The Complete Guide to Creating a Self-Sustaining Garden

Over the past decade, the landscape design industry has been growing at a significant pace. By working with an experienced landscape architecture firm, you can add value to your home and also create a much more livable environment. This can include a wide range of projects including building a new patio, installing a koi pond, or—as has become especially popular in 2020—installing a new garden. 

Landscape architects, generally speaking, will help blend the best of architecture with the best of landscaping. They’ll focus on pursuing many different goals include creating a space that is environmentally friendly, increasing your overall rate of livability, and also adhering to your original budget. They will also work to ensure that the space you are creating is one that can be enjoyably lived in for many years to come. 

Recently, many top landscape architecture firms, such as Lifescape in Colorado, have been receiving requests to help install a self-sustaining garden. These gardens are popular because not only do they effectively decrease your current carbon footprint, but they can also help you add a reliable source of food and produce for many years to come. Additionally, growing your own food can be incredibly fulfilling. As the famed Roman philosopher Cicero once said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” 

In this article, we will discuss some of the most important things to know about building a self-sustaining garden. Whether you plan on working with a landscape architect or creating a self-sustaining garden entirely on your own, this spring is the perfect time to begin a gardening project and bring some new life to your home. 

Step One: Choosing What You Want to Grow

Contrary to what you may have initially assumed, there are actually many different crops that can be easily grown in almost any corner of the United States (and elsewhere around the world). If you have never gardened before, you may want to with some relatively high-calorie crops that are also very easy to store. This includes potatoes and sweet potatoes, along with winter squash and pumpkins. By planting just 60 sweet potato plants, you can generate more than 140,000 worth of calories, all of which can be stored for multiple months. 

In-ground crops are generally considered easier to grow, especially because you do not need to worry about insects, birds, and squirrels as much as you would with above-ground crops. Because of this, growing carrots, turnips, onions, and radishes can also be very productive. Most of these crops require about 2-3 months to fully grow. If you are going to begin growing above-ground crops, consider growing corn, tomatoes, basil, and even wheat. Though some of these crops will require careful attention to detail, they can still be successfully grown by even a novice gardener. 

What Conditions are Best for Creating a Self-Sustaining Garden?

The first thing you will want to be sure to include in your garden is plenty of space. If you want to create a garden that is genuinely capable, The Urban Homestead claims that a family of four could be fed with less than one-fifth of an acre of land. Other estimates claim that one-tenth of an acre can be enough to sustain a family, though this may require some additional equipment, such as vertical farming supplies. 

Beyond space, your garden will need the three basics that all plants require: sunlight, soil, and water. Ideally, your crops will be exposed to at least six hours of sunlight each day. In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing gardens will be positioned to get the largest amount of sunlight. You should also avoid placing the garden where trees, buildings, or other tall objects will block the plants for significant periods of time. 

To help better improve your soil, consider creating a compost pile that incorporates all (or most) or your organic waste. Additionally, fertilizer—which can easily be made from scratch—will help add nutrition to the soil and help your plants grow. Some gardeners will use pesticides to help discourage pests from eating the plants, though others prefer to grow without them. In terms of water, there are also quite a few things you can do to create natural irrigation and remove the need for sprinklers (discussed below). 

Creating Natural Irrigation Systems

Water will be essential for growing all crops—if you are in a relatively dry state, such as Colorado, it will be crucial to develop strategies to help ensure your plants are getting the water that they need. One of the ways that a landscape architect can help ensure your plants are well-watered is to create natural irrigation systems that direct water from higher ground to the lower ground where your garden will ideally be located. While you can’t control the rain, you can control where the rain landing in your yard ultimately ends up. 

Additionally, you may want to consider using various rain collection systems to help increase your water supply even further. These collection systems are relatively affordable and can usually be purchases at your local hardware store. You can also use a hose or sprinkler to water your garden, but this might go against the “true spirit of sustainability.” 

Pursuing True Sustainability

William Kent once said, “Garden as though you will live forever.” With today’s emphasis on sustainability and minimizing environmental harms, it seems this quote is now more relevant than ever before. Naturally, if you want your garden to be truly sustainable, you’ll need to do some additional planning. 

