!

Do you want to start gardening, but you’re doubting it because you don’t have a lot of space at home? You don’t have to worry, and you don’t need a lot of space to grow food! It’s all about how you use the space that you already have available. One of the keys to this is to do DIY Vertical Gardening! I’ll show you why it is important and how you can do it with just a few easy steps.

Our garden in London is just a modest 8 x 5 meters, but we made sure to use all the spaces available using vertical gardening. If our garden is this small and we make it, I’m sure you can make it too!

Why Go Vertical?

Vertical gardening isn’t just a garden fashion trend; it’s a solution to maximize space, add a touch of nature to your surroundings, and harvest as much as you can. Here’s why you should consider going vertical with your gardening:

1. Space-Saving: Vertical gardens take advantage of vertical space, making them perfect for small areas. Whether you live in an apartment or have a compact backyard, you can create a beautiful garden without needing a large footprint.

2. Enhanced Aesthetics: A well-designed vertical garden can transform a plain wall into a stunning area. Imagine a place in your garden where guests can chill and calm down beside a beautiful vertical garden. It’s a relaxing atmosphere!

3. Better Air Quality: Plants are natural air purifiers. By adding a vertical garden to your home, you’re increasing the number of plants, which in turn helps to filter out pollutants and improve the air quality.

4. Improved Mental Health: Gardening has been proven to reduce stress and promote mental well-being. A vertical garden brings the therapeutic benefits of gardening into your daily life, even if you’re tight on space.

5. Increased Yields: Vertical gardens can actually lead to higher yields for certain crops. By training plants to grow upwards, you can make the most of your growing space, allowing for more plants and, consequently, more produce.

Getting Started With DIY Vertical Garden

Materials:

• 8 x 5L bottles (plastic type 2 – HDPE)
• Drill
• 1 x drill bit 35 mm gauge
• Hammer and nail
• 1 x expanding wood trellis
• Vermiculite
• Compost mix
• Straw

How To Do It: Step-By-Step Procedure:

1. Drill the bottom of a 5L bottle (plastic type 2 – HDPE) using a 35mm drill bit and make a hole to join 2 bottles
2. Square mark the opening of the bottle and cut using a cutter
3. Make multiple small holes on every cap and secure them in place
4. Get your expanding wood trellis and fix it on the wall or fence
5. Staple the DIY bottles on the trellis
6. Add vermiculite for drainage and add compost mix
7. Plant your chosen plant 1 for each bottle (I chose strawberry) then add mulch (optional)
8. Paint a white color to the base of the DIY bottle and water only the top layer

NOTE: make your own version using any similar material available and have fun growing your own food, no matter the space available!

Vertical gardening brings up a world of alternatives, allowing you to experience the beauty and advantages of gardening regardless of your available space. It’s an innovative way to incorporate nature into your urban space, improve air quality, and boost your mental wellness. So, why wait? Start your DIY vertical garden today and see how your small space develops into a healthy garden.

Trust me, once you see your garden growing vertically, you will wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

Happy growing!

Are you familiar with a DIY Bug Hotel? Building a bug hotel is the best way to help the insects that you attract to your garden. They provide a home for beneficial insects like bees, ladybugs, and lacewings. They will then increase biodiversity, pollinate your plants, and prey on pests! These structures offer shelter, nesting sites, and a safe place to hibernate during the winter.

By building a bug hotel, you’re not just creating a charming garden feature; you’re actively supporting the ecosystem and promoting biodiversity in your own backyard. We’ve made our very own and we really enjoyed the process. It looks great and it’s an amazing addition to our garden. Today, I’ll show you how we made it.

Building Your Bug Hotel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Materials You’ll Need:

• 4 x same size timber
• 1 x square/rectangular hardwood sheet
• Different materials from the woods
• 1 x metal wire net
• 1 x stapler

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Find materials such as moss, pine cones, bamboo canes, red stems, dry leaves, twigs, and bark
2. Prepare the timber and cut it according to your desired size (make 4 equal sizes)
3. Cut a rectangular hardboard sheet and it should fit to the size of the timber
4. Make a frame using the 4 timer and attach the hardboard at the back
5. Prepare the insect houses by drilling small woods
6. Add all your materials inside the frame
7. Staple metal wire by netting to hold them
8. Make a knot on one end using a natural twine and fix it at the back
9. Hang into a sheltered area and it’s now ready to host insects

Note: Source your materials sustainably, especially if you pick up moss!

Why DIY Bug Hotel Is Important:

1. Pollination: Many insects, such as bees and butterflies, are excellent pollinators. They help plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another, leading to the production of fruits and seeds. Without these pollinators, many of our favorite fruits and vegetables wouldn’t exist.

2. Pest Control: Beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory beetles feed on garden pests such as aphids, mites, and caterpillars. By providing a home for these helpful insects, you can naturally reduce the population of harmful pests and maintain the health of your plants.

3. Soil Health: Bugs like beetles and ants help decompose organic matter, turning dead leaves and plants into rich, fertile soil. This process improves soil structure and nutrient content, making your garden more productive.

4. Biodiversity: Encouraging a variety of insect species in your garden promotes biodiversity. A diverse ecosystem is more resilient to diseases, pests, and environmental changes, ensuring your garden remains healthy and vibrant.

Once your bug hotel is in place, it won’t be long before you start seeing more insects in your garden. These tiny guests will get to work pollinating your plants, controlling pests, and enriching your soil. And remember, every small step you take towards supporting your garden’s ecosystem makes a big difference.

Happy growing!