Author: Eric Scop
About 90% of homeowners want to implement some kind of environmentally friendly or energy saving changes. That’s a lot of good will (and an increasing awareness of rising energy costs). However, the biggest budget priority for outdoor spending is adding a new deck or hot tub, not investing in green technology. That also makes sense – homeowners want to find comfort in their living spaces, so their first investment is toward things that enhance that experience.
Retractable awnings provide a two-fold solution that combines energy efficiency and functional recreation. Retractable awnings reduce air conditioning energy use an average of 25%, but they also make outdoor areas cooler and offer protection from sun, UV rays, wind, and mild rains, so outdoor space is more livable and enjoyable.
A Word on Energy Efficiency
According to the Minnesota Commerce Department, sunlight increases indoor heat almost 90% and is the biggest contributor to indoor temperature changes. Most energy efficiency measures attempt to deal with the heat after it has reached the home interior.
Managing heat after it’s in the room can require a lot of money, such as installing new low-solar-gain windows, putting in programmable thermostats, or getting new equipment. It can also require uncomfortable changes, like setting the thermostat at 78 degrees or even as high as 90 degrees (using a rule of thumb that the indoor temperature shouldn’t be more than 20 degrees cooler than outdoor temperatures). Lower cost solutions like reflective blinds are also less effective because heat-creating sunlight still reaches the interior of the home before being reflected.
The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association commissioned a study to see how energy efficient sun protection systems are which stop solar rays before they reach the interior of a room. For a year, in twelve cities, PAMA surveyed the effect of awnings on energy consumption and utility bills.
Stopping solar rays before they reach the room, at the exterior of the building, reduces the heat buildup between 65% and 77%. The PAMA study reveals that reducing the heat buildup means that retractable awnings lower indoor room temperatures 8-15 degrees. If solar energy is stopped outside the room, it requires less air conditioning naturally, so it’s not necessary to raise your thermostat, and you’ll still lower your energy use.
According to the PAMA study, energy consumption on houses which used awnings went down 69% in Seattle, 33% in Boston, 26% in Phoenix, and 10% in Miami. Any climate will realize lower energy use.
Using retractable awnings is important for homes with southern or western-facing windows, which are susceptible to solar heating. Retractable awnings on southern and western windows saves 25-50% more energy even than with eastern-facing windows or equally-distributed windows. This reduction holds even for windows with solar-gain glass, and is especially effective for windows with regular glass.
For Budget Buyers
Retractable awnings provide a very simple and relatively affordable avenue to control indoor temperatures. They’re cost-effective for several different reasons, such as a long lifetime (over a decade), simple installation, and flexibility in where they can be used, from windows to porches to front doors and walkways. Two extra features – motors and the retractable awning solution dyed acrylic fabric (not vinyl) – are good for budget buyers because they make retractable awnings even more energy efficient, with little or no extra cost.
The first tip is to use a motor. This inexpensive option, often less than 10% the cost of the awning, means the retractable awning will be used (retracted) four times more than manual awnings. While awnings cause a significant reduction in air conditioning use, keeping awnings extended in winter increases heating expenses about 10%, and for areas with longer fall and winter seasons than summer, that increase can actually raise annual electricity bills. Retractable awnings are so easy to close, letting in effective solar heat in winter, that they don’t affect heating bills.
Another recommendation is to use light-colored fabrics for the awning, particularly in high-sun areas of the building. Light colors reflect sunlight better than dark ones, which is even more effective in preventing solar heating indoors. Better awning companies have a large selection of fabrics (more than 200) with no price differences between the fabric options. For extra service, ask for swatches or look for drafting or 3D rendering programs that can help visualize awning styles before you purchase them.
Spring brings daylight-saving time, Earth Day, and spring cleaning – reminders to reduce consumption and move outdoors. Retractable awnings make that possible cost-effectively both by reducing energy use and make your outdoor space more pleasing and comfortable.
วันพุธที่ 2 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Great Gifts for Quilters
Author: Penny Halgren
There are many great gift ideas for quilters that go beyond a simple gift card to a favorite craft or hobby store!
To pick the perfect gift ideas for quilters you know, it's important to know what kind of quilting they enjoy. It's easy enough to ask if you don't already know.
Some quilters prefer appliqu?a sewing technique in which a design is sewn on top of a fabric block or panel. All three applications may be done by machine. The blanket stitch method may also be done by hand.
