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Learn, Create and Grow a Greener World

Learn, Create and Grow a Greener World

Preserving Fruit Flavors in Alcohol: Homemade Liqueurs | Growing A Greener World When we discuss food preservation, we are usually talking about canning, dehydrating, freezing or fermenting. But did you know that you can also preserve fruit in alcohol, such as brandy or vodka? It is a way of preserving the flavor or essence of the fruit for later use. This method consists of steeping fresh or frozen fruit in alcohol for several weeks. Homemade Raspberry Liqueur: This little gem is versatile in the kitchen and so easy to make. Better than store bought and packed with flavor, these little liqueur gems are versatile in the kitchen and very easy to make. And guess what? Fruit: You can make liqueur from just about any fruit: apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, citrus, cranberries, peaches, pineapple, raspberries or even a mixture of fruit. Alcohol: I prefer to use vodka for most liqueurs because it allows the flavors and the colors of the fruit to really shine. Spices: Bottles: Basic Homemade Fruit Liqueur Recipe: Imagine that! About Theresa Loe

HelpChange.it — Choose to help change this world – and don’t stop! Use One of These 4 Simple Garden Designs to Grow the 12 Best Kitchen Herbs - Organic Gardening The stunning flavors of culinary herbs make them star players in a healthy diet, and the best way to make the most of big-flavor herbs is to grow them yourself. This article includes plans for four herb gardens, each designed to fit into a 12-square-foot area, to help you make the best use of space near your kitchen door. See Top 12 Kitchen Herbs for more on the featured herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme. You could grow kitchen herbs in a geometrical design dating from the days of medieval monasteries if you like, but there are easier ways to include culinary herbs in your landscape design. By following a few basic guidelines and choosing to grow the herbs you’re most likely to use, you can grow a generous supply of kitchen herbs in a surprisingly small space. Add some container herbs that are marginally hardy or prone to crowding out other plants, and you’re well on your way to a gourmet herb garden. Choosing Herbs

Rainwater Hog 50 Gallon Modular Catchment Tank (RAINHOG) The Rainwater HOG is a 50 gallon storage module which can be linked horizontally or vertically for collecting rainwater. Each HOG joins to the next - so you can start with a few units for irrigation purposes then extend the number of modules to allow toilet flush, as an example, from the HOGs as well. HOGs are designed to screw together - and screw apart for reuse. This means you can change your rain storage capacity as your needs change. The Rainwater HOG is made of high density polyethylene that can withstand temperature extremes of between -30°C/22°F to +60°C/140°F and has been designed to withstand the hot Australian sun and has a UV stabilizer added - UV8, the maximum UV protection for polyethylene. The Rainwater HOG can be installed vertically or horizontally, such as under a deck or beneath the floor boards and can be installed underground or above ground, and inside a building or outside. Tank plastic complies with FDA and HPB regulatory standards for food contact.

Budget Blooms -- Savings Experiment Carly Cylinder of FlourLA.com offers tips on how to make inexpensive flowers look chic and last longer. Fresh flowers make beautiful additions to any room, but bouquets can add up. Not to worry, though -- there are ways to use blooms to brighten up your home without breaking the bank. Carly Cylinder of FlourLA.com says flowers don't have to be a luxury. One idea is to buy inexpensive pre-made bouquets from your local supermarket or flower shop and then deconstruct them. Another way to save money is by buying one kind of flower and then placing mini bunches in recycled vases. To get the most out of the flowers you purchase, choose bunches with buds that haven't opened yet. According to Reader's Digest, many household items can be added to your vase water to make your flowers last longer. Fresh flowers can look luxurious without costing you a fortune.

Gapminder: Unveiling the beauty of statistics for a fact based world view. - Gapminder.org All about Growing Peas (For details on growing many other vegetables and fruits, visit our Crop at a Glance collection page or check out our Food Gardening Guide app.) It's early spring, you're putting in a garden, and you've already decided you'll be growing peas. To help you achieve a successful harvest, here are a few recommendations and tips. Types of Peas to Try Vine length varies from one variety to another, and long-vined peas need a taller trellis than compact varieties. Snap peas are eaten whole, and both the crunchy pod and the peas inside taste sweet. Snow peas produce tender, flat pods that are eaten whole. Shell peas are often called English peas, because many fine varieties were developed in Great Britain in the 18th century. Soup peas produce hard, starch-filled seeds for drying inside inedible pods. When to Plant Peas Sow in spring, about one month before your last frost date. How to Plant Peas All peas benefit from a trellis or other support. Harvesting and Storing Peas Saving Pea Seeds

