http://country-yall.com For people who live a country or rural lifestyle. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:05:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://country-yall.com/emergency-prep-for-farm-animals/ http://country-yall.com/a-singular-event/ http://country-yall.com/do-you-have-money-flowing-in-from-a-pipeline/
It was actually an accident because I would never have chosen of my own accord to go without basic necessities at that time in my life but we were kinda forced into it by a family reunion. You see the matriarch in our family decided because of the cost of getting together for all her off spring and her offsprings offspring that we would make this family reunion a camping adventure.

An adventure was exactly what it was, the likes of which the world has never seen up to that point and will likely never see again. Try putting 27 independent people from 7 autonomous families in one camp ground when all the decisions have to be made by committee. Well I will not bore you with the details but lets just say that the majority of the 3 days we spent doing three things. One was eating, two was sleeping and the third thing was trying to decide what else we were going to do and they corralling the group together into vehicles to go do whatever it was we decided to do.

Here is the reason I think this all worked for our family and the reason I think it works in so many cases. It has to do with common experience and working our problems out together. When you go for a typical weekend away or a vacation we here in the US often will divide our time as a group between group time and individual time. In a camping situation there is no individual time. You / We are forced to be exposed to each other for the entire time the adventure is taking place. This strains any relationship and it will force a tension that will ultimately bond you together if it does not break you apart. As an aside this works assuming there is some sort of bond to start with. A new relationship or one that is weak may be destroyed if it does not have the seeds for greatness.

Assuming that it does, the relationship is often strengthened by the tension since like any muscle when it is worked it gets stronger. Back to the contrasting vacation where we are all staying in a hotel and separate rooms, we can always escape and can for the most part avoid the tension that forces us to deal with each other while camping.

After our family reunion and the resulting posturing, alliance building and politicking that happened for those three days we came out on the other side a stronger unit because we knew that no matter what happened we could work it out and we knew that we would all choose to love each other and support each other in spite of our differences.

And that is why camping has become this familys foray into relationship building disguised as a family get away or vacation. Cheap fun with a anterior motive.

About the Author

Copyright Detro Canaro 2008 Detro Canaro is a husband, a father, a writer, computer tech and webmaster of several websites that support he and his family. One of those websites is a Flashlight Store that features Inova Flashlights Fenix Flashlights and others.

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As cute as they may be, deer hold a place right alongside moles, rabbits and grubs in the minds of those who invest hours in planting a beautiful garden. The word deer might as well be an acronym for Destructive Entity Eating Rabidly. If you plant it, they will come. If you plant it with the intent of luring something benign, theyll come even faster. What appeals to one critter often appeals to another which is the crux of the dilemma for those who wish to attract hummingbirds.

The good news is that there are solutions which will help you selectively lure one cute critter without the other. The only thing you have to decide is exactly how far away youd like Bambi to stay.

If youd be happy never to see a deer in your hummingbird garden again, the best insurance is a fence. Anything lower than 8 feet tall may act as a deterrent but wont guarantee a motivated deer wont hop over. Slat fences will certainly do the trick if you dont mind a very obvious boundary. Alternatively, polypropylene mesh fences blend into the background and cost substantially less.

Other options to deter deer include predator or even human urine deposited around the perimeter of your garden. The drawback to this method is the need for constant weekly reapplication. The bigger your garden, the less convenient this option becomes.

Some gardeners report that human hair contained in nylon stockings and strategically placed around the garden has been reported to deter deer. Likewise, heavily scented soaps either sliced in slivers or hung still in the box near plants you want to protect reportedly do a good job. Recommended brands include Irish Spring, Zest and Dial. Finally, dryer sheets such as Bounce smell unpleasant to deer. The concept derives from a deers desire to remain as unremarkable as possible to avoid attracting predators so they avoid getting close to heavy scents which may rub off and expose them.

If keeping deer entirely at bay isnt your objective, there are some methods that will still give you a chance at seeing them at the edges of your garden without having to sacrifice hummingbird attracting plants to their insatiable appetites. Using any of the scented methods above in moderation but only near plants you want to protect is one option.

Consider placing more desirable plants at the perimeter of your garden and keep your hummingbird flowers closer in to your home. Some plants for which deer have a high preference include, Indian Hawthorn, English Ivy, Hosta and Hydrangea.

Some sprays such as hot pepper applied to the leaves of plants you are trying to protect have also been shown to be effective. Remember, though, to avoid spraying the flowers on your hummingbird friendly plants or youll deter the very creature you are trying to attract.

Finally, choose deer-tolerant flowers which hummingbirds enjoy but deer only dine on when stressed by loss of habitat or starvation. There are a few varieties that still appeal to hummingbirds but which represent less of an invitation to a deers remarkably undiscerning palate listed below.

Perennials
Bee Balm
Cardinal Flower
Dahlia

Annuals
Flowering Tobacco

Vines
Cardinal Climber

Ultimately, remember that deer-tolerant is the same as water-resistant. It isnt a guarantee. When stressed, starving, desperate or diseased, deer can and will eat just about any non-poisonous plant to get by. If you want the ultimate protection against them, the answer to your prayers was mentioned early on. Invest in a fence.

About the Author

David writes for Hummingbirdfeedingguide.com, a blog devoted to feeding and attracting hummingbirds.

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A common misconception is that if flowers look particularly elegant or exotic, it means they are finicky and difficult to care for. Hemerocallis, or daylilies are a perfect example of flowers that are both delicate looking and hardy at the same time, requiring very little care to thrive in nearly all conditions.

Daylilies come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and are easy to grow. The perennials are not true bulbs, but grow from clump-forming tuberous roots. Although daylilies prefer well drained soil with plenty of organic material and lots of direct sunlight, they will tolerate much less favorable conditions such as extremely damp to dry sandy soil. If planted in heavy shade, hemerocallis usually respond by producing more foliage and fewer flowers.

Daylilies are perfect for a varied garden because the different varieties range in height from 8 inches to 5 feet, and flower size can be as small as 2 inches or as large as 8 inches. The spectrum of colors and shapes also adds distinction and variety to your flowerbed. Unlike some more fastidious flowers, hemerocallis usually bloom the same year they are planted, though they take three to four years to reach mature size, and can live for a very long time if given even moderate care.

Daylilies will bloom from late spring until autumn and many varieties have more than one flowering period. Because of the entangled clump-root system of daylilies, they provide excellent ground covers on slopes and are recommended for erosion control.
Daylilies are also particularly effective for blending in structures with the natural terrain. They have a naturalizing effect to blend fences, decks, steps, statues, driveways or shrubbery with the surrounding landscape.

The planting process itself is probably the most rigorous phase of caring for your Hemerocallis. To ensure that they take root properly you should water plants thoroughly after planting, and deep soak them every three or four days until established. If you ordered the plants rather than purchasing them in a garden store they may have become dried out during shipment from a supplier. If this happens, soak well for at least 15 minutes before planting. Although daylilies are drought-tolerant once established, consistent watering while budding and flowering will produce better-quality flowers.

For absolute best results daylily gardens should be mulched well with peat or compost in spring. Waiting until the plant is established to fertilize will encourage initial root growth. Add manure or other organic fertilizer in the early spring just as signs of new growth appear, and again in midsummer.

Very few pests and diseases are enough to harm the resilient hemerocallis, slugs and snails being the major exceptions. Daylilies are not bothered by lily beetle or any other problems of bulbous lilies. Root-knot nematodes could also pose a problem if you are planting on former cropland especially soybean and tobacco land.

About the Author

Perennial Place http://www.perennialplace.com/carries a wide variety of gorgeous daylilies to make your garden beautiful. Art Gibb is a freelance writer.

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The problem is that fresh flowers dont last. But treating them properly can extend the vase-life.

Remember that cut flowers have been removed from their life support system, both the roots, their source of water, and the leaves of the plant, their source of food.

Whats the best way to preserve fresh flowers It sounds like a simple question. Yet if you go online to search for a simple answer, youll find dozens of answers, few of them simple. How do we sort all this information out and get to the truth about preserving fresh flowers

How to Extend the Vase-Life of Fresh Flowers
Research says that to preserve a long vase-life, flowers, youll
1 need to minimize stresses like temperature and microorganisms
2 need to supply sufficient water, and
3 need to supply sufficient sugars or carbohydrates

The first step is to treat fresh flowers well from the moment you receive them. Keep them cool and keep them in water. At the first opportunity draw a sink full of water, place the stems under the water and cut them back 1/2" to 1" at an angle. Use a very sharp knife not serrated or scissors. The angled cut serves several purposes. First it exposes more surface area, second, an angled cut makes it easier to stick the stem into florist foam. The purpose of cutting the stems is to eliminate any air bubbles in the stems. Air bubbles can block the uptake of water. Leave the flowers in the water to rehydrate.

In the meantime thoroughly clean the vase with a 10 bleach solution.

The next question is what solution to put in the vase to keep the flowers fresh as long as possible Suggested homemade preservative solutions range from aspirin, copper pennies, sugar, bleach, lemon juice, corn syrup, non-diet lemon-lime soda, vodka, and Listerine to rock salt. There is a grain of truth behind many, but not all, of the homegrown ingredients.

