4 Herbs to Grow Indoors for Your Health - Guest Post

Hi everyone!  Today we have a very special Guest Post from Marla @ Organic 4 Greenlivings

In many areas of the country the gardens have fallen prey to Winter's cold, but that doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy growing you own plants and foods. You can grow herbs right on your window sills. There are 4 that I especially find easy and extremely useful in many ways.

4 Herbs To Grow Indoors

1. Oregano --  It is great herb to cook with and is used in many Mediterranean dishes, is wonderful on roasted chicken, stews, meatloaf, great to add to popcorn and pizza. Oregano goes far beyond it culinary uses, has a soothing aroma and, has many health benefits that include, a natural antiviral and expectorant. It's works wonders to soothing stomach aches and is great to inhale to help treat upper-respiratory congestion. And when you aching from shoveling snow try added oregano to your bath water to ease your aching muscles.

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To grow Oregano indoors make sure that it is in a sunny spot and well-drained soil. Make sure you don't over water it and its best to use a container with a drainage hole.

2. Peppermint - Is one of my favorite herbs that I love for it's inviting aroma, it's many health benefits that Nature has provided in this exceptional herb. I use it in many DIY recipes for  natural non-toxic cleaning, love drinking peppermint tea for its soothing powers through the winter, and adding peppermint to many recipes such as smoothies, desserts, for it sweet, and tasty flavor. Mint has many health benefits including boosting your immune system because it is loaded with antioxidants, is a good source of Vitamins A and C.  It is filled with antibacterial properties that kills germs and helps you stay healthy and does wonders for an upset stomach and other digestive ailments.

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You can grow mint in soil or water.
If using water - Take a 6-inch long mint cutting and put in a glass jar filled 3/4 full of tepid water, add some organic liquid fertilizer to boost its growth, and make sure it gets 6 hours of light each day.  Replace water weekly.In soil - Put a mint cutting in a small pot that has good drainage after you have filled the pot with organic potting mix and leave room for about 1/2 mulch since mint likes moisture. Keep moist and mint will do best in indirect sunlight.

3. Rosemary - This herb has a piney aroma and is used many times for aromatherapy for its many healing properties. It scent is like a little piece of heaven. Rosemary can add so much flavor to meats by rubbing it on raw meat with a little olive oil before roasting. Is also great to add to many vegetables and soups too. Rosemary leaves contain certain phyto-chemical compounds that help to fight and prevent disease, has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-fungal and anti-septic properties that can add a wealth of health to your home.
To grow - Rosemary does best on a window sill that gets the morning sun since it  thrives under bright light. Just like oregano is does not tolerate overwatering and using a terracotta pots that helps with evaporation in the root zone is best.

4. Thyme - This leafy herb has a delicate aroma and almost grassy spice to any dish. It can be used in raw or cooked dishes such as roasted potatoes, carrots, apples, casseroles that are creamy and cheesy.  Fresh thyme is known to contain the highest antioxidant level among herbs, is packed with minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, selenium, among many other important vitamins and minerals.
To grow - Growing thyme indoors requires plenty of sunshine and needs at least six hours of daylight and well drained soil.  Using a clay pot with at least one large drainage hole that will allow the plant to dry out between watering and prevent overly wet roots. Thyme is not tolerant of soggy root conditions so make sure you do not over water. Growing thyme inside is one of the easiest indoor herbs to cultivate.

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To make it extra simple you can purchase Mary's Heirloom herb garden kits that contain everything you need to have healthy plants that are sure to thrive.

Growing your own herbs is not only fun but economical and you know that you're feeding your family the best and healthiest herbs. You don't have to worry about pesticides, additives or any other unhealthy ingredients that could be added to the store-bought version. Have some fun this winter and keep your garden growing while the snowing is flying outside.

About the Author: Marla is owner of organic4greenlivings.com. Her mission is to help educate the public about Environmental & Health issues, how to live a green lifestyle, and making our world safer for all of us!

Meet my friend Marci at Stone Cottage Adventures

I have a HUGE surprise for you today!  
I'd like to introduce you to a wonderful blogger named Marci.  
Her blog Stone Cottage Adventures can be found on my sidebar.  Here she is!


