Author Archive: Ruth Collins

Amazing Advice For A Thriving Organic Garden

May 5, 2019

A lot of people are becoming more aware of the chemicals that are put in our everyday produce and how this can harm them, this is why they decide to grow organically. Also, many organic gardening techniques are quite inexpensive. This article provides several useful tips that will help you improve your organic gardening techniques.

Your children can help you with your garden. Toiling together in the garden brings your family closer together and offers many different opportunities to learn new things and instill green values.

Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. It is important for them to be kept in this temperature range if they are to grow properly. If you think it would not be comfortable to keep your residence that warm in the winter, consider purchasing a heat lamp to use on the plants.

In order to maximize the efficiency of your gardening, ensure your gardening tools are kept close by you. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. If you have your pruning shears, spade, trowel and gloves handy, you will be able to get your gardening chores done much more quickly.

When you are doing work in your garden, be efficient. Don’t waste your time by looking all over for your tools. Take the time to prepare the necessary tools, and then store them in a easily accessed place once you are done gardening. It may be necessary to don a tool belt or cargo pants with extra pockets.

Pine Needles

For some plants, pine needles makes an ideal mulch. A number of plants commonly grown in garden settings do best in an acidic soil. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Lay a few inches of needles over the beds to allow them to decompose and add some acid to your soil.

Organic gardening is healthier. You won’t be exposing your plants – and yourself to toxins or chemicals. Use the tips you just read to help you start planting your organic garden. You can also look forward to a boost in the volume of wildlife inhabiting your nature-loving garden.

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Get Great Advice On Home Improvement Projects

May 4, 2019

Improving your home can greatly benefit you, regardless of how skillful you are. Avoid being tricked by home improvement television shows. There is a lot more to a home improvement project than something that is extremely big. This can even be entertaining, find out how.

A signed contract for your home improvement project should ideally include both your signature and that of the contractor. The best idea is to have the contract evaluated by your lawyer. The cost, dates and warranty information should all be stated in the contract.

To help stop air from getting through the doors, you can purchase sealant strips and draft excluders. Draft excluders slide under the door to keep air in and out. Sealant strips do the same thing and fit around the door frames. Sealant strips can be purchased at most hardware stores.

Whenever you work with electricity you should always kill the power at the circuit breaker. If you do not turn off that electricity you may electrocute yourself and die.

An important component of home renovation is your bathroom. Other rooms can be easily customized, but bathrooms must be kept in good condition. Ensure that your shower and sink are in solid condition. If they are not, then you should replace them immediately. If you have linoleum floors, switch to tile.

Install peepholes into your doors that lead to the outside of your home. Never open the door before you determine who is on the other side. Peepholes are easy to install and are one of the least expensive home improvements you can make. All that is involved is a little drilling and a few minutes of your time. Having a peephole will take away the anxious feeling whenever there is a knock on your door, because you will have the luxury of seeing who is on the other side.

When you upgrade your home, the job can be large. It only requires a little education on the basics to get things done right, so you do not have to master professional level skills, unless you really want to. Keep all of the tips fresh in the front of your mind and start chopping away at the needed jobs once they’ve had time to soak.

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Green Energy Tips That Truly Make A Difference

May 3, 2019

Green energy is increasing in popularity of late, due to the current economic downturn everyone is aware of. Green energy is cheaper, allowing people to spend a lot less while protecting natural resources. The following article will tell you how you, too, can make use of green energy.

Think about getting solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These lamps are cheap and don’t require any power besides sun exposure. This will save a lot of energy. Another added convenience is that they do not require any wiring for you to enjoy outside lighting.

Use a solar-solar powered system to heat water. Using natural gas and electricity is certainly the norm, but it’s not very energy efficient. By contrast, solar energy is very efficient, and it keeps water temperatures steady just as well as traditional heating methods. Some of these upgrades, while more expensive up-front, may qualify for green energy tax deductions.

Shading windows from sunlight whelps to save energy. Additionally, curtains and blinds can enhance the energy-saving effect you achieve. Since this will make your house cooler, you will use the air conditioner less. Energy and money are both saved this way.

Do your laundry using cold water, if you can. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. In addition, remember to wash full loads to maximize energy efficiency.

Instead of using the dryer in the summertime, hang clothes outside in the warm sunshine. The sun will make your clothing smell great. They will smell a lot fresher than if you were to use a dryer. Also, using your dryer less will save you money in energy costs on your utility bills each month.

When you calculate the solar panel needs of your home, figure out the hours of sun you get in the winter. This prevents any unanticipated effects from a winter months, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months. You can actually get money back from your utility company for any energy your generate if you’re on the net usage plan.

This article’s easy tips can help you save money and improve the vitality of the natural environment. In a down economy, using green energy is a smart way to lower your bills, which saves money while saving the plant for future generations.

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SBA Celebrates Woman-Owned Veteran Small Businesses

May 2, 2019

Woman Business Owners from around the country join U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet for this special Veteran’s Day Google Hangout-On-Air.

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.

Community Development

Minority Business Enterprise Centers

May 2, 2019

Program wherein it aims to support minority-owned businesses by providing them with electronic and one-on-one business development services for nominal fees.

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.

Community Development

Increase Your Gardening Skills Through These Great Organic Gardening Tips!

May 2, 2019

While organic gardening is normally extremely enjoyable and relaxing, it can also cause you major problems if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. The following tips will assist you in becoming an accomplished organic gardener.

When you are organic gardening, ask your children to lend a hand. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it’s a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.

