K Cup Seedling Starter Containers

We plant a small garden every year but I haven’t tried starting my plants from seed. This is really silly! I could save a great deal of $$ on vegetable and flower bed plants each year if I just take the time to start seedlings.  All these K Cups hanging around is another reason to give it a go.

Let’s get started!

Gather up your used K Cups to prep them for planting. Marshmallow – our cat – decided to get in on the action.

I find it’s easiest to remove the aluminum seal by poking my finger into the hole made my the machine and tearing it away.

Once you’ve removed the seal – pour the coffee grounds into a bowl. Don’t throw hem out! We’ll use them later.

Pull out the filter found at the bottom of the cup and discard.

Give the K Cup a quick rinse. See the little hole the Keurig machine poked in the bottom of the cup? PERFECT for drainage! I swear it’s meant to be.

This is where it starts getting messy. Remember the coffee grounds from the k Cups that we saved? Add some good potting soil to the bowl that contains the grounds and mix. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen for your plants! Another win-win! I mixed one part grounds to three parts soil. No special formula there – but I am just fairly certain we don’t want TOO much nitrogen in the mix. Add the rest of your saved grounds to your houseplants or throw into the compost pile.

Gather the rinsed K Cups.

Using a spoon – fill the cups with the soil mixture. Getting a little messier.

Still messier! This is a perfect project for kids. They get to play in the dirt when the ground outside is hard and frozen. They will also get to watch the seeds grow in to small plants that they can plant in the garden this spring.

Next – pour your seeds into a small container to make them easier to grab. I’m planting tomatoes today but you can plant anything you’d like to.

Drop 3-4 seeds into each K Cup planter.

Use some type of utensil to poke the seeds down into the soil. Put the plants into an old container of some sort. I’m using an old bread pan. Add a few teaspoons of water to each K Cup – being careful not to over waterh. Cover with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse environment and set in a sunny window or under fluorescent lighting.

That’s it!

It may be a little early to start the seeds now but I am starting early for a few reasons. I have a brown thumb. I will most likely kill a few pans full of plants before I get it right.  Secondly, I wanted to bring this tutorial to you right away so that you had plenty of time to save your  K Cups.

I hope you’re as excited about this as I am. I will continue to think of ways to re-purpose my K Cups. If you have a found a way to put them to good use -I would love to hear about it!

Until next time…

Visit the following links with your iPhone for fast an easy download.

Blue Lock Screen   Blue Home Page
Green Lock Screen  Green Home Page
Orange Lock Screen  Orange Home Page
Pink Lock Screen  Pink Home Page
Purple Lock Screen  Purple Home Page

I don’t know what I would do without YouTube. There are so many crochet tutorials there that I don’t think I’ll ever need to purchase a stitch book again. The following video is a quick demonstration on how to create the half double crochet stitch.

Here’s the pattern to my light weight infinity scarf:

I used super soft alpaca wool- medium weight and a size I crochet hook.

Row 1: Chain 154. Use a slip stitch to connect your last chain to your first. Chain two (counts as first stitch.)

Row 2: Half-Double Crochet (hdc) in the next stitch. Skip the next stitch. Repeat until you have worked your way around to the two single chains. Use a slip stitch to adjoin and chain two to form the first stitch in row three.

Repeat repeat repeat for eleven more rows. Chain 1. Turn. Single chain all around the circle. Close and tie off.

Obviously I am not the world’s best pattern author but with a scarf this simple – it’s not really necessary. I’m pretty good with a hook though so if you do have questions – post them and I will be happy to assist. Now get going and make that scarf! If you get started now – in a few short hours you’ll have a gorgeous accessory to wear tomorrow.

Brilliant! I have way more wall space than counter space so this is the perfect way to grow fresh herbs in my kitchen.  Find out how it’s done at Not Just a Housewife!

Have you seen this around the blogisphere lately? It’s a terrific idea that’s been popping up all over but I believe it originated at the Mommy Savers Blog. It’s called the $5 Savings Plan. It’s a simple plan that I think is a great way to save for your next vacation or next years Christmas presents. Each time a $5 bill comes into your possession – you throw it into a jar or your favorite piggy bank to save for later. Think about how fast that could add up!

Buy it on Etsy

Pin It

Jenn took a garage sale frame with drab artwork and turned it into the cutest magnet board ever! She painted the frame and replaced the the art with fabric covered sheet metal. The fabric she used is fabulous! What a great way to use that last bit of fabric you’ve been hoarding because you just can’t let go. You know what I’m talking about. Well – you don’t have to let go. Now you can enjoy it every day. Get the step by step from the tutorial.

I’ve made these crayons before and gifting them with a Valentine’s Day card is a fantastic idea. I also like the idea of giving something other than candy.If you’re interested in trying them yourself you’ll find the step by step on Whiperberry.

As a techy who loves her iPhone this next idea is my favorite. I hope the daughter loves it too. They will probably be going to the office with me at any rate. Living Locurto offers the free printable for you to use as well.

Decisions. decisions. decisions. What are you creating for Valentine’s Day?