How to turn old Weber BBQ into a Herb Garden ~ season to taste !

A while back our herb 'garden' bit the dust - a combination of heat, lack of water, cows and woeful neglect since it was on the other side of the fence and couldn't be bothered to tell the truth.

I'd though about re-purposing an old sink or bathtub into a herb garden but life was busy.

Then last week as I was driving home from town I spotted an old Weber BBQ someone had placed out for council collection.

I coveted it and encouraged hubby to go and collect it (amongst a few other things at other stops).
It was in very good condition and clean.

I wonder how much use it had as iconic Australian BBQ experience !

Then he had a brilliant idea...Fill the Weber with soil and plant some of my favorite herbs to keep next to our barbecue...especially to grow some rosemary to season his lamb roast -

I googled for ideas - thanks to Life on the Balcony

This was a really easy project that you can complete in less than 30 minutes (including shopping time). Here is what you’ll need to get started :

Materials

• 1 bag (or 2) of good quality herb potting soil (we needed 1 medium [and 2 small] ...luckily we had spare bags lying unopened in the shed because I didn't calculate for the depth)
• 5-6 herb plants, depending on the size of the BBQ and how full you like your garden.
• 1 re-purposed portable round BBQ.
•  coffee filters (or I used ag pipe sock filter).

I didn't need the BBQ grate or the lid but I'll keep them anyway ! I can probably use the lid on my roast outdoors.

I also planted Mint in an old teapot (I think we found on the property and I like rustic things).

Directions

First clean your BBQ (or not) then place the ag /coffee filter over of the holes in the bottom of the BBQ . We also turned the grate thingy to make holes smaller.

The filter allows water to drain out but prevents the soil from falling through.

Fill your BBQ with soil , pinch out the seedlings or plants and pot them, as evenly or randomly as you please. I tamped down the potting soil gently around the plants , watered them in and was good to go...surf the internet for recipes.

Rosemary: Pair with lamb, chicken, and roast potatoes or in bread.
Oregano : Matches well with: beans, chicken, eggplant, fish, lamb, mushrooms, pasta, pizza, pork, potatoes,  tomatoes, veal, zucchini

Parsley: with mashed potatoes, pastas, salads, meatballs and as a garnish
Thyme: Try it with soups, chowders, marinades and meat dishes.
Corainder: Match as coriander pesto, carrot and coriander soup, chutney and chicken or in Thai soups.

Two I forgot ... 
Basil:  with salads, as pizza toppings, tomatoes, chicken dishes, spaghetti bolognaise or pesto.
Chives: in dips, atop baked and mashed potatoes, as a soup /salad garnish.

I just can't believe I forgot the Basil. I picked up a six cell herb pack and I didn't even think to look for Basil my favourite herb.

Grape tomatoes were planted in the middle ...just because.

Mint: mmm with peas, pies , mashed potatoes, mint jelly for roast lamb or cutlets ... Mint tea anyone.

Herbs need on average 6+ hours of sunlight a day,  regular watering (depending on the pot) and with well drained soil.
If you are placing it on a deck (like I will eventually) you may need a drip tray to catch any excess water .

Now, I'm on the lookout for another herb garden container and then I'll start to experiment with other herb and flavour combinations.

In other news - What's on my mind ?

It has been eight years, today, since my Dad left us and 4 weeks since my hub said a final goodbye to his Dad too.
Today, I am thinking Happy memories of our very special fathers who shaped our lives.
We are getting ready to plant trees in their memory ~ Father's Day Sunday and also 9yrs since we lost our tiny angel ~Charlotte~ . It's a big week .

By the way - it is Recycling or Up-cycling ?
What is the difference?
♥

Giveaway : $100 Bunnings Voucher ~ The Grass is always greener ...

when you water it , once a week , using a soaker hose !

  "The grass is always greener on the other side, until you jump the fence and see the weeds up close."
- Albert Grashuis 

That used to be our grass when we first moved into our suburban home. So about 5 yrs ago Hubby got a bobcat guy in and totally removed the top layer of the entire backyard - to get rid of the weeds as nothing else was working... or so he told me ! I just wanted rid of the bindii with toddlers !!

