Always wanted a lawn, but didn’t know where to start? Here are a few tips

Always wanted a lawn, but didn’t know where to start? Here are a few tips

Guest post by Balaji Nursery

Many of us fantasize about having our own little fix of green toward the front or the rear of our homes. The trouble with turning this into a reality lies in the details — seeing how to lay the grass, and caring for your yard consistently. Yards require more maintenance than your typical plants, but having said that, a lavish yard isn't unattainable.

Read More

Passive Houses: How They Work and What They Offer

Passive Houses: How They Work and What They Offer

Our homes use a lot of energy. From electric appliances to heating and air conditioning systems, all of our essentials tend to make living spaces less green. While various eco-friendly home repairs can help with this problem, those looking to truly level up their energy-saving should learn about passive houses.

Read More

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Green Shipping Ideas

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Green Shipping Ideas

Guest post by Katreena Sarmiento

Since the pandemic first hit, many physical establishments have opted to do their transactions online since people are going out less often. Lockdown and quarantine is a new reality for many people nowadays. Because of this new confinement to our houses, we therefore rely on online businesses for our daily transactions.

How do you enjoy opening your parcels and packages? Do you also do unboxing challenges when an exciting order arrives?

Read More

Veggie-stuffed zucchini boats

Last summer and fall I struggled with my zucchini plants, and if you’ve been a regular reader of the blog, you may remember that my first *perfect* zucchini was followed by months of disappointment in which none of my zucchinis grew to maturity. This year started out much better, with my zucchini plants growing happily in their raised bed home and producing an abundance of vegetables. Finally, I seem to be getting that bumper crop that I have heard so many other food growers talk about! This means that in addition to the piles of fried zucchini squash blossoms I ate last year, this year I’m able to enjoy meals made with the actual zucchini from my garden.

Growing zucchini can be a challenge

Read More

What you should know about companion planting

What you should know about companion planting

(thumbnail image: Unsplash/ Markus Spiske)

Experienced food gardeners know that their plants like to be surrounded by friendly companions. Companion planting, also called interplanting or intercropping, means growing one kind of plant next to others that help it thrive. Using this technique in your food garden can help you grow more in less space, and is a method especially favored by small-scale organic growers. There are many benefits to companion planting, and most experienced gardeners who use this technique anecdotally report

Read More

10 Gardening Hacks for the Newbie Gardener

10 Gardening Hacks for the Newbie Gardener

Guest post by Michael Hill

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has brought many tragedies to people’s lives. This battle still rages on, as scientists race to get the vaccine that can stop its spread distributed to everyone around the world. While we waited at home for the development of vaccines that would allow us to gradually resume our normal lives, a lot of people discovered new hobbies or activities to combat the boredom and anxiety brought on by the lockdowns.

Read More

8 Ways to Do Sustainable Gardening

8 Ways to Do Sustainable Gardening

Tending a garden is beneficial not only to the overall aesthetic of your house but also to the environment. It can cut down CO2 in the atmosphere and it also provides shelter to birds, butterflies, and bees, which all take part in beautifying the space by pollinating flowering plants.

But did you know that gardening, if done right, can help Mother Nature even more?

Read More

Understanding the Impact of Recycled Glass on the Environment

Understanding the Impact of Recycled Glass on the Environment

Guest post by Jessica Ellen

Glass is omnipresent. From cookware to buildings to packaging, its applications are manifold. While the hard, brittle substance has many benefits, it also has its fair share of drawbacks.

For example, it takes energy as well as natural resources like sand and lime to produce glass. If you have ever wondered whether glass is really biodegradable, well the answer is no. That's why you need to recycle it as much as possible. This article shares information about the impact of recycled glass on the environment.

Read More

How to make organic pest control sprays for your garden

How to make organic pest control sprays for your garden

One of the more frustrating aspects of food gardening is having to share your crops with herbivore insects. When insects become a problem in the garden, most growers reach for insecticide-pesticides. Insecticide-pesticides are either synthetic, using human-made substances derived from chemical compounds, or organic, using human-made substances derived from plants with little or no chemical altering involved.

Read More

How to Turn Cardboard into Useful Items for the Home

How to Turn Cardboard into Useful Items for the Home

Guest post by Cassandra Rosas

Almost everyone has gone through a period of time in their lives when they had a cumulous of cardboard boxes that they didn’t know what to do with. Instead of throwing in them in the trash, recycle or upcycle them! There are numerous ways to upcycle cardboard into actually useful items for the home, the kids, your pets and even your office.

Read More

5 Low-Prep Activities That Kids Can Do in Their Own Backyards

5 Low-Prep Activities That Kids Can Do in Their Own Backyards

Guest post by Heather Neves

The pandemic has forced many kids and adults indoors. Too much time indoors increases the incidence of asthma and allergies in kids, especially those whose homes have poor air quality. Nowadays, parents are coming up with many ideas for activities and entertainment that will keep their children preoccupied indoors. But no matter how much a parent tries, it is not always possible to come up with new, fresh, and fun ideas. It is also not good for children to be constantly stuck in front of the television or playing video games on mobile phones, as too much screen time can lead to vision problems, attention disorders, and weight gain. Most of the time, it is good for children to get outside and play in the backyard so that they can get some fresh air. But a big question for parents these days is what their children will do if they need to spend a long time in the backyard. This post suggests several activities that kids can do in their own backyards.

Read More

5 Things to Do with Recyclable Metal after a Home Remodel

5 Things to Do with Recyclable Metal after a Home Remodel

Guest post by Kara Masterson

Even modest home improvement projects can generate a surprising amount of waste. Knowing what to do with recyclable metals can allow you to shrink your carbon footprint, reclaim some of the costs of your renovation, and help to ensure a quick and easy cleanup following your next remodel. Follow these tips to make sure that your home remodel does not negatively impact your carbon footprint. Before embarking upon any home remodeling project, it's also important to check local area codes and make sure all of your permits are up to date.

Read More