Yes, I love to pull weeds. And I’m not afraid to admit it. Some of you will judge me. I can hear it already. “You love to pull weeds? You must be insane. That’s what Roundup is for.” Well, there’s no better way to remove weeds from a garden than to pull the weeds out, roots and all. I will save the discussion of using poisons in the yard where kids and pets play for another story. Even if you agree with my anti-poison bias, you still might think I’m crazy for enjoying the process of removing weeds. What Are You, Crazy? No. I am not crazy. Unless being an avid gardener makes me crazy. But I still think pulling weeds is awesome. What’s so awesome about going out into the yard and pulling weeds? Here’s my list of Top 5 Reasons Why I Love to Pull Weeds. Reason 1: I love to pull weeds because I love to dig in the dirt. There’s something wonderful about digging in the dirt. Just ask a scientist. Digging in the dirt stirs up the microbes in the soil. When you inhale … [Read more...] about Why I Love to Pull Weeds
How to Get Rid of Ticks
The question is how to get rid of ticks. But you could call it a tick-ing time bomb. In backyards, forests and fields across America, the population of disease-carrying ticks is increasing. Homeowners and homesteaders alike are wondering how to get rid of ticks on their properties. If that wasn't bad enough, a new species of tick not normally found in the Western Hemisphere has now invaded the United States. As a result, many health and insect control experts are predicting this summer to be another bad season for ticks and their disease-carrying bites. How to Get Rid of Ticks: Lyme Disease Ticks are best known for transmitting Lyme Disease, which can cause a rash, fatigue, fever, chills, and headaches. Lyme Disease can also cause aches in muscles and joints. If left untreated, Lyme Disease can cause arthritis, severe joint pain and swelling. So it's no wonder that summer outdoor activities make us think about how to get rid of ticks and control tick populations. Every … [Read more...] about How to Get Rid of Ticks
Best Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmers
The best cordless electric hedge trimmers can make quick work of trimming your hedges and shrubs. The blades are sharp. The trimmers are ergonomically designed to be comfortable to hold and use. The cordless electric motors are quiet, powerful, and efficient. And the rechargeable batteries pack plenty of power to get the job done. Back in the old days (the 1990s), I owned an electric hedge trimmer. This was before cordless electric trimmers existed. My ancient hedge trimmer needed to be plugged in to get its electric power. That meant I could only trim as far away as my extension cord would reach. And that was a hassle. Even worse, one day I was trimming a shrub and accidentally used the trimmer to cut my 100-foot extension cord. That was an expensive mistake. So, I am a BIG FAN of today's impressive cordless electric hedge trimmers. I love the power of the brushless electric motors. I love the quick-charge lithium-ion batteries. And I love the freedom of taking my cordless … [Read more...] about Best Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmers
Grow Glass Gem Corn for a Colorful Harvest
Want to grow Glass Gem Corn? If you are looking for the most colorful corn variety of all time, Glass Gem Corn is it. What exactly is Glass Gem Corn? Think of it as Indian corn on steroids. Or LSD. Or both. But it grows like other common corn varieties. So, if you’ve grown yellow corn or sweet corn or white corn, you can grow Glass Gem Corn. (Don’t worry, I will give you some basic tips about how to grow corn below.) Why grow colorful Glass Gem Corn seeds? Well, the dried kernels make great popcorn. You can grind the kernels into a multi-colored cornmeal. Or you can grow it for a showy fall decoration. (The kernels are simply too hard to eat them off the cob.) How Glass Gem Corn was Born We wouldn’t have glass gem corn today if it weren’t for the efforts of two men—Carl Barnes and Greg Schoen. So, my hat is off for both gentlemen and their love for colorful corn. Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer in Oklahoma, began gathering heirloom corn seed varieties as an homage … [Read more...] about Grow Glass Gem Corn for a Colorful Harvest
Outdoor Games for Kids and Families
Looking for some great outdoor games for kids to play? You are not alone. It seems like every parent is trying to find fun things for the kids to do outside. It’s too nice to stay indoors. And you don’t want your kids to play video games ALL DAY. It’s time to reach into your parental “bag of tricks” and find some really fun outdoor games for kids—and some fun outdoor activities, too. So here are some great ideas to keep your kids happy as they keep busy in the backyard. Some of these are classics, and some of these are new. But all of these great outdoor games for kids and families are fun! Slip and Slide: A Classic Outdoor Game for Kids Many parents have fond memories of backyard fun on a slip-and-slide toy. Well, today there are lots of slip-and-slide toys available. All you do is unroll the long plastic slide, hook up a hose, and turn on the water. It’s instant warm-weather fun! Nowadays there are many choices in slip-and-slide toys. There are single-lane slides, … [Read more...] about Outdoor Games for Kids and Families
