Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hydroponics Growing - Beyond Theory

One of the great myths about hydroponics growing is the perception that it is so complicated that only expert gardeners should attempt the process. It is unfortunate that this myth has been propagated over the years because it could not be farther from the truth. Hydroponics growing is so easy that anyone with enough ambition to learn the techniques can easily do so with a minimum investment of effort.

It is important to note that it does take some effort to begin hydroponics growing; but it doesn't take a whole lot of skill, just ambition. You do not have to be a master gardener to successfully grow fruits and vegetables by hydroponic methods; in fact if you are not a great gardener that you may be relieved to know that a well set up a hydroponic garden is practically foolproof and you actually have to try really hard to kill your plants.

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The best way for the uninitiated to get started with hydroponic growing is to embrace as much information as possible about the field and then get their hands dirty and start planting for themselves. This is a pretty important point; if you want to learn about hydroponics you need to actually start growing things hydroponically. Homemade Hydroponics offers a fantastic online course that teaches the basic and advanced techniques necessary to successfully grow hydroponically as well as get you started with creating your own hydroponic setups so you can grow your own food, and experiment with new techniques. It definitely is not a theory based course, this is a full hands-on, get yourself dirty technique to getting people up and running with their very own hydroponic gardens. This is literally the ideal way to get started with what can be an extremely rewarding, and potentially delicious, hobby.

Hydroponics Growing - Beyond Theory

Grow Calendar 2011

How to Build a Free Form Fire Pit

There are many questions out there for people looking to build their own home fire pit. Where do I get fire brick? Do I need fire brick? How deep should I go? What are the laws for fire in my area? I started my fire pit because the cost to have one installed was quite high 1400.00 dollars to be exact. The reason is most people today do not know enough to build one. Our ancestors when they needed something forged it, crafted it, or built with their own hands. You can do the same thing if you have hands or know someone who does. So let me explain concrete, concrete is to an extent fire proof. Concrete will degrade after many, many years but if you are not applying direct high intensity heat to it like with a cutting torch it will not break or explode. So the sides of the fire pit can be built from standard brick you can pick up at Home Depot, Lowes, or garden centers. If you must have fire brick you have to check at local stores who specialize in fire bricks and fire clays, this will get costly. The bottom of your fire pit in my opinion does need a bit more than concrete. Typically fire resistant mortar and standard red brick will work or you or you can use a combination of the mortar and canyon rock also available at your local hardware store. The bottom of the pit will always be the hottest, remember earth science classes. The coals are the hottest part of the fire so make your bottom thick and durable. You will also want to clean it from time to time so a smooth surface for shovel use is quite important.

After you pick your location for the fire you will want to figure your shape. I myself wanted a circular pit so just like the ancient ancestors I measured out some twine to the size I figured I would be happy with. I then squared up the center point to installed hammocks, swings, etc. After the center point is figured, drive a stake into the center, a round stake is your best bet here. Tie the twine to the stake leaving a loop in it so it will not tangle. Tie the other end to a cutting instrument, pull tight and cut in your circle. After the circle is cut in begin to dig out the area. Keep your edges nice and flat going back to check with length of twine. After the pit is in place and you are at the right depth(1-2 feet) take a heavy flat board and pack all the loose dirt down from the middle out to the edges. Once you have it level and smooth lay out your wall bricks and make sure they place against the wall well. then layout your base.

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Now you have to mix your mortar, make sure your mortar is the right consistency you want it to stick to the bricks and not fall off. Pick up your mock up bricks you placed in the pit and lay in your mortar. Place your bottom bricks hole up, this will allow for drainage when it rains. Pat the base bricks down with a rubber mallet or a board. After your base is down start your side wall, the main focus here is to follow your pattern up the sides of the pit. Take care to fill in the triangle shape the corner of the bricks make, this is important for the last step in the pit. Once your base is down and you have the first ring of wall brick in place take a stick and poke holes in the center of the base bricks until you hit ground. Now continue your side wall. Once you are flush with the ground you want to lay your next ring of bricks flat and continue your circle. That's it your fire pit is complete. Let it dry for a few days and then enjoy. If you want to get creative you can inlay something in the triangle shapes on the surface ring.

How to Build a Free Form Fire Pit

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Custody Agreements - Changing Your Parenting Plan As Your Children Grow

Visitation schedules and parenting plans were created for the benefit of children.  Many parents seem to forget that.  A child has a natural right to spend time with both parents.  The parent's divorce or separation should affect that right as little as possible.

When working on your parenting and visitation agreement, you must consider each child's individual needs.  All children have some similar basic needs: food, shelter, clothing and education, just to mention a few.  However, as children grow, their needs change.  The needs of a 6 month old infant are totally different than those of a 5 year old or a 13 year old kid.  When working on your parenting and visitation agreement, you must consider each child's individual needs.

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As a result of your divorce or separation, your children have already gone through a lot of changes.  Changes in general, as you well know, can be very challenging for anyone, most especially for kids. When planning a visitation calendar you should try to maintain your children's basic routine.  The fewer changes your children have to undergo, the safer and therefore more confident they will feel.  School, soccer, karate, swimming, and ballet classes should be continued and incorporated to your parenting agreement. Their extracurricular activities should remain the same, if at all possible.

Each child experiences a different developmental and emotional stage, depending on their age.  The older kids are, the more you should take into account their preferences.  When working on your parenting and visitation schedule you should consider your older kids' needs first.  Younger kids tend to adapt to changes easier.

Teenagers are already going through enough changes as a result of their identification and personality development.  Teenagers can become fearful, shy, isolated, anxious or depressed, as they go through this phase of life.  They can exhibit behavioral problems, mood swings and anger issues that can be aggravated by an unwanted or unsolicited visitation schedule.  Any visitation calendar should be made with your kid's needs in mind first.  Everything else, must be considered in terms of how is it going to benefit or affect the children's current schedule.  Of course, the parents' working schedule, job and home locations will have to be considered, as well.

Once you have come with a fair and convenient parenting and visitation plan, you should keep it for as much time possible.  You must be aware however, that the schedule is going to go through many changes as your children grow.  Be aware of your children's moods and reaction during each transitional age.  If you notice a problematic or a drastic change in behavior, it might be because it is time for a change in the visitation schedule.  There are many times when teenagers prefer to go to a baseball game with their friends rather than visiting a parent.  Do not take it personally.  Remember, custody and visitation schedules are not about you, they are about your kids.

If you're thinking about changing your parenting and visitation plan, the best practice is to listen to your children's opinion before you move to request the change.

Custody Agreements - Changing Your Parenting Plan As Your Children Grow

Grow Calendar 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Pad Part

A crucial garage door opener part is a keyless entry pad. Its a must have for anyone looking to upgrade their home or garage door set-up.

This part is very handy if you have a lot of guests that come to your house. These guests can include babysitters if you have kids. If you are having work done to your house they can include various tradesmen that are doing work inside your house (ie. carpenters). Maybe you have a maid that comes to your residence several times a week to clean. These are people you may not necessarily distrust but would nevertheless prefer not to give your personal house key to should they go to the store and copy it or possibly misplace it. The latter reason would be my biggest concern. I have a hard time myself keeping up with my keys let alone someone else.

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You can easily change the codes to your keyless pad. Its only takes a couple seconds to modify this garage door opener part. You can set the code for entry for "123456" one week and then change it to "654321" for another. Another pleasant option relating to this is that you can set up a "guest code." This is a special temporary code you make for a certain person that allows them to access your garage for a specified period of time. You only want Joe the plumber to have access to your house on Saturday from 1PM to 4PM you can set that up.

Another added benefit in installing this handy part is if you accidently forget your garage door opener. Its happened to all of us. Maybe you switched cars. Maybe you took your clicker out to clean your car. For whatever reason, if this happens, you can still access your garage door by stepping out of your car and entering in your personal code on the keyless entry pad.

This addition your garage door is a must have. It will make your house set-up more convenient and efficient. Unless other garage door parts keyless entry pads are not that expensive and you can get them online or go to Home Depot or Lowes to pick them up. Its highly recommended you start to look into it.

The Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Pad Part

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How to Fish Wires Through Walls

1. Decide where you want the wire to exit the wall (do not drill any holes yet) Use a stud finder to make sure the wall has no cross beams between the exit location and the ceiling.

Once you have determined the wall is clear from exit location to the ceiling, cut out a hole in the wall where the cable is to exit.

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2. Bring the wire into the wall. Either from the crawlspace or the attic. the crawlspace can be done with a flex bit (3-6ft drill bit sold at lowes or electrical supply house) drill down through the hole in the wall and use the bit to pull the wire back up. Attic is a bit more difficult. You will need help locating the stud wall. Have someone tap lightly on the ceiling with a broom handle. You can feel the vibration with your hand to identify the exact stud wall location. Drill through the center of the 2x4 stud directly beside the tapping and drop the wire through the hole with a glow rod or some kind of weight to pull it down to the hole you cut in the wall.

3. Tips: You can use an insulation brace from the crawlspace to drill in the ceiling that will show you the location if you are working alone. Easily fixed (small hole)

4. Try to identify markers such as light fixtures, ducts, electrical outlet lines, or anything you can use to locate your wall from the attic or crawlspace.

