Photo by Jessica Hibbard Nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed, and therefore very inexpensive. The flowers and leaves are both edible. As we discovered this past weekend, they also attract hummingbirds.

Everyone is worried about the economy these days, myself included. But nothing perks me up like getting my hands dirty in the garden. The benefits aren't simply therapeutic. If you've been less-than-enthusiastic about gardening, here are some financial incentives that might make you reconsider:

• Spend less at the grocery store. If you know anything about gardening, this is sort of a no-brainer. Homegrown produce is often cheaper, fresher, and healthier than its storebought counterpart. It's late in the season, but it's not too late to grow fall vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, and broccoli all grow well in cooler weather. The Home & Garden Information Center has great tips for fall vegetable gardening.
• Wildlife is cheap entertainment. This is prime time to observe critters doing funny things. Our urban backyard is home to highly entertaining squirrels and chipmunks, who are busy gathering (and burying) food for the winter. A simple birdbath and bird feeder will also attract a wide variety of birds. Bats are a joy to watch as they swoop back and forth devouring mosquitoes, and dewy spiderwebs are enchantingly beautiful. The HGIC has tips for wildlife gardening, too.
• Get a good workout without an expensive gym membership. Gardening provides excellent exercise, including stretching and lifting. The biggest benefits come from using as few power tools as possible, which will also save money on gas. Use a push-reel lawnmower instead of gas-powered, use a hoe instead of a tiller, use a rake instead of a leaf-blower, and pull weeds by hand instead of using a herbicide.

If you're already converted to the ways of gardening, here are some suggestions for doing it on the cheap:

• Make your own compost. Plant-based food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and weeds are great ingredients for compost. Just throw them in a pile and let nature do its thing. Ok, it's a bit more complicated than that, but not by much. Check out this set of tips from Fine Gardening magazine. And if you want to get really fancy, you can even try your hand at brewing compost tea. The proper use of compost in the garden significantly reduces the need to purchase expensive fertilizers.
• New plants -- For free. Fall is a great time of year to collect seeds from favorite plants to sow in the spring or share with friends. It's also safe to divide some plants, such as spring-flowering bulbs, to plant elsewhere in the garden.
• Extend the growing season with a cold frame. DIY cold frames are easy to make -- Use an old window, some hinges, and a few 2x4s.
• Collect rainwater. Rain barrels are easy to make. If you typically use municipal water supply to water your plants, this will help you put a dent in your utility bill. Locally, you can check McCutcheon's to see if they have any used plastic barrels for sale. We purchased our barrels for just $10 each.

What are your money-saving gardening tips? Has gardening benefited you financially? Let me know! Send an email to jesshibb@gmail.com.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Just a little bit of paint completely reinvented this vintage dresser.

When it comes to low cost and high impact, it's hard to beat a simple can of paint. The right color in the right place can make something old feel totally new again.

Case in point: The dresser in my home office. I purchased it a couple years ago from the Antique Cellar (R.I.P.) and the drawer fronts were painted an uninspiring toffee color. I picked up a quart of paint -- a light shade of turquoise -- months ago, and kept putting off the project for reasons still unknown. My husband finally took matters into his own hands and painted the drawers for me. We really liked the darker color and worn look on the rest of the dresser, so we left it unaltered. What a difference! This simple, inexpensive project perked up the entire room.

So if recent tales of impending recessions and economic woe are getting you down, pick up a perky paint color and get to work on what you already have around the house. You'll save money and cheer yourself up at the same time!

Remember last week, when I warned about not eating plants you can't positively identify? Ok, I didn't think it was also necessary to warn against eating plants coated with poison ... But apparently, I was wrong.

Check out this story, about a family in Gaithersburg who unknowingly poisoned themselves -- Quite possibly with mint leaves covered in pesticides. So please, pretty please, refrain from using pesticides on anything you're going to eat. And wash your food! Even organically-grown veggies can have bird droppings and who knows what else all over them.

