87Apprenticeship Alum
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Meet Aralia spinosa (Devil's Walking Stick)
A unique plant native to the East Coast of the United States
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If You Like Sedum, You'll Love Tillandsia
Ever had an air plant? Which air plant should you get? Tillandsia (air plants) require a good deal of care, but they're definitely worth it!
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Hey, Gurl! I Love Randy Rainbow
Stressed out by COVID-19 and the continual political bullsh--, er, covfefe? Randy Rainbow's musical parodies on YouTube can help you laugh through the tears.
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A Homebody's Guide to Common Blue Violets
This article details how to grow and care for the common blue violet, and provides projects and recipes that take advantage of all this flower has to offer.
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How to Create a Monarch Butterfly Waystation Garden
We recently installed a waystation garden for Monarchs. The best time to begin? This fall.
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Easy Fresh-Flower Bouquet for Mom on Mother's Day
Make portable bouquets for Mom that are big on charm and easy on the pocket.
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"The Man Who Planted Trees": The Perfect Earth-Day Read
Jean Giono's short tale is a beautiful reminder that anyone, no matter how humble, can effect remarkable, positive change.
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Messages of Love from Valentine's Day Candy
Conversation candy hearts: an awkwardly cool blast from the past.
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Strawberry Cheesecake for Your Diabetic Sweetie
Neufchâtel cheese and fresh fruit make this low-carb dessert a real Valentine's Day winner!
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The Joy of Yummy Tabletop Mushrooms
Beat the winter blues with delicious homegrown mushrooms.
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Sanctuary
A few hours in the life of an illegal immigrant
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I Color (Pink)
One of a series written from the perspective of a color.
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I Color (Gray)
One of a series of poems written from the perspective of a color.
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Eight Memories of Reading
I was too shy to ask the librarian where the children’s books were located, so the first books I read were adult novels & poems located in the perfect spot for the extremely bashful— near the exit.
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5 Weeds We Love (From Creeping Charlie to Virginia Meadow Beauty)
Whether they're on the side of the road, in a crack in the sidewalk, or in the middle of our flowerbeds, we LOVE LOVE LOVE these weeds.
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What We Can Do About Diminishing Oak Forests
Forests are disappearing. The climate is changing. Logging has hurt our environment. Is there anything we can do? Read on to learn how to encourage oak tree regeneration on your property.
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How to Start a Ginkgo Tree From Seed
Follow along on a photo adventure in windowsill gardening with gingko tree seeds.
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A "First Day" Hike Around Saint Mary's Lake, MD
"First Day" Hikes, sponsored by U.S. state parks, are a healthy way to start the New Year.
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Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Disposal
This year, resolve to dispose of your Christmas tree in an earth-friendly way.
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9 Free Fiction Websites
Here are nine online sources for free quality fiction.
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Dill Pickles for Two
Make two quarts of dill pickles in under an hour.
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Update: US Government Keeps Us in the DARK about GMOs
The President signed sham GMO-labelling bill S.764 into law. The law narrowly defines GMOs & fails to penalize companies that don't comply with labeling requirements.
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Radical Ideas for Mixed-Container Gardens
Here are some bold mixed-container planting ideas that break conventional rules.
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In Praise of Clay Pots
Inexpensive and ordinary, clay pots possess a pleasingly earthy appeal.
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Candy Bones Recipe
A sweet Halloween treat.
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How to Freeze Fresh Tomatoes
Freezing seconds from local farmers is an easy, inexpensive way to stock up on tomatoes. Never buy canned tomatoes again!
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Easy Summer Tomato Sauce Recipe
Fresh ingredients and a short cooking time make for a quick and easy pasta sauce that tastes as fresh as summer.
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Free Gardening Advice from Extension Experts
Ask an Expert is a free online service provided to gardeners worldwide through US cooperative extensions.
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What's the Best Sage for Your Garden?
Select the best sage for your garden.
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Fresh Lemon Balm Tea
Includes recipes for hot & iced lemon balm tea, plus tips for growing & harvesting lemon balm at home.
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Chalkboard Paint Pots for Growing Veg from Seed
Chalkboard paint pots make it easy to track the progress of your container vegetable garden.
