diy

Top Benefits of Companion Planting and Popular Pairings

July 17, 2018 by chris

Having a healthy and beautiful garden requires more than just having the right gardening supplies. A well-maintained space gives you great benefits throughout the year, with delicious vegetables and stunning flowers that you can plant together to maximize growth, health, and nutrient absorption.

You can easily achieve this through companion planting, which can give you excellent results in your garden. From attracting beneficial insects to keeping pests away and providing physical support, certain plant combinations are proven to be valuable.

You can even expect to see some increase in yield due to plants protecting each other from the different elements, something that gardening expert Greenhouse Sensation knows.

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting refers to the planting of compatible plants next to each other so they can share mutual benefits. As one of the easiest ways to copy what nature already does but in the comfort of your own garden, companion planting will give your garden a wide variety of noticeable benefits.

Although it can seem tricky to mimic nature in your own garden, you can give your vegetables the best possible tools to grow healthily through companion planting.

Benefits of Companion Planting:

Saving space

If space in your garden is a big concern, companion planting can help you to use every bit of soil efficiently. Plant a vining plant under a tall one, like squash under corn. This way you can fill up valuable space that could otherwise be empty or filled with weeds.

The difference between the crops you plant together is what makes them work so well; planting tomato and carrots together works because tomatoes are heavy feeders and carrots are light feeders. Having them in the same space ensures that there is no competition between them, each having different seasons, nutrient need, and growth.

Adding shelter and support

Lettuce can greatly benefit from having peppers or tomatoes planted nearby, as the latter thrive under the sun and are taller than the former. Other plants like bushes can aid in protecting other vegetation from the wind by supporting plants that are much weaker.

And, should you require support for plants such as beans, planting corn in close proximity provides natural support. Beans will use corn as a climbing pole, removing any need for you to artificially create reinforcement.

Attracting beneficial insects

Insects have a higher chance of spending time in your garden, helping to pollinate it, if you have a wide variety of plants available. Butterflies, bees, and birds are essential for your garden’s healthy growth. They provide the best kind of pest control and pollination for your plants.

A diversity of plants and flowers with extended and different blooming periods are sure to keep pollinator and beneficial insects visiting your garden. Plant currants, crab apples, and hawthorn to make sure these friendly insects are daily visitors.

Plants like mint and onions fend off bugs like aphids, which are small insects that feed off plant sap, and anise attracts aphid predators. Flax also helps to keep pests away from root vegetables due to the oils it produces.

Lavender is a colorful flower that will keep pests at bay and your garden healthy. Cosmos flowers should be planted near your vegetable garden to attract predatory insects, such as ladybugs.

Helping the soil

To help keep the soil moist and free from erosion, it’s always a great practice to utilize companion plants. Shading soil can be extremely helpful in times of drought, with plants like cucumbers an ideal choice.

In addition, open soil patches can be a waste of space, and companion plants can be beneficial in terms of nutrients.

Beans, for example, help to restore nitrogen in the soil and other macronutrients. Low-growing plants with broad leaves, such as marigolds and buckwheat, are ideal solutions to both improve your soil’s structure and to suppress weed growth.

Avoid Trees for Companion Planting

Trees are known to monopolize the nutrients in the soil, which makes them a bad choice for companion planting. They also tend to dominate the available sunshine by towering over vegetables.

Walnut trees have roots that release into the soil a chemical that prevents other plants from growing around it. With extensive root systems, eucalyptus compete with other plants for soil nutrients. Additionally, some of these tree species release a chemical from their leaves that prevent nearby plants from thriving.

Companion Plant Examples and Their Combative Counterpoints

Certain plants work together better than others, growing and thriving due to their mutual protection against insects. Deterring insects is always one of the main gardening goals, as you want your crops or flowers to grow with little to no issues. Certain plants also improve the flavor of others.

Here are some examples of compatible and combative plants that you can choose from for your garden:

Basil and Tomatoes

Basil and tomatoes are more than just a great cooking combination. In addition to improving tomatoes’ flavor when planted together, basil can help to deter tomato pests like aphids due to its strong scent.

Tomatoes Combative Plants: Potatoes, broccoli, cabbage

Basil Combative Plants: Cauliflower, cucumbers, cabbage

Squash, Beans, and Corn

Also known as the three sisters, squash, beans, and corn thrive together. Corn offers beans support, the beans pull nitrogen from the air into the soil, and the squash’s leaves protect the soil by creating a living mulch.

Squash Combative Plants: Potatoes, brassicas

Beans Combative Plants: Onions, garlic, peppers

Corn Combative Plants: Tomatoes, celery

Onions and Mint

Planted together, mint’s strong scent prevents the onion fly from attacking the onions. Mint, however, is an invasive plant, so it’s advised to plant it separately in containers around the onions.

Onion Combative Plants: Asparagus, beans, peas

Mint Combative Plants: Parsley

Leeks and Carrots

Carrot flies can be very troublesome for carrots, and leeks are susceptible to leek moths. When planted next to each other, these two plants’ scents work to keep away each other’s pests.

Carrots Combative Plants: Parsley, dill, potatoes

Leeks Combative Plants: Bush and pole beans, peas

Companion planting is not an exact science, but this should help you get started with some of the most commonly known beneficial plant companions, along with which combinations to avoid.

This article first appeared on offgridworld.com Check it out here

Homesteading-Counting The Cost

July 16, 2018 by chris

When most people think about homesteading, they have a very different reality from their vision. This story is all about how I didn’t count the cost, and how I learned along the way what was REALLY important.