One way to encourage an organic garden to be sustainable and healthy is to put aside a section to stay undeveloped, thus encouraging wildlife to approach it. Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

Indoor Plants

Indoor plants have been bred over time to thrive in temperatures that are characteristic of a home. Most indoor plants like to be in about 70 degree temperatures, plus or minus 5 degrees. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. If your home isn’t that warm during in winter, try a heat lamp to use on your organic plants instead.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Put them into a basket you carry with you, or use an apron with many pockets and hanging loops. Have gloves, shears, a trowel and anything else you need handy for quick use.

When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. You can now take off any protective coverings on your plants that were there to shield them from the elements. Check on your seeds periodically to make sure you know when to remove the films.

As you have seen from the above article, there is quite a bit more to successful organic gardening than a lot of people realize. It requires a lot of work and patience, but it will be worth it in the end to have a beautiful organic garden. Follow the tips and you can increase your gardening skills.

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Green Energy Advice You Really Need To Know

May 1, 2019

Beginning to use green energy does not have to be difficult. You may not know exactly where to start, or what changes would be most beneficial to you while being environmentally friendly. Read the article below for tips to help you live a greener life inside your own walls.

Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Cotton and linen wick away moisture from your skin so that you stay cooler. Lighter colors also make you feel cooler.

If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Sometimes you can make the switch to some use of biodiesel fuels without having to purchase new parts or make costly modifications. Bio-diesel is more efficient and burns cleaner than conventional petroleum, which in turn, reduces the environmental impact from your home during the winter.

When you are away from home, use window coverings. Heavy drapes help keep you home cool, resulting in energy savings. South-facing windows get maximum sun. Use dark curtains, roman shades, roller shades or other coverings on all windows.

Consider installing a solar water heating system. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are not a problem, you can purchase a system that heats water through a heater that is solar before it pumps it in your home. Make sure you own traditional water heaters for backup during cold days.

Know the available energy options in your community. Compare the costs of various utilities, and take current or pending energy legislation into consideration. For example, it might be wise to use natural gas instead of electric heat or water from the well rather than city water.

Turn off appliances if you are not using them. Any rooms in the home that are vacant should not have any electronics or lights left on. You can save a lot of money on energy by investing into a new power strip for all of your electronics and turning it off when those electronics aren’t in use.

Each home’s layout is different and located in different places. Since each home has its own characteristics, what will work for one, may not work for another. There are some green solutions that one homeowner may implement but that may not work for another. Research the different options available to you and then select the one that is a perfect fit for your own home.

Community Development

What You Need To Know About The Department of Transportation

April 30, 2019

The mission of the Department of Transportation revolves around the idea of serving the United States of America through the development of a fast, safe, accessible, efficient and convenient transportation system that will meet our essential national interests and at the same time would improve the quality of life today, and in the future.

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.

Community Development

How Organic Gardening Can Help You Thrive And Survive

April 29, 2019

Growing organic vegetables and fruits is both healthy and delicious and much better than produce you can get at the supermarket. Rather than purchasing it from stores, you can choose to grow it yourself. Read below to learn how to grow your very own organic garden.

Think about planting everbearing strawberries in your garden, especially if you have small children. You will find that they enjoy participating in gardening if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

Growing Plants

If you are growing plants organically indoors, you have to consider the light that they are getting. If you live in a home or apartment that does not get great sunlight you may want to consider growing plants that are designed to grow in low or medium-light environments. You can also try using artificial lighting to help.

It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. Use a spade to dig up some soil, flip the soil over, and finally, sprinkle around 3-4 inches of wood chips on the soil. After a few weeks, you may then utilize the area to plant your flowers.

Keep your tools handy to work more efficiently. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a gardening apron that has several pockets. Keep common tools such as your gloves or your pruning shears within reach so that you can quickly and easily maintain your garden whenever you need to.

After your seeds begin to sprout, it is not as important to keep them warm. You can begin to move them further from the heat source as they become seedlings. It is wise to take plastic covers off of the containers in order to eliminate humidity and excess heat. Watch the seeds so you can know when you do this.

Make sure you don’t let your chores pile up when it comes to your garden Even if you can’t tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

Don’t settle for produce that is inferior. Use what you learn from this article in order to grow your own vegetables and fruits.

Community Development

Where To Find Great Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

April 28, 2019

Is your landscaping completely pathetic? Would you use a harsher word to describe it? Do you find yourself getting a lot of no-shows at your backyard parties? Well, you no longer have to be seen as the outsider in your neighborhood. Instead, read this article to find advice that can help you to spruce up your home, in order to make it appealing to everyone who sees it.

It is very difficult to landscape your whole residence all at once. Instead, try to divide the job into smaller projects, which will be easier for you and a bit less expensive as well. If any changes arise, this will make it easier to implement them.

When modifying your yard during landscaping projects, make sure you take existing structures into consideration before you ever touch your shovel to the dirt. Always take into consideration the location of various hazards in your landscape. These can include AC units, cables, sprinkler systems and even gutters. Do not impede these areas in your design. Be sure you get a hold of the county or city you live in before you dig, in case there are lines underground.

For the inexperienced do-it-yourself landscaper, it is a good idea to consult with a professional landscaper to get their professional opinion on your design. A professional will give you key information that will help your project run smoothly. They generally cost about $75, so it can be worth it to avoid costly mistakes later on.

Spending less is not always the right thing to do. Inexpensive materials will not always have the quality you are after. Choosing a specialty store can give you the expertise of the staff, a guarantee that the product will work as advertised and the ability to support your local economy.

Armed with the information you have read, and any more you find, you can create a lawn that could be the envy of the neighborhood and make them think you are a guru. The most difficult thing will be to convince them that you did the work on your own, because the results will look professional due to the tips that this article has provided. Good luck with that!

Community Development