8 Tips for Saving Time and Money on Your Home Garden

 

I love to garden, and I have been gardening for years. I love to grow everything; I have a vegetables, flowers, some fruit bushes and trees, and herbs. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out ways of saving time and money while maintain healthy gardens, and here is a list of 10 tips that I think you will find useful.

1. Mulch is an important part of your garden. It helps keeps the weeds out, and it helps keep the plants warm, watered, and safe. In order to make my mulch even more affective I save old newspapers for a week or 2, and I make use of it before I mulch. I have found that laying layers of newspaper down before mulching is a great way to maximize the potential of your mulch. This means that you will not need as much to be affective. This tip is eco-friendly and good for your garden.

2. Another way to save money and maximize your growing season is by starting seeds indoors in the late winter. Many seeds can be started in doors such as tomatoes, dill, peppers, beans, snap dragons, and daisies. Seeds are much cheaper than buying already grown plants, and they can usually be found sold 5 for a dollar at your local dollar store.

3. I always start my seeds indoors in February, and I find this is fun because by the end of the Christmas season I am in desperate need of some gardening. I use empty soda and water bottles to start my seeds. I simply cut them in half and plant in the part with the cap. I will also put holes in the cap, and rest the plant in the other half of the bottle. This lower empty half can be filled with water so that the plant will water itself.

4. Another way of saving money and time on plants is by growing perennials. Perennials will constantly grow back, and they will come back bigger than the year before. Perennials are amazing, and they can be separated in the fall and planted in other areas to keep your gardens expanding. Many fruit bushes are perennials such as raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Some great perennial flowers are lilies, hostas, irises,mums, and daisies. Many herbs are perennials as well, and they will grow quite large.

5. Trading plants are a great way of getting plants for cheap. If you see a plant you like approach the owner. A nice garden suggests that the person is proud of their work, and they will be open to talk about their garden. If you are growing perennials or have an abundance of seedlings started in your house you can ask for a trade. I have accumulated many plants this way. There are also many websites where you can trade plants. All you have to do is pay shipping.

6. Another way of getting free plants is to check your local area. Different areas have different natural flowers. I have procured many daisies and tiger lilies from my area. When you are digging up these plants just remember to leave some in the area so that these perennials can grow back. I also find it useful to bring some plastic bags with wet paper towels already placed in them. This will keep the plants watered while you are transplanting them. The plants can be left in these for some time before being planted.

7. There are many things found in the garbage or around the home that can be used in your garden. I use old pieces of lattice or wood for my beans to grow on. Old chair frames are also good for this purpose and they can be tied and staked to the ground.

8. Another money saving device is using old barrels and garbage cans to water your garden. Set them up on the highest elevation of your garden, and cut a small hole on the top of the garbage can. Invert it and rest it on the garbage pail. This will allow for maximum rain gathering and storing potential. This water can be transferred into pails, or it can be transferred to the garden by attaching spickets to the bottom of the pail and hoses that run along your garden. The spicket can then be turned on and the garden will be watered from the pressure of the elevated garbage can.

Gardens are a lot of fun, and they provide beauty and nourishment, but they can be costly and time consuming. These tips will help you maintain a lovely and productive garden in a timely and inexpensive manner.

Ten Ways to Increase Your Health and Wellness

 

Everyone wants to feel good and be healthy, and if you are like me you probably think this is an unattainable goal, but it is not. Here I have provided 10 ways to start feeling healthier and happier every day.

1. This may sound silly but dance! Dancing may seem awkward to anyone who is not inclined to dance, but it will make you feel good, and it helps burn fat. You may be thinking when and where am I supposed to dance? I have kids, a job, and a billion things to do everyday. There is no time for dancing. Well you are wrong, you could be dancing the whole time. Next time you are doing the dishes shake your hips a little bit and put on your favorite song. Next time you are in the shower blast some music you like and really work it. No one can see you if you are in the shower. Next time you are on the line at the grocery store listening too whatever music they have on shake it a little bit. Dancing is good for you and for your soul, and forget anyone who would look at you funny or tell you different. They are just jealous that they are not dancing.

2. Eat green, and by green I don't mean money. I mean vegetables. Greens are so good for you. They provide nutrients and fiber. These things are very important in your diet. Especially if you like to indulge in sweet treats and fattening meats. The fiber in greens will help push these nasty things out of your system, and they will make you feel better. So next time you are getting a side of fries also order a side salad. Eating half of each is not the healthiest decision, but it is better than not eating anything healthy, and you got to start somewhere.