5. Warnings: Always be sure of where you are drilling. If you are not sure it is the correct location, measure again.

6. Be careful when using a flex bit, once it breaks through, stop and tap the bit to see what you are going to hit next. Listen to the sound, may be brick piling, PVC water pipe, or an air conditioner. They each sound different.

How to Fish Wires Through Walls

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Step by Step Guide to Building a Dog House

If you are like the dozens of other people who have been procrastinating building a dog house for your dog, then summer time is a good time to begin the project. All dogs need a good shelter from the heat and summer thunderstorms, and a doghouse is ideal. If you don't really know how to build a doghouse, don't fret - with this guide, even a beginner will have a better idea of how to start.

Especially if you are a beginner, the first thing to do is check your local area for resources. Several big box home improvement stores, such as Lowe's and Home Depot, offer guides (both in print and online) that you can follow step by step. Lowe's also offers on-site help with projects, and that includes building a doghouse. Not to mention that you can save money by buying the building supplies at Lowe's. Some parts can be obtained for free at the local junkyard. So, here we go! Stop procrastinating, and follow this guide to building a doghouse. Remember to make use of your local resources and obtain a simple doghouse blueprint to follow.

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First, you must always remember to measure your dog. You might be surprised how many people forget to measure the size of the dog before building a doghouse. This is important so you will know what size of doghouse to build. You can customize the size of the doghouse just for your dog. This way the doghouse will not be too small or too big. If you are building a doghouse for a young dog, remember to make the house big enough to compensate for the dog's growth.

Next, you need to make sure that the roof of the doghouse is not too sloped. This is to help prevent any unfortunate nesting of insects such as wasps, hornets, or bees. It would probably be best to have a flat roof, since most dogs will want to lay on the roof of the house to soak up some sun. Also, do not build the roof with aluminum or any kind of metal, since they can heat up very quickly and easily burn a dog who wants to lay on the roof.

Remember to insulate the dog house according to what kind of dog you have. If the dog has a lot of fur, such as an Alaskan Husky or German Shepard, then the dog house won't need as much insulation. If the dog is short haired like a greyhound or a chihuahua, then the house will obviously need more insulation.

Make sure that air can circulate through the house and that the doghouse is well-ventilated. Using breathable construction materials will help the doghouse be ventilated. Wood is one such material. To save money, you can find scrap wood at a junk yard and even a lumber yard. Make sure the door to the doghouse will always be open, as this helps tremendously with ventilation, and the addition of a small window will help even more. Also make sure that the dog has enough room in the doghouse - enough room to stand up, turn around, play with any toys or bones, and move a bit without hitting the walls. This way, the dog won't be cramped and a doghouse that is big enough for your dog to move around in will help with ventilation.

Next, make sure the doghouse is tough, durable, and quite sturdy. It needs to be durable enough to survive any bad weather that may happen, and to keep your dog protected from such bad weather. It also needs to be sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and tear from the dog. When you construct the doghouse, make sure the floor of the doghouse is built a few inches off of the ground. This is important because, when it rains, any water will be able to flow under the doghouse and not get inside and flood the doghouse. The floor itself also needs to be very durable and sturdy.

Lastly, make sure the doghouse is not right out in the open where the hot summer sun can beat down on it and heat up the small abode. It is best to have a doghouse positioned under a tree, large shrubbery, porch overhang, or some other kind of shade. Having the doghouse placed in the shade will make relaxing a lot more comfortable for your dog and reduce the risk of your dog overheating in the summer sun.

Also, make sure to keep it as simple as possible. It isn't necessary to pile up blankets or a dog bed in the doghouse and it isn't necessary to heat the doghouse in the winter (unless the house is for a very small, short-haired dog that gets cold easily). If you decide to go ahead and put extras in the doghouse, be sure that they are durable and not easily destroyed in case the dog decides to chew on them, and that any extras can withstand wind, rain and snow.

In conclusion, building a doghouse doesn't have to be overly complicated - in fact, it can be easy. Just remember to keep things simple. Use an easy-to-follow doghouse blueprint or tutorial. Make sure you plan and prepare so you know what to buy and have all the supplies ready. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it - many home improvement stores like Lowe's offer help for a plethora of small home projects. You don't have to go all out for building materials. A lot of the materials can be gotten from a discount home improvement store like Lowe's, from excess supply at a lumberyard, and even from a junkyard. Using materials from the aforementioned places will help you save money on building a doghouse. Building a doghouse can be both wallet-friendly and fun! Your dog will be sure to appreciate having a cozy place to relax. So stop procrastinating, get out there, and build a doghouse.

Step by Step Guide to Building a Dog House

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Monday, August 29, 2011

Key Benefits of Using a Lowe's Credit Card

Are you the type who would want to save money for other equally important expenses (like bills, etc)? If you frequent Lowe's, then getting a Lowe's Credit Card may be the perfect solution to your shopping needs.

The credit card itself is owned by GE Money Bank. (It is also the issuing bank.) They give you two card options: the Lowe's card (basic card) and the Lowe's Project Card.

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Lowe's is the standard card that can be used at Lowe's (and even at lowes.com). This card is mostly used by regular shoppers. They also offer deferred payment schemes and has an APR of 21.9%. Also, you don't pay interest for over 9 purchases, provided that it is paid off within 6 months or less.

For an initial qualifying purchase of ,000, you can get the Lowe's Project Card. This card caters more to business customers than the regular customers. With a credit limit of about ,000, the said card allows you a "6 month project window" - in essence, no interest in those 6 months, and no balance due for purchases. Its APR will be at a range of 7.99% to 17.99, at least for the first project. Plus, if you are considering major home improvements, a larger credit line can be made available for you.

Both cards offer the following benefits:

-Applying for a Lowe's card is easy and fairly fast. Upon application, the applicants with a good to fair credit rating would almost always receive approval. You can apply at any Lowe's store or online. The bank would then check credit history and may take a maximum of 7 business days upon approval of application. Online applications get an instant response.

-There is no annual fee.

-Low monthly payments.

-You can change the credit line.

-They have several financing options, aside from the usual discounts. One of those is the deferred payment scheme.

-Secure Sockets Layer (or SSL) is used to help protect online transactions. Basically, this technology uses encryption of sensitive account information, ensuring that online account transactions are safe to do.

-You can do online transactions as well, specifically requesting for a credit balance refund.

-They can add supplementary cards for other members of the family with no extra charges.

-The aesthetically conscious person has three card design versions to choose from.

-They offer a grace period of 26 days without your account incurring interest.

-You can receive your bills online via their E-Bill facilities.

So if you are thinking of doing home improvements, consider getting a Lowe's. A simpler, easier life - that's what Lowe's can do for you.

Key Benefits of Using a Lowe's Credit Card

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Growing Your Business With Marketing Gifts

The results are in and it's official. Everyone loves a gift. And despite the fact that most people believe you never get something for nothing, most people are happy to accept the free marketing gifts handed out by the companies with whom they do business. Marketing gifts can be a keystone in your branding and marketing strategy and help you grow your business by leaps and bounds. All it takes is some strategic planning to reap the benefits of printing your name on some nifty little tchotchkes.

What you can do with marketing gifts

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- Entice new customers by offering them a free gift for trying your services or product

- Reward your current customers with little thank you gifts and reminders that they're appreciated

- Build name recognition by exposing your current and potential customers to your logo and business information

- Supplement your media advertising by finding a permanent home in the homes of your target market.

Adverts and flyers are often tossed in the dustbin as soon as they're opened - if they even make it that far. By contrast, when you give your customers something that they'll use and enjoy, it will stick around, sometimes for years. A coffee mug with your logo on it, a key ring to hold the spare house keys, the calendar you check every day - each of these represents an opportunity for you to put your name in front of your customer, sometimes many times a day.

How to Choose Marketing Gifts

The key is to give away marketing gifts that people will really use, without breaking your budget. If you can be clever into the mix, you're far ahead of the game. Some of the most popular marketing gifts in circulation are:

1. Calendars are sent out by nearly 50% of small businesses each holiday. They're inexpensive, everyone uses them and they stay around for the entire year. Why wouldn't they be popular?

2. Desk Accessories and Office Supplies are second on the list of marketing gift giveaways. Pen tubs, imprinted pens, personalized sticky notes - they sit right there next to the calendar on the desk where they're seen every single day. Why shouldn't your name be on them?

3. Refrigerator magnets are another marketing gift that gets seen many times a day. Most people never have enough of them, and they can be created in so many different styles, shapes and colors that it's easy to make yours stand out from the rest.

4. Key rings are also up there among the inexpensive promotional marketing gifts. They're inexpensive and useful, and people carry them around with them every day.

5. Clothing is a bit more expensive but it can offer comparatively higher returns as a marketing gift. Caps and t-shirts with your logo and name on them turn your customers into walking billboards for your business.

You'll find an enormous range of marketing gifts from the least expensive to classic executive corporate promotional gifts and items from leading suppliers on the internet.