Thank you, Mary, for inviting me to hang at your place today!  Normally, I am at Stone Cottage Adventures.  May I introduce myself?  My name is Marci.  Our home is an old rock farmhouse built in the 1930s. There are two greenhouses, a vegetable garden, herbs, several flower beds, lots of hobbies and too many pets.  I'd love for you to visit us!

The SPOOKY Banner has been put away and I am hoping to create something that says "bountiful" and "November" to me!  Today's project involves small gourds and my Interchangeable Wreath.

One of my favorite hobbies is growing gourds and then decorating them!  I love how each one uniquely picks up color.  Their shapes, freckles and bumps are just beautiful!

Here are photos of a few I have done, but if you are curious, you are welcome to cruise my Crafts Page!

It is fun tossing small decorated gourds in baskets to adorn my coffee table.  There were several colors already in my craft room from previous holidays. 

Today's project began by giving each one a T-pin.  It's a pretty simple process.  Just squish out a glop of hot glue, then smoosh while twisting the T-pin into the glue.  Yep!  I talk all technical like that!  ;-)

If I want an arrangement to feel balanced, it begins by placing like items into thirds around the wreath form.  You can see how this creates pockets of color.  As the other small gourds get pinned, new islands of color form.  I was torn about whether or not to add a bow, but I really like the shapes and textures of the gourds just as they are!

Does it feel like a Bountiful November Wreath to you?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

;-)  -Marci

Heirloom Tomato Tart

 Isn't this 600 Celebration exciting?  The 600 Celebration includes a Giveaway, Product Reviews, Guest Posts and DIY Projects JUST FOR YOU!!!  Did you happen to check out the first recipe from Huppie Mom?  Her African Inspired Stew looked amazing!

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 Dr. Carrie Wells is a local South Florida blogger. With two young children, a background in education, and a passion for food, she enjoys writing about healthy eating, natural living, and child development. You can visit her blog Huppie Mama to learn more!

This is a super easy-to-make, flaky french pastry crust with fresh herbs, roasted heirloom tomatoes, a little onion, and goat cheese. It's based on this David Lebowitz recipe: French Tomato Tart. Here's how to make it!

Heirloom Tomato Tart

Ingredients:

For the tart crust

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 4 1/2 ounces (9 T) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 2-3 tablespoons cold water

For the topping

• 2 - 3 large, ripe heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced
• 2T fresh herbs of your choice (I used parsley and oregano)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 t lemon zest
• 3 T grapeseed oil
• 1/2 cup soft chevre (goat cheese)
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. To make the dough, place flour and salt in a large bowl. Add sliced butter. Using a pastry cutter, combine until the mixture has a crumbly, cornmeal-like consistency. Add the egg and 2 tablespoons water. Combine until a dough is formed. If it is dry, add more water. Press the dough into a tart pan to create an even layer on the bottom and a little up the side.
2. Chop herbs and garlic finely, and combine with 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil. Brush on crust. Arrange tomatoes on crust, arrange onions on tomatoes, crumble goat cheese on top. Sprinkle with lemon zest, salt, and pepper, and the remaining 1 T of grapeseed oil.
3. Bake 25 - 30 minutes, until crust begins to brown along the edges and tomatoes look nicely roasted. Enjoy!

Mummy Jars from Mindie

Isn't this 600 Celebration exciting?  The 600 Celebration includes a Giveaway, Product Reviews, Guest Posts and DIY Projects JUST FOR YOU!!!  Today I'm please to introduce Mindie from The (mis) Adventures of a "Born Again" Farmgirl with a fantastic DIY Project.

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  One thing I have noticed around our house is we have jars, lots and lots of jars. Canning jars, baby food jars, even large pickle jars we have hung onto. So what do you do with so many jars? You make crafts out of them of course!
And what could be more cute then these "Mummy Jars!" They are easy to make and add a splash of fun to any Halloween setting. This craft is so simple, even very little children can make one. So let's get ready to make a few (or more!)

Once you have collected up all your jars of varying sizes, it is time to wrap them mummies up! We had wide gauze, so I cut the strips in half. By cutting the gauze in half, I think, it gave the mummies a more tattered look. Start by putting a dot of craft glue on the jar and attach the gauze. Next? Simply wrap the gauze around the jar till you have your mummy wrapped the way you want it and secure the other end with another dot of craft glue. Use as much or as little gauze as you want because it is all personal preference.

