Deer-Resistant Plants & Deer-Deterring Tips
Awww … isn’t Bambi cute!?! Well … that is until he and the rest of his family have laid waste to your garden! That’s not so cute! If your yard seems to be a frequent stop along the Deer Garden Tour, you’re in luck … well, relatively speaking. The post I did for Monrovia’s Grow…
Read MoreAzalea Care Guide | How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Azaleas
Azaleas are perhaps one of the most popular shrubs found in garden design. Well, at least here in the South. Not only are they beautiful when in bloom and serve as a great backdrop when they’re not, they’re incredibly hardy, as well. And because they come in so many different shapes, sizes, and colors you’re…
Read MoreChristmas Gift Ideas … RYG Style!
Looking for last minute gift ideas for your ground redeeming friend or family member this Christmas? If so, we’ve come up with a few suggestions to help you out.* Hopefully these ideas will work…but if not, maybe they’ll at least get you thinking a bit. Regardless, you better get to it…because times-a-tickin’! (By the way, feel…
Read MoreOur 1960s Ranch Renovation: Interiors #3 | Great Room Remodel
Besides maybe what we did in our kitchen (see upcoming Post #4), the greatest impact from a visual and functional perspective of our 1960s ranch renovation was the transformation of our small den into a Great Room. Super-Size It! As you read in Post # 1 of this series, one of the primary things we…
Read MoreTop Chicken Names | Ultimate Backyard Chicken Survey
On today’s Top Chicken Names post I’m sharing what I think is some of the most enjoyable info folks shared when they completed the Ultimate Backyard Chicken Survey that I published back in the spring of 2017 … what they named their feathered friends! It may not be the most helpful … on a practical…
Read MoreRedeem Your “Ground” … While You Can!
(NOTE: At first blush you may think that this post has nothing to do with redeeming your ground. But, at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, it has everything to do with why it’s so important to redeem your ground while you can. Besides, writing this post has helped me process what happened … so…
Read MoreOur 1960s Ranch Renovation: Interiors #2 | Foyer Remodel
In my last post on our 1960s ranch renovation I teased you with a pic of our renovated kitchen. Well … you’re gonna have to wait to read about & see more of that transformation. Instead, we’re going start the renovation posts by bringing you through our front door and into the foyer … just…
Read MoreOur 1960s Ranch Renovation: Interiors #1 | The History & Whys for Renovating
When we did our post on the renovation of our front elevation (Rebirth: Our 1960s Ranch House Renovation) we had no idea how many people would ask about the interiors. So we decided to tell the “interior renovation story” through a series of posts. Some may ask how this has anything to do with redeeming…
Read MoreSo Why the 2-Year Hiatus from RYGblog?!?
Hey friends, I’m really excited that we’re finally in a place to be able to reconnect with you! First of all, as I ended my email announcing the “re-start” of Redeem Your Ground, I want to thank you for sticking with us. As many of you have lived through difficult times yourselves (in some respects,…
Read MoreRedeem Your Ground Blog 2.0
After an almost 18-month hiatus from the blogosphere we’re excited about the eventual relaunch of the Redeem Your Ground blog! We apologize for not having posted anything new in a vehhhry loooonnnngg time…and we’re even sorrier if you tried to post a comment or emailed us and it took us a crazy long time to…
Read MoreWhy Do Leaves Change Color?
[Every year the leaves change color…so every year I’ll likely re-post this post on Why Do Leaves Change Color? I just think it’s pretty amazing…and thought that there might be others wondering the very some thing. So here it is again. But beware, I go a little biology on you.] Have you ever wondered why some…
Read MoreHow to Dry Hydrangeas…and Now’s a Great Time for Those Late Bloomers!
Alright…it’s confession time. I found out how to dry hydrangeas by accident. I wasn’t trying to create a dried flower arrangement that would grace our home for years to come when I forgot to water it…but that’s what happened. In fact, quite a few of our dried hydrangeas are a result of my neglect. So…
Read MoreStamping with Okra…Yes, Okra!
Here’s a little craftiness for you crafty gardeners…stamping with okra! Yes…okra! When you cut off the head of the okra there is such a charming and unique shape to be found inside the rough, elongated exterior that makes for an adorable stamp. So if your garden is producing way too much okra that you just can’t…
Read MoreSautéed Okra Recipe that Will Make an Okra Convert Out of You!
I posted this photo on my personal Instagram and Facebook pages with the tag…“Been anticipating our okra harvest this summer! It’s time! Mmmmm good!” And so many of the comments had some type of reference to fried okra. Now I do loooooove fried okra. It’s one of my favorite things to order at any southern cookin’ restaurant…
Read MoreHow to Make a Tire Swing [Video for Exmark]
It seems like I’m sorry about a lot of things these days. On my last post on fertilizing tips, I was sorry for getting it out late because of kidney stones. And today’s post on how to make a tire swing I’m sorry for yet another delay. But this time it’s because I had shingles!…
Read MoreOur Chicken Coop Design (Part 3 of 3)
Finally! My last post on the design of our chicken coop. Below you’ll find a description and rendering of the final 3 elevations – right, left, and rear. Part 1 provided a schematic of the area where our coop/hutch sits, as well as a floor plan. Part 2 provided a description and rendering of the…
Read MoreFertilizing Basics [Video for Exmark]
Okay, truth be told I had hoped to get this post on fertilizing basics … Fertilizing 101 … out a month or so ago when it would have been more timely. But it’s amazing how a teensy kidney stone can put a kibosh on the best laid plans. Sorry about that…but without further ado… Why…
Read MoreOur Chicken Coop Design – Front Elevation (Part 2 of 3)
Okay, I lied. I had hoped to finish up writing on our chicken coop design with this post, but I ran out of time and markers…seriously – my gray marker ran out. So today I’m going to focus on the front elevation and next week I’ll wrap it up with the other 3 elevations. …
Read MoreRebirth: Our 1960s Ranch House Renovation | Transforming the Front Elevation
Curious about our 1960s ranch house renovation? Well we’ve found that our fellow ground redeemers are … because you’ve asked. We also realized that most of our posts featuring what we’ve done with our outdoor spaces have focused on our back yard … where there’s little evidence of how we’ve renovated our home a 1960s…
Read MoreOur Chicken Coop Design (Part 1 of 2…err 3)