Growing Your Business With Marketing Gifts

Grow Calendar 2011

Grow Your Small Business With a Birthday Program

Do you reward your loyal customers or clients with a treat or incentive on their birthdays? I just opened my email to find four emails from local restaurants all offering me either a burger, dessert, or an ice cream to help me celebrate my birthday. I love a good burger and a girl has got to eat right? I love chocolate so tempting me with dessert is going to entice me to visit that restaurant too, right? Am I going to go alone? NO WAY! I'm going to drag my adult children or my friends in to those places with me. I will not be dining alone. Below are three benefits to having a birthday program for your small business.

Three Benefits of having a Birthday Program

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1. People love to be remembered. Your customers will feel special and loved when you remember their birthdays. This is an opportunity to remind them that you are still in business and that you appreciate their patronage. When you email or mail birthday coupons they will sit on the customers desk or be posted on a bulletin board until they are used. They even may sit there for months past their expiration date. But that is ok, because even if the person is not able to use your coupon or take advantage of your special offer your business will be at the front of his or her mind when he or she is ready to conduct business with your niche market.

2. Psychology of Selling. When you offer a coupon for a free dessert or discounted item the recipient will not want to appear cheap. He or she will buy something from your business. The birthday girl or guy is also more apt to become or continue to be a loyal customer because you made him or her feel special. The birthday person will also brag to his or her friends about your generosity. Word of mouth advertising is a big asset for your small business.

3. It's Only a Number. Age is only a number but remember people rarely spend a birthday alone. When you reward your client or customer with a free dessert or food item he or she will not dine alone. He or she will bring in his or her family and friends to join the celebration. Your business revenue will have the opportunity to grow based on that one free burger or dessert. Your one coupon will generate two or three if not more new customers for that evening. Your small business revenue will grow.

When you make time to recognize your customers' birthdays you not only make him or her feel special but you will be growing your small business. If you do not have a birthday program I highly suggest you start one today. Next year I look forward to seeing your coupon or special offer in my email inbox.

Grow Your Small Business With a Birthday Program

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Couples -- Are You Growing Apart?

You used to be so happy together; now you feel as if you are drifting apart. You don't talk as easily; you don't feel as connected. You may even be wondering if you should stay in this relationship.

Being in relationship is hard work. Even very strong relationships require effort and attention. It is normal for committed relationships to change over time. The fun-filled romantic beginnings eventually give way to the realities of laundry, bills, errands, etc. Some days look hopeful, but other days you wonder, "What happened to the close friendship we once had?"

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It is normal for relationships to have their ups and downs, but some problems do not get better on their own and require more than just waiting for the storm to pass. When a couple begins to grow apart, neither one of them feels content - they may feel sad or worried.

The good news is - there is hope!

Here are a few things you can do to reconnect to each other and strengthen your relationship.

Name the problem - talk about the feelings of distance, stress, and worry that you are experiencing. This is not a chance to blame someone for the distance, but rather a chance to begin to understand what this experience is like for each of you.
Have a date every week - put it on the calendar, get a sitter if necessary, and spend time together. Go someplace where you can talk rather than a movie where you are watching and not interacting. Take a walk together, or go out for coffee or ice cream. Take turns deciding where to go on dates, San Antonio and the Hill Country are full of wonderful places where you can spend time together. If one or both of you are doing overtime at work, agree to cut back on this a bit so that you have time and energy for your relationship. Yes, we love our jobs and they are often demanding - but when you feel happy at home, you will be better at your work. Can you identify a particular time or event that might have started this emotional shift? Maybe there wasn't an event, but perhaps a series of events that pulled your attention other places. If you two can figure this out, you can have a different response in the future. If you are holding onto anger that is keeping you apart, work to resolve it. Make a list of at least 20 things you really admire about each other. Tell each other one item from your list every day for a month. This helps you remember why you fell in love, and helps you tune in to your partner. You can have fun with this - send your "I admire..." in an email or a card, or leave post-it notes around the house. Don't underestimate the stress that comes with feeling disconnected to each other. Stress contributes to most major illness. You will be helping yourselves and your relationship by tending to stressors.Set aside time every day to talk. Reflect on your day, or things you are worrying about. This is a great time to tell your partner what you admire in her. Daily connections will help you tune-in to each other.If nothing seems to work, seek an outside objective opinion from a friend, clergypersonson, or therapist. There is a pattern here - if you want to feel closer to your mate, you need to actually spend time with each other. By making time together a priority, you create a space to reconnect.

There are times in all relationships where couples can feel distant. However, you do not have to settle for a relationship that is "okay," you can actually have fun together and rekindle the love you once had.

© 2006 Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC - All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Couples -- Are You Growing Apart?

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How To Get Long Hair: 4 Hair Growing Tips Worth Knowing

If you are still wondering about how to get long hair despite having done so many things to grow it, read this article and you might just finally find the trick you need this time! First and foremost, you will need to ensure you give yourself a healthy and nutritious diet.

Yes, growing one's hair is possible if you will ensure healthy nutrition. For this, you will need to know the kinds of food that can help you grow hair faster. At the same time, you should also be aware of what you will need to eat less to once and for all get rid of your hair problems. In case you are not yet aware of the do's and don'ts in caring for your hair, make sure to finish reading this article from beginning to end. By so doing, you will be able to get some ideas on how to have longer and fuller hair in no time.

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1. Start With Your Diet
Start eating healthy food everyday. Eat nutritious food for breakfast and lunch as well as for dinnertime. You will need to eat a balanced diet if you are really serious about nourishing your hair. After all; you will only be able to achieve the best ways of how to get long hair if you will start eating healthy. Add protein-enriched foods to your regular meals. By this, you will feed your hair follicles and therefore produce new growth hormones which will trigger your hair growth.

2. What You Need To Eat
Eat vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes, fruits, cereals, whole grains in your diet. Stay away from foods and drinks like coffee which are known to cause iron-deficiency in your body. After all; it has been confirmed that iron deficiency is the number one cause of hair loss not just in women but also in men.

3. Take Vitamins That Promote Hair Growth
What is more, take vitamins B and C, zinc, biotin, omega fatty acids and iron. Vitamin B-Complex plays a very crucial role in growing your hair. That is why if you have inadequate Vitamin B in your body, you have more chances of experiencing hair loss problems such as falling hair or receding hairline. In other words, the instance you notice problems in growing your hair, immediately take Vitamin B and you will see the "magic" that Vitamin B can do for your mane.

4. Try Taking Antioxidants
Lat but not least, you should also realize the importance of taking some anti-oxidants if you are truly bent on knowing how to get long hair. They will not only get rid of the toxins in your body but they will also help you get rid of all your stress as well. Keep in mind that stress is the number one nemesis of growing hair. So if you are so stressed out everyday of your life, there is no way you can possibly grow your hair back fast and easy. Alleviate the stress and you will surely be one step away from getting bald.

How To Get Long Hair: 4 Hair Growing Tips Worth Knowing

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Saturday, August 27, 2011

Where Roses Grow Wild

The rose is one of the most beautiful and most widely planted flowers in many peoples' gardens, but the rose is also one of the most demanding flowers as far as maintenance is concerned. Many roses that are planted need to be constantly cared by spraying for bugs, trimming down surrounding weeds, and fertilizing are all popular practices for rose growers to help their rose bushes grow more full and more beautiful.

However, there is a way to get the beauty of the rose without having to deal with the hassle of taking great care of it, and that is by planting a wild rose. This article is going to look at where roses grow wild and how to care for roses.

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The first thing to consider when planting a wild rose is where to plant it. It is important to know the places where roses grow wild so the rose is planted in a place where the conditions are favorable for the rose. However, because the wild rose is so resilient there not really any rules for where roses grow wild best except for planting them where they will not be mowed over. Therefore, the best place for this would be at the back of a meadow lot or put against a fence or a house. Anywhere that the mower will not get to the bush would be a good spot to plant the wild rose.

Man-made, hybrid roses require a lot more work, and thus learning how to care for roses is a little more difficult. Whereas, wild roses are such a low maintenance plant, therefore it is very easy to learn how to care for roses. Wild roses, which are much like a small tree, are very hearty plants. During the winter, wild roses will shed their flowers and leaves and just remain bare, and as long as the dead branches are cut off at the end of winter, they will bloom again come the spring. They will bloom a little, if you don't trim them, but there is no harm in helping them a little so they flourish.

To conclude, being able to attain the beauty of a rose without all of the work is finally attainable with planting a wild rose. Wild roses are more resilient and less susceptible to weeds and bugs than regular roses that are bought at a nursery. For all of these reasons, a wild rose would be a wonderful addition to any meadow or garden and be enjoyed with a minimal amount of work. So if you are going to do this, get with your local garden center and see if you can order some hardy wild roses. Good luck !

By: Lee R. Martin

Where Roses Grow Wild

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Six Factors To Grow House Plants Successfully

You must keep the following six factors in mind when you are planning on successfully growing houseplants:

* Light and Sun

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* Temperature

* Humidity

* Ventilation

* Watering

* Cleaning

Along with all of that - summer care. It is simple, but important, to take these factors into consideration. Below you can find details on the first of these factors, light and sun.

Light and Sun

Before you decide which plants to purchase, make sure you have the correct light for it somewhere in your home. Some plants need direct sunlight, whereas others thrive in reflected sunlight. It is typically good to place plants near a south facing window if you have a choice.

