Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System Review

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Did you know you can water your entire garden bed without lifting a finger, without setting up an expensive complicated drip line system? (by the way, this method also wastes 61% less water than drip lines) This rainwater fed olla watering system from Thirsty Earth makes it possible - but if you’re a skeptic like me, let me explain exactly how this works and give you my full review of the Thirsty Earth system from my own experience installing and using it in my vegetable garden.

WHAT IS AN OLLA WATERING SYSTEM?

Olla (pronounced oya) means “pot” in Spanish, but the concept of using ollas as an irrigation system goes back thousands of years and has been used in countless cultures around the world. An olla watering system is basically an unglazed eight to ten inch terracotta pot that is buried beneath the soil with only a small amount sticking up above the surface and filled with water. The water then leeches out of tiny holes or “pores” in the unglazed clay and is pulled through the soil to the roots of your thirsty plants using a process called soil moisture tension. This functions much the same way as osmosis, in that the water is trying to equalize to a certain level of moisture within the soil. This means your soil will never become overwatered either - if the soil is moist, the water stays in the pot until it is needed. The downsides of DIYing a system like this are that it can be hard to identify true terracotta - and other types of clays have different properties that make them not as well suited for this job. Plus, you have to fill each one manually every 2-5 days depending on how hot it is and most importantly they take up a lot of room in the garden beds. But thankfully, with the Thirsty Earth system all of those cons are eliminated - but we’ll get to that in a minute.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE A Thirsty Earth OLLA WATERING System?

Hauling around a watering can and kneeling all over isn't exactly a walk in the park for everyone, especially folks like me with arthritis. This past spring, I was right in the middle of a flare-up when I planted my garden. I knew I needed a way to water my plants without turning myself into a pretzel! There are a ton of fancy watering systems out there, but I was on the hunt for something easy on the wallet and made with regular stuff.

Last summer was a scorcher, even though some reports were saying it would be the coolest we’d ever seen again! And all that heat wasn't helping the drought situation. By the end of August 2022, almost half (nearly 38%) of the entire U.S. was parched. That number is even higher in the lower 48 states, where over 45% of the land was bone dry. With climate change, things are only expected to get drier. No wonder our little town had water restrictions most of the summer! Restrictions like that mean dragging a hose around isn't an option anymore, so any watering system you use needs to be a real water-saver.

Imagine this: you water your plants, but most of the water just sits on top and bakes away in the sun. olla watering systems stop that waste! The water seeps out of the pot slowly, right where your plants need it most - at their roots. This fancy trick can slash your water use by up to 61%! Pretty sweet, right? Less water wasted means a lighter water bill and a happier planet.

Olla watering systems aren't just about saving water, they're also all about growing healthy plants! Since the water seeps out underground, plant roots stretch out searching for that moisture. This makes them stronger and helps your plants stand tall. Olla watering systems also keep the leaves of your plants dry, making it tough for fungus and disease to spread. And the slow release of water means your plants get the perfect amount to drink, never too much.

Basically, olla watering systems create happy, healthy plants that can take on anything!

Thirsty Earth Olla Watering System Review

Since it can be hard to find genuine terracotta pots affordably in your area, and they take up a lot of space in the garden, the Thirsty Earth olla watering system can be a good compromise that allows you to actually hook up your ollas to an automatic rainwater harvesting system that will continuously refill your ollas for you on it’s own from free rainwater collected from your roof. Plus they are about the size of a water bottle, so they don’t waste precious planting space. I added the Thirsty Earth system to two of my raised beds, and since the system is super easy to customize to whatever garden bed configuration you have, you don’t have to worry about not having the right parts or enough pieces to get it done. The website does a great job of showing you exactly how to lay out the cotta cups and it’s made an already pretty hands-off system completely self-sustaining; water is collected from my roof into a 50 gallon barrel, flows automatically into reservoirs and down the irrigation tube into individual terracotta cups. Setup is easy thanks to the push to connect fittings that come with every kit. You just lay out your cups, cut the included tubing to size and connect everything with the fittings. Once everything is set up, you can leave it all summer and the reservoir will refill automatically from your rain barrel or you can manually refill it about once a week.

WHAT PLANTS GROW WELL WITH the Thirsty Earth olla watering system?

Some people have asked me if olla watering systems work for all plants. It's true, different plants have different thirst levels and root systems. But in my garden (and from what my fellow plant lovers say), pretty much any plant can do well with an olla - from thirsty veggies like squash, corn, and beans, all the way down to little lettuces. The best way to find out what works for you is to give it a try in your own garden! Each cup has about a two foot radius in which the water will spread out and reach plant roots, so it’s a good idea to put your more water-hungry plants closer to the cup itself and plants that like drier roots further away. But, the roots will naturally be drawn towards the water source anyway, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it much! 

Thirsty Earth FAQs

I already planted my garden. Can I still add the Thirsty Earth Watering system?

Absolutely! You can totally add olla watering to your already-planted garden. Just be flexible with the placement recommendations. Instead of shoving the olla right next to your plants, give them some breathing room - think 3 to 6 inches away. The exact spot depends on how big your plant is and how deep its roots go. If you're worried about disturbing your plants too much, use an auger to dig the holes. Just take it slow and be careful not to bump any roots too much.

Do I need to surface water new seedlings with Thirsty Earth?

