13 Cheap DIY Greenhouse Plans

Greenhouses are great to have for so many reasons.  They extend the growing season in cold climates and can allow you to grow varieties of plants you may not otherwise be able to grow in your area.  They are perfect for starting seeds and can provide a nice little calming retreat.  Large or small, building a greenhouse doesn’t have to break the bank.  Here are 13 inexpensive DIY greenhouse ideas that include plans or tutorials.

1. This simple hoop greenhouse by PondPlantGirl on instructables cost less than $25 to build.  All you need is some PVC pipe with connectors, zip ties, and plastic sheeting.  The full set of instructions is available here.

2. For something a little larger and more elaborate, check out this greenhouse project byKenton Knowles on Mother Earth News.  This gorgeous greenhouse is nice enough that it could double as a guest house.  The cost is higher, but a building like this would make a beautiful asset to most properties, and it could be built out of recycled materials to save money.

3. This beautiful greenhouse was built out of recycled materials by Montana Wildlife Gardener.  Check out their building process and all the wonderful uses for this greenhousehere.

4. The Door Garden provides a detailed set of instructions for how to build this nice 165 square foot hoop greenhouse – and it costs less than $1 per square foot.

5. This adorable mini greenhouse is made using recycled storm windows, so it cost nothing in materials!  It is the perfect size to fit on a porch or balcony for those with limited space.  See how to build one on Design Dreams by Anne.

6. This barn-style greenhouse by Ana White was built quickly and has tons of space inside.  She provides the full plans and excellent instructions here.

7. To protect tomatoes from rainy weather, Sow and Dipity built this small hoop greenhouse in about an hour for less than $50.  See the full tutorial on how to build your own here.

8. This 8 foot x 10 foot greenhouse from Build Eazy has plenty of floor space and height, with lots of room to add shelves.  It is easily customized, depending on your materials budget.  See the full set of plans here.

9. This simple but durable greenhouse by ThinMac acts as an extension off the house and has held up to years of use.  See the full process and updates here.

10. Here is a simple greenhouse from How to Specialists that can be scaled up or down depending on your needs.  See the step by step instructions here.

11. Here is another adorable mini greenhouse that uses recycled CD cases.  This awesome tutorial can be found on So You Think You’re Crafty.

12. See a detailed set of instructions for this inexpensive DIY greenhouse on Idea Donna Farm.

13. Lastly, this beautiful geodome greenhouse from Northern Homestead is not quite as difficult to build as it looks.  They provide a detailed tutorial to follow and built it without a permanent foundation so it did not require permits and can be moved around the yard.

http://www.offgridworld.com/13-cheap-diy-greenhouse-plans/

Photo by Chef #1800069167

http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-taco-shells-1-18237

Homemade Taco Shells #1

By Cindy1 on January 27, 2002

74.20%;

 9 Reviews

• Prep Time: 2 mins
• Total Time: 22 mins
• Servings: 4-6

About This Recipe

"These are so good, you may NEVER buy taco shells again! But be prepared to be the last one to have a chance to sit down and eat. As soon as I sit down to eat my first taco, my guests are needing their 3rd or 4th or 5th one cooked...But, it is well worth it to hear that these are the best tacos they have ever had!"

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup yellow enriched cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Preheat a dry skillet over medium/high heat.
2. Mix the ingredients well.
3. The batter will be runny.
4. Drop by large utensil spoonful onto skillet, quickly spreading the batter in a circular motion, working from the inside out.
5. Each side only takes about 1 minute of cooking.
6. The shells are not supposed to brown.
7. When the shells are removed from the pan, they can be molded into"taco shell shape" by placing, half-curled, between two objects, such as coffee cups.
8. I like to serve them to each guest directly from the pan without molding them, however, becuz I find that they dont crack while still hot and pliable.
9. Fill with all the taco stuffin's and enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS

Serving Size: 1 (99 g)

Servings Per Recipe: 4

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Calories 186.8

 

Calories from Fat 18

82%

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Total Fat 2.0g

3%

Saturated Fat 0.5g

2%

Cholesterol 46.5mg

15%

Sugars 0.2 g

Sodium 171.7mg

7%

Total Carbohydrate 35.6g

11%

Dietary Fiber 1.9g

7%

Sugars 0.2 g

0%

Protein 6.0g

12%

© 2015 Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. http://www.food.com/18237

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Homemade Taco Shells #1 (cont.)

Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-editorial-blogs/craft-hub/old-fashioned-pine-tar-salve.aspx

Jan Berry
Hobby Farms Guest Blogger

Some of us grew up with a grandma or great-grandma who kept a jar of black salve on hand for all manner of skin ailments. Every family had their own special recipe, but it usually contained ingredients like tallow, lard, pine tar, chimney soot, or sometimes even onions and flour. It was thick and smelly, but it worked like a charm!

This modern-day adaptation of an old-fashioned home remedy will fill a 2-ounce glass jar. Because a little bit goes a long way, a single batch will last a family for several months. You can easily double or triple the amounts though, if a larger supply is needed.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup herb-infused olive, sunflower, or other light oil
• 1 to 2 teaspoons beeswax
• 1/2 tablespoon pine tar
• 1/4 teaspoon activated charcoal

Preparation
For best results, infuse the oil with dried herbs first. Check your yard for plantain or violet leaves or use dried rose, calendula or lavender flowers. Let them air dry on a clean dishcloth for a few days until crumbly. Place the dried herbs in a small jar and pour twice as much oil over them. Cover the top with cheesecloth or a scrap of old T-shirt, using a rubber band to secure in place. Let the jar sit in a sunny window for a few days (or weeks) before straining. Store any leftover finished oil in a cool, dark place for up to one year.

For easiest cleanup, repurpose a used tin can to make this salve. You could also use a small, heat-proof canning jar.

Measure the oil and beeswax into the can or jar, and set it in a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches water, creating a makeshift double boiler. Use 1 teaspoon beeswax for a softer ointment consistency or 2 teaspoons for a firmer salve. Heat on medium-low until the beeswax has melted.

Remove the jar from heat, and stir in the pine tar and charcoal with a disposable spoon. Immediately pour into a small glass jar and let cool before capping. Because of its strong drawing nature, avoid storing in metal tins or plastic containers, as the salve could potentially pull impurities from them over time. Shelf life is at least a year.

Use It

Dab a small amount on a bug bite, splinter, boil or other skin irritation. Cover with a bandage for several hours or overnight. Wash off and repeat as necessary.

Maker’s Tips

• Pine tar can usually be found in in the horse section of your local feed store. It can be made two different ways: open kiln or kiln method. Because the open-kiln method could potentially produce small amounts of creosote (a carcinogen), try to find the closed-kiln type for this project. A popular brand for making salves and soaps is Auson http://www.amazon.com/Kiln-Burn-Pine-Tar-Liter/dp/B000P7K46S. Unfortunately, because it's imported from Sweden, it's also quite expensive. For brands you find locally, check their website or customer service number to help determine the type of pine tar they offer. They won't be able to advise you on use for humans, though, as their products are only tested and intended as a horse-hoof treatment.
  
• Activated charcoal is recommended to have on hand for poison control or food poisoning. You can usually find it in a drug store, pharmacy section of your grocery store or a health store. If you can only get it in capsules, just break open enough of them to reach the 1/4 teaspoon needed for the recipe.
  
• Castor oil makes a wonderful addition to this salve and can be used for part of the oil portion.
  
• Place a piece of wax paper over your work area when handling pine tar and activated charcoal. If spilled, they could stain light-colored countertops. The finished salve will also stain clothing, so apply carefully.
  