When you have your jar "mummified" the way you want it, simply glue on two wiggle eyes and your done! For an added touch, drop in a tea candle (or one of those fake battery operated candles) in your jar to give it a warm glow. If you use the battery operated candles it can double as a season night light. You could fill the jar with treats and give them to friends or leave them on an elderly neighbors porch as a surprise! We used the jars we made last year as part of our site decorating when we went camping at Halloween!

Featuring Lydia from Flexitarian Kitchen

Isn't this 600 Celebration exciting?  The 600 Celebration includes a Giveaway, Product Reviews, Guest Posts and DIY Projects JUST FOR YOU!!!

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Hello there! I'm Lydia from Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen and I'm happy to be here on Back to the Basics where we're celebrating Mary's 600th post!

Applause! Applause!

At Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen our mission is to provide recipes and tips to help those looking to reduce the amount of meat in their diet by using whole ingredients. Reducing the amount of meat we consume can be good for the environment as well as our health. By increasing the variety in our diet we're more likely to naturally consume the myriad vitamins, minerals and amino acids our bodies need to function with precision as we are meant to. By decreasing the amount of meat in our diet we reduce the demand for energy hungry and environmentally questionable agricultural systems needed to supply "cheap" meat. You can find more information about flexitarianism in this early post.

I like to cook food from a variety of cultures and that's reflected in the blog but there's more to Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen than recipes. I stretched my blogging wings recently in a writing challenge and created a blog commercial (it was fun to do, but definitely needs work) and wrote about Six Things I Can't Do Without in My Kitchen. In addition I have a feature called Fit and Flexy that's devoted to fitness for people of a certain age and weight (like me). My blogging friend and Real Food Fridays co-host Courtney and I recently completed a Couch to 5K Challenge. Tapas Tuesday is a popular feature that draws from my husband's Spanish roots. There are tapas to suit everybody. Here's a list of some of my favorite posts, I hope you'll stop by and visit. Red Beans And Rice My Elimination Diet Journey Part One Besan Puda Incredibly Awesome Banana Nut Bars It's Raining, Now What? Eggplant with Honey and Feta I'm in the process of setting up a newsletter that will include content not available on the blog. If you think you'd be interested please click here to sign up!

Autumn Planting Tips for Year Round Color

Isn't this 600 Celebration exciting?  The 600 Celebration includes a Giveaway, Product Reviews, Guest Posts and DIY Projects JUST FOR YOU!!!Today I'm please to introduce Sam with a fantastic article on Autumn Planting.

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Autumn Planting Tips for Year Round Color
Summer may have come to an end but that doesn’t mean there is no work to do outside. There is plenty you can do at this time of year to make the most of your garden, and bulbs and seeds to plant that will bring color all year round.

Brilliant Bulbs
Autumn is the perfect time of year to plan for next spring, by planting spring-flowering bulbs. Plant them in the borders of your garden to bring bursts of color to the edges of your lawn, or plant them in containers if you have a smaller garden or yard that you want to make the most of.  Daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths are some of the most attractive plants to grow from bulb and this is the time to plant them. There are not many problems in planting bulbs; just make sure that yours are healthy when they first go in the ground.

A lovely lawn
Autumn is a great time to do a bit of seasonal maintenance on your turf. There are three main jobs to do at this time of year, which are: scarification, aeration and top-dressing. On a small garden a spring rake should be perfectly adequate to scarify your lawn, but if your grounds are more extensive you may want to hire a machine scarifier. You essentially just scrape the grass, removing weeds, dead grass, moss and other debris and this lets light reach previously covered grass.

Aeration is another autumn job but one that is only really necessary every few years. This improves the routing environment of your turf as well as drainage. This can be done simply with a garden fork, which should be inserted about 10 centimetres deep into your turf roughly every 15 centimetres. Machine aerators are available too for large lawns.

After aeration it is time for top-dressing. This is where you scatter a mixture of topsoil, sharp sand and compost evenly across your lawn. Work it in with a rake and this will help root growth and drainage further. At this time of year you shouldn’t need to water your lawn very often but in dry spells you could use a stretch hose to give it a little drink.

