Organic Gardening - A Speech for Teachers

By Anna Hart 

Organic gardening has increasingly become an important part of the curriculum in schools around the world. Teachers at every grade level find themselves teaching it to students, and sometimes being called on to give a speech to a group of parents. As a career educator and principal, I know the difficulty of opening up time for speech preparation, and offer this organic gardening speech for your use. Feel free to edit it to fit your needs.
Organic Gardening Speech
How selfish are you? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how selfish would you rate yourself? If you are the least bit selfish, you might be interested in organic gardening.
An organic gardening speech might seem more appropriate coming from a Home Economics teacher, but I am just selfish enough that I love organic gardening. I want to share that love with you and with your children.
Imagine
I want you to come with me, in imagination, to a time and place before the Industrial Revolution. The year is 1707. It is late summer. We find ourselves walking the streets of a small town. Houses are spaced well apart for privacy. Land stretches out behind each house. As we look, we notice that much of that land is taken up by gardens. Here and there, we see both adults and children actively engaged in gardening. The plants are beautiful.
You call to one of the adults and ask what they use to make the garden so lush. A broad smile breaks, and through the smile come the words, "Feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plants."
You shake your head. Poor people. Too bad they don't know about that miracle combination of chemicals you saw advertised on TV last week. That's the easy way to grow spectacular plants!
Dinner
The organic gardener invites us to join them for the evening meal, and we accept. At dinner, we join in the prayer of thanks, and then watch in amazement as the children, one after another, begin eating fresh vegetables.
You yourself are not that fond of vegetables, but you politely take a small serving of each. You bite into a leaf of steamed cabbage, and your eyes open wide in amazement. It is sweet - twice as sweet as the cabbage you buy at your local market! You watch a small child fill his mouth with dark green kale, and shudder. There's a small spoonful of the nasty vegetable on your own plate, and you pick at it, putting a single small leaf in your mouth. Amazing! It, too, is twice as sweet as any kale you ever ate. The same seems true of every vegetable on the table. You decide that if your supermarket vegetables were this good, you would eat a lot more of them.
Our imaginary trip ends at that dinner table, and we return to the present.
Organic Gardening's Benefits
Organic gardening has many benefits. If you are completely selfish, you will want those benefits for yourself. If you are unselfish, you will want those benefits for your family. Let me give you just three of organic gardening's benefits.
1. Taste: Organic gardening has been proven to produce tastier fruits and vegetables. A Hong Kong study measured Brix levels, the percentage of sugar in plant juices, using produce from organic gardening and from non-organic gardening. The results showed that organic gardening produced produce that was 2 to 4 times as sweet as that produced by non-organic gardening. Sweeter fruits and vegetables are tastier, and easier to eat, whether you are a young person or an adult. Organic gardening helps us eat better by providing tastier fruits and vegetables.
2. Nutrition: Organic gardening has also been found to provide nutritionally superior produce. Virginia Worthington, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, compared the composition of vegetables grown simultaneously under different farming conditions. Her work included 41 studies with 1,240 comparisons of 35 vitamins and minerals. Worthington found that organic gardening produced vegetables and fruits that were higher in most minerals and vitamins than those from non-organic gardening. Not only that, organic gardening produce was lower in potentially harmful nitrates, which result from nitrogen fertilizers. Dr. Worthington concluded that produce from organic gardening is nutritionally superior. You and your family will enjoy better health with fruits and vegetables from organic gardening. (Effect of Agricultural Methods on Nutritional Quality: A Comparison of Organic with Conventional Crops, Virginia Worthington MS, ScD, CNS, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1998, Alternative Therapies, Volume 4, 1998, pages 58-69)
3. Exercise: Finally, organic gardening offers you and your children regular daily exercise in the outdoors. Organic gardening helps you build muscles, especially important core muscles. Organic gardening gets you into the sunlight where you can absorb essential vitamin D. Organic gardening is a great stress management tool. Organic gardening gives you an outlet for creativity. It provides satisfaction as you see your work produce useful fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
We could talk about the aesthetic pleasures of organic gardening - how beautiful that garden might become. We could talk about how you can save money with organic gardening - growing your produce instead of purchasing.
Finally, we could talk about how important it is for our children to learn about organic gardening, to embrace it as the way to better health, and to practice it with school, home, and community gardens.
An organic gardening speech could go on for hours, but I'm going to stop here, hoping that I have whetted your appetite enough that you will seek out more information on organic gardening.
Helpful Tip for Speech-givers
A few large bowls of beautiful organic produce can be set on the platform or around the room to help visual learners picture organic gardening.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic gardening at http://www.organicspringtime.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site, each one dealing with some facet of organic gardening. If you would like to get organic gardening tips, you will want to read Anna’s article with tips for the novice.

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Build a Rain Garden

By Jodi Andrews 

There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy to install, looks good year-round, requires almost no maintenance and has a terrifically upbeat impact on the environment. No wonder rain gardens are such a great new gardening trend!
Storm water runoff can be a big problem in summer during heavy thunderstorms. As the water rushes across roofs and driveways, it picks up oil and other pollutants. Municipal storm water treatment plants often can't handle the deluge of water, and in many locations the untreated water ends up in natural waterways. The EPA estimates as much as 70 percent of the pollution in our streams, rivers, and lakes is carried there by storm water! By taking responsibility for the rainwater that falls on your own roof and driveway, you'll be helping to protect our rivers, streams and lakes from stormwater pollution.
To reduce the excess water runoff, many towns are encouraging businesses and homeowners to install rain gardens in their yards. Rain gardens are specially constructed gardens located in low areas of a yard where storm water can collect. The idea is to have the water naturally funnel to this garden. The rain garden collects water runoff and stores and filters it until it can be slowly absorbed by the soil. Rather than rushing off into a storm sewer or a local waterway, the rainwater can collect in a garden where it will be naturally filtered by plants and soil.
Installing a rain garden is easy.
You simply dig a shallow depression in your yard and plant it with native grasses and wildflowers; things that are easy to grow and maintain in your area.
What makes a garden a rain garden?
First, the garden will be designed with a low spot in the middle to collect and absorb rain water and snow melt. This depression can range from a few inches in a small garden, to an excavated trough that's several feet deep. Second, rain gardens are usually located where they'll catch the runoff from impermeable surfaces like sidewalks and driveways, or from gutters and roof valleys. Third, rain gardens are usually planted with native wildflowers and grasses that will thrive in tough growing conditions. Finally, rain gardens are designed to channel heavy rains to another rain garden or to another part of the garden.
Your rain garden should be located at least 10 feet from the house. The garden's size and location depends on the yard. The ideal situation would be to locate the garden in a natural depression. You also can funnel water from downspouts on gutters into the garden. The soil should be well drained so the water doesn't sit in the garden for more than two days. A special "rain garden" soil mix of 50 to 60 percent sand, 20 to 30 percent topsoil, and 20 to 30 percent compost is recommended. You can dig this mixture into the soil to depth of 2 feet before planting.
Once you've identified the new garden's location, remove the sod and dig a shallow depression approximately 6-inches deep. Slope the sides gradually from the outside edge to the deepest area. Use the soil that you remove to build up a slightly raised area on the lowest side of the garden. This berm will help contain the stormwater and allow it to percolate slowly through the rain garden.
If your rain garden is no more than about 6-inches deep, stormwater will usually be absorbed within a one- to seven-day period. Because mosquitoes require seven to 10 days to lay and hatch their eggs, this will help you avoid mosquito problems.
Your downspout or sump pump outlet should be directed toward your rain garden depression. This can be accomplished by a natural slope, by digging a shallow swale, or by piping the runoff directly to the garden through a buried 4" diameter plastic drain tile.
Plant Selection... The final touch.
The most difficult part of building a rain garden (if it can even be called that) can be plant selection. Plants need to be tough enough to withstand periodic flooding, yet attractive enough to look good in the garden. Deep-rooted, low-care native plants, such as asters, and tough non-natives, such as daylilies, are best. If properly designed, the rain garden can consist of a blend of attractive shrubs, perennials, trees, and ground covers. Planting strips of grass around the garden and using mulch also can help filter the water.
New plants should be watered every other day for the first two weeks or so. Once they are well established, your garden should thrive without additional watering. Fertilizers will not be necessary, and only minimal weeding will be needed after the first summer of growth.

