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  1. Uses for Your Homegrown Fruit

    April 11, 2012 by Renae Dodson

    There’s no better feeling than producing your own fruit in a backyard garden. You’re there from the very beginning – from the planting of the seed to the picking of the fruit. In some cases, it’s a long time in between stages which is why the final result is so rewarding. And from a health perspective, there’s nothing better than incorporating more fresh fruit into your diet. And when you grow it yourself, you can be sure that it’s done properly without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. But now that you have your homegrown fruit in your hands, what are you going to do with it? Let’s take a look at some of the best uses for your fruit.

    fruit

    Snacks -snacking has a bad connotation but only because people make such bad choices. Instead of reaching for potato chips or cookies, fruit makes the perfect healthy snack. It’s naturally sweet and provides a great texture that delights your taste buds. It can also be filling and tide you over until your next meal. Changing your snacking routine into something that involves more fruit can actually improve your health dramatically.

    Fruit salad – one of the best things about fruit salad is there are no rules as to what you want to include. Almost any fruit works well, and you can follow traditional recipes too. Fruit salad that comes in a can is one thing, but something that uses fruit you grow yourself is something entirely different. If you’ve never combined all of your homegrown fruit into one salad before, it’s definitely worth trying.

    Pies – there’s nothing more wholesome or American than apple pie. Can you imagine how good it would taste using apples from your own backyard garden? And remember, there are other fruits that work beautifully for home-baked pies. Your family is going to get really excited whenever it’s dessert time if you master the pie making process.

    Ice Cream – one of the best things about buying an ice cream maker is being able to incorporate fruit and make healthy recipes. If you take a look at the ice cream you buy in a store, the ingredients list is often populated by unfamiliar chemicals. In other words, you have no idea what goes into them. But you can change all that when you use fresh fruit instead of all that sugar they use for commercial products. You’ll get a naturally tasting result that is better than anything you’ve ever eaten before. And thankfully, if you’re looking for a product on a budget, you can find ice cream machines that should fit within your price range.

    Gifts – if you really want to find a nice use for your precious fruit, you can give it away as a gift. Imagine the smile on your friends faces when you show up at their door with fresh fruit in your hands. Or you can turn it into a pie or ice cream as described above, and those make great gifts as well. If you like arts and crafts, you can also construct your own fruit basket filled with other goodies too. Homegrown fruit is made even more delicious you turn it into something you share with friends and family.


  2. The Kinds of Pests You Don’t Want in Your Home and What You Should Do About Them

    March 21, 2012 by Zachariah Marshall

    One of the most common problems in households is pest infestation. Pests usually dwell in dirty areas but they can also find their way in your homes especially when the home is not kept clean. And what’s even creepier about having pests in your home is that these pests can multiply at a fast rate.

    If you don’t deal with this problem in the timely manner, the next thing you know is that pests are already causing damage to the health of the people in your home as well as your property.

    There are many different types of pests that we don’t want to find in our home. One of the most common pest control issue is infestation of ants. You can easily spot fire-ant mounds but there are also ants living indoors, most likely inside the walls along the baseboard.

    The nest of carpenter ants are more difficult to find as these ants can travel several yards away from their nest. For preventive pest control for ants, it is best to call in the professionals to do the job. It is difficult to find the source of the infestation or the nest without the assistance of professionals who have been trained for this job. 

    When it comes to pests that most people would not want to find in their homes, rodents would probably be on top of the list. Infestation of ants can be considered minor when compared to infestation or rats. No one would surely want to find rats and mice in their homes. They are not only creepy but they are also carriers of harmful germs and viruses that cause diseases and illnesses. Some of these illnesses are even fatal.

    If your home is infested with rats, it is best to call professional services for pest control glendale than to deal with the problem yourself. While there are pesticides and pest control products that can be bought from stores, when not applied properly, using do-it-yourself pest elimination methods can do more harm than good.

    The pest control companies would know how to effectively eliminate pests in the safest way possible and there are even companies these days that make use of eco-friendly pest control methods. 

    Know also that there are ways to prevent pest infestation. One is by keeping your environment clean. Proper food storage is also very important as food that is just left lying on the table can attract pests. Leftover food should therefore be covered or refrigerated and should not be left on the table for more than an hour.


  3. The Best Gardening Software for Mac

    March 18, 2012 by Kari Riddle

    Designing a garden is not an easy job whether you are creative or far from it.  If you want to design your garden and you need help getting ideas and a visual of the final result, consider the benefits of using a landscaping software program.  Gardening software programs were designed to help do-it-yourself gardeners picture how their garden will look when they add plants and specific landscaping to it.  If you have a Mac computer, find the best landscape design Software for Mac computers and let technology make the task of designing your landscaping all the easier.

    Landscaper’s Companion

    Steven Software has finally brought their famous Landscaper’s Companion application to Mac and landscapers really appreciate it.  Landscaper’s Companion has all of the great features that gardeners and professional landscapers can use to design their own yard or their client’s.  The Mac version of the program has a suite of features including a database of 8500 plants and more than 9000 other images.  The quality application costs only $9.99 and can be purchased directly from the Mac App Store for convenience.

    GardenSketch for Mac

    GardenSketch is another respected gardening design software for Mac.  With specialized drawing tools and an import feature that lets you incorporate satellite photos of your current landscape, you can visualize your space before you purchase your plants.  GardenSketch also includes a plant selector tool so you can choose plants based on the type of environment they thrive in.  Because this software program is in beta, it is currently free to use.

