With specialized mechanisms that allow them to survive without water during times of drought, these drought tolerant plants require little if any supplementary water. Although most can survive without additional water, they do need some water and/or shade occasionally, especially as seedlings or young plants.
Given additional moisture you may find they thrive for long periods in your garden or landscape. These plants are often opportunistic and will quickly bloom and produce seed during the rainy season followed by a period when they will either ‘senesce’ (die back) or remain in a non-flowering state. We chose six of these amazing drought resistant plants that you can put in your garden.
Bonfire
Growing up to 3 meters begonia bonfire is a hardy dense that is an excellent choice for an informal screening in your garden. It has very fine, deeply divided leaves with lovely bronze colored new growth. It flowers heavily through-out spring with brilliant red, spider-like flowers that are attractive to birds.
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Perfect plant for any garden sedum, are often taken for granted , partly because they don’t bloom until the fall, but also because they require so little care from the gardener. Their thick, succulent leaves are able to withstand drought and rainy weather. The flower buds form early and remain attractive well in winter.
Canyon Penstemon
Canyon Penstemon has tall spikes of rose-purple flowers that attract hummingbirds in the spring. Triangular green leaves are fused at the base of the stem, and have serrated margins. You need to plant Canyon Penstemon in full sun to part shade and you have to provide excellent drainage.
Silvery Lupine
Once established this drought tolerant, perennial wildflower needs only little bit of water. Silvery lupine is fragrant flower that will bloom in June with purple to white flowers in whorls up stem. Needs full to partial sun, reaching up to 24 inches in height.
Manzanita
Manzanita or “little apple” because of the small, round nutritious fruit eaten by bears, coyotes, foxes, quail, and other animals, including human beings. They are evergreen, colorful, and grow fast. Make sure you pick the right plant for your soil as some prefer sand and some clay.
Lomandra -Katrinus Deluxe
This cold hardy, drought tolerant, shade tolerant, heat tolerant, pine-green fine foliage and weeping habit gives you the look and feel or an ornamental grass all year long. Don’t cut it in winter because it won’t need it; evergreen even when temperatures are very low. This is a great low maintenance choice where ornamental grass is desired.
It is obvious that boxwood is not a cheap plant so knowing how to propagate it can be very useful and budget friendly. All you need is a little patience – it might take a year till your new plant starts to grow.
During July/August choose some healthy boxwood twigs that are 10 to 15 cm long and don’t have any blooms on them. Remove almost all of the leaves, leaving just a few on the tip. Prepare the soil and make holes. Plant the twigs so that half of their length is in the soil. Cover the planter with foil. The soil should be moderately moist and when a root system develops on the twigs new leaves will start to show.
Important Tip: it is best to keep the new plant at the height of your hands. This way the pruning process will be much easier. Using proper tools will help you make clean cuts that will heal fast. If you don’t make a clean cut, fungi and other pests may inhabit your plant.
Extra Tip: Boxwood is an outdoor plant so it doesn’t require a warm spot for a successful propagation. Keep the planters with the new plants on your balcony, preferably in shade. You can also plant the young twigs directly into your garden. Just choose a nice shady, protected spot and plant the twigs in moist soil rich with limestone and clay.
With their simple and contemporary design, these planters with different shapes and sizes allow each user to create a mosaic of their own to decorate a wall and transform a room into a green oasis.
Vertical gardens were mainly located outside until Urbio created an innovative concept – an urban vertical garden – the first ever magnetic wall-mounted vertical garden system. Urbio is an award-winning design
and manufacturing brand that focuses on creating well-designed organizational solutions for small-space
living. Their products are recognized for design, style and engineered for function, performance, and durability.
The vertical garden system consists of a white panel with holes that is attached to the wall. The pots are then attached to the panel. This is a very simple process which means you can easily remove the pots from the panel in order to water, re-pot, fertilize or prune the plants.
Small pieces of pumice are placed on the bottom of the pot in order to help the plants grow. This encourages water drainage , aeration of the soil and prevents rotting roots.
For proper planting, you should use small pieces of pumice (around 5 cm) and then fill the rest of the pot (2.5 cm bellow the top of the pot) with soil.
Urbio planters are lightweight, made from durable polypropylene which can be recycled and are available in different shapes and sizes, so users can make their personal mosaic in accordance with the plants they want to grow. Designers have pointed out that one of the biggest advantages of Urbio’s vertical gardens is the fact that they will keep your space clean as the soil and the plants won’t make a mess even if you have light color furniture. There is no danger of scattering particles from the planters. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
Urbio planters would have been just a concept if it wasn’t for the team of designers who worked hard to bring us the final product. Beau Oyler and Jared Aller together with the Enlisted Design team are the designers that created these simple yet extremely useful hanging planters. Their experience was very valuable. Beau and Jared have worked on projects for Williams-Sonoma, Nestlé, Netgear and Clorox, and have won multiple awards for their designs. They constantly work on finding useful solutions, just like the Urbio indoor vertical gardens. Innovative, reliable solution for urban gardening and organization in small spaces!
