Urban Agriculture: A Guide to Container Gardens A Guide to Container Gardens With inexpensive containers and suitable soil mix,you can create an urban garden virtually anywhere - on roof tops,vacant city lots, borwn fields, and unused portion of parking lots Job S. Ebenezer, Ph.D.President, Technology for the Poor, 877 PELHAM COURT, WESTERVILLE, OHIO - 43081technologyforthepoor@yahoo.com It is estimated that by 2030 AD nearly 50% of the world’s population may live in urban areas. Due to the recent terrorist attacks, food security and safety are seriously compromised. Migration from rural areas also brings into the urban areas many persons with very little formal education. Urban agriculture has the potential for creating micro-enterprises that can be owned and operated by the community members without too much of initial capital. Urban farming is not new. A few decades ago ECHO (Education Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Fort Myers, Florida, has introduced container garden techniques for impoverished counties like Haiti.
DIY: 4 Homemade Hair Masks | Delicious Beauty As snow and rain give way to sunshine and… well, even higher gas prices, we begin to emerge – perhaps more scantily clad – with a new spring in our step. Sometimes our hairdos don’t get the memo. Let your mane reflect your uplifted spirit with a do-it-yourself hair mask (or two) that gives volume, shine, health and vibrancy to dull, lifeless locks. Ditch the chemicals and expensive treatments. Your home cupboards hold the key to keeping your tresses naturally gorgeous. A Mask for Overall Hair Greatness Gather 1 ripe avocado1/2 cup coconut milk3 teaspoon olive oil Concoct: Mash yor avocado completely.Add the coconut milk and olive oil, stirring rapidly to combine it all.Warm up your mask on the stovetop until it’s slightly warm. A Nourishing Mask for Silk ‘n’ Shine Gather: 2 tablespoon acacia honey1 tablespoon olive oil / or almond oil1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar A Thickening Mask for Massive Volume 1 ripe banana1 egg1/2 cup flat beer1 tablespoon of honey Why beer? De-Frizz Your Hair Mask
stereomood - emotional internet radio - music for my mood and activities Milk Crate "Air-Pot" Urban Container Gardening So, my wife and I moved to a 2nd floor front Chicago greystone with no greenspace but it does have faux balcony over the front entry that can only be accessed by climbing through a window. We decided that this space must be utilized as urban gardening space. While looking around for container garden solutions, we came across the not so affordable UK "air-pot" design that encourages better root growth than traditional container gardening. To stay true to the "air-pot" concept we needed the liner to be breathable; landscaping fabric was the obvious choice.
Discovering Dandelion Uses: The Loathed Weed and Cure-All of the Lawn Freelance herbal writer, community herbalist and medicine maker Jennifer Heinzel hails from the cold city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit Thymes Ancient Remedies to read more from Jennifer. “Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney sweepers, come to dust” —William Shakespeare Dandelion was one of the most loved and “esteemed plants of the herbalist," especially by the famous Arabian herbalist Avicenna, and was referred to as “blessed medicine" in the 18th century in Europe. The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), which is a part of the Asteracea family, ironically has many folk names for being such an aggressive, but medicinally useful, weed. This is an historical profile of the tenacious dandelion.Photo courtesy Edible Communities Publications Some of the first records of dandelion being medicinally utilized were of the Egyptians, described by a Greek scholar 300 years before Christ. Dandy-Lion in the Ecovillage of Findhorn, ScotlandPhoto by Jennifer Heinzel 1. 2. References
Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies I am so in love with these darn chocolate lava cookies! What is it about a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie stuffed with decadent, rich, melted chocolate that makes it so irresistible?? Especially when topped with vanilla ice cream. All you really need for these fabulous cookies is your favorite cookie dough and a bag of chocolate chips. Since these cookies are absolutely gushing with delicious rich chocolate, my favorite chocolate chips for this recipe are the Hersey’s Milk Chocolate chips. Now let’s make some chocolate lava cookies! Place the flattened cookie dough in the bottom of a well-greased standard sized muffin tin. Now for our gooey, rich milk chocolate filling. Lay the Ziploc bag flat in the microwave, spreading out the chocolate chips in a single layer. Cut a small tip off the Ziploc bag and layer over the cookies. Heaven help me. Scoop and flatten the remaining dough, and place on top of your lava cookies. Now here’s how I like my cookies. Mama mia. 1. 2. 3.