Nice gift ideas for appliqu?uilters would include a gift basket with supplies such as needles (machine or hand sewing), transfer paper, a good pair of scissors, and an appliqu?esign book.
Other quilters prefer to piece quilts. This is a quilting method in which pieces of fabric cut in various shapes or strips are sewn together to create a quilt top. Many popular traditional designs for pieced quilts include a 9-Patch, Double Wedding Ring, and Monkey Wrench.
Quilters who like to piece quilts use hand and/or machine sewing methods. Gift ideas for quilters who piece quilts are easy!
These quilters would enjoy gifts of fabrics, quilting threads, needles (machine or hand sewing), and books that feature a variety of quilt designs.
Another quilting technique is called foundation quilting. It's a technique in which fabrics are pieced together by sewing them onto a temporary paper foundation. Gift ideas for quilters who enjoy foundation quilting can be quite fun!
Ask what type of paper foundation they use. If it's newspaper, save several back to include with his or her gift. Remnant fabrics are always appreciated because they increase the fabric stash the quilter has on-hand!
Quilting software would make a great gift idea for quilters who like the age of technology in which we live! You'll need to know your friend's personal computer operating system to make sure the software will be compatible.
Buying quilting software will take a little research. Read about your options online and talk with sales representatives at your local craft, hobby or sewing stores before making a purchase.
Another way to select gifts for quilters is to examine your friend's market. Does he or she quilt for fun or for profit? Some quilters concentrate solely on baby quilts. Some like to quilt wall hangings. Others create bedspreads. Some quilters create clothing.
A hobby quilter would love to receive any of the quilting necessities and notions, such as threads, needles, thimbles, sewing books, etc. Quilters who sell their creations would appreciate custom labels or ribbons they could use in packaging their products.
Quilters who create clothing would enjoy books that offer lots of photos for inspiration and how-to advice. If they embellish their quilted clothing with rhinestones or studs, those would make a nice gift idea for clothing quilters. You'll need to know how your quilting friend attaches rhinestones -- by ironing them on or with a small rhinestone apparatus. It will make a difference in the type of rhinestone you should buy for his or her gift.
A perfect gift for any quilter would be an Internet quilting club membership. The best quilting membership websites have video demonstrations of various techniques, have a good range of FAQ and offer lots of inspiration and encouragement!
If you're giving an Internet club membership as a gift, make a nice card with the membership information on it and place it in an envelope. Finish it up by attaching a cute bow you've made from a scrap piece of fabric!
There are many great gift ideas for quilters that go beyond a simple gift card to a favorite craft or hobby store!
To pick the perfect gift ideas for quilters you know, it's important to know what kind of quilting they enjoy. It's easy enough to ask if you don't already know.
Some quilters prefer appliqu?a sewing technique in which a design is sewn on top of a fabric block or panel. All three applications may be done by machine. The blanket stitch method may also be done by hand.
Nice gift ideas for appliqu?uilters would include a gift basket with supplies such as needles (machine or hand sewing), transfer paper, a good pair of scissors, and an appliqu?esign book.
Other quilters prefer to piece quilts. This is a quilting method in which pieces of fabric cut in various shapes or strips are sewn together to create a quilt top. Many popular traditional designs for pieced quilts include a 9-Patch, Double Wedding Ring, and Monkey Wrench.
Quilters who like to piece quilts use hand and/or machine sewing methods. Gift ideas for quilters who piece quilts are easy!
These quilters would enjoy gifts of fabrics, quilting threads, needles (machine or hand sewing), and books that feature a variety of quilt designs.
Another quilting technique is called foundation quilting. It's a technique in which fabrics are pieced together by sewing them onto a temporary paper foundation. Gift ideas for quilters who enjoy foundation quilting can be quite fun!
Ask what type of paper foundation they use. If it's newspaper, save several back to include with his or her gift. Remnant fabrics are always appreciated because they increase the fabric stash the quilter has on-hand!
Quilting software would make a great gift idea for quilters who like the age of technology in which we live! You'll need to know your friend's personal computer operating system to make sure the software will be compatible.
Buying quilting software will take a little research. Read about your options online and talk with sales representatives at your local craft, hobby or sewing stores before making a purchase.
Another way to select gifts for quilters is to examine your friend's market. Does he or she quilt for fun or for profit? Some quilters concentrate solely on baby quilts. Some like to quilt wall hangings. Others create bedspreads. Some quilters create clothing.