I once had this dream, this lofty goal. My dream was to produce all our food that my family would need, in the space we had. I would grow a huge garden, raise meat chickens, layer chickens, turkeys and even fiber rabbits. Our meat birds would feed us, the eggs would supply another source of protein, and our garden would give us all the fresh fruits and veggies we could ever eat in a year’s time.

Our green house would give us another source of fresh food in the cold winters, AND our aquaponic system would supply fresh fish. Our milking goats would give us fresh milk, cheese and all the dairy we could ever want or need. We would have more than enough, not only for our family, BUT for our neighbors as well.

I would spend my days milling grain to make our own breads. Sourdough, of course. My family would forage for herbs, mushrooms and other things we couldn’t grow ourselves. This would provide not only quality time, but additional food sources.

AND, I would come back here to blog about it on a regular basis, making you all want to do the same things. I would show you how to make the most of your space and give you all the tools YOU needed to be as productive as I was.

Oh, foolish girl I was. Very naive. Very fanciful.

However, life isn’t always as good as you see it on the blog. Most of us bloggers, especially the homesteading ones, ONLY show you the good and prosperous of our lives. Very few show you the bad and ugly side of our lives. The bad and ugly happen a lot, we just don’t like to showcase it. Are you ready for some truth? Some, real, raw, life in all it’s failures?

Welcome to my real life.

Our dreams of homesteading began in June 2006. We purchased a small starter home in a rural town and planted our first garden. I read up on square foot gardening and just “knew” I had it all together as to how it would work. After planting over 200 seeds in a 16 square foot bed, I realized that not only was the soil terrible, but that was WAY too many plants to try and grow in that little area. I only got about 15 green beans from that garden bed that first year. Truth be told, looking back, I am amazing I got anything at all. Go ahead, laugh. I am now, even as I write this. I had so much to learn about gardening, plants and spacing. Not to mention soil amendments.

You can read about composting bins here.

That year was also my first foray into canning. I had never canned anything before in my life before 2006. We took our kids, then ages 2, 6, and 8 to the local apple orchard and picked apples for a couple of hours. We came home with nearly a bushel of apples for all our efforts, as well as a happy memory of the day. I took it upon myself to make and can applesauce, with no real proper equipment to speak of.

I had one 16 quart aluminum pot that I cooked apples in for 30 minutes, then transferred them to the blender. The sauce was then poured into a bowl. Once the apples were cooked, the pot was washed out, filled with water and quart jars added. It held a whopping 4 quart jars, actually.

See how to properly can applesauce here.

I then poured the hot applesauce into the jars and canned them in the stock pot. At least I had the common sense to add a towel to the bottom of the pot to keep the jars from touching the pot directly. It took me nearly 6 hours to can 12 quarts of applesauce, and another 12 hours to clean the sticky mess from all over the kitchen. 12 quarts of applesauce that cost me over $6 a quart when it was all said and done. 12 quarts that my kids ate in less than a week’s time, I will add. Hey, at least I could say I canned something.

How we got started with chickens is nearly as comical. I was driving on a country road one day, when I saw a sign, “FREE chickens”. Of course, since I was also a couponer at the time, the word FREE made me stop my van immediately. The nice lady showed me two Rhode Island Red hens who were pretty old, but still laying. She wanted them to go to a good home. I promised to give them a good home and promptly loaded them up in the cat carrier she provided me.

Imagine my hubby’s surprise when he came home and there were 2 chickens in our dog kennel in the laundry room! At least the kids had a good time watching them scratch and peck around the first couple days while we built a chicken coop in a hurry. It WAS nice to be able to say, “no watching the chickens until your chores are done.” That worked for nearly 3 full weeks and it was magical. Chores were done lickety split and the kids spent their time in nature. My dream was coming true!

See how to get ready for chicks here.

All good things must come to an end, right? Yup. Encouraging chores to be done before watching the chickens soon became “watching chickens is bore-ring”.

We built a chicken coop and even added 12 more chicks to the flock. It was nice, until one of those chicks grew into a noisy rooster. What I knew about chickens could fit into a thimble and have plenty of room left for water to drink. That did not deter me at all, by the way. My family and I kept going in the crash course direction we were headed in. “Take chances, get messy, make mistakes” was the motto that we learned from Magic School Bus and figured we would apply it to every area of our lives.

The next year, we signed our oldest child up for 4H. She entered dog club, and poultry club. We had to learn more about chickens and dog training, and figured that was a good way to get some knowledge. That also meant added in meat birds, because why not? Our entire summer was spent at weekly dog club meetings, monthly poultry club meetings and 10 straight days of fair going and project showing. My children’s childhoods would be spent with busyness, and not traveling or having fun like we originally planned when they were born.

Auctioning off the meat birds at the end yielded my daughter $200 that year, so it enticed her brother to join the next year. Our 4H lives were now set. The next 6 years would be spent raising meat birds, turkeys, rabbits and dog training for the fair. This also meant NEVER getting a summer vacation, or having any fun at the fair, since we spent the majority of the time in shows, or taking care of the remaining animals in the extreme heat.

See how to butcher your own meat birds here.

It took 3 years, but we finally got our garden growing well. The compost was added, improving soil and I was canning all summer long, between 4H times. My kids were in tae-kwon-do 4 days a week as well, and there were tournaments every quarter. We also home-schooled our kids, so trips to the library happened weekly, too. I once envisioned putting in a couple cots and a fridge in the van since we seemed to be in it more than we were in our home. Overall, though, I was living the dream. I blogged the good things we did, and my blog seemed to grow.