Urban Garden Trend May Help City Dwellers Live Longer Urban gardening groups around the country have seen a rise in popularity of the hobby. The need for low-cost, fresh food, the popularity of all things “green” and the increase in vacant city space due to the recession have been cited as contributing factors for the growth of urban gardening. But as Natalie McDonald of Newsweek points out, urban gardens are not just a new fad. People have been planting gardens in the city since the world wars. McDonald points to organizations in major metropolitan areas such as Detroit, Philadelphia, New York and elsewhere as leading the movement of urban gardening today. Some major cities have also seen a rise in the number of urban beekeepers.
How to Make Willow Chairs - Do It Yourself Related Content Reclaimed Furniture Recycled, repurposed or reclaimed — whatever you call it, using old furniture in new ways is an affo... If you like to work with your hands and you've always wanted your own backyard or garage business—but you lack "seed money" to invest in such an operation—why not make willow chairs? Ernest J. Gathering Willow When the plant's buds begin to swell and leaf tips start to appear on its branches—in other words, when the sap starts to flow—that's the time to go after willow. You'll find willows in abundance wherever there's water (along riverbanks, around lakes and ponds, etc.) and, quite often, along road rights-of-way. Take along either a pruning saw or a carpenter's saw (pruning shears also come in handy on your forays). Note: If you have a goat — as we do — you won't have any cleanup problems at home...but beware: goats do have a taste for willow bark and will devour your unseasoned chairs with gusto if given the chance! LEG AND FRAME STOCK. Tools Needed
Kitchen Helpers I found these helpful charts last week and just had to share! Both of these beauties are from Chasing Delicious (aka one of the most fab foodie blogs out there)! Aren’t they faaaaabulous?! Buy them here. (Note: There are lots of little charts like this online, but these are my favorites). I love tea, but I’m no expert. For people of the UK, have this one with you while you’re meal planning or grocery shopping! I’ve fond some other helpful charts that I’ll share in another post! Yay charts!
How to Grow Potatoes, Growing Potatoes, Potato Eyes Ah!! The versatile and lovable Potato. Spuds, or tubers, as they are affectionately nicknamed, are a regular at the dinner table, as well as breakfast. Despite it's mealtime appeal, it is surprising that more home gardeners do not grow potatoes. Old Fashioned Headache Remedy: Put sliced, raw potatoes on your forehead. Types of Potatoes: Idaho Potatoes - Famous for their quality as "Bakers" White Potatoes - This is the basic and most popular potato. Did you know? More Potato trivia: Potato chips were first made by Chef George Crum in Saratoga Springs, NY on August 24, 1853. Growing Potatoes: Potatoes grow best in soft "muck" soil. Potatoes are grown from "Seed Potatoes". Potatoes can be planted as early as two weeks before the last frost in your area. The most common form of planting is in "hills". A second and less common method, is to use furrows. Fertilize potato plants every two to four weeks. As the plants grow, mound additional soil around the plants every week or two. Harvest:
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How To Clone Your Herbs Guest Post from Gayla Trail of You Grow Girl Previous image Next image Note: Gayla's guest post from last year was so popular that we decided to republish it for everyone who might not have seen it! Thanks again, Gayla! Just last week a friend and I visited a large greenhouse to stock up on last-minute herbs for the growing season. Plants such as basil, mint, and oregano are incredibly easy to reproduce from cuttings — and a heck of a lot faster than growing from seed. What You Need MaterialsYour choice of herbsSmall cup or jarPot or planterSoil and compost ToolsScissors Instructions 1. 2. 3. That’s it. Additional Notes: Plants with woodier stems, including rosemary, scented geraniums (aka pelargoniums), and lemon verbena tend to have a little trouble producing roots in water, but will work just as easily in a soil-like medium. Keep the soil moist, but not sopping wet. Herbs to Start in Water: Basil Broadleaf Thyme/Cuban Oregano Mint Oregano Herbs to Start in Soil/Coir: