Why Store Plastic Bags?
So difficult getting out the plastic bag habit, but it can and should be done whenever possible, for the earths and our sake. Cloth bags are the best choice from groceries and any stores you plan to buy from. Reserve a few cloth for strictly garbage and/or...
Vaseline To Keep Ants Out of Hummingbird Feeders
Sorry, but I do not like the vaseline anywhere near hummingbirds. Hummers do not have the right equipment to remove it from their wings if they come in contact with it. As they may well, with their energetic flights and fights around feeders. It coats their...
Humming Bird Expert Recipe
I agree with the ratio of sugar to water. However, if you have chlorine in your drinking water, you should boil it first. Chlorine is a terrible poison. If you are on a well, cold water is best since it contains fewer accumulated minerals than your hot. Warm...
Homemade Hummingbird Nectar?
I agree with those who say no red or any color dye. Hummers can see the clear solution. I disagree about the amount of sugar to water ratio. Hummers also need protein they get by catching small flying insects (gnats, etc.). If too much sugar is in the solution...
Getting Rid of Blackberry Bushes
I dont believe in herbicides, they kill far more life than those intended. So, confronted with a backyard threatened to be comsumed, and deciding to limit the destruction. I bought & borrowed some good cutting instruments, both long reaching and shorter, sharp...
Will a Systemic Weedkiller Harm Other Garden Plants?
Yes! Weedkillers- herbicides- and pesticides of all sorts will not only kill or harm the friendlies, they get into the soil, water, and the animals that may feed on the them. Some of Round-up products by Monsanto, are now being found to cause mis-carriages...
Planting Garlic Along With Plants
Thanks JodiT and others. Gave me an idea to put garlic/bulbs, cloves around the bushes & plants to keep Gophers away. Perhaps I will try onion also. Will have to put them fairly deep, so the garlic, etc. may not sprout. Im always looking for natural, non-deadly...
Tomato Cage As Outdoor Christmas Tree
Love this idea! Thanks Bestbiddy! Lots of creative opportunities as well as environmentally friendly. Merry Holidays!
Start Seeds in Egg Carton
Great idea. Works even better if you leave half the egg shell in the bottom & poke a couple of tiny holes with a needle before putting in soil & seed. Helps retain moisture & decomposes with nutrients. More little holes can be poked through the carton easily...
Use Your Leaves As Winter Mulch
You can give back most of the nutrients your trees and plants used, with mulch from or close to the same place the leaves and other plants got it from. Same with small woody branches. Chop them up best you can and put near the plants. Decomposition can sometimes...
Line Kitchen Cabinets with Vinyl Floor Tiles
Thanks. Just started using the rollout kind under our kitchen sink where water had saturated the vertical walls 3 inches, as well as the horizontal. We cut at the corners to fit. Using light color sure helps to see into the dark cupboards. No adhesive, so tiles...
Use Black Pepper For Garden Pests
Thats a great idea, thanks. One more to add to it. Was told that black pepper sprinkled down & around gopher & ground rodents holes, would make them move on & it seems to work in small areas.
Print On The Back Side Of Paper
We have been doing this for years. We ask friends to reuse the blank side of paper, & if they dont, give the paper to us! Good way to the message around to conserve trees and energy, by example..
Keeping Birds Out of Fruit Trees?
This is something I read in a novel, but sounds good to me: put small radio or cd in tree and play music of your choice. If the birds like it, change the tunes. Could also put in gardens for vegy thieves. Another idea, take toy stuffed animal(s) & hang with...
Birds Prefer Dry Cat Food to Seed?
Yes, jays & crows like cat food. During mating/spring especially. They need the extra meat protein for their own chicks, which is why they steal babies from other birds. After watching 3 nests of songbirds destroyed, I started putting cat food in our driveway...
Keeping Woodpeckers Out of Hummingbird Feeder?
Be grateful you have a variety of birds, hummers, woodpeckers, orioles, robins & more! Read about the birds & and animals that visit you. The variety tells you that your place is environmetally friendly (a good thing). Put up another hummer feeder or 2, the...
Moving Large Outdoors Objects
Must move a couple of container trees while our house is being re-roofed. Thanks for the tip!
Herb Cream Cheese Spread
Good idea. Im going to try it (the seasonings/herbs) with sour cream and then cottage cheese. Thanks.
Reusing Coffee Filters in the Garden?
I have been putting the filters in my compost pile for years. Poke some holes in them or cut with scissors for faster decomposing if you wish. They dont breakdown as quickly as organic material like vegetable scraps. I also put undyed papertowels & napkins...
How Do I Keep Jays From Raiding Sparrow Nests?
Reads like your ideas re: animals are similar to mine. Jays can be led away from eating other birds & babies by giving them an alternate food supply. Basically they are lazy & smart (like humans) when it comes to food close to home territory. Supply them with...
A Drinking Straw for Dust Bunnies
Thanks for this! Dust bunnies, combined with kitty fur & other unmentionables...Gone!
Controlling Christmas Tree Debris
Please give a gift to the Earth & your family at Christmas and buy a living tree. After the holidays, you can plant it on your land, put into a larger planter for next years Christmas or give it a local park for planting. You wont have nearly the tree debris...
Stock and Rotate Emergency Supplies
Good article. I live in an area subject to fire, water & earthquakes, so am a great believer in the subject the author posted here & interested in the comments. I would reduce Any plastic for containers of glass, metal or natural substitutes. Plastic is bad...
Use Red Clay Saucer for Baking Stone
It is an excellent tip with one big health question. Some of the gardening clay pots & bowls have lead components. Eating food that contains lead is very dangerous to your long-term health, especially children. So I suggest you check the lead if possible with...
Use Binder Clips to Secure Garbage Bags
Please find other environmentally/recyclable ways to put your garbage. We use too much & the earth doesnt need more plastic it the life-stream. Plastic does Not break down or decompose well at all. It hurts & kills millions of life forms everyday. It also is...
Salad Bar Garden Bed
Thank you for sharing this. Just wish I had access to one, but could make my own with left over house project material. Sure to fool those pesky garden & herb robbers, above & below ground!
Windowsill Celery Hearts
Thank you so much for this! I sent it on to FaceBook. Thanks also to all of you for the other fruit & vegy starting tips.
Group House Plants Together
Good idea. Plants seem to like being with others, as long as they dont have to compete for soil & water, and get just enough light for each individual. Thanks.
