Community Development

Proven Tips For The Perfect Organic Garden

July 21, 2019

People who start doing organic gardening do so because they don’t like toxic effects of pesticides and fertilizers. Also, most methods of organic gardening are fairly inexpensive. Here are some fundamental tips to get you well on your way to being a successful organic gardener.

If you have a high priority for sustainability in your organic gardening, try leaving a corner of the property undeveloped as a mini wildlife refuge. Certain wildlife can be good for an organic garden; birds and insects can help your plants reproduce and be as healthy as they can be!

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 this type of warm temperature in order to grow. If your thermostat is normally kept lower in winter, you can use a heat lamp to keep your plants warm enough.

Flower Beds

Coat your flower beds with a few inches of an organic mulch. By doing this, you can lock in moisture, discourage weed growth, and nourish your plants. This also gives your flower beds a more aesthetic aspect.

Keep plastic bags handy to cover your muddy gardening shoes. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Pine can make a great mulch. Some plants have a naturally high acidic level, and therefore like acidic soil. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. Cover the beds with a couple inches of needles and as they decompose, they will disperse acid to the soil.

If you use this advice concerning organic gardening, you will have a healthier yard in no time. You should notice more wildlife present in your garden if you use natural methods.

Community Development

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Organic Gardening 101: Everything You Need To Know

July 20, 2019

Organic gardens can be vital to your healthy diet, but knowing about them and purchasing the proper equipment can be difficult. Additionally, there are a variety of seeds with different planting times to consider. This article provides several useful suggestions that you can utilize to make sure that your organic garden fulfills all of your needs.

When your seeds sprout, they will not be in need of the warmth they needed to germinate. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Keep an eye on your seeds so you will know when this should be done.

Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. Mulch discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while adding nutrients to your flower bed. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.

Want to kill weeds naturally? Try using several newspaper layers to control weeds. Without exposure to the sun, weeds cannot thrive. If the weeds have already sprouted, you can place the newspapers over them and they will die due to lack of sunlight. In time, the newspaper will decompose into the soil. You can cover the newspapers with mulch to make them look more attractive if you like!

When you plant the seeds in containers, be sure the planting’s depth is three times bigger than the seed. Certain seeds are an exception to that rule, since they require sunlight to germinate, so they should be barely covered or not at all. Some typical examples are petunias and ageratum. If you are unsure about the specific needs of your seeds, you should consult your local garden center or conduct further research online. Important things to look for include water requirements, ideal soil type, and recommended sunlight exposure.

Starting an organic garden helps make your diet better, and understanding the different options for your garden can help you be even more successful. The tips you’ve found above are sure to help you get off to a good start on growing chemical-free healthy food.

Community Development

SBA Portable Assistance Program

July 20, 2019

The Portable Assistance Program seeks to provide grants to Small Business Development Lead Centers that provide services to small businesses in an effort to increase the success of small business establishments and their viability in certain communities where economic hardship is apparent and is attributable to the impact of a major disaster.

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 To Grow A Garden With Minimal Space

July 19, 2019

Do you want plants in your yard that thrive? There are many elements to a lush garden. Horticulture does require labor and effort, but at the same time, horticulture can also be fun. The following hints and tips can reduce the effort and increase the fun!

When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Before you lay the sod, the soil has to be prepared. Break the soil into fine tilth and make sure you remove any weeds as well. Compact the soil firmly but lightly, and make certain it is flat. Now make sure the soil is thoroughly dampened. Sod should be staggered in rows, the joints offsetting from each other. After the sod has been flattened to an even surface, you can use soil to fill any remaining gaps. For the best results, you need to water the sod every day for a two week period. After this time the sod will have rooted into the soil and can be now walked on.

Always allow your plants to adapt gradually to any changes in light conditions, temperatures or soils, if you do not, you might shock them and cause them to die. On the first day, place them in the sun outside for only an hour or so. Throughout the week, gradually increase the time they are spent outside. By weeks end, you should have plants that are ready for a permanent home outside with no problem!

When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.

Baking Soda

You don’t need expensive chemicals to treat powdery mildew on plants. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. Spray this mix on your plants every week and the mildew should go away. Baking soda will effectively remove the mildew without damaging your plants.

With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.

Community Development

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Buying A Home

July 18, 2019

Now’s the time to buy property, like the others, during this downturn in the American economy. This market is very profitable and the low interest rates require a relatively small investment to get started. The information included here will enable you to determine the best ways to get involved in the real estate market.

Thanks to the Internet, it is easy to research a home and a neighborhood without stepping foot outside your current home. Lots of information about neighborhoods can be found online. Even extremely tiny towns have information available online. Consider the population, unemployment and salary margins before making any purchase to assure that you have a profitable future in that town.

If a home is a real fixer and needs lots of work, you can probably get it for a good price. It is a good way to save money if you can take your time, and improve your home one thing at a time. You can build equity in your home while making improvements that maximize its livability for you and your family. Concentrate on placing emphasis on the home’s possibilities instead of its flaws. You never know, your dream house could be hiding behind warped floorboards or outdated paneling.

You should be willing to show a degree of flexibility. You might not get your perfect home, but you can afford another one. Think about settling for a different house or a different area you can afford.