Planting seeds with olla watering is easy! Just sprinkle them within 6 inches (or about a foot in diameter) around the olla cup. This will make sure your seeds get enough moisture to sprout. Remember to plant the seeds at their usual depth though, because the top inch or so of soil dries out quickly unless it's covered in mulch. Otherwise, if you want to plant a little further away from the cups, you can just hand water the area lightly until the seeds germinate.

Where does the Thirsty Earth reservoir bucket go?

Stick your bucket somewhere in your garden bed, or even next to it. The key is to have the top of the bucket around the same height as your soil. This lets the water flow smoothly to your olla cups like magic!

How big are the Thirsty Earth cups?

The olla cups themselves are pretty small, about the size of a water bottle. They hold about 14.4 ounces of water, but that's not the whole story. They're connected to the reservoir, so they really can keep your plants happy for a long time. Each cup releases about a cup (250ml) of water every day, and depending on the size of your water bucket reservoir (2.5 or 5 gallons), you might need 6 to 12 cups to last a week. Don't worry about water pressure, these things work best with a gentle flow, kind of like a slow drizzle.

Does Thirsty Earth have a warranty?

Thirsty Earth wants you to love your watering system! They offer a 100% money-back guarantee for 30 days. If you're not amazed by how easy it is to grow healthy plants with way less water (like, 61% less!), just send it back and they'll give you a full refund (minus shipping costs). 

Can I leave Thirsty Earth pots in my garden all winter?

If you live in a place that gets super cold in the winter (think zones 8 and below where the temperature dips below freezing for a long time), it's best to take out your olla watering systems before things get frosty. They've tested them to survive a week at 16 degrees Fahrenheit, but it's safer to just bring them inside for the winter.

If you're feeling adventurous and want to leave them in the ground (no judgment!), just make sure to stop filling them with water 2-3 weeks before the first freeze. This gives the olla cups time to empty themselves out so they don't crack in the cold.

Olla Watering System: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Did you know you can water your entire garden bed without lifting a finger and reduce your waste water by 70% for about $5 using just a clay pot? Today I’m going to show you how to make a self watering olla pot system for your own garden.

What is an olla watering system?

Olla (pronounced oya) means “pot” in Spanish, but the concept of using ollas as an irrigation system goes back thousands of years and has been used in countless cultures around the world. An olla watering system is basically any type of unglazed clay pot that is buried beneath the soil with only a small amount sticking up above the surface and filled with water. You can tell that a pot is unglazed because it will be that classic terracotta red color with no shiny finish, glaze or paint. The water then leeches out of tiny holes or “pores” in the unglazed clay and is pulled through the soil to the roots of your thirsty plants using a process called soil moisture tension. This functions much the same way as osmosis, in that the water is trying to equalize to a certain level of moisture within the soil. This means your soil will never become overwatered either - if the soil is moist, the water stays in the pot until it is needed.

Why should you use an olla watering pot?

Watering the garden is a task that isn’t easy for everyone. Personally, I struggle with bending down and kneeling in the garden to water and weed because of my arthritis. When I was planning my garden this past spring I was in the middle of a bad flare and I knew I needed to choose an irrigation system that would ease some of the physical demands of gardening and allow me to continue growing all the fruits and vegetables I could without hurting myself. There are so many different watering systems available today, from drip irrigation to sprinklers, but I wanted to find something that was budget-friendly and used common everyday items.

An olla pot is perfect for garden irrigation because all you need is a clay pot and some type of lid. You only need to fill them every 2-5 days depending on your climate (hotter, dryer climates will be on the lower end of that spectrum and wetter, cooler climates on the higher end) and it takes just one minute or so to fill the pot from your watering can versus standing there for ages with a hose.

As of August 30, 2022, 38.23% of the U.S. and 45.53% of the Lower 48 states were in drought. With climate change on the rise, this number is only expected to get worse. I know in our tiny town we are under a water restriction notice for most of the summer, and this is a common issue in many neighborhoods. I’ve even heard a few reports that said to expect summer 2022 to be the coolest for the rest of our lives - and it felt like the hottest one yet. Not only does a watering restriction in your town eliminate hose watering as an option, it means any watering system you do use should be as efficient and waste as little water as possible.

Olla pots reduce wasted water by about seventy percent, since most of the moisture is held underground and not lost to surface evaporation. This is a huge savings over traditional watering methods and means you can significantly reduce your water consumption in our drought-prone climate. This will lower your water bill as well as make your homestead more environmentally friendly!

Olla pots also help you to grow happier and healthier plants. The root systems in your plants will also be healthier, as they reach out towards the underground water the roots will become larger and sturdier, keeping your plants from falling over. Most importantly, plants that are watered at the soil level are less prone to infection with certain fungal diseases that thrive in damp environments, since the leaves of your plants will not get wet as often. Because of the soil moisture tension phenomenon, your plants will also never be overwatered.

What is the best olla pot you can buy?

This DIY olla may not be for you if you can’t find genuine terracotta pots affordably in your area, or don’t have the time to make one yourself. If you can’t make your own olla, or you want hook up your ollas to an automatic rainwater harvesting system that will continuously refill your ollas for you from free rainwater collected from your roof, check out this automated olla watering system.

I added this drip irrigation/olla hybrid setup to 3 of my raised beds, and it’s made an already pretty hands-off system completely self-sustaining; water is collected from my roof into a 50 gallon barrel, flows automatically into reservoirs and down the irrigation tube into individual terracotta cups. Setup is easy - in my opinion, this is the perfect garden watering solution.