Our goal at Garden Simply is to make your organic garden work sustainable; be more productive, and ultimately more fun! Jodi Reichenberger provides education about enhancing you and your family's health through good eating, organic gardening techniques, organic gardening tips, and an all around sustainable lifestyle; providing helpful organic pest control tips (Integrated Pest Managment or IPM)to help you make the most of your effort, and the lastest community gardening and sustainable gardening news out there. Join us! Sustainability is a community effort!

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Solar Garden Lights For Inexpensive Lighting

By Barbara Volkov 

Using solar garden lights in remote areas of your backyard garden is a wonderful way to shed light to those areas without the use of electricity. Solar garden lights are inexpensive and simple to install; they just need to be placed in areas that receive ample sunlight during the day. Solar lighting can be used in many different ways such as accent lighting, path lighting and spotlighting.
Solar yard lights need to be accessible to the sun during day-time hours to absorb the energy from the sun in order to light-up during the evening hours. Before you actually install the solar lights place them in the areas you would like to have lit up and place them equal distance apart but make sure those areas get enough sunlight during the day. Most solar lights will need approximately 8 hours of sun; some may need more in order to give off light during the night.
There are a number of motives for utilizing solar-powered lights in the garden: because they do not use electricity but the sun's energy they are considered environmentally friendly; they are simple to install since you will not need to dig ruts for wiring because they do have any; they are easily moved from one spot to another; they are less expensive than any other type of lighting; the upkeep is almost non-existent except to replace a rechargeable battery every so often; the LED bulbs rarely burn out; they add beauty and highlights to your garden during the evening hours; and they you have more of an opportunity to spend time in your garden during spring and summer.
Installing solar patio lights is one way to change the appearance of your landscape, yard, or garden. Because they are inexpensive and easy to install they can give you an array of ways to use them. These garden lights are available in numerous shapes and sizes and some have the ability to change light colors. These lights give you a way to highlight outdoor decorations, lounge areas, or dining areas. When solar lights first emerged on the scene they came mounted on stakes and most people used them for path lighting. Now you can find them for hanging on tall poles that look like lanterns to light up a pathway, they can also be mounted on walls, railings, or inserted into a deck for safety. The lights on tall poles will lead your guests across a grassy area of your garden without stumbling into something on their way to an outdoor living area.
Solar spotlights are much brighter than accent lights or pathway lights. They are mostly used to highlight an outdoor decoration, an unusual landscape or a prize-winning flower garden. Many spotlights are available with the solar panel attached to the light with a wire; this allows you to place the spotlight on a particular area to highlight and place the solar panel where it will receive the direct sunlight. There are other types of spotlights that are specifically designed to be security lights; these are classified as motion sensor lights, they only light up if movement is detected.
The holidays are coming and Halloween is the first. Solar lighting is so popular now that solar string lighting and solar tube lighting is now available for holiday decorating. Some stand along outdoor displays for the yard have gone to solar power. Since these lights are now solar-powered your electricity bill will be a lot lower during the holidays. Many of us have tube lighting and string lighting in the backyard all year but they use electricity and now since they have gone solar we do not need to worry about wasting electricity because we will not be using it.
Solar lights are made of the same materials as most traditional fixtures which make them quite durable; some consist of resistant plastic and others are made of aluminum, copper, or bronze. They come in many different sizes and shapes, are quick to install and easy to move around. Solar garden lights do not cost a penny to operate since they get their power from the sun.

Barbara is using solar garden lights in her backyard garden and finds her garden enchanting. Her website Gardeners Garden Supplies has several articles regarding garden decorations and outdoor lighting.

