I love waking up on a Saturday morning and making a cup of coffee. On warm days, I love sitting outside, watching the world go by, catching up with the neighbors walking their dogs, and just relaxing. At some point, though, I’m ready to get moving.

It’s probably not too much of a surprise that when it comes to weekend projects, my favorites are either in the kitchen or the garden. I think that goes for most of the people here at Food Gardening Network. What’s better than spending a Saturday afternoon in your garden, with the warm sun shining on you and fresh dirt in your hands?

The more we talked about our different weekend projects, the more it seemed fun to put together a special issue of Food Gardening Magazine full of exciting projects perfect for the gardening and cooking do-it-yourselfers.

We tried to mix up between some projects that were relatively easy, with a handful for the more adventurous spirits. We divided them into three categories, so you’ll find projects you can do with the kids, some centered on kitchen projects, and a whole harvest of projects for the garden.

Here are the weekend projects you can look forward to in this special issue of Food Gardening Magazine.

Engaging DIY Projects for Family Time

Family bonding takes on a fresh, fun twist in our garden. Whether you’re searching for activities for little hands or just keen on ensuring a project is safe for kids to participate in, these DIY projects are for you.

• How to Build a DIY Bug Hotel for Pollinators: The most successful gardens are filled with pollinators like ladybugs, butterflies, beetles, and bees. One way to make your garden inviting to these pollinators is to create a bug hotel where they can rest or get away from the elements.
• How to Make DIY Concrete Stepping Stones for a Garden: If you’re looking for an ideal family-friendly weekend project, this is it.
• How to Paint DIY Plant Pots with Kids: Making DIY plant pots with your kids is a great way to get kids into container gardening. By giving them something to create and “own” you can then work it into helping them plant a determinate tomato plant, or some peppers that they’ll be eager to water and keep alive.
• …plus more, like how to save pumpkin seeds!

Delectable DIY Kitchen Endeavors

When the kitchen meets the garden, magic happens. Dive into these culinary projects that promise flavorsome outcomes and a joyful process.

• How to Make Natural Dyes from Vegetables: All you need are beets, spinach, and red cabbage, and you can make an array of fun colors to use for cakes, frosting, and more!
• How to Pickle: 3 Ways: Fermented pickles are a science show all on their own. But that’s not the only way you can pickle, and in fact, there are many ways to do it.
• How to Dry Herbs: Drying herbs is easy and fun, but it also gives you a great way to enjoy garden herbs throughout the winter.
• …plus more, like how to make homemade bug spray for plants, and how to save garden scraps for stock!

Hands-on Garden Innovations

From essential tools to architectural advancements, explore a plethora of projects that amplify your gardening experience.

• How to Create a Custom Drip Irrigation System for Raised Beds for Under $100: For under $100, you can create a simple DIY drip irrigation system that will water your raised beds on a timer at regular intervals and while away.
• How to Build a Pole Bean Teepee Trellis: The teepee trellis resembles the shape of the original tipi and benefits plants by keeping branches and leaves off the ground, protecting them from disease.
• 10 Easy DIY Garden Tools You Can Make: With these DIY garden tools, you’ll be washing your harvest outside, turning oranges into starters, and recycling household items into gardening gold.
• How to Make Organic DIY Seed Tape for Perfectly Spaced Vegetables: Yes, those perfect rows of carrots, lettuce, radishes, and cabbage can be yours. Here’s how it’s done.
• How to Build a Raised Lettuce Garden: I have grown lettuce in my regular raised beds, but they almost always got chewed up by rabbits or other pests. So now I like to grow lettuce in my dedicated raised lettuce garden, which is a vertical growing setup.
• How to Build a DIY Hoop House for Raised Beds: In less than an hour, you can build a DIY hoop house for your raised beds that will allow you to start crops early in the spring and sow later in the fall.
• …plus so many more, like DIY soil testing, creating your own hydroponic system, and more!

Gardening and cooking are much more than just weekend projects; they are a therapeutic union of nature and nurture, a chance to create and to provide. For many of us, they are rooted in traditions, shared stories, and moments of clarity amid our busy lives.

The projects we’ve shared with you in this special issue are more than just tasks to fill your weekend. They are opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Whether gathering the family to create a stepping stone pathway or relishing in the therapeutic calm of pickling vegetables, each project is a journey.

Moreover, these projects are a testament to the cyclical nature of life – the rhythm of planting, nurturing, harvesting, and consuming. This cycle is a reminder that our actions, no matter how small, ripple outwards, impacting our environment, our families, and our communities. When you craft that bug hotel or paint those pots, you are not just beautifying your space; you’re cultivating memories, fostering understanding, and sparking conversations.

As we wrap up this special issue, I urge you not only to tackle these projects but to embrace the stories they tell and the bonds they forge. May your hands get a little dirty, your heart a bit fuller, and your connections ever stronger. As the seasons change, as projects evolve, remember that the garden isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your weekend. Here’s to growth, in every sense of the word.

I hope you enjoy this special issue of Food Gardening Magazine and have the chance to try a new project. Now let’s head out to the garden!

Happy building—and happy eating!

P.S. Please enjoy this issue of Food Gardening Magazine, and let me know what you think about it by commenting below with your feedback! Your input is valuable to us and can help us make improvements.