the green gal

Plant a potato in a car tyre

If everyone knew how easy it is to grow potatoes, I'm sure there would be potato planters popping up all over the place. 

Our garden is quite small so although we will have a vegetable patch, we're trying to use other containers to maximise planting possibilities. So, I had the bright idea of using old car tyres to grow potatoes in. I asked my local garage if I could have a few spare tyres that they had no use for. They were only going to end up in landfill so why not stick a couple if my back garden and grow some tasty tatties in them? Admittedly they're not the most beautiful addition but they're a talking point! 

The useful thing about tyres is that as the plants are earthed up, you can keep adding tyres to hold in the soil. 

So, I filled one tyre and planted in my chitted seed potatoes, sprouty bits up. I gave them a good watering. That's it. When stalks and leaves start to shoot out I'll add some more soil and let them continue doing their thing.

Mmm, already dreaming of bowlfuls of potato salad...

Join in, switch off

Earth Hour takes place 8.30-9.30pm local time on Saturday 28 March. WWF organise the event and the idea is that as many people as possible across the globe turn off their lights for one hour. It's only been going for two years and the numbers have gone from 2.2 million in Sydney to 50 million last year. this year they're aiming for the big one billion. 

At last count 1,760 cities in 80 countries had signed up to take part. In the UK 155 prominent landmarks or buildings will be plunged into darkness for the allotted 60 minutes. If you're anywhere near the London Eye, Tyne and Gateshead Bridges, Brighton Pier, MEN Arena in Manchester, Edinburgh Castle or the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, watch out for their lights going out. 

For more info check out earthhour.wwf.org.uk. Join in, switch off.