Disclaimer: This text is our own opinion on the Urbio indoor vertical planters. We are in no way associated with Urbio and haven’t received any compensation for writing this post.
Your Geraniums will bloom all over again next year if you just move them indoors before the first frosts. With a proper preparation, they can wait for the next spring placed in a bright spot in your basement or corridor.
Geraniums should be placed in a bright spot and temperature from 41F to 54F during the winter. As they do not need too much light placing them near a window will be sufficient. Once you find a perfect spot for your plants, water them moderately, as they have the ability to store water in the ticker stems. The soil should be just slightly moist. You don’t need to fertilize your Geraniums till March.
Geraniums often bloom in autumn, especially when the nights are pleasant. In late September you should remove all the flowers, both old and new, so the plant can save energy for the winter. Remove wilted leaves as well. Most of their leaves will fall through the winter. Just use your hands to remove all of the dead parts. Cutting them is a worse option as only short twigs will remain.
Pruning is very important for growing beautiful Geraniums. If you want dense plants full of flowers you should prune your Geraniums in March or October. You should do this by cutting all of the new shoots so only the main (old) ones remain.
Your Geraniums will bloom all over again next year if you just move them indoors before the first frosts. With a proper preparation, they can wait for the next spring placed in a bright spot in your basement or corridor.
Geraniums should be placed in a bright spot and temperature from 41F to 54F during the winter. As they do not need too much light placing them near a window will be sufficient. Once you find a perfect spot for your plants, water them moderately, as they have the ability to store water in the ticker stems. The soil should be just slightly moist. You don’t need to fertilize your Geraniums till March.
Geraniums often bloom in autumn, especially when the nights are pleasant. In late September you should remove all the flowers, both old and new, so the plant can save energy for the winter. Remove wilted leaves as well. Most of their leaves will fall through the winter. Just use your hands to remove all of the dead parts. Cutting them is a worse option as only short twigs will remain.
Pruning is very important for growing beautiful Geraniums. If you want dense plants full of flowers you should prune your Geraniums in March or October. You should do this by cutting all of the new shoots so only the main (old) ones remain.
FACT: Teeth whitening is the most requested cosmetic dental procedure in the U.S. Another fact: It doesn’t come cheap. But we have analternative, actually 3 alternatives that can make your teeth whiterwithout affecting your budget drastically. Yes, you can whiten yourteeth at home without spending a small fortune at the dentist. And with using all natural products! That sounds intriguing right? We have done a little research and picked the top 3 totally awesome ways to whiten your teeth at home. They are all safe, natural and pretty affordable. You can have a brilliant smile in no time simply by following the routine that suits you the most.
BRUSH WITH BERRIES
We are talking about strawberries. Yes, they are not only great for your heart, help fight cancer and lower blood pressure but also can whiten your teeth. Strawberries are packed with Vitamin C that helps with plaque build up and malic acid that can remove surface stains. So lets see how to do it…
1. Crash 1-3 strawberries into a pulp. You can also add a pinch of salt and a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
2. Using a toothbrush apply the mixture on your teeth.
3. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
4. Rinse your mouth well with water.
BAKING SODA AND LIME
Have you noticed that baking soda have became a common part of every toothpaste formula in the recent years? This is for a reason and the reason is that baking soda can help your teeth get whiter. So why not use it at home to get whiter brighter teeth? You just have to do it properly in order to achieve great results. It is easy if you follow these steps:
1. Dampen your toothbrush and dip it in some baking soda.
2. Brush your teeth for 2 minutes than spit the soda.
3. Rinse your mouth clean with water.
4. Once a week mix some lime or lemon juice with soda (juice of 1/2 lime with 1/4 cup of soda) After the bubbling is over grab a damp cotton wool ball and dab it into the mixture. Rub thoroughly over your teeth. Leave for one minute than brush off. Voila!
VEGGIES & FRUITS AS NATURAL TEETH WHITENERS
Celery, Cucumber, Broccoli and Carrots are one of the healthiest veggies and they are also great as natural teeth whiteners. They gently scrub away stains and increase the production of saliva which reduces plaque causing bacteria in your mouth. We are talking about raw veggies here – just to be clear! We mentioned the power of strawberries already, but apples are also effective as “toothbrush food” as their crunch factor works to scrub teeth clean. Here is a list of vegetables and fruits that when eaten raw can have a teeth whitening effect, just don’t expect instant results…
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits out there that are widely consumed. They are delicious and healthy, packed with potassium and pectin, a form of fiber, they are high in antioxidants and can also be a good way to get magnesium and vitamins C and B6.