Windows that face south receive the most sunlight, followed by eastern, west, and finally northern facing windows. Not all plants need the direct sunlight, but you can provide shade for plants more easily if you need to. It is impossible to add light to an area that doesn't receive enough sunlight, however. A perfect gardening situation is to have a bay window facing south.

Foliage and flowers grown in sunlight naturally grow towards the light. If you want to be able to see the flowers well from inside, you should turn the plants every couple of days. You don't have to turn them as often if you want to show off the flowers to people outside. The plants will grow lopsided if you never turn them at all, however.

Even though plenty of plants grow well without direct sunlight, all plants need some kind of light to grow even house plants that are so called low light. Photosynthesis is a necessary process of plant growth, and light is the main ingredient. If a plant is not receiving enough light, the leaves will begin to lose their luster. After that, the plant will begin to droop, and the leaves will fall off. Eventually, even with adequate water and nutrients, the plant will die.

Six Factors To Grow House Plants Successfully

Grow Calendar 2011

Some Unique Ways to Grow Vegetables

When you think about growing vegetables you normally think of a large area which has been tilled or plowed in order to plant the tiny seeds or small pants and grow vegetables. This is the traditional way of growing a vegetable garden, however there are many other ways that can be very effective and not require nearly as much space.

Today people are finding lots of creative ways, in which to grow vegetables in very limited spaces. People living in apartments can even grow vegetables. I had a girl friend that grew some tomatoes in a big 10 gallon bucket that she put some dirt in out on the patio. Those were the best tomatoes ever.

Grow Calendar 2011

I even had an aunt and uncle that always had a garden each year. However they never liked the idea of having the garden in some big spot taking up a lot of space in their back yard. So, they devised a very creative way to grow vegetables. They made their garden in what looked like a flower bed around the entire yard. It was about 3 feet wide and followed their picket fence all the way around their entire property. The vegetables that were grown in my aunts yard were always just as good as any grown in traditional vegetable gardens.

These examples just show you that it doesn't take much room to grow some great vegetables just about anywhere. I have even known people to grow them in their home under a plant light. However that method is usually used for getting the plants started from seeds, but it can also be a valuable way to produce wonderful vegetables if you decide you want the space utilized that way.

Some Unique Ways to Grow Vegetables

Grow Calendar 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Secret to Growing Carrots is Simply Using the Right Methods

The right way of growing carrots:

There are more than a hundred varieties of carrots, but typically only 4 groups are used for planting. The carrot plant needs more moisture than other vegetables you may have grown in the past. Drought is one condition a growing carrot will not tolerate. An extended period of hot temperature is believed to cause the vegetable to have an excessively strong flavor.

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Best way to plant carrots:

When growing carrots the seeds can be placed in the soil during the early part of spring. They should be gently pressed into the dirt about a ¼ of an inch and spaced apart 1-1/2 foot at the minimum. The seeds should then be covered with well-rotted compost, and then kept moist until they sprout. Once they become settled in the soil, a layer of mulch should be added to preserve moisture.

Carrot care:

You want to use a loose, well-drained soil with a P.H. of 5.5 to 7.5. Growing carrots do best when the soil has a high-level of potassium. Adding wood ashes to the soil will help accomplish this.

Garden pests:

A common pest found on carrots is the carrot fly. It begins life as a maggot, feeding on the outside of the vegetable. Moles, mice and rabbits can be a problem for your carrots as well. Use a pest netting to help keep them off your crops.

Growing carrots is a great way of getting exercise, saving money at the grocery store and ensuring your family is eating healthy vegetables.

The Secret to Growing Carrots is Simply Using the Right Methods

Grow Calendar 2011

Growing Hydroponic Potatoes

When start growing hydroponic potatoes at home? If you have tried, you have found that it is not very easy. However, there are ways that you can do this and without a lot of the frustration that you may have found. In this article, we will discuss an easier and cheaper way of growing hydroponic potatoes at home.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have all your supplies. You will need seed potatoes, straw, perlite, wood chips, or sand, and a planting container. Now that you have everything you need, you can get started.

Grow Calendar 2011

You will need to make sure that you have a good setup. This means you want an area that is dark and cool. You never want to plant your in an area that will ever be more than eighty degrees ever. If you do, you will find that it will have difficulty producing any new products.

Now, to get started, cut your seed potatoes in half. Allow them to dry just as they are for as long as a week. When they have dried, plant the halves within your choice of growing method. It will only take a few days to sprout new potatoes.

As mentioned you want to keep the plant dark, no sunlight is necessary. In fact, using straw to cover the entire thing will do the trick and it is cheap at the same time. As time goes and you are ready to harvest, all you need to do is reach in and grab. This is important because it will provide room for the others to keep growing.

If you have troubles, do not fret. Potatoes are very difficult to achieve in this medium simply because they require so little, which makes it so hard. When growing hydropinic potatoes, just remember that you need dark, cool, and seed plants to get started.

Growing Hydroponic Potatoes

Grow Calendar 2011

Build Deck Stairs

Deck stairs are built just like the rest of the deck. When adding deck stairs, you simply fasten deck boards (steps or treads) to the tops of stair stringers and attach the stairs to your deck. You can make the stair stringers yourself or you may be able to find pre-made stair stringers but even the pre-made stringers will need some customizing based on the height of your deck.

Calculating the Number of Steps

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The easiest way to figure out how many steps your stair stringers will need is to use the very simple rule of dividing the height of your deck by the riser height of your steps (and round to the nearest number). Risers are usually 6 to 8 inches high. The height of your deck is measured from the ground to the top of the deck board where you will step onto the deck.

So, if you want 7 inch risers and the height of your deck is 48 inches then 48/7 = 6.86 steps. After rounding, you will build 7 steps.

Materials Required to Build Deck Stairs

The two main components required to build deck stairs are stair treads and stair stringers.

The treads are usually made using 2x6, 2x8, or 2x10 while the stair stringers are almost always made from 2×12's, which are actually 1.53x11.253. You might want to use pre-cut stair stringers to save yourself some time on measuring, layout, and cutting.

Building and Attaching Deck Stairs - Build from the Ground Up

It is easier to build deck stairs on the ground before attaching them to the deck but they get heavy once all of the stair treads are attached to the stair stringers, which makes them difficult to properly and safely maneuver into position at the deck. The best compromise is to attach your stringers together first and put only a few stairs treads on before attaching the stairs to the deck. Make sure to use strong hardware such as lag screws or hex bolts when attaching your deck stairs as the consequences of failing steps can be disastrous (hopefully this is obvious).

You can find more information, images, and links at LumberTalk.com.

Build Deck Stairs

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

How to Build a Storage Shed in 11 Steps

To get started building a shed you can go to your local home depot or Lowes. Building a storage shed is no different than building a home. I'm going to show you step by step how to build one from scratch.

Tools For The Job:

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1. The first thing you do is get some 2x4's. Normally these are wood but they come in a variety of different materials. I would suggest using wood to start off. I'm from the old school and wood always worked better for me. Other types of 2x4's work good as well.

2. Once you have all of your materials such your wood, nails, henges and other hardware you are ready to choose your location and design.

3. You will also need right angle brackets and T brackets to assemble your shed. These can easily attached using power tools. You will also have to pre drill your holes and use self tapping screws to secure your shed. There several ways to assemble your shed based upon your area or climate. Ask your local hardware store for different types of hardware used to secure your shed.

4. Start out by laying your 2x4's on a flat surface and you can use the standard stud width of 15 inches but you may have to check your local building codes.

5. You can use the standard size of 6x4 plywood for your sides for convenience.

6. For tools you will need a measuring tape and hammer, a plumb bob line and level, circular saw, a carpenter's square and don't forget your screw driver.

7. It's a good idea to check with your home owners association about building codes and to make sure your in compliance with your neighborhood regulations. It would be terrible to have your shed torn down after all of your hard work.

8. If frost is a problem in your area make sure you leave concrete padding around your post to prevent damage from frosting.

9. All buildings start at the foundation. You always begin from the bottom then work your way up. Make sure the floor rests on skids (pieces of woods that support the foundation and allows you to relocate your shed). Make sure your joists are approximately 2 ft apart. 4 foot cladding boards match up with this perfect. Nail your joists to the top and bottom of your 2x4's to form a rectangle of the appropriate size.

10. Make sure to secure your horizontal 'Noggings' perpendicular to your studs. This provides structural integrity.

11. Now you can call your buddy to help you. It's time to raise the walls. It's very important to make sure that as you raise and secure the wall sidings make sure they remain flush with your foundation. All sides should be right angles to each other.

How to Build a Storage Shed in 11 Steps

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Why Vinyl Fences?

One of the greatest prides a homeowner can have is the joy of having a big backyard with a fence all along the perimeter, acting as a claim to the property and a statement of home ownership for all to see. Therefore, it's important to many people to have a durable and attractive fence to not only make an aesthetic statement, but to keep the family pet in and have a place for the children to play safely. There are many questions that come with building a fence, but one of the most important questions concerns materials. What should you use to build your fence?

Vinyl fences are great choices for your backyard for many reasons. The first main reason is how easy they are to construct. With traditional wooden fences, you have to bore postholes, pour concrete, and laboriously nail each plank in a process that can take days. Vinyl or plastic fences, by contrast, are lightweight and easier to put up, taking a fraction of the time as wooden ones.

