With your donation, you will have access to the password-protected website which includes:
- A series of simple projects that build upon one-another for your garden, kitchen and creative spirit
- A customizable timeline that includes growing cycles and collecting supplies
- Tons of articles, recipes, photos, videos, tools and step-by-step instructions that show you exactly how to do each step and inform you concerning important decisions.
- Design ideas
- Questions to ask yourself so that you make the best choices for your mind, body and spirit
- Lots of options so you can piece it together in a way that fits your desires and your lifestyle
Here is a summary of the progressive project sections included in the Spicy Cucumber Margarita E-Workbook:
Decide What to Grow: Peppers, Cucumbers, Citrus, All Three?
There are thousands of varieties of peppers & cucumbers and hundreds of citrus varietals. This section will help you figure out the best types for your location and needs. You will learn the difference between open-pollinated, heirloom and hybrid, decide whether to grow from seed, transplant or graft, decide where to start seeds- indoors or out, and plan to get the right amount of fruit.
Make a Drink
With the amount of options provided, you can probably make about 30 versions of the Spicy Cucumber Margarita; including virgin options for you non-drinkers. I am sure you will find the perfect combination for your taste buds! There's even a section with food pairing suggestions.
You will also learn how to make: Sour mix, Spicy Habanero Syrup, Simple Syrup, Spicy Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Lime Salt or Sugar Rim, Spicy Salt or Sugar Rim.
Collect Bottles, Baskets & Filling for Gift Baskets While Reducing Waste
Learn to develop a keen eye for good-looking bottles, baskets and filling, when you purchase and before you toss.
Design Your Garden
Learn what various phrases mean and their implications; "sustainable", "square foot gardening","genetically modified", etc.. Figure out the best location for your plants based on their needs, learn about the elements of design and use them to create a beautiful (not just functional) garden.
Assess Your Resources
Growing plants takes time, money and energy. In this section you will review the reasons for growing your own plants and decide for yourself whether it's worth it to grow peppers, cucumbers and/or citrus. This means evaluating your resources including how much time, space, sun, climate, costs, soil, fertilizer, etc.. you'll need to grow each type of edible.
Compost- Make it or Obtain It
I definitely advocate making your own, but there never seems to be enough. So this section provides valuable tips on getting it for free or very little expense.
Watering Options & Installation
Learn the true meaning of "average" water. Learn all of the potential ways to water your plants (including methods like using an olla) and learn how-to install the systems, etc..
Obtain Seeds & Transplants
Not all seeds are created equal and they definitely don't all cost the same amount. This section will help you figure out the best places to get seeds for your budget and values.
Prepare to Plant
Unfortunately getting a good harvest is not as simple as just sticking seeds in the ground. But fortunately, this section simplifies it for you; label seed markers, assess soil and amend it correctly, determine what type and how much fertilizer to add and make sure all the work is done before you put the seeds or transplants in the ground. You also get your gardening tools in shape and learn to use your body correctly.
Get Planting!
Since the hard work was done in previous sessions, now you can concentrate on planting your seeds or transplants in order to give them the most potential.
Raise Strong Plants
Plan to maintain your plants to prevent problems... This includes thinning, preventing pests from eating everything, succession planting and feeding.
Harvest and Store Your Produce
Learn exactly what the produce should look and feel like and and how-to pluck it so that you don't slow down production. When you have to much to eat, figure out how-to freeze, dry, can and store produce in the refrigerator.
Enjoy Your Harvest: Recipes for Your Mouth, Body and Home
Tons of recipes that feature each of your garden grown goodies for eating & drinking, slathering on yourself and cleaning your home.
Design a Gift Basket
Step by step instructions, inspirational photos and free downloadable labels to print for your homemade syrups and liquors.
Save Seeds and Plants
Specific instructions for each type of produce and how-to send them to the seed bank if you're so inclined.
Prepare for Winter
Citrus trees and pepper plants will last more than one year; this section will help you keep them alive through harsher conditions.
Dear Fellow Gardeners, Mixologists, and/or DIY Enthusiasts,
About two years ago I started down the rabbit hole of designing sustainable systems in my home, garden and life. I have always been a DIY kinda girl that cared about the environment and my fellow humans, but this was something a little more involved. I began growing my own food, composting, reusing as much as possible in creative, functional and often exciting ways, conserving water & energy, and really observing my physical environment.
While trying to put all the pieces together, I was at times overwhelmed and frustrated. There is so much information available, but we are still using primitive technologies to access it, which can make it quite tedious. I got sick of using three different books and a myriad of internet searches to find the answer only after I realizing I needed one. I found a couple week-by-week and month-by-month gardening books, but they are pretty specifically focused on planting, not designing and learning about options... And forget learning about anything other than gardening in one book. I like to learn by doing, seeing and reading. (I figure if I bombard all my senses, some of it will have to stick!) After scouring the internet for anything that combined various tools, media and knowledge into a project, I could find nothing. Thus, I present you my solution: interdisciplinary project-based learning. With your support there will be many more e-workbooks, interactive books for electronic book readers like iPad, PDA applications, web-based software and much more!
After carefully considering how much to charge, I decided to make this e-workbook available by donation. These are the reasons why:
Everyone deserves access to learn to grow plants and take care of their basic needs. I don’t want anyone to be denied access to this innovative way of learning and designing. If people truly pay what they can afford, then everyone should be able to participate.
It’s part of the "new economy". In case you haven’t noticed, things are changing all around us. This is just me doing my part to increase the good that I see happening already.
This is a social business. Once my marketing efforts become more sophisticated, I will be able to market specifically to lower, middle and upper classes. At that point the financial model will probably change to increase sustainability of the cause....
So be part of something special today! The suggested donation is $15, which is a phenomenal deal for all the money you'll be saving making your own food, gourmet goodies and meaningful gifts for friends and family.
Thank you for visiting,
Ami Howard