Fabulous flowers
Autumn is also the perfect time to plant a number of summer-blooming flowers. Annuals can be planted now for an impressive early display in summer. Some hardy flowers can be sown and left but others must be covered with cloches or horticultural fleece to protect them from winter frost.

Sensational shrubs and trees
Another way to add some immediate color and foliage in autumn is by planting a few new shrubs and trees. It is best to plant trees and shrubs from October to April so you can get a head start by choosing your plants now.

To give them the best chance loosen soil and add fertilizer to the planting site. Tease out roots for a good spread and place soil around them when refilling the hole.

These tips should help you to create a colorful, attractive garden all year round and they will give you plenty to do this autumn!

Guest Post: African-Inspired Stew

As part of my "600" celebration I have been blessed with several wonderful blogger who are sharing their inspired posts.  The "600 Celebration" includes a BIG Giveaway, Product Reviews, Guest Posts and DIY Projects JUST FOR YOU!!!

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Dr. Carrie Wells is a local South Florida blogger. With two young children, a background in education, and a passion for food, she enjoys writing about healthy eating, natural living, and child development. You can visit her blog Huppie Mama to learn more!

African-inspired Chicken Stew

This recipe requires two things: foresight and preparation. If you want to cook foods in a traditional manner, you generally have to know in advance what you are making and do a little prep work. Ingredients for advanced preparation:

• 2 pounds of chicken pieces (I used thighs - make sure they have their bones and skin)
• 1 pound of sweet potatoes
• 1 quart of chicken broth
• 1.5 cups jasmine rice
• splash of raw apple cider vinegar
• pinch of salt
• water

About 6 - 8 hours in advance, you will do the following:

1. Defrost your chicken and/or chicken broth if frozen.
2. Cut your sweet potatoes into large chunks. Place them in a glass bowl, and cover them with water and a pinch of salt.
3. Place the jasmine rice in a glass bowl and cover with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

I store the chicken in the fridge after removing from any packaging. I placed the glass bowls and the container of broth in the microwave all day to keep safe while my children tear up the house.   Ingredients when you are ready to cook:

• Chicken, chicken broth, jasmine rice, and sweet potatoes described above
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 bundle collard greens, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup nut butter (I used cashew, but you could do peanut or almond)
• 3 T tomato paste
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 T freshly grated ginger
• 1 T traditional fat (I used rendered bacon fat, but you could use ghee as well)
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. This dish should be prepared in a Dutch oven or similar heavy, large pot. Begin by placing the bacon fat or ghee in the pot and turning to a medium-high heat. Here's my bacon fat. We make our own bacon, so we render the fat while it's cooking and store it in a jar in the fridge.
2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place the chicken pieces skin-side down into the fat.
3. You will be tempted to move the chicken around - don't do this! Watch closely, though. Use tongs to carefully start to lift the chicken to see if it's brown. When it's ready to be flipped, it will easily lift up with your tongs and will have a nice golden brown color.
4. Do the same to the other side. When both sides are browned on the outside, remove from the pan and place on a plate on your counter. Remember, your chicken is not cooked through. It is seared all around. This locks in the juices and makes very moist, delicious chicken.
5. Now, at the bottom of your pot, you have bacon fat and chicken fat swimming together. Yum! Add your onions, celery, garlic, and ginger to the pot. Allow them to saute for just a few minutes until the onions begin to turn translucent.
6. At this point, rinse off your sweet potatoes that have been soaking. Add those to the pot along with the nut butter, tomato paste, collard greens, and tomatoes. Stir this mixture.
7. Add the quart of chicken broth and bring to a boil, then lower to a nice simmer.
8. After about 5 minutes, add your chicken pieces and continue to simmer, uncovered.
9. This is when I begin my rice. Rinse your rice through a strainer and place in a pot with 1 cup of water. Turn the heat to medium-low, and place a lid on the pot. Monitor closely, and when the water looks like it almost gone, taste the rice. If the texture is good, turn the heat off and place the lid on top. If it is still too hard, add another splash of water and cook briefly. When you soak jasmine rice, the cooking time is brief and the amount of water required to cook the rice is minimal. (I did not take a photo of the rice...but I think you know what cooked rice looks like.)
10. I allowed my stew to simmer around 20 minutes so that the sauce reduced and thickened some, and the chicken was cooked through and the sweet potatoes were softened. At this point, taste it, and adjust the seasoning by adding a little salt and pepper. Here's what it looks like finished in the pot.
11.  To serve, place a large scoop of rice at the bottom of a bowl. Ladle the delicious stew over your rice. Be sure to get a piece of chicken, some sweet potatoes, and collard greens.