• While this is an excellent home remedy for minor ailments, consult with a qualified health care professional for serious injuries and wounds.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Lori Messerly 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=687919771233077&set=a.386758264682564.94765.100000451807639&type=1

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - 6 ingredients, cost you about $28 a year, this recipe makes a batch that will last a year! Works in HE washers and with cold water too! (Recipe back by popular demand)

Ingredients -

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- or use 3-4 bottles of Scentsy Washer Whiffs. Scentsy washer whiffs are my top choice, (they smell out-of-this-world amazing – my favorite is Quiver), but when in a hurry, I opt for the Purex, (which can be found in the detergent aisle).

The hardest most time consuming part is grating the cheese soap. It looks like pink cheese….has anyone ever seen pink cheese? If you do not have a food processor you will need to use a typical hand grater. We would recommend using a large mixing bowl to grate into and using the fine side of the grater. Another option is to microwave the soap before hand. First, cut the bar into chunks or slices. Pop it into the microwave for about a minute. It will expand… a lot…but then it is dry and just crumbles into tiny bits! The hardest part is now over and all that’s left is to mix everything together. Use a very large bucket and take a layering approach to mix it easier. Take a small amount of each ingredient and layer it on top of each other, then grab a large mixing spoon and mixed it together. Do this about 5 times. This is so much easier than dumping all the ingredients in at once and then trying to u it well. This batch makes A TON! Now for probably the best part…you only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load depending on the size. Now here comes the stroke of genius, if you opted to put the Purex Crystals in your batch, you can scoop the detergent right into your bottle and use the cap as your measuring spoon. There are 3 lines on the side and the middle one is approximately 2 Tablespoons…genius right?

13 Do’s & Do Not’s of Growing Tomatoes

http://gardeningjones.com/blog/2013/05/05/dos-donts-of-growing-tomatoes/

5 May 2013, by gj

Don’t
Purchase seedlings that have flowers on them. You may think you are getting a head start, but really what the plants need to do first is establish their roots, not produce babies. Let them get settled in.

Do
If you started your own plants and they are budding, pinch those flowers off. Really, you’ll get more fruit in the long run.

The tomatoes are ready, is the soil?

Don’t
Over fertilize. It’s fine to give your plants some good healthy compost, but take it easy on the fertilizer. Too much will grow wonderful bushy and green, albeit unproductive, plants. Same goes for your peppers by the way.

Do
Give them a bit of Epsom salts. They love that stuff. If they don’t need it, it won’t hurt. It is good to have it as a preventative measure to help grow healthier plants.

Do
Plant your transplants very deep. ‘Up to their necks’ is what the farmers say. This way they will grow a great root system, as mentioned above. The better the roots, the more productive the plants will then be.

Ready to rumble.

Don’t
Water from above, if you can help it. This can cause soil to splash up on the stems, making them more prone to disease. Try to use a soaker hose whenever possible with tomatoes.

Do
Mulch, especially if you are watering from above. This helps prevent that soil splash just mentioned, as well as holds the moisture your tomatoes may need.

Do
Put in the stakes you are going to use for support at the same time you plant. You don’t want to go back later and start damaging those roots you both worked so hard for.

Do
Know what type of tomato you are growing. If it’s a ‘determinate’ type, it may suddenly stop producing. Learn more by following the link at the end of this post.

Don’t
Stress it. Are you feeling over run with tomatoes? Are you concerned about fruit flies in your kitchen? Simply wash some of those tomatoes off and toss them in the freezer. When you have time, thaw to use. A bonus: the skins will slip right off after defrosting.

Happy in their cloched bed.

Do
Enjoy a variety if you have the room. Roma and plum tomatoes are best for preserving, slicing types for fresh eating, and of course cherry tomatoes for snacking. Plant tomatoes based on how you intend to use them.

Don’t
plant them outside before the soil temperature is 50F. How warm the soil has become is a function of how close the sun is, the depth, and how much sunshine the area gets. Surface soil can feel warm but 6 inches down it can still be quite cold. Some gardeners plant their tomatoes out when the overnight lows are consistently above 50F. Not the same thing, but close.