Closing Costs

Put extra money aside before buying a house in case there are any closing costs you didn’t consider when making the deal. Buyers generally expect the closing costs will only consist of points paid to the bank, real estate taxes, and obviously the down payment. Very often, closing costs also include some items that pertain to the area in which you are buying, such as improvement bonds, school taxes, and so on.

Those who are wise and jump into this swirling market should follow the above article closely. It will help you avoid trouble and walk away with real estate that is under-priced and growing constantly in value. The key is to purchase the property and hold until the time is right before you make your big move.

Community Development

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Learn The Secrets Professionals Use When Buying A House

July 17, 2019

Purchasing real estate is a frightening experience. The real estate industry, however, is a lucrative one for many people. This article has some information to help you get started buying real estate whether you are a first-time buyer, or a veteran.

Make sure to look towards the future whenever you are in the market for a new house. For instance, ask yourself if you want to have children. If you do, look for a home located in a good school district.

You may have to be flexible in order to close on a home. Finding a home with all of the features on your wish list may not be financially possible, but you probably can afford a few things. If you cannot afford a home in the neighborhood of your choosing, take time to check if there any homes within your budget available. You may be surprised by what you nearly passed up!

Ask your Realtor if they can give you a checklist. A sound Realtor will already know everything that needs to happen for your home purchase to go smoothly and should have a checklist for you to know every step to be taken. This checklist will help make sure that everything that needs to be taken care of is accomplished in time for settlement.

Make sure that you have a little bit of extra money put away in case any unexpected costs pop up when you’re buying a home. The closing costs for the buyer is usually determined by adding the pro-rated taxes with the down payment and bank fees. In many cases, the closing cost will include extra items like improvement bonds, school taxes, and anything else that is specific to that area.

Real Estate

The current economic climate makes now an ideal time to consider investing in real estate. Property values at this time are lower than they have been in decades. If you are looking to move into a new or used home to call your own, now is the right time to buy. Don’t wait too long because before you know it, the market will quickly rise, and you’ll want to have a nice piece of real estate in your back pocket to be able to reap the benefits.

Buying a home may be the biggest financial transaction you will make in your lifetime, not to mention that it’s a big decision overall. The tips you have read in this article can help you make these decisions with more confidence, and avoid some of the pitfalls that some people make when buying real estate.

Community Development

Healthy Gardening: How To Create Your Own Organic Garden

July 16, 2019

Many people appreciate the idea of nurturing gardens with organic methods, but not everyone knows where to start. Some people think gardening is just too complicated and are intimidated by the many details. Read this article for some tips and tricks you can use to break this challenge down into something you can handle and even enjoy.

Your children can help you with your garden. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it’s a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.

Once your seeds start sprouting, they do not need as much warmth as they needed before. As they begin growing you can move them farther away from heat sources. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Watch the seeds so you can know when you do this.

Organic material piled three inches deep is an effective mulch in your flower gardens. This is a good way to keep weed growth at bay and add nutrients that you need in your garden. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.

Have plastic bags on hand so that you may cover your muddy gardening shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

Pine is a mulch that is great. A number of plants commonly grown in garden settings do best in an acidic soil. Use pine needles to increase the acid level in your soil if you have plants that require higher acid. Spread the needles over the beds in a layer that is approximately 2-inches deep. Over time, the needles will begin to decay, supplying the soil with acid as they do.

When you keep in mind the tips, tricks and advice in this article, the prospect of organic gardening should not seem so fearful. You will enjoy wholesome fruits and vegetables fresh from your chemical-free garden.

Community Development

Historically Underutilized Business Zones

July 15, 2019

The Small Business Administration has established the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Empowerment Contracting Program wherein they aim to provide federal contracting assistance to eligible small business corporations which are located in underutilized business zones so as to improve their employment opportunities, investments, and their area’s economic development. The Small Business Administration will identify which businesses are eligible to receive HUBZone contracts and will then maintain a list of qualified HUBZone small businesses which federal agencies can then use to locate them.

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

SBA Celebrates Woman-Owned Veteran Small Businesses

July 15, 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 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.

Community Development

Organic Gardening Tips You Can Try Today!

July 15, 2019

For some people organic gardening is a fun, relaxing pastime, whereas for others it can be a major headache. Use the tips presented here to make the most out of your earth friendly organic garden.

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.

If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. Little ones will be more likely to help when they can enjoy the fun of harvesting their own fruit.

When growing indoor plants, the thermostat should be set between 65-75 degrees throughout the day. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth. You can also buy a heat lamp to maintain ideal conditions for your inside plants during the winter.

If you’re planning on gardening inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. If your residential space has limited sunlight, it will be best that you grow plants that are ideal for this type of environment. If you do and this does not help, consider investing in some grow-lights.

You’ll save time and energy if you keep tools nearby while working in your garden. Use a large bucket, or wear rugged pants with several pockets. Make sure your trowel, pruning shears, gloves and other important tools are always handy. This will allow you to make easy work of your gardening up-keep!

The space you leave in between your plants is an important measurement when it comes to gardening. When the garden is bare, it is sometimes hard to envision how much space a mature plant actually needs. Failure to provide adequate room will restrict growth because it forces plants to compete for valuable nutrients and oxygen. If necessary, use a ruler to measure the distance between each plant.

Organic Gardening

Organic gardening is a more involved form of gardening than is often realized. While it takes quite a bit of effort and lots of patience, your pay off in the end will be a fantastic organic garden. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic gardening pro.

Community Development