Bananas are known to reduce swelling, protect against developing type-2 diabetes, aid in weight loss, strengthen the nervous system and help with production of white blood cells, all due to the high level of vitamin B6 that bananas contain.
But bananas are not only good for you and your body, they are also good for your plants! Believe it or not most of the banana skins end up in the garbage bin after the bananas are being eaten. This is absolutely wrong! Especially if you have a garden with some lovely plants that need additional care. We recommend saving the skin next time you eat a banana – as a treat to your garden.
Bananas are a source of calcium, phosphor, potassium and magnesium and they obviously have a positive effect on our bodies, but here is how these minerals act on your soil and plants…
Potassium: This mineral will make your plant stronger and disease-resistant. It is especially beneficial for all varieties of ferns.
Phosphor: Phosphor is a powerful mineral that promotes the growth of fruits and flowers.
Calcium: It is the most important mineral for the soil as it is responsible for the oxygen flow.
So, how to use banana skins for a maximum benefit on your plants? Make a banana skin fertilizer which will provide your garden the much needed minerals. It is easy – just leave the banana skins to dry (don’t worry if they turn black) then grind it in the blender. Mix in some water in order to get a mixture similar to milkshake. Your plants will love it!
If you don’t have a blender just cut the skins into small pieces and dig them into the soil around the plant, or in the soil where you plan to plant something new. You can also store a bigger quantity of dried banana skins and then use them along some mulch for “lasagna” gardening.
Growing ginger at home is surprisingly easy and requires very little tools and time. But before we share with you and easy tutorial on how to grow your own ginger roots from the grocery shop let’s talk about how healthy ginger is.
Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale has been cultivated for medicinal and culinary purposes since earliest times, including the Romans in 200 AD while in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, ginger occurs in about half of all prescriptions.
Ginger roots are well known remedies indigestion, nausea and even travel sickness. But their use doesn’t stop here as they help with colic, cold, flu, irritable bowl, poor circulation, menstrual cramps, dyspepsia and many more conditions. Ginger is also a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that is used for joint problems, arthritis, fevers, headaches, toothaches, coughs, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, to ease tendonitis, lower cholesterol and blood-pressure and aid in preventing internal blood clots. Yes, it is pretty obvious that ginger is a super food that should be definitely present on our menu. And the best part is that you can grow it in your own home.
Preparation
All you need in order to start growing ginger roots is a small container (pot, can, jar) filled with soil and a ginger root bought from the closest grocery shop. Make sure you choose one with many “fingers” (ginger roots look similar to a human hand) that is also firm and looks nice. Soak the ginger root in warm water for one night then cut into chunks.
Make sure the soil you use is well-drained, rich soil that is neutral to alkaline in pH level. Lay one ginger “finger” on the soil making sure it stays on the surface – you don’t want it completely covered with soil. This is the trick to making this project successful. You don’t need to place the container on a very light spot as it doesn’t require much light, but what it does require is warmth. Make sure you water it regularly as you must keep it moist constantly.
Useful Tips
It is best to plant the ginger root in autumn as an indoor plant and then you can move it to your garden in spring. If you wish to replant it in your garden then make sure the soil is well-drained and of course, continue with regular watering. Don’t worry about pests and diseases! Ginger is prone to bacterial wilt only in parts of India, China, and Australia. If winter temperatures drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit it is best to grow ginger indoors as it is a tropical plant.
The Result
If you take a good care of your ginger root the green shoots can grow from 60 to 120 centimeters. Let the new ginger shoot grow for 3 to 5 months before you start using the new rhizomes. Plants need a 10 month growing season for optimum rhizome production. Oldest canes can be removed when new shoots appear
At last, enjoy using your homegrown ginger in your kitchen – young rhizomes can be juiced, eaten raw, preserved in syrup, and candied; also used in soups, marinades, curries, chutneys, pickles, meat and fish dishes and stir fries. Dried, ground ginger is used to flavor cakes, cookies, curries, chutneys, and sauces.
There are so many plants you can easily propagate from cuttings and leaves and Sansevieria is one of those plants. Just follow our easy tips and you can have new Snake Plants at no cost!
When we are talking about Sansevieria propagation, there is only one exception we need to mention – the yellow edge variety can be propagated by division only which means you can only get plants with green leaves by propagating from cuttings.
To propagate new Snake Plants from cuttings you need to choose a healthy leaf and cut it at the base. Place it on a board and cut transversely into sections about two inches. Then make a small V-shaped cut on the side that is near the base and insert the cutting in a pot filled with sharp sand. Dip the cuttings in the sand about an inch and leave about three inches above the sand.
