It’s almost Halloween and that means pumpkin carving! But what can you do to prevent these beautiful creations from becoming a heap of porridge within a few days? With the following 9 tips you can keep your decorative masterpieces fresh for a festive Halloween night – from choosing the best …
Read More »Monthly Archives: June 2020
Get to know your poinsettias: history, growth and styling
We all see poinsettias all over the holidays. They are sold in pretty much every store you go to, are ready for fundraisers at school, and can be seen in many people’s homes throughout the season. 12th of Decemberth is even National Poinsettia Day in the United States! Poinsettias have …
Read More »Washing of greenhouses, Victoria sponges and the minimum wage
Why is the willingness of children to "help" directly and inversely related to their ability to be of any use? My three-year-old regularly grabs an apron and insists on "helping" me cook – an activity in which he puts his fingers in the butter, whirls flour and sneezes into the …
Read More »How to identify and control soot stains and flyspeck in apples
Imagine this scenario with me: you examine your fruit trees, some that you have been growing for years. Much to your horror, most of your apples have nasty-looking sooty spots that can band together to cover all of the fruit, or spots that look like fly waste. Extension agents often …
Read More »Everything about sunflowers
We’ll tell you all about sunflowers so you can be a sunflower expert. sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) It is believed that sunflowers were found as early as 3000 BC. Before corn in the area that is now Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona and around 2300 BC BC were domesticated in the …
Read More »Ease the overload with these DIY eucalyptus shower steamers
These DIY shower steamer have eucalyptus to relieve congestion and relieve the symptoms of the sinuses. Make a double or triple batch and prepare yourself throughout the winter with this shower steamer recipe! Yes, it’s cold and flu season again. In those early years when my little man was in …
Read More »Your guide to growing chicken scratch greens for healthy chickens
Chickens are an integral part of today’s homesteads and family businesses. It is no surprise that more and more attention is paid to the fact that they are not only healthy but also happy. One way to show your feathered friends that you care is to make sure they eat …
Read More »Chickens in the garden: what you need to know
I lived 32 of my 39 years on a farm or homestead. For most of these years we kept large gardens and kept a considerable herd of poultry. Even now I have a herd of 50 or more and my garden lots seem to multiply with each growing season. Every …
Read More »How To Make Soap: DIY Unscented Soap Recipe
This handmade soap focuses on returning to the basics with 3 simple cold process recipes. Each of these products creates an odorless soap bar that nourishes and cleanses your skin. Read on to learn how to make plant-based soap that is 100% vegan. Lately I’ve been yearning for a return …
Read More »How to manage root rot in fruit, nut and landscape trees and shrubs
Many fruit, nut and landscape trees can succumb to root rot caused by three types of fungi and a group of water molds (formerly considered fungi). These include the fungi Armillaria, Phymatotrichum and Xylaria as well as the water mold Phytophthora. The trees show different symptoms of these different diseases. …
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