You can read about the hardest tournament we had to go to here.

Yes, I am getting to the point of this story. Eventually. After all, I AM part Jew-ish so I like to take forever to tell a story.

One day, I blinked. Maybe it was too long of a blink, I don’t really know. My daughter went from playing with Barbie dolls to looking like one. After years of “ew, boys are gross”, she suddenly became interested in them. My oldest son was now taller than I am and had a mind of his own. He also had a bit of a stubborn streak. (he gets that from his mother). It wasn’t long and I was teaching teenagers to drive. Then, moving my van so they could park their own cars to get in and out easily to head to jobs, dates, and time with friends.

I also was honored to get a book contract, AND a canning DVD filming contract. Late winter 2017 was full of promise of all my dreams coming true.

I blinked again, and it was the Spring of 2017. It was the season my dream started falling apart. This is where it gets real, folks.

I had graduated my two oldest children from our home school. My kids were now 19, 17, and almost 13. In April that year, my daughter brought home a young man we all fell in love with, and she was wearing a ring on her finger. My baby girl was engaged to get married. The next few weeks were a rush of joy, tears and emotions as we started planning her wedding. They were to be married in August, and we had a LOT to do before then.

We had already ordered chicks, and had our garden well under way when the engagement happened. I could hold it all together, I was SURE of it. Until Mother’s Day, that is. My oldest son had been dealing with some things on his own, and had been drawing away from us more and more.

That night, (on Mother’s Day!) he choose to leave home. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say it involved the police, runaway reports, a trip to the hospital psychologist and lots of tears. My heart wasn’t broken, it was shattered. My 17 year old son, my baby boy, had decided that he would rather live anywhere else on the planet than with his family. We had to let him go, to save his life, and our peace.

The next few weeks I spent crying, researching the book, blogging and trying to keep busy. I still had my daughter’s wedding to look forward to, and a trip to Utah to film the DVD. Sure, inside I was a hot mess, but as long as I didn’t admit it, I would be okay, right? Family and individual counseling began and things from the past that I thought were buried became unraveled. I still tried to keep it all together by staying super busy.

You can read more about raising fiber rabbits here.

My hubby couldn’t stay on that path with me, however, and the decision was made to reduce our flock and garden size. It was just too much to keep up with, even though I wasn’t ready to admit it. We gave away all but 6 of our chickens and let the garden go to weeds. Our goat had a stroke, and we had to put her down. Her daughter became too lonely, so she was given to a therapy farm to be with other goats. Our bees died, and replacing them would cost more than we could afford. The last of our rabbit herd finally succommed to an illness that the vet still can’t identify. It took our entire herd in less than a year.

You can read more about raising bees here.

Our attention was needed elsewhere.

In August, our daughter got married. It was a lovely wedding, and she made a GORGEOUS bride. I may be prejudiced a bit, but it’s still the truth. She moved in with her husband, and I had to deal with “losing” 2 children in the span of 3 months. I still had my 13 year old at home, but empty nest syndrome started hitting me hard.

Life had taken so many twists and turns in a such a short time that I couldn’t keep up with it all. I tried to keep my head above water, but it was all I could do to just take a short breath before going back under. That short breath was merciful that it kept me going, but it never seemed like enough.

Our homestead began dying that summer. The DVD was done, but it didn’t sell like I had hoped it would. You can still get a copy if you go here, by the way…just saying. Then, the book contract got canceled. For reasons I still don’t understand, but had to deal with.

After a long winter of counseling, family prayers and hanging on to that mustard seed size of faith, we were able to re-establish contact with our son. It wasn’t pretty, but at least we knew he was alive, and eating. I thought that things were looking up enough to go back to our homestead busyness. Hubby felt otherwise. Arguments ensued of course as two people’s wills began to clash. Two people who were broken, hurting, and fighting for emotional survival on a very different level. Could our marriage handle the stress?

More counseling, more tears, and more dreams taking a different form had to happen.

My homestead dreams of living off the land had to come to a close, even if only for a short time. I hadn’t counted the cost before, but I sure was now. All the busyness, all the time spent dealing with gardening, raising chickens, 4H, tae-kwon-do, canning, and trying to live “the dream” meant we missed out on fun times with the family. We didn’t have any other family near us that could watch our animals even for a weekend, so trips to amusement parks, the beach, or even museums didn’t happen.

All the stress from dealing with past pain, the present pain and the years of staying over busy has also caught up with my health. As of June 2018, I am in full blown severe adrenal fatigue. I have days where I am too tired to get out of bed, let alone function properly. Laundry and dishes pile up more often as I try and get the much needed rest my body needs. As you can guess, there is no garden this year, no bees to replace the ones that didn’t survive the winter, and no new chicks were added.

See how to hang clothes up to dry inside here.

I have taken a different approach to life lately. Instead of “taking chances, getting messy, and making mistakes” I am more focusing on the moment. Living IN the moment instead of just taking lots of pictures for later. Being more grateful for what I have, instead of constantly trying to “out homestead” the next blogger. (yes, that’s a thing for some of us!)

The good news? Currently it’s working.

Our oldest son is becoming part of our family again, even at a different level. He is working on becoming an auto mechanic and trying to decide if he should enlist in the military or not. His father and I have worked through enough of our own issues that our son can see the changes in us. We are no longer the stressed out perfectionists that we once were. Well, not to the level we used to carry anyway. Hubby and I are more willing to admit our mistakes, accept them, and really try and do the right thing again. Our son has appreciated this and is more open to us because of that.