A hobby quilter would love to receive any of the quilting necessities and notions, such as threads, needles, thimbles, sewing books, etc. Quilters who sell their creations would appreciate custom labels or ribbons they could use in packaging their products.
Quilters who create clothing would enjoy books that offer lots of photos for inspiration and how-to advice. If they embellish their quilted clothing with rhinestones or studs, those would make a nice gift idea for clothing quilters. You'll need to know how your quilting friend attaches rhinestones -- by ironing them on or with a small rhinestone apparatus. It will make a difference in the type of rhinestone you should buy for his or her gift.
A perfect gift for any quilter would be an Internet quilting club membership. The best quilting membership websites have video demonstrations of various techniques, have a good range of FAQ and offer lots of inspiration and encouragement!
If you're giving an Internet club membership as a gift, make a nice card with the membership information on it and place it in an envelope. Finish it up by attaching a cute bow you've made from a scrap piece of fabric!
Fun Ideas for Personalized Address Labels
Author: Craig Thornburrow
Personalized address labels are the perfect way to get your mail noticed. Your mail will always be recognizable because of the colorful, meaningful address labels that you use. Not only that, but using labels saves you the trouble of typing or hand printing your return address on your outgoing mail. If you are someone who sends lots of mail then manually filling out the return address could get very time consuming and even painful for your hands. Imagine if you had hundreds of envelopes to address, you would surely get writers cramp without return address labels. Self-adhesive printed labels take all the work out of printing the return address. Just peel, stick and send!
When choosing your personalized address labels you will find there are unlimited options available to you. You will find a plethora of companies who sell customized labels in a wide variety of designs and colors. You can choose every aspect of your label including size, design, theme, color, font and more. The font is the lettering. Some people like a simple type font while others prefer a more creative type of text like cursive or Old English style. It all depends on what your preferences are and the type of correspondence you are sending. For example, business mail may often require a different style label than personal mail. You may not want to use one of your smiley face address labels to send correspondence to the IRS or one of your business clients, for example, or perhaps you would. It all depends on your personal situation.
Speaking of business mail, there are labels created for various types of businesses and occupations. You can find labels for medical professionals, attorneys, hairstylists, teachers and so many more. For example, a teachers' address label may have a cute picture of an apple or a pencil on it while a hairstylists label may have an image of a comb or scissors. Other than business theme labels, there are many other themes to choose from including holiday scenes. You can find all kinds of theme labels for holidays like Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Easter and quite a few others.
You will love the convenience of having your very own customized labels for your mail. The good news is they are cheap to purchase or make. That's right -- you can even create your own with a word processing program that supports labels and the appropriate label paper. You can purchase ready-to-print labels from any office supply store that sells printer supplies. However many people prefer to buy their labels pre-made because it saves them the time and effort. It all depends on the type of label you want, whether you can find it pre-made and whether or not you want to spend the time and effort making your own labels. Personalized address labels are a luxury that most everyone can afford and should have for their home and/or office.
Personalized address labels are the perfect way to get your mail noticed. Your mail will always be recognizable because of the colorful, meaningful address labels that you use. Not only that, but using labels saves you the trouble of typing or hand printing your return address on your outgoing mail. If you are someone who sends lots of mail then manually filling out the return address could get very time consuming and even painful for your hands. Imagine if you had hundreds of envelopes to address, you would surely get writers cramp without return address labels. Self-adhesive printed labels take all the work out of printing the return address. Just peel, stick and send!
When choosing your personalized address labels you will find there are unlimited options available to you. You will find a plethora of companies who sell customized labels in a wide variety of designs and colors. You can choose every aspect of your label including size, design, theme, color, font and more. The font is the lettering. Some people like a simple type font while others prefer a more creative type of text like cursive or Old English style. It all depends on what your preferences are and the type of correspondence you are sending. For example, business mail may often require a different style label than personal mail. You may not want to use one of your smiley face address labels to send correspondence to the IRS or one of your business clients, for example, or perhaps you would. It all depends on your personal situation.
Speaking of business mail, there are labels created for various types of businesses and occupations. You can find labels for medical professionals, attorneys, hairstylists, teachers and so many more. For example, a teachers' address label may have a cute picture of an apple or a pencil on it while a hairstylists label may have an image of a comb or scissors. Other than business theme labels, there are many other themes to choose from including holiday scenes. You can find all kinds of theme labels for holidays like Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Easter and quite a few others.
