By MELINDA MYERS Make every meal a special event by bringing the garden to the table. Serve your favorite dishes made from homegrown ingredients. Then allow guests to add their own herbal seasonings right from the garden or container. Start by growing the ingredients for your favorite recipes and beverages. Consider those, like tomatoes, that taste best fresh from the garden. Or create a salad bar by filling window boxes and raised beds with greens, hot peppers, green onions and more. Just hand your guests a plate and let them … [Read more...] about From the garden to the party
Home Improvement
Grow a bigger garden in a smaller space
By MELINDA MYERS Whether in the ground or on a balcony or deck, there’s always room to grow your own garden-fresh produce and beautiful flowers. Space saving gardening techniques and products can help you increase productivity in any available space. Consider elevated gardens and planter carts that not only save space, but make gardens more accessible. Movable carts like the Demeter Mobile Planter Cart allow you to grow flowers and produce in narrow spaces, store garden accessories and move the garden into the … [Read more...] about Grow a bigger garden in a smaller space
Family gardening provides more than a bountiful harvest
By MELINDA MYERS Gardeners know digging, planting, harvesting and even viewing a garden is good for the mind, body and spirit. It improves strength and flexibility, lowers blood pressure and elevates our mood. And this is true for all members of the family from the very young to the more seasoned. Plan on sharing these benefits with yours or a friend’s children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews this growing season. Children, and even adults, who grow their own vegetables are more likely to eat them. But gardening … [Read more...] about Family gardening provides more than a bountiful harvest
Grow a high yield vegetable garden this season
By MELINDA MYERS Spend less time and money while growing a bounty of flavorful vegetables this growing season. Increase your harvest, even in small garden spaces, with proper planning and easy care, high yielding vegetables. A productive garden starts with a plan, but choosing the best vegetables to grow and where to plant them can be overwhelming. You can break out the graph paper and pencils to design your garden or turn to technology for help. Many websites and apps provide ready-to-use garden plans or planning guidelines. … [Read more...] about Grow a high yield vegetable garden this season
Homeowners desire American-made solar panels
Photo courtesy of NewsUSA With solar installation booming in the United States, a growing number of consumers are choosing American-made solar panels for their homes. (NewsUSA) — With solar installation booming in the United States, a growing number of consumers are choosing American-made solar panels for their homes. To date, about 13 gigawatts of solar electric capacity have been installed nationwide — enough to power over 2 million households. Simultaneously, 82 percent of people who responded to a recent solar survey … [Read more...] about Homeowners desire American-made solar panels
The indoor allergen that might surprise you
(NewsUSA) — While many welcome the arrival of warmer temperatures with open arms, people with seasonal allergies and asthma may be bracing themselves with boxes of tissues and asthma medications this season. According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, about 45 percent of people over the age of 6 and 36 percent of children under the age of 6 have tested positive for at least one allergen. Outdoor allergens are prevalent again, but families staying inside on a hot day also have indoor … [Read more...] about The indoor allergen that might surprise you
Tips for Finding Pet-Friendly Carpeting
Photo by NewsUSA Can your new carpeting hold up against your pets? (NewsUSA) — Adding new carpet is an easy way to rejuvenate the look and feel of any room in your home. But when you own pets, finding a quality carpet that is easy to maintain can be a tiring task. "If you're a pet owner, it's important to find carpeting that can withstand the toll pets can dish out on flooring," said carpet expert David Duncan of Mohawk Flooring, a carpeting brand that has produced a soil- and stain-resistant carpeting that has … [Read more...] about Tips for Finding Pet-Friendly Carpeting
Keep your vinyl siding looking new
Here’s how easy it is to make your vinyl siding clean and the envy of the neighborhood: First, mix your cleaning solution in a large bucket. Four gallons of water and 1/4 cup of dish soap should do the trick. Start at the top, and work your way down to prevent streaks, hose off a section to remove any loose debris, then wet your brush in the cleaning solution and scrub the siding. Be sure to rinse away the soapy water before it dries, or it will leave marks on the siding. Small spots of mold and mildew can be cleaned with … [Read more...] about Keep your vinyl siding looking new
How to have a lush lawn in extreme heat and drought
Photo by NewsUSA What do you use to keep your lawn green? (NewsUSA) — According to reports, last year's lack of rainfall, combined with the blistering heat, caused a moderate to severe drought that affected up to 63.5 percent of the contiguous U.S. It may have been the worst heat and drought Americans have experienced in nearly 50 years. But will the severity of 2012's dryness repeat itself? Will this be the "new summer norm" that farmers and homeowners alike should expect? If watering restrictions once again go into … [Read more...] about How to have a lush lawn in extreme heat and drought
Hot water shouldn’t require a tank or schedule
Photo by NewsUSA Families shouldn't have to schedule hot water, and moms shouldn't have to scramble for a bath. (NewsUSA) — If you own a home, hot water availability can significantly impact how many daily tasks are accomplished, but it doesn't have to be that way. What if you could check a number of to-dos off your daily list — such as laundry, dishwashing, showers, baths for the kids and perhaps one for yourself — without having to devise a hot-water schedule? Well, you can. "With a tankless water heater, your house … [Read more...] about Hot water shouldn’t require a tank or schedule