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How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden With a Puddle Club Party
If you'd like to host a puddle club party for butterflies in your garden, here are five easy ways to attract lots of gorgeous guests.
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Extremely Hardy Summer Perennials
Deer-resistant, drought-resistant & low-maintenance, these summer-blooming beauties are so tough they should be named Chuck Norris!
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Getting Seeds to Germinate for Your Fall Garden
These 10 best practices for successfully starting seed will help your fall garden grow— even when it's hot outside.
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Why I Love Liriope
Liriope muscari, a favorite of professional landscapers, is as versatile as it is easy to grow.
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The Yellow Garden Spider ("Argiope aurantia")
If you see yellow garden spiders in your garden, don't squash them! Be thankful. "Argiope aurantia" are beneficial predators and a sign of healthy garden ecology.
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Hyacinth Bean Vines Grow Like Magic!
The hyacinth bean is a fast-growing vine with large leaves, purple flowers, and seed pods that are safe to eat in small amounts when immature. Here's how I grow the beans in my garden.
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Appalachian Gentian, a True Blue Autumn Flower
Truly blue flowers can be tough to find, but Appalachian gentian really produces them, developing large buds that bloom into beautiful blue flowers in late summer/early fall.
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Eggshell Pots for Starting Seeds
Eggshell seed-starting pots are my new biodegradable favorites! Economical, practical & cute, they make starting seeds at home fun and easy.
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Tips and Tricks for Growing Pink Turtlehead
Pink turtlehead blooms in late summer and fall and is gorgeous in butterfly gardens, rain gardens, and alongside water features. Here are some tips to grow it!
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French Marigolds Aren't French (and Other Facts About Tagetes Patula)
From fighting off pesky nematodes to decorating wedding ceremonies, French marigolds have many unique uses. No wonder these fascinating plants are loved the world over.
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Blenko Functional Glassware & Art Glass
Blenko Glass Company produces hand-blown art glass as well as water jugs, drinking glasses, salad bowls & other functional glassware.
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9 Tips for Protecting Plants When It's Hot Outside
Losing plants and trees during the brutally hot days of summer doesn't have to happen. You can protect them from heat & drought with these 9 smart gardening practices.
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Swallowtail Caterpillars & Golden Alexanders
Attract swallowtail butterflies to your yard with golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), one of the preferred foods of swallowtail caterpillars, which feed on the leaves & flowers.
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Preventing Deer Damage
Tips from deer expert Scott Hygnstrom of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, Hobby Farms magazine & yours truly for deterring & repelling deer in suburbia--without a gun.
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Ikebana for Westerners
This quick overview of the Japanese art of flower arranging explains three basic differences between traditional Western floral arrangements & ikebana.
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Easy DIY Fourth of July Planters
Eight simple ideas for making Fourth of July container gardens, from pots dressed with flags to folk art boxes & quaint tin cans.
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How to Prevent Black Spot on Black-Eyed Susan Leaves
Do you want beautiful, healthy black-eyed Susans the organic way? Try these garden management techniques that help prevent black spot and other fungal infections.
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Where to Get Information About Building a Log Home
Thinking about building a log house? Check out these useful sources of information concerning building materials, builders & more.
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4 Easy Steps to Grow Coleus From Stem Cuttings
With a little effort, you can turn one coleus plant into a flowerbed of bright color with ease.
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Killer Poop
If you use barnyard manure, be sure to ask your source if herbicides have been used anywhere the animals have grazed. One herbicide in particular, aminopyralid, creates killer poop that ruins gardens.
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Easy Birdcage Planter
Add a little birdcage to your home/garden with this simple DIY birdcage planter. It's a fun weekend project that (once you've collected the materials) only takes a few hours to complete.
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Visiting Cranberry Glades, WV
For a unique outdoor vacation, visit the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area in Cranberry Glades, WV. Descendants of seed that rooted there over 10,000 years ago still thrive in this botanical anomaly.
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Propagating Chives by Division
Spring and fall are the ideal times to propagate chives by division. Dividing chives into small clumps and planting them is relatively simple. Here's how I did it this spring.
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How to Harvest and Save Hollyhock Seeds in 3 Easy Steps
Harvesting and saving hollyhock seeds is a fun project that's easy enough for beginners and rewarding enough for seasoned gardeners.
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How to Stack Flower Pots and Planters for Tiered Designs
Learn the easy way to make gorgeous stacked planters and pots for mixed flower designs. Save space with two-tier and three-tier pots!
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Birdcage Planters
Birdcages are one of this year's hottest decorating trends. And repurposing birdcages as containers for plants and flowers is one of the simplest ways to use them in the home/garden.
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Velcro Plant Ties
Velcro ties are excellent reusable ties for staking tomatoes, training climbing roses & providing support for other plants in the garden. Here are some of the reasons I like them so much.
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Epcot's 20th International Flower & Garden Festival
Check out the 2013 International Flower & Garden Festival at Florida's Disney Epcot! It's happening now through May 19, and it's better than ever before.
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Hidden Lake Gardens Michigan
Hidden Lake Gardens is a beautiful place to visit year round. Operated by MSU, the 755-acre arboretum hosts lots of special seasonal events, like the Fall Foliage Festival & the Spring Bulb Show.
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Grandma's Groovy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Ah, the 1970s—when bell bottoms were groovy jeans, shag carpeting was all the rage, "salad" was made from Jello, and canned soup casseroles offered the ultimate in comfort food.
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Knitting with chopsticks
Once you grasp the basics, knitting can be absolutely addictive!
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How to Use the New Online USDA Hardiness Zone Map
If you live in the U.S., USDA hardiness zone maps can help you pick the best plants for your garden. Check out the USDA online map & get links for downloading & printing maps of your state or region.
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Free Seeds, Really
Free seed? It's not too good to be true. You CAN get free seed--without writing a check, providing credit card information or sharing your own seed. Here are 5 sources for really free seed. Really.
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Knox Gelatin Fertilizer for Houseplants
For greener, lusher houseplants, apply a solution of unflavored gelatin and water once a month.
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Recipe for Organic Potting Soil Mix
Don't spend loads of money on store-bought potting soil! If you compost, you can make your own potting mix. All it takes is some time and a little effort.
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Companion Planting: The Three Sisters
Pole beans, corn and squash are ideal vegetables for interplanting, improving the health and productivity of all three plants.
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How to Grow Hollyhock From Seed
From when to plant hollyhock seeds, to germination, to storing seeds, this guide makes growing these old-fashioned favorites (Alcea rosea) a little easier.
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Photo Guide to Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Live Forever Plant)
Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' colloquially known as Live Forever, is no garden diva. It isn't fussy. It isn't showy. It has character—and a subtle beauty every season of the year.
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Disease-Resistant Bee Balms
These super tough bee balm hybrids are virtually impervious to powdery mildew and rust. In summer, they produce bright, scented flowers hummingbirds, butterflies & bees (especially bees) love.
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Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'
Want to "spice" up your garden? Add a few clumps of 'Hot Papaya' Echinacea. Everything about this bold purple coneflower hybrid is hot, hot, hot—from its sweet-as- honey scent and large, double blossoms to its vivid red and orange color.
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Simple Wine Cork Crafts
Don't throw out your old wine corks! These wine cork projects are easy—really easy. Not only do they require little skill but also very few materials—other than wine corks. Even I can do them!
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Sotterley Plantation in Winter
An outdoor tour may not seem like a good winter pastime at first glance, but the garden and grounds of Historic Sotterley Plantation of Southern Maryland have enough visual and historical interest to occupy even a chilly December afternoon.
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How to Get Rid of Weeds in Cracks Without Herbicide
Have weeds in cracks around your house? Want to get rid of them without using toxic, chemical weed-killing products? Here are some organic solutions for dealing with weeds in cracks, from boiling water to weeding knives. Some are more permanent than others.
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Planting a Miniature Christmas Tree
What should you do with a miniature Christmas tree now that the holidays are over? Here are two ideas for keeping yours alive and looking good.
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How to Grow Magic Lilies
Magic lilies are beautiful summer bloomers that are ideal for borders, beds, and fairy gardens.
