Two Women and a Hoe™

Peace

Jan Bills — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:47:15 +0000

There is peace in the garden. Peace and results.

~Ruth Stout

May all your gardens grow,

A Green Hoe™ Give-Away

Jan Bills — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:20:08 +0000

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we are excited to offer our first Green Hoe™ Give-away! Please share YOUR favorite ‘GREEN‘ eco-friendly practice in the home or garden by leaving a comment on this post! Examples: mulch leaves, use vinegar on weeds instead of chemicals, use natural cleaning products in home, etc.!

Using a random number generator on March 23rd at 12 midnight EST, one lucky ‘GREEN’ Hoe will select one Green Hoe™ product below from our Boutique! The Winner will be announced March 24th at 9:00 a.m. EST!

Happy ‘GREEN’ Hoeing, Friends!

May all your gardens grow,

Meet our Talented Team of Gardeners & Designers

Jan Bills — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:07:58 +0000

Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.

~Pat Riley

Meet Ann Emanuelsen:

Historical Garden Presenter; Future Master Gardener; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Weeder!

Meet Kathy Gilmour:

Landscape & Horticultural Specialist; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Indoor/Outdoor Plant Doctor!

Meet Christine Statz:

Master Gardener; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Field Supervisor & Plant Installer!

Meet Kathy Chatel:

Lifelong Gardener; Future Master Gardener; Our Expert Perennial Divider & Tool Keeper!

Meet Darcy MacKenzie:

Lifelong Gardener; Master Gardener; Future Master Composter; Our Expert Veggie Farmer!

Meet Brendan Nolan:

Master Gardener; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Bed Edger & Foundation Layer (in many respects)!

Meet Tracie Brey:

Landscape Designer; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Hardscape & Outdoor Room Designer!

Meet Heather Lakatosh:

Landscape Designer; Master Gardener; Lifelong Gardener; Our Expert Softscape Designer with an artistic flare!

It is an honor and pleasure for me to work with such talented people who all share the same love and passion for gardening, wildlife, sustainability, and making our world a beautiful place!

May all your gardens grow,

Diary of a Robin – March 12, 2012

Jan Bills — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:15:29 +0000

Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, And lilies face the March-winds in full blow, And humbler growths as moved with one desire Put on, to welcome spring, their best attire, Poor Robin is yet flowerless; but how gay With his red stalks upon this sunny day!

~William Wordsworth

May all your gardens grow,

A Guest Post by Lori Williams: The Water Project

Jan Bills — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:20:56 +0000

I’m not an environmentalist. I’m an Earth warrior.

~Darryl Cherney, quoted in Smithsonian, April 1990

When my friend Lori shared her passion and commitment to The Water Project, I knew we, as gardeners, could help, too. Before we hear from Lori about her incredible journey to make a difference in many lives in Africa, I wanted to first share ways we can begin a personal Water Project in our own backyards.

Gardeners know all too well that water for our crops, landscapes and gardens is a precious resource. And, as we create more sustainable landscapes and gardens, we help conserve natural resources, like water. Following are sustainable practices to consider as we kick off the 2012 Gardening Season:

Water harvesting by attaching a rain barrel to a downspout
Thickly planted garden beds with trees, shrubs, and ground covers
Beds planted along the edge of the road to slow and filter runoff
Terracing to slow runoff and encourage infiltration
Plant trees to create microclimates which reduce water usage
Learning good soil management which encourages rainwater infiltration
Mulching around tree trunks

And now, here’s Lori’s very compelling challenge and commitment to Africa.

The Water Project
By: Lori T. Williams

Imagine if you had to walk for six hours just to get a couple gallons of water, and had to do it again the next day. We take for granted all the clean water we use each day to drink, bathe, and wash our clothes, dishes, and cars.

On average, The Pokot women in Africa carry 40 pounds of dirty water for six hours each day to bring the water back to their village so their families can drink it and live. Without the dirty water, they die in a few days. With the dirty water, they die years later of various diseases.

Facts:

There are 1 million people in need of clean water in Kenya
It costs $21,000 per well, which provides clean water for 400 people for about 20 years
This breaks down to a cost of $52.50 per person for a community of 400 to enjoy water from one well
People in third world countries live on $2 a day or less

I have been moved beyond words, and into action. As a community, we can make a difference and provide CLEAN water to the residents.

I am part of Kensington Community Church and attend the Birmingham Campus. As a church, we are raising funds to install clean water wells for residents of the Pokot Tribe in the Republic of Kenya, Africa.

It is exciting for me to be able to partner with friends, family members, my business community, my church community, and my local and “virtual” community to truly make a difference to others and give the gift of life through water.

If you wish to learn more about this cause, please contact me through my website, Your Legal Resource. I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you,

Lori T. Williams, Owner/Managing Attorney of Your Legal Resource, PLLC

A Guest Post from Stacy Tornio, Author of Project Garden

Jan Bills — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:46:03 +0000

These days, it seems like everyone is looking for ways to get kids outside more. Gardening is near and dear to my heart, which is why I wrote the book, Project Garden. (Find out how you can win a copy of Project Garden here.) It’s filled with recipes, gardening ideas and just general backyard/outdoor projects. I also work with kids regularly, offering gardening classes as part of my Master Gardener volunteer work through area rec departments. For people looking to get kids outside and into the garden, here are my top ideas. I hope it helps encourage a new little sprout in your life!

1. Find a Community Garden Plot. Not everyone has the space to have a garden in their backyard. If this is the case for you, then look around for community garden plots in your area. You can rent a space and grow anything you want.

2. Give Them Their Own Space. Anytime you can call something your very own, it just means more. This is also the case with kids and a garden. You don’t have to give them a huge plot in your yard. Just a small square or a corner of the patio with containers will be enough. Then let them choose what they want to put in there. It might be tempting to choose for them, but it’ll mean so much more to them if they can take full ownership.

