I hate weeding flowerbeds, or gardens.  So, I don’t do it.  I told Bonnie, “Don’t plant any gardens or flowerbeds that you don’t have time to weed, because I’m not going to do it.” 

I’m not totally anti-plant.  I have a Poinsettia from many Christmases ago.  I have it because my Brother-in law told me that you can’t keep a Poinsettia alive from year to year.  It is a little bit of an AOL.  I have to put in some plant food spikes every three months, and transplant it into a bigger pot once a year.  But it’s worth it just to get on his case when they visit over Christmas. 

What’s that you say?   “What about watering?”  No prob.  Here’s an Elmoe tip from years ago.  Use a PlantMinder water bulb.  You can go 5 or 6 weeks without that AOL.

There is one other plant that I just have to have, tomatoes.  Nothing beats home-grown tomatoes.  Come on everyone, sing along..  Every year I weeded the tomato patch.  But I did away with that AOL this year.

You’ve probably seen those topsy-turvy upside down tomatoes on TV.  Don’t waste your money. (Besides being the laziest man on earth, I’ve often been called the cheapest man on earth.  These two titles often conflict.)  You can easily make them yourself for a lot less. When Bonnie asked what I was doing and why,  I knew she would say it, and she didn’t let me down.

There’s poor Bonnie toiling away at her flower bed, while my tomatoes hang there maintenance free.

If you don’t have a source for free buckets.  Try you local grocery store.  I got 4 three gallon buckets with lids from the Shop and Save for $0.50 each.  You won’t find them on the shelf.  These are buckets that stuff comes in for the deli or bakery.  They usually return them or toss them out.  But if you ask the manager, you can get them, maybe even for free.

This year, The Elmoe isn’t pulling a single weed.  Plus, the hard part is already done for next year.  I can use these same buckets for years and years.

Since a man’s career is his biggest AOL, you’re probably wondering what The Elmoe does to pay the bills. As you may have guessed, it is incredibly simple.  And yet it supports a family of 8 with a hefty new mortgage, and two car payments.  Right now, there are only about 40,000 people in the entire world that do what I do.  So there’s plenty of room for more.  This is The Elmoe’s biggest tip of all. If you want it, and trust me, you do, you’re going to have to share an Elmoe tip of your own, or at least comment on my blog.

Oh look.  It’s time for my nap.  So until next time, this is The Elmoe saying, “Why put off till tomorrow what you can get someone else to do today?”