Every garden needs a thorough and efficient way to water the plants growing in it. Make the most of your garden with an irrigation system that works for you.

If you have a smaller sized garden, then watering by hand will be the fastest and easiest way to water. On the other hand, if you have a larger garden, or want to time when your plants are watered, then you can purchase a state of the art sprinkler system that will automatically turn on and off at the time of your choosing. Some gardeners take an inexpensive hose and poke holes periodically throughout your hose and thread it through the rows of their garden. Once the hose is turned on, you can see the water seep out from the holes, creating an even watering effect throughout your garden. It’s important to water in the early morning or evening hours, so as not to burn your plants. Choose the irrigation technique that will work best for the size garden you have and your schedule for a successful garden.

Many neighborhoods have the misfortune of being subjected to stray cats around their home. These cats can become a nuisance by getting into your garbage, or mistaking your flowerbeds for a litter box. Luckily, there are several natural ways to get rid of cats in your flowerbeds that won’t cause harm to the cats or your plants.

Citrus is a natural cat deterrent, so you can spray a citrus spray or use citronella candles in your flowerbeds. A stronger deterrent is mothballs. Drill holes in jars and place mothballs inside the jars and around your garden. These techniques will need to be re-administered every couple of weeks, or after a heavy rain. Another option is to lay chicken fence across your flowerbeds after you have placed your mulch down. Many flowerbed owners choose to plant thorny bushes on the perimeter of their flowerbeds that will hopefully ward off any unwanted animals. If all else fails, and cats are still wreaking havoc on your property, you may wish to call your local animal control authorities. Handle unwanted animals in a way that won’t harm them with these natural deterrents.

Growing vegetables is a great way to provide your family with a varied diet of delicious foods rich in nutrients. Yet, keep in mind that all plants do not grow the same way. Some vegetable plants grow in bushes, while others grow in rows and you eat the roots. Other plants require fencing or some other support to grow up them.

Pole beans, peas, and most forms of tomatoes require some sort of cage and/or fencing to grow. The reason for this is because these types of plants grow in a vine type formation, and tend to grow very tall. Plants like these benefit from having the support of a cage or fence to grow up and around, and flourish under these circumstances. You can purchase cages specifically manufactured for growing tomatoes, peas, and other vegetables, or you can use recycled fencing, lattice, and other materials you have laying around your property. However you choose to grow these vegetables, don’t shy away from the challenge of growing vine plants, because the rewards are quite tasty!

Dressing fashionably doesn’t have to ruin the environment. Many clothes are massed produced in ways that harm the earth, and are bad for third world economies. Being a responsible shopper means finding the most earth friendly clothing options available.

Find organic cotton clothing online, or in your local shops. Organic cotton clothing is made without using any synthetic dyes or harmful chemicals. Many earth-conscious shops also offer fair trade clothing that is manufactured in responsible ways, as opposed to being made in a factory in a third world country where people are treated badly. Organic, fair trade clothing is becoming more popular, and as a result is becoming a lot more fashion conscious. You don’t have to wear bulky, baggy pants to be a responsible clothing shopper. Many clothing options include beautifully made and very chic clothing styles that any fashion-conscious person would love to wear. Become a responsible AND stylish shopper with organic and fair-trade clothing and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with purchasing a product you can be proud of.

There are a growing number of young families that are getting into the chicken keeping business, if only to insure their family is getting quality meat and eggs. It’s really amazing how the information age has played a huge part in this current phenomenon. If we had never learned about what is going on in the more traditional chicken houses all over the country with the overcrowding and “fattening up” of the birds we might not be having this conversation. Adding insult to injury they also pump the animals with steroids and antibiotics so many families are looking for a better way to get chicken products to their tables.

If you are interested in raising chicken in your backyard in an urban setting you must first find out if you are able to do so under the current laws of your city, county and state. Once you have determined that you are legally able to have chickens in your backyard or current setting, it’s good to check with your neighbors to make sure they are on board. Letting them know you are willing to share a few eggs from time to time can go a long way on getting them on your side. Also know that you don’t have to have roosters in order for your hens to lay eggs. I would invest in a few things before making the final decision such as a good book on general practices for raising birds for meat, eggs or both as well as blueprints or plans for various chicken coops so you can get an idea of the space you need and the design that you like.

There is a lot of information on the internet and in books so you won’t ever feel you are doing it alone. Another great source is forums on raising chickens. You will discover what it takes to raise the birds organically and determine if you are ready for that challenge. You will also find out if you have the room to “free range” your chickens and all that entails. However, what you will know in the end is where your chickens come from, how they have been fed and that they were treated well by you and your family. You will have better health because of it and will be able to teach your children valuable lessons from where their food comes from to appreciating all life.

Have a great experience and let us know how your chicken raising experiences go.

Today, everything is about convenience. We want the products we need at prices we can afford and we don’t want to travel out of our way to get them. However, there is something to be said for honoring the local gardening shop and bypassing the large chains.

Sure, Home Depot and Lowes have ease and convenience. There are chain locations everywhere, and they will typically have everything you could ever want to garden and landscape. However, your local garden shop supports small businesses and allows local community economies to thrive. Local garden shops have competitive prices, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, they will usually be happy to order what you need. What’s more, many local garden shops have years of knowledge and expertise so if you need advice or an expert opinion you can trust your local garden shop workers to give helpful advice. Many local garden shops are also familiar with the climate of your area, so their advice will be tailored to the weather you experience. This season, bypass the large garden chain and visit your local garden shop.