Evan and I watched the film, “Back to Eden” last year and we were immediately struck by the difference we could make to our environment in our own backyard.

Back to Eden gardening mimics the natural way the forest grows. We hope that by using this method we can support insects, sequester tons of carbon (and I mean, tons), and of course, grow healthy things to eat.

Before we can get to gardening we have a lot of work to do with the soil. Like, we gotta get some. While we could ship in 10 yards of dirt tomorrow… what’s the rush? While it will take time, our compost will have an unmatched quality to anything we could buy and also: free.

I chose hogwire (you know I love my hogwire) for the compost rings. This is a common composting practice but new to me …. with a whole lotta YouTube and reading it wasn’t too hard to get started.

There were plenty of leaves to work with in the fall but those quickly ran out. We formed a relationship with our neighbor to take manure and some hardwood chip horsing bedding.

She was glad to get it off her hands. Our Bichon Maisey is not sure about her tractor though. Reaching out for something like this is on the edge of our comfort zone, but naturally, the back-to-Eden process calls us to come together and it has been fun to connect. So glad we did.

It took us about three tries with the rings to get the formula of carbon and nitrogen just right. Adding our neighbor’s animal product was the secret sauce. It’s incredible how quickly the composting is heating up. If you want to know more about how to do this I’m happy to share my resources with you.

Keeping up with turning compost piles is a highly laborious job. We were going to need some backup. I mentioned we weren’t ready for last year’s snows (dug out by another gracious neighbor.) Anyways, we are going to be prepared now!

It’s a good thing because there are other big problems looming. While I don’t think the photo does it justice this tree has been threatening the life of everyone around it and our home so it was time to get going on that.

I cannot count the number of issues this tree has caused. We hoped we could inoculate a few branches for mushrooms but the tree was already covered in another fungus. Adding other spores would compete and likely lose.

Pretty though. Back to the earth, it goes. It will make a great chip for the garden.

I think I’ll sleep quite a bit better too. If this looks like a ton of work. It is.

We aren’t the kind of people to back away from a challenge.

Save the earth or die trying.

Kirbi

P.S. Did you see my article on Muddy Colors about The Art of Green? It’s about how I approach using nature's most dominant colors.

Hello from our new place we have lovingly named, “The Lil’ Acre.”

It was a crash landing to our new home and I don’t say that lightly but we are here. While the timing never seems right, we do feel right at home here.

Friends know I’m a winter girl in my soul, but my growing passion for gardening has me planting my spring garden in my head. Oddly, (or perhaps not so oddly) Michigan gave us some higher temperatures in November so while our new home needs a lot of rehab on the inside, we put it aside for the day to do some projects outside.

Which mostly includes exploring and starting our composting system. I’ve taken to country life very well so far, you should have seen the grin on my face at the Trackor Supply when I asked where the “Hog Wire” is.

We inherited this apple tree and it introduced itself by pelting us with dozens of apples. It needs some attention. The apples grow very high up, which makes it difficult to pick. We’ve already begun rehabbing this tree and are hoping we can get at least a few years out of it. If you know my husband, he will be delighted to scale the branches for harvest… (I will do my best to stop him.) For now, the birds are still enjoying the fruit.

I’m enjoying the many trinkets and stories that is coming (literally) out the walls here.

One of my favorite finds has been these dried curly vines that edge some of the property, which I now know is poke vine. This fall, I’ve been very limited in what creative tools I have on hand because of the move. The poke vine immediately inspired me and without any access to my art supplies at the time, I was itching to do anything with my hands.

I started making wreaths out them. The first one was a bit of a puzzle, the flexibility of the vine dictated its shape and the curls easily hook around each other as if they were just looking for something to hold on to. I filled in holes with vine that was a bit drier and stiffer, pushing and pulling the tension to round out the circle.

Having enjoyed the experience so much, I felt the urge to run inside and google how to preserve the vines, how to sculpt and weave with them. I stopped myself mid-step, imagining myself going inside, pulling out my iPad, only to find out I didn’t have the cool tools or the knowledge to make these. This is not the country life I’m working toward.

Ah, perfectionism, the anti-fun voice that’s so hard to turn off. I can remember quite clearly in elementary school making brooms and baskets under a willow tree at recess — all without a YouTube tutorial. Sometimes we were witches, sometimes we were Cinderella. Friends, I didn’t go Google. I just kept making.

In fact I can’t stop…

My root cellar is filling up and I fear I may run out of space if I don’t slow my roll! I think I have enough to make a natural arch for my future garden or maybe even a bespoke-style fence. When spring comes I’ll know for sure.

I’m looking forward to sharing with you in the spring what I end up doing with these. I hope this finds you inspired to take on a project… and do it YOUR way.

People, it’s gotten BAD in the studio this weekend! Look at this mess! We decided to move Evans studio upstairs to the guest bedroom and the guest bed downstairs next to my studio. Even though my studio wasn’t moving, it got hit with some “wind damage” during the big migration. Hashtag, no filter.

Staying in throughout this pandemic, we’ve craved change and function - we’ve done a lot of rearranging. This move will give me some space in the guest bedroom closet for low-touch art supplies and books. Evan gets a bigger room for his music. He plays a lot of different instruments and desperately needs more space! More updates as we get things “settled.”

Spring has come in a big way here in Michigan, below is a picture of us getting started on the garden! Hard to believe it was snowing just a week or two ago.

The hose just flopped like this so I had to take a pic!

There’s a ton to be done out here, but the building, imagining and tending are what makes it fun. One of my many canvases.

We got these sails a few years ago and it’s helped give us some shade, which a lot of my indoor plants that I bring outside need.

I decided this year to do my mini garden/fairy garden in one of these big feed troughs I got from Tracker Supply. More soon!

This weekend I became ADDICTED to making these lanyards! They are an amazing stash buster. Here is a link to the pattern I used: LINK

Here, I’m pulling scraps and coming up with combos!

My first attempt (below) was a little shakey. As first times often are! I used a footer that was too big, with shaky stitches that weren’t close enough to the edge. When the stitches are close to the edge it gives it a more professional look I think.

One of the adjustments I made to the pattern was to not put the ring on until it was finished, with all the clips and sewing in the round, it’s just too much!

Another suggestion I have is to make sure the ironing is CRISP. I even used a fabric stiffener to make sure my creases were tip-top! The more I practiced the better I got.

Well, happy spring everyone. Have a good Monday!