Research Says...
Research says acidic water works best for flowers. Why There are two reasons. First, flowers take up acidic water quicker, and second, acidic water slows the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that can clog the stems. In the home brew solutions, the aspirin, or lemon juice, or lemon-lime soda supposedly provides acidity. But how much acidity is needed for how much water Research says that a pH of about 3.5 is about right. The research also says aspirin doesnt help.

Research says that flowers need carbohydrates in the form of sugars. In the homemade solutions, the sugar, corn syrup or lemon-lime soda provides the sugars the cut flowers need. The problem is that different cut flowers need different amounts of sugar. Some need very little, some really like it sweet

To slow the growth of microorganisms, some mixtures call for bleach, vodka, Listerine, or a penny to kill the microorganisms that can clog flower stems. According to the research, pennies arent any help.

If youd like to make your own fresh flower preservative solution, the University of Massachusetts offers two different formulas. Id recommend them over unproven formulas written by who knows who.

Magic Formulas You Can Trust
1 Add 1 can non-diet lemon-lime soda to 3 cans of water along with 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach.
2 Add 2 tablespoons of fresh lime or lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of water.

The Other Alternative
If youre not into the "Jerry Baker" do-it-yourself type formulas, use the packets of floral preservative that typically comes with fresh flowers. Most commercial preservatives contain the basic components of the life support system needed by the plant.

Whichever formula you decide on, mix it up and warm it to 100 - 110 degrees. Remove the flowers from the sink of water and place them directly into the vase of warm water. Then place the vase and flowers into a cool location for an hour or two.

Keep the flowers out of direct sun and as cool as possible. Change the preservative solution every other day. If there is enough stem on the flowers, snip 1/2 inch off when you change the water.

There you have it, the latest and greatest scientific techniques for extending the life of your fresh flowers. Pay no attention to what those other Websites say. You know better now.

About the Author

Charles Osborne is the owner of A-Bow-K Florist and Gifts, a leading Tampa florist. A-Bow-K is family owned and operated, and has been delivering flowers to Tampa and the surrounding communities for 25 successful years. Visit our website at http://www.a-bow-kflorist.com.

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When starting an organic vegetable garden you must start from the ground up. Compost is the key to a lush, bountiful organic garden. If you dont already have your own compost, check with your local municipality. Most give away leaf compost for free. Some even deliver by the truckload to your home

Leaf compost is very rich in organic matter; however, it still needs a few amendments. Lime added to your compost will balance the Ph and Gypsum added about 5lbs. per 100 sq. ft. will keep the soil nice and loose, it also adds trace minerals such as calcium which is great for the soil. Adding these will also help plants intake the nutrients they need to thrive. Work this into the top 4-6 of soil.

Another important key to growing organic veggies is sunlight. Take some time to watch the sun as it moves across your property throughout the day. Start your garden where it will get the maximum amount of sun and plant your rows from NE to SW. It is also important to water your garden in the early morning between the hours of 6 and 10 am. The will allow for good water absorption and any water left on the leaves will evaporate before the heat of mid-day. Watering in the middle of the day is not recommended because the water will evaporate before it has a chance to really soak in or you will have to water longer to get the same effect. The leaves of the plants may also burn as the water on the leaves heats up. Never, ever water your garden in the evening unless you want a tough battle with the evil fungus Let me explain. When you water in the evening it is cooler and dark. The ground will absorb the water well, however, the round will only suck up so much, and then the garden is left with water on the leaves and puddles even small ones around the stems. There is no sun to gently evaporate the excess. Water and air can carry fungus spores naturally. The water laying on the leaves and around the stems acts as a fertilizer to the evil fungus and it grows literally overnight. Before you know it you have black spots on your tomato and pepper plant and curling leaves on your cucumbers

Ok, once you have chosen your location, prepared the soil, and have placed your plants in rows, use your recycled newspaper as a weed preventer between the rows. Once the newspaper is wet, no weed can penetrate it.
Its not very pretty, do like I do and give it a covering of mulch. Newspaper and mulch also serve a dual purpose they help retain moisture around the plants. Just try to keep them away from the stems of your plants.

Pretty simple so far, huh There is a great misnomer about the word ORGANIC. Many people think that organic means work. Its just the opposite. Working with nature, and using simple principles is always easier and more successful than working against nature with harmful chemical based fertilizers and control products.