You will love the convenience of having your very own customized labels for your mail. The good news is they are cheap to purchase or make. That's right -- you can even create your own with a word processing program that supports labels and the appropriate label paper. You can purchase ready-to-print labels from any office supply store that sells printer supplies. However many people prefer to buy their labels pre-made because it saves them the time and effort. It all depends on the type of label you want, whether you can find it pre-made and whether or not you want to spend the time and effort making your own labels. Personalized address labels are a luxury that most everyone can afford and should have for their home and/or office.
วันเสาร์ที่ 29 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551
India Promotes Terracotta Pots
Author: Derek Both
Government officials in Orissa, which is located on the east coast of India are encouraging traditional potters to make terracotta pots part of their trade. It is felt that this will help to improve sales and living conditions in the country as there has been such a demand for the product in the more cosmopolitan cities in India.
The idea is to convert potters into terracotta artisans so they can meet the demand for terracotta pots and also because they are not making enough money from the products that they are currently selling. Full training is being provided for those who are interested in branching out so that they can develop their skills and show the tourists and wealthier residents of the country that they can provide them with the products they want.
The reason why traditional potters are struggling so much to sell their products is because there are currently so many alternatives to what they make available. This has resulted in many of the potters who are living in Orissa to lead a difficult and struggling life because people would rather collect designer pottery products for their homes. Terracotta pots have always been a favourite amongst anyone who collects pottery which is why the government chose this material to re - train their potters in. It is hoped that everyone will appreciate the craftsmanship, time and effort that goes into making the product and choose to buy off local potters rather than large shop chains.
There have been many other factors which have contributed to the fact that traditional potters are now struggling so much. The fact that many of the markets where they can sell their products are too far away so they either can't attend or it's very expensive to go there is one of the major reasons. This is further fuelled by the fact that there has been an increasing amount of non - availability of proper marketing outlets and there has been an overall reduced number of people buying these kinds of products.
One of the things that people in this position have resorted to is selling their products door to door as taking them to a market is too difficult. If they don't sell whatever they have made within a couple days then they have to carry them all the way back to their village. This is becoming more and more regular as less people are cooking in old fashioned earthen utensils and pots and more people are opting for stainless steel and aluminium utensils.
Training their potters to make terracotta pots is the Orissa governments last hope of trying to save this trades livelihood. It is thought as a positive step forward due to the fact that terracotta pots are so poular all around the world for many different reasons.
Government officials in Orissa, which is located on the east coast of India are encouraging traditional potters to make terracotta pots part of their trade. It is felt that this will help to improve sales and living conditions in the country as there has been such a demand for the product in the more cosmopolitan cities in India.
The idea is to convert potters into terracotta artisans so they can meet the demand for terracotta pots and also because they are not making enough money from the products that they are currently selling. Full training is being provided for those who are interested in branching out so that they can develop their skills and show the tourists and wealthier residents of the country that they can provide them with the products they want.
The reason why traditional potters are struggling so much to sell their products is because there are currently so many alternatives to what they make available. This has resulted in many of the potters who are living in Orissa to lead a difficult and struggling life because people would rather collect designer pottery products for their homes. Terracotta pots have always been a favourite amongst anyone who collects pottery which is why the government chose this material to re - train their potters in. It is hoped that everyone will appreciate the craftsmanship, time and effort that goes into making the product and choose to buy off local potters rather than large shop chains.
There have been many other factors which have contributed to the fact that traditional potters are now struggling so much. The fact that many of the markets where they can sell their products are too far away so they either can't attend or it's very expensive to go there is one of the major reasons. This is further fuelled by the fact that there has been an increasing amount of non - availability of proper marketing outlets and there has been an overall reduced number of people buying these kinds of products.
One of the things that people in this position have resorted to is selling their products door to door as taking them to a market is too difficult. If they don't sell whatever they have made within a couple days then they have to carry them all the way back to their village. This is becoming more and more regular as less people are cooking in old fashioned earthen utensils and pots and more people are opting for stainless steel and aluminium utensils.
Training their potters to make terracotta pots is the Orissa governments last hope of trying to save this trades livelihood. It is thought as a positive step forward due to the fact that terracotta pots are so poular all around the world for many different reasons.
Discover Helpful Lawn Tools Information
Author: Paul Zayer
There are several types of lawn tools that could ease gardening and yard work. And when gardening work is easier we find ourselves out enjoying our lawn or garden much more often. Now we will talk about some lawn and garden tools that can make some jobs much easier.