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Create a Serene Decor in Your Home or Business with Ancient Art Replicas by Chris Robertson(garden)

Whether decorating your home or business, ancient art replicas will bring any room to life. Art replicas are works of art or statues that have been re-created to closely match an original artwork. These might be statues of FooDogs, Christian art wall plaques, or famous paintings. There are statues from Buddhist art, Greek art, and many other themes to create the atmosphere you want.
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Complement Your Furnishings and Colors

Ancient art replicas look their best when blended with other decorative items in a room. In your living room, for instance, use replicas of paintings or wall plaques that match or complement your living room furnishings. Lamps, tables, wall colors, and furniture color patterns should be considered. You can fill an empty corner in the room with a lovely statue replica. You can place statues beside a floor lamp or near the edges of furniture pieces. Or, accentuate your fireplace with an ancient art wall plaque of Christian art or Greek art.

In the kitchen, add lively ancient art replicas to match the theme and colors of your kitchen. You can hang wall plaques of ancient art along with kitchen wall plates, clocks, or other decorative wall items. You might also use a small statue replica with some greenery along the tops of your cabinets.

In the bathroom, a small statue replica can be used to decorate a towel shelf, the toilet tank, or a large sink. Ancient art replicas of paintings and wall plaques also make great pieces for bathroom wall decor. Wherever you place your ancient art replicas, be sure to add lamps, mirrors, flowers, wall sconces, and other decorative pieces to draw attention to your works of art. And in any room, statue replicas make terrific doorstops!
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Choosing a Decor Theme

Before buying ancient art replicas, it's a good idea to choose one particular theme so your decor will remain similar throughout your home or business. There are many themes from ancient times such as Egyptian art, Christian art, Greek art, and Buddhist art. Each theme will offer a variety of statues, wall plaques, and paintings so you can easily find replicas to match your decor. In Christian art, there are replicas of Byzantine crosses, statues of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, or Raphael, Celtic crosses, Mother Mary, and many others.

In Buddhist art, you can find unique Buddha statue replicas such as the Head of Buddha, Buddha with 108 Disciples, Buddha Maitreya, and many others. In Classic Greek art, you might want a Greek Sphinx statue, a Greek geometric vase, or a Greek Classic wall plate. Whatever theme you choose, you'll be able to bring that period of time to life in every room with ancient replicas.

Outdoor Decor

Want to add a touch of elegance to your garden, patio, or business entrance? Ancient art replicas of statues might do the trick. You can guard your home or business entrance with ancient Chinese FooDogs or capture scenes from Greek mythology with Greek statue replicas. Statues can be used to decorate walk paths, patios, porches, and flower gardens. They blend wonderfully with garden fountains, shrubs, and birdbaths. You can also use statue replicas to decorate a religious establishment or educational facility. Statues often invoke a sense of stability and strength or deep religious meaning.

Buying Ancient Art Replicas

You can find ancient art replicas in your local area or on the Internet. When shopping online, look for high quality replicas that are handcrafted or hand-painted. Also, check with specialty websites to find specific items to match your decor. With specialty sites, you'll be able to buy Greek art replicas affordably. If you want to buy Buddhist art or Christian art replicas, there are many products to choose from.
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Go online today to find beautiful ancient art replicas to spruce up your home or business decor!

Article source:www.goarticles.com/

Teak Patio Furniture: A Long Lasting Heritage for Your Garden Furniture(Garden)

Teak Patio Furniture: A Long Lasting Heritage for Your Garden Furniture(Garden)

By John Stidolph

Cast aluminum, plastic, metal furniture have been a popular patio furniture landmark for quite a while. However a new trend is taking shape where teak patio furniture has become extremely popular. Its obviously the right choice considering the many benefits of teak furniture.
(Garden)
Tell me now,what is it about teak patio furniture,that makes it the best choice? Well, the advantages of using teak patio furniture are many. Quality, class, durability, strength, finesse - all these qualities make teak patio furniture extremely popular.