Our daughter is happy with her husband, whom we absolutely adore. They have their own lives about 30 minutes from where we live, but we still get to see them at least weekly. They have adopted a kitten who is spoiled beyond belief and someday will make excellent parents. Yes, I look forward to being a Grandma completely. To see my daughter in HER baby is the most anticipated event I can think of for the near future.

Read my daughter’s “behind the scenes” post here.

Our youngest son will still be home schooled this fall, entering high school. I am taking a different approach to HIS schooling, and not allowing him to be so busy. As a matter of fact, we have dropped most of the outside activities like 4H, tae-kwon-do and even trips to the library. More time is spent on actually enjoying our son and teaching him life skills instead of just book skills. Yes, book knowledge is important, but so is knowing HOW to apply it.

My health is on the line, still. BUT, I am taking the appropriate steps to revive it. I no longer will take good health for granted. I just can’t anymore. My marriage is improving daily, and hubby and I are seeing great strides in overcoming past hurts and brokenness.

What does that mean for this blog?

I am soooo glad you asked that. I will continue to share with you all the things I do on our homestead. I’ll share the chickens, the ducks and what gardening we do. Currently, we only have 1 tomato plant that volunteered, but at least it’s something. I’ll continue to share the good things. I’ll continue to write about canning, goats, quail, and more. I still have all that experience to share with you.

BUT, I am also going to share the downs of homesteading. The things that do NOT work, or that may cost more than you realize at first, including monetary, time, and relationships.

I am so glad you stuck with me to read all of this. Hopefully, you’ll see that I am also a human being with thoughts, feelings, joys and sorrows. I also pray you will see how I overcome the sorrows and know that YOU can do that as well. I promise you this: I will NEVER sugarcoat homesteading to the point of not being real again. I love the homesteading life, and the dream will always be there to live 100% off the land, but I have a greater understanding of what it takes to do that now. I hope to help you make the right choices along the way as to what is REALLY important, and what is just fluff you can toss.

Pin this for later, and be encouraged!!! I love you all!

The post Homesteading-Counting The Cost appeared first on The Homesteading Hippy.

the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here

33 Charming DIY Wind Chimes to Brighten up Your Day

July 11, 2018 by chris

What sounds instantly come to mind when your mind wanders over summer? For me, it’s birds chirping, dogs barking, horses whinnying, and wind chimes clanging in the breeze.

Wind chimes are one of my favorite sounds. I love how beautifully decorated most wind chimes are, and I love the feeling of home they bring with them.

I love them to the point I have them hanging on the front porch of my chicken coop. But wind chimes are also wonderful because they can be made from scratch using upcycled materials and can be used as fascinating gifts too.

With all of this said, I’m going to bring you some of the internet’s best wind chime ideas. Maybe it’ll inspire you to make wind chimes yourself. Here are our wind chime selections:

1. Toddler Wind Chime

Do you have small children who would get a kick out of creating a wind chime? Well, this could be the wind chime for you.

You’ll need a paper cup, beads, and a few other items. Follow the tutorial, and you can have an adorable wind chime in no time flat.

2. Summer Camp Wind Chimes

These wind chimes look fun and festive. Most kids would enjoy looking at and making them too. If you’re looking for a fun way to keep your kiddos busy this summer, try this.

You’ll need some tin cans, paint, and a few other miscellaneous items to complete these chimes. Follow the tutorial and have beautiful and creative wind chimes to enjoy during the summer months.

3. Wine Bottle Wind Chimes

This is a wind chime project for adults. You can upcycle old wine bottles by following this simple tutorial and turning them into gorgeous wind chimes.

If you’re nervous about cutting glass bottles, hopefully the tutorial will put your mind at ease. It’s very thorough and has pictures to help you visualize what you’re doing throughout the process.

4. DIY Keys Wind Chime

Do you have a bunch of old keys taking up room on your keychains? Don’t leave them hanging any longer.

Instead, turn them into a unique wind chime. The tutorial will show you how to make each section and end up with a beautiful masterpiece to add charm to your home or give away as the perfect gift.

5. DIY Bamboo Wind Chimes

Bamboo wind chimes are some of my favorites to choose from because of the unique sound they make when clanging together.

But I also love their soft appearance too. If you have access to bamboo, you should check out this tutorial and get to work on creating these beautiful chimes.

6. DIY Wall Chimes

Do you live in an apartment or another living arrangement where you don’t have an ideal location to hang wind chimes?

Well, try making these wall chimes. They’re easy to make, look gorgeous, and will give you the same delightful sound.

7. Strainer Planter Wind Chime

This wind chime is one of my favorite options on this list. You keep the strainer right side up and hang the chimes below it.

However, the fun doesn’t stop there. You plant flowers in the top of the strainer which adds to the décor of your home.

8. Coffee Can CD Wind Chime

Do you have an old coffee can cluttering up space? What about old CDs you rarely listen to anymore? If you answered yes to these questions, this is the perfect wind chime for you.

Be sure to follow the tutorial when putting the wind chime together. However, you can make it as colorful or as basic as you wish.

9. Terracotta Wind Chimes

Miniature terracotta pots are rather inexpensive in most store locations. If you come across a deal on those, this could be a wonderful project for them.

The tutorial will walk you through how to connect each pot to the base, but with a little paint, you could have a beautiful and inexpensive wind chime.

10. Sea Glass DIY Wind Chimes

Are you looking for a wind chime to hang on your porch which will add charm and a little color too? This could be the wind chime for you.