Given the frequency of posts about our feathered ladies, I know some of you may think my life revolves around our chickens. Well I assure you that’s not the case…but they do add quite a bit of texture to my family’s life. But with that…I do have yet another post on our chickens…and this time…
Read MoreEaster Egg Scavenger Hunt
I think it’s perfect that Easter is celebrated in Spring! Really…there is such rich symbolism connecting the two. Just when all the new life is emerging from all the plants in our yard – that just weeks before appeared dead, we also get to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection and the new life He brings us. …
Read MoreTopping off the Perfect Easter Basket with “Let’s Hatch Chicks!” by Lisa Steele
If you’ve read any of my chicken-related posts, odds are you’ve gotten to know fellow blogger Lisa Steele … of Fresh-Eggs-Daily fame. She is the expert when it comes to all-things-chicken. Besides being a 5th generation chicken keeper, she’s also an author, Master Gardener, an aspiring herbalist, sought-after content contributor, TV personality…I could go on…
Read MoreClay Soil: How to Work with It & My Top 5 Plants
There are few things that say Georgia more than red Georgia clay. Songs have been written about it and movies, like Gone with the Wind, have taken their cues from it. And for gardeners in the South, clay is just our reality. Although clay-rich soil poses some definite challenges, planting in it doesn’t have…
Read MoreEaster Egg Birdseed Ornaments
Easter is just around the corner and I’ve got a fun activity you can do with your kids this weekend. If you’ve been following us from the beginning you may remember the Birdseed Ornaments I wrote about at Christmastime. Well this is a twist on those same ornaments…Easter Egg birdseed ornaments to hang outside that…
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Plants from a Spring Freeze
Well it won’t officially be spring for a week or so … but with the warm weather we’ve recently had, some of our plants are seemingly getting a head-start. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that the Spring freeze in the forecast won’t do too much damage to all this tender new growth. I know…
Read MoreContainer Gardening 101…a la Helen Weis with Unique by Design
Oh the signs of Spring! And one of the surest signs of spring for me has to be the overwhelmed, bug-eyed expressions that I see on peoples’ faces in big box stores or plant nurseries…not knowing what to buy from the vast selection of flowers to choose from. I know. I’m right there with you.…
Read MoreFamily Valentine’s Activity – Family Love Notes
Alright, Valentine’s Day is almost upon us…again…so I thought I’d share something with y’all that we do to make it an occasion that our whole family enjoys. As with most of our family traditions I can’t take any credit for it. Britt…being the words of affirmation kinda girl that she is…thought of and initiated it…
Read MoreChristmas Light Scavenger Hunt … Printables
Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve All! So for over the years we’ve provided y’all with a list of new Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt ideas so that you and yours could jump in the car and squeeze the most out of your neighbors’ Christmas decorating efforts. We hope to do another one this year ……
Read MoreHow to Make a Holiday Chandelier
One of the things I love most about this time of year is how warm and inviting our house looks & feels once all of our decorations are up & on display. Yes, the lights add that special glow and each ornament has a story to tell; but I think it’s the layers of texture…
Read MoreUsing Cuttings from Your Yard to Bring the “Outside In” this Christmas
Unfortunately many people limit their thoughts on cuttings from their yards to only mean colorful flowers – most of which bloom in the spring and summer. So once the temps turn cold, they put down their pruners and wait for the warmer months to come back around – all the while, missing out on…
Read MoreHow to Make a Magnolia Leaf Centerpiece
One of my favorite trees that graces our yard is a massive Southern Magnolia. She stands over 100’ tall and speaks to both the history of the South and our home’s previous owners. And not only is she the perfect home for our girls’ treehouse, her branches and leaves are great to bring inside to…
Read MoreQuick & Easy Holiday Gift Embellishments & Décor – Bringing the “Outside In”
Helping families get outside at home more is at the core of what Redeem Your Ground is all about. But unfortunately, during this time of year it seems as if they’re fewer things drawing us outside – the weather is not as inviting, most flowers have stopped blooming, and many plants and trees have gone…
Read MoreWhy are my azalea leaves turning yellow?
Well it’s happening again … many of the leaves on my azaleas have turned yellow. So as I did last year, I’m briefly interrupting our holiday-related posts to re-post the answer to a question that I’ve had…and one that several of my clients have asked me recently … Why are my azalea leaves turning yellow? It seems that…
Read MoreRYG’s Top 5 Christmas Decorating Posts
For all of you right-after-Thanksgiving-Christmas-decorating-folks…which I am not…I thought I’d provide you with a single place to find our Top 5 Christmas Decorating Posts. So without further ado, here you go… Chicken Wire Lighted Christmas Balls Our lighted Christmas balls made out of chicken wire is by far the most searched for post we’ve done on…
Read MoreThankful Tree…Just in Time for Thanksgiving
For those of you with lots of ideas, but who never seem to get around to doing them… you’re not alone. I took this photo of a precious little Thankful Tree I saw at a friend’s house the year her young daughter made it…in 2007! I remember snapping the photo for inspiration for a future…
Read MoreHow to Hang String Lights [Video with Exmark]
We’ve done a ton to our outdoor spaces to make them our own…but after all that we still couldn’t really enjoy them after the sun went down. That was until we added some string lights into the mix. Now…dinners and game nights last a lot longer. I can keep working around the chicken coop with…
Read MoreA Bee’s Life – by “Littlest One” Scott … A Great Primer for the Beekeeper Wannabee
Thanks to Britt and her highly intentional way of living, every year we try to add something to enrich how we do life at home. Whether it’s growing a family veggie garden, raising chickens, or reading books as a family…although I may be the primary doer (well, not the reading part), Britt’s the primary finder…
Read MoreThe Redeem Your Ground Story on Growing a Greener World [& Bloopers]
October is here…and I am so very thankful. Exhale. These past 12 months or so have seemed like an all-out sprint on a number of fronts at casa de Scott…often leaving me with the feeling that I’m barely keeping up. [Hence fewer posts and more re-posts. Sorry!] Exhale. So today’s welcomed cooler temps have ushered…
Read MoreI’m So Glad It’s October!