That's all I'm going to say, before I completely ruin your appetite. Besides, I've already ranted about this scary story elsewhere.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard A sprig of Purslane garnishes a dinner plate at Summerhouse Grill in Montrose, Pa.

This past weekend, my husband and I paid a brief visit to family in northeastern Pennsylvania. On Saturday night, we were at a popular seasonal restaurant, and were shocked to find a few stems of Purslane artfully placed on Christopher's dinner plate as garnish. We frequently battle this succulent weed in our own garden, but never really considered eating it.

Back in Frederick, I picked some salad greens from our garden (including nasturtium leaves and flowers, and several varieties of lettuce) and decided to add some Purslane to the mix. I have to admit, the taste and texture weren't that bad. 

Turns out Purslane and many other weeds were brought to the U.S. by European settlers as food plants, and the annoying little things escaped from the kitchen garden and into the wild. If you're interested in the history behind some of these plants, you might consider reading American Household Botany by Judith Sumner. You may not be inspired to snack on weeds the next time you're pulling them from your flower beds, but you'll have a greater appreciation for their tenacity.

It's sort of fun to know which plants are safe to eat, even if our more commonly cultivated fruits and veggies are far more delicious. Many weeds are edible, including Dandelion, Violet, Plantain, and Chickweed. Obviously, you should use caution when gathering and consuming wild food plants (careful research is essential), and you should never eat a plant that you can't positively identify.

	Photo by freshairechoice.com Freshaire Choice, a new VOC-free paint available at Home Depot

Ok, raise your hand if you've ever given yourself a headache while painting inside the house. (If you didn't raise your hand, you're lying.)

Those fumes that make you feel yucky are VOCs -- Volatile Organic Compounds -- vaporized chemicals that can come from any number of sources, including paint and carpet backing, and contribute to poor indoor air quality.

I don't know about you, but the thought of a house full of nasty paint smell has (more than once) delayed home improvement projects in my house. Luckily, there are new VOC-free paint options popping up all over the place.

A couple weeks ago, Jen emailed to say that she'd just used Bioshield Paint in her hallway, attested to its lack of stinky paint smell, and gave it rave reviews. (According to the company's web site, Bioshield Paint is "made primarily from naturally-derived raw materials including citrus peel extracts, essential oils, seed oils, tree resins, inert mineral fillers, tree and bee waxes, lead-free dryers and natural pigments.")

And just today, I saw a post on Re-Nest about Freshaire Choice, a new option at Home Depot. The product is the first tinted paint without VOCs. (Looks like they're offering some free samples.)

So, the next time you paint, treat yourself to a fume-free experience.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Our rain barrels, made with repurposed containers from good ol' McCutcheon's.

The biz section is at it again, with an interesting story about eco-friendly ideas for the garden. This time, it's rain barrels.

Rain barrels are incredibly inexpensive to make yourself, and the project is not very difficult. For our own barrels, we purchased two containers from McCutcheon's that had originally been used for something apple-flavored. After cleaning them out, we found some instructions online, and purchased some hardware, silicone, and  mosquito screen. We also needed a couple of new gutter/drain pieces to redirect water into the barrel.

The whole project probably cost us less than $20 per barrel. Now, if we get more than a quarter of an inch of rain, both barrels are full. That's over 100 gallons of water that we can use for watering plants or filling bird baths. (Please note: It's not safe for drinking or cooking!)

During last year's water ban, the supply in our barrels really came in handy. Even when the city's water supply is at normal levels, we still enjoy knowing that we don't have to pay for our rain barrel water, which would have otherwise just washed into our lawn area ... Or worse, down a storm drain.

Of course, there are more attractive options than the blue plastic barrels that we made. Wooden barrels are available at many garden centers. Or you could cover yours with a screen or vine, like this barrel I spotted on Apartment Therapy yesterday.