You’ll need a few items from your local big box store’s craft department. When you have the supplies required, follow the tutorial to create this beautiful wind chime.

11. Bullet Casing Wind Chime

Are you looking for a way to upcycle old bullet casings? Maybe you want a more rustic wind chime for decoration?

Well, either way, this is the wind chime for you. You’ll need a canning ring, some string, and old bullet casings. Attach the casings to the string and attach the string to the canning ring. From there, you have an upcycled and unique wind chime.

12. Seashell Wind Chimes

When I go to the beach, I love to collect seashells. I love their vast differences in shapes and colors. They’re simply gorgeous.

But I run into the problem of what to do with the seashells I collect. This could be an excellent solution. They could be turned into a functional wind chime which I could enjoy every day.

13. The Vintage Sifter Wind Chime

Do you have an old sifter you don’t use for much anymore? Don’t toss it in the garbage before you see this tutorial.

The sifter is the base of the wind chime. From there, old measuring spoons are attached for a unique vintage look.

14. Bottlecap Wind Chime

In my younger days, I remember when it was all the rage for people to make and wear bottlecap jewelry.

Well, if you still have any old bottle caps hanging around, they can now be repurposed into a unique wind chime. No two will ever look the same and what a great way to decorate your home inexpensively.

15. Biscuit Cutter Wind Chimes

There’s nothing quite like holding a vintage biscuit cutter in your hands. I know there was a time when ladies gave their biscuit cutters quite the workout. I appreciate the effort past generations put into their daily routines.

Whether you would like to hold on to a piece of yesterday, or you simply like biscuit cutters because they look cool, they can be used to make nice wind chimes which will make your house feel more like a home.

16. The Crystal Pouring Watering Can

This wind chime would be more for looks and less for sound, but could you imagine a better way to add some pizazz to your garden?

All you need to do is attach the crystals to the watering can and hang the watering can in your garden to where it looks like they’re being poured out.

17. The Easy Teapot Wind Chime

Do you have an unused teapot hanging around your house? Have you recently come across a vintage teapot you’d like to somehow incorporate into your home décor?

Well, this wind chime could be for you. The tutorial shows you how to use the teapot as the base for the wind chime and hang utensils or teacups under it for a gorgeous look.

18. Jellyfish Clay Pot Wind Chimes

If you’re looking for a fun activity for the kiddos, this wind chime could be exactly what you need. You could also make this wind chime for a small child and gift it to them.

Either way, this wind chime transforms a clay pot into a jellyfish. Beads and other items are added to the bottom to finish the wind chime look.

19. The Owl Grater Wind Chime

This is a fun idea and would be a perfect gift for someone who loves owls. You use a cheese grater and add lids to make eyeballs for the owl.

Once done, you attach utensils under the cheese grater to finish the wind chime look. It will certainly catch the eyes of any visitors you have around because it’s adorable.

20. Hard Drive Wind Chimes

With the speed technology moves, old hard drives and other computer parts are everywhere and can make remarkable up-cycled items. Hard drives especially make an interesting sound when clanging together, while the shiny side reflects the sunshine in beautiful splashes on your floor and wall.

You can use this tutorial to transform them into unique wind chimes which will draw a great deal of attention to wherever they’re hung.

21. Upcycled Wind Chimes

If you have old utensils, bells, serving platters, or anything else you don’t use anymore but hate to part with, consider turning them into wind chimes.

This site offers a great many ideas on how to upcycle items into wind chimes. They’re gorgeous and certainly become eye-catching pieces of décor.

22. The Metal Washer Wind Chime

This wind chime is one which is appealing to the eye, can be made as colorful or subdued as you prefer, would be a great project with the kids, and should be cost-effective.

You need a piece of driftwood which you can attach some string to. The string should have the washers hanging from it. Each creation will be unique to the maker and should give a boost of décor to any place where this wind chime hangs.

23. Fall Wind Chimes

These wind chimes look bright and festive which should make them suitable for any time of year. But they would be an excellent way to keep the kids busy during cooler fall days.

Either way, you need only a few basic ingredients to make these unique and colorful wind chimes. What a great way to brighten up your home and make memories simultaneously.

24. Spindle Wind Chimes

It should be no surprise I’m a huge fan of upcycling and country charm. I love these wind chimes because it incorporates both.

If you have old spindles going unused, check out this project. It’s a great way to add simple charm to your home while using unwanted items.

25. Japanese Inspired Wind Chimes

Are you looking for a more modern and simplistic wind chime to decorate your home with? These wind chimes could be precisely what you need.

The design is Japanese inspired and very simple. It’s glass with a wooden ball hanging inside. It would be perfect for most modern décor.

26. Hardware Store Hanging Wind Chime

This wind chime would be a great addition to any home. You can find most of the materials needed at your local hardware store.

If you’d like to have a metal wind chime with a more abstract appearance, this wind chime could be just what you need.

27. Xylophone Wind Chime

When my kids were little, they loved their toy xylophone. They’d bang on it until I wasn’t sure they’d be able to bang on it anymore.

Do you have one of these toy xylophones your kids are no longer using? Well, you can use it to make a unique and musical wind chime.

28. Pencil Chimes

Obviously, these pencil chimes aren’t going to work the same way a regular wind chime would. But they would be great for décor.

All you need is some pencils, string, and a ruler. They would make the perfect gift for a favorite teacher or principal.

29. Candy Hearts Wind Chime

This wind chime is a little more involved than some of the other wind chimes mentioned above. You have to mold the candy hearts into shape.