3. Let Them Choose Their Own Plants. This can start at home by going through seed catalogs or looking online for inspiration. But then take them to a local nursery or garden store and let them pick the seeds and plants for themselves. Like anyone else, kids enjoy walking through the aisles of plants, soaking up the options all around them.

4. Grow Something They Can Eat. The garden-to-table lesson is a priceless one. Luckily, veggies are one of the easiest plants to grow. So pick up a pack of carrot seeds or a tomato plant, and let them plant in a sunny location. Again, let kids pick it out themselves. They’ll be more likely to eat it if they pick it out. Plus, there are lots of cool options out there like purple carrots and orange peppers. Look around, and help them get excited about growing healthy options.

5. Put in on the Calendar. With summertime being the prime gardening time for kids, it’s easy to let it take a backseat to other activities. Don’t forget to put it on the calendar just like you would for anything else. The most important thing you’ll want to remember is to keep plants watered. So add a note to your calendar, and keep a checklist so they feel proud to accomplish all gardening tasks…watering, weeding, harvesting, etc.

6. Look for Garden Classes for Kids. Many botanical gardens, libraries and other community programs offer gardening classes in spring and summer. Get involved in your local organization, and sign up for one of these classes. They’re often taught my master gardeners, volunteers and other garden lovers, so you’re naturally getting who is passionate and eager to teach the next generation.

7. Try a Project. There are oodles of great new kids gardening books out there, and there are many old favorites as well. So go to your library or local bookstore, and pick one up. They offer great inspiration for backyard projects. Then commit to trying one or two of these projects over the spring and summer. You can even try making up your own project—like this Lego bird feeder here!

8. Start a School Garden. Okay, I saved the ambitious one for last, but starting a school garden or even a community garden with kids is a great way to be involved in a garden from start to finish. Kids will really take ownership of something like this and be proud of the end results. If you’re interested but want to start small, check with your local library or community organization and just beautify a small area first. You can always grow it bigger later.

Good luck growing a love of gardening in your family and backyard!

Stacy Tornio

Congratulations Garden Hoes!

Jan Bills — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:02:38 +0000

First, a VERY big THANK YOU to everyone who participated! We read each and every comment! May we say, your words were inspiring, delightful, lovely, adorable, heart-felt, gracious and so much more! You have all left HOE prints on our hearts!

Congratulations GARDEN HOES!

Julie Livingston and Teri Williams!

May all your gardens grow,

A Garden Hoe

Jan Bills — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:54:20 +0000

A “Garden Hoe”
… by any name,
all will know,
she’ll find her fame,

Heels by day,
work boots by moon,
weekends come,
garden to swoon.

Love lay beneath,
soil beckons,
tools become,
passion reckons…

Sun shines upon the loving “Hoe”
that turns the earth,
preparing the show
of brilliant flowers,
and vegetables green,

Oh… how that “Hoe”
has made life glean…
Most apparent,
But seldom seen.

~Morella Ann Bareham

Josephine Coppola(1927-1998)

Planting Great Seeds!

Jan Bills — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:21:26 +0000

If you walk past a Reaching Higher classroom in Royal Oak, Michigan, it is everything but conventional! You may hear these words chanted VERY loudly:

I plant great seeds in the corner of my mind,
My seeds are my thoughts, they are the winning kind.
My thoughts help me focus when I am still.
I say yes I can, yes I will.
I am a winner
I will succeed
Because I use my mind to
Plant great seeds!

I once believed seeds were only planted in the soil…until I discovered Reaching Higher. Five years ago I responded to an ad in my local newspaper by Susie Dahlmann, Founder and Executive Director of Reaching Higher. Susie was recruiting volunteers interested in becoming trained Reaching Higher instructors so I called to express an interest. Since then, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working with youth from my local middle and high school. Just like gardening, Reaching Higher strikes an unexplained chord deep in my soul!

Reaching Higher’s unique curriculum is a well-designed nine-session program that is progressive and cutting edge. The thing I love most is that it is love-based. Hands down, The Beatles were “right on” when they crooned “all we need is love!”

During the eight-week period, two instructors, five mentors and twenty-five students explore uncharted waters and endless possibilities together. Here’s a brief synopsis:

SESSION 1 – You Are a Miracle
SESSION 2 – Remembering
SESSION 3 – Managing Stress
SESSION 4 – Purpose In Life-Setting Goals
SESSION 5 – Changing Limiting Beliefs
SESSION 6 – Fear to Freedom
SESSION 7 – Positive Life Choices
SESSION 8 – Happiness Through Giving and Loving
SESSION 9 – Graduation Celebration

So when I am not planting seeds in the soil during the growing season in Michigan, you will more than likely find me and many others planting seeds of love and hope for one another!

Thank you Reaching Higher for putting the memorable words of The Beatles into action! I am grateful and blessed to be an instructor for this awesome program!

Together we can plant great seeds! After all, for any of us to to nourish and grow, all WE need is LOVE!

May all your gardens grow,

A Garden Hoe™ Give-Away

Jan Bills — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:59:56 +0000

We are excited to offer our first Garden Hoe™ Give-away! Please leave a comment below and let us know what type of Garden Hoe™ YOU are!

Using a random number generator on March 2nd at 12 midnight EST, one lucky Hoe will receive a Garden Hoe™ Exclusive from our Boutique! The Winner will be announced March 3rd at 9:00 a.m. EST!

Happy HOEing, Friends!

Flip Flippin' Hoe

Travelin' Hoe

Sportin' Hoe

Chillin' Hoe

Bottoms Up Hoe

Thirsty Hoe

May all your gardens grow,