Keep the pot in a warm room. Water your cuttings regularly. In about six weeks you will get new plants from each cutting. When they have 2-3 leaves take them out of the sand and carefully remove them from the old leaf. Plant each of the new leaves separately.
It is said that you are what you eat, meaning healthy food will make you healthier and happier. We live in a modern world, always rushing somewhere, living on fast food and coffee, caught in computers, so, we kind of forgetting how important is to eat healthy and live without stress. Between the busy working and studying schedules we just grab something to eat, chips, chocolate, some lame sandwich, forgetting that is much better for us and our organism to get an apple, orange juice or salad. It is a fact that you and your family must eat healthy, your diet should be rich in vitamins and fresh product. And the best way for that is to grow your own, and if you have a garden or yard, now is the right time to do it.
Growing vegetables is one of oldest agriculture tradition and you need to practice it. Eating product fresh from your garden, not only that is beneficial for you, but it is also good for the nature and environment. A perfectly ripe, juicy tomato, still warm from the sun. Sweet carrots and potatoes, pulled from the garden minutes (or even seconds!) before they’re eaten. The freshest onions or pepper that don’t even need to be cook. A vegetable garden is like having your own market, but with extra fresh and healthy products. Growing your own vegetables is one of those activities that balances practicality and indulgence. Vegetables start losing nutrients as soon as they’re harvested, and quality diminishes as sugars are turned into starches. For the tastiest veggies with the best nutrition, try growing a few of these nutrient-dense foods in your own garden. To be honest, gardening does require work, but by learning a few basic skills and techniques, you can make your vegetable gardening experience a pleasant one. If you need help choosing the kind, here are few we warmly recommend to plant in your garden. Tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, spring onions, potatoes and peas don’t need a lot of care and work, but for sure they are delicious and you want then on your table, right after you harvest them from the garden.
10 Easy to Grow Vegetables
Carrots
Carrots is a root vegetable, usually orange in color and it is an awesome addition to salad, soups, stews and roasting meat, but you just take bite from a fresh one, because it is so tasty and healthy. To grow carrots in your garden all you need to do is finding a plot of soil that is free from rocks and deep enough to handle this root vegetable. Carrots are ready for harvest when their tops breach the soil line. If you don’t have a garden, you can plant them in a deeper pot and leave it on the balcony.
Spring Onions
Spring onions are easy vegetables to grow in your garden, or sow them directly into the ground throughout the summer for a succession of crunchy, colorful crops. Select an open area in your garden that receives plenty of sunlight. It has a relatively mild onion flavor, and it can be raw or cooked. You can add it in your salads, soups or dips. If you don’t have space just plant the in a pot.
Potatoes
There is no person in the world who doesn’t love potato, cooked, fried, in a salad, baked or mashed, it is so delicious, and yet so easy to grow in your garden. Plant potatoes during late February and March. Dig straight, shallow trenches, 2 to 3 feet apart, in prepared soil. Plant seed potatoes 12 inches apart and cover with about 3 inches of soil. When the shoots reach 10 to 12 inches tall, use a hoe or shovel to scoop soil from between rows and mound it against the plants, burying the stems halfway. Repeat as needed through the growing season to keep the tubers covered. This is a simple, inexpensive, and proven method that farmers have used for millennia.
Peas
It is a cool season crop grown in many parts of the world; planting can take place from winter to early summer depending on location. Sow them directly into the ground from March to June and look forward to the incredible sweet flavor of fresh picked peas from June to August. All they require is support for their stems – simply erect some chicken wire or netting between supports at each end of the row. You’ll be amazed at how good fresh peas taste and use them for a side dish, tasty stew or as a salad addition.
Tomatoes
With a little water and a lot of sun, tomato plants will grow and fruit all summer long in your garden so you can have them fresh for your favorite salad or pizza! Most people prefer to buy starter plants from nurseries or home improvement stores, which is an easy, time-saving way to start. Tomatoes are fragrant and nutrient-rich and you can use them in so many dishes, salad and sauces.
Lettuce
Nothing beats the taste of a crunchy and fresh lettuce with some olive oil and lemon, so tasty and so healthy, the perfect salad. Lettuce is so easy to grow, takes up little space, and you can even grow it among flowers. Lettuce grows for many weeks in the mild weather of spring and fall. Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter.
Beets
We just love beats – they are earthy, sweet and delicious! You can even eat the greens – try baby ones raw in a salad or cook the more mature ones. Beets are low in calories and filled with Vitamin B, folate and betanin, a phytochemical that’s thought to bolster immunity. And what is best about beets is that you can easily grow them in your garden. They grow quickly and you can choose from different varieties. As a cool season crop, they can survive frost and almost freezing temperatures. Plant them in a soil with pH higher than 6 and have in mind that good nutrition and a high phosphorus level to germinate. Keep the soil moist. Early crop can be planted in March/April, and late crop anytime from June to September.
