How to Fix Tomato Problems?

May 3rd, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

By now your tomatoes are in the ground, growing tall, setting fruit, promising a bumper crop of luscious fruit … or not.

Maybe your tomato plants are yellow and wilting, their leaves full of holes, their fruit half-eaten or marred with ugly brown spots. What’s a backyard gardener to do? Read the rest of this entry »

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Do Swimming Pools Add Value to Homes?

April 27th, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

You can picture it now: cocktails in hand as you sit by the pool, grill fired up for an al-fresco dinner so it’ll be easy to dive back in before dessert. Read the rest of this entry »

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Do Home Remedies Work for Organic Lawn Care?

April 10th, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

We might love the idea of maintaining our lawns with non-toxic pantry products — soda, vinegar, and dish detergent — that help keep pesticides and other chemicals out of the environment while saving us a little money. Read the rest of this entry »

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Start a Community Garden: Get the Community Involved

March 7th, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

A community garden can provide a fulfilling and useful way to bond with your neighbors, promote healthier lifestyles, add urban green space, and save money on food. A 4 x 16-foot raised bed within a larger community garden can provide $200 to $600 in produce annually, depending on climate, says Bobby Wilson, president of the American Community Gardening Association. But gardening is also hard work, not to mention the hassle of finding and coordinating hundreds of volunteer hours over the course of a growing season. Before you dig in, step back and look at what’s involved. Read the rest of this entry »

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Swimming Pools: Alternatives to Chlorine

March 2nd, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

Chlorine is popular because it handles the three main jobs in keeping a swimming pool clean: It sanitizes (kills bacteria and germs), oxidizes (controls organic debris from perspiration and body oils), and deters algae. The chemical is unpopular because it has a strong odor, reddens eyes, and causes allergic reactions in some swimmers. Read the rest of this entry »

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Start a Community Garden: Find and Design a Site

February 20th, 2017 Categories: Random Thoughts

A well-designed and located community garden can make any neighborhood more attractive and even boost property values. A 2008 article in Real Estate Economics found that in New York City, a 6,000-square-foot community garden added 3.4% in value to a property located next to the garden. After five years, the same garden added 7.4% to property next to the garden and 1.9% to property 1,000 feet away. Read the rest of this entry »

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