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[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…
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…
Read MoreGet Outside & Play! (The Importance of Outdoor Play)
Odds are, if you’ve read even just a few of our posts you’ve gleaned that one of the reasons Britt and I are doing this whole redeem your ground thing is out of our desire to get kids outside to play more…ours, yours, whomevers! A lot of that…
Read MoreThe Basics of Amending Your Soil
Last week I posted on the different types of soil…and how clay-heavy soils and sand-heavy soils provide less than ideal growing conditions for your plants. And unfortunately most of us are dealing with one end of that soil spectrum or the other…which requires us to do more than…
Read MoreInspiring Gardens
Sometimes I just want to be inspired by what I see…and not be distracted by someone blathering on about some deep thought or story. So in an attempt to not distract you, I’ll simply include a number of images of gardens that have inspired me. But because I can’t…
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…
Read MoreDeer-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.…
Read MoreWhy, Yes…Our Backyard Chickens Do Have Names
I shouldn’t find it funny, really…that one of the most common questions people ask about our chickens is “Do they have names?”. Although having chickens as pets is trendy in some circles, it’s still not the norm…so given that most peoples’ context for chickens is what they’re having…
Read MoreHow to Make a Scarecrow
The one downside to having a veggie garden is…the critters that come and feast on the vegetables without an invitation! It’s so frustrating going out to find a squirrel dining on the very nice, large, green tomato we’ve been waiting to ripen and dreaming about eating ourselves. And they never say “thank…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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