A weed planter can make pulling weeds much easier. You may not mind squatting down to pull weeds, but if you are deciding not to pull a weed for some great weed pulling session, may be you would get advantage of using a weed planter. These nifty objects allow you to simply remove weeds without having to bend down or wrestle with weeds. If you have back problems a good weed puller is more like a must have.
Everything is kept crisp and neat with lawn tools like lawn edgers. Beside keeping borders even and kempt, edgers can delay the time you have before trimming excess growth in the garden. While keeping walkways safely clear of excess grass growth, edgers control grass growth of hardier strains like St. Augustine for the main lawn.
Aerators are a great way to easily aerate lawn and garden beds. Some aerators are simple straight forward aerators that are best suited for aerating lawns without breaking up the turf. These can also cut down on the development of thatch. I recommend something like the Garden Claw for gardens and flower beds. These little things are amazing for their power and simplicity. On one occasion I used one to do the entire first plowing session of a forty by forty foot double dug garden plot. It cut right through the thick grass as it crumbled the earth. Lawn tools like Garden Claws are also great for weeding around garden plants.
If you don't have all the time you need to do everything manually, planters and waterers are important tools to have. Planters can help shave off time if you have a busy planting schedule at different times of the year. You might want to install a timed sprinkler system for watering. Think of using t-tape and a daily timer if you have many garden or flower beds. This is inexpensive, conserves water and gives you free time! So as you can see having a nice lawn is a bit of work of course but I could say it is worth the effort. This is why it is also important to have the proper lawn tools.
There are several types of lawn tools that could ease gardening and yard work. And when gardening work is easier we find ourselves out enjoying our lawn or garden much more often. Now we will talk about some lawn and garden tools that can make some jobs much easier.
A weed planter can make pulling weeds much easier. You may not mind squatting down to pull weeds, but if you are deciding not to pull a weed for some great weed pulling session, may be you would get advantage of using a weed planter. These nifty objects allow you to simply remove weeds without having to bend down or wrestle with weeds. If you have back problems a good weed puller is more like a must have.
Everything is kept crisp and neat with lawn tools like lawn edgers. Beside keeping borders even and kempt, edgers can delay the time you have before trimming excess growth in the garden. While keeping walkways safely clear of excess grass growth, edgers control grass growth of hardier strains like St. Augustine for the main lawn.
Aerators are a great way to easily aerate lawn and garden beds. Some aerators are simple straight forward aerators that are best suited for aerating lawns without breaking up the turf. These can also cut down on the development of thatch. I recommend something like the Garden Claw for gardens and flower beds. These little things are amazing for their power and simplicity. On one occasion I used one to do the entire first plowing session of a forty by forty foot double dug garden plot. It cut right through the thick grass as it crumbled the earth. Lawn tools like Garden Claws are also great for weeding around garden plants.
If you don't have all the time you need to do everything manually, planters and waterers are important tools to have. Planters can help shave off time if you have a busy planting schedule at different times of the year. You might want to install a timed sprinkler system for watering. Think of using t-tape and a daily timer if you have many garden or flower beds. This is inexpensive, conserves water and gives you free time! So as you can see having a nice lawn is a bit of work of course but I could say it is worth the effort. This is why it is also important to have the proper lawn tools.
People Advised To Take More Precautions With Gardens
Author: Mark Dawson
The majority of garden-owners are leaving themselves open to risk, it has been suggested.
According to RIAS, increasing numbers of Britons are spending money on their green space due to the rising popularity of makeover programmes and the concept of having an "outdoor room". Currently, it was revealed that budding Charlie Dimmocks and Alan Titchmarshes are splashing more than four billion pounds every year on plants, tools and other gardening paraphernalia.
One way consumers may find they are able to finance copying something that they have seen on the likes of Gardeners' World may be to take out a homeowner loan.
However, the insurance firm went on to indicate that many of these people are not taking steps to insure their property and possessions, so leaving themselves open to financial risk if they become the threat of crime. Pointing to research carried out by the Horticultural Trades Association and numerous other gardening organisations, in addition to the police, RIAS suggested that more than one million garden thefts take place each year. Furthermore, it was reported that "whatever its extent or scale, garden crime is on the rise and causes significant distress and financial loss."
Due to a lack of adequate cover, those wishing to repair their garden and replace stolen items may find that they are required to dip into their own pockets and purses to meet such expenses. This may put pressure on their ability to meet other types of financial demand such as credit card and loan bills, mortgage costs and council tax repayments.