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The Best Cold-Weather Garden Gloves
Gold Leaf gardening gloves are the best I've used. They offer long-lasting, outstanding protection and comfort. They also allow the dexterity gardeners need when weeding, pruning, harvesting, potting or doing any of the other numerous tasks that gardeners do.
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DIY Natural Home Décor: A Review of "Beautiful Winter"
Edle Catharina Norman's "Beautiful Winter" provides instructions (with photos) for over 50 winter decorations made from organic materials, each one lovely enough to brighten a wintry world.
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Lasagna Bulb Pot for Easy Fall Garden Project
This fall, layer flower bulbs in outdoor pots for gorgeous container gardens that will bloom next spring.
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Book Review: The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual
Barbara Pleasant's The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Plants lives up to its title, offering copious information for cultivating and displaying a wide number of popular & unusual houseplants.
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How to Grow Pansies Year Round
From hardy perennial pansies to pansy hybrids, there are so many "flavors" to choose from that growing pansies all year is a snap in Zones 2–10. Here's an overview of some of the best types, including cold-tolerant and heat-resistant bloomers.
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Easy DIY Gifts Made With Herbs
Directions for making no-fuss gifts with fresh and dried herbs: herb-flavored sugar, vinegar and oil, herbal skin toner and hand soap, herbal incense and herbal hankie sachets.
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Make Your Poinsettias Last Longer
5 tips for extending the lives of your holiday poinsettias.
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Fruity Table Decorations
Fresh fruit adds charm & whimsy to arrangements.
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Candied Mint Leaves Recipe
Need a festive garnish for your desserts? Learn how to make candied mint leaves. It's easy and worth it.
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How to Grow Crown of Thorns From Cuttings
The crown of thorns plant is an ideal decoration for Christmas and Easter. It's also easy to grow cuttings for gifts. Here's how to propagate crown of thorns.
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How to Plant Flower Bulbs
Whether you're planting hardy spring-blooming bulbs or tender summer-blooming beauties, these general guidelines will help you get started. Includes tips for preparing the soil, planting at the best depth & deterring pests organically.
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A Guide to Montauk Daisies (Nippon Daisies)
In late summer and fall, the Montauk daisy turns on its cheery charm, producing bright-white flowers ideal for floral arrangements.
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Ingredient Substitutes
Balsamic vinegar, buttermilk, corn syrup, pumpkin spice mix, red and white wine--this handy guide includes over 35 substitutes for common recipe ingredients, conveniently arranged in alphabetical order.
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FoodSaver Review
Don't let the name fool you. The FoodSaver GameSaver DeluxePlus® is great for preserving much more than meat. Vacuum pack vegetables, fruit and more. It's easy! And it'll save you time & money in the long run.
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DIY Plant Markers Made From Junk
Did you know that garbage and yard debris can be transformed into cool plant markers with some inspiration? Here are 12 easy plant marker ideas to try in your flower beds and container gardens.
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Vintage Flower Pots
Decorative & versatile, vintage flower pots & planters are fun to use & collect.
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Definition of Alkaline Soil
Alkaline soil, sometimes referred to as "sweet" soil, registers above 7.0 on the pH scale. Although most plants prefer neutral pH, some thrive in soil that's a bit alkaline.
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Cardamom Applesauce Recipe
This hearty cardamom applesauce recipe uses spicy-sweet cardamom in lieu of cinnamon. Make enough for a meal or cook up a batch to freeze. The recipe is easy to double & simple to vary.
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Using Chamomile Tea to Prevent Damping Off of Seeds
Certain gardening practices as well as applications of chamomile tea are commonly held to be effective against the damping off diseases that attack & kill seedlings.
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How to Grow Snapdragon
Today, snapdragon is available in a variety of colors & sizes, from towering back-of-the-bed beauties to gorgeous dwarf ground covers. Loved by pollinators, it's a pretty addition to the garden.
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30 Plants and Flowers That Bloom in Winter
Looking for plants that bloom in the winter? From bulbs and herbaceous perennials to shrubs and trees, here are 30 beautiful options to try in your garden this year.
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Potting Soil Recipes
From seed starting to growing herbs, the right soil mix can be the key to successful container gardening. Six recipes include Rich Potting Mix, Easy Sterile Mix & Soil-less Mix.