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Another good reason to choose a vinyl fence is their durability. Unlike wood, which is prone to weathering, vinyl fences are made of PVC, a polymer material that can withstand sun, wind, rain, and snow far better than less-durable wood. With vinyl fences, you know your fence will stay up for a while. The initial cost may be more, but vinyl makes up for it in the long run with its longevity.

Lastly, vinyl fences can be made in many styles and colors that can offer a greater variety of choice than your standard wood fences. Thus, you can choose exactly the type of fence that you want for your property. Not to mention, you don't have to bother with messy sealant either. All of these reasons and more are great benefits to vinyl fences for your backyard. After all, a fence makes a statement. You want the right one for your house and your property. So if you're looking for the best Vinyl fences your money can buy do a search online before heading down to your local Lowes or Home Depot!

Why Vinyl Fences?

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The Truth About Lowe's and Toxic Chinese Drywall

Building a home or remodeling are both very expensive and most home owners tend to look at the cheapest product as well as availability. Because there was a large building boom between 2004 and 2008 and also natural disasters, such as hurricanes in 2006, some home owners purchased Chinese drywall.

Why the panic? Some homeowners that put Chinese drywall in their walls have found that it caused corrosion problems and some health problems as well. If you remodeled, built or bought a new home during this time period you may want to learn some facts.

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The first thing to know about Chinese drywall is that in humid areas it was found that it emitted toxic fumes that smelt like rotten eggs. It also caused problems with pipes in the walls. Piping found in air conditioning units and other appliances had corrosion problems that were directly linked to the fumes. Some residents also had some associated health problems. Many people found that the fumes caused respiratory and sinus problems. Because of these health related issues some people actually moved.

It was found that over 540 million pounds of Chinese drywall was imported to the US. However, as far as Lowes, they claim that there was none sold at their stores. Lowes called all of their suppliers when the problem was first discovered and their suppliers claim that they never received any contaminated drywall from China. Lowes claims that if you bought drywall from them, then there is no need to worry.

As you can see Chinese drywall has become a very large problem and there are many lawsuits in the works. Insurance companies and manufacturers are fighting over who's to blame--and who gets the bill. Unfortunately, as it usually happens in cases like this, the litigation could go on for years while thousands of families suffer from the effects of this toxic drywall. Lawsuits have been filed in Alabama, Louisiana, and other southern states. If you live in these areas you may want to have your homes inspected before problems occur.

The Truth About Lowe's and Toxic Chinese Drywall

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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Improving Sales; Home Depot Catering to Women Customers

The Home Depot stores are concerned that their same-store profits and sales volumes have gone down in the previous quarter over last years sales during the same quarter, so what is Home Depot doing to improve their sales? Home Depot is improving their sales by catering to women customers. Home Depot's biggest competitor has been Lowes and a Lowe's has many products, which cater to the women customers.

Home Depot has moved previously into the sector for building and construction industry and you can go to any of their stores at six o'clock in the morning and all live construction people filling up their tracks with equipment and purchases.

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Home Depot also caters to the home improvement do it yourselfer and it that has generally been men. However, Lowes has made eight each business on catering to women customers who prefer their store when shopping and on the weekends you can see men and women shopping together at Lowe's for items for the home. Home Depot knows it must now start catering to women and that is exactly what they're doing.

Home Depot expects this strategy to work well into the next quarter and believes that will indeed improve their financial outlook. Women will also like the idea as they bring in more women friendly products for those weekend shoppers looking to fix up their homes. Some of the problem with Home Depot has been that the construction industry has slowed down significantly over last years booming times. Consider all this in 2006.

Improving Sales; Home Depot Catering to Women Customers

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Growing Ginseng

Ginseng is a fleshy rooted herb and a slow growing plant that takes years to grow. Ginseng grows in well-drained, cool, shaded hardwood forests. Ginseng does not grow in full sunlight, and hardwood forests provide the plant with plenty of shade. Ginseng is a perennial plant, but unlike other perennials lies dormant some years and does not grow new tops every year. The root does not die but lies dormant until the following year.

Ginseng seeds sprout up in the spring. Hence, the best time to plant is sometime the end of September until the end of February. Seeds or plants will sprout the end of April. Plant seeds about 1/2 to 1" deep, two year old roots about 1 1/2" deep. Lay the roots on their side, not vertical. Then cover the whole bed with 1 I" of mulch or rotten leaves.

Grow Calendar 2011

One-year-old plants will have three leaflets, looking like a strawberry plant. The second year, the plants usually have five leaflets, and the following year, it begins to branch out with two, three and four prongs with three to five leaflets in each prong. It grows in the wild about 1' tall that blooms in the summer. When it ripens in the fall or late summer it has bright red berries. Each berry usually has two seeds. The seeds may be kept in damp sand for one year and used for replanting or sold. It takes about six to eight years to grow to the point where its roots are large enough to harvest. If it is cultivated using fertilizers and pesticides, it takes about 4 or 5 years to grow.

Ginseng roots do not grow straight down. They are usually at about 45 degrees in the ground. Carefully expose the underground stem at the base of the above-ground portion, and follow it until it joins the top of the true root. The taproot may be forked and have many diffusely branched rootlets. Expose the whole root and wash as soon as possible but do not scrub. A little soil left around the root rings may enhance its value.

Spread cleaned roots on a piece of old plywood or screen rack in the shade for drying. Turn frequently and provide adequate aeration. Drying time varies with root size and drying techniques. Large roots require three or more weeks to dry at room temperature or outdoors, but small roots dry in a few days.

Growing Ginseng

Grow Calendar 2011

Growing Blueberries on Your Patio

Growing and harvesting a fresh thriving crop of blueberries from your home organic garden can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. Even better than that is being able to grow them on your patio in containers, where they can easily be harvested when ever you want with ease.

Blueberries are a fairly easy crop to grow in zones from 3 to 10. Relatively pest and disease-free, they will thrive with a minimum amount of care when planted properly. Location and soil conditions are the two key elements in having a successful crop.

Grow Calendar 2011

The two most common varieties of blueberry that can be grown in a container garden are "Top Hat" and "Dwarf Northsky Blueberries". Both are compact varieties that cam be easily grown and maintained in containers on your patio or even incorporated into your edible landscape. The "Dwarf Northsky" is a variety that is most hardy for being grown in areas with colder climates.

Having a successful crop starts from the very beginning with blueberries of any type. The location and the soil conditions are the key to having a successful, healthy and thriving crop. The first growing season after you plant your blueberries is the most critical time for them. if not cared for properly from the beginning, their yields can be drastically reduced for years to come.

Being relatively trouble free from disease, pest and weeds, all they really need is a soil that is acidic and one that drains well. Blueberries can tolerate the cold, heat and partial shade, but dislike a poor draining soil or a soil that has a ph level of above 5.5.

Growing Blueberries on Your Patio

Grow Calendar 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

How to Hire the Right Building Contractor for Your Home Remodeling Project

Finding and hiring the right home remodeling contractor for your home remodeling project can be daunting and confusing. You can easily search the web or look in the yellow pages and find many home remodeling contractors listed in your area but the question remains - which one do you hire for your home remodeling project. Which one will perform quality work, charge a fair price and get the job done on time.

To reduce the risk of hiring the wrong home remodeling contractor you should first do a little preparation yourself for the home remodeling project. Sketch out and write down what you want remodeled. Provide a copy of this information to each prospective home remodeling contractor as this will help to minimize misunderstandings of requirements.

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If you are adding a home addition, use stakes and string or even spray paint and mark the area on the existing lawn/ground.

Next talk to your local building inspector to understand what permits and building requirements are necessary for your home remodeling project.

Visit home improvement centers such as Lowes and Home Depot, and look at materials expected to be used on your project (e.g. lumber, doors, windows, appliances, countertops, roofing material, etc.). Make note of their costs so you will be able to compare material costs proposed by prospective contractors. While visting home improvement centers also talk with some of the employees about costs and lead times for particular products of interest. For example, there are many types of doors and windows and frequently there can be significant lead times for deliveries.

When you start calling prospective contracts ask for references and previous work that you can visit.

Finally, make sure you get multiple quotes and make sure that they are in writing. Also ask how long the quotaion is vaild.

For further help in hiring a home remodeling contractor for your next home remodeling project visit HomeAdditionPlus' Home Addition Bid Sheets. Home Addition Bid Sheets include the tools and information you need to ensure you hire the right home remodeling contractor for you home remodeling project. Each bid sheet contains a comprehensive checklist of questions to ask prospective contractors, as well as cost and timeframe estimates. Home Addition Bid Sheets help ensure that your home remodeling project will be accomplished on time and on budget.

How to Hire the Right Building Contractor for Your Home Remodeling Project

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The Basics of Growing Flowers in Tropical Climates

Different types of flowers have adapted to grow naturally in the three different climate zones of the globe. These zones include the tropical, temperate, and polar zones. Tropical flowers are are abundant, as many different plant species thrive in a climate that is largely non-arid and warm. Flowers that are native to the tropics are those that grow naturally in areas that lie between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer.

This area includes the most fertile areas of China, Africa, and South America. Other tropical locations include the Congo Basin, and parts of the United States, Mexico, and Australia. If you live in these areas, it is relatively easy to grow flowers native to the area, as native tropical flowers enjoy the warm temperatures and frequent rainfall these areas receive.