By choosing local plants that are compatible with your growing conditions, cycling crops as needed, reusing seeds, and utilizing compost as fertilizer, your garden will continue producing crops into the perpetual future. Take some to research your options and see what works best for your specific yard. If you are able to plant the right crops, you may not only eliminate your (food) carbon footprint, but you can potentially create a negative footprint, due to carbon capture. 

Conclusion

There are few things in this world that are more fulfilling the creating your own food supply. By creating a sustainable garden in your own yard, you can have a regular supply of crops and the satisfaction of living harmoniously with the Earth while creating something from scratch. By keeping these things in mind, and by working with a landscape architect as needed, the home garden of your dreams is something that will be well within your reach.

How To Grow Psilocybin Mushrooms: 7 Simple Steps

For countless centuries, probably even millennia, humans have engaged in mystic rituals in one form or another. The goal – open the mind to the fascinating unity of nature and its underlying secrets. The method – ingesting psychoactive substances carefully prepared by the local shaman and following his lead in the ritual.

Of the many naturally occurring substances, psilocybin mushrooms, used by the indigenous peoples of Central and South America, have proven to be some of the most potent. But how does an eager mind experience the magical journey in their own home, or share it with their friends?

Well, elephantos.com psilocybe cubensis grow kits are available for anyone ready to try, there are just a few simple steps to growing them that you have to learn.

Inspect the kit and ensure a sterile environment

Once you’ve placed an order for your grow kit, it should arrive in a few business days, maybe a bit more depending on your location. The first thing to do is to inspect the package. There should be a clear box of the substrate, a bag with an air filter, and some paper clips.

Then go thoroughly wash your hands down to the elbows. Wear sterilized rubber gloves (you can use a 70% alcohol solution), clean clothes (preferably a raincoat), and cover your hair with a shower cap or something similar. Find a flat surface (a small table or shelf) close to a window, but under direct sunlight, and sterilize it, as well as the whole area around it.

Soak your grow kit in water

You now have a sterile spot and are dressed for the occasion, so it’s time to start your kit. Break open the tab, and then grab one corner of the lid and pull it back slightly. Now pour some cold sterilized water into that opening (you can just boil some water for 5 minutes and leave it to cool down). You want the substrate to be fully covered, but don’t fill it to the brim because it can leak out.

Leave it for 12 hours.

Pour out all the water

After the kit has been soaking for 12 hours, it’s time to drain it and prepare it for the next step. Open the corner of the lid again and start draining it slowly. It’s important that you are wearing the gear we mentioned in step 1 and that you’ve again sterilized it with 70% alcohol or another sterilizing agent.

Make sure that all the water dries out to avoid contamination. You might have to wait a  minute while the last few drops drip out.

Move the grow kit into the plastic bag

Take off the lid, wash it and sterilize it, then set it down somewhere on your sterile table or shelf – you’ll need it for later batches. Now put the kit inside the bag, then fold over the top of the bag and secure it with paperclips (you can use clothespins if you lost the paper clips).

Place the bag on the surface you’ve sterilized and make sure that it’s not in direct sunlight and that the room temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Leave it alone for about 7-10 days, until the first mushrooms appear. They will then take another 6-7 days to mature.

If a mushroom or two mature a bit sooner than the rest, pick them

The mushrooms will grow fairly evenly in clusters, called flashes, and you want to harvest them all at the same time to get the best yield. However, often a single mushroom, or a couple, matures a bit quicker, and you can pick these so that they don’t get to release their spores and contaminate the rest of the batch.

If there are any mushrooms growing beneath the surface, pressed against the walls of the box, leave them alone, don’t dig around.

Pick the flash when it is ripe, right before the caps open up

As you can see in the picture above, the Psilocybin mushrooms are ready when the golden-brown caps are completely open and round, but before they release spores and turn black under the cap. Once the biggest ones have nice full caps, you want to harvest them all at once, even the smaller ones. And, of course, sterilize the environment, wear the kit mentioned in step 1 and sterilize it.