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What is Acidic Soil?
An explanation of acidic soil that includes tips for increasing & lowering soil pH as well as a list of plants that thrive in acidic soil.
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How to Clean Tree Bark and Wash Trees Safely
With two ingredients and a little time, you can safely wash specimen trees like sycamore and birch—and potentially protect their health.
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Using Autumn Leaves in the Garden
For gardeners, fall leaves are a double blessing: beautiful on the bough and eminently useful once they hit the ground as mulch, leaf mold, composting matter and overwinter protection for tender plants.
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50 Smartphone Apps for Outdoor Lovers
What smartphone applications can help make the outdoor experience a little bit better? Here are 50 of them worth downloading. Many are under $10, and several apps are free!
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Homemade Organic Aphid Spray Recipe
When properly combined, garlic cloves, mineral oil, ordinary dishwashing liquid and water create a mild organic pesticide that's effective against aphids. It also kills cabbage worms, larval mosquitoes, leafhoppers, squash bugs, whitefly and other garden pests.
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5 Freaky Facts About Ticks
From their host-finding antics to their survival skills, ticks are amazing creatures. They're the evil superheroes of the insect world with a thirst for adventure.
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The Best Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
Craving peanut butter fudge? Look no further. This old-fashioned peanut butter fudge recipe from my grandmother makes one small pan of rich, creamy fudge loaded with mouth-watering, peanut-buttery flavor!
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How to Make Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Fudge
Craving fudge? Why not make your own? Rich, sweet, and tangy, my grandmother's old-fashioned sour cream fudge with black walnuts is scrumptious. The recipe isn't for novices, but when done right, the results are delicious.
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Free Seed-Packet Templates
Many templates for making your own seed packets are available for free online, and many are easy to customize. This article lists some favorites.
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How to Grow Purple Coneflower
Pretty in a border and beautiful in a bouquet, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial that's easy to grow by division or from seed. Learn how and when to plant coneflower seeds outdoors and indoors.
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How to Grow Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
Learn how to grow Asclepias tuberosa successfully in your home landscape. Commonly called butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa is a no-fuss perennial plant that produces clusters of bright orange flowers in summer, attracting hummingbirds, beneficial insects and (of course!) butterflies.
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How to Store Seeds
Collecting, preparing & storing seeds doesn't require any special equipment or even much skill. Using common household items, you can easily save wildflower seeds, vegetable seeds and other seeds from your landscape.
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Seed Saving Tips
Tips for selecting & harvesting the best vegetable seeds & flower seeds from your garden, for your garden.
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Winter Garden Tips
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't garden--at least a little bit! From planting bare-root roses to sowing native wildflowers, here are some ideas for keeping busy in your garden this winter.
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Easy-to-Make Organic Fertilizers
Super easy organic fertilizers you can make a home.
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How to Create Soil for a Garden
Create the rich, crumbly soil plants love by improving the structure of the soil in your garden.
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How to Grow Fall Vegetables
A basic guide for planning & growing a fall vegetable garden.
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How to Make Grandma's Apple Pie
Looking for the perfect apple pie recipe? Chopped tart apples, thick sour cream, and dark brown sugar join forces for a rich (almost) topless apple pie from my grandmother's recipe box.
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St. Clement's Island, Maryland's Birthplace
At just 60 acres, Maryland's St. Clement's Island is small--and getting smaller. But St. Clement's slow disappearing act is perhaps the least compelling reason to visit it. Known as "Maryland's Birthplace," the island is a truly unique locale rich in history and natural beauty.
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Hand Garden Tools
Whether you garden a little or a lot, these tools come in handy.
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Easy Herbs for Beginning Gardeners
These six herbs are super easy-to-grow.
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How to Grow Herbs Easily
This beginner's guide includes the ABCs of raising, taking care of, and harvesting herbs at home, with basic info on light, water, soil, and pest control.
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25 Tips for Making Compost
Interested in making compost for your garden? These 25 tips will help you get started. (Recipe for super-fast compost included.)
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Black Spot on Roses: Prevention and Treatment
Do your roses have black spot on their leaves? Treat it and nip it in the bud with these six easy strategies for growing healthy, black spot-free roses.