What plants grow well with olla pots?

There is some debate about whether olla pots work for any type of plant. Of course, all plants have different water needs and root systems. In my experience and from comments in my community, there doesn’t seem to be any plant that can’t thrive with an olla pot - from trees to squash, corn and beans, all the way down to simple lettuce. Experiment in your own garden and find what works best for you!

How do you make an olla watering system?

Here’s the supplies you will need to make an olla watering pot system:

• 1 eight to ten inch unglazed terracotta pot per 4x4 foot area - click here for the ones I use

• Moldable glue if your pot has a hole in the bottom (I like sugru)

• Plant saucer to use as a lid - click here for the lids I use

• A rock or two to weight down your lid
  

1. You will want to start by calculating how many olla pots you will need. As a general rule of thumb, you should have one olla pot per four by four foot area in your garden. The olla pot can water up to two feet away from where it is buried, which means even if your garden is just two feet wide by eight feet long you’d want two olla pots - one every two feet.

2. If your olla pot has a hole in the bottom, you’ll need to cover this so the water you put in doesn’t just pour right out the bottom. You can cover the hole in the bottom of the olla pot with sugru moldable glue, caulking, clay, poster mounting putty, a cork or something similar.

3. Dig out a space to bury your olla pot in your garden bed. You can olla pots in raised beds or in-ground gardens, but you’ll need larger olla pots for in-ground beds, ten to twelve inches should be fine. The hole should be about as deep as your pot is tall - however, my raised beds are too shallow to fully bury the pot and they still work fine.

4. Place your olla pot into the hole and replace the soil around the edges of the olla.

Fill the olla with water and cover with your chosen lid. This helps to keep bugs out and prevents the water from just evaporating before it has a chance to seep into the soil. My lid is very lightweight, so I chose to weigh it down with a rock and then decided to add even more small pebbles and rocks to create a watering station for pollinators.

Depending on your climate you will need to refill the olla every 2-5 days. I recommend checking it the day after you install to make sure there’s no leaks in your olla - if all the water is gone and it wasn’t a heat wave that day I’d check your seal and try again. Then check every other day until you get a sense for how often you need to refill the pot.

wILL YOU TRY THIS EASY WAY TO WATER YOUR GARDEN? lET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

Why Should You Plant Native Plants In Your Garden?

Native plants are unsung heroes in the symphony of nature, harmonizing with the land's rhythm. While exotic plants may flaunt vibrant allure, local blooms bring something irreplaceable to the garden table. But you don’t need to take my word for it - this blog post is all about the importance of planting native plants in your garden.

What Is A Native Plant?

Native plants are plants that are naturalized to the area in which they are growing. They originated from the place they are growing, so are well adapted to the climate and generally work in synchronicity with the natural ecosystem of that area. Many non-native plants have been imported to other parts of the world with dire consequences to the native plant populations, as they possess characteristics that make it easy for them to crowd out the native plants or otherwise make the environment unsuitable for the growth of the native plants that were there first.

Why Are Native Plants Better Than Non-Native Plants?

Native plants have evolved to withstand local climate challenges. They are like wise elders we can turn to for advice, intimately interconnected in deep understanding with the land's idiosyncrasies. Native plants are a practical addition to your garden design - uniquely formed to adapt to your region's exact pest pressures and weather conditions, they are more resilient than exotic options and can withstand the stresses of your ecosystem more easily because they have co-evolved with native flora and fauna.

Native Plants Conserve Water

Because the root systems and water uptake of native plants has evolved in tandem with the climate in which they grow, less irrigation is needed for them to thrive because they are already used to the amount of water that the soil naturally receives from rainwater. This reduced water consumption can contribute to water conservation and the garden's overall sustainability.

Native Plants Are Low Maintenance

Since native plants are adapted for the soil they grow in, they are pretty laid back plants to grow especially once established. This means you can spend less time and money fertilizing and fighting off pests with constant interventions. If you’ve ever said you just don’t have a green thumb in the past, I can almost guarantee that you’ll have better luck if you try growing native plants instead - with less effort on your part.

Native Plants Are An Important Cultural Touchstone

Native plants are storytellers, weaving tales of a region's history, traditions, and cultural richness. Nurturing plants with cultural significance can help you form deeper relationships with the plants in your area and connect with nature.

How Do You Know If A Plant Is Native To Your Area?

There are a few ways to figure out if a plant is native. One option is to check with local botanical gardens, nurseries, or agricultural extension offices—they often have information about native plants in your area. Field guides specific to your region can also be handy. Online databases or apps designed for identifying local flora can be a quick and convenient resource. Plus, if you have any green-thumbed friends or neighbors, they might have some insights.

What Is The Role Of Native Plants In Supporting Biodiversity?

Native plants play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity for several reasons. First off, they provide habitat and food sources for local wildlife, including insects, birds, and mammals. Many native insects, for instance, have evolved to depend on specific native plants for survival. This forms the basis of the food chain, as birds and other animals rely on insects and other invertebrates for sustenance.

Native plants also contribute to ecosystem stability. Their root systems help prevent soil erosion, and they are adapted to local climate conditions, making them more resilient in the face of environmental changes. Additionally, native plants often have complex relationships with other organisms, such as fungi and bacteria in the soil, creating a healthier and more balanced ecosystem.

When non-native plants are introduced, they can sometimes outcompete native species, leading to a decline in biodiversity. Invasive species may not provide the same level of support for local wildlife, disrupting ecological relationships that have developed over time.