From there, they’re hung by ribbon and attached to a piece of wood. The candy hearts wind chime would be a great way to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day.

30. Paint Stick Wind Chime

Paint sticks are usually given away for free at most hardware or big box locations. If you must pay for them, they don’t usually cost very much.

With this in mind, this wind chime is not only adorable to look at, easy to construct, but also very budget-friendly. If you need a cute idea for a wind chime which won’t break the bank, check this one out.

31. Vintage Silverware Wind Chime

Have you come across vintage silverware for a great price? Feeling unsure of what to do with it, but you want it badly because it looks cool?

Well, you’ll be glad to come across this wind chime idea. It shows you how to use vintage silverware to construct a wind chime. It looks great and is a great way to use old silverware which no longer has a match.

32. Pressed Flower Suncatcher Wind Chime

Do you and your kids enjoy getting outside and collecting flowers? Do you bring them in and press them for later use?

Well, this wind chime could be a great way to use those pressed flowers. It’s a great way to put nature on display and decorate your home with it.

33. The Garden Chandelier

Most wind chimes are basic little chimes hanging from a string. Well, whatever you thought you knew about a wind chime should be tossed out the window at this point.

Now, make room for the garden chandelier. It’s a unique piece of art used to upcycle old items (such as an old heat lamp) and has crystals hanging from it for a touch of glam.

Well, you now have 33 options for DIY wind chimes. They’re gorgeous and creative ways to decorate your home and add a little more charm.

But they’re also a great way to be creative with your kids and make a tangible item to help remember those fun times. Whatever your reason for making wind chimes, we hope you find one here which is precisely what you’ve been looking for.

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

The Importance of Protecting Bees And Other Pollinators From Pesticides

July 10, 2018 by chris

Bees are at risk. That’s nothing most nature lovers haven’t heard before. However, it is a misconception to believe pest control requires damaging the fragile ecosystem of the bee. Nevertheless, it is also important to recognize just how damaging pesticides are to bees themselves. Finding a balance in managing pests and protecting (as well as encouraging) bees to flourish can be complex.

Why Bees Are Critically Important

Pollinators of all types help to ensure food is readily available to humans. Bees and other pollinators work to provide the pollination that crops, fruit trees, and other plants require. Without this, there simply is no way for food to grow.

Pollinators, which include wild bees, bats, birds, wasps, and butterflies, move from one plant to the next. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides more insight into their importance but what is critical for individuals to recognize is that:

We need a strong, healthy population of bees and other pollinators to help plants grow food.
These pollinators are currently at risk and populations of them are declining.

What Factors Impact Bee Health?

The number of pollinators present in North America has been trending downward. In a report from the National Research Council called the Status of Pollinators in North America, we learn the honey bee, in particular, is at an increased risk. The report also looked into the causes of these declines. It found several key things were occurring, creating a high-risk scenario for pollinators of all types:

Viruses, pests such as mites, and pathogens including bacterial diseases, were a key culprit to the decline.
A lack of foraging habitat and a higher need to rely on supplemental diets, such as disposed of human food, also contribute.
Genetic diversity is limited – ensuring it is quite difficult for bees to overcome these challenges.
Pesticide exposure is creating a harmful world surrounding those delicate bees.

Why Pesticides Are Hurting Bees and Pollinators

In 2006, many beekeepers began reporting an unexpected and worrisome trend. Their bee colonies were failing. Many reported high losses of bees, with as much as 30 to 90 percent of beekeeper hives failing. And, of those that failed, about half showed symptoms of a condition called colony collapse disorder. When this occurs, the worker bees – which do most of the work to keep the hive operational – died. And what was even more puzzling is that the remaining queen and young brood had ample access to honey and to pollen reserves. But, without worker bees, the hive cannot maintain itself, and they fail.

Researchers found a key reason for this was pesticides. Farmers and others were using pesticides to protect their crops, often spraying with huge amounts of pesticides to keep them protected from damaging pests. This, along with other concerns, created a high risk to the bees, leading to their death.

Knowing the problem is, in part, pesticides, a significant amount of action has been taken to help protect pollinators from risks. Leading the way is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which published the Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan for farmers to use to improve bee populations – and minimize their death from the known causes.

What Can Be Done to Protect Bees?

What steps can be taken to protect pollinators? There’s much that must be done to protect bee colonies, and the good news is that, with a combined and consistent effort, it is possible. Some key steps to take to protect bees include the following, according to Richland Pest & Bee Control.

#1: Pesticide Selection Is Critical

When selecting a pesticide – whether for flowers, home gardens, or large crops – use those specifically designed to protect bees. Choose pesticides based on the types of plants you want to protect, but avoid harsh chemicals designed specifically to eliminate bees. There are two critical factors to look for:

The pesticide must have a low toxicity rating.
It has to have a little-to-no residual toxicity level.

#2: Read Labels Carefully

The OECD provides recommendations for using pesticides as well. Specifically, this website works to centralize all information about pesticide risks. A key part of it is labeling. Proper labeling of pesticides to ensure the user knows exactly what the immediate and long term risks are is critical. The EPA has new labeling guidelines for specifically harmful pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, which should not be used where bees are present.

#3: Ensure Treatment of Areas Is Done at the Right Time

Another tool for prevention is application timing. Research from Oregon State shows that applying pesticides can be safer when bees are not as active. This can be one way to protect pollinators because it allows for the use of pesticides safely. Ideally, the pesticides should be used one hour before the sun rises and at least one hour after it sets.