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Mildew in Gardens - How to Identify & Treat
Learn how to identify & treat downy mildew and powdery mildew, plus 12 strategies for preventing mildew.
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6 Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers With Showy Flowers
How to care for six drought-resistant ground covers with beautiful flowers, including the primrose ground cover. Perfect for dry, poor-soil areas.
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Eye-Popping Chartreuse Perennials
Sizzling hot, super cool, crazy wild ... bling! Whatever you call them, these lime green perennials really WOW!
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Mountain Laurel Flowers & Festivals 2017
When the mountain laurel is in bloom, it's time to celebrate this beautiful, hardy shrub at a mountain laurel festival.
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8 Common Mulching Mistakes
Organic and inorganic mulches are great for home landscapes if you avoid mulch volcanoes and other mistakes. Don't let your trees and plants be the victims of too much mulch!
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Silver Perennials That Are Easy to Grow
Add cool sophistication to your garden with these easy-to-grow silver perennials.
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How to Make Eco-Friendly Choices at the Supermarket
You can feed your family and love the planet at the same time—without shopping at specialty food stores or farmer's markets.
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Natural Aphid Control Through IPM
Instead of pesticides, try these gardening strategies for controlling aphids.
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Healthy Things to Do This Spring
Spring--a time to begin again,try new things & have some fun. And there's no better way to get started than with these Six Quintessentially Spring Things.
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How to Reuse Potting Soil Safely
Wondering what to do with old potting soil? Reuse last year’s soil! Follow these soil-recycling tips to minimize risk and maximize the effectiveness of used soil.
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4 Good Reasons to Fertilize with Urine
Includes four good reasons to use liquid fertilizer made from human urine, as well as directions for making and applying "liquid gold" at home.
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Organic Lighting: Eco-Friendly Eangee Lamps Made of Leaves
Eangee lamps are colorful lighting options made by Phillipine artisans from renewable materials like tropical leaves, found wood and rope.
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Cookbooks for Organic Gardeners
If you're like me, you have two great passions: gardening and cooking. These cookbooks appeal to both.
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Southern MD Day Trip: The Patuxent Wine Trail
Tired of grim urban landscapes? Then spend the day touring Southern Maryland's wine country. The first stop on the Patuxent Wine Trail is just 45 minutes south of DC.
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Paperwhites That Won't Flop Over
How can you grow picture perfect paperwhites that won't flop over? Give them a drink of gin, tequila or other hard liquor. Here's how.
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Recipe: Vinegar Pie Crust
Vinegar pie crust is hard to get wrong. You (or your children) can play with the dough as much as you like. It won't toughen up. If you make a mistake, you can wad it up and roll it out all over again.
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Mamaw Nicholas's Tyler Pie
This super sweet pie is from my maternal grandmother, Mamaw Nicholas. It's so delicious you'll want to eat the whole thing--but you better not! It's extremely rich!
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No Tears Crab Soup
Since moving to Maryland, I've learned a lot about cooking seafood. Here's one of my favorite easy crab soup recipes. Hope you like it!
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4 Easy Recipes for Crab Cakes, Fries, and BBQ Shrimp
Four easy recipes for crab cakes, spicy potato wedges, and BBQ shrimp just in time for the holidays!
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Winter Holiday Magnetic Mailbox Covers
Updated to include Valentine's Day magnetic mailbox covers, this hub features covers guaranteed to give your home added curb appeal this winter. Unlike tie-on or Velcro covers, magnetic mailbox covers won't fall off or blow away.
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3 Yummy Recipes for Coconut Cream Pie
My grandmother was a fantastic cook who was well known in our hometown for her scrumptious pies. Here are three versions of her "signature" pie, coconut cream, & each variation is delicious.
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Eat Your Rose Hips (They're Good for You!)
Did you know that rose hips are edible? They are also packed with vitamin C and can be used in delicious teas, jams, jellies and other sweet treats.
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Easy Hot Water Pie Crust
This article includes an easy, tender pie crust recipe, as well as two recipes for filling, including chiffon pumpkin. Yum!