Beneficial insects in your garden are a must. Lady bugs and Preying Mantis will eat many unwanted insects. Bats are also great insect eaters. And no, they will not get stuck in your hair Install a bat box up in a tree and you will have less garden pests and mosquitoes in your yard. Bats are nocturnal so they wont bother you at all. They are actually great fun to watch at dusk, dancing in the moonlight.

If you do find yourself with a garden invasion of nasty little critters, there are a few easy tricks. If you only see a few insects, pick them off, put in a refuse bag and throw in the trash. If you have more than a few, a solution of soapy water generally will do the trick. Using recycled bath or dishwater works great. It also saves precious water. If your garden is too large to bucket the water from your sink or tub, pour some liquid dish soap in a hose end sprayer and spray the garden. A good soak of the plants is what you want. You can do this weekly all the way until harvest.

As for fertilizing your veggies, there is nothing better than Merrills When I find a product that works this well, I have to spread the word. Merrills Compost Fertilizer or Compost Tea a water soluble fertilizer is an All Natural Certified Organic Fertilizer. Your plants will love it They will grow bigger, and yield more veggies than any other fertilizer Ive ever used.

Ok, now let me tell you how to rid your garden of the EVIL FUNGUS. If you come across a plant particularly tomatoes that is curling or wilting with no other apparent signs of disease, and its been getting adequate water pull it our and dispose of it immediately. Throw it in the garbage do not put it in your compost bin

Do not replant in that spot again this season It could have Fusarium Wilt or some other disease that attacks the root system of the plant and can travel quickly from plant to plant. If you have Black Spot or Powdery Mildew, make sure you are only watering in the morning, and you can get an organic fungus control at greennationgardens.com or your local garden center.

Now that the gardening season is over, when breaking down your garden COMPOST IT Any newspaper and mulch can be placed in your compost to break down naturally to be added back into your garden next year. Plant stems unfortunately have to go into the garbage. They are fibrous and difficult to break down. You do not want any disease spores wintering over in your compost bin. Make sure to test the Ph and amend your soil yearly to replace the nutrients and trace minerals your veggies took from the soil. After all, the organic vegetables youll be growing the following growing season will be looking for those very same nutrients. Theyll thank you for it with a bountiful array of fresh organic produce, and your family will thank you for all the wonderful goodness you have provided them with no chemicals, and that is a wonderful thing

HAPPY ORGANIC GARDENING

About the Author

This article may be reproduced and/or distributed. Written by Vera Pappas, Owner of Green Nation Gardens , suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies. Visit GreenNationGardens.com , Today

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This article deals with the preparation needed before you plant a mixed native hedge.
These are the hedges of the English countryside - thorn based, often stockproof and generally made up of species including the likes of hawthorn, hazel, field maple, blackthorn and wild roses. If you are buying plants you can find suitable mixes online using a search phrase such as country hedging plants

Preparation here is all about weed control. Country hedging plants as a rule like to be planted in firm, untilled soil. They are native to the UK and grow in a wide range of soil types - generally quite poor. As a rule, therefore unless your soil is appalling, it is better not to improve it. When your hedge is in, the plants will put their roots out far and wide in search of food and moisture which ensures the hedge will survive drought should we ever get another one and is well anchored against gales, cattle, trespassers and so forth.

Weeds on the other hand are every hedge plants enemy. They smother your plants and, because they tend to have shallow roots, they steal water from the hedge. A carpet of weeds can stop all but the heaviest rain wetting the soil more than 5cms down - the weeds can look green and lush while your hedging is dying of thirst.

Prevention is better and much easier than cure here. Mark out the area to be planted with string and bamboo canes so you can see what you are doing. Whether you are planting in one row or two, mark a strip about 90 cms wide. If you are happy using chemicals, the months of August, September and the first half of October are optimal for killing weeds using a systemic weedkiller any one containing Glyphosate will do. Mix according to the instructions and apply by sprayer or watering can on a dry still day. The weeds will start to yellow after 2-3 weeks. Any that are still green after 4 weeks should be given a second dose - this will get rid of pernicious monsters like bindweed.

If you do not like chemicals, then buy weed control fabric in 1 metre widths it tends to come in rolls of 25, 50 and 100 metres. Cut the weeds as close to the ground as you can and lay the fabric over the marked strip. Secure the corners with stones. Standing on the fabric, and using a spade with the blade parallel to and about 3-4cms in from the edge of the fabric, drive the fabric into the ground until the edge is hidden by soil. Do this all the way round until all edges are completely tucked in. It will stay like this for 3-4 years before it begins to break down. It allows moisture through, but excludes light and so kills everything green underneath. In the next article you will learn how to plant your hedge through slits in the fabric in the winter.

