Posts Tagged "Using"

Using Herbs From A Home Herb Garden – The Agony And The Ecstasy

Posted by admin on Sep 2, 2010 in Gardening | 0 comments

by Glory Oman 95858496

Using Herbs From A Home Herb Garden – The Agony And The Ecstasy

So, the agony has passed. You’ve nurtured the herbs in your home herb garden and now you are seeing results. But what do you do now?  Don’t despair, using herbs from a home herb garden is the good part. This is the ecstasy.

Always remember that the harvesting of any produce is a two step process: gathering and storing. Storage needs planning, whilst gathering is usually arbitrary and depends on when you feel your plants to be ready.

One of the great benefits of herbs has always been their excellent storage capability without any great loss of their primary virtue. Using herbs from a home herb garden depends both on the type of herb and your intended usage; you need to prepare for one of several storage methods.  For aeons past herbs have been dried or pickled in salt or vinegar. Today we may add freezing to our storage arsenal. For instance, you can freeze culinary herbs in ice blocks for later use in stews and soups.

Using herbs from a home herb garden – rules of engagement – gathering.

There are some simple rules to follow when gathering or storing. The process is really not complicated. To gather effectively whilst preserving their virtues follow these rules:

1. In the week before gathering is to take place, avoid spraying any insecticide near plants.

2. A dry, balmy, moderate spell in June is your best option in Northern climes. (For Southern hemisphere gardeners this means around December)

3. Harvest in mid-morning to avoid excessive heat whilst harvesting.

4. Ensure target plants are insect-free.

5. Don’t be greedy. Remove 25% or less of any bushy plant to enable strong regrowth for later use. Discard damaged leaves or stems.

6. If possible, shelter the target plants with shade cloth the night before harvesting takes place. This should be placed over a frame to avoid contact with your plants.

Using herbs from a home herb garden – rules of engagement – storage and preservation.

We have already covered the choices here. (Drying, pickling or freezing) Let’s cover the how in broad terms. The most important thing when using herbs from a home herb garden is common sense; think about what you are about to do. If all went well with the harvesting, we now have a healthy batch of produce.

Storage method 1 – drying.

Preparation: Obtain a packet of rubber bands, a ball of string and some “s” shaped wire hooks.

Method: Take lengths of string and make ‘clotheslines’ in a shaded dry spot. Separate herbs to be dried into bunches comprising 5 to 10 stems. (Depending on type of herb – you will soon get a feel for quantities) Secure these together by twisting the rubber band around the base of the stems. Use the “s” wire hooks to hang the bunches on the ‘clotheslines’.

Storage method 2 – preserving.

Definitely my favourite way of using herbs from a home herb garden.

Preparation 1: Obtain several types of bottles with corks capable of a reasonably tight seal. (The following paragraphs will indicate what containers you will need) Steep clean fresh herbs in oil or vinegar. Rosemary, thyme, tarragon, mint, basil and sage all work well. Serve as a herb vinegar or use as a flavoured oil for cooking or salads. Create many similar ways of using herbs from a home herb garden by using your imagination.

Preparation 2: Obtain several types of containers with lids capable of a reasonably tight fit and a bag of coarse salt. Place herbs and salt in alternating layers in a container. (Old ice cream containers work for me) When all moisture is leeched out, remove herbs and use aromatic salt in table grinders.

Storage method 3 – freezing. A modern but effective way of using herbs from a home herb garden.

Preparation: Obtain a roll of wax paper and a wide flat container capable of use in a freezer.

Method: Tear or slice herbs into convenient sizes and place on layers of waxed paper in the wide, flat container. Place in freezer overnight. Remove container, discard wax paper and repack frozen herbs into more convenient freezer storage containers.

There are many variations to the above methods of using herbs from a home herb garden, but the first 2 have been used successfully for centuries (sans rubber bands, of course) and the freezing method is a simple one. Try these before you buy dehydrators or ruin your oven or microwave.

Tomato Trellis Gardening: Using A Tomato Trellis To Maximize Your Harvest

Posted by admin on Aug 31, 2010 in Gardening | 0 comments

by Wolfiewolf

Tomato Trellis Gardening: Using A Tomato Trellis To Maximize Your Harvest

Growing tomatoes is such a popular summertime activity that it could possibly be considered the American pastime, perhaps second only to baseball.  Every spring, millions of home gardeners find at least some small space in their yard or garden, or even a spot on their deck or patio, for growing a tomato plant or two.  In this article, we are going to explore the idea of growing tomatoes on trellises, and how this unique alternative to staking or caging can lead to bigger and better harvests.