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard Our new DVD "drawer" in progress (top), closed (middle), and open (bottom)

For the longest time, we were storing our DVD collection in a patterned cardboard box from Ikea. It worked out just fine at first, but as you might imagine, it didn't hold up very well. Our cats took to sleeping on top of of the box, so the cover started to sag. Then the handles started to tear off from the constant pulling on a heavy box full of movies. (Of course, this was repairable with duct tape, but that's a whole other blog post.) In the end, the final straw was that we simply ran out of room for all of our DVDs. Our growing collection of movies and TV seasons was starting to stack up outside of the box, and we just couldn't take it anymore.

Luckily, we happen to have stacks and stacks of scrapwood from various projects, including the replacement of most of our door, window, and floor trim. My husband, a DIY superhero who can't stand to throw anything away, knew exactly what to do. He came up with this extremely useful (and surprisingly attractive) DVD storage "drawer."

It's perfectly sized to fit between the legs of our credenza, but it's not attached. We used stick-on felt pads that let it slide easily on our wood floors, and some leftover paint and hardware (screws and brackets). The only thing we had to purchase to complete the project were two handles -- We managed to find an inexpensive option in the hardware aisle that matches the existing pulls on our credenza pretty well.

As you can see, there's plenty of room for additional DVDs. And I just saw the first season of Ask This Old House on amazon.com ...

	Photo by Jennifer Moran (herekittyblog.blogspot.com) From top: Bedroom before, bedroom after, living room before, and living room after.

Waaaaay back in 1998, Jen and I met in our freshman dorm at Ithaca College. We instantly bonded over music, dramatic love lives, and (once we turned 21, of course), strange mixed drink concoctions.

Ten years later, we're older and wiser ... Thank goodness. And we have plenty of new things to bond over, including decorating and home improvement.

Jen is far away in Madison, Wis., but my before & after escapades have turned her into a loyal Give Me Shelter reader. Lately, she's been posting before & after photos of her own home on her blog. I love the paint colors she chose for her bedroom and living room, pictured here. Suddenly the walls in my house look so pale ...

What have you been doing in your own home? Email me some photos, info, and/or a link. If you inspire me, I'll post it here so you can inspire others, too.

Now that my calendar page has turned to March, I'm counting the days until Spring arrives. It's a little early to do much outside, but it's the perfect time to examine the garden and formulate plans for warm weather work sessions.

Not sure where to start? Our own yard was pretty trashed when we bought our house, so the first order of business was to clean out all the overgrown shrubs and invasive weeds. After that, we set to work on establishing the framework for our garden, beginning with some pathways and other hardscaping, including a small patio.

Bluestone is one of my favorite paving materials, probably because most of it is quarried where I grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania. When my parents generously offered to bring us some cut stone for a housewarming gift, I drew up a plan for a small (8 x 10') random rectangle patio area. (Click here for a PDF of the design.)

This is the small bluestone quarry on my family's farm in Susquehanna County, Pennyslvania. (Interesting trivia: The county's entire population is less than the population inside Frederick's city limits. It's pretty rural.)

Anyway, I digress ... Here's the story of our patio, in a few small pictures:

Top left: This is what our yard looked like when we moved in ... The area where we wanted to build our patio was completely overgrown. And yes, that is a satellite dish in there amongst the weeds.

Top right: If you plan to transport your own stone, be careful. It's extremely heavy material, and you'll need a truck that can handle the weight.

Bottom left: Installing the patio. Once we had the area cleared and prepped, it didn't take us long. (These instructions are similar to what we did, if you're interested in trying it yourself.)

Bottom right: Our much-improved outdoor living area. It's shaded in the morning, so it's a great place to have breakfast in the summer. Bring on that warm weather ... we're all set!

	Photo by dominomag.com

Maxed out on family festivities around the holidays? Retreat to a quiet corner for a little solo DIY time! Here are some fun ideas, from some of my favorite places around the web:

• Holiday gifts for gardeners to make (You Grow Girl)
• Memories contained (decor8)
• Cozy candle jars (decor8)
• Homemade marshmallows (Design*Sponge)
• Modern holiday wreath (Design*Sponge)
• Photograph Christmas lights & ornaments (Photojojo) ... then ...
• Turn your digital photo into a puzzle (befuddlr)
• Whimsical animal ornaments (Domino Magazine)

And with that, I'm off for the holidays ... I'll be back in 2008 with more DIY, before & after, local sources, and seasonal ideas. As always, feel free to email me with your ideas. Happy New Year!