3. Remind yourself that you are human and imperfect. If you remember that you are imperfect you will save yourself time feeling terrible. People make mistakes everyday; we are human and not one of is can always do the right thing despite what some people may claim. Remember that you are human just like everyone else, and next time you make a mistake realize what you could do differently instead of hating yourself.

4. Remember that everyone else is human as well. Everyone makes mistakes, and the next time someone makes a mistake that hurts you in some way do not hate them for it. Try to figure out how this happened, why they did what they did, and what feelings make have caused this. Also remember to forgive because to forgive is an amazing trait that most people do not have.

5. Do not sleep too much. I know we are all busy, and because we are all so busy we are all so tired, but there are ways to energize yourself without taking naps or sleeping too much. So next time you feel tired do 10 sit ups or jog up the block. I guarantee this will give you energy that you didn't know you had.

6. Do not avoid conflicts. This is a scary statement, and it is probably intimidating to many people, but avoiding conflict will only cause more conflict in the future. If you can deal with conflict now you will know how t deal with it later on in life. So take responsibility for yourself and deal with problems head on. I promise once you start doing this problems will become less scary.

7. Plant something. Even if it is just a little cactus. Taking care of something teaches us to take care of ourselves. Taking care of a plant is very rewarding because you are the sole person in charge of making sure its life continues. Many lessons can be learned from taking care of plants. If you are feeling spunky start a full fledged garden; if you are not so sure buy yourself a little houseplant and watch it grow. Communing with nature is an important part of being healthy and happy.

8. Many people work at a desk or a chair where they sit all day. Many people come home from work and sit on their couch or in front of their computers, but this is zapping your energy supply. We are like little batteries and the more energy we put out the more energy we have so move around even if it is just pacing in your house.

9. Making eating a special experience, and I am not talking about the gallon of ice cream and a movie experience. When you eat plan it out. Even if you have little time try not to settle for a cheeseburger at the drive through. Set yourself aside at least 30 minutes everyday for meals. This will relax you and your mental and emotional state, and it will allow you to have time to make yourself something special. If you put love and effort into your meals you will be more likely to eat healthy.

10. Smile. I know what is there to smile about? Well for one you woke up this morning. So next time you see someone smile at them even if you don't know them. Smiles are contagious, and your one smile can turn into a thousand so keep smiling!

5 Rustic DIY Wedding Decoration Ideas on a Budget

 

Rustic weddings are popular because of their romantic charm and their customizability. This style is perfect for new brides that want to make their wedding stand out while allowing family and friends in attendance to feel right at home. Here you will find 5 rustic wedding decoration ideas you can create yourself without spending a fortune.

1. Burlap Table Runner

Burlap is cheap and easy to work with. It can be used to create a ton of rustic wedding items cheaply. To make a rustic wedding table runner with burlap just cut a piece to the appropriate length and width. Then use liquid seam finisher all along the edge of the table runner. You can add lace, pearls, or other items to make your decoration more personal with fabric glue or you can leave it plain. Let the glue dry for at least 24 hours and you're done.

2. Mason Jar Lantern

For this DIY wedding decoration you will need mason jars, tea lights, and twine, ribbon, or lace. To assemble just add a candle to each jar. Then tie a long piece of twine, ribbon or lace around the rim of the jar; make sure there is at least 12" remaining after the knot. Tie a second piece around the jar, but knot it on the opposite side. Gather the twine together above the jar and tie in a knot so the rustic lantern can be hung anywhere you choose. When you are ready to use light the candle!

3. Lace Placemats

Lace is another popular rustic wedding item, and it is easy and fun to use. To make placemats simply cut the lace into the size and shape you would like. Then use thin ribbon or twine and fabric glue to personalize your placemat. You can add a border around the edge or simply add a little bow to a corner.

4. Rustic Nature Filled Centerpiece

This rustic DIY wedding decoration is created using a variety of jars, bottles, and vases. Simply gather nature items such as dried flowers, pine cones, twigs, acorns, and leaves and fill each jar with them to your desired preference.

5. Chalkboard Signs

This fun wedding idea is a great decoration as well as tool for your rustic wedding. All you need is some old picture frames, heavy duty cardboard or cardstock, chalkboard paint, a pen knife, spray paint and a paintbrush. Start by spray painting the frames whatever color goes with your wedding theme. Then cut the cardstock to fit into the picture frames. Follow the chalkboard paint instructions and paint the cardstock. When everything is dry put the pieces together.

