Volunteering at the Greenhouse: Tricycle Gardens

Today I started my first official volunteer day with Tricycle Gardens, a local non-profit whose vision is to create self-sustaining, organic gardens throughout Richmond. Founded in the winter of 2001 by a group of community and eco-conscious neighbors, Tricycle Gardens began as an abandoned-lot-turned-organic-garden and has since grown to 5 large and sustaining community gardens filtered throughout history city.


They offer weekly workshops and seminars (you just missed the cold frame workshop, where each participant learned to build their own frame from only $7 of pre-used and new materials) and they are launching a new service called "kitchen gardens" where volunteers (me included) will come to your backyard....We plan, prepare and plant you a garden and help maintain it until you get the hang of it. We are all working to create a greener more sustainable city, one garden at a time.




I'm beginning my tricycle garden education where sun meets seed + soil and where seedlings are born: The Greenhouse. The Greenhouse for Tricycle Gardens is located in Richmond' s Historic 262 acre Bryan Park located just north of the city. We have a varied assortment of cold weather crops almost ready to be sold (some, in the case of the lettuce, ready to be eaten): arugula, lettuce, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach.



My job was to mix some potting soil and plant two flats of lemon-lime and green bouquet basil. Easy-Peasy and done. Then i was able to snap some pics and watch Allison Mesnard feed the little darlings a fish emulsion cocktail and some root stimulator.



I was thus inspired to transplant my baby sugar snaps into 4 inch cow pots and I have stealthyly switched out my CFL in my desk lamp for a grow bulb. Unfortunately it is a rather jerry rigged endeavor and my pics do not do the process nor the plants justice. I will not taint the beautiul images of natures abundance in the Greenhouse with my paltry seedlings.

Soothing Images: Photographer Lauren Dukoff

Ugh...I am sick today for the first time in three years. I'm all soothing warm baths, comfy pjs, gentle curtain breezes today trying to recoop. Of course its freezing outside today after a nice half-week warm weather teaser when temperatures were in the low 80s. I'm nostalgic for yesterday and sun rays and the smell of spring. Here are some warm tea and sunshine happy pics from photographer Lauren Dukoff.

Ernst & Thistle: Fraktur Bird Silhouette Pillow

I decided to adjust my previous design; the five color design was a little hard to control (and a lot of paint to mix). I've decided to make a two-three color one that is more of a silhouette and I was able to make it with one stencil and some simple tape-offs.




This is my first color palette (my favorite colors). I am taking suggestions on other home decor colors for this application; any ideas?




I am thinking that the piping needs to be one of these colors to tie it all together. Either a small pattern or a solid. Still in progress. (i love this part!)

Southern Snow

A few pictures from our 8 inches of snow here in Richmond, VA. The trail i hit the day after already had mountain bike tracks on it! Its was a glorious and peaceful hour-long meander through crunching slush and flocked tree branches, scampering sparrows and kissing couples!

March Madness Giveaway at Southern Flair Blog!

Ernst & Thistle will be giving away a set of our coveted leather luggage tags on Southern Flair's March Madness Giveaway. Mark your calendars: our giveaway date is March 23rd. In order to qualify to win the item, just answer my posted question.


Thanks Allison for this wonderful opportunity for your readers to win free etsy seller items for the whole month of MARCH; an item a day! And thanks for "hearting" E+T and asking us to participate...We are flattered beyond words.

To get hooked into this awesome craziness and win handmade goodies, visit Southern Flair.