Welcome to the first video in our new series, 'Starting Seeds Indoors'. Follow this journey to learn simple tips to ensure success!Starting Seeds Indoors: Recycling used containers 1. Take a used clear or frosted container, this works best if the container has a lid but if you don't have a lid you can cover the top with almost anything. The idea is to encourage humidity to help germination. 2. Carefully create some drainage holes on the bottom of your container to ensure excess water has a way to escape.3. Use premoistened seed starting mix to almost fill your container. To premoisten just add water and mix until you can squeeze the soil so it holds it shape but not...
1. Prepare flowers by removing any dead leaves or stems. 2. Unscrew wingnuts and remove top layer of wood from your flower press. Then line your flower press base with a sheet of card (the card acts as a barrier to aid drying). 3. Place a sheet of blotting paper on top of the card (this can be reused several times dependent on flowers being dried, once it has lost its absorbency you can swap it out for a few layers of newspaper or some plain kitchen roll). We recommend using acid-free blotting paper with a thickness of 300GSM. 4. Carefully place your flowers on the blotting paper. Separate petals so they don't overlapping to avoid browing. Once you are...
It is officially the last day of Winter! Tomorrow is Imbolc, also known as Saint Brigid's Day - Lá Fhéile Bríde. We are approximately half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Imbolc is celebrated as one of the four Gaelic pagan festivals (alongside Bealtine, Lughnasa and Samhain) to worship the Celtic goddess Brigid, who appears in Irish mythology as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Separately, Saint Brigid of Kildare is recognised as one of Ireland's patron saints and foundress of several monasteries of nuns, most notably here in Kildare. Saint Brigid has the same name and festival date as the Celtic goddess, and there are many supernatural events, legends, and folk customs associated with her. Some scholars believe...
It's that time of year again when us gardeners are willing spring to come so the gardening season can really begin! We long for those green tips from our bulbs to emerge from the earth as the supporting act for the rainbow of colours that spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, allium, crocus and others bring to our gardens. Although we are not quite there yet, as these frosty January morning keep reminding us, there are a few things we can do that can keep our green fingers busy and become more prepared for the coming season. Over the past couple of days we've been cleaning all of our seed propagators and seed cell trays after turning the shed upside down...
While we have the best intentions to slow down and not let busy lives overcome our wellbeing, inevitably there are times when we all feel overstretched and overworked! The reality of first starting SIÓG in 2020 while working full-time and raising young children was at times a little overwhelming! There was so much we didn't know or understand yet about starting a business. Thankfully self-belief and our lifelong friendship helped us to support eachother and to get through the tough times. Now further along in our journey, we have the ability to look back and reflect on the things that helped us along the way. Given the demands on us all living in this busy world, we know that we are...