Having a rustic themed wedding provides a bride with the opportunity to really show her style. These crafts are a budget friendly and easy DIY way to add that rustic appeal to your wedding.

Tips for Using Gift Wrap in Scrapbook Page Layouts

 

There are tons of ways to use gift wrap in scrapbook page layouts, and these ideas will add to the memories while reusing materials. This article will discuss several tips for using gift wrap in your memory book crafts.

The first thing to consider is acquiring gift wrap. You can easily and inexpensively purchase some, or you can save some scraps left over from holidays. When opening presents you should also save some of the wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. Look at the items and decide on specific pieces you like and want to save. Fold up the wrapping paper to keep it safe, and save for later. Little note cards and tissue paper are also great gift wrap materials for future scrapbook projects so save those too.

Deciding how to use your gift wrap materials in your memory book pages is the next step. You can use different materials for different pages, but it is always nice to use the materials that pertain to the scrapbook page layout. This will make the layout extra special and even more personal. Using gift wrap from a birthday party as part of your scrapbook will capture the birthday party in much more detail.

Wrapping paper and tissue paper can be used in many ways. Pretty images or patterns can be cut from wrapping paper and used as a focal point. You can also cut strips or shapes to create borders, lines, or mosaic patterns. Wrapping paper scraps can also be used to create a frame behind photos. Tissue paper can also be used to make flowers or crumple up into fun designs. Large pieces of these gift wrapping materials can also be cut into sheets and use to cover large sections of the scrapbook page layout.

Ribbon and bows are fun to use, and bows can even be dismantled to use as ribbon as well. Ribbon adds a border and can divide areas of your layout beautifully. Ribbon can also be tied around pages to make a bow in a specified area. Bows are fun to use in the center or corner of scrapbook pages, and they add special shine to a project.

Many gifts will come with small cards on them, and they can add that special sentiment to a scrapbook page. Note cards can be focal points if they have pretty images, and the handwritten message on the inside is also a nice item to display.

Everyone has gotten a gift that was wrapped so pretty it was hard to open it, but you can save that gift wrap for scrapbook page layouts.

Tips and Strategies for Working in a Team or Group Online

 

With the internet becoming more and more useful and convenient, many people have to work in groups online. This may seem intimidating, but there are several tips and strategies for working in a group online that can make this process easy and interesting. This article will provide you with several tips and strategies for working in a team or group online.

When working in a forum based online team it is extremely important to use appropriate threading. It is easy for all of the different aspects of each assignment to get confused. For example a team member may posted a thread titled working team charter, and this is a good way to word it so it does not get confused with the finished charter. Clear and concise thread titles are imperative.

Copying email and other outside forms of communication into an online forum is important because this way there is an official copy of communication. I think this can be helpful because it will provide a record of correspondence if there is conflict in the future.

Creating a team or group charter is very helpful when working in an online group because a charter helps manage the team process because it is like signing a contract. In order to create a team charter the entire team should state their intentions and obligations to the group. It is also important to include personal contact information and to create deadlines. When the team charter is finished make sure everyone reads the final group copy and signs it.

The charter sets the rules and obligations of team members, and the charter is something that everyone in the group creates and has to okay before it is finished. This way no one can go back on things they agreed to in the charter later because they help make the charter. I also think it will help the team process because it allows us to see what type of people we are working with, and this will allow us to utilize each others' skills while working in a group.

Google wave is a beta program that is very useful when working in a team, and it allows all members of the online group to see whatever is contributed in real time. With this program you can post images, text, and other forms of media. It is also very helpful for online groups because you can edit and comment on all parts of the work or wave in real time. This allows communication in a team which is imperative.

Stickam and other online video chat programs are a great way to communicate with your team. This allows you work on a project all at once in a conference style. These sites are usually free to join, and they are easy to use.

There are many tips that can help when working in a group online, and online team situations are becoming very popular. These strategies will assist you in your next online team project, and these tips will help ease your nervousness as well.

Tips on Growing Flowering Shrubs for Shady Areas

 

Flowering shrubs are a great addition to many home gardens. A lot of people love to garden, but have a lot of shady spots , and it can sometimes be hard to plants that enjoy shade. Here is a lost of five flowering shrubs that enjoy the shade.

One of my favorite shrubs for shady areas is the banana shrub. It is a lovely plant that can live in both sunny and shady conditions. It produces yellow flowers that range from 1 - 1 and a half inches in width. It likes well drained and acidic soil, and is best grown in zone 8 and higher. This plant is a healthy grower, and it is resistant to diseases and pests. It can grow up to a foot high and a foot and a half wide.

