Author Archive: Ruth Collins

Introduction to the Small Business Administration

If you’re looking for a way to help your business grow, now would be a good time to understand how the government can help you with your small business needs.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Local Assistance from the Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration has many local offices and resource partners that counsel, mentor and train small business owners and entrepreneurs.

These nearby offices and online assistance can help your business start up, succeed and grow. This short video provides a good introduction to services near you.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on small business grants and loans, home buyer programs and Community Foundation programs from around the world.

Small Business Administration HUBZone Program

The Historically Underutilized Business Zones Empowerment Contracting Program provides federal contracting assistance to eligible small businesses located in underutilized business zones to improve their employment opportunities, investments, and their area’s economic development.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Top Tips For A Thriving Organic Garden

A lot of individuals think that gardening is a challenging task that involves back-breaking labor and years of academic, horticultural studying; this is not true. All it takes is a little knowledge for you to have a green thumb of your own. The tips in this article will provide you with all the gardening information needed to become a master at gardening.

Don’t mow your grass too short. If you let your grass grow, the roots will go deeper and make your lawn more resistant to dryness. When you cut the grass too short, the roots are often not deep enough, which causes your lawn to have dry patches of brown, discolored grass.

Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. This is an easy and inexpensive solution to increase the acid content back into the soil. The plants will be healthier, leading to more delicious home-grown veggies.

Mint Leaves

Mint leaves are wonderful, but don’t you despise how quickly they can take over a garden due to rapid growth? You can control the growth of the mint leaves by growing them in a large container rather than in your garden. You can even plant the container in the ground. That way, the roots won’t be able to escape the container, and the plant won’t overrun your garden.

Make sure you read instructions on products and tools before using them. If you fail to follow the directions, you expose yourself to safety hazards or a risk of experiencing adverse reactions. Protect yourself and follow all instructions.

Good tools for the gardener include a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. Also, gardening can involve a lot of heavy lifting and moving items, therefore a robust wheelbarrow can make that aspect much easier.

As mentioned earlier, horticulture isn’t difficult if you have the required knowledge. These suggestions have given you a solid foundation in how to design and maintain a fabulous garden.

Fewer Headaches With Home Improvment Starts Here

Improving your home can drastically improve your home’s look and even its value. This article can help you see how simple it is to make changes to give you a great look for a great value.

Hardwood is a better investment than laminate. Real wood can be refinished, but laminate cannot. A decade or two down the line, you or someone else might have to put in a new floor.

It is vital that you always change the air filters. Doing so keeps the air in your home cleaner and helps your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently. Most of the time, a unit stops functioning properly because the filter is dirty.

When doing any projects that are near or involve a gas line, it is imperative that you shut the line down before beginning. You must be very careful with these types of projects. You can be seriously injured or start a fire during the project.

Open Houses

Visit some open houses for newer homes before you decide what home improvements you want to make. It can be a big help to see things actually installed in a home that is similar to yours, rather than viewing colors and hypothetical improvements inside a home improvement center. A lot of builders actually hire professional designers to decorate open houses, which can give you some real inspiration and help avoid mistakes.

Homes with a great view may sell for more than houses like it on the market. But remember that any improvements you make to the curb appeal may only increase your viewing pleasure, rather than acting as an investment. But, because beauty is often in the eye of the beholder, the impact of your house’s view on its value may vary from potential buyer to buyer.

Most building supplies are expensive and prone to theft. When work is not going on, all building supplies need to be secured. If your home has lockable doors and windows, keeping them inside is fine. If you are unable to secure your materials in the structure, then consider renting a storage container with a good lock on it.

Now that you have read the above article, you should realize that you can succeed at dramatically renovating your home. If you follow the advice here, you will have a great home that you will be proud to show off.

Build A Beautiful Organic Garden With These Tips

The trend toward organic foods has gradually escalated to become more of a movement; a permanent shift in the way we think about the foods that we put into our bodies. Anyone living this kind of life usually has to organically grow their own herbs and plants to maintain their way of living. Read the following article, and get some great tips on how to grow an organic garden.

Strawberries are a good organic garden choice for families with strawberries, particularly everbearing strawberries. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

Try using aspirin water for fighting plant diseases. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water. Then spray your plants with this mixture to stave off diseases. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

Plants growing in your home need a constant temperature of no less than 65 degrees. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. If your thermostat is normally kept lower in winter, you can use a heat lamp to keep your plants warm enough.

