One of the more interesting things that I have seen on the Internet recently has been a set of simple family gardening ideas. It seems to be a new thing going on in our society, as most if not all of us have gardens in our backyards. Yet, do we really want to do gardening? Why do we have them? What do they have to offer us?
I can tell you that one of the biggest reasons that I have enjoyed gardening as much as I have is because of the many simple family gardening projects that I have been able to grow. I grew up with my parents and my two brothers growing potatoes, onions, carrots, and corn on our small plot of land. The only issue was that the corn did not always eat very well and the potatoes did not always taste great. This was due largely to the fact that we did not have the proper nutrients in the soil for the crops to thrive or even grow at all. I have tried different things over the years to solve this problem and I have found one thing that works great.
This simple solution involved using cress heads for potatoes and carrots. I found this at a hardware store in my area and have been using it ever since. If you are not familiar with these little plants, they are actually very easy to care for. Unlike so many other types of plants and vegetables, cress does not need a lot of maintenance once you learn how to use it properly. In fact, I have made cress heads into a soup! That is how simple the whole process is.
The other benefit of using cress for your family gardening project is that it is very versatile. You can tuck the plant into a corner or even use it to adorn the side of your porch or front door. You will be surprised how versatile this plant is since it does not have a rigid shape. It grows quite tall and spreads out in a wide radius. It will be a good addition to your patio if you have one, as it adds a wonderful scent to the air.
I like to use cress for the birds in my yard. Most birds love carrots and enjoy eating them. They can eat on the seeds and leaves. If you have multiple birds visiting at the same time, you should keep an extra bundle of these plants around. Just remember that when it starts to die back, put a new bundle in.
My husband and I absolutely love having this cress in the summer and fall. In the winter, I usually spread a thin layer of it on the tundra under our tree. In the spring, all of us enjoy the cress we have brought in from our gardens. You might add it to your patio in the summer as well. A simple family gardening project with lots of possibilities, especially once you get started collecting and planting in the fall.
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