Mountain Laurel is another lovely flowering shrub for shade. This bush can tolerate sunny or shady conditions, and it lives in zones 4- 9. This shrub likes well drained soil with a higher acid content. It produces purple flowers in the spring time, and it has dark green leaves. This bush will grow up to 3 feet in height and width. This flowering shade bush is great in many climates and is a hardy grower.

Burwood daphne is a great flowering bush for shade. It produces pink and white flowers, and it grows up to 5 feet high. It loves full and partial shade, and can be grown in zones 4- 7. This flowering shrub can be found easily in many garden centers, and it can grow up to 4 feet tall. These shrubs make are perfect for the shady corner of your garden.

California sweet shrub is a pretty shade loving shrub that has red, purple, or maroon colored flowers. It is best grown in zones 6 and 9. This flowering shrub can tolerate both shade and sun. this flowering bush for shade can grow up to 6 feet in height and width. It enjoys partial to full shade, and blooms in spring and summer. The California sweet shrub has a lovely fragrance, and it needs average water. This plant is a lovely addition to any shady spot.

Japanese kerria is a flowering bush that can grow well in partial or full shade. This bush lives in zones 4-9, and it can grow from 5 to 10 feet in height. This flowering bush for shade has beautiful yellow flowers that open in the spring. Japenese kerria needs average water, and likes well drained soil.

Planting in the shade is sometimes difficult and frustrating, but I hope this article has helped you choose some flowering shrubs for the shady areas in your garden.

Drought Tolerant Vegetable Garden Tips

 

Drought tolerant vegetable garden tips are important for many people who have little or no rain during their gardening season. There are tips that can allow you to grow vegetable in your garden even when there is a drought. This article will provide you with several tips for drought tolerant vegetable gardens.

1. When growing a drought tolerant vegetable garden it is important to know what vegetables can handle the drought. Some popular vegetables that can live in dry conditions are New Zealand Spinach, jalapenos, pole and snap beans, mustard greens, eggplant, okra, chickpeas, and cowpeas. There are also certain types of zucchini, squash, and tomatoes that are drought tolerant as well. It is important to remember that cool weather crops need a lot of water, and summer crops can handle drought much better than cool weather crops.

2. Watering your garden is necessary to having a healthy garden, but a drought may really diminish the amount of water available for your garden. Watering your garden in the evening will greatly increase the amount of water that is actually used by your plants. When you water your vegetable garden early in the day the water may evaporate quickly instead of being taken in by your plants. Watering in the evening will maximize the amount of water your vegetable garden has to use.

3. Mulch and compost is your best friend when you are creating a drought tolerant vegetable garden. Adding compost to your soil will increase the soils ability to hold in moisture. It will also greatly benefit your plants for the obvious reasons. Mulching your garden is another important way to keep moisture in the dirt instead of letting it evaporate. Mulching will also keep weeds out of your garden which will save water for the plants you really want to get watered.

4. Plant vegetables close together in your drought tolerant vegetable garden in order to maximize on space and water usage. Creating a covered are by close cropping is a great way to keep moisture in the dirt instead of letting it evaporate back into the air. Close cropping is also a great way to increase the production of your plants by using companion planting.

5. The way you water your garden is also important when you have a drought tolerant garden. Watering once every few days heavily will cause the roots of plants to dig deeper into the earth to receive water, and this will increase the drought tolerance of your vegetables.

Planting a drought tolerant vegetable garden can be tricky, but these tips will help make sure your drought tolerant vegetable garden is successful.

Garden Party Tips on Decorating and Recipes

by Sarah Ganly

Garden Parties are a fun and easy way to get together with friends and celebrate spring. It may seem that throwing a garden party may be overwhelming, but here are some tips to help your party go smoothly and pleasantly.

The décor should obviously suggest spring, and flowers should be abundant. If the party is an evening party set up white lights in the trees or bushes by the table to create ambiance. If the party is scheduled for the day make sure the table is set under a tree in order to provide shade for your guests. Another way to set a terrific mood for this party would e to float some flowers in a big glass bowl filled with water. It is also quite enchanting to set some tea lights around the table.

Food and drinks are an important part of any party, and your garden party is not different. The food at a garden party should be light so start off with a salad. My favorite summertime salad is a cucumber onion salad. It is easy and simple to make; all you will need is about 3 large onions, 4 large cucumbers, and a bottle of red wine vinaigrette. Slice the cucumbers and onions thick and put them in a bowl. Pour most of the oil out of the salad dressing, and coat the onion cucumber mix with the rest. Let this mixture sit overnight and serve chilled.

