I created this QR code for my plant exchange. If you would like to start a plant exchange in your community, you will need to get the word out about your group. I have chosen a variety of ways to get the word out since I am not sure who will be a part of my group. I may have elderly people who do not have smart phones. I have have a person that only uses their home phone of basic cell phone for communication and does not have an email address. Plant people generally like to be outside and not attached to their cell phone or computer.
I have created a sign up sheet for people to add their name address and their location so I can get an idea of where most of the people that are interested are located. I may want to use a church, scout hut, or local community center or park for my events.
I have also created a group page on my facebook account to keep people up to date with my upcoming events.
I have also created flyers to hand out during city events to get people interested in the exchange.
For my plant exchange, I am offering the community a way to swap plants and ideas for free. They can bring some plants and take someone else's plants in exchange. They can hear ideas about how to grow the plants, where and when these plants grow. Ideas and information from local growers is very helpful to the community.
I am excited to offer this fun event to my local area. I am hoping for a good turnout and interest in my group.

Homemade bird feeders from recycled materials

I have built a number of homemade bird feeders.
I used staircase posts to give my bird feeders some height. These can be planted in the ground and moved around the yard to find a compatible location that works for the birds and your yard design.
I then found some dishes that kind of matched for color or style and had fun.
I used E6000 glue to hold the dishes together and hold up under various weather conditions.
I used painters tape on the posts to create a variety of designs for my paint and color coordinating.
I have included a few examples of the birdfeeders that I finished.

 Easy to spray with spray gun or spray cans. touch up with small brushes for detailed lines if you prefer.

 This is a couple of candle holders and  a plate that I put together.

This is what happens when your dog has puppies and has run out of ink for her color printer.

Getting Ready for the Birds

The birds have been coming to the house for food, but have you really invited them to stick around so you can enjoy them year-round. Having a variety of food, feeders and houses for them can be a nice incentive.  We have added some fun new houses each year.
Home Depot puts on several workshops throughout the year which allows your kids to build a bird house.  One you have finished building the house, you might as well have fun painting it with some style. Here are a few ideas we came up with for our houses. Also remember you can take, lint or left over strings and set them out in a bundle for birds to use as they are building a nest.

Creative Gardening Space

If you are limited on your gardening space, you might want to considering growing up rather than out to keep some of your plants from spreading out over lawn or taking over other plants.  We used a frame from a bench swing that had been been damaged from our beautiful rescue dog who enjoyed chewing the cushions. (That is another story) You then laced rope around the frame to create a ladder looking effect across the frame. As our pumpkins began to grow and leaves started running everywhere, we placed the vines on the ropes and then naturally continued to spread and bloom up the frame. We watched the pumpkins grow. You could stabilize larger pumpkins with some extra support rope if they needed it.