I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. Oh Anne Shirley…I couldn’t agree with you more! I completely share your sentiment! October is THE BEST! It is a much anticipated month for me…probably because fall is my most favorite season and October ushers in this favorite season of mine. I am…
Read MoreWhat’s the Meaning of Labor Day?
I originally wrote this post about Labor Day back in 2014…when my girls looked so much younger…and I thought it was worth a re-post this year. To be honest, it wasn’t until recently that I really understood the meaning of Labor Day…I’ve always just thought of it as part of a 3-day weekend and the marker…
Read MorePlanting Your Fall Vegetable Garden…Get On It!
Planting my fall vegetable garden always sneaks up on me…and this year is no different. So in the next couple of days I’m going to try to jump out from behind the eight-ball…clear-out my very spent summer flowers & veggies…finally…and get my fall veggies in the ground. And if you’re planning to have a fall…
Read MoreMy Favorite Late Blooming Hydrangeas
I don’t know…maybe I love late blooming hydrangeas so much because I was a late bloomer myself. But hopefully I’ve gotten past my pre-pubescent challenges by now…and it has much more to do with the fact that while most of my yard’s other bloomin’ shrubs have seen a much better day, my Tardiva and Limelight hydrangeas…
Read MoreEggplant Parmesan Recipe…So Easy and So Good!
As some of our veggies start to peter out, I can count on our eggplants to continue producing beauties even into early fall. What a beautiful vegetable…but one I don’t think I enjoyed eating until just a few years ago. My mom made me try one of her eggplant dishes and I’m so glad that she did…it seems that I…
Read MoreEasy Mustard Pickle Recipe…Try It, You’ll Like It!
Cucumbers have always been a staple in our family vegetable garden. I love when Britt uses them in salads of any sort…and when the girls have fancy tea parties with their Mimi, they love making simple cucumber tea sandwiches. And whether we have a surplus of cukes or not, I love making my favorite pickle recipe for…
Read More4 Must-Haves for the 4th of July!
In just a couple of days you’ll very likely be hanging out with a group of friends or family…celebrating the 4th of July. Which will likely involve being outside and eating some really good food…and maybe an adult beverage or two…and a sparkler thrown in there to round things out. So…to help you make your…
Read More
When should I prune my azaleas? NOW…and here’s why & how!
Azaleas form the backbone of my backyard. Mrs. G. G. Gerbing Azaleas to be exact…I probably have over 100 of them. Some people ding azaleas for their short blooming season. But I’m good with that…because when mine are in bloom, my yard looks quite Shangri-La’esque if I do say so myself. And when they’re…
Read MoreFather’s Day for the Gardening Dad
Gardening isn’t just a hobby for me – it’s a passion that both stirs me and grounds me…connecting me to nature’s honest rhythms and to what was best about my childhood. This deep love for the outdoors and gardening began when I was a boy… …transplanting perennials from my grandparents’ yard with my mom… …hunting…
Read MoreLiquid Bliss – Water Features to Complement Your Outdoor Spaces
There are few things that bring a sense of calm to a space like the tranquil sounds of bubbling water. But if that’s the only reason you’re considering adding a water feature to your landscape, think again. Water features bring so much more in the way of beauty and interest . . . not…
Read MoreHerb Garden Basics: 5 Tips for the Bestest Herb Garden Ever!
Herb gardens are all the craze these days. But that’s really nothing new…herbs have been used for all sorts of reasons for centuries. They’re really easy to grow, have all sorts of uses, and probably give you the biggest bang for your food gardening buck. So if you’re considering trying your hand at growing food…
Read MoreWalk This Way…Adding Paths to Your Landscape [Video for Exmark]
If you’re searching for your next weekend project to enhance the use and beauty of your yard, installing a path or walkway to connect two or more of your outdoor spaces is definitely something you should consider. Not only are they a great way to functionally connect the dots of your yard, they also help flow…
Read MoreFlower Power 101: Top 4 Tips for Flower Gardening
There are few things that bring more life and beauty to an outdoor space than flowers. The more the merrier, right? They’re so versatile…bringing feelings of peace and tranquility, or an air of excitement and delight. It just depends on what you’re going for. With Spring now upon us and summer just around the corner,…
Read MoreNow’s the Time to Mulch and Here Are Some Options [Video for Exmark]
If your yard looks like mine did last week…it’s time to get to mulchin’! I can say that so easily because I mulched this past weekend!!! Woopwoop! Not only will a fresh layer of mulch help make your yard look all nice and purdy, mid to late spring is the perfect time to mulch before…
Read MoreBasic How-To’s for Planting Plants [Video for Exmark]
Long story…but a number of months ago I was asked to be the guy in front of the camera for some how-to videos being produced for the premier lawn mower company, Exmark (see below for more on Exmark). Never did I ever think that this Redeem Your Ground journey would land me there. But sure enough, there was…
Read MoreVegetable Garden Basics: Part 4 – Companion Plants, Seeds, and When?
We’re in the homestretch now ground redeemers! Today’s post is the last of 4 posts I’ve done over the past few weeks on Vegetable Garden Basics. In case you’ve missed the other posts, here’s where you can find them: Part 1: Where should I put my vegetable garden? Part 2: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Raised Beds…
Read MoreVegetable Garden Basics: Part 3 – The What’s & How Much’es
Alright…I’m ready to finish up my Vegetable Garden Basics series. And besides that…y’all need to get a move-on if you’re going to have a spring or summer vegetable garden this year. For those of you just tuning in, a few weeks ago…in Part 1, I provided you with some things to consider as to where…
Read MoreVegetable Garden Basics: Part 2 – Raised Beds Pros & Cons
Alright… in Part 1 of my Vegetable Garden Basics series, I answered the first question you should ask when starting your very own family vegetable garden…Where should I put it? Today I’m going to try to answer the next question…Should I build raised beds … or just plant my veggies directly in the ground? Should I…
Read MoreVegetable Garden Basics: Part 1 – Where to locate your garden.
Awhile back I wrote a post on how we started out on our family vegetable garden journey…in hopes of motivating others to do the same. And essentially I concluded by saying… Don’t over-think it…just do it! All you really need is a plant, a sunny spot, some dirt, and some water…and you’ll be good to…
Read MoreHey…RYG is on the Living Homegrown Podcast!