Another delicious garden party treat is tomato, prosciutto, mozzarella wraps. Simply slice the tomato thinly and layer it with the prosciutto and the cheese inside of a wrap. Drizzle with a light oil and vinegar mix, and serve on a wrap or a pita. This sandwich is also delicious if fresh spinach and basil is added. A delicious desert for garden parties can be a fruit salad soaked in honey and orange juice, or some fruit flavored sorbet.

Garden parties are a great way to celebrate the end of winter and enjoy the outside, and now that you have some of these garden party tips, your party should be as fun as possible.

Tips on How to Make Inexpensive Homemade Wedding Favors

Weddings are that special day where everything from the flowers to your shoes has to be just right, and all of the little details can start to add up to a number a lot higher than your budget. Are many things one can do in order to lessen the cost of their wedding. Here is a list of inexpensive wedding favors you can make in the comfort of your own home.

Chocolate dipped marshmallows are another budget friendly option for your wedding. Simply melt some chocolate chips in a microwave for a few sections and stir to make smooth. Stick marshmallows on lollipop sticks and dip and roll in the chocolate. Then roll the marshmallow in sprinkles or cookie crumbles. Allow to dry and put in small cellophane bags tied with ribbon. 

Another easy and inexpensive wedding favor can be made right in your kitchen. The ingredients you will need are Jordan almonds, dried fruit such as apricots and cranberries, a couple yards of netting, and ribbons with the couples names and wedding date printed on them. Mix the ingredients together and cut the tool into squares. Fill the squares, bunch up the netting and tie it with the ribbons. You can add candies or chocolates to these favors, and you can also tie little flowers around the favors if you like.

A very unique and inexpensive favor can be made for weddings happening in the spring or fall. For fall weddings all you need is some flower bulbs, ribbon, fake flowers, and squares of netting. Place a couple of bulbs in the squares of netting and tie them up with the ribbons and flowers. Another good idea is filling the netting squares with flower seed packets. These favors are frugal, and when planted your wedding will be remembered for a long time to come.

Weddings are wonderful events that should be cherished for years to come, and it can be celebrated in a way that is not expensive but still perfect with these little tips!

written by Sarah Ganly

Best Practices for Teaching Diverse Learners

The classrooms of today are extremely diverse. There are many teachers who do not take into consideration the diversity of the students they teach. There are many types of diverse learning groups, such as gender, cultural and linguistic. Students all come from different backgrounds, have different interests and have different learning structures that they are accustomed to. It is important to use the best methods of teaching a diverse student population as possible in order to be an effective teacher.

In order to effectively teach students of different genders it is important to encourage equal participation in all classes. If one gender is called on more often than anther there may be confidence issues. It is also beneficial to make sure presentations are done by both sexes in all different subjects, and to not expect certain genders to focus on certain subjects. When planning lesson plans it is valuable to present men and women in roles that are not stereotypical; this will help enforce the idea that gender is not a restriction. It is also a good practice to encourage males and females to pursue careers in non stereotypical roles; this will help students use their talents and skills in areas they are interested in. All of these methods are beneficial ways to help break down fears and stereotypes associated with gender. When these walls are broken down students will be more capable to learn and achieve.

It is important to take into account the diversity of cultures in a classroom in order to be the best teacher you can possibly be. When in a classroom it is very helpful to create a friendly environment in the classroom and encourage all students to participate. If there is a friendly environment where everyone is respected for their differences instead of feared or ridiculed real learning can be achieved. If the classroom environment is a friendly environment than students will be more excited to learn; they will also be less shy and afraid to contribute their own ideas to the class. In the case of English Language Learners and students who are not familiar with American culture it is important to use many concrete examples such as pictures to help teach the lessons. It is also beneficial to assign learning partners to help assist the learning process in culturally diverse classrooms.

Encouraging all students to participate can be applied to both types of learner identified. Interaction is the best method of learning. When a student participates in the classroom they are not only hearing or seeing the lesson be explained; they are interacting and learning the lesson through their own involvement. This has a much stronger impact on a child and leaves a much longer lasting effect on the child. I feel this single strategy can be effective for all learners because interaction is the best method of learning, and when a student is encouraged to participate they will have more confidence in themselves. I think confidence will help a student be capable of learning.

All of these ideas are important when teaching in a diverse classroom environment, and should be taken advantage of when trying to become the best teacher you can possibly be.

By Sarah Ganly