The question of whether gardeners should provide support for tomato plants is one that has been hotly debated in the gardening world.  Some purists believe that tomato plants should be left to sprawl on the ground naturally.  While it is true that allowing plants to lie on the ground will usually lead to bigger plants, it doesn’t typically mean that you’ll get a larger harvest.  This is because tomato plants in contact with the ground run a much higher risk of blight and other diseases, as well as pest infestations.  Furthermore, when fruit is touching the ground it tends to rot easily and will often become infested with bugs before the gardener has a chance to harvest.  Heavily mulching the ground with wood mulch or straw can help provide some protective barrier, but tomato plants left to sprawl will still experience a much higher rate of fruit rot and blight.

Most typically, gardeners use tomato cages as a way of staking their plants.  These small wire cages can be round or square, and are installed at the time of planting, providing support for the growing stems and heavy fruit as the plant gets bigger.  The primary problem with cages is that the plants often outgrow them by mid to late summer, leaving gardeners with overgrown foliage that droops down to the ground.  Another issue may be that the cages begin falling or blowing over because they aren’t sturdy enough to support the weight of a fully grown plant and all its fruit.

One interesting alternative to cages is the tomato trellis.  Trellises can provide excellent support for a large plant, because they allow it to continually grow up rather than out.  If the trellis is well supported at both the top and bottom (for example, if you can attach the top to the side of your house, garage, or shed), it will easily hold the full weight of a tomato plant at summer’s end.

Tomato trellises also afford gardeners the ability to grow more plants in a smaller space.  Typically, one tomato plant would require a plot of ground about three to four foot square, so as to leave enough room to walk around and harvest the fruit all summer long.  With a trellis, each plant may only require a one to two foot square area, meaning you can double, or possibly even triple, the number of plants you grow in one small area.

Last but not least, because a tomato trellis keeps the stems and foliage at a higher reach, maintaining the plants and harvesting the fruit is much easier on the gardener because less stooping and bending is required.  Trellises are an excellent solution for older gardener afflicted by arthritis or disabled persons constrained to a wheelchair.

So if you count yourself among the many gardeners who enjoy raising homegrown tomatoes in the summer months, consider trellises this year as an alternative to cages.  You may find that it leads to an easier gardening experience and a bigger harvest of tomatoes than you’ve ever had in the past!

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Using Mirrors and Light Fixtures to Spruce up Home Decor

Posted by admin on Aug 30, 2010 in Gardening | 0 comments

by honeykennedy

Using Mirrors and Light Fixtures to Spruce up Home Decor

Copyright (c) 2009 Julia Ritzenthaler

One of the simplest ways to spruce up your bathroom is by adding medium accent decorative items such as new lighting fixtures and a bathroom vanity mirror. There are a lot of options as far as style, size, and price point with both of these items. When choosing new vanity mirrors and light fixtures, you will find that there are many budget-friendly options available, particularly online.

Vanity Mirrors: Mirrors are trendy decorating items. This is because they are a great combination of form and function and they are easily coordinated with just about any look that you have created. A new mirror can do two things; it can complement an already well-designed look or it can create the pop of style in the room; do you want to complement the style or are you looking add to the style? This will determine the level of decoration you look for in your new mirror.

Simple mirrors are good for complementing an already stylish look. A frameless mirror can really open up a space and make it feel brighter without adding a heavy stylistic quality. There is also a large selection of mirrors with simple frames in silver, gold, wood, and more.

If you are looking to add style to the room without spending a lot of money, then look for mirrors that are decorative with ornate frames. For a contemporary feel, look geometric patterns, for a classic look shop mirrors with wide solid wood frames, there are man options available to you.

As said above, mirrors mean form and function, so they are a practical purchase, too. Think of how you’re going to use them on a daily basis. This will help you decide on what is best for your project, bathroom mirrors aren’t just over-vanity styles, full-length is always an option too.

Lighting Fixtures Each time you’re remodeling your bathroom, an essential decision to make is concerning your bathroom light fixture. Think about the size of the room, and if the vanity light is the only light in the room or if there are other lighting sources. Would a single bathroom vanity light fixture do or do you need multiple bathroom light fixtures? You can choose from a wide variety of designs, such as ceiling, pendant, flush fixtures, and candle wall sconces.

If you spend a considerable amount of time each day doing your hair or putting on make up in the bathroom, you already know of the need for good quality lighting. The online selection of light fixtures is fantastic, you will surely find something that fits both your style and your pocket book.