Radish
This super fast crop grows in cooler climates or in light shade. It takes only 28 days to get a crunchy crop! Radishes are perfect for new gardeners. Just plant them 4-6 weeks before the average date of last frost, after aged manure or organic fertilizer has been worked into soil. When the radish seedlings are about two inches tall, thin the plants to three-inch spacings.Water in moderation.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are easy to grow and even beginners can try them out in their garden. All you need to do is follow some simple rules like making sure you provide thim with enough space so they can stretch their roots because they can easily sprawl. You can plant them once all the danger of frost is gone as they are tropical vegetables and like warm climates. To avoid bitter tasting cucumber make sure you keep them hydrated, mulch them with organic mulch, give them sunlight and good soil and enjoy their sweet freshness.
Spinach
Do we even need to talk about the benefits of spinach? Filled with iron it is a wonderful addition to salads, soups and many many delicious dishes. Another great thing about spinach – it is so easy to grow in your garden! Start sowing seeds as soon as possible in spring as spinach is a cool weather crop. Make sure the soil is moist and nitrogen-rich. In 6 to 8 weeks you can start harvesting from any plant that has at least six leaves 3 to 4 inches long. Carefully cutting the outside leaves will extend the plants’ productivity, particularly with fall crops.
Every woman’s goal it so to be healthy, and that means to have energy for all the work and tasks, to be strong, fresh and happy. Being healthy is quite easy, you need to have a healthy life, good sleep, no stress, good diet with lots of fresh food and vitamins. Today, we will talk about the vitamins and minerals, those two components crucial for our health. A vitamin is an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts. An organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Vitamins are essential chemicals that take part in all your body’s processes. They do that by participating in reactions inside cells. Each vitamin performs a specific function in the body, and no single food contains all the vitamins you need. So, have to combine to have it all, because when you don’t get enough of a particular vitamin you need, you run the risk of serious health problems. In woman’s life, the need for certain vitamins varies according to age and lifestyle. Many women know that eating five servings of fruit and vegetables each day is a good way to get their essential vitamins. Most women, though, don’t eat the quantity of fruits and vegetables that are recommended. As a result, many women in every age group are at risk of vitamin deficiencies. So, to help you stay healthier and be happier, more productive and beautiful, here the six essential vitamins that you, as a woman, need to take every day.
Vitamin A – good for the immunity, eyes and bones
Vitamin A is also known as retinol and has several important functions. Known also as beta carotene, this vitamin is strengthening the immunity against infections, helps vision in dim light and keeps skin and the linings of some parts of the body, such as the nose, healthy. It can also contribute to healthy bones and teeth. Up to 0.6mg a day for women is an acceptable dosage. You can also find Vitamin A in whole eggs, liver, milk, fortified cereals, and dark fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apricots.
Vitamin C – keep you heath from diseases
This vitamin is known as an immunity booster, because it has many health benefits including helping you heal faster, promoting tissue growth, and reducing your risk for certain kinds of cancer, heart disease, and tissue damage. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day, 60 mg is the recommended daily dosage. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables such as oranges and orange juice, red and green peppers, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli, brussels sprouts and potatoes.
Vitamin K- for blood clotting and healing
Another very important vitamin. Vitamin K has several important functions. For example, it is needed for blood clotting, which means it helps wounds heal properly. There is increasing evidence that vitamin K is also needed to help build strong bones. This vitamin is often missing from a multivitamin so check your labels carefully. Recommended daily dosage is 90 mcg. Vitamin K is essential for strong bones, healthy blood clotting, and can also reduce your risk of heart disease. You can naturally get your Vitamin K by eating green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, vegetable oils and cereals.
Folic Acid – help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, depression, cancer
Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. It is very good in preventing certain diseases and conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, depression, cancer, and memory loss. It also supports normal cell growth and helps prevent anemia, something many younger women suffer from. Folic acid is extremely important for pregnant women and should be a part of your prenatal vitamins. Recommended dosage for women is 400 mcg and pregnant women should take at least 600 mcg. It can be found in leafy green vegetables, fruit, dried beans, peas, and nuts, enriched breads, cereals and other grain products.
Vitamin B6 – produce hormones and brain chemicals
This is an essential vitamin for a healthy immune system. Vitamin B6 helps produce hormones and brain chemicals. It has been known to reduce depression, heart disease, and memory loss and also can help maintain your blood sugar levels. Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. It has several important functions, including: allowing the body to use and store energy from protein and carbohydrates in food and helping form haemoglobin the substance that carries oxygen around the body. Pregnant women can use Vitamin B6 to help with morning sickness. 2 mg is all that is recommended and most multivitamins contain this vitamin. It can be found naturally in pork, poultry (such as chicken or turkey, fish, bread, whole cereals, such as oatmeal, wheat germ and rice, eggs, vegetables, soya beans, peanuts, milk, potatoes and some fortified breakfast cereals.