Tomatoes under glass.

Do
speed up the process by covering the area with black plastic, and turning the soil over every so often. If you plant early, keep those heat loving tomatoes warm through the use of cloches.
In a pinch, canning jars will do the trick, just don’t let the plants get fried. That’s for the green fruit.

15 Aluminum Foil Tips to Simplify Your Life

Aluminum foil is one of the most commonly used items to save and store leftover food, but there are a surprising number of uses for foil besides food storage. Here are a few of the most interesting uses.

Fix Electronic Connections

You can fold a piece of foil several times and insert it into the space between a battery and the loose spring in order to hold the battery in place and repair the circuit.

Dryer Sheet

By tossing a ball of wadded-up foil into the dryer with a load of clothes you can avoid static cling.

Polish Silver

You can quickly make your silver look new again by lining a pan with aluminum foil, adding two or three tablespoons of baking soda, adding boiling water and then dropping the tarnished silverware in.

Remove Rust

By crumpling a piece of foil into a ball you can use it rub rust spots off of most surfaces including shower-curtain rods and a car bumper.

Clean Grill

Ball a sheet of aluminum foil up and use it to scrub the accumulated black bits off the cooking grates of your grill.

Create A Funnel

You can shape a sheet of foil into a cone, tape it securely together and stick the foil into a bottle to use as a makeshift funnel.

Enhance Radiator

Take a piece of plywood and wrap it around with a sheet of aluminum foil. Place it carefully behind your radiator and it will reflect heat directly into the middle of the room.

Protect Fruit Trees

Birds will often eat fruit growing from your trees or knock them over. You can protect the trees from this by hanging up strips of twisted foil in the branches. The reflection of light and the sound them make blowing in the breeze will scare of the birds off.

Iron Quickly

Place a piece of aluminum foil under the ironing board cover. This will reflect the iron's heat back up to the bottom of the clothes, allowing you to iron both sides at the same time.

Glue Loose Vinyl Tile

When you have a loose vinyl tile place a sheet of aluminum foil over it and press it down with a hot iron. This will melt the glue which will then stick again and glue the tile back down.

Keep Oven Clean

Place a sheet of foil in the bottom rack to prevent any drips or crumbs falling to the bottom. Make sure to replace regularly to avoid any damage to the oven.

Campfire Cooking

Combine ground beef or chicken in the middle of a sheet of foil and add any vegetables or seasoning you want to them. Wrap the ends and add a second sheet to ensure the food doesn't burn and cook for 20-30 minutes for a delicious BBQ dinner.

Sharpen Scissors

Cut through a folded sheet of aluminum foil several times with a pair of scissors in order to sharpen the dulled blade.

Prevent Sticky Pans

When baking line the pan with a sheet of aluminum foil to prevent the cookies from sticking to the pans and keep them looking brand new.

Save Soap

Place foil on your soap dish to keep the soap from sitting in water and quickly wearing away.

Curling straight hair

Aluminum foil can help keep your curls lasting longer. Wrap the foil around your clump of hair you want curled and place your flat iron on top. The aluminum foil help keep the heat in the hair.

Prevent browning bananas

Wrap aluminum foil around the stems of your bananas to help decrease the bananas from browning quickly.

Pie Crust

Pie baking can be difficult process, especially when trying to bake the middle without burning the crust. To prevent your crust burning, check your pie after 10 - 15 minutes, when the crust is golden, place strips of aluminum foil on top the crust. This will allow the middle to cook perfectly allow also preventing the dreaded crust burn. Place in the strips takes time, so be patient, you'll get the hang of it.

http://www.answers.com/article/1193577/15-aluminum-foil-hacks-to-simplify-your-life?paramt=1&param4=fb-demo&param1=dailydose&param2=27455961