This week, we visit Lina’s amazing downtown loft for a look at some of her awesome DIY decor. Do you have a great home and want to share it? Upload a video to www.threadbanger.com/sumit!
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Using Ceremonial Drums For Unique Southwestern Home Decorating

Posted by admin on Aug 28, 2010 in Gardening | 0 comments

by honeykennedy

Using Ceremonial Drums For Unique Southwestern Home Decorating

I gave my home that great, southwestern look by adding ceremonial drums to my rustic decor. I was so happy with the authentic, rustic look that the Native American drums added to my home, that I started researching and reading about the history and the primary role they play in Native cultures. If you are like me, you have probably seen how meaningful ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not realize their importance in Native ceremonies or how exactly they are used. Every tribe is different in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very important and part of the main focus of the ceremony. Throughout my studies, I have come to find that learning about these drums truly gives you a great appreciation of the American Indian culture and their customs.

As you start studying about ceremonial drums, you will find it very intriguing that the Native Americans think of the ceremonial drum to be sacred. They are usually used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to come in contact with the Spirits and to connect with their creator. It is believed that each drum holds a spirit and that the drum beat signifies the heart beat of Mother Nature. Since the drum is believed to connect the people with the spirit world and guide the a healer in helping his people, you will see that they are commonly used by the healers or Shaman to enter the mind state, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to connect with the Spirits.

Also, as you study the importance of ceremonial drums in today’s culture, you will find that Native Indian drums play a significant part in the livelihood of American Indian tribes such as the Tarahumara. Making and selling these rustic style drums allows them to earn a living, through selling and trading their cultural hand crafts, and helps them extend the knowledge and traditions of their culture to those who buy them. The drum making knowledge, passed on from generation to generation in these tribes, teaches the drum makers how to make durable and long-lasting ceremonial drums with elements from the Earth and the environment around them such as pine wood and natural raw hide.

Today, Native Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Indian drumming groups and as Native American musical instruments, but they are also gaining popularity as pieces of decorative art, instruments used in school music classes and even as canvases for Native American art projects and southwestern paintings. Some types of ceremonial drums are also used as rustic style furniture and Native American decor, such as the larger powwow drums and pedestal drums that are used as rustic tables. Today, it is very easy to buy these beautiful Native American ceremonial drums online and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic decor. However you decide to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming purposes or in interior design, you will definitely be drawn to the simplistic charm and southwest style of ceremonial drums.

Using Sheepskin Rugs for Home Decor

Posted by admin on Aug 24, 2010 in Gardening | 0 comments

by TildeShop

Using Sheepskin Rugs for Home Decor

Sheepskin rugs are much appreciated for their natural softness and higher resistance to wearing than many synthetic rugs. Sheepskin rugs can be dyed into several colors without losing their natural look and feel. White rugs made of sheepskin are particularly popular for combining in contrast with dark-colored carpets and furniture. What is more is that rugs made of sheepskin are not difficult to clean. They can be used at a number of places and in a number of ways; e.g. as coverings for seats or beds, home or car interior decoration, and so on.

Buying Sheepskin Rugs

The prices of sheepskin rugs vary according to their quality, those coming from Australia, New Zealand, and UK being more costly on account of their higher quality. In addition, the degree of processing to which the rugs are subjected (dying and combing) also influences their prices. The most important thing to bear in mind about buying sheepskin rugs is their comfort. Plush rugs with thick natural piling are more comfortable and they should be the first choice of the buyer, even if they cost a little extra cash. A soft and pliable texture of the rug is desirable for decorative enhancement and the buyer should watch out for any rubbery feeling that is produced by some kind of backing material used in the rug. Also, a good sheepskin rug shows a finely-combed piling.

Altering Sheepskin Rugs

Rugs made of sheepskin can easily be dyed for giving them new colors that complement the rooms overall decorative pattern. Rugs can be used separately at various places or a number of them (up to ten) may be combined to produce a jumbo sheepskin rug. A large sheepskin rug may be dyed variously to form a mosaic pattern of colors that make a stylish display. In case a rugs piling becomes crushed (deeply pressed), a wire-dog brush should be used for making a few strokes at it in order to revive its natural look.

Cleaning Sheepskin Rugs

Sheepskin rugs are very easy to clean as they can be washed safely in a standard washing machine, using a small quantity of a non-biological detergent. It is important to protect sheepskin rugs from direct sunlight which may otherwise damage the rugs texture upon drying. Washing the rug in hot water or using bleach is also likely to damage its material. Cleaning should preferably be done with a wire-dog brush. To remove the dust from the rug, it should be cleaned with a dry sheepskin duster.

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