Hey…I’m excited to share with y’all that just last week I was interviewed by my friend…Theresa Loe, to be on her award-winning Living Homegrown Podcast. And it just went live yesterday (link below). Who’s Theresa Loe? I’ve introduced you to Theresa before on several other posts, but in case you missed them…she’s the Co-Executive Producer of Growing…
Read MoreRYG 2016 in Pictures … What a Year It Was!
I’m still not certain if all this social media shtuff is a net-good-thing or not. Which is quite ironic given that I’m relying on social media to reach you … and it’s partly the foundation on which I’m trying to build Redeem Your Ground. Oh the tension of life. Regardless, one thing I do appreciate…
Read MoreThe 2016 RYG Christmas Scavenger Hunt (video twist!)
Over the past few years one of our favorite family Christmas traditions has been to go on a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt. We grab our list of Christmas lights to find…and our cups of hot chocolate… jump into the car…and off we go for some time of joyful merriment. (Click here to get our…
Read MoreHow to Make Homemade Mulling Spices … the Perfect Teacher Gift or Hostess Gift this Christmas!
Okay…I realize that I re-post this post on homemade mulling spices every year. But I’m not going to apologize…not gonna do it. Because mulling spices really are that good. And they never get old. If you ever stop by casa de Scott during the months of December or January, don’t be surprised to find a pot of mulling spices simmering on our stove…wafting…
Read MoreDIY Christmas Decorations…RYG Style!
With Thanksgiving behind us…just barely…and with you know what just a month away, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. Which at the Scott house means pulling out all the Christmas decorations. So I thought I’d re-share 3 DIY Christmas Decoration projects. Hopefully they’ll help you bring an extra dose of Christmas cheer to your home…
Read More3 Ways to Bring More Thanks to Thanksgiving this Year
Given that it’s Thanksgiving week we thought we’d share a few ideas that might not only encourage a more thankful cadence to things around your house this week, but may also give you something to do while your kids are home for break. Hope you enjoy them…Gobble-Gobble! 1. The Thankful Tree | RedeemYourGround.com This activity…The…
Read MoreThe Monrovia & RYG Connection
On my post from earlier this week I shared a video I did with Monrovia on fall shrub care. I know, right? Little ole’ me…RYG… just trying to help others get outside more, working with Monrovia…the end-all-be-all of plant companies. Whhhhaatt?!? Monrovia & RYG So how did I get connected with Monrovia? Well, I…
Read MoreFall Shrub Care: Food | Water | Shelter (a la Monrovia)
It’s finally feeling more like fall here in Atlanta…after a loooong, hot summer! As with any change of season, some folks are left wondering what they should be doing outside with their plants. For me, yard work in the fall has a calmer cadence than it does in the other seasons. It’s more about…
Read MoreEasy Pumpkin Seed Recipes…and Tasty Too!
With Halloween right around the corner, you, like me, may be gutting a pumpkin this weekend…transforming it into a jack-o-lantern. If so, I thought I’d re-post a post Britt did a couple of years ago about some pretty tasty pumpkin seed recipes. Happy Halloween Y’all, Okay…with Halloween behind us, I may be a day late…
Read MoreTasty & Very Easy Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe
If your veggie garden is anything like mine right now, it looks more like a scene from Little Shop of Horrors than the tidy gardens that you see in magazines. And that’s largely because my cucumbers are growing out of control. I really don’t mind though…because we love cukes. My girls love gnawing on them…
Read MoreRYG’s Gonna Be On TV Y’all!
Probably as is the case with you, these past few months have been a blur at casa de Scott. With all the end-of-school festivities and summertime activities it’s hard to believe that it’s already the middle of July and school’s going to start in just a few weeks! Crazy. One thing that has definitely added…
Read More10 Great Summer Family Read-Aloud Books
Confession time. I’m not much of a reader. I know that’s ridiculous…for so many reasons. Sorry. But unless a book is assigned to me you will rarely find me reading one. Britt and the girls are big time readers…thankfully. Perhaps I’ll become more like them one day…I hope so. But right now, I’m not. And…
Read MoreDIY Painted American Flag Door Hanger
Just in time to help you celebrate the 4th of July, I’ve got a great patriotic craft project for you…a painted American Flag Door Hanger! It’s fun, easy, and very inexpensive…and regardless of how crafty you are, I’m certain it’ll turn out super cute! Oh…and it’s very kid-friendly too…so if you’re looking for a project to do with your kids…
Read MoreLipsmacking Blueberry Spice Pie Recipe
It’s blueberry season again…and with the 4th of July right around the corner I thought I’d share my tasty blueberry spice pie recipe with you. It’s a recipe a dear friend made for us a few years back that has become a Scott Family favorite ever since. And now that we grow our very own blueberries…
Read MoreHydrangeas, Hydrangeas, Hydrangeas! All You’ll Need to Know…for the most part!
We’re big fans of hydrangeas over here at casa de Scott. I mean what’s not to love about them?! They’re easy to grow. Their flowers are huge and come in a wide array of colors…so huge and so colorful that a single flower head can be a flower arrangement in and of itself! Again, what’s…
Read More“Slow Down” … by Nichole Nordeman
A dear friend shared this song with me recently and I wanted to share it with you. Although I’m certain that the target audience is moms, I think any parent…mom or dad…or anyone really, could get something out of it (i.e., I’m not turning in my “man card” for posting this!). It’s by Nichole Nordeman…
Read More5 Great End-of-the-Year Teacher Gifts … RYG Style!
It’s hard to believe…but summer’s almost here. And actually…ours has already begun since Brown and Littlest One got out of school last week…whoop whoop!! That said, odds are if your kids are in grade school you’re probably looking for a thoughtful…yet inexpensive…end-of-the-year teacher gift. So I wanted to help you out by sharing a…
Read MoreChinese Snowball Viburnum – the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift for Your Gardenin’ Mutha
Although a few weeks past her prime, the Chinese Snowball Viburnum that graces us with her presence as we drive down our driveway is one of our all-time favorite flowering shrubs. And apparently we’re not alone. We’ve had a number of friends ask … What’s that huge white hydrangea in your front yard? Then just…
Read MoreThe Southern Rustic Cabin … by Emily Followill
A year or so ago I did a post on coffee table books…and how they tell a story about who you are – or at least, what you’re interested in. Well this week we added The Southern Rustic Cabin by Emily Followill to our coffee table stacks and this is what it says about…
Read MoreRedeem Your Ground® in Southern Living®!
