If you enjoy gardening, it’s time to start your garden NOW! Many veggies can be sown in March, and it’s great to get a head-start for spring! Carrots, kale, peas, spinach, and turnips can all be sown outdoors straight away. Take a look at our complete list of veggies and herbs you can plant in March!

1) Carrots

Carrot seeds can be sown in light soil that’s free of stones.

2) Parsley, Dill, and Chives

These herbs can be sown either in containers, or straight into the soil.

3) Turnips

If you want to get a head-start on your turnips, you can sow the seeds directly into the soil.

4) Spinach

Spinach thrives in soil that’s loaded with nutritious compost. You can plant spinach outside straight away.

5) Parsnips

If your soil isn’t too hard, you can plant your parsnip seeds in rows. Make sure the seeds are about 30 cm apart.

6) Spring Onion

It’s called spring onion because it’s ready to eat in the spring! You can get them started directly outside and they make a fantastic addition to salads!

7) Kale

Kale is ready in the summer, so get it started now by planting seeds outside in a well-prepared garden.

8) Peas

Peas can be planted directly into the ground. If you’ve got a problem with mice or other small critters, you can start them off in containers before transferring them to your garden.

Photos: Img Arcade, Kids Quest Museum, Wikipedia, Grit, Gardening Know How, Img Buddy, Gorsia, Bonnie Plants, Away to Garden.

Spring is almost here, but winter still has us in its grip. Get through these last few cold night by warming up with this white bean and bacon soup! It’s easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner, and would make a great frozen make-ahead meal. Make a big batch and bring some to work, or pack it in a thermos for lunch for the kids! This soup is delicious and is made from white beans, parmesan cheese, bacon, celery, garlic, chicken stock, and sage. Throw on that apron and let’s get cookin’!

White Bean Soup Recipe With Parmesan Cheese, Bacon, and Sage

Looking for some healthy comfort food? Try this white bean soup with bacon, garlic, parmesan cheese, celery, and sage!

Serve it up with crusty bread for dipping!

 Photos: The Clever Carrot.

Winter isn’t going to let up anytime soon, and that’s why you should warm yourself up with this tasty chicken tortellini soup! We just love soup, and there’s no better way to end a hectic day than with some hot soup and crusty bread. This chicken soup is simple to prepare since it uses the rotisserie chicken you can buy at any grocery store. Add in some tortellini and veggies and you’ve got yourself a soup fit for a king! It also works well for weeknight dinners, and we think it would work in a crockpot, too! Keep reading for the recipe!

Photos: Cooking Classy.

If you’ve ever wanted to dine like King Edward VII, try out this soup! This cheesy cheddar soup is the perfect soup to warm you up these cold January nights. It’s made from cheddar cheese, potatoes, onions, cream, and chives. All the ingredients are easy to find, and the soup is pretty simple to make. Just because it’s so simple, doesn’t mean it skimps on flavor! This soup was one of the most popular soups among aristocrats just because it was so tasty!

Dine Like the Edwardians: Royal Cheddar Cheese and Potato Soup

Photos: Taste and Tell Blog.

These gorgeous lanterns are easy to put together, and the best part is that they’re free! Scour your yard for various greens and drop a few cranberries in for a pop of color. This is an easy way to transform your front porch or yard into an instant winter wonderland!

Step #1:

Grab 2 different sized tupperware bowls. One has to be larger than the other.

Step #2:

Fill up the large bowl with water, stopping 1/3 of the way from the top. Add in your greens and cranberries .

Step #3:

Fill up the smaller bowl with water and place it inside the larger one. This will make room for your candle. Place the bowls into your freezer overnight.

Step #4:

When the lanterns are frozen, you can run the bowls under warm water to loosen them. Place a candle inside and put your new icy lanterns on your front porch or walkway!

Photos: Raised in Cotton.

There’s nothing better than a warm fireplace on a cold winter’s night! Take a look at our tips on how to protect your fireplace it from pests, give it a yearly inspection, and which wood to burn (yes, there is a specific type)!

Inspection First!

Shine a flashlight up your chimney before using it. Check to see if there’s any build-up on the chimney’s walls. Of course there will be black marks, but there’s a difference between black walls and black, fuzzy build-up. The fuzzy stuff is creosote starting to build-up on your chimney’s walls. Creosote is flammable, and will catch fire when temperatures in your chimney get hot enough to light it. If you see shiny stuff built-up, this is bad! Shiny creosote is more flammable than the regular black stuff, and it would be wise to get your chimney professionally cleaned.

Get the Right Wood

Experts recommend burning good, seasoned hardwood. If you decide to just throw in a random tree that you chopped down yourself, you will get moisture in the smoke. This only encourages creosote build-up.

Keep Pests at Bay

If any pests such as raccoons, birds, or squirrels make a home in your chimney, it can block the flow of smoke. The smoke will be blown back into your home, and also the animal’s nest could catch fire. If the nest catches fire, chances are that your home will too! Chimney caps are useful in keeping pests out, along with leaves, rain, and other debris. If you start to hear animal noises, or see animals walking around your chimney, it would be a good idea to get a chimney cap.

Photos: Stovax, Ventura Cast Stone, Britannica, B and B Renovations and Chimney Sweep.

In this article we’ll be showing you how to store all of your seasonal clothing! Summer is over, and now it’s time to put all of our summer clothes away to make room for our winter stuff! Take a look at our tips on how to get your seasonal clothes organized and make more room in your closet!

Before Storing Your Clothes

Always wash your clothes before storing them. If your clothes have been dry-cleaned, remove them from the bag. The bag can encourage mildew and trap moisture. Use cotton garment bags or cotton sheets to protect your clothes from dust. Pick a storage location that’s cool, dry, and well-ventilated. Don’t store your winter clothes in your attic, since the heat in the summer can damage the fibres. Always store clothes away from direct sunlight, as it can fade your clothes.

Pick the Right Hangers

Avoid thin wire hangers and store jackets and coats on padded hangers or thick wooden hangers. Hang pants by the cuff or hem to avoid creases. Hang your skirts from waistbands using skirt hangers. You can use wooden or plastic hangers for shirts and blouses.

Storing Your Clothes in Boxes

When storing your clothes in boxes, avoid boxes made out of cardboard. Cardboard is acidic, and the glue on it can attract pests. Use plastic containers with a lid instead. Always label the containers using a permanent marker.

Keep Moths Away

If you have moths in your area, mothballs can help protect your clothes that are made from natural fibers. Mothballs should only be used in sealed containers. Never place them directly on stored clothing. Don’t wear clothing immediately if it has been stored with mothballs. Air it out for at least a day before wearing. For a more natural way to keep away moths, you can place sachets of lavender with your clothes.

Storing Seasonal Clothes

You can use a rolling garment rack to store your clothes. They’re inexpensive, sturdy, and can hold a lot of clothes. As an alternative, you can store your clothes in suitcases. Don’t forget to label them! If you have a closet with a high ceiling, you can add a hanging rod to hang up your seasonal clothes.

Photos: Literally Organized, Scholastic, Improvements Catalog.