Hi, Karen, welcome.

Another Karen

We seem to attract a lot of Karens and a lot of Nancys! What's that about????

Welcome aboard and never be afraid to ask questions here - only nice people hang around here!

Nancy

Welcome Karen! Nice to meet you. Start sowing and have fun!

:)
Dee

Hi, Karen!
where in Il are you? Hope you will have great fun and keep asking questions.
I am in Skokie, and have been WS for few years now. My neighbor and I host a plant swap "Gardens without borders"
every year on Friday of Memorial Day weekend. If you live anywhere close by, mark the calendar. Would be happy to meet you in person too.

Welcome Karen,yes,where in Illinois are you?
Linda, i guess i never paid any attention to where you were from,i'm in Illinois also.
cAROL

Welcome, karen - and yes, keep posting and let us know how you are doing. We "oldies" get very excited when newbies report their first sprouts/seedlings, so let us know!!

Carrie

Hi everyone! thanks for the warm welcome!

I live about 45 miles west of Chicago, IL. I have a new construction house so the flower beds were awful. the builder plant the most boring stuff :)

I have 2 containers saved so far one from some grapes and a 2 liter. I am going to sew some seeds today. I think I may have to tape some of the holes in the grapes container, it has a lot of them :)

I am so excited. I am terrible at starting seeds indoors so this is perfect for me. I did direct sow some some seeds this winter so I am hoping to have lots of flowers this year.

I will have to try to make it to the garden exchange in Stokie. I should have some things to trade by then. you are not too close to me but it is a doable drive.

thanks everyone! I am so happy to try this wintersowing. I am a plant addict and can never have enough. I hate my gardens are so bare!

Karen

Karen,

It's so nice to meet another winter sower from Illinois! I live in Wheeling.

I've never been able to start a seed without using this method! I'm always amazed at just how well it does work!

You can use coffee filters to patch up those extra holes in the grape container.

thanks Nancy! a great idea.

I just hope I can find dirt today :)
Karen

Walmart has Miracle Grow, just make sure you use potting MIX and not potting SOIL. The soil will harden up on ya!

Hi Karen, I'm a newbie WS in IL too, this is my second year. I'm in McHenry County. Welcome!

thanks nancy, I will be sure to get potting mix

Hi triona, another from IL, there are lots of us here...
Karen

I have DIRT! Yeah. I found it at Target. Lets hope I don't run out.

Karen

Hi,

Susan here in Mundelein, and I have been wintersowing for several years and teaching it as well for several years as well.

Welcome to you:))

That was somewhat redundant

Welcome from another newbie. Yes, this is a great place to be part of...everyone so willing to share and encourage (enable). I like your use of the word "SCROUNGE" I think you'll fit in perfectly. Check out some threads about "recycle bin/dumpster diving" hehehehe...you'll be hooked before long. No need to wait for anyone at home to consume things so you can WS...GO OUT AND TAKE WHAT YOU NEED FROM STRANGERS!! (evil cackle, hands wringing in delight) Have fun!

Welcome your gardens wont be bare with WS1

enjoy Annette

Welcome to the insane asylum er, I mean the winter sowing forum!
-B

thanks everyone! you are all so nice!
I bought kitty litter yesterday and I am already dreaming of WS in it. I can lay it on its side and cut an opening...

I am addicted already. I told my hubby i might be able to cover more flower beds so we need less mulch and he was happy. He hates helping me spread mulch, it is a lot of work :)

I am seeing containers everywhere....

Karen

Whew! Karen, you got me there for a minute. I thought you meant sowing into the kitty litter itself. Wow, that would make rather a compact soil?!??! Apparently I need more coffee! You meant THE KITTY LITTER CONTAINER, right? Sheesh, I may be addicted to this hobby but it didn't make me any smarter, apparently. I plan to use some of those also, but haven't yet. Tomorrow is marathon WS day. Whoohoo. PS: IL people...I lived in Naperville until 6 yrs ago when we became "urban refugees" and moved out to rural Indiana. NO TRAFFIC here! IL's will get that one!

Yes, I did mean the container empty, the kitties have to use all the litter up first. that is so funny, i should have specified, the litter sure would be awful as seed starter :)

It was so big I was dreaming of how many seeds I could WS in there. I wish I had been saving them because I could have had lots of great containers.

All of you have created a monster, I am digging in the trash already :0
karen

If you need seeds, email me. I worked all yesterday and have a ton of stuff ready to go, so I can re-open the offer.

Karen, serious observation this time. If you (I/anyone)lays the container on it's side and cut(s) the kitty litter container that way, wouldn't it give us MORE square inches to sow into. Maybe that's how you'all do it..I've not done kitty litter containers yet, but I think I'll try it that way. Any thoughts~? Would it be deep enought then? HHHHMMMMMM

I got 28 lb container of kitty litter that I plan to sow tomatoes in. I hope it's big enough?

I saw someone here with large squarish water jugs they were laying on the side so that is how I got the kitty litter container idea.

the plastic one I was talking about is like the ones on the link I attached http://www.tidycats.com/Products/Scoop/

I think it has enough room. I planed to cut a flap and leave the lid/cap on since I would have a hole on the top for air and water. I could also remove the lid later for more air.

I think it would work well but I am a newbie.

bakemom, one other WSer is sending me seeds, thanks so much.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitty Litter container recycle idea link....

Karen, the one I have is a like a square bucket with a big lid that snaps on. More like a pickle bucket or a paint bucket.

I think the kind you have would work fine, as you describe it. Save another one of those for in the summer. You can drill holes in the cap and use it for watering or feeding your flowers!

I don't which type container is more valuable to my garden... however, I do know my litter box is going to stay pretty darn clean while I am figuring it out!!

Welcome aboard!

Another one has been entranced by Winter Sowing!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hi Karen,

I'm a newbie too. I just planted my first milk jugs this week. This is such fun! I'm in Northern VA... where, of course, after getting those jugs planted, we're expecting a bunch of snow and ice tomorrow! Figures. Anyway, welcome!

Marcy

Nancy, good idea to make one of those containers into a watering can. I did not think of that one...

thanks greengardener07 and Marcy! I am getting addicted. I got 2 more containers this morning. One milk jug and one McDonald's cup I saved from the trash. I will keep going till the seeds are gone :)

karen

Those big cups from McDonalds or Dunkin' Donuts (or like places) with the domed tops are great for starting seeds. Just a few holes in the bottom for drainage and you're good to go - the top already has a ventilation hole. I use those a lot for starting tomatoes ....

PV