It’s been a long-time coming…but it’s finally here! The April 2016 issue of Southern Living®! And Redeem Your Ground® & our back yard is featured in it! It is so crazy to see your very own back yard…much less your mug…in the glossy pages of a magazine. And Southern Living® for cryin’ out loud…beyond crazy! We…
Read MoreDeclaring War on Mosquitoes | DIY Wine Bottle Tiki Torch
I can’t stand mosquitoes. Sure … I get that they serve some purpose in the greater ecosystem, but as Brownie often asks me, I’m sometimes left wondering too – “Why did God ever create mosquitoes?!?” And I know that I’m not alone. So today’s post is on how-to-make a DIY wine bottle tiki torch –…
Read MoreMaterial Options for Raised Beds
One of the most common questions I hear from first-time veggie gardeners who have their minds set on growing their veggies in raised beds is…What material should I use to build them? This is largely borne out of a concern for the chemicals used to treat pressure treated (PT) wood…since that’s what’s often used for…
Read MoreDeclaring War on Mosquitoes | Know Your Enemy … Fun Facts & Some Basic Tips
With warmer weather approaching … and mosquitoes not far behind … it’s never too early to start gearing up for the battle that lies ahead. Today I’m going to share a few fun facts about mosquitoes, as well as some basic tips on how to minimize the chances of mosquitoes ruining your summertime fun. [If you…
Read MoreWelcomed Signs of Spring
Spring has really started to show her stuff in our yard. Finally! We have a good bit of shade, so our plants always seem to take their own sweet time waking up from the long winter slumber. And although I’ve had the flu this week, I have ventured out a few times to see what’s…
Read MoreWhat’s Green Mean to You?
[Holed up inside with the flu…YUCK…the only thing green that I’m thinking of right now is being green with envy that I can’t fully enjoy this amazing weather we’re having! But rather than dragging you further into my funk, I thought I’d re-post my post from St. Patty’s Day last year about … the meaning of…
Read MoreMarch Gardening To-Do List
Alright…it’s March and Spring is right around the corner! Woopwoop! That said…it’s time to get out there and get ready. Below you’ll find my March Gardening To-Do List. Hopefully you’ll find it helpful! 1. February Gardening To-Do’s Let’s be honest…you were probably a bit too aggressive when you came up with your February gardening to-do list.…
Read MoreStarting from Seeds – 3 Key Resources
Greetings fellow Veggie Garden Ground Redeemers! Even if the weather outside doesn’t seem to be screaming “get outside in the garden”, if you’re considering starting your veggies from seeds this year … time’s-a-tickin’. Although we’ve used seedlings the past several years, we started our very first veggie garden by sowing seeds inside. And although it…
Read MoreFebruary Gardening To-Do List
So it’s February. Not the ideal time to be outside in the garden. Sure…there are pockets of time you could enjoy being outside, but nothing’s really growing … and the weather isn’t typically cooperating. But February is the perfect month to get ready for what’s just around the corner. Spring! So here’s what I have…
Read More3 Must-See Nature-Themed Time Lapse Videos
Needing a little inspiration myself, I came across a few nature-themed time lapse videos that are really incredible. So rather than keeping all the beauty and inspiration to myself I thought I’d share them with you…my fellow Ground Redeemers. And although they won’t make spring come any faster, they may warm these cold winter months…
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolutions Often FAIL because the are Impotent & Uninspired
If you’re anything like me you’re not the best at sticking with your New Year’s resolutions. It’s almost gotten to the point that I enter the New Year knowing that I’ll break my resolutions almost as fast as I made them. Which is stupid. I’m not a sociologist, psychologist, or any other o’gist who would…
Read MoreIf New Year’s Resolutions Fall Flat with Your Family…Try This Instead!
Happy New Year friends! I hope you and your family had some special times together over the holidays. We sure did! But we are really looking forward to seeing what this next year has in store! REALLY looking forward to it! Speaking of New Year’s, I wanted to share something with you that our…
Read MoreTop Christmas Movies
Merry Christmas everyone! And if your family is anything like mine…after all the presents are opened and you’ve gorged yourself on candy and food you might want to sit semi-comatose and watch a Christmas movie. Okay, I know…you’re probably saying to yourself, “What’s so ground redeeming about watching a Christmas movie”. I get it. However…Britt would suggest that…
Read MoreBirdseed Ornaments…Christmastime Fun!
Christmas vacation is here, the kids are out of school, you need some fun activities to do with them and it’s just too cold some days to get outside and play. So I’ve got a fun idea to do with your kids indoors that you bring outdoors…..consider it a homemade holiday gift you can make…
Read MoreThe 2015 RYG Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt! (…with printable)
Back by popular demand is the RYG Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt!!! Last night we 4 Scotts piled into the car with our friends the Brauns…just like last year. I guess you could say what was once a Scott family Christmas tradition has become a Braun-Scott-family Christmas tradition. With our scavenger hunt list and hot chocolate…
Read MoreLast Minute Gift Ideas for Your Ground Redeemer
I once did a post on last minute gift ideas for your ground redeeming friends and family t … and was recently been asked if I was going to do it again. Well … the answer is, “I am.” Today. Right now. So keep reading. (By the way, feel free to check out the other…
Read MoreThe CSA Cookbook by Linda Ly … The Perfect Gift for Your Resident Gardener or Cook!