Is it time for your fun tea time on the patio? - relax and enjoy the comfort for your teak patio furniture. Throw in a couple of patio furniture cushions to make it more comfy and you're all set. I've also seen a lot of people tend to have folded tables and rocking chairs made of teak. These are used indoors as well as outdoors. Cool isn't it?
(Garden)
With being able to find teak patio furniture in a lot of places but its always advisable to do a bit of referencing and research of the places that sell this furniture, since prices vary and its always better to be sensible while buying a quality product of high value. The internet sure has many discounts and sales available for online products available including teak patio furniture. Patio tables, chairs, patio chaise lounges, porch swings - you name it, you got it on the internet. So look around before closing in on a deal.

Are you tired of always cleaning the dust off of your teak patio furniture? You can always get some outdoor furniture covers which will protect your furniture. Of course people who buy teak patio furniture are aware that teak is durable, it does not require too much maintenance and lasts for a very long time.
(Garden)
With teak furniture on your patio, you'll definitely be the envy of all in your neighborhood. Everyone likes elegant yet durable products and buying teak patio furniture is indeed the right move. Its easy to set up and really creates a 'WOW' effect. So, for reliable, sharp and attractive look, go in for teak patio furniture.


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Teak Deck Furniture: A Tasteful Alternative for Your Garden Furniture

Teak Deck Furniture: A Tasteful Alternative for Your Garden Furniture

By John Stidolph

Lying around on your deck is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Relaxing on the perfect furniture will make you're afternoon all the more better. Going in for teak deck furniture is the perfect choice, since it class, comfort and style are all found in it.
(Garden)
It's good to get in your head just what it is your want before you get too far into your project. Do you want something where the entire family can get together or something more private and secluded. You will get a better feel for the right deck furniture selections once you determine how the end result is going to be. For example, if it's something for the entire family, you would want to go for something more suited for children. Glass tops should be definitely avoided. For a more quieter and cozy twosome, two good strong chaise lounges would be ideal, a nice teak coffee table with a glass top adds a touch of class. Whatever you plan on doing to you're deck, teak furniture is downright perfect for your deck.

If you're not sure if teak deck furniture is right for you, its advisable to start purchase one piece of furniture first. Try it out and you'll want it all you're life. This is from experience. Not only is teak deck furniture durable and long lasting, its also weather proof to all sorts of climate and maintenance is literally none.
(Garden)
Popular demand dictates an elevated essence with teak deck furniture over other types of furniture. But you don't want something regular do you? One of the reason's that teak furniture is so expensive is that teak wood is imported from countries like Indonesia, Burma etc. In addition, the various properties of teak wood that make it long lasting and durable is also another reason for its high cost. But price rarely matters when you're going in for a quality product and that's exactly what it is. Teak deck furniture is quality par excellence.

One feature of our deck furniture is the warm and comfortable feel you get, yet something that is durable and strong. Teak deck furniture is exactly that. You can accessories to this furniture to make it wholesome and cool. Throw on a couple of cushions on your chairs, or hang get a outdoor rocking chair, or add some garden benches so that you can have a fun family get together outdoors.
(Garden)
If you want to buy teak deck furniture you're going to have plenty of options, since there is no dearth of manufacturers. In actuality you will probably have a hard time not knowing what to choose because of the limitless choices of teak deck furniture available. Teak deck furniture lasts an eternity, so you definitely want to choose wisely or else you'll find yourself with something you're not too happy about.

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Basic Landscape Gardening Tips

By Daniel D Junior
The process of creating a complete scene through the growing of bushes, trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants in strategic locations is called landscape gardening. The first thing you need to do is envision what you want your yard to look like several year down the road. If you do not have much ideas, you can get some from gardening magazines.

The first part of your landscape will be the things that do not need to be grown. Let say for instance a rock patch, or a mulch area, this should be taken care of first, before looking at the longer term project. Trees that are place well, can add a lot to the overall aesthetic of your yard. You can make a choice of a single tree or a cluster of trees.

