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Garden Blog

Earth Day Isn’t a Date on the Calendar for Me. It’s How I Build Pro...

Earth Day Isn’t a Date on the Calendar for Me. It’s How I Build Products. I remember when Earth Day was mostly a remi...

Earth Day Is a Daily Habit for Us

Earth Day has become more than a day for VistaTek and SelfEco. It has become daily lifestyle. We continue to in-house compost, recycle and continue to reduce our waste. Employees are using reusable ceramic coffee mugs, bringing reusable packaging from home and we are adding a continuous improvement fund from the money we get back from recycling our aluminum, steel and plastics.

Earth Day and Why the Work Still Matters

As SelfEco Garden has grown over the years, one thing has stayed clear to me. What we make matters. Our two product l...

Oh My Woodness!

10 Companies that Plant a Tree for Every Product You Buy - Pt. 2

January 03 2018

I like seeing companies put real effort behind their values. Planting a tree for every product sold is not a perfect ...

We, gardeners, are always on the lookout for new garden hacks to spice up things here and there in our gardens. Below are 5 garden hacks from Wonderland Gardens that every gardener will find useful. Presoak to speed up germination Different seeds have a different germination rate, not because their embryos vary but because their shells have varying water-resistance. All that seeds need to activate and grow is some water to reach their embryos. Now, to jump-start the germination, all you do is presoak your seeds for up to 24 hours. However, you must be careful not to soak them for too long as they might rot. Presoaking helps in breaking the water-resistant coat/ dormancy and the seeds swell and the embryo begins to plump up. But, be sure not to soak seeds that germinate better in cool/cold temperatures in warm water and vice versa. Used coffee grounds in your compost pile, as fertilizer and as an insecticide You don’t have to throw away the used coffee grounds because they might be very useful in your garden. First, coffee grounds are very rich in nitrogen, and as such, they make a great addition to your compost pile because they speed up the composting process by breaking down the organic items in the compost pile. Again, the coffee grounds mask the unpleasant smell that comes from the pile. Second, used coffee grounds make a good fertilizer thanks to the abundance of nitrogen. And, just to note, used coffee grounds are not acidic. The acid present in coffee beans is water soluble thus it goes to the coffee itself leaving the grounds acid-free. Again, you don’t have to go for harsh chemicals when dealing with pests in your garden. All you need is coffee grounds because most pests, including slugs, can’t stand it. Plus, this will even be more advantageous if you have acid-loving plants because as mentioned above, unused coffee grounds have water-soluble acid which will end up in the soil with time. Use leftover beer or Clarified neem oil to kill snugs For neem tree, buy it in concentrated form then dilute it yourself following the recommended dilution rates on the bottles. Neem will repel all types of insects including thrips and aphids. What makes it even a better option is that there is no harm in eating plants that have been sprayed with neem. The other option is to use leftover beer in your garden to attract then kill snugs. All you need is beer in containers placed in various spots in your garden, and it will attract snugs then kill them once they crawl in. Use an old milk jug as a makeshift watering can A good garden hose can help a great deal, especially when watering large lawns. However, there are times when a watering can is more ideal. The good news is that you don’t have to buy one if you have an old milk jug because all you do is drill a few holes on the lid and voila! Also, this will be a great way to save water because you will have a better control of how much goes where. However, this will only work for simple watering tasks. Use disposable diapers to retain moisture in your potted plants Another great garden hack is laying diapers in your potted plants to retain moisture longer. This is especially helpful during the overly dry/warmer weather where pots require frequent irrigation. They are a great alternative to water retention crystals because they too contain hydrogel.

5 Garden Hacks Everyone Should Know

January 03 2018

I have been around gardeners my whole life. One thing I have learned is this. Gardeners love simple tricks that actua...

Compostable Product Comparison: Self-Feeding Pots vs. Commercial-Grade Pots (NEW!)

Compostable Product Comparison: Self-Feeding Pots vs. Commercial-Gr...

December 28 2017

Shop Both Styles >

7 Tips For Maintaining Your Garden Plumbing During Winter Months

6 Tips For Maintaining Your Garden Plumbing During Winter Months

November 20 2017

Keeping plumbing systems in your garden functional means following the same rules which are also valid for home plumbing. Follow these tips and learn what to do when a problem arises.

Dirt on Danny's Desk

Why Dirt On My Desk Made My Day!

October 27 2017

Dirt on Danny's Desk

I walked into my office after lunch last week and there was a bag of dirt on my desk. I asked my co-workers regarding it and they said that a lady named Carol wanted to share what was left from her SelfEco Garden Pot. She had taken a tour (with St. Croix Valley Tours) of our manufacturing facility last fall and received a 6-pack of the SelfEco Compostable Garden Pots.

Protein Rich Edemame Pods

10 Protein-Rich Foods You Can Grow In Your Home Garden

September 12 2017

I have noticed a shift over the last several years in how people think about food. More people are eating plants. Not...

How You Can Use Solar Energy To Improve Your Garden

If you have green fingers then chances are you care a lot for nature and you appreciate the beauty and wonders that comes with it. Having your own garden, planting plants, food and flowers are a big contribution you are making to our earth, this is something that is being supported by the green movement non-stop. But there are even better ways to become an eco-friendly gardener with the help of using solar power in your garden.

Stillwater Earth Day, School Projects, and Why This Stuff Matters

Last Saturday, Stillwater hosted its second annual Earth Day celebration. Stillwater is our hometown, so events like ...

Manufacturing and Earth Day: What Actually Matters

When people talk about being Earth friendly, they usually talk about products or posts they share online. That has ne...

Petunia Dreams - 3.29.17 - Comparison SelfEco Pot vs Petroleum Pot

Is The Beauty In The Plant Or The Pot?

Spring is when people buy plants. It should be simple. Pick a healthy plant. Take it home. Plant it. Watch it grow. B...

MN Cup Food/Ag/Beverage Division Winners SelfEco Garden!

Looking Back at 2016 and What We Built

January 10 2017

A lot of people called 2016 a rough year. I get why. But when I look back on it, I see progress. I see hard work payi...

How to grow gypsophilia baby's breath

How to Grow Gypsophilia at Home (Baby's Breath)

Baby’s Breath is one of those flowers people recognize right away, even if they do not know the name. You see it i...

SelfEco Garden 4" Round Pots

Product Update, Kickstarter Shipping Date, Pics and More!

If you backed us on Kickstarter, I want to start by saying thank you. The last couple of months were busy in the b...

Woodchuck USA

10 Companies that Plant a Tree for Every Product You Buy

It is International Forest Day, and that always gets me thinking. Forests do a lot of quiet work. They clean air. The...

International Forest Day 2016: Forests and Water

International Day of Forests and Why Forests and Water Matter

The International Day of Forests is meant to do one thing. Slow us down and remind us why forests matter. Forests are...

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