Cascade 3 Tray Worm Factory™ > Green Products, Green Building Materials | Green Depot Worm composting is an incredibly efficient way to convert kitchen scraps, junk mail, and cardboard into nutrient-rich compost. The Worm FactoryT's stackable, multi-tray design is very simple to operate. Worms eat waste in the lowest tray, migrate upward as food sources are exhausted, and so separate themselves from the finished compost--which is then ready to take right outside. Managed correctly, the Worm Factory is virtually odorless, making it the perfect composter for small apartments, garages, or porches. Makes composting easier & more convenientHelps reduce food wasteDurable Size: 16"L x 16"W x 21"H Color: Terracotta For more details, please refer to the Instructions Manual.

Easy vegetables to grow Planting a garden doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. But the fear of failure keeps many a gardener-wannabe from spending time and energy on planting backyard crops. Knowing the easy vegetables to grow for your region — in addition to when and where to plant them — is the best way to ensure success. When planning your crops, try to space out the planting of foods that have a short harvest season. Some of the easiest garden goods for first timers are yellow squash and zucchini, potatoes, radishes and tomatoes. Squash plants can be planted into small hills, and are ready to eat when they are about 6 inches in length. Radishes are another no-brainer crop. Strawberries are popular for their ability to grow in many places and for their sweet, tangy taste and beautiful appearance. Keep in mind that something must be done to keep away the squirrels — they have a thing for those sweet berries. Tomatoes are possibly the most popular garden vegetable. Know of other easy vegetables to grow?

CraftonGirls A Beginner's Guide to Composting When organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings and food scraps break down, you get compost, a dark, dirt-like "soil" that is rich in nutrients. Compost happens even without human involvement; for example, the leaves that fall on the forest floor (or even in your own backyard) will compost and return much-needed nutrients to the soil, like a slow-release fertilizer. How quickly natural matter turns to compost depends on many factors, from the size of the organic matter to the temperature and oxygen availability. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years for organic matter to turn into compost. Many people, from gardeners to farmers to environmentalists, choose to compost for a variety of reasons. Although nature does all of the work, human involvement can help speed up the composting process to ensure the best possible conditions for nature to do its work. Why compost? Anyone can compost, whether you live on a 500-acre farm or in a 500 square foot apartment.

Rain Chains :: The Online Rainwater Harvesting Community Rain Chains: The Art of Collecting Rainwater by Doug Pushard Though few would argue that downspouts effectively direct water from the gutter to the collecting tank, would we agree that they add to the aesthetic appeal of a landscape? Rain chains ('Kusari doi' in Japanese) offer a highly attractive and unique alternative to traditional downspouts. The principle is simple - rain chains do exactly what downspouts do, but they do it in a way that brings visual pleasure and delight. Installing rainchains is as simple as 1, 2, 3. 1. 2. 3. All done! Chains vary in style from simple chains bought at your local hardware store to artistically designed copper chains that oxidize over time. Rain chains may not be quite as efficient as gutters, especially in areas prone to heavy downpours, but offer a highly attractive alternative in areas where aesthetics are crucial. Links:

How to Forecast Weather | Ever wondered how to forecast the weather without actually using instruments? Check the Clouds: Clouds can tell us a lot about the weather. For example, they can tell us if it’s going to be warmer on a particular night by simply being there. Check the Humidity: If you’re one of those people whose hair gets all curly when it gets really humid out, you know exactly what this is about. Check the Animals: Birds only fly in the sky when they expect fair weather ahead. Look at the Rainbow (but only in the west) and look for a Red Sky: If you see one in the west, it means a major storm front is coming. Check the Air: If it smells like a compost heap, expect some rain soon. Check the Moon: Seen any red moons lately? Check the Wind: If you can tell which way the wind is blowing, you can tell if there is a storm approaching. A Few More Ideas: Make a campfire – If the smoke goes straight up, clear skies ahead. Check the grass – if it’s wet and dewy, that means it probably won’t rain.

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