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I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe.

Stop by Huppie Mama and show her some love!

Set Your Sail to the Windy City

I'm currently working on another project!  I'll be back tomorrow with a BIG announcement!

So today I am thrilled to bring you anther fantastic guest post.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

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I am Kendra Thornton, and I am a seasoned traveler with tips and tricks for embarking on a journey with your family! I now reside in Chicago with my husband and children, and previously I worked as the Director of Communications for Orbitz. I have been fortunate enough to see many different corners of the world, and today I am here to discuss one in the middle of the United States: Chicago.

Set Your Sail to the Windy City and See Why I Love to Call it Home!

While I always love traveling around the globe to new and exciting destinations, nothing beats coming home and exploring my own city: Chicago, Illinois. There is always something fun, exciting, and of interest going on both day and night! While I would love to tell you about all of the great attractions Chicago has to offer, I will limit myself to just telling you about my four favorite things to do in the Windy City: shopping at the Magnificent Mile, exploring the Shedd Aquarium, a lunch and spa at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel, and eating Chicago’s best deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria.

Shopping at the Magnificent Mile

When I am in the mood to go shopping, I love visiting Chicago’s famous mile long stretch of shopping known as the “Magnificent Mile,” because of all the wonderful stores within it. Located on North Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and the Chicago River, the Magnificent Mile offers some of the best shopping in the world. No matter what you are looking for, you can buy it here. There are department stores, jewelry stores, luxury stores, and toy stores. There are shoe stores, home furnishing stores, and sports stores. Everyone in the family can find something they love. In addition to the great shopping, the Magnificent Mile also hosts exciting shows, exhibits and other special events year round. No other area of shopping can compete with all the excitement of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile!

The Shedd Aquarium

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While shopping is exciting, when I am looking for a more relaxed and educational endeavor to bring the kids on, I love strolling through the exciting exhibits at Chicago’s famous Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd Aquarium contains more than 32,500 animals and 1,500 different species. There are several different exhibits at the aquarium, each with something unique to offer. From green sea turtles and moral eels in the Caribbean Reef exhibit, to beluga whales and pacific white-sided dolphins in the Abbott Oceanarium, to penguins and colorful sea stars in the Polar Play Zone—I’m not sure I could pick a favorite exhibit even if I wanted to! Whether I am wandering through the exhibits on my own or sitting down to enjoy an aquatic show, I always have a blast visiting the Shedd Aquarium! Also, with National Sea Otter Week just wrapping up, there were plenty of exhibits featuring our lovely sea otters!

The Peninsula Chicago

When I need a little relaxation in my life, a wonderful lunch and spa at the Peninsula Chicago is always number one on my list! The Peninsula Chicago is my absolute favorite places when I really want to pamper myself and have an amazing time. This hotel is five star and five diamond rated and is located right in the heart of the Magnificent Mile. Enjoy dinner at the fabulous Shanghai Terrace if you love amazing Shanghainese and Cantonese food, or at Pierrot Gourmet if you prefer a more casual street scene café. I found this lovely spot by using the site gogobot, which has extensive lists of Chicago hotels and restaurants alike. You may love the Peninsula Chicago so much that you never want to leave and see the rest of what Chicago has to offer!

Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Pizzeria

You cannot visit Chicago without eating the food of the local Chicagoans—the famous Chicago deep dish pizza. One of the best places to get this amazing pizza is at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. There are several locations all over the Chicago area so no matter what part of Chicago you are visiting, the best Chicago pizza is never far away. Chicago deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s is nothing like the thin pizza you can get anywhere else. Lou Malnati’s pizza is made by hand from scratch with only the best and freshest ingredients. Their secret family recipe and commitment to quality will keep you coming back for more!

The next time you plan to take a vacation, be sure to consider Chicago for your perfect family vacation destination. Chicago is the perfect place for families who want to experience a little bit of everything good in life. Your trip to the Windy City is sure to be one you will never forget. While you may not move to Chicago to enjoy this city every day like I do, you are sure to enjoy every minute of your trip!

