I keep my seeds in plastic food storage containers. Now it's up to three containers. I file the seeds alphabetically, like old library card catalogues. I store them in a cool part of my house, which stays at fridge temperatures in winter, and cool room temperature most of the year, and warm for a month or two. They stay good and viable for several years. My own collected seeds, I used to keep in paper envelopes I'd fold myself from waste paper. Last year I finally bought small plastic zip seal bags. I dry my collected seeds for a few weeks before putting them in plastic. Basically in late summer, my house has plates and bowls of drying seeds perched on every available surface. I love sharing seeds with others. Home-collected seeds are so abundant, and in my experience often have much better germination rates than purchased packets. So, since last year, I've starting saving the well-dried seeds in tiny zip bags (about 1x1.5 inch), several of these inside a larger zip bag (2x3 inches). I jot the variety name and year of collection on little rectangles of paper and put these inside each small bag. This way if a friend expresses interest in seeds, I have small labelled bags ready to give away. It also means that when I want to plant, I can pull out a small bag of seeds and don't have to expose the rest of the stored seeds to summer heat and humidity while I get around to sowing and putting the unplanted portion back. When one variety of seeds I collected is a really large volume, I do put it into a reused jar (after drying well for a few weeks, of course). But then the random jars tend to get lost, so I'm trying to move all seeds into flat packs in my alphabetized plastic boxes. Home collected seeds that have been doing great for me: * Cherry tomatoes and open-pollinated tomatoes (tomatoes tend to self-pollinate so they're easy to save). I still buy some hybrid varieties like Sungold, but those seeds last for years so I don't buy new every year. * Lettuce. Each year, or at different times with a year, I let one variety that I like go to seed, and save those seeds. They produce lots and last for years so this works well for me. I've also done two varieties of spinach now, in two different years. * Arugula/rocket (Eruca). This bolts so fast and sets seed so fast, that it's really easy. And there aren't significantly different varieties to worry about. The volunteer self-seeded plants are also useful. * Winter squash of the Cucurbita maxima species. Another very easy one to save. Even if it were to cross-pollinate with a neighbor's C. maxima, they are all edible winter squash so the result would be very likely good. I don't have any neighbors growing this species so I have no worries. The seeds last for many years, so when I have grown different varieties that I don't want crosses from, then the next year I just replant the seed from a previous year that I know I liked. * Flowers and herbs like marigold, bachelors buttons/ cornflower, cosmos, poppies, edible chrysanthemum, nasturtium, zinnia, dragonhead, hollyhocks, summer savory, cilantro/coriander, basil, anise hyssop, fennel, perennial scallions, orach, etc. Very easy. I stick to one variety of each species so that I can save seeds, and/or let a few of their self-seeded volunteers grow. I do try to deadhead the spent flowers as much as possible, but by late summer they get past me and then I collect seeds.

It's hard to say what "belongs" and "doesn't belong" in a room like a dining room, depending upon its use and location in the house. In the houses of my plan the dining room and the entry are really the same room, the basement door is either in or right off the dining room and there is No access to the back yard except through the house. So most of the houses of my plan there is a bicycle in there in good weather and a recycling bin in bad weather because people don't want to track or carry every single thing through the living room and out the back. Or down the basement stairs and up every day. That said I am making my dining room smaller by adding a closet, because on an every day basis we need that more than we need a bigger dining room but I dont want stuff out everywhere. And it will still have a bike in it in the summer so no rug.

Hi! I’m currently in college and will be moving into my first apartment. the bathroom is fairly small, but i’m looking to make it cozier. I am looking for decor advice as well as any organizational recommendations to keep the space open and cute. I have attached an image of the bathroom and my current plans for it, which are pretty plain for now.

If you don’t use gift bags, you might even end up not needing the tissue, either. Congratulations on the re-do! Doesn’t it feel good? (Do you keep pulling it out to admire it?) I once heard a phrase that I often rely on: shop at home first. And it’s true, we often already have exactly what we need already. I recently did similar to my wraps, although not as well as you. Definitely put the cheap rolls of wrapping in the recycling, and guess what? I have a local thrift store that sells wrapping paper, and gift bags, they either sell or use for purchases! Crafters buy the paper, ribbons, tags, etc. I still have a lot of bags, time for another trip. I don’t think I have bought gift bags in years, they are so easy to reuse.