Calcium – for strong bones
Calcium has a major role in keeping your bones healthy and strong and preventing osteoporosis. But, it also provides your body with many other additional benefits, such as lowering your risk of high blood pressure, regulating muscle contractions, including heartbeat and ensuring blood clots normally. Women can also reduce the effects of PMS and even help you lose weight! Check your multivitamin and make sure you are getting the proper amounts of calcium. You may need to buy a vitamin supplement just for calcium. Women ages 19 to 50 should take 1,000 mg of calcium and women over 50 need 1,200 mg. a day. You can also boost your calcium by consuming milk, cheese and other dairy foods green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and okra, soya beans, tofu, soya drinks with added calcium, nuts, bread and anything made with fortified flour and fish where you eat the bones, such as sardines and pilchards.
Because of a lack of knowledge or information, some people say that Pit Bulls are dangerous, aggressive and they often attack people and even their owners. But, these are just myths or accidents that happen once or twice and shouldn’t be used to describe the whole breed. Because Pit bulls are typically large, muscular and intimidating in appearance, they are often bought by people who want a mean, scary dog or by thug-types who want to impress their friends with an aggressive dog. When these irresponsible owners watch the dog age and do not get aggressive behaviors naturally, they begin abusing and neglecting their dog until it becomes aggressive and violent. But, in fact, the Pit Bulls are one of the friendliest and dedicated companions a human can have if they are, as any other dog, probably trained and loved by the owners. The term Pit Bull is a generic term used to describe dogs with similar physical characteristics. Usually a “Pit Bull” is considered one of several breeds including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, or any mix thereof. In some parts of the world, the American Bulldog and Dogo Argentino are also classified as a “Pit Bull-type” dog, despite major genetic differences. Any dog that is mixed with a “bully breed” may also be called a “Pit Bull” including those that are descended from the English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier and Cane Corso. The Pit Bull is not a distinct breed which may make it difficult for experts to identify and while mixed breed dogs are often labelled a “Pit Bull” if they have certain physical characteristics such as a square shaped head or bulky body type, visual identification of mixed breed dogs is not recommended by the scholarly community. All pit bulls were created with similar cross-breeding between bulldogs and terriers, but each individual pit bull breed has a distinct history. Most experts agree that today’s pit bull is a short-coated dog characterized by a wide skull, powerful jaws and a muscular, stocky body. But there is great variation in the pit bull’s appearance. Typically 35 to 65 pounds, some weigh as little as 25 pounds, while others tip the scales at 80 pounds or more. Some have bulkier frames and colossal skulls; others have leaner, more muscular bodies. All are strong and athletic. With their impressive stamina and staunch work ethic, pit bulls enjoy a variety of activities, including agility, disc dog competitions, flyball, and freestyle and competition obedience. They often excel in weight-pulling contests and schutzhund. Some pit bulls work cattle in herding trials, and some still function as hunting dogs. But, as any dog breed, they very loyal friends and guardians. With a lot of love and devoted training the Pit Bulls are friendly and playful, not dangerous and aggressive as shown. So, look at those cute faces and brake the negative myths.
MYTH: A Pit Bull that is aggressive toward other dogs is aggressive toward humans.
FACT: It is very important to know that dog-aggression and people-aggression are two distinctive traits and should not be confused. So, unless a Pit Bull is poorly bred or purposefully trained to attack humans, they generally love people. The truth is that they one of the most loving, loyal, friendly and dedicated companions a human can have.
MYTH: Pit Bulls don’t feel pain
FACT: The truth is that as any other living creature, Pit Bulls feel pain too. These breed are “people pleasers” and have it ingrained in them to finish a task no matter the level of discomfort or pain.
MYTH: It is better to adopt a Pit Bull puppy instead of an adult.
FACT: It’s a fact that puppies are adorable, but, they grow up, eventually. Puppies are cute and funny, but the temper and personality develops when they are more mature, so the true face of a Pit Bull you can see as the get older. Dog-intolerance and dog-aggression are traits that do not develop in some dogs until they are fully mature. It is possible that the cute little puppy you adopt who is friendly with all other dogs may not like other dogs at all later in life, even dogs she has grown up with and lived with for her entire life. Both nurture (environment) and nature (genetics) play a role in determining a dog’s mature personality. This doesn’t mean that Pit Bull puppies should not be adopted, but if you want to know how big your dog will ultimately be and how she will act around humans and other animals, you may want to consider adopting an adult.
MYTH: Pit Bulls are all inherently vicious.
