A 'green' ironing pad

One of our finds during lockdown is cheese deliveries. I know, what a find, and quite a treat. We’ve had three so far and each time we’re encouraged to order another after tasting the fabulous British cheeses. They arrive well packaged, using WoolCool to insulate the packages. The pure wool insulation is reusable and if you look at #LetsBoxClever on social media, you’ll start to see how.

I’ve talked before about my mini iron, a birthday present this year, and how just by having a mini iron I’ll sew more - because having an iron near the sewing machine, is a real boon! What I quickly realised is that not having anything to iron on, was my newest dilemma.

I tried a towel, and while it was ok, it wasn’t great. Then I remembered the insulation from the cheese deliveries. I was convinced it would work, which to be honest was based on little more than enthusiasm.

So off I went to create.

I found some material that I thought would be wasted on face coverings, and made my ironing pad big enough to fit the material!

Before I cut the wool insulation, I thought it might be nice to leave the natural fibres on display. However once I cut it and saw the mess it left behind I quickly changed my mind!

It’s working really well, and hopefully will inspire more people to try this #LetsBoxClever idea.

Reassembling the little shed

Ever since we brought the little shed home from the allotment it’s taken up residency in a spare corner of the garden, hidden behind the pizza oven. Still in its component parts. Our intention was always to reassemble it. I’d hatched a plan to use it to free up some space in the greenhouse, which was becoming a bit full.

And finally it happened.

MOH is a perfectionist, and I’m a just get it done kind of person. He wanted the warped doors straight, I was happy for them to provide some shelter for the contents. Well, they say opposites attract!

While he perfected the banana shaped doors, I cleared a space for it. Finally emptying the last of my ‘reserved’ soil in pots around the garden. That’s been hanging around for a while too.

Neither of us had even put felt on a shed roof before. But how hard can it be? It turns out, I was more of a perfectionist at this point.

It was about now that I shared my next masterplan with MOH. You’ll see why he’s the patient one. As part of clearing space in the greenhouse I wanted to change the staging, and the wooden shelving which had already been cut in half and repurposed once before, was now set for its final destination. Unfortunately it didn’t fit in in a single piece. Perhaps we should have built the shed around it?!

And so we started to take it apart. Some of the bolts were rusted, he was the one with the muscles and the patience. And no doubt bemusement. But they came apart, and along with some old brackets we had in the shed were soon inside the shed almost where I wanted them. Remember it’s a small shed, and let’s just say at some points he wasn’t that impressed with my shelving plan. Mostly when he was head and shoulders and twisted inside the shed, when I was insistent the shelves didn’t wobble.

These bolts, and a bit of rotten wood were all that was left. Not bad for a reuse project.

Once we got the shed in place - which took a little longer than it should have - it was surprisingly easy to fill. Without the shelves, it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as useful.

Another job jobbed. Finally. Though he’s still not happy with that banana shaped door!

The Grow Your Own Garden at the Ideal Home Show

This was one of the garden room sets that I’ve already said I was keen on, and the keen amongst you will realise that that’s because of my penchant for growing my own, but also for the geometric print rug, which is reminiscent of the cushions in my conservatory, and made from recycled plastic straws. But there’s another reason and it’s mostly how four crates have been fastened together to create a good looking and functional table. I’m forever saying I need a small low height garden table, mostly for my gin and tonic, and while this isn’t exactly what I’m after (it’s a little on the large side) I do admire its design.

The garden focuses on sustainability as well as the grow your own element. It shows ways of using your garden space making use of the latest Gardena technology, as well as featuring sustainable designs with items from the decking to the furniture made from recycled plastic bottles, milk cartons and tyres.

Which means, that everything might not necessarily be what it seems.

As well as the funky crate table on castors, I’m also quite taken with the raised, slatted looking planter at the rear of the picture above. The vertical struts provide extra growing space, for what looks like herbs, as well as looking stylish. It’s a bit too tall to have alongside my greenhouse - it’d block too much light - but otherwise I think I’d be tempted to look into recreating these raised beds by made from sustainable British timber.

Even the classic shaped Adirondack chairs, another long term favourite, are made from recycled plastic bottles. Which makes a lot more sense - they’re by Polywood if you’re also interested.

There were plenty of herbs in this garden - as well as the rhubarb amongst the hydrangeas above in planters made from old car tyres - and herbs are no bad thing. They’re great for flavouring food and are a good substitute for salt, as that’s something else that we all more than likely need to cut down on.

The final thing that caught my eye was this planter full of unruly peas, who look as if they’re arguing with each other about climbing up the cane supports.

On closer inspection the container is a milk churn, which is another way to reuse an container and to introduce some charm to your garden at the same time. It’s one of those garden spaces that has plenty going on, and much of which you don’t spot on first look.

What do you think, are there elements you’d have in your garden?