Alright family gift-givers I have a gift idea for you that your resident gardeners or cooks are sure to love. It’s The CSA Cookbook by Linda Ly. I got it for Britt…my resident cook, but I’m not certain who is going to like it more – Britt, me (err…I), our girls, or whoever we have over…
Read MoreHow to Make a Lighted Christmas Star (or Card Holder)
Alright…so I’ve shown you how to make lighted Christmas balls using chicken wire and then with folding wire balls. Today I’m going to share how to make a lighted Christmas star. So if your kids are clamoring for you to add a little Christmas life outside…this project is super easy and really cheap. (And if you stick with me to the…
Read MoreI’m thankful for … cotton sheets
So for the past several weeks Britt and I have peppered y’all with fall and thankful themed posts…obviously because we’ve entered that time of year and it’s Thanksgiving week after all. I went a little science teacher on you with my post on why leaves change color…and Britt gave you some tasty pumpkin seed recipes…
Read MoreI-Spy Thanksgiving Day Walk
It’s Thanksgiving week and I’m so excited…I just love it! My girls are out of school all week and it’s fall…my favorite season! It’s a great combination for some good family time…enjoying each other and the outdoors and all its glory! Of course Thanksgiving Day will be the highlight. All four of us love spending time at my…
Read MoreNON Chicken Wire Lighted Christmas Balls
We love to decorate for Christmas. But up until last year all our festive decorating efforts were limited to just the inside of our home. This never sat well with our girls. Particularly when we drove down our street passing by all sorts of lighted displays…only to find a lonely, shadowy wreath on our front door.…
Read MoreThe Trifecta of Posts on Winter Chicken Care … from Lisa Steele | Fresh Eggs Daily
Last week I did a post on some crazy stuff we crazy chicken people do with our chickens – put diapers on them, use harnesses to take them on walks, and dress them up in costumes. But honestly, these are all things really more for our benefit or entertainment than for our chickens’. So clearly…
Read MoreCrazy Stuff for Chickens – Diapers, Harnesses, and Costumes!
I’ve become the “chicken guy” to a number of my friends. How do I know? Well because it seems that I’m the go-to for those who are considering raising backyard chickens…reaching out to ask me what it’s really like to have them. While others, who already have chickens, call to ask questions about specific chicken-related issues. But…
Read More7 Fun Fall Activities … That’ll Get You Outside!
Alright, I’m going to make this one quick…because the weather outside is amazing and I want to get out there and enjoy it with Britt and our girls. But before I do, I wanted to provide you with 7 fun fall activities that you could do with your family…and friends if you’re so inclined. 1.…
Read MoreAuntie’s Fried Apples Recipe…Absolutely the Best!
Although Auntie wasn’t officially my grandmother, she did raise my dad. And besides that, she fit the bill of the quintessential little ole granny in every way imaginable. She was small, sweet…but still a bit spunky, had white hair, really thick glasses, dentures, and would only wear dresses…mostly with some sort of flowered print. And…
Read MoreThe COOLEST Fire Pit Ever | S&S Fire Pits
I know that the weather hasn’t really been cool enough yet to scream that it’s time for an evening outside around the fire, but this week I just couldn’t help myself. Our summer just seemed extra hot and extra long…and after having what felt like weeks and weeks of rain, I just needed to get outside…
Read More5 Fall Gardening To-Do’s
Happy Fall Y’all! It’s so nice that not only have we officially turned the page from summer to fall, but that we’re actually starting to feel the refreshing autumn air…at least here in Atlanta. Sigh… And not only that, it’s the perfect time to do quite a few things in your yard so that you can…
Read MoreIrish Garden Shed … Clearly, Not Your Everyday Shed
Early last year my mother-in-law did a post on RYGblog about one of her friend’s beautiful potting shed . If you haven’t seen it…check it out…because you’ll see that not only is it incredibly functional (why most people want a shed), but it is gorgeous as well (something few think is possible). I included that…
Read MoreBack Yard Triage: 5 Landscape Design Tips to Bring Life to Your Outdoor Spaces
I know…with these hot and humid days we’re still having, you probably don’t want to be outside in your yard for very long. But now is actually the perfect time to think about your yard, because in the fall…which is just around the corner…it will be the perfect time to do something in your yard so…
Read More5 Must-Have Shrubs with White Flowers…to Extend the Life of Your Garden
It’s during these long, hot dog days of summer that I’m thankful to still have some shrubs whose flowers are still doing their thing. Most of the flowers from my other shrubs have come and gone, my fescue has definitely seen a better day, and my potted flowers have dried out because I couldn’t…
Read More5 Must See Videos That Encourage Outdoor Play
On the heels of last week’s post about designing natural play spaces, I thought I’d follow up with 5 videos that I think, in one way or another, will encourage you to spend more time outside with your kids. Why? Well…because outdoor play is really, really important. Read on and watch these videos and you’ll see…
Read MoreNatural Play Spaces – Best for Your Kids’ Bodies & Minds [Guest Post by Holly Brooks | King Landscaping]
If you’ve spent any amount of time on RYGblog and you haven’t picked up on the fact that the primary reason I got into this ground redeeming business in the first place was because of my family – for my girls to have beautiful, creative, meaningful spaces to play, hang out, learn, and connect in at home…I apologize. Because that…
Read MoreThe new phonebook is here! The new phonebook is here! Well, not really…but our new Chicken eBook is!!!
Well, you may not be as excited as Navin R. Johnson* was to receive the new phonebook…or even excited at all to hear that our new Chicken eBook is here. But since we’ve been sharing our chicken stories here on RYGblog we’ve had a number of folks ask us to pull our posts together and share…
Read MoreCrazy Easy & Cheap DIY Outdoor Lighting Project
This was such a cheap and easy project that I don’t really have much to write about. Regardless…we couldn’t be happier with how the DIY outdoor lighting project we did for our pergola turned out. And the really cool thing is, we used mostly materials that we had just lying around. It provides just the right amount of light to turn…
Read More4 Really Basic Veggie Garden Tips
Britt and I hosted a really cool event in our back yard one gloriously beautiful morning a few weeks back. 20+ folks arrived to learn more about what a Tower Garden® is…and if it’s something they’d want to consider having for themselves. While sipping on smoothies, we were schooled in all things Tower Garden® by…
Read MoreNana’s Potato Salad Recipe + Bacon!