In short, native plants are like the backbone of an ecosystem, providing the essential elements that support a diverse and thriving community of organisms.

What is Native Plants Role in Habitat Creation?

Native plants offer a source of food for local wildlife. They attract insects, birds, and other animals with nectar, fruits, seeds, and foliage. This creates a natural food web where different species rely on each other for sustenance.

The structure of native plants provides shelter and nesting sites for various creatures. Tall grasses, shrubs, and trees create hiding spots and safe havens for birds, mammals, and insects. This is especially important for breeding and raising offspring.

Many native plants have evolved alongside local pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and other insects rely on the nectar and pollen of these plants. By supporting pollinators, native plants indirectly contribute to the reproduction of other plants, including food crops.

How Do Native Plants Attract Native Wildlife?

Native plants have evolved alongside local wildlife, forming intricate relationships that benefit both the plants and the animals. Many native plants produce nectar, a sweet liquid that attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Pollinators feed on the nectar and, in the process, transfer pollen from one flower to another, facilitating the plants' reproduction.

Native plants often produce fruits and seeds that are attractive to various animals. Birds, mammals, and even insects may feed on these fruits, helping in seed dispersal. Some seeds may even be adapted to survive passage through the digestive systems of certain animals.

Native plants are often the hosts for specific insect species. For example, monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants. By providing a suitable environment for these insects, native plants support the entire food web, as insects are a crucial food source for many other animals.

The coloration and patterns of native plants often provide camouflage for animals. Insects may mimic the appearance of leaves or flowers, while birds and mammals use the vegetation for cover, protecting them from predators.

Native plants may bloom or produce fruits at specific times of the year, aligning with the seasonal needs of local wildlife. This creates a consistent and reliable food source for animals throughout the year.

What Are Some Challenges Faced by Native Plants?

Native plants face several challenges, many of which are a result of human activities and environmental changes. Urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure development often lead to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. This reduces the available space for native plants to thrive and disrupts ecosystems. The introduction of non-native, invasive plant species can outcompete native plants for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. Invasive species may lack natural predators or diseases, allowing them to spread rapidly and displace native flora.

Changes in climate patterns, including temperature increases and altered precipitation patterns, can affect the distribution and growth of native plants. Some species may struggle to adapt to these changes, impacting their survival and reproduction. Air and water pollution, including pollutants from industrial activities and agriculture, can negatively affect native plants. Pollution can alter soil composition, disrupt nutrient cycles, and directly harm plant health.

Native plants can be susceptible to diseases, and the introduction of new pathogens or the spread of existing ones can pose a significant threat. This is particularly relevant in a globalized world where pathogens can be transported across regions. In some ecosystems, fire plays a natural role in maintaining plant diversity. Changes in fire frequency or intensity, often influenced by human activities, can disrupt the balance and negatively impact native plant communities.

Addressing these challenges requires a combination of conservation efforts, sustainable land management practices, and public awareness. Protecting and restoring native plant populations is crucial not only for the plants themselves but for the entire ecosystems they support.

Popular Native Plants In The USA

The United States is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, and each region has its own set of popular native plants. Here are some examples from various regions:

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Found in the eastern and central United States, this small deciduous tree is known for its stunning pink or purple flowers in early spring.

Bluebonnet (Lupinus spp.): The Bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas and is part of the lupine genus. These vibrant blue flowers are a common sight in the spring in Texas.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica): The California Poppy is the state flower of California and is known for its golden-orange blooms. It thrives in the dry, open landscapes of California.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Native to the eastern and central United States, Black-Eyed Susans are yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom throughout the summer and are a favorite in gardens.

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.): Milkweed is crucial for the survival of monarch butterflies, as it serves as the sole host plant for their larvae. Various species of milkweed are found throughout the country.

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda): A common pine tree in the southeastern United States, the Loblolly Pine is an important timber species and provides habitat for numerous wildlife species.

Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata): Found in arid regions of the western United States, sagebrush is a hardy shrub that plays a vital role in providing habitat for a variety of wildlife.

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): Goldenrod is a late-summer bloomer found in meadows and along roadsides across the country. It's known for its bright yellow flower clusters.

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum): Native to the southeastern United States, the Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer known for its distinctive "knees" that protrude from the water in swampy areas.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Also known as Bee Balm, this native plant with pink to lavender flowers is found in prairies and open woods. It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

These are just a few examples, and the diversity of native plants in the U.S. is vast. Local nurseries, botanical gardens, and native plant societies are excellent resources for learning more about and obtaining native plants for your specific region.

10 Zero Waste Gardening Tools and Ideas

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

In all areas of our lives, from our hobbies to our habits, we have opportunities to create or reduce our impact on the environment and the effects of climate change. While the burden of fixing our climate crisis should not fall on the individual but the corporations that are responsible for the vast majority of damage done, every little bit you are able to do can help. The best part is, most of the ways we can reduce or eliminate our waste in gardening come at no additional effort or cost - it simply comes down to intentionally deciding on the plastic free or secondhand option instead (which is often cheaper anyway)

What does zero waste mean? What is zero waste?

Zero waste is the principle or practice of sustainable living in which the participant commits to reducing or eliminating streams of waste in various aspects of their lives. This can include reducing water consumption, shopping the bulk food bins or repurposing household items at the end of their “useful” life, to name a few.

