The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

So, here we are, almost 3 weeks into the new year. How are you making out?

We have had a very mild couple of weeks, which really helps the month move along faster. I am antsy for spring, longer days, and heat.

I am two weeks into the Metabolism Recode, an elimination diet that helps get rid of bloating, weight gain, fatigue, helps decrease allergies and arthritis pain. I am only down 4lbs thus far, but feel much better. The arthritis pain is eased so much by this plan, I cannot begin to tell you how great that feels.

Thus far, I like The Metabolism Plan a bit better, more weight loss and easier for a vegetarian to adapt, but I absolutely love some of the new recipes (those cranberry cookies!). Either way. If you are truly struggling with allergies, arthritis, inflammation, bloating, gut pain, you need to try either one of these books. It is only 20 days. It is not an easy diet, but you can do 20 days, eh? If you hate it after that, go back to your old ways… but I bet you don’t ; )

I am slowly getting the house organized, read more about that below. I am taking iron and starting to slowly get more energy… or is that just the warmer weather and teensy bit longer days?

Feeling positive about the new year and looking forward to more changes. There are going to be changes to the blog, too… I have just not quite figured out what they are going to be. If you have ideas, let me know in the comments below : )

Here are this week’s bits of inspiration for your garden, home, and kitchen.

Oh, and if you are itching to get at planting? I have loads of gardening stuff on the way.. and this is my favourite when to start seed calculator.

Gardening Bits…

5 Herb Garden Layout Ideas (with Plans & Designs!) – I am not sure if this is helpful? I used to grow my herbs in the garden bed, in the first 15 feet of one of my 40 foot long beds. I had room to grow everything in that space, lots of it. Now, with the lesser space that I have, plus not many herbs are perennial here, I have been growing in a pot. Which works great and looks so pretty.

I just want to mention that parsley and mint are thugs and will soon take over pots. Mint should be grown in it’s own pot.

• 2026 garden trends – a forecast for the year ahead | Ideal Home
• Lights for indoor growing – Gardening at USask – if you are growing with lights, here is some really good information.
• Different Types of Seeds: Hybrid, Heirloom, Organic, OP, and Non-GMO
• davesgarden.com/guides/articles/predatory-bugs-good-guys-in-the-garden?

One more Canadian seed company to check out. They have many of the dwarf tomatoes (like the one above) which are all open-pollinated varieties. Become the artisan of the garden of your dreams: imagine and create from our seeds!

How to Create Your Dream Potting Shed: 5 Steps

Best Tips For Building A DIY Backyard Greenhouse For Cold Weather Climates (this Zone 3 Manitoba greenhouse is nice! – and cost less than $6K CAD)

Homey Bits & Inspo

I considered (as a new year’s change) to stick to just offering up gardening bits of inspiration and dropping the recipes and homey bits.

I decided that, for now, that would make me very sad. None of us are one dimensional, we all have homes, have families, make meals, decorate, clean… This Sunday post is intended to be light hearted and fun. To share with you all the things that caught my eye during the week and maybe inspire you to create something, cook something new, show you something that might tweak an idea.

Like this beautiful Albertan cabin below. So much inspo for those of us who love Scandi style, love natural style, white, simple, etc…

I would love if you could jump on in the comments and tell me if you would like these Sunday posts shorter? Just gardening? Something else you would like to see? In a kind way, of course ; )

How a young family in Alberta turned a shed into an off-grid cabin for less than $30,000 I have been following this blog for several years now. Oddly enough, I had no idea she lives in Canada and this cottage is in Alberta. I always wonder how she keeps it so white and clean, I have serious envy of her Scandirustic cottage ; ) See more photos from the cottage in the Declutter and Simplify link below.

Are you in serious decluttering and January organizing mode? Me, too! I have finished the spice drawer, the pantry, and the ‘Tupperware’ cupboard (not that any of it is Tupperware any longer, but you know what I mean. The master closet is next. It is a disaster.

Here are tips from several of the bloggers that I follow. I’m sensing a theme, eh?

• How To Declutter and Simplify Your Home
• Living Large In A Small House, LLC | How to Organize Your Home After the Holidays (A Simple, Real-Life Reset)
• Pantry Organization Tips Made Easy
• 10 Unexpected Organizing Ideas You May Not Have Thought Of

How To Sew An Apron From A Kitchen Towel – this is a great idea. Want to make a bunch? Some for the kitchen, some for the garden, and some to gift? Check out the tea towels at Jysk, they always have bundles of pretty aprons at great prices. These retro bird tea towels would make gorgeous aprons.

Tried and True: My Favorite IKEA Products

B Vintage Style uses a lot of baskets and bags like above. I just LOVE this look of simple, natural hues, and tidy. Plus, they are so versatile that they can be used for almost anything, the bags grabbed for shopping and used for storage. Those 5 mesh bags are just 17 bucks!

*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase any items from one of my links, I earn a wee small commission to support my blog. Rest assured, it does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own.

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Foodie Bits

It is my turn to host the neighbourhood coffee klatch next month, so I am gathering ideas of what to make. I usually like to have a cake or square on hand, with cookies and maybe one other thing…

• Lemon Blueberry Bread – easy quick bread recipe
• White Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti Recipe
• Coffee Crumb Cake (Sour Cream)
• Sugar Cookie Bars (these look a lot like the no roll sugar cookies I make that are always a huge hit)

Healthy bevies to fit your new year’s resolutions, or if you are doing dry January, or just because you want to try something yummy.

• Healthy Immune Boost Mocktail
• Lemon Mocktail Recipe – Made with Tea
• Margarita Mocktail
• Kombucha Mocktails With Raspberry and Lemon

These all caught my eye. The pancakes and keto bread would be for hubby who is having a hard time regulating his sugars (diabetic) so this might be something to try.

• Malaay Qumbe (Coconut Fish Curry)
• Pasta Salad with Chickpeas and Green Beans Recipe
• Cottage Cheese Pancakes Recipe (With Step-by-Step)
• Keto Bread {2 grams carbs}

Happy Weekend ~ Tanja