She’s back…and this time with a recipe that includes two of my favorites…potatoes and bacon! Check out RYG guest blogger Tracy Prather’s recipe for her Nana’s Potato Salad with Bacon. We didn’t grow any potatoes this year and we haven’t gotten off the grid enough (some would say at all) to have our own pigs…
Read MorePlant Combinations for Spring Container Gardening
Last year I did a post with Helen Weis from Unique by Design on container gardening basics. And when I tell you it’s been our most popular post…that’s really an understatement. It’s gotten almost half of our pageviews over the past 12 months. Crazy! [Thanks again Helen…oh-wise-guru-of-all-things-container-gardening!!] Soooo….I thought I’d follow-up with another container gardening…
Read More4 Things We’ve Learned in 4 Weeks of Beekeeping
I met Micah a little over 2 years ago now…when we were just starting out on our RYG journey. Micah was part of the awesome team at Proof Branding that helped us come up with the RYG brand and develop our website and blog. And since then Micah, has become both a friend and a fellow…
Read MoreStrep Throat, Bronchitis, and Southern Living ®
Well…that’s probably the first time you’ve ever seen those three things on a list together. Clearly, “one of these things is not like the other” (more on that below). But what they all do have in common is that they’ve kept me from writing my weekly RYGblog posts. And I’m so sorry about that. First…
Read MoreUpcycled Nesting Box … Transformed into Boot Storage
Ever since we’ve been raising chickens, we’ve been accumulating chicken-themed stuff … ties, books, towels, objects, etc. Some of the chicken-stuff we’ve bought ourselves, but some we’ve received as gifts. And not that we’re turning all cat-lady on you …i n a chicken-kinda-way, but I guess you could say, chickens is something we’re becoming…
Read MoreA Couple of Easter Activities…for the Family Planner
First of all…I’m clearly, admitedly…and frankly…unashamedly…NOT our family planner. Britt…clearly, admittedly, and fortunately for our girls and me…IS. So to do my part…and to help Britt’s fellow family planners out just a bit, I thought that I’d re-post a couple Easter activities she posted on last year…so that you could get a head-start. Easter Egg Birdseed Ornaments It’s…
Read MoreAnd the Winner for Best New Garden Blog is…
…Redeem Your Ground! That’s right…we won Best New Garden Blog at the 2015 Garden Bloggers Conference last week…whoop, whoop! Unfortunately we weren’t able to be there to receive the award in person…but I asked fellow chicken-lover and blogger friend Deb Neyens (Counting My Chickens) to let me know once it was announced. And she did…within seconds…thanks…
Read MoreFor the Birds…How to Make Cheerios Bird Feeders
My mom, sister, and aunts are all obsessed with the Eagle Cam at Berry College. They go online several times a day to see what’s going on with the eagles and their babies. And then they text updates to everyone if they’ve caught them feeding the babies or doing something else interesting. Check it out for yourself…it’s really pretty cool.…
Read More[EXCITING NEWS] RYG Is Joining the “Growing a Greener World” Team
2015 is stacking up to be an exciting year for us over here at RYG. First…we became a finalist for several of the Hall of Fame Awards at the 2015 Garden Bloggers Conference*. And now…today’s exciting news is…I’ve been asked to join the team over at Growing a Greener World®. Growing a Greener World® (GGW)…
Read More[VIDEO] Introducing…Our Backyard Chickens!
If you’ve been on RYGblog more than once you’ve probably gathered that we are the proud owners of a small flock of backyard chickens …7 of them. And although we do love them because of the eggs they give us every day, we also love them because we consider them pets…part of our family. Now…I’ve written…
Read MoreDefine Your “Ground”
Hello friends! Well it’s the second week of February and I’m finally sitting down to write my first post of the year. Whaaat!?!? Where did January go?!?! January…for me, is usually a fairly calm, not too busy, get-caught-up-on-things kind of month that I always look forward to. Not this year. January was a whirlwind…not the quiet,…
Read MoreTop Garden Blogs
Hey Ground Redeemers…so on my Garden Trends 2015 post from last week I mentioned that we had some exciting news to share. Well, one very exciting bit of news is that Redeem Your Ground is a finalist in several categories of the Hall of Fame Awards at this year’s Garden Bloggers Conference. Anyway…this is pretty cool news…
Read MoreWhat Are Your Coffee Table Books Saying…About You?
Besides an old wooden bread bowl filled with pine cones and a wooden box we use to hide our remote controls, the only other thing on our coffee table is books…coffee table books. A lot of them…like more than 20. So besides saying that we should probably get rid of a few coffee table books, the books themselves say quite…
Read MoreGarden Trends 2015
Man…when we signed off at Christmas…saying that we’ll reconnect in the New Year, I had no idea that it would be over 3 weeks before we did. Sorry about that…but thanks. Our time away has been very good..and I hope yours was too. We had some great time together as a family…which was really nice and much needed. We also spent a…
Read MoreMerry Christmas from the Scotts & RYGblog
Britt, the girls…furry, feathered, and otherwise…and I want to wish y’all a very Merry Christmas. We also want to thank you for letting us share some of our ground redemption efforts and stories this past year. We hope that somewhere along the way that we’ve either helped or inspired you to redeem a bit of your…
Read MoreFamily Fun Night – Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt (with printable)
So in the final rush of Christmas preparation…this post didn’t make it out as early as I had wanted it to. But I do hope it is just in time for you to enjoy over the next few nights…now that school is out and there is greater flexibility to enjoy some family fun! So what is it you ask.…
Read MoreDeck the Halls…Scott Family Christmas Traditions
It’s definitely looking a lot like Christmas in our home…and I love it! I just love how our home transforms during this special time of year. In the early morning and late evening, I love sitting and gazing at everything as I reflect on the joy of Christmas! We wanted to take this opportunity to invite…
Read MoreHow to Make Homemade Mulling Spices…the Perfect Hostess Gift or Teacher Gift this Christmas
We are headed out to a party tonight and I knew just what I was going to take as a hostess gift…Homemade Mulling Spices. ‘Tis the season for such sweet and spicy aromas! And everyone I’ve ever given this gift to has loved receiving it and many have asked for the recipe. I mean who doesn’t enjoy having…
Read MoreHow to Make Lighted Christmas Balls
Ironically…and much to our girls’ chagrin, we have never done much more than hang a few stands of white lights outside to decorate for Christmas. Our deck-the-hall efforts have always focused on the inside of our home. But this year it’s going to be different. Not that our house will rival the Griswold’s from National Lampoon’s…
Read MoreA Dad, His Boys, and Their Tree House
I’d like to introduce you to my great friend Jon…fellow daddy of 2 young kids and a guy who loves building things and getting outside as much as he can with his family. Being a master of almost any tool he can get his hands on and having a creative bent, Jon builds things that…
Read MoreCaution: Abusing Gratitude Could Be Life Threatening
As we shift our thoughts and energy from Halloween costumes and candy to Thanksgiving and times with family, I thought this post that I found on my friend Kelly Flanagan’s blog UnTangled was particularly timely. [Credit for featured photo above: Jamie In Bytown via Compfight cc] Until a few years ago, I lived like every resource was about…
Read More15 Things All Dads of Daughters Should Know (by Justin Ricklefs)
All month I’ve been seeing this post shared on Facebook titled 15 Things All Dads of Daughters Should Know…but it wasn’t until my childhood best friend and fellow dad-of-a-daughter sent it to me directly that I read it. And as a dad of 2 amazing daughters…if I do say so myself…it really hit me right between the…
Read MoreSpotlight on RYG’s Posts on Holiday Crafts & Decor
So this past weekend we were “officially” introduced to our local community at an event hosted by our friends from a really cool local home & garden boutique – the bird and the bee. We really had a great time…and are so appreciative to the bird and the bee and everyone who stopped by. Not…
Read MoreHow to Make a Pinecone Garland
One fall-into-winter outdoorsy decoration that has graced our mantel for many years now is a simple pinecone garland. It’s very easy to make and will hardly cost you a thing. And for those of you who don’t think that you’re crafty, I’m confident that you too can so do this! Really, it’s so straightforward and…
Read MoreTower Garden ® vs. Raised Beds
Well a few weeks back I wrote a post about how I was “diversifying” my veggie gardening efforts by adding a Tower Garden® right alongside our raised beds. On that post I provided the reasons why I WASN’T going down this Tower Garden ® (TG) path…although some people do it for these very reasons… to…
Read MoreLet There Be Light…String Lights!