The concept of zero waste living can sound intimidating or difficult, but more often than not it is nothing more than a simple shift in your awareness and intention. It also does not mean you must completely eliminate all sources of waste in your life - despite the word “zero”, it is not an all or nothing game.

What kinds of waste are there?

Waste comes in all forms, in all areas of our lives. While the majority of waste filling landfills is produced by industrial operations, domestically, we waste food, water, energy, paper, packaging, furniture, clothes, computers, tires, appliances and more in unimaginable amounts.  Americans send nearly 150 million tons of trash to landfills each year instead of recycling it, and we’re running out of space.

Where does waste go?

Waste goes into landfills, which typically cause the destruction of natural wildlife habitats in their construction. They are often lined in plastic. The average landfill size is 600 acres. With over 3,000 active landfills in the United States, as much as 1,800,000 acres of habitat have been lost. When waste breaks down in a landfill, methane gas is released. Methane is 84 times more effective at absorbing the sun’s heat than carbon dioxide, making it one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a huge contributor to climate change. 

Food can’t break down in a landfill

Food waste needs oxygen in order to break down properly. Due to the fact that landfills are so tightly packed with waste of all kinds, food waste is often suffocated to the point where it cannot break down into the individual nutrients it is composed of and be reabsorbed into the earth, regenerating the soil. What happens if food doesn’t break down? It rots. When food rots in a landfill, it produces huge amounts of methane — a greenhouse gas at least 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide. 

Here’s what the FDA has to say about the impacts of food waste:

“Food loss and waste is estimated to be roughly one third of the food intended for human consumption in the United States. When food is discarded, all inputs used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, and storing discarded food are also wasted. Food loss and waste also exacerbates the climate change crisis with its significant greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Production, transportation, and handling of food generate significant Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and when food ends up in landfills, it generates methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas.”

This is why zero waste food is so important, and we can do this easily with composting! (More information on that below)

Ways to incorporate zero waste principles into your garden

We live in an era that romanticizes convenience in all forms. Of course it’s easy to see where these ideas might apply to a zero waste home, but this also extends to our hobbies, including gardening. You can’t visit the local garden center without being bombarded with gadgets and tools promising to make garden tasks easier, faster or better. But the fact is that humans have been gardening successfully for hundreds of years, without many of these interventions. Certainly there are tools that make gardening more accessible for those of us with chronic illness or pain that find it challenging, but here I’m primarily referring to situations where there is a perfectly good alternative with less packaging, that is made without plastic which can never break down once it reaches the end of its useful life.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but the key concepts behind achieving a zero waste lifestyle are to reduce, recycle and repurpose. But how do you apply these concepts in the garden?

I recommend intentionally shifting your mindset.

When something breaks and needs to be replaced in the garden, first ask yourself “Can this be repaired?” if not, ask “can it be repurposed?” and if you still cannot find a use for the broken item, ask “can it be recycled?”

With these three simple questions, you’ll be well on your way to intentionally incorporating zero waste practices into your garden routine. But here’s a few ideas for zero waste gardening to get you started:

• Reuse food containers for produce storage

• Pop your zucchini in an old bread bag, pureed pumpkin in salsa jars and fresh picked berries in plastic yogurt tubs - all of which make excellent replacements for disposable freezer bags or plastic wrap. You’re keeping those items out of the waste stream AND preventing the addition of another piece of waste from the disposable products you skip using. 

• Wrap produce in damp cloths

• Not only are you avoiding the use of disposable cling wrap, you’ll extend the life of your vegetables and avoid having to send them to the compost all together. In fact, learning the best storage methods for every fruit or vegetable that you grow is the best way to reduce food waste.

• Save shower water for plants

• Before you close this page in disgust, I’m not saying you have to save your DIRTY shower water. But how long are you running that shower before you even get in? Simply place an empty 5 gallon bucket under the faucet until you’re ready to get in, then pour that excess water on your garden beds when you go out to water.

• Make vegetable stock

• By being proactive and saving any cut offs from your carrot and onion ends, as well as any whole vegetables you won’t be able to use before they go bad and freezing until you have a full gallon bag to work with you can make simple and nutritious vegetable stock - just add your collected scraps to a pot of boiling water and simmer covered for 1-4 hours.

• Compost

• Landfills lack the oxygen that compostable items need to fully decompose. By putting biodegradable items into the compost instead of the trash, you can save huge amounts of waste from the landfill. We have an outdoor compost pile as well as Lomi - an indoor countertop composter that allows us to compost all sorts of things we couldn’t put in a regular compost pile including meat, dairy and bioplastic packaging which would take years to fully decompose in a traditional compost pile.

• Save cardboard for kindling/weed barrier

• Any child who has ever built a fort out of a box will tell you that cardboard has infinite uses, and the garden is no exception.

• Buy second hand garden clothing/tools

• When you choose second hand gardening tools, hats and aprons you’re keeping precious items from the landfill, giving them a new life and best of all these items have generally already withstood the test of time, so you can count on them to last.

• Take care of what you have to make tools last

• Once you have those second hand tools, make sure and do your research on the best way to maintain them. Click here for my post all about the best ways to maintain your gardening tools.

• Repurpose branches for stakes/trellis

• Nobody likes a plastic trellis, and even the pretty wooden ones available at garden centers hardly last me one season. Building a natural trellis using sticks and branches is simple and rewarding, and fits in well with the natural landscape you’re working in. Plus, at the end of the year you can just chuck them back in the woods if they’re broken or place aside to reuse again.