Before he laid new turf , he put tonnes of new topsoil and sand, then installed buried irrigation tubing ...just after this water restrictions came in. 

This was May 2011 

Yes it was that green and big ! Though looks larger than it is.

My husband loves his grass and lawn mowing. He used to do it for a living ( He still has the mower brochure of his first ride on he bought we with lived on one acre in 1993. When we moved back to small backyard in 2000 he sold it to my brother - it still goes.) . I am told he used to mow the grass at his primary school at 11yrs.

DH tended our lawns lovingly and refused to palm the job off to the teen because he just didn't cut it right. While we were away in WA - the teen spilt  roundup ...a weed killer in a few patches {or maybe he was using it to weed o_O}

This was Dec 2011

Ignore the weeds at the back - hubby didn't get to them before I took the pic

Our lawn ~ soft leaf Buffalo ST26;  is also a low maintenance lawn.

I know that some of my friends struggle to get their husbands to keep the lawns mowed, let alone manicured or  keeping a check on weeds. They are not alone...

Turf Australia – the industry body that represents all turf growers in Australia, recently conducted consumer research which revealed that 80% of Aussies have a lawn, but only 30% of them know how to care for it properly. In fact, less than 1/3 of the respondents to the survey knew what type of grass they owned in their own garden !

In December, I was offered the opportunity for a turf consultation with a local turf retailer. Some of the biggest turf suppliers in NSW are from Hawkesbury region (flood plains?). Chris from Millers Turf was my expert!

He gave me some of his expert hints and tips to care for your lawn at different times of the year . Most turf retailers can help households choose the right grass variety for their requirements - they can lay it or tell you the best practices for laying it yourself and maintaining it.

How often should you and much should you water established lawn ?

Once a week you need to give a good soak - (see more details here)

Unless you have a run of 40 °days and no rain ; you will need extra watering.

The best time to water is in the early morning -less water is lost due to evaporation.  

The worst time to water is in the evening because the lawns stay wet at night, which encourages disease and fungus development.

What about Fertilisers ?

Chris said he recommended we (and most people) can use Scott's Lawn Builder - available at Bunnings or anywhere :). It is a good all purpose fertiliser. Retailers like Millers can also advise on specific fertilisers matched to your turf or if you have a problem. Done !!  

Application is recommended every 6 weeks or so from October to March (follow pack directions and water it in well).

We have a few different grasses growing back where the Roundup killed off the grass. Our lawn is quite susceptible to weed killers :(.  We can either leave it or cut it out in a larger patch and lay new turf again. Hubby is undecided as we have new tenants moving in.

How often should you mow ?

Once a week minimum , more in growing season and throughout summer to keep it looking green, and reduce dead looking patches - when you do mow.

I had a few questions about laying new turf in a small patch on our farm. Since our new backyard is now 1000 acres - it will be just be big enough for the boys and dogs to wrestle on play on , our BBQ table & chairs, a special seat and under my the hammock.  

Since I can't have this 

1. My hammock

 We will need to select a hardy grass and non allergic too-   ! I won't detail it all here but all the answers can be found on Millers website.

I know now we need to keep the grass 1m radius from native trees and shrubs so I'll be careful planting new ones.

Chris gave me a copy of 

My husband has the book now !

New turf requires a great deal of water in the first couple days and or it will die off, if not properly watered to the dirt below. It also needs good preparation.

Some turf retailers can also advise or provide lawn care programs - how much or how little fertiliser it needs, how to fix brown patches, how to fill in gaps and weeding, etc. 

So on with the giveaway - 

I have one $100 Bunnings Gift Voucher to giveaway with thanks to Impact Communications and Turf Australia.

I hope you have fun planning a garden make-over, so your lawn is always ready for a  BBQ with family and friends !

Tell me in the comments what is your dream backyard or what you would do with the $100 ?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

My husband thinks it is well worth maintaining a patch of green lawn - even on tank water (outside of a drought of course).