    VectorWorks for the Professional

    If you need a professional design program, VectorWorks is a mac-compatible CAD program that offers photoimaging tools and other graphics that you will love to use.  VectorWorks is not as user-friendly as other programs, however, it is a professional design solution for any professional in the landscaping industry.

    If you are searching for programs that are compatible with the Mac, you might have difficulty finding several options because most designers use a Windows-based computer. The three programs listed above are innovative tools that the home user or the professional can use to choose the right plants or the right layout of all of the gardening elements. You can also get free landscaping software or trial software to try.  Compare each of these programs and the costs for each and decide which program will work best for you. Once you download the program, get to work and design your garden so you can add curb appeal to your home.


  4. Planting a Vegetable Garden in the City

    March 15, 2012 by Corrine Harding

    Though there are so many ready-to-eat items that are just apt for those of us who live busy lives, nothing can still beat having fresh vegetables to cook and eat. But planting a vegetable garden can be difficult if you live in the city. Oftentimes, your living space may already be cramped as it is and there may just be no space for a small veggie plot. So, what are your options?

    Well, it’s really a challenge to find enough space to grow plants. But there are ways. One is to find a spot inside your home that gets the most sunlight. Common veggies, like lettuce and tomatoes, need lots of sun. Set up a table and look for pots that will fit on your table just right. Fill pots with the right type of soil for your vegetable seedling. Just be careful when choosing soil. If you see any type of pest in the soil, do not use this. Remember that pests multiply rapidly. So, don’t give these insects the opportunity to get inside your home, and call pest control companies, like Insight Pest Solutions, once you see any sign of an infestation. So, going back to soils, if you have purchased a seed pack, look at the back for instructions about the kind of soil that your plant needs. There are also specialized pots made for indoor gardening, like the AeroGarden planting device. It’s supposed to be a tool that you can use to grow plants indoors. It’s got its own light, beneficial for winter months when daytime is shorter, and it also possesses an electronic tool that reminds you of the nutrient and water status of your mini garden. But these kinds of equipment can be fairly costly, about $80 to $170, depending on the color and model that you choose. If you have some space outside your apartment or house, you can also have a garden table for your potted vegetables. Then, there’s also the Horturba Table, which is made of galvanized steel and it comes with its own watering system. You can have this in your balcony, backyard, or any outdoor or even indoor space where you wish to put your vegetables. This table is lightweight and it comes in many sizes. So, you’ll surely be able to find just the right size for your needs.



    If you want to enjoy fresh veggies, you can do so even if you live in the city. There really are several ways to grow your own vegetables. Just always be careful about pests and report any type of infestation to reliable pest control companies, like the Insight Pest Solutions complaints division.


  5. Make a style statement while you garden

    January 16, 2012 by Chana Carroll

    It wasn’t that long ago, that pottering around the garden was a hobby reserved for the elderly.

    Someone pulling weeds in their front yard, was more likely to be seen with grey hair, muddy knees and a hideous pair of green wellies, than sporting designer names like Gucci and Ralph Lauren.

    Wood Anemoe

    But now, gardening has taken on a cult status, with even the celebrities joining in on the action.

    I myself am a keen gardener, but I’m not willing to go out in my yard looking like anything less than perfect.

    Here are my top tips for looking good while going green:

    1. The footwear. To keep you free from mud, but covered in style, buy yourself a pair of cute rain boots. With designer names now producing waterproof knee-highs, there’s no excuse for your feet to let your outfit down. With bright colors, cowboy styles, and even wedge heels available, you’ll be able to find a pair of boots that match your personality perfectly.

    2. Gloves. Your gardening gloves need to be strong and thick enough to protect your beautifully manicured nails underneath. But, just like your boots, there is no need for function to triumph over fashion. Take a look on eBay or Amazon and you will see plenty of patterns and colors to choose from. Make your selection carefully though, you wouldn’t want your gloves and boots to clash now would you.

    3. Your Knees. I spent a productive afternoon last week, tending to my lawn. It needed re-seeding to recover from the damage inflicted by giant water slide I had lazily left up for a couple of days. After 30 minutes on my hands and knees, I stood up and discovered that it doesn’t matter how funky your rain boots, or how cute your gloves are – if your knees are covered in mud, you still look terrible. So my final tip is to invest in a waterproof vinyl kneeling pad!


  6. Buying Used VS New Garden Tools

    December 19, 2011 by Chana Carroll

    Sadly, as the economic outlook continues to get more and more bleak, many people are faced with needing to grow their own vegetables at home. This means some investment in tools, unless you were fortunate enough to have a wide range of tools already to hand. Some tools, such as spades are relatively inexpensive, but others – particularly power tools and heavier tools such as tractors tend to be very costly. One way top offset the cost is to share the purchase with a neighbor or family member who is also growing food.

    This is not always practical, and some tools may be better of bought used rather than new. Used bulldozers can cost a small fortune and are probably best shared, whereas a chainsaw – it is probably better to buy an inexpensive new one as maintenance costs can be high. Be careful though – some used bulldozer salesmen are not to be trusted.



    That is a joke of course, but it is still best to be wary when buying used heavy gardening tools as internal wear ans tear may not be immediately obvious. When inspecting a used piece of garden equipment – try taking some one who you trust who knows what to look for. If a used chainsaw is on your shopping list – this is a good video showing how to sharpen the blade by hand. 10 fingers when done is still good.