• Use jute twine instead of nylon

• According to GoodOnYou, producing nylon creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide…Manufacturing nylon is a very thirsty process; large amounts of water are used for cooling the fibers, which can be a source of environmental contamination and pollution. Treehugger says that nylon production is associated with the same negative environmental impacts as fossil fuels, including exacerbating the climate crisis. It’s safe to say that nylon is definitely not biodegradable, unlike its natural cousin jute twine. Because jute is compostable and biodegradable and requires fewer resources to grow and produce, it is considered a future-proof sustainable fiber.

I hope this post all about zero waste gardening ideas was helpful! what tricks do you use in the garden to reduce, reuse and repurpose? Comment below and let me know!

The garden tools I need to have in my shed

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

What Tools Do You Need to Garden?

The planting of seeds by humans is believed to date back tens of thousands of years. Even before that, people cultivated food forests by protecting useful plants and eliminating those which provided them with no benefits. 

In ancient times, a hole might be dug with a stone or stick, and water carried from a river in an animal bladder.

All that to say, it’s not the tools that make the garden. In the past, I have gardened quite happily with one shovel and a hand cultivator/hoe, but there’s no denying that having the right tool for the job makes the work of gardening easier and more enjoyable.

Are Garden Tools Expensive?

Garden tools are available at all price points. There will always be an endless chorus of marketers telling you this tool or that is better than the other, but remember you’re digging soil and planting seeds - not building a spaceship. You want something durable, but not necessarily fancy.

In some cases there is a real difference in quality between the cheaper and more expensive options. If you have a bit of money to spend on tools, the choice becomes, in which cases is an investment in a pricier tool a good financial decision?

But no matter what your budget is, there are sources other than the hardware store or internet from which to acquire tools. Just about every garage or estate sale has some which, while not brand new, have stood the test of time and have years of life still in them. Better yet, many older relatives have amassed a collection over the years and would be happy to pass them on to someone a bit more spry. Often these older tools are better made than what you’d find today. If they’re in rough shape, it’s easy enough to sharpen a hoe or replace a shovel handle. 

These options not only save money, they mean less is produced and less ends up in a landfill.

My Favorite Gardening Tools

As I said, in the past I have gardened with two simple tools. But at this point, our gardening has expanded enormously, and we’re lucky enough to be able to carefully spend on tools which make our work easier and are durable enough to last a lifetime. Barebones Living is a favorite among gardeners because they check all these boxes - plus, they are a certified B Corp dedicated to protecting the environment. You can find my favorite selections from Barebones below:

Seed Starting Tools

One of the foundations of economizing in our gardening is seed starting. It saves so much money as compared to buying plants!

There are many cheap and accessible ways to start seeds. Egg cartons, newspaper, or even toilet paper rolls can be used to hold your soil.

How to Make Seed Pots From Toilet Paper Rolls

Step one is to rummage through your recycling for TP rolls. Better yet, skip the recycling bin and save them up throughout the year for use in the spring.

Once you have your empty rolls, just cut four 1 1/2” slits in one end of the tube and fold them over themselves to create a bottom. Fill with soil and your seeds and get growing!

Using a Soil Blocker to Start Seeds

These days, we use a soil blocker when starting seeds. It’s a simple tool that allows me to work a bit more quickly, which is helpful for those times when I’m not feeling well enough for a longer project.

Blocks are also great for the plants themselves. Because each block is planted directly into the garden, the roots are not damaged and the plants aren’t likely to experience any transplant shock, giving them a stronger start on life.

One potential drawback of this tool is that it might be difficult for someone with arthritis or other pain in their hands to squeeze the handle that releases the blocks from the mold, so that’s something to keep in mind.

How to Use a Soil Blocker

Soil blocking is really easy once you get the hang of it. You might read in a catalog or hear from another gardener that you need a fancy soil blend designed for soil blocking, and I’m sure it would be nice to have, but I’ll take the giant $15 bag of soil from Lowes please and thank you. I’m not about to ship $50 worth of soil to my house - call me lazy, or a bad gardener, but I never have and everything grows just fine.

Just take your soil, mix water in until it’s just a little drier than mud and get pressing. The trick is to really firmly compact the soil into the mold with your hand as hard as you can. The blocker will form a small divot on top into which you can plop your seed. Cover with a bit of loose soil, and that’s all there is to it!

Tools for Planting

There are endless options for digging a hole, and I’m sure you’re familiar with most of them. A shovel or spade is best for larger holes, but one tool I particularly like for planting seeds and seedlings is the Japanese Hori Hori knife.

Like any knife, it’s best to find one which has a full, or integrated, tang, which will make it much more durable. With a full tang, the metal extends the whole length and width of the handle. 

Why Use a Hori Hori Knife for Planting?

A Hori Hori has multiple uses, including weeding and cutting roots and small branches, but in the case of planting, there are two things that make it the right tool for the job. 

One is that the point is sharp, but wide enough that, with a twist of the wrist, you can cut a hole rather than just a slash in the soil. The second is that most Hori Hori knives are marked to show you the depth of your hole, which is really helpful when planting seeds. 

Tools for Weeding

I’ve used hand cultivators and spades, Hori Hori knives, standing hoes, and shovels to weed over the years. I still prefer a shovel for very large weeds, but the tool I use most often to weed is this Japanese Weeding Hoe.

