Preparing for the flats challenge!

I want to say first that this challenge was something I have always wanted to try, and am so glad I am getting the opportunity to do it and to help anyone else who might want to try as well.  I will be using only flat diapers for a whole week and will be hand washing and hang drying the diapers during that time (no machine!)  I decided to take the challenge because we love to go camping and have contemplated how it would be possible for anything longer than a weekend.  This will give me the ability to perfect my techniques for the week of July 4th where we will be camping out all week!

I have been busy trying out different folds for the diapers this week...and have perfected the origami fold!  It still takes me a little extra time to fold them right but I have started folding them as soon as they are dry so that they are ready to go when I need them.
Origami fold video by Dirty Diaper Laundry

The next fold I am intrigued by and will be working on the next few days is the kite fold
Kite fold video by Dirty Diaper Laundry

Next week I will be looking for a wash bucket so I can wash them while I am camping.  I want to make sure I am doing it the way I would be while camping so that I truely know what to expect.  (which means I will be boiling the water to wash the diapers in!)

I will be doing videos and pictures of my struggles and successes during the week of the challenge May 23-30 and anyone who would like to participate can.  

Bloggy loves for the participants in the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.

1. monica	2. Kristen Jeffery	3. Jessica A
4. Dirty Diaper Laundry- Linky Home	5. Allyson @ A Heart for Home	6. Alicia McMahon
7. SAPsMama: Natural Parenting and Green Living	8. Melissa: The Middle of Everything	9. Baby and the Chi's
10. Sarah	11. Ashley	12. According to Jenny
13. Adventures in All Things Food	14. Natural Momma's	15. HOMEmomMADE
16. The Up North Writer Mama	17. Under the Apple Tree	18. Knocked Up and Nursing
19. Ashley Doodles All the Days	20. Cecette @ Did you Know	21. Schulz Family Adventures
22. Sharon	23. Heather - Modern Cloth	24. Jenny @ Sail Mama
25. Amanda	26. What Mama Wants	27. Lynn Wilson
28. Lynifer's Blog	29. The Little Hedgehog	30. Mothering From The Maelstrom
31. Liz @ Pray for Wisdom	32. Christy	33. Cristy
34. Cotton Bottom Mama	35. The Slacker Mom	36. Just Add Cloth
37. Addie, Diaper Circus	38. My This N That Life	39. MommieV
40. Tara at Padded Tush Stats	41. Noto-Orious	42. The Gnome's Mom
43. ChunkyMonkeyBumz	44. Eccentric Eclectic Woman	45. Chrisitna's Voice
46. CJ	47. Annette Robertson	48. Lindsay's Family Reviews & Giveaways
49. Amanda	50. Abby	51. The Natural Mamma
52. Goodbye Disposable, Hello Cloth	53. Calley @TheEcoChic	54. Milk Bubbles
55. Katie Barrett	56. T Rex Mom	57. Monica Zion
58. Sheryl	59. Lindsay Wright	60. Tara Doyle
61. SingleMomFemale	62. Tara at Padded Tush Stats	63. Lindsey
64. anna jo: in between the lines	65. Sarah	66. Naturally Julie
67. Little Tiny Love	68. Stay At Home Momologues	69. paws,diapers and socks
70. Slightly Off Balance	71. Va de Tela	72. Brandi Elam
73. The Diaper Genie	74. Marishannon @ Green & Thrifty	75. importedmama
76. Clean B	77. Aikidokadi	78. Naturalmente Mamá
79. Brandie	80. A Whole Lot of Fluff	81. Heather Felker
82. Measuring Flower	83. krystal stahl	84. Anne E. Perry
85. Heather Martzall	86. One Heart One Mission	87. Dee
88. DirtyHippyMama

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Grow garden, Grow!

After last years success with container gardening I needed more space so opted to turn my front flower bed into a garden.  As some of you read, I started with watermelon....they didn't make it sadly.  That is the price I pay for using a kid designed product that does not guarantee its seeds. 
I have successfully planted squash, peas, green beans, lettuce and corn in the ground! 

 Last year the squash took over everything so I only planted a few plants along the edge to act as a border (hopefully).  I do not they are a pain to move, as the stems and leaves are very prickly.  Hopefully my new gardening gloves will help me out. 

I planted the green beans too late last year, not realizing how much they don't like the heat and ended with only 7 beans total.  Hopefully the extra month will give me at least 8. One of the starters received a kitty chomp just prior to planting, but I decided to plant it anyway hoping it didn't kill it. (I don't claim to be very plant smart). 
Does anyone have suggestions on healthy ways to keep insects at bay?  A few leaves are already getting bites.

 This is the first year for lettuce.  It seemed like an easy addition to my garden, however this is my miracle plant.  I put all 5 starters in the ground and then the buds died so I was digging up the starter pellet to plant something else when to my suprise there was this growing out of the bottom!!!  That was the same with one other lettuce.  Keeping my fingers crossed as we love summer salads!

 Being from the midwest,  I absolutely love sweet, white corn so I had to add it to my garden this year.  I have 4 that are growing just like this and can't wait until the 4th of July to measure it!  "Knee high by the 4th of July!"  The only question is do I detassel it or not?

Snap peas had the same problem as my green beans last year.  Although it was great watching it take over my front porch, I only had 4 peas that were edible, and I didn't get a single one of them.  My daughter is a serious pea hound!  Hoping the cooler start will help out but it isn't growing as fast as it did last year. 

Last but not least is my strawberry plants. I cheated a little and bought a bundle of starters that I was told will produce this year.  There are 9 of them and they all still look like this after 2 weeks.  Hoping that they do something this year, even if it is just leaves and flowers. 

I want to leave you with a picture of my garden.  Out front for everyone to see how green my thumb really isn't.  Hope you are having a great gardening season, and I can't wait to eat all these yummy veggies!