Choose a tree which has an attractive shape, bark and leaves and flowers that would not bother you in the future. Fruit trees that will thrive in your local area can be planted. Not only will you have beautiful trees in your landscape, but you can get some delicious fruits every season.

Another important part of your landscape should be shrubs. There are a variety of shrubs in any given region, so you can do some research for the ones you want for your yard. You should consider the season in which the bloom. If you plan right, you can find the type shrub so that a least one group is blooming almost year round. Shrubs can be used to provide focal points for your yard, or even use them to form a hedge.

So make a plan of the shrubs, trees, and flowers you will use before hand, and gradually grow a beautiful landscape yard. You should think about the technical aspects, such as what you will use to build your flowerbeds and what you will use as a drainage.

Daniel D Junior is a freelance writer and contributor for this website Basic landscape gardening tips and benefits

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Add a Koi Pond to your Landscaping Project

Author: Steven Cancel

Landscaping your lawn could entail a number of things. It could be as simplistic as having several plants and shrubs surrounded by various rocks and woodchips or even a water garden complete with fountains and flowers. The largest, most elaborate form of landscaping is a Koi pond.
A Koi pond is a project that will require a large surface area, and even more research. This illustrious landscape is very stimulating, but also may require some work when the changing of the seasons occurs.
Once the weather breaks and the leaves appear to be changing colors, it is generally a good idea to install netting over the Koi pond to eliminate the amount of leaves and sticks that will land in the Koi habitat. This will drastically lower the amount of debris to be removed at seasons end. Another precaution that should be taken during the break of the weather is winterizing the Koi pond.
In winterizing the fish habitat requires several pieces of advice. One of the most important steps to take into account is the cleaning process. It is wise to physically take the fish out of the pond, place them into a bucket full of the water in the pond, and clean the excess bacteria from the pond. However, completely removing all the bacteria will destroy the harmony of the pond through the summer months; the plants feed off the bacteria while the fish feed off the plants. Other things that need to be removed are the remaining leaves and sticks that were not caught by the netting. Failure of removing these materials will result in creation of methane gas, a byproduct of the decomposing that will occur. Lowering the amount of water will allow the pump to circulate water, allowing the fish to survive below the level of ice that accumulates in the cold weather. Another tip worth perusing is to create a hole in the ice when the winter season approaches. Do not use force when attempting to create a hole. The best method for this is to place a pot filled with boiling water over the ice to allow a hole to be melted into the ice. This will allow the gases that accumulate in the pond to escape.
The largest problem that occurs with the overall presence of the Koi pond is mobility throughout the surrounding area of the piece. Installing a bride over the center or an area of interest will serve a dual purpose. The practical purpose for this landmark is to be able to cross over the pond to access other portions of the yard or landscape. On the other hand, the second purpose of building a bridge is to create the effect of vastness and attractiveness. Bridges can come in a variety of styles with according costs.

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Save Outdoor Furniture from Scratch