Grow Calendar 2011

If you are interested in growing flowers in a tropical climate, you will have the most luck with growing tropical flowers. Some of the most popular tropical flowers for the dahlias, Christmas orchids and other types of orchids, the African tulip, the Angel Wing begonia, lotus, jasmine, hibiscus, the blue passion flower, and many others. Tropical blooms are known for being fragrant and colorful, and most of them bloom throughout the year when planted in a native environment. Tropical flowers are truly a beautiful addition to gardens and yards, giving people gorgeous landscapes and attracting birds and other species to enjoy their nectar and natural coverage.

You can try to grow flowers from other climates such as the temperate and polar zones in a tropical landscape, but largely you will need to grow these in a greenhouse setting where you can control the rainfall and temperature these plants receive. Plants that are not native to the tropical climate may not thrive in such a warm, wet climate as you would find in the Tropics.

The Basics of Growing Flowers in Tropical Climates

Grow Calendar 2011

Where DIYers Shop - Where They Buy - Home Depot, Lowe's Or Menards

As of the writing of this article, the trends are significant when do-it-yourself consumers tell us where they shop and where they actually make their purchases especially for larger ticket items relative to Home Depot, Lowes and Menards.

Menards, a family owned Midwest chain of Big Box stores, continues to have the highest ratio of those consumers who indicate they not only shop the store, but also actually purchase the items they shopped for.

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When the other two giants in Big Box building materials retail, with more of a nationwide presence, customers are studied, it is clear Lowe's is the place shopped and Home Depot is the purchase venue.

These trends were first uncovered about 8 years ago, and seem to be holding in the same trend more recently.

There could be a number of reasons for the indicators, but presented are a glimpse of this author's newer on-site, in-store observations. Actual product estimate acquisition and shops were conducted for this process in the departments listed. All opinions expressed are those solely of this researcher and not statistically relevant, since not every location of each retailer was shopped. But, in this researcher's opinion, the shops further solidified the quantitative, statistically relevant trends gathered in previous studies. Shops were conducted from coast to coast over the past 9 months.

1) The level of in-store customer service is higher in many visited Lowe's locations than in the same visited city Home Depot locations. When visiting those cities with all 3 retailers, including Menards, the people employed by Menards, especially in lumber and other building materials used in construction, were easier to find, more helpful and easier to ask questions of than both Home Depot and Lowe's. Wait times for help in this category were more favorable at Menards. Technical questions were answered more times correctly at Menards, then Lowe's, then Home Depot in the structural building materials category of goods.

2) Merchandising and in-door procurement of structural building materials was better at Lowe's than either Home Depot or Menards, in this researcher's opinion. Adjacent displays for selling and finding related needed items to accompany the main purchase category was best at Lowe's, worse at Home Depot. The self serve yard at Menards for lumber and structural building materials is cumbersome, and the layout continues to be confusing.

3) When it came to designing decks and supplying material lists to consumers, there seemed to be less help at Menards, but the process at all 3 retailers was cumbersome, even with deck designing software - used directly by consumers and / or provided by in-store personnel. In this researcher's opinion, the notion of folks making appointments to design decks or leaving construction lists behind and only being given a lump-sum price annoys potential customers.

4) In the cabinetry area, Home Depot and Lowe's are similar in help and understanding of the customer's needs, however Home Depot seems to answer direct technical questions and understand lay out and design slightly better than Lowe's. Menards in this category seems to lag, both from an assortment and a "friendly, we can help you" position. Few designers were familiar with formaldehyde off gassing specifically as it related to their lines of cabinetry.

5) The most knowledgeable sales associates for doors and windows are at Menards, then Lowe's, then Home Depot. Many technical questions were incorrectly answered by all three retailers at every store visited. Fenestration is an area where all three could use some training. Only in-stock or displayed items were tested in this category.

As part of this series, the shops will continue into the future, with sporadic articles as they become available in all departments of all three Big Box retailers. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's opinions only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any retailer.

Where DIYers Shop - Where They Buy - Home Depot, Lowe's Or Menards

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Understanding Hardwood Lumber

You may have a couple of woodworking projects in mind, such a building a hutch, perhaps laying flooring in your home. The first question that comes to mind is what is the right kind of wood for the particular job? This question becomes easier to answer once you understand a bit about the unique characteristics and qualities of each hardwood.

Hardwood is lumber that comes from hardwood trees, which are those that have a broad leaf, or produce nuts. In North American, the most popular hardwoods are cherry, maple, walnut, oak and hickory. The climate in North America is conducive for the production of these strong wood trees. The entire group of these trees, taken as a whole, are called "hardwood" trees.

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Even though all hardwood is not the same, the lumber industry has taken steps to standardize wood by designating different strengths and grades so that the consumer can know which is the best hardwood for the woodworking project he is contemplating.

The hardest of all hardwoods are pecan and hickory. The strength of hardwood is determined by PSI, which is how much pressure it takes to dent the wood, measured in pounds. For hickory and pecan, it takes 1,820 pounds. The "softest" of the hardwoods is aspen, which takes as little as 350 pounds to mar the wood. The commonly used woods are in the middle, in terms of pounds of pressure, such as maple (1,450), white oak (1,360) and cherry (950 pounds). These measurements are important since they will indicate which hardwoods are best for which project. For flooring, you would want a harder wood than you would need for furniture.

Depending upon the temperature and moisture content of its surroundings, hardwood expands and contracts as an adaptation to its environment. To keep this change in texture to a minimum, hardwoods are dried in a kiln oven to remove a great deal of its moisture content. This will stabilize the amount of expansion and contraction so that it retains its original shape as closely as possible.

The manufacturers of good hardwood take the character of the wood into account when they specify what the wood should be used for. An example of this concept is that Windsor-brand plywood is used as an under flooring and for outside wall bases. Siegal, Lowes, Carter and Dunn, Carter, Lowes and Siegel lumber all carry lumber suited for whatever job you want to do. If you shop on line, you will see that seller such as Lumber Liquidators carry a large stock of hardwood lumber to be used primarily for flooring applications.

You have to decide carefully about the kind of lumber you are going to use for each project, and especially about how you want the finished product to look. Even though the variation in how strong or durable different hardwoods are, the finished appearance can differ greatly and so you have to decide whether you prefer the rough look of white oak or the softer finish of maple. Since hardwoods are usually stained to any color you may like, it is the grain that will decide what the end product will look like.

Understanding Hardwood Lumber

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Care Tips for Planting and Growing Orchids Inside Your House

Orchids are typically an outdoor plant, thus it can be difficult to flower indoors. However, you can buy orchids that can thrive indoors or in a greenhouse. You do need to be familiar with the characteristics and conditions that orchids need to thrive in to result in a healthy indoor living condition. Here are some tips to care for the wholesale orchids you have purchased.

Contrary to typical plants, orchids do not grow in soil. In fact, planting an orchid in soil will kill the plant. In the wild, orchids grow on the bark of trees. Orchids should be grown in a similar way. Pots should be filled with loosely packed material such as bark or stones. Water is capable of draining quickly and also exposes the orchid roots to air. If wholesale orchids are left in standing water, they will eventually die.

Grow Calendar 2011

Wholesale orchids also need to have the temperature variations of the plants that are grown in the wild. In nature, orchids go through a range of temperatures between night and day time hours. This can be achieved indoors by creating a drop in temperature at night by a minimum of ten degrees. This will encourage flower buds to set more readily. Wholesale orchids can survive without this change in temperature, but they will not necessarily thrive without it.

Depending on the color of the leaf on the orchid, this will demonstrate whether or night the orchid is getting the proper amount of light. If it is not getting enough light, the leaves will appear dark green. If the leaves have a grassy color, then the plant is getting the right amount of light for blooming. Too much light can result in a yellowish color on the orchid leaves.

Growing orchids can be a fun rewarding experience inside your home. Use the research above to help the orchid make the transition from the outside to the indoors without putting the life of the orchid at risk. Follow the proper care instructions for an indoor orchid and you will be able to provide a colorful look inside your home.

Care Tips for Planting and Growing Orchids Inside Your House

Grow Calendar 2011

General Garden Storage Sheds

Why do you need garden storage sheds? For one, they are the best replacement ideas to have if you want extra storage space for your garden essentials such as lawnmower and tools. Some are large enough to store even your big sports equipment such as jet ski, bicycles or boats.

Garden storage sheds are available in many different sizes. They can be small to store only basic gardening tools or large enough to house your boat and jet ski or can even be converted into a garage. Materials also come in wide array of choices such as resin, vinyl, plastic, wood, metal and steel.

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Types of Storage Sheds for Your Garden:

There are several types of storage sheds for your garden. There is the general storage shed which one of the most popular types. This type is used for storing law equipments and it comes in many shapes and sizes. Another type is the 3-in1 shed which functions as a multi-purpose storage. It comes with both gazebo and potting shed and has ample space for storing your garden tools and accessories.

Another storage shed to consider is the tool shed which is perfect for people who enjoys gardening as it has enough space for storing all the gardening essentials. The shingle shed is usually made of cedar trees and red woods, thus it has an advantage when it comes to the long life department. The large storage shed is common in many large gardens, lawns or backyards. It has enough space for almost anything that you want to store and protect.