This hoe is very sharp. I use it to loosen the soil under and around the weed so I can easily pull it up and not lose any roots. The blade is also narrow enough to use around things I have planted without fear of damaging them.

Tools for Watering Plants

Not rocket science here, any container or hose will do, but I do have my favorites. I have some difficulties with most hoses, which basically come down to the fact that I have a chronic illness. Most hoses are quite heavy and tend to kink. So aside from it being difficult for me to pull them out or coil them back up because of the weight, I have to walk back and forth any number of times to straighten up the hose so the water can flow through it, which quickly exhausts me.

I’ve found two hoses that solve these problems for me. 

Hoses That Make Gardening More Accessible

The Flexi Hose is a lightweight, expandable hose which does not kink. It’s available in lengths up to 150 feet and has solid brass connectors. We’ve had ours for three or four years now, and are very happy with it.

A more serious option if you’re looking to invest in a dedicated system is a Hoselink retractable hose reel. For me, this hose was worth every penny. Even with a lighter hose like the Flexi Hose, it can be difficult for me to pull the hose where I need it and then get it coiled back up. The Hoselink solves that problem by automatically retracting the hose when I give it a small tug. It still takes a bit of effort for me to pull it out to its full length, but it does not leave me fatigued the way other hoses do.

It comes with a wall bracket, and can be mounted on a pole or the side of your house. The longest length available for the Hoselink is 82 feet. I’d love a longer one, but it is definitely the hose to choose if you have a larger budget.

Pruning Tools

Like a lot of gardeners, I am fiercely loyal to my favorite pruners – the Felco F2 Classic hand pruners. 

Aside from being able to cut through fairly large branches, they are comfortable to use, have a thumb mechanism for one-handed opening and closing, and are easy to sharpen. On top of that, each of the pruner’s components is replaceable, meaning one pair, with some care, can last a lifetime.

How to Care for Garden Tools

It’s no use spending money on tools only to let their condition deteriorate over the years. Caring for your tools will make them last longer and be more pleasant to use.

Clean Your Tools

Give your tools a quick scrub or hose-down after using them. Be sure they are dry before putting them away.

In the case of pruners, it’s important to wipe them down with rubbing alcohol after each use. If you are pruning more than one tree, wipe them after you finish with each one, to avoid potentially spreading disease from one tree to the next.

Store Your Tools

It can be a pain to schlep everything back in when you’re tired out from gardening, but leaving tools outside is a recipe for disaster. Store them in a dry place, and hang longer tools so as not to dull their blades.

Sharpen Your Tools

Some tools come with their own sharpeners, but for those that don’t there are a wide variety available. Keeping your tools sharp will cut down on frustrations from them not working as well as they should when you need them.

Oil Your Tools

It’s a good idea to apply a lubricating oil to wooden handles and metal blades. This doesn’t need to be done every time you use a tool, but it’s great to do in the spring and fall. It will keep metal from rusting and wood from splitting.

Click here to shop my favorite gardening tools at Barebones Living

Bat Houses You Can Build Or Buy

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Bat Houses

When I was young, we had a playroom in our attic. One afternoon, we noticed there were bats hanging upside-down on one of the window screens. There were two big bats, and a little baby bat.

With the glass between us, we were able to safely look them over, and we learned something unexpected – bats are cute!

They stayed quite a while, sleeping all day and disappearing at night. We actually felt a little sad when they left for good, and so we bought a bat house kit.

Bat Facts

Bats have flown over the earth for more than 50 million years. Unlike birds, their fellow flyers, they are mammals, and are in fact the second largest order or mammals, with more than 1,400 species. 

Bats are nocturnal, and have wings where their forelegs might have been, making them the only mammals that can truly fly. (Flying squirrels don’t actually fly, they just glide small distances.) They are more agile fliers than most birds.

Bats pollinate night-blooming flowers, and are the primary pollinator of agave, which is the main ingredient in tequila.

The world’s smallest bat is the Bumblebee Bat, which is about an inch by ¾ of an inch when full-grown. The largest is the Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox, which has a wingspan up to 6 feet. The 

Mexican Free-tail Bat is the fastest bat, and can travel up to 100mph. Mexican Free-tails gather in a cave in New Mexico to give birth, with a population of up to 20 million!

There are 10 or 12 bat species that regularly use bat houses. The two most common are Little Brown and Big Brown bats. Neither is a vampire bat.

Bat Get a Bad Rap

In North America, bats are closely associated with vampires, and this stigma often overshadows the many beneficial qualities of bats. In fact, of the 1,400 species of bats, only 3 are vampire bats that drink blood.

They are also stigmatized because people fear they’ll catch rabies from a bat. Bats, like most mammals, can carry rabies, but the fact is that the vast majority do not. So while we should still see a doctor if there’s any chance we’ve been bitten by a bat, catching rabies isn’t something we need to worry about very much.

What Good Are Bats?

When you’re sitting in your backyard and see bats flying overhead, know that on that night, a colony of hundreds of bats will consume hundreds of thousands of insects. Imagine how many million bats around the world consume!

Bats are the top predator for insects that fly at night, eating pests like flies, termites, flying ants, June beetles, and moths. They also do us the great service of eating mosquitoes. In agriculture, the more bats we have, the less pesticide is needed.

Aside from eating pests, bats who feed on nectar also pollinate plants like bananas, cloves, and peaches. And those who feed on fruit disperse seed through their guano, spreading plants to the surrounding areas.

