Rain Barrels N' MORE, LLC.

04/18/2026

04/18/2026

Most of these end up in the compost pile or the yard waste bin without a second glance. But some of the most stubborn garden w**ds are also some of the most useful — nutritious, flavorful, and already thriving without a single input from you.

They’ve been growing for free while you spent money trying to kill them.

🌿 Nine w**ds worth eating before you pull them:

- Garlic mustard — an aggressive invasive you should absolutely pull, but the peppery leaves and mild garlic-flavored roots are worth eating first. Pulling it is doing your local ecosystem a favor, and dinner is the reward
- Stinging nettle — gloves required for harvest, but once blanched the sting disappears and you’re left with iron-rich greens that taste like deep mineral spinach
- Curly dock — young leaves have a sharp lemony bite and hold up well cooked. The taproots tell you this plant wasn’t planning to leave anyway
- Dandelion — every part is usable. Leaves for bitter salad greens, roots roasted for tea, flowers for fritters. One of the first things up in spring, and right now the earliest leaves are already pushing through
- Henbit — a tiny mint-family w**d that blankets bare soil in early spring, with mild slightly sweet leaves and purple flowers you can toss into salads
- Purple dead nettle — often mistaken for henbit, but the purple-tinged tops are milder and slightly nutty. Good raw or steeped as tea
- Sheep sorrel — small arrow-shaped leaves with a clean tangy bite that works anywhere you’d use lemon juice or vinegar as a finishing flavor
- Burdock — the deep taproots that make it so hard to pull are the same ones prized in Japanese cooking. Earthy, starchy, and worth the dig
- Creeping Charlie — a lawn w**d most people battle for years, but the small round leaves have a mild bitterness that works in pesto, tea, or mixed spring greens

One thing worth knowing — if you spray your lawn or garden with herbicides, none of these are safe to eat. The plants that survive chemical treatment absorb and hold those compounds. Only harvest from areas you know are untreated.

The best harvest is sometimes the one you almost threw away 🌱

04/18/2026

Most people overestimate how many plants they need to grow their food.

Let's dive into the perfect balance for bountiful and efficient gardening.

**Tomatoes**: Just two plants per person can yield a delicious abundance. You'll be amazed at how much fruit two vines can provide.

**Zucchini**: Believe it or not, one plant is enough for the whole household. Zucchini has a reputation for producing more than you'll ever expect.

**Cucumbers**: With two plants per person, you'll have enough for refreshing salads and plenty of pickling adventures to enjoy throughout the year.

**Peppers**: Diversity is key. Two plants per person allow you to experiment with different types—sweet, spicy, or anything in between.

**Lettuce**: Six plants per person will keep your salads fresh and vibrant. Plant in waves for a continuous supply that lasts weeks.

**Green Beans**: Four plants per person provide a steady harvest, keeping your dishes filled with fresh goodness.

**Kale**: Known for its resilience, just three plants per person ensure you’ll have a healthy supply all season long.

**Basil**: A single plant per person grows prolifically, offering a fragrant harvest to elevate any dish.

Remember, less is often more. Overplanting can lead to unnecessary waste; smart planting ensures everything is utilized.

Harness the joy of growing your own food while maintaining an elegant simplicity. Gardens thrive on balance—just like life.

04/12/2026

CAN YOU PLANT YET? 🌸🍅🧐

NO! Don’t be fooled by the big warmup on the way. Frost can still happen, even into May. After this sustained warmth, there will be a drop towards late April.

04/11/2026

Easy Homemade Organic Fertilizer 🌱🌿

Turn kitchen scraps into plant food with this simple, natural mix. It’s budget-friendly and great for giving your plants a gentle boost.

1️⃣ Gather the ingredients
½ liter leftover coffee
½ liter crushed eggshells
½ quart chopped banana peels
1 liter water
Relatable mistake 😅 tossing these in the trash when your plants are begging for nutrients.

2️⃣ Blend everything well
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. This helps release nutrients evenly.

3️⃣ Dilute before using
Mix the blend with 3 parts water. Undiluted mixtures can be too strong for roots.

4️⃣ Water once a month
Apply around the base of your plants, not directly on leaves.

5️⃣ Know why it works
Coffee adds nitrogen, eggshells provide calcium, and banana peels offer potassium — a balanced trio for healthy growth.

Simple scraps, strong plants, and less waste. Sometimes the best fertilizer is already in your kitchen. 🌼