#4: Select a Pest Control Company Dedicated to Protecting Pollinators

Perhaps most importantly, consumers should select a pest control company – when using one – capable of recognizing the importance of bees and pollinators and who will take dedicated steps to protect them.

When choosing a provider, look for those who use safe but effective methods and who are both licensed and certified. It is also essential to choose a provider who is environmentally conscious, suggests the extermination experts at Richland. Not all pesticide companies view bees as a threat and many have the tools and resources to protect all pollinators while also ensuring safe communities for families.

Individuals must be focused on using safe pesticides and, when possible, avoiding disturbing colonies to ensure they continue to flourish. This will, by far, providing the highest level of protection for bees going forward.

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For those who would like to learn more about safe pest control in Connecticut, turn to the experts at Richland Pest & Bee Control.

This article first appeared on offgridworld.com Check it out here

Get Creative With These 26 Dollar Store Crafts to Make Something Beautiful

July 8, 2018 by chris

Raise your hand if you love getting lost in your favorite craft store. Now, raise your hand even higher if you love getting a good deal on a craft.

Well, you’ll be interested to know you can find craft supplies and good deals in a place you may not have considered… your local dollar store.

It’s incredible, right? But I’m going to make you a believer. I’ll be introducing you to some of the internet’s best ideas for dollar store crafts.

Some are for adults, and some are kid-friendly too. Whether you’re decorating on a budget, creating gifts on a budget, or looking for a craft to keep the kids busy you can find your ideas here and the supplies for a bargain at your dollar store.

Here are the amazing crafts to choose from:

1. Dollar Store Tablet Holder

This is not only a fantastic idea, but it’s creative too. When you’re in the kitchen cooking, and you need to read a recipe on your tablet, it can become complicated if your tablet doesn’t have a stand.

Well, why not make your tablet a stand, by using a dollar store cutting board. It not only looks great, but it works well too.

2. Music Lyric Plate

Buying festive or customized dishes can become costly, quickly. Don’t pay for this style of dish. Make it instead.

The idea is to use dishes from your local dollar store and write unique song lyrics on them. It takes approximately five minutes and looks cool to boot.

3. Housewarming Cake

If you’ve been to a baby shower recently, you might have noticed how diaper cakes have become all the rage.

Well, this housewarming cake is a play on that. The cake is made from products you can find at your dollar store. It gives the new homeowner everything they need in a unique way.

4. DIY Topiary Trees

If you enjoy adding greenery to your home without the fuss, you’ll love this idea. They give you a supplies list, and most of the items should be available at most dollar stores.

Also, this idea comes with a thorough tutorial filled with handy pictures as well. Before you pay an arm and a leg for already assembled topiary trees, check out this tutorial and make them for less.

5. Aging Galvanized Planters

Have you noticed the more worn you want something to look, the more expensive the item becomes? For instance, you want to purchase ripped jeans, be prepared for a higher sticker price. Do you want an aged galvanized planter? Be prepared to pay more.

Well, this was the case until this tutorial came out. They walk you through the process of aging your galvanized planter yourself by using items found at most dollar stores.

6. DIY Flip Flop Coasters

This tutorial is a fun way to make your home look festive for summer but also to save your furniture from nasty rings glasses leave behind.

If this sounds like what you’d be interested in, check out the tutorial. The supplies are readily available at most dollar stores and should make this a financially feasible craft.

7. Framed Baby Footprint

When a baby is little, you want to savor every moment. They grow up quickly, and it appears you won’t be able to capture every moment you hope to.

Well, this craft is a neat way to remember how tiny your baby’s hands and feet once were. It’s a simple craft and cost-effective too.

8. The Spray-Painted Platter

This is such a cool craft. Again, if you like to decorate with items which look aged, you know it can become costly.

Well, this tutorial shows you how to antique a platter and add any wording you’d like. It’s an inexpensive way to get the look you want.

9. Rubber Wall Art

Would you like to add a touch of décor to a bare wall in your home? Finding a large piece of art can get pricey in a hurry.

This is why I love this craft. It takes a dollar store rubber welcome mat and paints it. The unique design passes as art when hung up on a wall. It can decorate accordingly and not break the bank.

10. Dollar Store Cake Stand

I bought a cake stand when I was 19 years old. I had wanted one forever and finally broke down and paid the price to have one.

Though I still use it years later, I’m not sure it was worth the money. If you want a cake stand but don’t want to pay the price, follow this tutorial to take basic dollar store items and turn them into a functional cake stand.

11. DIY Vertical Succulent Garden

Growing succulents is becoming popular. I can see why. They are unique flowers which require little care and bring a home to life.

If you’re in search of a way to grow succulents in your home, consider this vertical garden. You can create it with items found at the dollar store, and it’s gorgeous.

12. Dollar Store Bandana Pillows

When I first married, I was trying to figure out how to decorate a home on a budget. I didn’t have many crafting or sewing skills, but thankfully, my mother-in-law did.

I wanted pillows for my couches but couldn’t afford them. She made me nice pillows which made our house feel homey. You can do the same thing with this tutorial. It’s affordable and can add a nice touch to your home.

13. The Dollar Store Dresser Mirror

Do you have an old mirror you’d like to keep around, but it appears outdated and doesn’t mesh with the rest of your home?

Well, don’t toss it. Check out this tutorial instead and give the mirror new life. You can use gems purchased at the dollar store to decorate the mirror and make it flow better in your home.

14. Picture Frame Luminaries

When you have children, it’s surprising how many pictures of them you take and how many you’d love to display.