Some Garden Storage Sheds to Consider:

The extra-wide storage Heartland DIY Country Manor 10x16 Wood Storage Building features 64 inches double doors, wood floor, 16 inches joist spacing, 3-point locking handle, aluminum threshold to protect the entrance and premium 2 by 4 construction. It comes with a 15-year limited material warranty. Specifications include engineered wood siding, primed and paintable, 10 feet interior width and 16 feet length and storage capacity range of over 100 square feet. This unit is available under model number 18305-8 at lowes.com for only ,499.00.

Rubbermaid Horizontal Plastic Storage Shed has 25 to 40 cubic feet available space. It is designed to be durable, weather-resistant and easy to assemble. Additionally, it is impact resistant floor, leak-resistant, dent resistant and maintenance free. Buy this unit at homedepot.com under model number FG3747SWOLVSS at homedepot.com for only 9.00.

Part of the Tuff Shed line of factory-built buildings for your garden or backyard, Garden Ranch is the storage solution for your space problem. Affordable prices and great features are what you can expect from these factory-built units. This particular unit features six-foot exterior sidewalls, 5/12 roof pitch and overall ground to top heights ranging from 7 feet and 8 inches to 6 feet width to 8 feet and 6 inches on 10 feet width. Prices for this unit vary by options. Go to tuffshed.com for more information.

Give your utility tool, backyard and garden essentials a stylish storage space. Lifetime 8 Feet x 7.5 Feet Outdoor Storage Shed is large enough to store all your necessary outdoor equipment. It features shelves, pegboard to organize smaller supplies and utility tool, low-maintenance design, durable construction, high-density polyethylene plastic, powder-coated steel reinforcements, a double door with interior dead bolts, internal spring latch and exterior padlock loop. This unit is rust-proof, does not fade and needs no painting. And it is backed by a 10-year warranty. Buy this shed for only 9.00 at homedepot.com under model number 6411.

The best garden storage shed will not just drop into your garden or backyard. You have to take time to research your options. To make it easy, check online suppliers or retailers such as Sears, Lowes and Home Depot.

General Garden Storage Sheds

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Fantastic DIY Home Renovation Ideas

Everyone gets bored of their house if it never changes. I'm sure at one time or another you have been considering renovating your home or even upgrading all of the appliances in your home. However a complete home renovation is extremely costly, you would be lucky to have any savings left at the end of it! There are secret ways to improve the look of your home while also saving money.

There are some really good ways that you can improve the look of your home yourself without having to splash out lots of money. You can even do all of the tasks yourself without having to hire a professional. In order to get started you need to find some ideas and advice, we're going to take a look at some of the most popular websites that offer many different forms of DIY advice. Using these tips you can keep your house up to date.

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Finding help online

Many people get a little lost when they are planning to start their own DIY projects. However there are some secret tips that can help you find your way. If you have no idea where you should start then you should start by planning.

Just make a simple list of all of the things in your house that you would like to upgrade. Now you can use the internet, or magazine to get ideas what to do. You can even visit the better homes and gardens website at http://www.betterhomeandgardens.com there are some very easy to follow tutorials which are surprisingly affordable!

As well as using the internet you should also take advantage of the home improvement stores in your local area. Many cities have Home Depot, or Lowes, these not only sell items that you can use to renovate your home but they can also offer great advice.

The staff in these DIY centers should be very friendly and also know a lot about the projects that you will be attempting. When you visit the store you will be amazed exactly what it's possible to buy, it may well inspire you to do many more home renovation projects by yourself in the future! such as granite counter top installation

If you don't have enough time to visit the shops, and let's face it nobody does then you can check out their websites. These can be found at http://www.lowes.com and http://www.homedepot.com

Fantastic DIY Home Renovation Ideas

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Sunday, August 21, 2011

Build your Own Lightsaber - How to Build a Lightsaber

The Star wars series has an incredible following, of which I am one. The characters, space ships and technology are mind blowing at times. And for most of us we want a piece of that. We want to know what it would feel like to be a Jedi. One important thing that every Jedi possesses is a lightsaber. If you've ever dreamed of building your own lightsaber the good news is it is entirely possible.

There are several really good web sites on the internet that include designs, pictures and schematics of lightsabers that people have built on their own. In fact they are so popular that at times they are down due to heavy amounts of traffic. I'll give you a list of these sites at the bottom of this article.

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When you find a design you like you'll find that it includes a list of parts that you can pick up at your local Home Depot or Lowes. The one problem you might run into is that those parts are no longer in stock or have to be ordered. So at times you may have to improvise on your design. Sometimes it will end up looking better and original and unique.

One word of caution is that running around in a store like Home Depot or Lowes looking for nails, pipes and other strange mixes can cause suspicion. As happened to me one time - the police ended up coming to my house. So just be cautious of that and if anybody asks just tell them you are building a lightsaber.

Build your Own Lightsaber - How to Build a Lightsaber

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Wooden Wheelchair Ramp Building and Seven Things You Must Know

I have recently noticed a great deal of interest in information on building wooden wheelchair ramps. While I recently wrote an article that covered the building of concrete ramps here at my own residence. I thought I would cover building a wooden wheelchair ramp. I have in the past built several wooden ramps.

Wooden ramps come in a wide range of sizes and materials. So we will cover the general rules you must follow in order to build a sturdy and most importantly safe wooden wheelchair ramp. I say most of all safe because I have seen and even used some wooden ramps that to my mind were more dangerous than not having a ramp. There are seven thing you must know in order to build a safe and sturdy wooden ramp.

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1. Do I really need a wooden ramp here or would something else be better?

2. Remember the rules of ramp building. Your angle is 1:2 or 1" rise = 12" run, every 30" rise a landing of 60" long. Avoid long runs break them up if you can.

3. Materials must pressure treated or rated for outdoor use. Use stainless steel or galvanized carriage bolts and screws. You'll round footing forms and post brackets as well.

4. The tools you will need are very basic. You will need a hand saw or circular saw. A drill with a 1/2" bit to drill holes for the carriage bolts. A ratchet to tighten the nuts. A tape measure, a carpenters square, level, and cordless drill driver are other tools you will need. You will also need a post hole digger and a shovel.

5. Any structure is only as good as it's foundation. So we take special care with the footings of our wheelchair ramp. They should be place every six feet forming a 6' x 4' rectangle with a post bracket embedded in the top.

6. Don't make it too steep. Always check your angle and use the ratio. If it is too steep the user won't make it up.

7. Put it together right! Use screws for the decking and nuts and bolts at all the joints. Think of the ramp as a bridge for a wheelchair and build it as such. Don't just nail it together.

As we can see building a wooden wheelchair ramp is not a simple undertaking. It is however within the skill level of the average do-it-yourself builder. And while I wrote an article covering the building of a concrete ramp it was a rather simple threshold ramp you would encounter in typical slab construction home. I would not however recommend a concrete ramp project of the scale I have just described for the do-it-yourself builder unless you have prior experience with concrete projects of this scale.

Wooden Wheelchair Ramp Building and Seven Things You Must Know

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A Brief History of Advertising With Promotional Calendars

Calendar advertising has a rich history dating back to the 1850's when The Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing Co. of Philadelphia began printing calendars that contained advertising. Promotional wall calendars became even more popular as printing technology improved. In 1878, Andrew and Jacob Geiger opened a printing shop in Newark, NJ and began printing advertising calendars, fans, posters and other paper ephemera.

Calendar advertising became increasingly popular in the late 1880's, thanks to the efforts of two enterprising Ohio newspapermen, Jasper Freemont Meek and his competitor, Henry Beach. They were fierce competitors, and between them, they figured out how to put ads on a myriad of items from aprons, hats and a wide variety of household items. They even invented the classic metal trays advertising colas, which are now prized by antique collectors.

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Two more newspapermen, Thomas Murphy and Edward Burke Osborne, both of Red Oak, IA, are credited with inventing art calendars that became immensely popular in the late 1880's. Like Jasper Meek and Henry Beach, they needed new business to keep their presses busy and bring in additional sales. Osborne printed a watercolor of the new Red Oak courthouse on cardboard, printed advertising around the painting and added a calendar pad. It was a huge success.

Until then, nobody had thought to place attractive art on calendars. The two men purchased fine photographs and paintings from a variety of artists and improved their printing capabilities to include 3-color printing. By 1894, Murphy and Osborne employed a total of 94 people, including 14 traveling salesmen and printed an estimated three million calendars.

At the end of 1894, Murphy sold his interest in the business to Osborne, who moved the company to Newark, NJ to be closer to art and business centers in the New York metropolitan areas. Osborne then seized upon a new printing technology - letterpress printing - to produce calendars of the highest quality. The resulting success of those calendars allowed him to set up printing plants in Toronto, London and Sydney, Australia.

Since then, promotional calendars have continued to grow in popularity as a promotional product. Today, imprinted promotional calendars continue to be ranked among the three top product groups in the promotional products industry.