If the box turns green, black or purplish, you have a contamination issue and should throw it out. If everything looks good, and you’ve picked all the mushrooms out, you can move to the final step.

Flush the substrate again immediately after harvesting

If everything went well, you can fill the box up with water again, cover it, leave it for 12 hours, then place it in the plastic bag for another 9-10 days. That’s how much time you’ll need between harvest, and you can get a few harvests out of a grow kit.

These are the essential steps to growing a few batches of Psilocybin mushrooms from a grow kit. Throw away the kit once it has turned a dark color, or the mushrooms simply won’t grow anymore. 

Best Garden Hoses (which one you need)

If you've got a big, wonderful family garden, chances are, you've got a garden hose. A garden hose maybe a flexable bungee hose or an expandable garden hose also recognized as a water hose, is practically a grippy rubber tube that carries water. Although garden hoses could also be made of polymer or vinyl, rubber is by far the most material commonly utilized. Connected to a spigot or a pump, water hoses are helpful watering devices that allows irrigation a lot simpler and quicker. Also, you can connect a variety of things to a garden hose specially on flexable bungee hose like sprinklers and sprayers. For instance, focus entirely or cross-concentrate water at one juncture or across a broader area.

Learn: https://bestgardeninggiftsideas.com/how-to-connect-a-water-hose/

Shaped from composite materials or resilient gentle polycarbonate, garden hoses get an inner polymer web that makes garden hoses flexible and their seamless exteriors make it very easy to traverse among, over, past tree branches and other hurdles. Mostly because of their intrinsic toughness, garden hoses can survive grinding, scratching and even scrambling without compromising their operational use.

Learn more about best buy garden hose here:

https://bestgardeninggiftsideas.com/the-complete-guide-to-garden-hoses-in-2020/

Garden hoses are definitely the quickest and easiest way to irrigate your lawn. But if your garden is rather massive, you could perhaps appreciate having multiple garden hoses attached to each other. The strands at each end of the standard garden hose can be easily connected to one another.

Hoses are basically categorized according to the usage, strength, durability and overall quality of the materials used. Garden hoses can be of three types:

Light Duty:

Light duty garden hoses are constructed of lightweight plastic and can be treated very quickly. You should use a light duty garden hose for light planting or basic cleaning services tasks. This category of hose is easy to carry around rather than drag to separate areas. After use, this can be coiled around a spool. It's normally made of sturdy polycarbonate or latex.

Moderate duty:

Medium duty hoses are ideal for everyday irrigation purposes. Prone to kinks and usually strong and durable, medium-duty hoses are ideal for watering your lawns or washing your vehicle. Most of them also come with at that have at a four-year warranty. Medium duty hoses can provide ample water pressure to remove hard core dirt in tough edges.  Though that's a little thick, it's really handy when dealing with large lawns or gardening.

Heavy Duty:

Using a high duty hose for difficult watering jobs. Quite kink-resistant, medium duty hoses come with high duty octagonal brass couplings. They 're incredibly versatile, too. Heavy duty hoses like Bungee garden hose can handle all your typical watering tasks, such as gardening, car washing, etc. That form is ideal when you're using the hose because the other high duty hoses come with long- term warranty.

Learn more about flexable bungee hose reviews:

https://bestgardeninggiftsideas.com/flexable-bungee-hose-reviews/

Those certain kinds of hoses are useful for a range of purposes and applications. Typically, wider and constructed of products that are harder than garden hose rubber, a few of these forms of hoses are used for commercial applications and are capable of sustaining high water pressure.

Learn How to store your garden hose:

https://bestgardeninggiftsideas.com/how-to-store-your-garden-hose/

If you're a serious gardener or only a sport, find a nice garden hose that's convenient. It's intended to represent you well enough in the garden and for many other purposes you may require.

Major Benefits to Keeping a Great Lawn

A beautiful and healthy lawn is key to make your house look great. There are benefits beyond aesthetics too.

Quality lawn perks have to do with the environment, the health of yourself and those who you love, and even your social life!

Here are some of the best benefits of having a healthy lawn that you might not be aware of.