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Easy Fall Curb Appeal: Mailbox Covers
Magnetic mailbox covers are a quick & easy way to dress up your home for fall. Decorate with Halloween, Thanksgiving and other fall motif mailbox covers. You can even buy mailbox covers that support your favorite football team!
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Fun Fall Leaf Projects
Over 10 fun ways to use autumn leaves in your home & garden this fall.
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Self Publishing in the eBook Age
If your work has ever been rejected by an agent or publisher, you're in good company. It's happened to innumerable writers, from Anthony Trollope to Stephen King. Today, however, even cash-strapped writers can self publish through Barnes & Noble's PubIt! eBook site. Of course, as with all self...
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Recycling Ideas for Fall Container Gardens
Keep your house beautiful through autumn with pretty mixed containers. Tips include how to reuse summer container materials, including soil.
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Fun with a Bag of Rocks
How much fun can you have with a bag of rocks? How much imagination do you have?
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DIY Clay Filters: Safe Water for All
Clay water filters provide the citizens of developing countries with an easy, inexpensive way to make their dirty drinking water safe. Learn about Tony Flynn's clay water filter design, and find out how you can help others have access to clean water.
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Quirky, Fun & Downright Bizarre Novelty Toilet Seats
Some novelty toilet seats are funny, some are surprising & most aren't in the best of taste, but they sure are fun!
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Buddha, Guy de Maupassant & Fruit That's Shaped Like People
What could Chinese farmer Hao Xianzhang's baby Buddha fruit lead to? From pear performance art to political fundraising, it boggles the imagination.
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How to Upgrade Your Old Toilet & Use Less Water
Includes cost-free, cheap as well as more expensive ways to make your old toilet use less water every time you flush.
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Help! My Tomatoes Have Acne!
This hub's about tomato skin conditions like dry patches, scars, yellow spots, black spots & unsightly cracks.
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Lewisburg, WV, a Really Cool Town
Voted Coolest Small Town 2011 by Budget Travel readers, Lewisburg, WV has over 40 shops & restaurants. It hosts the state fair & an annual chocolate festival. The famous Greenbrier Resort is nearby.
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How to Get Rid of Bagworms Safely
Got bagworms? Don't cry! Beat the bagworm blues and get rid of them with two safe, effective methods of control.
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Accessorize Your Flower Pots with Cachepots
A variety of unique & beautiful cachepots are available to cover up ugly nursery flowerpots and keep your plants from shedding water & soil onto floors & tabletops.
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Delosperma: Is the Hardy Ice Plant Right for Your Garden?
If you're looking for a heat-loving, drought-resistant, flowering ground cover that doesn't mind poor soil, the hardy ice plant (Delosperma) may be just the plant for you.
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Get Chrysanthemums Ready for Fall
How to care for your chrysanthemums (mums) in spring & summer to ensure fall blooms.
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Rudbeckia hirta (Blackeyed Susan) Photos & Care
For blackeyed Susan photos as well as tips & videos on planting, dividing & harvesting Rudbeckia hirta, see this hub!
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Mulching, Staking, and Pinching Your Way to Better Tomato Plants
Want bigger, better tomatoes? Plastic mulch, staking, and pruning could get you the crop you want.
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10+ Smartphone Apps for Plant Lovers
These apps are fun, useful tools for home gardeners, landscapers, and nature lovers.
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How to Grow Calla Lily Flowers from Seed
If you'd like to grow Calla lilies in your garden, cultivate them from bulbs. Or, for a less expensive option, grow Calla lily flowers from seed.
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Cool Plants for Dad on Father's Day
Seven cool plants that are fun to grow. Which one's right for your dad on Father's Day?
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15 Sensational Peony Hybrids
These sensational peonies have all the charm of Grandma's herbaceous peony plants-- plus a few added bonuses.
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Old-Fashioned Peony Plants
Old-fashioned peonies are lush, fragrant and surprisingly easy to grow. Order them now and plant them this fall.
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Jack Frost, 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year
Four great reasons to grow Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost,' the 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year.
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Amsonia, a Perennial Blue Beauty
Amsonia hubrichtii is a versatile, low-maintenance perennial with feathery blue flowers & gorgeous fall color. No wonder it was the Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year.