Disclaimer: Millers gave me a free consultation as part of Turf Australia campaign. All opinions are my own. I was not obliged to mention them but their website is a wealth of information.
♥

De - Stressing in the Garden

One of my favourite ways to de-stress is to get into the garden. It is of the best ways I know of reducing my stress ( discounting the thorns on my rose bushes which has me muttering and 'ouch'ing a few choice words out loud) .

Is there a better way to celebrate the arrival of Spring ?

Aug 30th 5.30pm

Love our garden seat -we are taking it.

Mia using my  foam Herb box for scratching post.

I didn't take this pic of our Backyard - taken in May

With the weather warming up over the last two weeks, it meant we have been able to get a lot done in Charlotte's garden and the backyard garden. I have taken cuttings of all our roses, pruned and tidied it all up. It looks very bare now. I'm only planting herbs at the moment so no vegies except maybe tomatoes if I can find someone to water them.

Whether you love tending roses, native shrubs, caring for your lawn or pot plants , or even just pulling out a few weeds it burns a few calories too. Gardening for me works off stress and brings  a little peace to our hectic lifestyle and more important the results are pleasing to the eye.
 
The wattle at the farm is blooming already (but going) and I have to think about our garden plans there.

My favourite garden magazine is ABC Gardening Australia magazine. I have stacks of back issues I keep stashed away (a lot were given to us).

I received a copy of September issue of  ABC Gardening Australia magazine in the mail yesterday. 

GARDENING AUSTRALIA magazine is born from the TV show, is the bible for novice gardeners and green thumbs, and is Australia's leading gardening title.)  This issue has so many ideas for me to start rolling up my sleeves , donning my gloves and pulling on my work boots.

I was excited to see there is an article about transplanting and moving an entire garden.

TRANSPLANTING A GARDEN
Imagine moving home and taking your entire garden with you, roots and all. 

Credit -click this link to see the issue

Also, in September, I like these green ideas  -

Gardening Australia explores the changes readers are making to reduce waste within their homes, with simple (and economical) ideas such as:

• Nude Food - When shopping, choose low or no packaging and take your own bags (Nude food, was a term used by a 7 year old boy who wrote in, quite catchy!);
  

•  Boxed Goodies – use empty cardboard food boxes to place vegie peelings and worm scraps in each day, then put the whole page into the worm bin- the worms eat the scraps and the box so there is no emptying and washing of buckets.
  

Out now , the September issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine is available from ABC Shops, newsagencies, supermarkets or by subscription.
A perfect Father's day idea as subscriptions are 40% until 17/9 ~$47
Subscribe today on 1300 656 933 or see the website http://www.gardeningaustralia.com.au/
for more information too.

I received a complimentary September copy only.
I chose to write this post myself because I enjoy the magazine.


♥ Never miss a post

Grateful Saturday- The Dance

Life, loss, grief and love intertwined.  

And /or  not so grateful really to be reminded at how fragile life is , with anniversaries remembered of precious little angels and another little life taken so soon.

I've read a few poignant posts and comments about experiences of loss this week.

Also, remembering my own bittersweet memories of 7 years ago. 

After 12 years infertility, I considered with awesome wonder the thought I might actually be pregnant for the first time. 

Almost to the day ... Easter 2004.

600km from home, in remote country town, on a 8000 acre farm.

No one to tell or I wanted to tell in case I was wrong.

Not even my DH.

No hope of a pregnancy test kit , we were 75km from nearest pharmacy. 

I had to wait it out for 3 days.

In the end all did not go as planned.

Almost 27 weeks was all I had.

It was oft implied , by well meaning people , I would better.never. to have been pregnant to lose our daughter, tragically stillborn at 6 months. 

Never.

I am forever grateful that I had the chance and for The dance. Even though I was filled with terrible pain for years months after she died. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I can still smile.

How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

PS Garth is my favourite cowboy.

Grateful too , my husband had a day's paid work this week and more grateful we got a lot accomplished in our garden makeover for the big sell. We (HE) planted 30 trees/shrubs, removed a ute load of weeds and spread a thousand shovelfuls of mushroom compost and mulch.

Grateful our teenage son got a new job with, what appears, to be a very good company.