Pollution and erosion control

Top-quality grass will keep soil from eroding at a much slower rate than poor-quality grass or no grass at all.

If you plan on improving your lawn to reduce erosion, make sure to ask Lawn Care Planners how to make the most out of your time without much effort!

Increased oxygen production

Did you know that just 55 square feet of grass can release enough oxygen for one person for an entire day? A healthy and green lawn will keep the oxygen around your home fresh for easy breathing! 

Natural cooling 

Having a green lawn actually means having a cooler house. The process of photosynthesis allows grass to absorb solar radiation, cooling the surrounding area. The rays absorbed by 8 square yards creates the same cooling effect as the A/C needed to cool two medium-sized homes!

Improved mental health

Science has proven that being surrounded by healthy green plants and lawns can have a fantastic impact when it comes to your mental health. Research has shown that being around healthy plant life can reduce anxiety and improve overall happiness. Activities done in calming settings, such as tending and spending time in a beautiful backyard, can reduce symptoms of AD/HD.

Reduction of pests and allergies

Keeping a healthy yard will help drive out unwanted insects by offering less ideal environments for them. It will also reduce the amount of pollen in the air by reducing the space for unwanted flowering plants.

Creation of a comfortable living space

There’s no doubt that people want to live in homes comfortably and with pride. Not only will your lawn look nice, but it will also make your home a more welcoming place for friends and family to hang out!

Improved curb appeal and property value

A fantastic looking lawn can help you net more money if you ever decide to sell your house. Healthy lawns can increase a property’s value by as much as 15 percent! If you are thinking about selling your home anytime soon, you will want to invest the time and money necessary to make sure that your lawn is looking its best. Your realtor will thank you!

Best Modern Backyard Ideas

How will you use that space between your house and the fences?

The older generation find fault with the younger generation for not going out too often due to the invention of gaming consoles, mobile phones, and desktop computers/laptops. Little did they know that they contributed to the reasons the younger generation doesn’t go out that much.

As an adult, we share the responsibility to be their role model. The best way to show the beauty of the outside world is to create a backyard, wherein they will feel safe and secure as much as they do with virtual games.

Here are the modern backyard ideas that will capture the attention of the younger generation today:

Multi-purpose backyard

When you watch the trending videos in social media, most of the video creators are creating their content in the backyard.

This is the best chance for the younger generation to showcase their hidden talents. It could be an impersonation of a famous athlete, dancing to the viral dance challenge, or simply putting some work with the sports they love—such as soccer and basketball.

A multi-purpose yard looks like any other backyard with lawn grass, but with the addition of a goalpost. Or you could spend some to cement the area and put a basketball post. And either way works.

Similarly, you can place a Bluetooth stand-in speaker if you are into dancing than sports. You have the choice of building a small stage or putting a yoga mat as dancing on the grass is not as convenient in a plane area. Moreover, you can use the area for morning yoga and cardio exercises.

Fenced garden

Nothing feels better than seeing green on the backyard as it brings this sort of calmness inside. When you have a teenager, you are showing them how to be with the nature through planting healthy veggies and flowers.

Also, gardening has similar traits to parenting. Thus, it helps your child learn how to be responsible with his surrounding at the early age.

You can find creative fenced garden ideas online.

Wash (Laundry) Area

We are used to washing our clothes and doing some other household chores indoor. Scientific research indicates staying in close doors for a long time can negatively affect mental health.

Washing clothes outside the house is a unique way to bring our children out of the close-spaced in the house. To make the task more enjoyable, you could consider getting a rotary washing line which you can easily find at Washingwoman.co.uk.

To a child, everything is a game. The rotary washing line has a unique design looking like a carousel in a theme park. That would make them want to use these new things in their creative way. Moreover, it is easy to install and safe to use.

Build your office outside

Education begins at home, and the younger generation takes our example for it.

When they don't feel like not going out of the house, maybe because you are isolated in your room working for that project your boss gave. Often, we scold them for interrupting our works. Then it creates an invisible wall between the child and the parent's relationship.

If you want to teach them to be outside, we have to set an example by making the backyard your new office. When you are more visible in your child’s eyes, you are giving them a sense of feeling that they matter.

