What are the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots for wet and dirty conditions? We’re talking about footwear for the great outdoors—in gardens, homesteads, farms, ranches, and other outdoor environments. Clearly, a pair of Van’s sneakers or beach flip-flops aren’t the best footwear for most garden activities. I can tell you this from personal experience. Cold, wet feet and injured toes are never a good idea. That’s why it’s important to find yourself a great pair of the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots. Your feet deserve nothing less than the best. Here’s the good news: there are LOTS of good choices when searching for the best gardening shoes and outdoor boots. We’re talking about waterproof shoes and tough, reinforced boots. And we’re also talking about gardening shoes and boots that are stylish enough to wear on errands. Like to the local coffee shop or the hardware store. Best Gardening Shoes and Outdoor Boots for Men and Women Here is a selection of the best … [Read more...] about Best Gardening Shoes and Outdoor Boots
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How Does Solar Power Work?
How does solar power work? In just one hour, the sun delivers more energy to our planet than the entire population uses in a year. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of solar power potential. As solar panels pop up across the US, more and more people are wondering how they work. Will installing panels on your home save you money? Or benefit the environment? The simple answer to both questions is yes. But let’s slow down a bit and first look at the basic process of creating solar energy. In a Nutshell: How Does Solar Power Work The answer to the question "How does solar power work?" begins with solar panels. Most solar panels are made of two layers of silicon. One layer has silicon plus a material that will create a negative charge, and the other layer has silicon plus a material that will create a positive charge. When the silicon layers are activated by sunlight, the opposing charges in the layers form an electric field. The collected energy is a direct … [Read more...] about How Does Solar Power Work?
Best Garden Tools Make Gardening Easier
Are the best garden tools in your tool shed? They should be! Every gardener and homesteader knows the joy of having great garden tools. The right tool makes the difference when you’re digging a hole, weeding a flower bed or pruning your favorite shrub. Let’s face it, having well-designed, well-made and truly great garden tools makes any garden or yard work job easier—and a whole lot more satisfying. From shovels to weeders and from pruners to watering accessories, garden tools help to keep plants healthy. And great garden tools keep the entire yard looking great. So, let’s give a big shout-out to the best garden tools. Let’s hear it for the yard and garden tools that are a pleasure to use because they get the job done. You'll love all these tools-- made well for years of hassle-free performance. Best Garden Tools The editors of Home, Garden and Homestead have been digging in the dirt and caring for plants longer than we care to admit. We’ve bought our share of discount … [Read more...] about Best Garden Tools Make Gardening Easier
Winter Work Clothing for Outdoor Chores
Winter work clothing is a must for doing outdoor chores in cold weather. When the weather is freezing cold, you need winter work clothing that can keep you warm. Your outdoor winter wear also must be tough enough for all the jobs you must get done in the coldest weather. Winter work clothing includes everything from warm gloves and heavy-duty boots to fleece-lined pants and insulated jackets. Here is a great wardrobe of first-rate winter work clothing for all of your outdoor chores. Not only is this gear guaranteed to keep you warm, but you will look good wearing it. So, let’s gear-up and get the work done. And once you've got all of your winter work wear, read our reviews of the Best Cordless Electric Snow Blowers. Winter Work Clothing: Base Layer for Extra Warmth Carhartt is a respected name in work clothing, so it’s no surprise that they make great base layer tops and bottoms. In the old days, they called this clothing “long underwear.” But the Carhartt Men’s Midweight … [Read more...] about Winter Work Clothing for Outdoor Chores
Great Tools Make Fall Yard Cleanup Easier
Fall yard cleanup season is here! The blazing heat of summer is over, and the cooler days of autumn have arrived. And, right on schedule, the leaves are falling from the trees. Now is the traditional time for fall yard cleanup. It’s time to harvest the remaining fruits and vegetables from the garden, rake the leaves, and generally clean up the yard and garden to get ready for winter. Fortunately, there is a full arsenal of labor-saving tools to make fall yardwork easier. For pruning, we've got heavy-duty loppers. For controlling fallen leaves, we're got a powerful cordless electric leaf blower. Plus, there's always room in the shed for a quality pair of gloves. Here are some of the best tools that make fall yard cleanup easier and faster. Fall Yard Cleanup: Loppers Make Quick Work of Pruning A great pair of loppers is a handy tool when it’s time to prune a tree or trim a shrub. You can even cut off dead canes from a favorite climbing rose. The Extendable … [Read more...] about Great Tools Make Fall Yard Cleanup Easier