By Kathy Moran

Last week’s article contained some practical advice for extending the lives of porch chairs and other wooden patio furniture, by taking steps to keep it looking its best throughout its lifetime. Although we covered a few tricks that will hide some of the nicks and scrapes that come with years of use, we barely scratched the surface (sorry!).Sometimes, one of the best remedies for fine scratches is a mixture of paste wax and elbow grease. Simply apply the wax, and buff vigorously. For deeper scratches, use superfine sandpaper, going with the grain, and baby oil or mineral oil. In most cases, you can use either wet or dry sandpaper; but if it’s an older veneer piece, use only dry, as there may be minuscule high spots where the wet paper can wear off the finish. For lustrous results, rub the spot with superfine steel wool that has been lubricated with oil soap, then wax and buff the entire area.You can also go to a wood-finishing supplier, and get a special touch-up pen that matches the wood, to seal and refinish scratches and worn-out areas. Before you begin, rub the area with mineral spirits and superfine sandpaper. Then, go over it with the pen, and even it out by rubbing it lightly with your finger, repeating the process until the new finish is adequately built up.Another problem that’s common to indoor and outdoor wood furniture is the white ring that can be caused by setting a glass down without using a coaster. Sometimes, the ring will go away on its own, if you wipe up the moisture in time; but if it remains after a few hours, go back and forth over the spot with a hair dryer that’s set on low. Keep the dryer at least six inches away from the wood, letting it get warm, but not hot. If the ring is still visible, diligently rub on some boiled linseed, olive, or vegetable oil, and wipe it clean.If you spill nail polish on wood furniture, do not wipe it up, as its solvents can soften and remove the finish. Wait until it dries, and then use something plastic, such as a credit card or driver’s license, to gently scrape it off. Finish by waxing the area with superfine steel wool.Of course, the best way to ensure that you will always have the most gorgeous outdoor furniture in town, is to go to CedarStore.com. With one of the largest selections available, CedarStore.com offers porch chairs, tables, dining sets, swings, benches, bar and bistro sets, gliders, lounges, rockers, accent tables, ottomans, and more.At CedarStore.com, you’ll find classic, decay-resistant wood furniture, made from cedar, pine, oak, cherry, and teak, as well as aluminum, polywood, and vinyl furniture that’s practically indestructible. Their impressive lineup also includes furniture that’s available in dozens of spectacular colors, to complement the décor of any porch, patio, or gazebo.To see the entire collection, go to cedarstore.com. To contact a design consultant or customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com.

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Benefits Of Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting is a home improvement trend sweeping the nation and is one of the most popular features in outdoor home improvement. It is one of the most dramatic improvements you can make to your home...front yard or back. Landscape lighting is breathtaking in its beauty and provides a safe, secure and welcoming environment to come home to. Also, low voltage landscape lighting is affordable, effective and is a primary deterrent to residential crime.
Low-voltage landscape lighting is easy and safe to install, is safe for kids and pets, and it consumes less power than line voltage lighting. Pathways, ponds, statues, trees, and shrubs all produce a serene environment when landscape lighting is applied. Landscape lighting is a great way to line your driveway or sidewalks.
Nothing else enhances your garden or yard at night better than exterior lighting. It provides an ambient effect to trees, shrubs and flowers. Garden lighting also has a practical side. It is a great way to mark pathways or accent garden areas. Get the full use out of your garden, yard and patio areas by adding decorative landscape lighting to your outdoor spaces. With outdoor lights you will also feel safer in your yard as you come home to relax in your garden. A garden with low-voltage landscape lighting can bring a whole new setting to the home and provide the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining.
Landscapes emerge at dark under subtle outdoor landscape lighting to create wonderful shapes in hauntingly beautiful sculptured drama. To brighten up an overall outdoor look, and highlight a home's best features, homeowners can create an effective low-voltage landscape lighting system.
In conclusion, low-voltage landscape lighting is a low-cost system to install and run, that makes a home stand out from its neighbors. It will bring beauty and security to your home and landscape. Fine landscape lighting is like a gift of additional time to enjoy your surroundings.

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Inexpensive Ways to Landscape the Borders by David Faulkner

When you are planning to build landscaping borders alongside the walking path or completely raised flower beds and if you go for pre-made materials in your construction you will get astounded on the rates. Landscaping by means of ready made material is not that easy, it requires a lot of money. This doesn't mean that you only go for unattractive cheaper landscaping borders. You can easily get cheaper landscaping borders through numerous other ways.

Finding

Think about moving into an area where they are considering new neighbors and search for a construction site. You can easily get fine sized rocks for landscaping borders, since builders have to make the land plain by digging it first. This will favor the builders too as they themselves would not be accountable for pulling up the stones so most of them would happily give it to you. This activity of finding rocks for a garden can be of a great experience for a family and you can have different types of landscaping borders without spending any money.

There are several other means of getting landscaping borders if there is an absence of a construction site near your area, like exploring the forests or by looking for them beside a country road. There you can get a lot of more valuable things which can be useful in your landscaping borders. If you are not available for exploring such things by yourself, friends and family can be of a great help for you and they can easily do this job for you. Materials and other requirements for landscaping borders can easily be obtained in a few days.