For this, you could use light materials such as wood tiles and glass walls. As for the roof, you could create an extension from the roof of your house with light materials as well.

Hangout place with led flower lights

It is not new that the younger generation loves going to coffee shop ordering frappe coffee, and then take a picture to post on social media. More so, some teens prefer to go to a bar and hang out with wild adults.

This indicates that they are looking for a place where they belong—this should be their home.

For a parent, we feel relieved when we know that our child is safe at home. When you made your backyard the go-to hangout place, you know that your children are safe, and reducing the chances of accidents.

Making your backyard the go-to hangout place is simple. You can put a warm sofa, a small round table in the center, and a Bluetooth speaker to play soft music. Adding a led flower light creates a picturesque place.

Honorable mention: Building a swimming pool. Of course, if you have the budget you can consider building a swimming pool. This is the best place for family bonding and barbeque party.

Why is it necessary to recreate your backyard to any of these ideas?

  • Notice that we feel freer when we are outside than in closed space.
  • We know that children should be the most active and enthusiast individual in your home. Letting them outside removes all limitation and fear of breaking the things (rules) inside.
  • Also, the free space outside is the best place to play and train your pets with your child. That is teaching them of taking responsibility of another being.
  • Engagement with nature (fresh air, plants, etc.) helps reduced the risk of depression and anxiety.

If we can educate the younger generation on how to balance the inside (of the house) and outside life, we will teach them the social skills needed in life.

The Benefits Of Neem Seed Meal

After the oil is extracted from Azadirachta indica, Neem seed meal is the material that's left behind. It can be very nourishing for plants, which is why you'll regularly see it used by gardeners.

It can nourish the soil it's placed on and help both microbes and plants to grow. Because it's able to nourish microorganisms within the soil, it's a highly effective soil conditioner. Because it's able to improve soil health, it's an excellent way to deal with issues like harmful soil fungus.

When it's used to improve the quality of soil, it can help to prevent issues like fungus knots. This is also a great way to prevent root-knot nematodes.

It's so beneficial because it provides soil with both macro and micronutrients.

Best of all, it's easy to make Need seed meal into a tea. Just place between one or two cups of meal into five gallons of water and allow it to steep for three full days. You can use the concoction as a fertilizer spray.

Neem seed meal tea can also help keep spider mites away from your garden. Although you can add it to potting mixes, it has a strong odor, and you should avoid using it indoors. Read more about how to use neem seed meal in your garden.

Many people have discussed using Neem seed oil as a form of natural pest control. It has other uses as well. It can be a digestive aid, and it may even be able to fight off some of the signs of aging. Where does this oil come from? It's derived from Neem tree fruits and seeds. This tree, which is native in India, is evergreen. It can be found all across the tropics.

While the oil itself has many benefits, the leftover plant material is also extremely useful. Neem seed meal is a wonderful way to improve the quality of your soil. It's one of the best ways for gardeners to ensure that their plants get all of the nutrients that they need.

When used alone, Neem seed meal makes a potent fertilizer because it contains significant amounts of nitrogen. According to research, it can help to boost microbial activity within your soil. Its properties can help plants become more resistant to diseases, and it can make root systems stronger as well. It's an effective way to ensure that your soil is properly balanced. It's possible to purchase some Neem seed meal on its own so that you can mix it with the soil in your garden.

6 Amazing Ideas to Treat Cough and Cold Using Herbs

While there are many medications for treating cough and cold, home remedies based on herbs are a much better alternative. They’re completely natural, and you probably already use some of them daily.

If you have a cough that lasts longer than two weeks, make sure you see a doctor. Until then, herbs can be your best solution for treating the symptoms of cold and getting rid of that irritating cough. Here are some of the best herbs you can use.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root is beneficial for treating cough, especially dry cough, as the result of the common cold. It soothes the throat and eliminates any irritation that makes you cough, according to one survey-based study.

Another study on marshmallow root came to the same conclusion. It showed that an herbal cough syrup, made with marshmallow root, ivy leaves, aniseed, and thyme, effectively reduces the symptoms of the common cold and relieves cough. It can also help minimize the cough due to bronchitis and other respiratory problems.