Are You Drinking the Water?

My husband Doc had his first guest post ever here at Back to the Basics last month and he chose to talk about water. 
Read Don't Drink the Water  
I was totally grossed out by what he shared and insisted that he follow up.  You can't just leave everyone hangin' after you tell em not to drink the water.  So here he is...

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Water!  The essence of life.  You can survive weeks with little or no food but only 3 days without water.

What is it about water that isn’t clean?  Hard to imagine most water in the world today that is not aggressively filtered is not clean.  Heavy metals, feces, bacteria and pesticides contaminate all but the most fastidiously cleaned water. 

But what about the water in my city?  I don’t know where you live but I live in South Florida and we have had multiple “boil water alerts” in just the last several years. What concerns me is these are just the ones they have actually told us about.  There is a threshold of contamination that the city considers safe.  Really?  I wonder if they let their kids drink it.

After several weeks of research I thought I had narrowed it down to one really good filtration system.  It was expensive so must be good right?  Even most of the review were good.

I just had this nagging thought during my research of 'Why can't I produce something just as good.' Well, I can! I built my own Water Filtration System!

Details at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. Made in the USA

This system includes ONE ceramic filter, ONE filter sock with fastener, ONE spigot and  TWO buckets (BPA Free).  We also include installation instructions. 
99.99% Bacteria Removal
99.9% Virus Reduction
Certified by Cuetical Labs, FDA Registered Laboratory
Capable of filtering arsenic, lead, fluoride, iron and nitrates

Non-returnable. BPA Free, Food-Grade Buckets come pre-drilled!!!

Our entire Water Filtration System is Made in the USA!

My family and I are proactive.  We use a high grade water filter and put everything out of the tap through it.  Is this overly cautious?  We don’t think so.  

Your health and your families health is the only thing you really own.  Shouldn’t you jealously guard it?  Every person on the planet should be drinking a gallon of water a day.  Does that gallon count if it contains bacteria and/or contaminants that will hurt your body?

Do you think that the general health of everyone in the world would benefit from having available clean water to drink?  Do you think the cost of healthcare world wide would fall if everyone had clean healthy water to drink?

Help us get the word out and do your family a favor at the same time.  

Sharing this informative post HERE and

Guest Post: Advantages of Having a Shed

There are so many uses for a good quality garden shed.  I remember when we were kids we had several in the backyard.  One for tools and another for my parent's work stuff.  We always used to play around them.  My Gran had a shed in her back garden and her tortoises would hibernate in it for the winter.

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The very many advantages of having a shed tucked somewhere in your garden.

Every garden enthusiast and expert gardener has secret weapon, and it's a garden shed. Here is why having a good quality garden shed is one of the most important things in your garden.

1. Storage: A garden shed is a little inside-outside space. That means that it is ideal for storing things you really need, but are unable to keep in your house. In this sense, a shed is important not just for your garden, but also for your home. It will help you feng shui and hold clutter and mess at bay. Every beautifully groomed and cared for garden is maintained with the use of a lot of equipment, equipment that can rust and rot and go to ruin when left in the open. Your shed is like you little garden power cell, for keeping all those indispensable things like rakes, hoes, fertilisers, spades, gloves, stakes, blu tack, hoses, trainers, gumboots, seedlings and pots safe.
2. A shed is useful because it can add value to your property, just like a beautiful garden can. It shows that the property has been well cared for and well-loved.
3. You can adapt your shed  to be a greenhouse as well. Having a green house must be every gardener's dream, doesn't it?
4. Your shed can also be used as a workshop for garden related projects, like pottery, potting and repotting. Having this space can be a great stress relief.
5. If your shed is big enough, you can move your gym equipment out there. That means more room in your house!

6.  Out house! This can be very useful if you have guests staying. The great thing about a shed is that they can more or less be anything that you want them to be. This is an image of a wooden shed, a DIY job, modelled after a 'beach shack'. A shed this small could be tucked neatly in the corner of a garden.

7.  If you want to connect your shed to water and electricity, you can do that. Sheds are usually the perfect candidates for solar power connection. Placing a few solar panels on the roof of your shed is simple, and you can use all of the excess electricity to power your home. Here is an image of a shed that's modelled after an aviary, with mesh walls to let sunlight in.

from Ivy @ Steel Chief