FACT: This is a stereotype that is biased toward generalizing and condemning an entire breed based on the actions of a few bad people. The truth is that each dog should be evaluated by his own merits and not by his breed. A corollary truth is that there truly are no bad dogs, only bad people who train them bad and wrong.
MYTH: Pit Bulls turn on their owners
FACT: As any other dogs, the Pit Bulls don’t perform behaviors or act out for no reason. Generally there are a few factors that contribute to a dog, of any breed, acting out, such as lack of socialization, poor training and sometimes, even disease. These factors could be brewing for a long time and have just gone unnoticed by the master.
MYTH: Pit Bulls have locking jaws.
FACT: Pit Bulls do not have any special physical mechanism or enzyme that allows them to “lock” their jaws. If you compare a Pit Bull skull to a skull of any other dog breed, you can see with the naked eye that both skulls share the same characteristics and general bone structure. However, one personality trait of the Pit Bull breed is determination. Whatever Pit Bulls do, they do it with a great deal of enthusiasm, and it is this trait that can make it seem like they have a locking jaw when they bite down on something and are determined not to release it.
As much as you clean your home, there are some places where our biggest enemies, the germs are hiding and avoiding all those detergents we use to destroy them so we can have a save and clean place for us and our families. Germs like cold viruses and bacteria can live in some unexpected spots. These small organisms, too small to see without magnification, invade humans, animals, and other living hosts.
Their growth and reproduction within their hosts can cause a disease. “Germ” may refer to a virus, bacterium, protist, fungus, or prion. Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogens, and the diseases they cause are called infectious diseases. Even when a pathogen is the principal cause of a disease, environmental and hereditary factors often influence the severity of the disease, and whether a particular host individual becomes infected when exposed to the pathogen. Germs are everywhere, they are in your home right now. In optimal conditions, certain bacteria can divide every 20 minutes, spreading rapidly where they dwell. But, don’t get scared, it is so easy to get rid of these enemies of our health. Soap and water or bleach and water, maybe disinfecting wipes…With these simple weapons, the battle against germs can be won, all you need to do is find out where there are hiding and destroy them in just few minutes. In the kitchen, in the toilet, in your makeup bags, lap tops, TV remotes, brushes…germs are all around us, so you better get rid of them!
Knobs, Handles, and Switches
We use them all the time, but how often you walk around in your home and wipe off doorknobs, cabinet handles, and light switches? They are full with germs and we touch them all the time without washing out hands after. So, to keep you and your family save, once a week, give them an once-over using disinfecting wipes—and don’t use the same wipe for more than a few places before grabbing a fresh one.
Makeup Bag
Ladies be aware your bags with makeup and cosmetic are full of germs. Makeup applicators have nooks, crannies, and bristles which are perfect place for microorganisms to hide. If you don’t clean them, those germs can lead to skin and eye infections. Regular soap and water is fine for cleaning most applicators, but you can use alcohol on the brushes. And do that more often.
Your Toothbrush
You use it at least twice a day, but do you ever think of all the germs lurking on it? Toothbrushes are heaven for the germs because of the moist area and they can easily grow on it. A plethora of bacteria, germs, fungi and viruses can live quite happily in your toothbrush for months. In fact, scientists have found more than 10 million bacteria living in a single toothbrush. As these lingering microorganisms multiply, they can compromise your oral health and can actually lead to other health problems in your body. To keep save, you need to clean it regularly and replace it more often.
Sponges
Even though they’re meant to help us clean the home, in fact, sponges are among the dirtiest, most bacteria-ridden objects in the home. A sponge that’s wet with food and kitchen-counter germs is an ideal breeding-ground for bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses. When you wipe down the kitchen countertop, those germs – E. coli and salmonella – spread all over the kitchen. For really clean home use paper towels or dishcloths that you use only once or you can wash it in a washing machine.
Pillows
Did you know that you are not the only one resting on your soft and cozy pillow? The truth is that you share your pillow with a lot of germs and dust mites, which are the most common cause of non-seasonal allergies and asthma. Dust mites feed on flakes of human skin, which can be found deep within your pillows. To lessen their effect, use zippered, dust proof pillow covers and wash them frequently.
The Electronics in your Home
Did you know that, on average, an office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat? The reason for that is that the toilet is cleaned regularly, but how often you clean the remote controls, computer keyboards, phones, and iPods, which get touched way more than the toilet? They are also shared by multiple family members and guests, yet they are cleaned less often. You can find component-specific cleaning supplies at electronics stores. However, most disinfecting wipes are safe for electronics—just make sure to read the label before using them.
Healthy gardening, which leads you to healthy and beautiful, plants and flowers acquires a homemade compost, all natural and inexpensive. Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is rich in nutrients. It is used in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, and agriculture.