 Kratom

Some of the best health benefits of kratom include boosting the immune system and fighting inflammation in the body. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it an excellent herb for treating coughs and fighting the common cold.

Kratom can also reduce pain (especially related to cancer and arthritis), improve metabolism, boost energy, and help treat chronic fatigue syndrome by improving the blood flow and boosting oxygen in the blood.

It can be great for diabetes management, too, as it can reduce blood sugar levels. For centuries, people have been using it as an aphrodisiac as well.

To make kratom tea, firstly make sure you buy it from reliable sellers like bulkkratomnow.com, and secondly, simmer instead of boiling it to preserve its alkaloids. Adding powdered leaves to black or green tea might be a bit tastier, and you can further improve the flavor with honey, cinnamon, or other ingredients.

Thyme

Thyme is also an excellent natural remedy for treating a sore throat and cough due to the common cold and bronchitis, as well as for treating problems with digestion.

That’s because it has expectorant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties.

Using thyme with ivy leaves to make a cough syrup will help you quickly get relief from a productive cough, either as a consequence of a cold or bronchitis, according to one randomized controlled trial.

There are many cough syrups containing thyme that you can buy, but you can also make a thyme tea and experience the same effects. Simply boil a cup of water and steep 2 tsp of dried thyme in it for 10 minutes and drink while it’s hot.

 Peppermint

Peppermint contains menthol, among other essential oils, so it’s great to break down mucus in the throat and soothe it. It’s also handy for treating nasal congestion and other respiratory issues.

There are numerous studies on peppermint tea, showing that this herb can unclog sinuses, fight bacterial infections, and reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies, which often include coughing, runny nose, and itchy eyes.

Apart from drinking peppermint tea, especially right before going to sleep, you can also try inhaling it through steam. About 3-7 drops of peppermint essential oil in a bowl of hot water should do it.

 Turmeric

According to many scientific studies on turmeric, we can see that this herb can also play a big part in treating cough and cold. Some of its numerous properties include antioxidant, antiviral, analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Thanks to curcumin, its main active ingredient, many people have been using it for centuries to treat various respiratory problems.

While you can use turmeric in cooking, the best way to combat cough and cold symptoms is to use it with milk. Add just a pinch of it to warm milk and drink it before going to bed. It will soothe and heal your throat.

You can also add a garlic clove or ginger while boiling the milk. It may not be delicious, but it’s definitely effective.

Cannabis

You may be familiar with many benefits of cannabis, such as pain relief, better sleep, and anxiety, and stress reduction. But did you know that cannabis can help treat the common cold too?

That’s because CBD found in cannabis has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antipyretic properties.

However, smoking or vaping cannabis while coughing wouldn’t do you any good. Instead, you should add it to your food and beverages.

You can make smoothies with cannabis milk, simmer a bone broth with cannabis flower, and make or buy various other cannabis edibles. There are lots of CBD edibles you can buy if you want to avoid THC, which is the only ingredient with psychoactive effects.

There are plenty more herbs you can use to treat cough and cold, but you should absolutely start with these. Remember to pair them with a healthy diet, so that you can strengthen your immune system and quickly beat the cold.

Tree surgery: when to remove your tree

As a gardener, you want all parts of your garden and yard to look as good as possible. So it can be extremely disappointing to realize that the bark on one of your trees is starting to fall off or that your tree has become a host to a swarm of bark beetles.

You might wonder — does my tree need to be cut down or is there a way to save it?

There are certain signs that you’ll want to watch out that indicate that it is time to cut a tree down. While it is possible to recover the health of some trees, you don’t want to risk leaving a dead tree in your yard. You also don’t want to let a tree grow so large that it becomes a safety hazard due to the proximity of the tree to your house or the power lines.

Signs of a dying tree

Certain signs indicate that a tree is no longer healthy. These signs include brittle bark, limbs starting to fall off, lack of healthy leaves during the growing season, and large amounts of pests such as carpenter ants living in the tree. You may also notice the tree starting to lean in an usual way. You might also notice fungus, such as mushrooms, starting to grow on trees. However, sometimes fungal infections can be treated before they spread, allowing you to save the tree.