Janet Connor, managing director for RIAS, said: "Sadly we are all now sitting targets for garden theft, yet people are not taking anywhere near enough precautions. Most home insurance policy holders don't realise that the garden and its contents may not be routinely protected by their existing cover in the event of theft, loss or damage and it's costing victims as much as 400 million pounds per year to replace stolen property. We strongly advise people to check their home insurance policy today and make sure additional provision for garden cover is added if it is not there already."
In an attempt to improve the security of their property, homeowners were also advised to fit security lighting and lay down gravel in their driveway and garden paths to deter prospective intruders. Gardeners were also recommended to use plants, such as holly, blackthorn and blue pine, which often contain thorns and can restrict access. The locking away of tools and equipment, protecting any moveable items from extreme weather conditions and removing garden centre tags from new plants were also put forward as means of reducing threats to green spaces. Furthermore, taking the time to ensure that an adequate home insurance policy is in place was recommended by RIAS.
For those looking to give their garden a spring makeover, a home loan may be of assistance. By taking out this loan, consumers can not only fit in the plants and flowers to make the outdoor space of their dreams, but also take steps to protect it from prospective thieves. In addition, the extra financial assistance that a loan provides could help homeowners to purchase a comprehensive insurance policy. A homeowner loan might also be of assistance to those wishing to carry out renovations within their homes. Earlier this month, Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, reported that more Britons are looking to convert attics, garages, basements and other rooms in their properties in an attempt to increase the amount of space.
The majority of garden-owners are leaving themselves open to risk, it has been suggested.
According to RIAS, increasing numbers of Britons are spending money on their green space due to the rising popularity of makeover programmes and the concept of having an "outdoor room". Currently, it was revealed that budding Charlie Dimmocks and Alan Titchmarshes are splashing more than four billion pounds every year on plants, tools and other gardening paraphernalia.
One way consumers may find they are able to finance copying something that they have seen on the likes of Gardeners' World may be to take out a homeowner loan.
However, the insurance firm went on to indicate that many of these people are not taking steps to insure their property and possessions, so leaving themselves open to financial risk if they become the threat of crime. Pointing to research carried out by the Horticultural Trades Association and numerous other gardening organisations, in addition to the police, RIAS suggested that more than one million garden thefts take place each year. Furthermore, it was reported that "whatever its extent or scale, garden crime is on the rise and causes significant distress and financial loss."
Due to a lack of adequate cover, those wishing to repair their garden and replace stolen items may find that they are required to dip into their own pockets and purses to meet such expenses. This may put pressure on their ability to meet other types of financial demand such as credit card and loan bills, mortgage costs and council tax repayments.
Janet Connor, managing director for RIAS, said: "Sadly we are all now sitting targets for garden theft, yet people are not taking anywhere near enough precautions. Most home insurance policy holders don't realise that the garden and its contents may not be routinely protected by their existing cover in the event of theft, loss or damage and it's costing victims as much as 400 million pounds per year to replace stolen property. We strongly advise people to check their home insurance policy today and make sure additional provision for garden cover is added if it is not there already."
In an attempt to improve the security of their property, homeowners were also advised to fit security lighting and lay down gravel in their driveway and garden paths to deter prospective intruders. Gardeners were also recommended to use plants, such as holly, blackthorn and blue pine, which often contain thorns and can restrict access. The locking away of tools and equipment, protecting any moveable items from extreme weather conditions and removing garden centre tags from new plants were also put forward as means of reducing threats to green spaces. Furthermore, taking the time to ensure that an adequate home insurance policy is in place was recommended by RIAS.
For those looking to give their garden a spring makeover, a home loan may be of assistance. By taking out this loan, consumers can not only fit in the plants and flowers to make the outdoor space of their dreams, but also take steps to protect it from prospective thieves. In addition, the extra financial assistance that a loan provides could help homeowners to purchase a comprehensive insurance policy. A homeowner loan might also be of assistance to those wishing to carry out renovations within their homes. Earlier this month, Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, reported that more Britons are looking to convert attics, garages, basements and other rooms in their properties in an attempt to increase the amount of space.
Indoor Gardening for Kids - Start in a Dish
Author: Jude Wright
Indoor gardening for kids is actually much easier to handle than an outside garden. An indoor garden can be maintained in one area and you don't have to worry about taking your children out in the rain to pull weeds.