What Do Bats Sound Like?

To our ears, bats don’t sound like much of anything, but the sounds they do make are clicking noises. Bats make these noises using their vocal cords, their nostrils, and their tongues. Some species of bats also make clicking sounds by flapping their wings. 

These clicking noises are ultrasonic, in a frequency 3 times higher than what we can hear with our human ears.

We know what bats sound like because of the use of bat detectors, which use an ultrasonic microphone and convert the sounds to a frequency humans can hear.

And so we know that if the noises are slowed down, they sound like the chirps of a bird, and that different species of bat have different calls, just as birds do.

Bats use these noises to echolocate, and presumably to communicate with each other. Their echolocation skills allow them to sense something as fine as a human hair.

What is a Bat House?

A bat house is built and secured somewhere high in order to provide bats with a space to live that mimics the roosts they would choose in the wild. 

Many bat species roost under the bark of dead trees (and if you have a dead tree it is safe to leave standing, you can leave it up to provide a natural bat house). 

Because this is the environment they choose in nature, bat houses are made to be narrow and tight. They are generally made from rough wood, so the bats can hang on without slipping, just as they would be able to between bark and the trunk of a tree.

Bat houses are often painted in dark colors, and the sides caulked, to recreate the warm and snug area they would naturally choose to raise babies.

Why Have a Bat House?

More than half of the bat species in North America are endangered. 

Some of the main problems in maintaining bat populations are a fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome and the very long gestational period bats experience. The common vampire bat, for example, carries its young for 209 days! Most bat moms only give birth to one pup a year.

But human activity bears the majority of responsibility for their population decline: the destruction of natural habitats, windmills, climate change, pesticide use, hunting for sport and meat, and stigmas which lead to their being killed.

Having a bat house is an easy way to do our small part towards helping them have what they need to survive. A bat house provides a safe, warm place for mothers to bear their young.

Bat houses also provide bats who have been ‘evicted’ from people’s homes an alternative spot to roost.

DIY: How to Build a Bat House

A bat house is fairly simple to make. There are tons of plans and instructions online. The government of Massachusetts provides this free plan to build a four-chamber bat house: https://www.mass.gov/doc/build-a-four-chamber-bat-house/download 

Their site details some key elements for a successful bat house. They recommend:

• Using exterior plywood or cedar. 

• Using rough wood.

• Not using pressure treated wood.

• Using exterior grade screws to assemble.

• Making your house at least 24” tall and at least 14” wide.

• Making a bigger box is better.

• Adding a 6” x  ½” vent on each side for airflow.

• Caulk all seams.

• Cover the roof with shingles or metal for a more durable bat house.

• Provide a landing pad of 3-6” just below the entrance.

The overall goals to keep in mind when building a bat house are warmth and tight spaces, as these will provide the right environment for babies. 

To help maintain a good temperature, bat houses can be painted, but it is not required.

What Are the Best Bat Houses I Can Buy?

Bat houses are readily available to buy online at Amazon, Home Depot, Lehman’s, and Etsy. Here’s a few top picks for handmade bat houses from Etsy:

DIY Bat House Kits

Bat house kits are easy to assemble, and most can be completed in under an hour. Building one is a great project to do with kids.

When shopping for a bat house kit, choose one that is made with quality materials.

A bat house kit should come with everything you need, with the exception of tools like a drill or caulking gun. The necessary wood will be included and cut to size.

Bat Conservation & Management https://batmanagement.com/ is committed to the conservation and study of bats. They conduct research and surveys and work to educate people about bats. On their site, they sell a variety of bat house kits you can assemble yourself or buy premade. Their designs are backed by many years of experience and study.

Where Should I Hang a Bat House?

• First, look for a place that is away from windows, doors, patios, or decks. Bats’ droppings make quite a mess.

• Choosing the location for your bat house can make all the difference as to whether bats will move into it or not. 

• Bats scout for new roosts at night while they feed. Here is what you can do to make them more likely to choose yours:

• Do not put your bat house on a tree. Bats can find houses more easily on a building or pole.

• Put your bat house near a water source.

• Install your house at least 12-20’ from the ground.

• Make sure the location gets at least 6 or 7 hours of sunlight.

• Consider placing it under your eaves, but only after making sure your house is bat-proof.

• Bat houses should be a good distance away from wires and tree branches so there’s nothing to impede the bats’ flight.

• Face your bat house to the south or southeast to catch as much warmth from the sun as possible.

• In cooler climates, paint the house black to increase heat absorption from the sun.

• While you can install a bat house at any time of year, you are more likely to get bats if you install it in spring or early summer.

How to Attract Bats to Your Bat House

One way to attract bats to your bat house is to grow night-scented flowers. These flowers often attract moths and other bugs which bats find tasty.

Night-Scented flowers:

• Evening Primrose

• Honeysuckle

• Goldenrod

• Fleabane

Another way to attract bats is to minimize (or better yet, eliminate) the use of pesticides in your yard. Bats are looking for a place where there’s a plentiful food source, meaning lots of bugs.

Finally, make sure there are no outdoor lights near your bat house. 

It can take up to 2 years for bats to find and move into a bat house, so you’ll have to be patient. If no bats have made it their own in 2 years, you can move it to a different location and try again.

The majority of bat houses may never house bats. Don’t be discouraged by that! All we can do is our little part. The rest is up to the bats.