The compost itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil. Composting organisms require four equally important ingredients to work effectively: Carbon — for energy; the microbial oxidation of carbon produces the heat, if included at suggested levels, high carbon materials tend to be brown and dry, nitrogen — to grow and reproduce more organisms to oxidize the carbon, oxygen — for oxidizing the carbon, the decomposition process and water — in the right amounts to maintain activity without causing anaerobic conditions. You can buy compost in every gardening store, but as always, the best is to make in by yourselves. Home composting is a natural process that can convert garden and most kitchen waste into a material that can be used as a soil improver, garden mulch, or to top up flower and patio pots. Using grass clippings, kitchen scraps, dry leaves, and all types of natural things from your home like coffee grounds, you can create “black gold” for your garden beds. Compost has amazing nutrients in it which helps your garden soil be the perfect place for microbes to interact with root hairs. In other words, by adding compost, you are building stronger roots and the results are healthy and delicious fruits or veggie or stunning flowers. You can also add compost to the soil in new gardens and also use it as a top dressing to smother weeds around healthy plants. It has many way to make your own compost but we will show you the easiest and the cheapest once, or how to use kitchen waste and leaves to add nutrients in the soil in your garden.
Benefits of Composting
Compost improves the quality of almost any soil, and for this reason it is most often considered a soil conditioner. Compost improves the structure and texture of the soil enabling it to better retain nutrients, moisture, and air for the betterment of plants. It encourages the growth of earthworms and other macro-organisms, whose tunneling makes room for water and air.
Compost Tea
Compost tea is easily made by soaking or steeping compost in water. The resulting compost tea is used for either a foliar application (sprayed on the leaves) or applied to the soil. It is an old fashioned way of providing liquid fertilizer for plants. Similar to manure tea, compost tea gives your plants a good dose of nutrients. Compost tea works especially well for providing nutrients to new transplants and young seedlings. All you need to do for making a compost tea is to fill a burlap sack or an old pillow case with finished compost and secure the open end. Place in a tub, barrel, or watering can filled with water. Agitate for a few minutes and then let it steep for a few days. Water will leach out nutrients from the compost and the mixture will take on the color of tea. Spray or pour compost tea on and around plants. You can use the bag of compost for several batches. Afterwards, simply empty the bag’s contents onto the garden.
Use Kitchen Waste for Worm Composting
Composting your kitchen food waste is easy and requires little time, effort or space, depending on which system you use. It is very good to make compost from your kitchen waste because is a complete and natural food for the soil, helping to improve its structure, water-retaining abilities and overall health. You can imitate nature in your own yard by composting your kitchen waste with the help of the worms. Worm composting is small enough to keep on a balcony, patio or in a porch, so it’s ideal if you don’t have much outside space. It’s also one of the cleanest, neatest and easiest composting systems to use. A ready-made kit provides both the bin with its lid and the worms. As you fill each layer with small amounts of scraps and leftovers, the worms work their way up through the layers, eating the waste (they consume up to half of their body weight a day). It’s this action that speeds up the composting process, leaving you with rich, dark compost in the lowest tray after only a few months.
What to Use from the Waste?
You have to be careful while making the homemade compost. Not all of the waste is beneficial for the soil. The Best Waste for Worm Composting are raw or cooked fruit and vegetable peelings, pasta, rice and bread, dried and crushed egg shells, teabags and coffee grounds and dry fiber, such as torn-up egg crates and empty toilet rolls, to make up 25 percent of the contents. Avoid citrus fruit and onion peelings (which cause acidic conditions), plant seeds, meat, fish, dairy products, dog and cat droppings, spent tissues, grass cuttings and leaves, diseased plant material and anything in excess.
Use Fertilizers
For better soil and fertilizers in your homemade compost. Additional nutrient sources are especially important when using soil mixtures that don’t contain compost. Choose natural fertilizers derived from mined minerals, animal byproducts, plant materials or manures. A combination of these natural fertilizers provides a long-term, stable and eco-friendly source of nutrients. Such a blend can include combinations of any of the following: alfalfa meal, blood meal, bone meal, cottonseed meal, crab meal, feather meal, fish meal, greensand, kelp meal, dehydrated manures and rock phosphate.
Composting leaves
It take 4 to 6 months to compost but still is easy and cheap way for a homemade composting. All you need to do is make a pile of leaves and place it wherever drainage is adequate; a shaded area will help keep the pile from drying out. The leaf pile should be at least 4′ in diameter and 3′ in height. Include a layer of dirt between each foot of leaves. The pile should be damp enough that when a sample taken from the interior is squeezed by hand, a few drops of moisture will appear. The pile should not be packed too tightly. Leaf compost is best used as an organic soil amendment and conditioner; it is not normally used as a fertilizer because it is low in nutrients.