A root top garden is an easy way to start children on their first indoor gardening project. All you need to do is cut off the tops of root vegetables such as carrots, turnips or beets. Remove all of the leaves that are on the stems and cut the stems down to about half an inch. Then, put the stems in a shallow dish or pie plate and cover the bottom of the dish with water. Put decorative stones or pebbles in the bottom of the dish to make it more attractive.
Place the dish on a windowsill where it will get plenty of sunlight. Make sure you keep your root garden well watered. Leaves will begin to sprout in about two to three weeks.
Citrus fruits are also a good place to start for beginner indoor gardeners. Remove the seeds, which are called pips, from oranges, limes, lemons or grapefruit. Fill small planter pots with potting soil. Put two or three pips just beneath the surface of the soil in each pot. If you are planting more than one type of citrus seed, put small labels on each flower pot so that you can tell which kind of plant they are.
When you see the first shoots appear, place the pots in a sunny area such as a windowsill. After the plants have grown two pairs of leaves, carefully transfer each one to its own pot. It will take several months before you see the leaves transforming themselves into small citrus trees.
Another type of indoor garden for kids is greens, such as mustard or watercress. This type of garden is started by placing a paper towel on a dinner plate and soaking it with water. Tip the plate so that all excess water is poured off. Now, sprinkle watercress or mustard seeds over half of the paper towel. Cover the dish with another paper towel or another plate so that it is kept out of the light. When three days has passed, add more seeds to the other half of the paper towel that is on the bottom of the dish.
Make sure that the paper towel stays moist, but is not saturated with water. Re-cover the seeds for another few days. When that seedlings are about half an inch high, leave uncovered and place on a windowsill where they will get plenty of sunlight. Continue to keep the paper towels moist. Watercress and the mustard are ready for harvest when they are about three inches high. These greens are great used in salads or sandwiches.
You can also use any indoor plant as a child's first indoor garden. Since children love to watch for those first green leaves, it's more fun for them if you start the plants from seeds.
A child will remember his or her first garden with joy, and will want to graduate to an outdoor garden when older. So, teach your children the joys of gardening now for enjoyment that will last them a lifetime.
Indoor gardening for kids is actually much easier to handle than an outside garden. An indoor garden can be maintained in one area and you don't have to worry about taking your children out in the rain to pull weeds.
A root top garden is an easy way to start children on their first indoor gardening project. All you need to do is cut off the tops of root vegetables such as carrots, turnips or beets. Remove all of the leaves that are on the stems and cut the stems down to about half an inch. Then, put the stems in a shallow dish or pie plate and cover the bottom of the dish with water. Put decorative stones or pebbles in the bottom of the dish to make it more attractive.
Place the dish on a windowsill where it will get plenty of sunlight. Make sure you keep your root garden well watered. Leaves will begin to sprout in about two to three weeks.
Citrus fruits are also a good place to start for beginner indoor gardeners. Remove the seeds, which are called pips, from oranges, limes, lemons or grapefruit. Fill small planter pots with potting soil. Put two or three pips just beneath the surface of the soil in each pot. If you are planting more than one type of citrus seed, put small labels on each flower pot so that you can tell which kind of plant they are.
When you see the first shoots appear, place the pots in a sunny area such as a windowsill. After the plants have grown two pairs of leaves, carefully transfer each one to its own pot. It will take several months before you see the leaves transforming themselves into small citrus trees.
Another type of indoor garden for kids is greens, such as mustard or watercress. This type of garden is started by placing a paper towel on a dinner plate and soaking it with water. Tip the plate so that all excess water is poured off. Now, sprinkle watercress or mustard seeds over half of the paper towel. Cover the dish with another paper towel or another plate so that it is kept out of the light. When three days has passed, add more seeds to the other half of the paper towel that is on the bottom of the dish.
Make sure that the paper towel stays moist, but is not saturated with water. Re-cover the seeds for another few days. When that seedlings are about half an inch high, leave uncovered and place on a windowsill where they will get plenty of sunlight. Continue to keep the paper towels moist. Watercress and the mustard are ready for harvest when they are about three inches high. These greens are great used in salads or sandwiches.
You can also use any indoor plant as a child's first indoor garden. Since children love to watch for those first green leaves, it's more fun for them if you start the plants from seeds.
A child will remember his or her first garden with joy, and will want to graduate to an outdoor garden when older. So, teach your children the joys of gardening now for enjoyment that will last them a lifetime.
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