created by Sebastian Meyer For the movie Snow White and the Huntsman

Every year before spring, I start dreaming of my ultimate garden and yard.  I let my landscaping dreams go wild.  The reality is I usually just have enough energy to focus on planting and harvesting our vegetable garden.  So while I know it's likely I won't get around to implementing most of any of my landscaping ideals, I still love to dream about it.

Plant a tree centerpieces/favors make a great green option image via Nursery Men

Since Earth day is today and warm weather is right around the corner, (t was in the 70s last week, but rain/snowing here yesterday). I thought I'd share a few simple ideals on how to throw a party, wedding, or picnic that is more Eco-friendly.

living willow Auroch sculpture by artist Kim Creswell

This is the third post in our enchanted garden series.   My garden inspiration this season is an enchanted forest.  After watching the movie Snow White and the Huntsman I started dreaming of turning our yard and garden into an enchanted forest. So what makes a forest and enchanted forest?  Here's what I think makes an enchanted forest.  

jeffreyw / Flickr via Earth Share

We finally finished building our concrete block raised beds and planting our main garden about a week ago.  I originally got the ideal to use concrete blocks  as a raised bed from searching on pinterest during the winter dreaming up ideas for the garden.  I did a posting of my favorite ideas using concrete blocks outdoors which has gone on to be our most popular posting of all time.

Build a DIY PVC Pipe Cabana from Sunset Magazine

I started using PVC pipes to make my trellises in the garden, but have sense learned that PVC has Phthalates which are xenoestrogens.  My concern is that xenoestrogens are chemicals similar to estrogen and act more aggressively in our bodies than our own estrogen.  When a women has high estrogen in relation to her other hormones she is at higher risk for breast cancer and cancers of the uterine, cervical, ovarian, etc.  Men can be at a high risk for cancer of the prostate when their estrogen (yes men have estrogen too) is high in proportion to the rest of his hormones.   Needless to say I don't want it in my garden anymore!  I wrote a post about how to keep xenoestrogens out of your garden if you want to learn more.  So what to do with all those PVC Pipes?  We have like 20 6 ft pipes, and 10, 4ft pipes.  Hmmmm...  I'm still contemplating what I will make.  Of course I'll post when I do make something with it.  But I have found sooo.....many cool ideas I'll have a hard time picking.  I'd thought I'd share it with y'all!  

This summer my husband and I went to Le Sueur county, MN to explore my family history.  We stopped at a cute restaurant Whiskey River Emporium in St Peter, MN that was my grandparents favorite restaurant.  I could see why it was there favorite restaurant in town.  The back of the restaurant has a beautiful creek and the windows are lined with every kind of feeder you could imagine.  It attract all kinds of wild life.   I saw woodpeckers, cardinals, wild turkeys, beavers, and the expected variety of birds and squirrels.  I'm not one to usually watch nature, my grandparents were, but boy was this a show. We spent our whole lunch just watching the nature show.  I could help but think, why Mr Cat would go crazy if he could see this.  It inspired me to think of finding ways to attract wild life to our yard.  Now with winter coming I thought it would be a good time to give Mr Cat a good show and make some seed cakes for the birds. 

Concrete bench from Better Home and Gardens for less than $30

 Now that our garden is winding down I can start to dream about next years garden.  My latest obsession so far for next year is all things cinder blocks.  I never thought of using cement blocks before.  I love it because it's cheap ($1-1.50 each), quick to make things with, and weather proof.  Why have I not thought of this before!  Think of all the possibilities.  My imagination is going crazy.

From Furnibloom

This is so cool!  Very inspirational.  I would love to try to make something similar.  I've always liked the idea of furniture serving a dual purpose. I'm very intrigued by small space design and especially the innovated uses of furniture. I mean why not have dual purpose furniture right?  And of course since I love gardening....I love the idea of furniture acting as a planter.