	Photo by Jessica Hibbard These salvaged doors give our tiny bathroom some much-needed elbow room.

I had hoped to follow up last Friday's post on my small kitchen with another "before & after" of my own home, focusing this time on our bathroom. Unfortunately, I'm having some problems finding the "before" pictures. It's probably not so unfortunate anyway ... Our 7 x 5 ft. bathroom (the only one in the house) was so ugly when we first moved in, I'd have to think twice before posting photos of it.

The four months of renovations to this small space (did I mention it's the ONLY bathroom in the house?!) ended in success. We changed almost everything, including fixtures, flooring, trim, paint, and tile. My favorite feature, though, is the addition of new doors.

Originally, we had a bulky solid door, which swung inside the bathroom and gobbled up half the space. While we were shopping at our favorite architectural salvage shop (Historic York Architectural Warehouse in York, Pa.), we found the perfect solution: Two panels that were formerly bi-fold doors. With the right hardware**, we were able to hang them so they open in the middle ... They're half as wide as the original door, so there's much more space.

These doors have other advantages, too. Most people wouldn't be crazy enough to put doors with windows on their bathroom, but we quickly solved that problem with faux stained glass window film. It was a piece of cake to apply, and we can take it off anytime without damaging the glass. It provides plenty of privacy while still allowing the light to shine through, which makes the adjacent hallway feel more spacious, too.

** I think the hardware is from Lowe's or Home Depot, but I couldn't find a link to anything similar. If you're thinking of doing something like this and need more information on the latching mechanism, just send me an email.

	Photo by amazon.com "The New Green Christmas: How to make this and every holiday an environmental celebration" by The Evergreen Alliance

I was looking for something on my bookshelf when this little paperback caught my eye. My parents bought it in the early '90s, and somehow it wound up in my own personal library.

Now that we're approaching 2008, reading it is sort of a trip down memory lane. But in light of recent water restrictions and public discussions about waste, energy, and recycling, many of the ideas are surprisingly up-to-date:

• Low-flow aerators that screw on to bath and kitchen faucets are the perfect size for stocking stuffers. Bonus: The recipients will reduce water usage by 50%, an average of 300 gallons per month for a family of four ... Plus, you know you love the thrill of shopping for Christmas gifts at the hardware store.
• Make your Christmas cards edible -- Bake an extra-large cookie and write your greeting in icing. Bonus: Since there's no waste, the recipients can completely avoid the incinerator vs. recycling debate with this one.
• Give a down comforter (and a good night's sleep) to someone special. Bonus: The recipient will feel comfortable enough to click the thermostat down a few extra degrees at night, which saves money and fossil fuel.

And, if you'd really like to know what my semi-hippie childhood was like ... Try one of these DIY projects, both of which received my mom's wholehearted endorsement:

• Cut the tops off laundry soap and cereal boxes and reuse as magazine holders. If you're feeling fancy, cut at an angle and cover with colorful paper.
• Make some snazzy firestarters using pine cones: Melt a bunch of old candles in a double-boiler, and use the hot wax to half-fill the cups in an old muffin tin. Add a cotton string wick and a pinecone to each cup. After the wax cools, stick the entire tin in the freezer for a few minutes, then pop out the finished product. Eat your heart out, Martha!

I took the day off from work today to bake cookies and wrap presents. Throughout the holiday season, most kitchens really get a workout, and ours is no exception.

There are a lot of things I'd like to change about our kitchen, but the biggest problem is that it's tiny. Since we bought our house in 2005, we've made some changes to spruce it up and make it feel larger. Here's the "before and after" evidence:

Above, left: A photo of our kitchen in 2005. YIKES ... Just the wallpaper-countertop-flooring combo is enough to make anyone cringe.