A Brief History of Advertising With Promotional Calendars

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How Can I Get My Hair To Grow Faster: 4 Answers To Your Hair Loss Malady

Are you already distressed with how you keep finding yourself asking "how can I get my hair to grow faster" over and over again? Maybe you have exhausted all possibilities to make your hair longer and more beautiful, but still it continues to thin out and thus, giving you receding hairline. If you would like to put a stop top your thinning hair right away, make sure to grab some hair care tips and tricks that will help you address your hair problems and finally give you the answer to your question "how can I get my hair to grow faster"? Here are just a few of the things you will need to know about making your hair grow faster that you should know and follow:

1. Ensure Proper Nutrition

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Take care that you eat loads of protein-enriched foods to make sure that you will get the help you need as far as growing your hair is concerned. In case you do not know yet, protein is very essential to make your hair longer faster. As a matter of fact, it has been proven that if you will religiously attempt to have a protein full-packed meal three times in a day, you will immediately see the results you have been looking for in just a matter of 40 days.

2. Flood Your Diet With Protein, Protein And Protein

Make sure you start incorporating dairy products into your regular diet such as cheese and milk, eggs, meat, whole grains, nuts, legumes, beans, fish and countless other protein-packed foods. That way, your hair follicles will receive the amount of proteins they need to stimulate your hair growth. Keep in mind that a body with little protein will surely develop hair that is frizzy, dull and damaged. Since there is damage, hair will start falling; thus, the thinning out.

3. Go For The More Natural Remedies Of Growing Hair

Not too many people know it but there are actually a lot of natural hair remedies that can help you grow your hair faster. All you will need to do is find the ones that will be most suitable to you. Try hot oil treatments using coconut oil or Mira oil. You will just have to warm the oil first then apply by deep massaging into your scalp. Massage your scalp really well so that the essential oils will penetrate the very roots of your hair and thereby, trigger the hair follicles to grow longer at a much quicker pace.

4. Go For A Regular Head Massage

Another tip so that you may finally stop asking the question "how can I get my hair to grow faster" over and over again is to pamper yourself with thirty minute massages every day. This is known to be a very beneficial activity especially for hair loss sufferers since massaging can trigger the blood to circulate more efficiently. With an enhanced blood flow, the hair follicles get activated to produce more growth hormones which are very necessary to grow hair.

How Can I Get My Hair To Grow Faster: 4 Answers To Your Hair Loss Malady

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How to Grow a Pineapple

The first thing you need to grow a pineapple is a pineapple. The pineapple (ananas comosus) is a bromeliad; in fact, one of the few in its family that is edible. However, the fruit of an unripe pineapple is poisonous and will irritate both your mouth and throat. Even the ripe fruit of the houseplant pineapple is not nearly as luscious and sweet as that grown in the sands of the tropics; still, the pineapple is a striking, interesting, and unusual plant to add to your collection.

The pineapple is a biennial. The first year it produces leaves and the second year it produces the flowering stalk that becomes the fruit. Actually, the pineapple flower becomes the popular fruit. A small leaf-like cluster produces up to 200 dagger shaped bracts that are the flowers. These flowers have immature ovaries that are called inflorescences. Each ovary turns into a seedless berry, the berries fuse together into one unit: the multiple fruit or sorosis we call the pineapple.

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So how do you grow a pineapple?

To grow a pineapple, purchase a whole one at your local grocery. Cut off the top, making sure your cut contains some of the fruit. Let this dry in the sun for a couple of days. When this plug has "hardened off", plant the top fruit side down. Cover the plug only enough to make sure it is firmly seated in your pot. Water the plant weekly until it is established; then water only when the sand is dry to your touch.

One of the interesting parts of growing pineapple plants is that they absorb nutrients and moisture through their leaves more than through their roots. When you water a pineapple plant, pour the water into the vase-like center of the leaves. Alternatively, you can mist the leaves with a spray bottle, concentrating the spray near the center of the plant, but continuing until the surrounding sand is damp.

How to Grow a Pineapple

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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Getting a Spiral Staircase

Are you looking to build a spiral staircase in your own house? If you want to build a good looking staircase, and you don't want to have a serious developer install it for a vastly overpriced amount, you can try to build and put the stairs in yourself. To do this, you will need to buy a spiral staircase kit--a kit that makes it easy to build and install the stairs. This is a modular kit, good for many sorts of houses and shapes.

If you want fast and easy assembly, and a staircase that doesn't take up too much space, go for the spiral variety. Because it is a spiral, and not a flat staircase, it will wind around a common center, taking up much less space than a normal staircase. This looks great in any house or building.

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Unfortunately, it will be a little bit more annoying to climb than a regular set of steps, because of its spiral nature. However, the tradeoff is well worth it, because in the end you can buy an easy to install by yourself set of stairs that you can install yourself.

You can find these kits online or at several hardware stores. Go check your local Lowes and Walmart, and look online for the types of stairs you are most interested in. I guarantee you'll find what you're looking for. You should definitely look for one that fits the color and design of your house, and also the shape and size.

Getting a Spiral Staircase

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Growing Grapes - A Beginner's Guide To Growing Grapes From Home

There is almost nothing as nice as growing something yourself and seeing your hard work and sweat turning into something that you can appreciate. Growing fruits and vegetables yourself is so healthy because you know what has gone into the product and what you are eating. Growing grapes has gotten to be something that many people enjoy. And more importantly they enjoy using those grapes for their homemade wine or some of the best jam you've ever tasted.

Growing grapes is something that used to take place on several of the farms across the country but for a while now was seldom seen. But much to my delight I'm seeing more and more yards with a beautiful trellis full of vines and grapes. Not only is growing grapes on your farm a good way to work outside but the taste is so much different than what you would get out of store bought grapes. And amazingly enough growing grapes aren't all that hard. You will just have to have the patience to get them growing good from the start so that you can enjoy them for years to come.

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As with any type of gardening, when growing grapes you have to have a good soil base for your grapes to get growing well. To have a good soil base you must fertilize. There are many ways that you can fertilize, from the store bought chemicals to the fertilizer that is found in every pasture that has cows, goats or horses in it. If you are one that prefers to use stuff that is bought from a store because you think it's in some way better, then you go right ahead. But I think that the fertilizers that have been here since ruminants were created are the best.

If you use fertilizer from a horse or a cow you will need to be sure that it has set for a little bit so that it doesn't kill the plants because of the fact that it's too "hot". But if you want to plant now and don't have time to let the fertilizer sit, use goat fertilizer. Manure from a goat is considered "cool" manure meaning that it won't overheat and kill your plants if not let sit. You can put a little bit around the base of the where you intend to plant the vine before hand and then some afterwards. By doing this, growing grapes will be an easier and far more fruitful task.

When growing grapes the plant will need approximately one inch of rain per week for that first year. If you experience a dry spell then of course you will need to water your plants. If you are worried about being able to keep the soil moist then you might consider using AquaRocks as they will work to hold in the moisture.

With these two items here being the main factors you have to worry about, you are well on your way to growing grapes that everyone will enjoy.

Growing Grapes - A Beginner's Guide To Growing Grapes From Home

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Grow Your Hair Faster With This Top 3 Easy Strategies

Nutrition affects the growth of your hair and if you intake the right food that has the right vitamins and minerals, you will be able to grow your hair faster. Deficiencies on nutrition could lead to hair thinning, brittle hair roots, split ends and balding. The condition of our body and our lifestyle plus stressful daily activities reflect on the growth of our hair.

If you are able to cope with hassle and bustle of daily life through regular exercise and nutritious diet, you will soon find out that you have shiny and healthy looking hair. Nutrients are needed to make them grow faster.

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So what do we do to grow hair faster anyway? Are there really effective techniques and strategies to keep hair strong and healthy? Let's start with the basics. Follow these three effective strategies:

• Take protein. Protein helps grow your hair faster. Protein makes up your hair, this is why taking the right amount of protein is needed to make you hair grow stronger and shinier. It is highly advised by hair experts to have the right kind of diet so that hair won't brittle or thin. Food that is rich in protein include yogurt, eggs, beans and soy. These foods are found to be good for stimulating and strengthening healthy hair growth.

• Get reliable hair growth products. Go all natural --- this is the best products that you must purchase. Also, choose products that have powerful essential oils in it that is rich with nutrients, vitamins and minerals --- these are the top nutrients needed by your hair. Try to avoid too harsh chemicals or products that kill natural extracts --- these products are usually made of cheap substitutes that can eventually harm your precious tresses.

• Have plenty of rest and sleep. Rest and sleep are one way to cut out and reduce stress and one of the secrets of achieving healthy, faster growing hair. Sleep will enable your hair to rejuvenate itself overnight. So, if you are under severe stress, take the time to relax. File a leave from work, have a vacation, go out with your friends or seek medication. Another one is if a person is having a medical condition and taking medications. This situation usually affects and gives a great impact to the growth of the hair. Things like drinking and smoking should also be avoided as they contain chemicals that makes our body intoxicated.

Hair loss is a problem faced by many people all over the world, both by men and women. With proper determination and following the steps above, you'll be able to enjoy a much stronger and thicker hair in no time. Of course, you can always visit a reliable specialist who can help you determine the real problems behind your hair loss and can even give you the proper prescription for it. For now, start by living and breathing a healthy lifestyle. You'll see a dramatic change soon.

Grow Your Hair Faster With This Top 3 Easy Strategies

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