A problem many parents have is they run out of space. This luminary craft is one more way to creatively display the adorable pictures of your kids or other loved ones.

15. Outdoor Solar Lighting

I’m in love with this idea. If you have a table sitting outdoors, you need to incorporate this craft idea to have a lamp on the table.

However, instead of the lightbulb, you place a solar light from your dollar store inside the lamp. It’s a working light at night and adds a ton of beauty to your outdoor sitting area.

16. 5-Minute Dry Erase Board

I didn’t know until I became a homeschooler how expensive some items could be. For instance, purchasing a quality dry erase board can get costly.

Well, you can now make your own. Follow this tutorial and see how to turn a dollar store picture frame into a functional and decorative dry erase board.

17. DIY Elevated Dip and Chip Bowl

When hosting a party, figuring out how to serve the food in a fun way can be a challenge. This tutorial has you covered on how to serve chips and dip without breaking the bank.

You’ll need a bowl for the chips and a martini glass for the dip. Place the glass inside the bowl, and you have a fun and inexpensive way to present basic food.

18. Dry Erase Calendar

This is another fun yet inexpensive way to organize your life. You’ll need cheap frames which can be purchased at your local dollar store.

From there, you’ll follow the tutorial on how to apply the days of the week and decorative touches. The result, is a unique calendar which will help keep you organized.

19. Giant Christmas Ornaments

If you have a garage you’d like to decorate at Christmas, consider using these giant ornaments to add a little Christmas flare.

It’s a simple tutorial which requires a giant red ball. You’ll place a cake pan, which can be purchased from the dollar store, on the top of the ball and tie it with a large ribbon.

20. DIY Sugar and Cheese Shaker

You can find sugar shakers or parmesan cheese shakers at your dollar store or thrift store. They can usually be purchased for very little money.

Once you have them, follow the tutorial on how to apply paint and dress the shakers up to where they become unique but functional flower vases.

21. From Fish Bowls to Décor

Are you looking for a unique way to create Christmas décor on a tight budget? This tutorial could be a great deal of help to you.

You use fish bowls found at your dollar store and stack them. They’re filled with snow and other festive items to make a glass snowman.

22. DIY Rope Basket

When I first purchased a home, thoughts of how cute it would be decorated danced in my head. These thoughts came to a quick halt when I realized how expensive everything could be.

Well, baskets were no exception to the rule. Which is why I love this tutorial. It takes a dollar store clothes basket and transforms it into a beautiful storage basket which would be perfect for practically any home.

23. Industrial Wire Baskets

If you’re into the industrial look for your home, you’ll love this idea. The creator purchased inexpensive wire baskets from the local dollar store.

When she brought them home, she spraypainted the baskets to make them look more industrial and to fit into her home décor. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to decorate your home and functional too.

24. DIY Magnetic Cookie Sheet Organizer

We all could use a little help staying more organized in our daily lives, I suppose. But who says we have to spend a fortune doing it?

Well, thanks to this tutorial, you don’t. She walks you through how to turn two dollar store cookie sheets into functional and beautiful magnetic organizers.

25. Foam Sheet Puppets

Are you looking for a fun way to awaken your children’s creative minds and keep them busy too? This could be a wonderful idea for both.

This tutorial walks you through the process of making foam sheet puppets. It’s a fun way for the kids to play and be creative too.

26. Pebble Bathmat

Did you know you can make a pretty bathmat for a fraction of the cost of most bathmats by following a simple tutorial and purchasing the supplies at your dollar store?

Well, great news! You can. You can have a rocked bathmat in only a few simple steps. It’s a unique décor option and easy on the budget too.

Well, you now have 26 different options to choose from when heading to your dollar store. You can be creative without spending a fortune.

Hopefully, this will give you a few design options to incorporate into your home or craft plans for your kids. Crafting on a budget is possible with these dollar store ideas.

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

Charming Off Grid A-Frame Cabin In The Catskills

July 4, 2018 by chris

Deep in the heart of the Catskill mountains, this beautiful off grid cabin sits on a two acre property with private access, surrounded by woods. It is solar powered, draws water from a well on the property, has a spring fed pond nearby.

Like many of the gorgeous tiny houses and cabins we find, this one is listed as a rental on Airbnb. These rentals are wonderfully inspiring to anyone considering building their own off grid cabin or sustainable home.

A-frame tiny cabin — Photo: Chris Daniele

The recently renovated cabin’s gorgeous open floor plan lends enough space for the comforts of a large kitchen and a living room area with a fireplace. Features and furnishings within the cabin are an alluring blend of rustic and modern.

Like many A-frames, the front face of this cabin is a wall of windows letting ample light into the cozy, open space.

Two spacious bedrooms and two private bathrooms provide comfortable accommodations for visitors. Those who have stayed here praise the peace and quiet the cabin affords.

While many A-frame cabins have loft bedrooms to utilize the vertical space, this home’s unique layout includes a balcony at the top of the stairs. A bookcase and seating area create a comfortable nook looking down on the room below.

Off grid tiny cabin — Photo: Chris Daniele

The cabin is just as beautiful in winter as it is the rest of the year. Can you imagine enjoying a snowy evening here, beside the fireplace?

Surrounded by nothing but woods, the home offers amazing 360 degree views. A large deck, picnic table, and nearby screened in gazebo provide space for enjoying the outdoors.

Read more about his cabin at Airbnb. And, if you’re looking for a taste of off grid living, take a little road trip and spend a weekend there! What better way to inspire your imagination for planning your own off grid retreat?

This article first appeared on offgridworld.com Check it out here