Check-In Post - February 27th 2025

[badly_knitted]

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


This Week's Question: What kind of crafting supplies can you never resist buying?


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

Re: Hello!

[badly_knitted]

I'll keep your suggestions in mind. I've heard of using comfrey that way, not sure how it would work for a small garden but worth thinking about. I can get sawdust easily enough so I might give that a go on one patch I cleared late last year, but I still have roots to get out, docks and bindweed, some brambles... The garden got very neglected while I was caring for my mum the last few years of her life. Not I'm gradually dragging it back from the wilderness. The last couple of summers have been so wet though, and removing some trees has probably contributed to the waterlogging. They had to go though, they were causing serious problems.

There's always something that gets out of control.

My last wheelbarrow died a death from being left outside. The new one is plastic instead of metal, except for the frame, so in theory it ought to be more weatherproof, but I don't want to risk it if I don't have to.

Re: Hello!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I've heard of using comfrey that way, not sure how it would work for a small garden but worth thinking about.<<

It can get big, but mostly it stays where you put it. If you cut it regularly, then it won't have enough energy to misbehave.

>>I still have roots to get out, docks and bindweed, some brambles... <<

Pesky.

>>The last couple of summers have been so wet though, and removing some trees has probably contributed to the waterlogging. <<

Consider plants that like wet feet, or even a rain garden. It doesn't have to be big. Mine is probably about 18" square below a drainpipe.

>>There's always something that gets out of control.<<

That's life, and gardening. Hell, most of mine is out of control, that's why I call it laissez-faire permaculture.

>>My last wheelbarrow died a death from being left outside. <<

Bummer. Let's see, we've lived here about 30 years and are on our second wheelbarrow. I'm decently pleased with the lifespan.

Also, I got to the craft stores today! \o/

Re: Hello!

[badly_knitted]

I'll look into that possibility, it could nourish the raised area up near the house...

Very pesky, especially where the bindweed and bramble are growing out of walls, but I've heard that applying a paste of apple cider vinegar and salt to the leaves can kill ivy, which I also have a problem with, so I'm going to try it on the brambles and bindweed growing where I can't dig them out.

Trouble is, that area is only wet when it rains a lot. Some years it's dry as a bone, and I never know in advance whether we'll get a lot of rain or next to nothing.

I've been gardening since I was three or four, so practically 60 years, and I'm always learning more. I couldn't live somewhere without a garden. I need to get my hands dirty.

I guess the wheelbarrow lasted about 30 years, so not bad. It was the wheel and its frame that eventually gave out. Hoping the one I have now will last the rest of my life.