When helping organic plants flourish inside, it is vital to keep in mind how much light is reaching them. If you want indoor plants, choose specimens that can grow in relatively dark places. You could also consider using grow-lights for this exact purpose.

Remember to plan for adequate spacing when you first lay out an organic garden. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing. The plants will inevitably need to unfurl and spread, but they also need the circulation of air from open spaces. Therefore, ensure that you allow for ample spaces between your seedlings.

Don’t let your organic gardening tasks stack up for very long. You may not have a lot of time to exclusively devote to your gardening hobby, but you can make the most of the time you do have. Even if you’re just taking the dog for a walk, bend down and pick a few weeds.

Organic Gardening

As in most things, the more you know about organic gardening, the more successful you will be. This article is just the tip of the ice-berg when it comes to organic gardening information.

Grants From The Department of Agriculture

United States Department of Agriculture was established to provide leadership on food, natural resources, agriculture, and other associated issues that are all based on sound public policy, the best available technology, and efficient and effective management.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on small business grants and loans, home buyer programs and impact investment programs from around the world.

Business Loans From GovLoans

Interested businesses that are looking to procure a loan from the federal government can visit the GovLoans website, as it serves as the public’s gateway to government loan information.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Everything You Need To Know About Taking Out Home Mortgages

Novices and experts alike can find it difficult to navigate the home mortgage application process successfully. A mortgage with a higher interest rate will cost you more money. For the mortgage that fits your needs, take a look at the advice below.

When attempting to estimate monthly mortgage costs, try getting a pre-approval for the mortgage. Compare different lenders to learn how much you can take out and learn what your actual price range is. Once you have everything figured out, it will be a lot easier to see what your monthly payments should be.

Get all your paperwork together before applying for a loan. Not having all the paperwork you need will waste your time as well as that of the lender. Lenders will surely ask for these items, so having them at hand is a real time-saver.

During the pre-approval process for the mortgage loan, avoid going on any costly shopping sprees while waiting for it to close! Lenders tend to run another credit check before closing, and they may issue a denial if extra activity is noticed. Wait until you have closed on your mortgage before running out for furniture and other large expenses.

Have available all your financial records before filling out the application for a home mortgage. Most lenders will require basic financial documents. They range from bank statements to pay stubs. If these documents are ready, your process will be smoother and faster.

Impress your mortgage lender by having an exact idea of the terms that fit your budget before you submit a mortgage application. This means setting a limit for monthly payments, based on what you can afford and not just what type of house you want. Regardless of a home’s beauty, feeling house poor is no way to go through life.

Buying a home is probably the largest single expense you will ever incur. It’s crucial to locate the loan that’s best for you. The information located above will guide you toward finding the best home mortgage.

Home Mortgages: Top Tips To Get You The Best Deal

Don’t let the process of getting a home loan bring you down. There are many things to consider when finding a mortgage lender. The following article will offer basic tips and suggestions for choosing a reputable mortgage company. This article is designed to help you through this process.

Prepare for the home mortgage process well in advance. If you want a mortgage, get your finances in order right away. This includes saving money for a down payment and getting your finances in order. If you take too long, it may be hard to get approval for a mortgage.

If you are upside down on your mortgage, you may be able to apply to get a different mortgage thanks to new rules in place. Before the new program, it was difficult for many to refinance. Find out if you can qualify for lower mortgage payments.

Continue communicating with the lender who holds your mortgage in all situations. You may feel like giving up on your mortgage if your finances are bad; however, many times lenders will renegotiate loans rather than have them default. Find out your options by speaking with your mortgage provider as soon as possible.

Refrain from spending excessively while you wait for your pre-approved mortgage to close. Before the mortgage is final, lenders like to check credit scores again, and if they see a lot going on, they may reconsider. Any furniture buying, as well as any other expensive item or project, needs to wait until your mortgage contract is signed and a done deal.

You are sure to need to come up with a down payment. You may not need to with some firms, but most lending firms require a down payment. Consider your finances carefully and find out what kind of down payment you will need to provide.

If you decide on a mortgage, be sure you’ve got good credit. Lenders consider how much risk they are taking on you based on your credit report. If your credit is poor, it is advisable to correct problems before applying for your mortgage.

Knowledge is empowering. Rather than making a blind choice about your mortgage lender, now you understand the information it takes to pick the right one. Check out all options and then make a sound decision.