Above, right: I took this photo today. The updated surfaces on the cabinets and countertop are a welcome change. The reflective backsplash and larger floor tiles help make the room feel more spacious.

Here's the short list of the improvements we've** made:

• Removed hardware and painted cabinets -- The dual-tone colors add some character, and the darker color matches the trim color, so the edges of cabinets blend into doorways and windows.
• Replaced countertop -- I'm not sure how much this helped create the feeling of more space, but the existing countertop was really outdated.
• Added backsplash, a faux tin that's normally used on ceilings -- The shiny surface reflects light and creates the feeling of a larger space. It's also less expensive and easier to install than regular tile.
• Replaced trim around doors and windows -- We used the same simple wood trim, painted an espresso color, throughout the house, which helps unifies the space. The clean lines make small rooms seem less cluttered.
• Replaced super-ugly floor tiles -- The 12x12" checker pattern is larger than the designs used on most floors, which actually makes the room seem twice as big. The muted colors (faux stone and marble) also help enlarge the space.
• Replaced regular-sized fridge with an apartment-sized model -- We keep the larger one in the basement for overflow food storage.
• Removed wallpaper and painted walls -- The small, striped pattern on the wallpaper clashed with everything and made the room feel claustrophobic.
• Added a freestanding, rolling dishwasher -- It hooks up to the sink, and is much easier than washing everything by hand. The top adds some much-needed counter space.

** When I say "we," I mean mostly my husband, who is one of those amazingly skilled, creative, DIY types.

	Photo by designspongeonline.com

There's a lot of pressure to decorate for the holidays, and this year I've sort of been rebelling. But unlike building your own island, this simple DIY project is something that I might actually find myself doing!

These paper ornaments require nothing more than construction paper, cutting tools, ruler, stapler, and some thread for hanging. They'd look great in a doorway, or as pictured, hanging as a group from the ceiling. Heck, if the colors aren't to Christmas-y, you could leave them up all year long!

Design*Sponge, a constant source of inspiration, features a different DIY project each Wednesday, and this one is the most recent. Here's a link to all the D*S DIY projects.

	Photo by ecoble.com Sprial Island, built in 1998, was later destroyed by a hurricane. Plans are in the works for a second island.

This came to my attention via an email sent to my husband's workplace: Apparently Richie Sowa, a man with access to an extremely large number of soda bottles, built his own floating island off the coast of Mexico.

Here's the story: Sowa collected 250,000 empty soda bottles, which he netted and suspended from a bamboo frame. He added sand, plants, a two-story house, solar oven, composting toilet, and rain collection system. Voila -- DIY floating island!

The original 3500 sq. ft. island was destroyed by a hurricane, but Sowa is starting work on a new island.

Intrigued? Read the story on Treehugger or watch the YouTube video.

P.S. -- If you click through all the links above, you'll see that there's some question as to the sustainability of this project. However, since Sowa clearly intended it to be an experiment in eco-friendly living, I'm still categorizing it as such.

	Photo by craftzine.com I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of this drawing, but I really like the way it’s framed.

Today is my first day in a new office building at work. I like my new digs, but we haven’t hung any artwork yet, so the walls look really empty.

We’re planning a variety of displays around the office: The Frederick Arts Council is going to help us arrange for rotating exhibits of local art, and we have plenty of historic photos and documents to show off. But I wanted something a little different in my office. I have a few prints from favorite advertising campaigns (Vitrorobertson for Taylor Guitars, 2001 & 2002), and I think they might finally find a home above my desk.

Of course, they’re not yet framed. Framing can be sort of expensive, and do-it-yourself framing is not the easiest job in the world. Since these are just poster prints, and not original art, it might make sense to go a more non-traditional route. I found these instructions at craftzine.com … So if you see me at the hardware store this weekend, buying plexiglas and eye bolts, you’ll know why.