Container tools-what is best? Help for a newbie....

more holes for the bottom for sure, I'm putting in about 25 holes in the bottom of each of mine. I'm using a ice pick for the holes, so mine aren't that big. Drainage is very important as some seeds won't make it if they are sitting in frozen water.

I use seed starter mix only in mine. You need good drainage for the best results is my understanding.

Janet

Lynn. Thanks for the link to Tom Clothiers. Very good info there.

Podster, you must have worked in clinical studies before - LOL - my husband does that for a living. How is the "real" Pod doing? Meadowyck, you need to see Podster's gorgeous dog - post photos! Podster, Meadowyck is a collie mom too.

Looks like I'll be drilling more holes in the bottom. I like to drill so no biggie! I have about 75 containers done so far so will turn 'em all over and drill, drill, drill. I won't worry about the top then - the four holes and lid off should be sufficient?

Cynthia

PS I have four friends that want to do it so I'm making a lot of jugs - we're gonna have a BYOS (bring your own soil) party. I have enough seeds for an army to plant, LOL.

Cynthia:

enough seeds for an army, you sound like me.... must run in collie moms....LOL

Janet

Phew! Glad Pod isn't quite a Collie. I'd have to track down more seeds... LOL You sound like y'all will have your hands full with wintersowing.

any fourlegged is wonderful to me....

Yes this is going to be the year, thank goodness I have till February to get all of mine ready....

Janet

lOVE THE IDEA!

Way to go Cynthia on starting a new idea for parties....LOL

Lily of the Nile is the name of the plant that you liked.

Do you want me to send ya some....? You will need to start the seeds now and baby them along inside until it is warm enough to plant and maybe you might get some blooms this year. It isn't hardy in my zone or yours so I would suggest you plant it in a planter that you could overwinter inside your house. This plant is so beautiful. I just love it, I was sad that Lowes didn't carry it again this year so I could have it in my garden this past season. But I'm going to start some seeds after Christmas and see what luck I have with growing them.

Janet

Yes, I would love some seeds and I'd be glad to start them inside. I saw your facebook entries so I'll hop over to FB and give you my address, etc.

And I think a BYOS party is going to be a fun idea. I mean, who doesn't have more seeds than they know what to do with? I really want the jugs to be perfect, though, so none of us are disappointed. Tomorrow, off to the store to buy a new drill - I was borrowing one but think I need my own. Yes for me!

Merry Christmas friends! Here's the real Santa and his wife. (The problem is the costumes fit, LOL)

Cynthia

you sure are a hoot, just wish we collie lovers were closer together, the times we could have together with our fourlegged loves, going to nursing homes, hospitals, businesses doctors offices.

(ps thats why my and DH don't try on the costumes as they would fit aswell.....rofl)

Janet

I'm using a hot phillips screwdriver to do my holes. Quick, easy, and actually not too bad in when it's so cold and dreary out.

Gotta go pick up another load of milk jugs from my local Starbuck's today.

Linda

podster... is your Pod part Healer? looks like he's [he or she?] has some Cattle dog in there. ... quite the 'beaut'.

here's my "buddy" ... he's not into plants or seeds.

Oh my gosh, Buddy is gorgeous! What is it about Buddy's that makes them so fantastic? My God-collie is named Buddy and I'll post his photo.

I bought a Dremel for the milk jug holes - oh my - it's amazing! I just did about 40 cartons in no time - drilling holes on the top, bottom and then for the twist ties. I even used it to slice between the twist tie holes so I can use the utility knife to cut through back to the handles.

And best news, doggie toenails with a Dremel, woohoooo! Here's my Buddy.

My Buddy is a Coated Shepherd [GSD] that was "mom" and "dad" was a Cattle Dog.

He's gorgeous - I love his coloring! Here are my two boys - they really like to dress up too.

Cool "Buddy" photos. And I really love the Christmas attire.
The dremel tool is an excellent idea for that... which tip or bit did you find worked best?

Yes, Pod has some herding instinct ~ the muscled hindquarters and the bobbed tail which throws everyone as he favors a Shepherd with his ears up. He gets frustrated trying to herd the cats, Stretch and myself when we walk. What astounded me was when he was rescued, he seemed to be obedience trained. I learned later that a stock dog learns from a trained dog. We had a Lab that was trained so Pod picked it up quickly. He doesn't much like his photo taken so I catch as catch can. Most are not the best...

I so love seeing others fourlegged companions, wonderful looking friends yall have there. Cynthia, leave it to you to get the right hat on the right dog.....LOL

What a twosome you have there...

Janet

Guess I'm gonna have to take a look at the other tools on my dremel and yes that is my preferred method for nails... fast and quick except when you get a loose strand of hair in it...ouchhhhhhhhhh...

the past two years, i've used a small paring knife for making holes.

Pod's mommy, I bought a metal tip for the Dremel - it looks just like an arrow and it goes thru the plastic like nobody's business. Last night was about 30 milk cartons in a couple hours! Then I bought an attachment that makes it like a lil saw, so I cut through the cartons to make a slip to begin with to cut them in half. The best part is I used the lil saw to cut the Sam's Club boxes down so they aren't so tall around the milk jugs. It made the kitchen smell like my dad's wood shop used to smell - brought back some sweet memories of my late father. :^)

And Pod is darling - love the lack of tail! Han's being interviewed Tuesday for the local newspaper as a therapy dog. I bet Pod is smart. I'll have to scan his article and show you ladies. Podster, are you on Facebook? Janet (Meadowyck) and I share photos on FB, it's fun.

I guess since I started this thread, I can kidnap it for a bit, LOL.

No to FB ~ DG uses up more time than I should spare. LOL

I really admire you and your Hans for the therapy effort. A few years back my husband was in ICU and a couple came thru with two large German Shepherds. They were so well behaved and so appreciated. I'm sure you are told that often but thank you so much for your time and effort.

Love the Christmas attire Hans and I hope you get some goodies in your "stocking"?!!

He is amazing. He seems to know he needs to be extra gentle and kind, and he walks around the walkers/wheelchairs/oxygen - whatever is in the way - up to the bed so they can see him. I really want to take him more often after the first of the year as it's so much fun to see how people light up when they see him. Just like that.... you remember those two german shepherds. How much of an impression did they make?

He might have a new chewbone or two in his stocking. Me, I want a Menard's or Lowe's gift card!

Hay Cynthia

Please go slow with have too many more days of therapy, one thing that folks don't realize about our therapy dogs is that the work really affects them, talk with your local group, most therapy dogs don't do more the 2-3 days a month. If more days than that you will start to see a decline in the dog. When I did therapy work at the nursing home I had four collies I used, 1 dog per week. It is an unseen feeling that our dogs are able to pick up those people who need them the most, but our dogs are very sensitive to the needs of the elderly or sick children and over a long period of time the dog will start to have health issues which comes from dealing with the sick.

So I know you love the work as I do and being able to bring some joy to those who aren't out and about anymore is a wonderful joy, but try working some other dogs into the routine.

Best thing is to really work closely with your local therapy dog group.

Janet

Yes, I take Han once/week for an hour and that seems to be plenty for him. We went once and it was three hours - wayyyy too long as he was worn out - so now we only do one floor which takes an hour. He does great and seems to love that hour - though he sleeps the rest of the day! He especially likes the elevator rides now as he gets treats while we're in the elevator - and we go outside to run a couple minutes after his first half hour.

I don't know if we have a local therapy dog group here, I just took him thru numerous dog training courses and he's just a natural fit. I can't join another group right now, lol, as I'll be starting Master Gardener classes in a couple months - to add on to my existing schedule.

I'll be volunteering in the afternoons now on Tuesdays to take the resident shih tzu around to all the rooms. She lives at the facility and is used to being handled 24/7. She's also a rescue - how cool is that?

Oh, and there's one gentleman that I'll take Han to see more often as he's alone, no family, and loves Han and the company. Very sweet man, breaks my heart that he lost his wife and can't live alone now. Sweet sweet man - my hubby's gonna start visiting him too. :^)

Oh you lucky gal to get into master gardener classes, I tried last year but my boss wouldn't let me change my work hours so I could attend the day class on Wednesday and if the way the weather gets from Jan - April up here I wasn't about to be going to thursday night classes cause they were an hour away from home and not get home till 10 or 11 at night in snow or ice.... not this old girl....LOL

I'll be right there with ya gal..


Cynthia you and your 4 legged are such a blessing to your area.

Janet

I can't wait to see Han's article - I have four friends who have agreed to share their dogs and am working on more. I can't imagine being in a nursing home w/o a dog, sooooo sad.

Guess what? I can go to our local Starbucks and pick up 25 milk jugs / day!!! They go thru 70 a day so if I go twice/day, I can get my few hundred in a few days, LOL. Going to have to increase the number of friends at my BYOS party in January!!!

Wish you lived closer so our kids could play. How about looking for a job in the KC area? We have a long growing season too!

Ya know that might not be a bad idea as my son once he gets home from Iraq and after another year at Ft Campbell KY, he might be getting stationed back in MO...... not sure where though...

We are starting to look, but I'm praying for at least one more year here.....

Jan

Kansas City is a nice town and it's not like St. Joseph (where we actually live) which is about 20 years behind culture. It would be nice to have another collie mom close - and you could come to my BYOS parties! Then, I could love on your Saint!

Wait till I post new pictures, I'm gonna try to get all four collies bathed the weekend after christmas.....LOL

When I do I'll post some new pictures, you think he is a looker now, wait till you see him cleaned up.

Janet