Peat-Free Compost: An Earth-Friendlier Option

If you have a garden, you probably use compost. If you buy that compost from a store, it may be made entirely of peat or contain peat. In fact, some gardeners prefer pure peat to compost their soil. If you garden, you are probably a lover of nature and the earth, so it might be worthwhile to note that peat compost is not particularly earth-friendly.

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How to Make an Edible Garland for Feeding Birds

Garland is a favorite Christmas decoration of many. You can find all sorts of garlands in stores ? shiny ones, beaded ones, subdued ones and fluffy ones. But it’s much more fun and original to make your own than to buy the same ones everyone else is using.

Lots of families make garlands out of candy or popcorn to use when decorating their Christmas trees. It’s a simple project that the whole family can do together. But did you know that edible garlands are also great for attracting birds and other small animals to your yard in the winter? Here’s how to make a beautiful decorative garland that the critters will find absolutely irresistible.

What You Need

* Raffia or twine
* Scissors
* Large sail maker’s needle
* Unsalted peanuts with shells intact
* Small pine cones
* Peanut butter
* Birdseed
* Butter knife
* Pie plate
* Unsalted, unbuttered popped popcorn
* Soft dried fruits such as cranberries, dates and raisins
* Sunflower seeds in the hulls
* Plain Cheerios cereal
* Millet sprays

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of raffia or twine to about a foot longer than length that you want your finished garland to be. Thread the needle with it.

2. Securely tie a peanut to the end of the string. This will keep the items you string on from falling off.

3. Using the butter knife, spread peanut butter onto the small pine cones. Place some birdseed into a pie plate and roll the peanut butter-covered cones in it.

4. Thread the treats, including the pine cones, onto the string in a pattern or at random.

5. Use small pieces of the raffia or twine to tie millet sprays onto the garland at regular intervals.

6. When the garland is filled to about 6 inches from the end, tie on another peanut to keep everything in place.

7. Hang the strand of garland on an outdoor tree, and watch as the birds eagerly devour it!

Tips

* You can make clean-up easier by making this project outdoors. When you’re done, you can leave anything you dropped for the birds to eat.

* If making this project with small children, close supervision should be provided to prevent injury from the sharp needle.

* Feel free to add more items to your garland. Just make sure they’re safe for birds and other small animals to eat. They should be all natural, with no salt, butter or other unnecessary additives.

* If you want the birds to come even closer, try looping the garland around the rails on your front porch.

* Make sure the garland is kept out of the reach of pets and small children. They might decide that they would like a snack and destroy it.

How Green Is Your Greenhouse?

For years, many people have trusted greenhouses as a great way to grow quality healthy fruits and vegetables on your own all year round. And recently, growing your own natural and organic gardens has become more and more popular So it comes as no surprise that many people are now building eco-friendly greenhouses to help grow safe, high quality fruits and vegetables right at home.

While many people don’t think about it, growing your own vegetables is a great way to reduce your energy consumption. Your food doesn’t magically appear at the grocery store; it has to be shipped there, usually by truck, and sometimes from very far away. And that can take a lot of energy, which you save by growing your own food at home.

So why waste all the good you’re doing by using tons of energy in your greenhouse? It’s not only bad for the environment, it also costs you more in utility bills.

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