If you’ve been reading RYGblog for anytime at all, you’ve probably heard me talk about “Scott Family Farm”…which is really just our side yard that we’ve redeemed from the waste of a space it used to be. (If you’re just tuning in and are interested in seeing more of what I’m talking about, check out…
Read MoreRedeem Their Ground…Bringing Back the Old-Fashioned Barn Raising
This past Saturday was just one of those days. Not one of those days …bad. But one of those days…good, so good. And at the end of this oh-so-good day we plopped our exhausted bodies, full stomachs, reeling minds, and overflowing hearts in bed…satisfied…content…thankful…wondering why days like this didn’t happen more often. So what amazing…
Read MoreBLEND-y Pics on Pinterest
So I was sitting here trying to think of what I should post about next…and I was drawing a blank…nada…nothing! Maybe it’s because I’ve only had a half of cup of coffee today…I don’t know, but my brain is just a bit fuzzy. Then I thought…rather than try to squeeeeeeze out any more inspiration from…
Read MoreFall Is In the Air…Time for Fall Family Activities!
This past week has been so nice here in Atlanta – we’ve officially turned the calendar to fall and with that have come the cooler temps and breezes that mark the season. So before all the leaves are off the trees and winter’s cold winds take over, I wanted to jot down some of the things that my 3…
Read MoreHow to Take Care of Your Lawn – pH Testing, Aeration & Overseeding
If you have cool season grass (e.g., fescue, ryegrass, bluegrass, etc.), now is the time that you really need to take those extra measures to ensure a beautiful lawn. And when I say extra measures, I mean those things beyond what most of us think of as the basics…like watering, mowing, and fertilizing. Specifically, what…
Read MoreTips for Fall Container Gardening – Helen Weis | Unique by Design
Back in April I did a post on container gardening basics … Container Gardening 101. Since today is the first day of fall…I thought I’d give you a bit more container gardening goodie…but this time I’ll put a fall twist to it. Like I did last spring, I’ve enlisted the help of the container gardening guru herself – Helen Weis with Unique…
Read MoreVeggie Garden Diversification…The Tower Garden ®
I’ve already gotten one almost visceral “What?!?” response from a fellow veggie garden buddy when I told him that I was going to try my hand at growing veggies using a new-fangled approach to gardening. And when I say new-fangled, I mean that there’s no dirt…which seems crazy to me! But still…I’m entering the world…
Read MoreBest Fall Flowers – Bringing Life to Your Outdoor Spaces
Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of annuals…at any time of the year really. They’re an added cost…and frankly, I’m really not into the extra work they require – planting them and then taking care of them…waaah! And with fall approaching…as the days are getting cooler and shorter…and my yard starts to slip…
Read MoreRepurposing Glass Jars as Charming Flower Vases
Last weekend I helped host a bridal shower with some friends for our pastor’s daughter. What a fun and special celebration for this young bride! One of my responsibilities as hostess was to bring flowers to brighten up the tables. With all the glass jars on the counter from last week’s blog (on reusing them as inserts in decorative…
Read MoreWhat Were You Made to Do…to Be? (Dr. Kelly Flanagan | UnTangled)
Given that this is the 3rd post I’ve done highlighting an article I’ve read on Dr. Kelly Flanagan’s blog UnTangled…I guess you can deduce that I like what he has to say. But this article, What Were You Made to Do, hit the bulls-eye of the Redeem Your Ground back story like no other. I’ll let…
Read MoreRepurposing Glass Jars to Bring Some Green Inside
My mom is amazing at bringing the outdoors in…what we like to call “BLENDing” here at RYG. She has such a gift and an eye for plants and how to arrange them in such a lovely way. She’s always gathering things from her yard and bringing the beauty inside for various occasions…or maybe for no…
Read MoreRedeem Your Grounds…Your Coffee Grounds That Is!
So I was at home writing a post when Britt texted me a pic that she had taken while at Starbucks picking up a morning boost…with the message “What a great idea for a blog post.” Her pic was of a sign promoting Starbucks’ “Grounds for Your Garden” program. Friends have told me about how they’ve…
Read MoreThe Vital Importance of Outdoor Play for Our Kids
If you’ve only read our posts on gardening or chickens you may have missed the fact that the primary reason that Britt and I embarked on this RYG journey was to help get people outside more at home…to connect with their family, friends, neighbors, and nature. We believe that when you do that your life…
Read More