Finally, if you do not like plastics either the fabric is polypropylene, you can use organic materials such as carpet underlay, broken down cardboard boxes. I have seen people recycling estate agents For Sale signs.... You can even use grass clippings in a blanket about 7-8 cms thick. A few pernicious weeds will come through, but you can hand weed those out. Make sure the grass does not blow away though.

Done now, the smothering techniques will have killed all your weeds by the time you get to plant your hedge from November onwards.

About the Author

Anna Stenning is an expert on hedging having researched this extensively for her garden.

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Choosing the Type of Mower

Zero Turn Mowers

For a lawn that is more than 1/2 acre with multiple objects a zero turn mower would be a good choice. The time taken to mow your lawn can be cut in half with a zero turn mower as these mowers are more efficient. The excellent maneuverability allows you to easily mow around all size objects without having to back up and turn repeatedly. The rear wheels are used for both power and steering and operate independently so one wheel can reverse while the other wheel rotates forward allowing zero to 360 degree turns. In addition these mowers are fast, up to 6.5 mph so you can quickly cover a large lawn.

Riding Mowers

For a lawn of between 1/2 to 1 acre a riding mower will be ideal. They have few attachments as they are primarily built to do one thin wheel and that is to cut the lawn

Lawn Tractors

With higher horsepower engines lawn tractors are better for larger lawns and rougher terrain. They also have a good range of optional attachments so if you want to use your mower as a snowblower, an aerator, a machine to move material around your yard you should choose a lawn tractor.

Garden Tractors

The toughest of these machines with the highest horsepower, garden tractors usually have two-cylinder engines and sturdy transmissions. For a very large garden or yard with rough terrain choose a garden tractor.

Factors to consider before you purchase a lawn tractor or riding mower

Size of Lawn

The first thing to take into account is the power of the engine and the cutting width and to ensure that these are suitable for the size of your lawn. Here are some general guidelines to help you choose. Be aware of the width between any obstacles as a larger deck may cut down the time to mow a large area but be unable to mow between obstacles.

1/2 to 1 acre lawn: You will need a mower with at least a 14 hp engine and a 42" cutting width

1 to 2 acres lawn: A cutting width of between 42" and 46" with a 14 to 16hp engine should be adequate

3 Acres and above: For this size lawn area an engine size of between 18 and 24 hp and a 46" to 54" cutting deck would be the best buy

Attachments

A wide range of attachments are available for lawn tractors including snowblowers, front blades, tractor shovel, electric spreaders, baggers etc. Check that attachments that you might need now or in the future are available for the model you are considering. Riding mowers generally have very few attachments but are cheaper to buy so if all you want to do is mow your lawn a riding mower would be the best buy.

Transmission

Gear Driven or Automatic

Consider the layout of the lawn area to be cut with your lawn tractor or riding mower. A gear driven mower will be better on open areas with few obstacles such as flower beds or bird baths. Choose an automatic transmission for areas that have obstacles so that you can easily vary the speed around the objects. Most of the lawn tractors with automatic transmission also have cruise control so you can set this in areas that are clearer.

Bagging, Mulching or Side Discharging

Many lawn mowers have the options to easily switch between mulching or side discharging. Most have optional bagging attachments.

Safety Concerns

The higher speed of lawn tractors and riding mowers leads to some concern for safety and operators should be aware of these factors before they use the machines.

Obstacles: Care must be taken with obstacles on the lawn as hitting a solid object will do severe damage to the machine at these speeds.

Scattering objects: Any small objects, for instance stones, twigs, household objects left on the lawn will be picked up by the mower and projected at high speed. Always ensure there are no people or pets in the area when operating the machines.

Noise: Some of these mowers can be very noisy. Wear ear protection if this applies to your model

Advantages and Disadvantages

Lawn Tractors

Advantages: Durable, built to last, attachments to do many other tasks

Disadvantages: Expensive, leaves uncut areas at the end of turns, needs a large storage area, difficult to take in for repairs

Zero Turn Mowers

Advantages: Fast, best for a lawn with many obstacles, no uncut areas at the end of turns, few attachments

Disadvantages: Expensive, needs a large storage area, difficult to take in for repairs, few attachments, some safety concerns due to the high speed.

Riding Mowers

Advantages: Cheaper than lawn tractors, reasonably fast, leaves uncut areas at the end of turns,few attachments

Disadvantages: Awkward to steer around obstacles and leaves uncut grass close to obstacles.

About the Author

Read more and find some great deals in new and used lawnmowers and lawn Tractors at Toro Lawnmowers and Snowblowers or John Deere lawn Tractors and Snowblowers

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