His last job , temporary for 5-6wks , was a little discouraging as the sole employer was a bit dodgy.

So, what's making you smile today?
... Please add a link back to Maxibella in your post. Blog hop to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine.  
 ♥ Never miss a post

Pop goes the

popcorn ...

Popcorn is like magic to me how such a small dried out kernel can explode into something so big.

The greatest gift of the garden
is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

So we are going to grow our own popcorn and other greens ( and other yellow, blue, red edibles too ...well that's the plan ; a real rainbow connection).

One of the most delightful things about a garden
is the anticipation it provides.
~W.E.Johns, The Passing Show

I am excitedly awaiting my popcorn seeds.

Spring is still 4 weeks away and though the days are warm and glorious the ground is still too cold and the frost might still kill them. So I will pot them first and nurse the babies carefully till I plant them out so they can grow in size.

I got the idea of a popcorn tree from a twit Mum-me posted about her gorgeous girls planting a popcorn tree except it had already been heated and so she told them it might not grow.
A lightbulb went off in my head.
I googled.
I found an answer.
A wonderful blogger Lyn at Aussie Organic gardening offered to send me some organic seeds .In return I will plant extra and share the seed with others.
I know the preschool will happily take some ...though have to make sure they grow first.
A kind of pay in forward - mostly so we stop the spread of GM corn in our diet.
Then , I also saw a post on blueberries

Bloomgal on Flickr

I googled again I found this forum.Now I know where to ask questions and buy my blueberry plants.
I want to grow strawberries and tomatoes too.

We live in semi suburbia .My vegie garden is very dead sad and neglected small .
Our side neighbours own a market garden a few kilometres away but grow seedlings in their backyard .Sometimes they pass 2-3 seedlings over the fence ...fancy lettuce is on offer.

Gardening requires lots of water -
most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson

I am really looking forward to growing some rainbows with my little boys .I hope it will encourage them to eat more vege and keep them busy weeding for me be a fun learning exercise in getting dirty.

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil,
getting dirty without feeling guilty,
and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.
~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

What are you planning to grow in Spring ? or Fall in thenorthern hemisphere ?

I hope it will save money also taste good when we harvest the fruits of our labour.
We have some dinner plate size sunflowers (well seeds) to grow too

I want to give Moon planting a try too ...when I can. Bring it on.
Ps I want to make blueberry crumb bars now too.

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~Author Unknown.

♥

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Smiley Saturday

I have lots of reasons to smile everyday and this week I smiled because

• my new planted zucchini seedlings, cherry tomatoes, basil and spinach are growing. It might only be a small crop but it is a start. I haven't had a vegie garden in almost 10 years
• Blogger spell check is working again ! Finally !
  
• We had a little rain and a break from the constant rain
• I found a new widget today ...{look below the clock} so I can click directly to your blogs if you visit me .
• I lost a few readers again today according to Feedburner but my heart is lighter by the sweet comments made yesterday . I know it is about quality over quantity.
  
• I made some new blogging friends (sadly I am still working on my blogroll) and have had many a giggle at their posts and also reflected on their serious ones ... Naomi , Jeanie and Marita are other new find along with the Coven ...Anja , Bettina & Nikki aka Widdle Shamrock [I love her handle - her blog name is unusual as is Anja's and Bettina has good taste in drums too ;) ]
  
• Cathy I came across a while ago but she is a faithful reader .She also has a scrap booking store.
  
• I have read some heartbreaking stories the last few days - that didn't make me smile but the way the blogging community reaches out to comfort others in pain , even across the world - did !
• We spent a lovely Saturday afternoon with our twin playgroup friends at the first birthday of Hayden & Chelsea.
  
• The Magician "BK" who entertained us was 14yrs old and he was a whizz , a real master ! I could not figure out how he did the card tricks, rope or foam ball tricks ... He was breath-taking . I think one day he has a future in all things magical. He was barely a metre away from some of us - so he was a great illusionist.
  
• The sweet Kate has offered to help me design my new header ...

Okay - that's enough about me - what made you smile ?
head over to Lightening's and join us all.