Ask Mavis – Growing Strawberries in Gutters, a New Must-Read Blog, Plain Black Tees, Meal Planning and More

It’s that time again. You ask, and I pretend to know things and answer your burning questions. It really is so much fun to open my inbox and see the wide variety of questions you guys have. Reminds me that my readers are so diverse and pretty dang awesome. So keep those questions coming and I’ll keep racking my brain for answers. As always, please pipe up if you have any input or are knowledgeable when it comes to any of the following questions:

Hi Mavis, we are getting ready to plant strawberries here at our farm. I wondered how the strawberries planted in gutters compared with the strawberries in the ground? With you greenhouse gutter system how did you water?

Thanks! Tanya from Caldwell, Idaho

I found that in the ground is best for strawberries, as far as yield goes, but gutters are fun, and do still produce.  As for you second question:  I hand watered them every few days.  It may seem tedious, but I hand water EVERYTHING in my garden.  I find that I can monitor how much each plant needs and how it is faring that way. Plus, you know, schlepping back and forth from the hose to the gutters is like my daily workout.

Okay, this next part isn’t a question, but more of an AWESOME bit of information:  Our buddy, Lisa, from Tasmania has started her own blog Head in the Clouds Feet in the Dirt.  Lisa basically rocks my gardening world, so I totally think you should pop over to her site daily.  She has provided me with countless gardening inspirations and ideas–I know she’ll do the same for you.  Go Lisa!

Hi Mavis, I was wondering about the shirt from Gap. I have tried to locate it on the Gap site, but with no luck. Have they discontinued it? Thanks for your input! I love your site!

~Cindy

I must confess… after many years of buying the Gap Favorite Tee I will no longer be buying my tees from them because the quality has gone downhill in recent years and the shirts feel thinner and wears out quicker {at least in my opinion}. I checked the GAP site and could not locate the Gap favorite tee.

However, I tried out the Bean’s Tee, Long-Sleeve Crewneck from LL Bean last fall and really love the fit and the weight of the shirt.

Totally cool article about a bakery training immigrants to bake bread and help them get jobs. They also sell the bread online! ~Karen

Okay, again, not a question, but it is totally cool and worth sharing.  I personally think you can never go wrong teaching someone a skill.  More people need actual skills.

Dear Mavis, Searching for a possible way to dye a quilt I just bought from West Elm I came across your blog How to Dye a Comforter. The queen size quilt I bought is in cayenne color and I would like to change it to a taupe color, and that might involve bleaching before dying. The problem is that I don’t have a washing machine at home and people from the laundromat most likely will not like if I do the project at their place. Any suggestions? Is this something I could do using a large bucket on my hot tub?

~Carlos

Hmmm, while I am not a fabric dying ninja, by any stroke, I feel pretty comfortable saying, I don’t think you can go from red to taupe.  Second, HOW BIG is that bucket?  I am going to be very honest and say that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.  Ultimately, I am just going to say, no, don’t do it! and leave it at that.

Can you help me with menus and meal planning for the week? There are three of us, two adults who work full time and a toddler. A lot of the menus online are for moms who have a lot of time, a lot of kids, a lot of money for fancy ingredients, and/or older kids who eat a lot. We are none of those. I really struggle with getting dinner on the table during the week. Usually it’s something edible but uninspired. Ideally, something with a small amount of leftovers for lunch the next day would be nice, as well.

~Blair

While I have never been a menu planner myself, last year, I did a series on meal planning. It was meant to provide simple ways to cook from your pantry for the week.  All of the recipes are part of our regular rotation.  I hope they help make your days a little less hectic–life with a toddler is hard enough.  Click HERE to check them out.  {Oh, and simplify your life by paying close attention to the freezer meal portion of the menu!}

Have a question for me? Submit them HERE and I’ll try to answer them.

~Mavis