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How to Divide Irises
Learn how to grow and share beautiful bearded and beardless iris varieties. Although irises look like difficult flowers to grow, they're relatively low-maintenance plants.
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6 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants That Choke Out Weeds
From golden creeping Jenny to Mazus, these low-maintenance ground covers grow thickly and spread quickly to choke out weeds.
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Tips for Reducing Ticks in Your Landscape & Garden
Plagued by ticks? Wondering how to get rid of them? Keep your family safe by creating a tick-free zone in your yard with these simple tips and tricks.
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Star Quality Thrillers for Summer Containers
Looking for awesome thrillers that can take the heat in summer containers? Search no further. These five tropical plants are bold, beautiful and definitely thrilling!
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How to Make a DIY Stumpery in Your Garden
Stumperies are garden features made from dead tree parts such as stumps, logs, branches, and other debris after a storm. Here are some stumpery garden ideas.
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Bunny Tails Ornamental Grass
Try planting the ornamental grass bunny tails (Lagurus ovatus) along a walkway. Its fluffy white cottontails, which first appear in early summer, will tickle your legs as you pass. At 1 to 2 feet high, bunny tails is also just tall enough to tickle a toddler’s nose.
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Pee-Cycling & Humanure
Since the publication of “Goofy Gardening Tips That Work,” I’ve been on the lookout for even more outlandish advice that gardeners swear by. And I think I’ve found it. While the last batch of odd gardening tips dealt with a variety of topics, this hub focuses on only one: cheap organic fertilizer...
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How to Care for Spring Bulbs
Five tips for long-blooming spring bulbs, tuberous-root plants and corms.
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How to Make Candied Rosemary, a Sweet Garden Treat
Making delicious, refreshing candied rosemary is easy with this old-fashioned recipe. Use candied rosemary in mixed drinks, as a garnish for desserts, or have it with a hot cup of tea. Rosemary is easy to grow, especially in pots.
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10 Easy Ways to Protect Plants From Frost
Frosts and thaws can damage or even kill tender plants. Here are 10 easy, practical ways to protect your garden from being killed by frost.
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Identifying and Eradicating Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is present in spring and winter, too, not just in summer and autumn. Learn how to identify poison ivy and remove it from your yard safely.
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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas from the Garden
If you’re a gardener, chances are you learned your love of nature from a parent or grandparent. This year for Mother’s Day, why not “grow it forward”? Give your children a lesson in gardening, love, and gratitude by teaching them to make Mother's Day gifts from the garden for their mother,...
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Soothing Teas from the Garden (Recipes Included)
Includes brief descriptions and planting recommendations for four deliciously drinkable plants, as well as instructions for brewing herbal teas.
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How to Take a Soil Sample
Learn how to take and prepare a soil sample for testing, locate a testing center near you (even if you're an organic gardener), and read your test results.
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Get to Know These Beneficial Bugs
Squashing "nasty bugs" just comes naturally to most of us. But it isn't always the right thing to do. Lots of less-than-lovely-to-look-at insects are actually beneficial predators.
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How to Attract Bees to Your Garden
Attract pollinators to your landscape, and you'll dramatically increase its health and productivity, particularly if you grow flowers, fruits and vegetables.
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Compost Holes: A Cheap and Easy Way to Enrich Your Soil
This guide provides instructions for two methods of in-ground composting: the one-hole and the two-hole method.
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Fast-Growing Vegetables for Tabletop Gardens
Looking for vegetables that will grow fast indoors? Check out this article for descriptions of five fast-growing, shade-tolerant vegetables you can grow successfully indoors, as well as a soil recipe for indoor container gardening.
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Get Ready for Spring! Start Seeds Indoors
Learn how to create your own seed-starting mix, choose the best containers, sow at the right of year, provide optimum water and light, & transplant seedlings that will survive early spring weather.
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Easy Suet Recipes
Besides providing shelter & water, supplying wild birds with food sources is one of the easiest ways to attract them to your yard. This hub includes a recipe for homemade suet & wild bird comfort food, as well as links to other bird food recipes.
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Free Gardening Apps for Droids
Links to fun, free gardening apps for droids, including games, wallpapers and educational apps.