Further Ideas

Landscaping borders is not just concentrated upon the use of rocks; it can be made more alluring with the use of old concrete. You can easily have sizes of your own choice by placing the concrete in a pile and than smashing it with a large hammer. This is a good technique for those who want their landscaping borders to have country look. Concrete can easily be obtained near areas where they are rebuilding the footpaths and driveways. Besides this you can find old concrete in waste dumps for using them in your backyard.

Usage of the old tires can also be helpful in landscaping borders. You can do it by cutting off the sides and than across. Approximately three feet of your yards edges can be covered by just one tire. Bigger tires are even more durable and they can last forever as this material is almost indestructible and can go to even six inches in the edging of the yard. Besides this they do not decay and cannot be eaten by animals or by pests so you can be relieved from these two factors. Tires are the most easily available thing and can be found any where and they dont even cost you anything as you can get a used tyre from a junk yard or look for your own old tyres.This is one of the cheapest way one can make use of so beautifully and the fact that tyres are durable your area on which you have done landscaping will last forever.

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You can also find more info on landscaping software lets and some landscaping materials. Onlinelandscapedesigns.com is a comprehensive resource to get help in landscape issues.

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10 Tips For Environmentally Friendly Landscaping

Author: Paula Brett

Landscaping can be an enjoyable activity. Make sure you consider your landscaping choices, your house's orientation on the lot and the size of your space. You will need some creative ideas and some passion for what you are trying to accomplish.
1...It is recommended that you use the view of the sky or big trees as the background for the scene you are trying to create, to frame your house. Essentially, you are creating a living landscape, much like artists do on their canvases. The tall trees are generally placed in the back garden and the shorter ones in front of the house, providing a beautiful, changing background on your living canvas.
2...Too much of the foundations staring out at the neighborhood can create an unappealing view of the house from the front. You can fix this with a careful selection of shrubbery of varying heights and shades of green. Adding some bright flowers can go a long way to beautifying the front of your house.
3...When planting trees, wherever you do it in your garden, leave some walking space of about three to four feet from the trees.
4...Place taller shrubs between the windows and remember to colour coordinate them and to vary the leaf textures to make an attractive picture.
5...Examine your garden, and, if you see nothing but straight lines and right angles,
soften these lines with vines or small trees grown in large containers in the corners or edges of your garden.
6...One nice addition to your new landscape is a vegetable garden. This will not only greatly enhance your family's meals, but increase your enjoyment and exercise when you plant, water and harvest the "fruits of your labour" Pick a spot out of the way of the usual traffic in your garden and where there is lots of sunlight.
7...Planting tall trees around the perimeter of your garden will focus attention on your house and soften the vertical lines. Adding smaller trees and shrubs as needed on the remaining parts of your landscape, working your way forward, presents a pleasing appearance from the street and the illusion of depth. One technique is to use plants with darker leaves in the background and plants with variegated leaves or brightly coloured flowers in the foreground.
8...When planning your living landscape, be sure to leave space for parking or for your children's play area. Vines on trellises and small shrubs can be options to cover the areas or direct attention somewhere else. Do not forget brightly coloured flowers in beds or pots, which gives a sparkling, friendly appearance to the outside your home.
9...Cover the things that are not pleasing to the eye, like clotheslines and
dustbins. Trellises and fences can be attractively concealed when vines cover them. For added beauty, take a look at flowering vines.
10...There are plants that grow faster than others and some that require less attention. A check with your local garden centre will help you make the right choices. Beginners are advised to start with plants that do not require major attention and tending in order to grow adequately.
Landscaping can be enjoyable if it is approached as a family activity and not as a "major dirt moving and backbreaking experience" Your garden is your living canvas. Creativity and passion is all that's needed to make it a masterpiece.

Article Tags: Landscape Gardening, Essex Landscaper Gardener, Enviromentally Friendly Garden

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/