Hazards of a decaying tree

A decaying tree can cause a safety problem for you, your neighbors, or other people. Over time, the wood of a decaying tree becomes brittle, making it more likely that a branch or a limb will fall, which could cause a serious injury if someone is struck by the falling branch. A falling limb could also land on a house or a car, resulting in property damage. You could end up being held financially responsible if the branch of a decaying tree injuries someone or damages property.

Other reasons to remove the tree

Another reason to remove a tree, even if it isn’t dead, is if the tree is too close to your house or is interfering with a powerline. Even trees that aren’t dead could still fall over in a heavy storm. This could result in the tree damaging property or falling on the powerline. You could also decide that you just no longer want a tree and it has become a nuisance — maybe it is taking up too much yard space or leaves berries all over the place.

DIY or professional

Once you decide to remove a tree, consider whether you want to do it yourself or if you should hire a professional. Taking down trees can be tricky, especially if the tree is large or if it could fall on a powerline or your house. If you don’t have experience with tree removal, it could make sense to look into tree surgeon companies that can help remove the tree. If you cut the tree down yourself, look at an online tutorial before starting the process.

When to leave the tree alone

The only time you should consider leaving a dying tree alone is if the tree is located somewhere where it won’t pose a safety concern if it falls. For example, if you have a large property and the tree isn’t near a building or powerline. Or if it is located deep within the woods. Dying and fallen trees can make great habitats for animals, so if the tree can decay without causing harm, consider leaving it alone. It’ll eventually fall or decay due to natural circumstances.

Keep trees healthy

While all trees will eventually die, there are certain tips you can use to help your trees stay as healthy as possible. Make sure to plant trees where they’ll have plenty of room to grow and where they’ll have access to the appropriate amount of sunlight. Fertilizer and water the tree as needed to make sure it gets needed nutrients. And when you notice dead branches, trim them back so healthy branches can grow. The good news is, most trees are good at taking care of themselves!

Final thoughts

When it comes to keeping a healthy garden, don’t overlook your trees! While trees might not need as much maintenance as your flowers, you still want to check on them regularly to make sure they’re healthy. If you suspect that you have a dead tree, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional to see if it needs to be removed.

CBD: How to Deal with Prejudices and Misconceptions

According to the recent CBD statistics, more than 64 million Americans have tried CBD in some form. What’s more, experts predict that the CBD market could grow up to $20 billion by 2024!

Nonetheless, a wide array of prejudices are still associated with the use of CBD and other cannabis-based products.

So, is there more than meets the eye with CBD? Will it get you high? Here is what you should know about CBD-infused products.

What Is CBD in the First Place?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound derived either from hemp or the cannabis plant. As such, this naturally-occurring element is easy to extract. With the help of heat or a solvent, plants release CBD, which then gets infused into all sorts of products.

In essence, cannabidiol is a compound that has therapeutic benefits. Thus, it is related to a natural approach to healing. If you are a fan of eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles, CBD seems like a perfect choice.

But is there a catch? As we already said, many people reject the use of CBD because of prejudices. Admittedly, there are many aspects of cannabidiol that need more research. However, studies have proven that CBD is not addictive or intoxicating.

The bad guy in this story could be THC, also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Thus, let’s clear the air and explain the essential characteristics of these two elements. After that, we can discuss the benefits of cannabidiol. 

CBD and THC: Similarities and Differences

THC and CBD are close relatives, and they both come from the same source. Moreover, these two compounds share the same molecular structure. Yet, the atoms in these molecules come with different arrangements.

Because of these subtle differences, THC and CBD have a different impact on the human body. Of course, the most prominent aspect of their structure is the fact that THC has psychoactive properties.

In other words, this chemical could show up on any drug test you might take. Also, THC can create temporary feelings of euphoria or relaxation. At the same time, THC could cause memory loss, coordination problems, and slower reaction time.

Prolonged use of THC can lead to schizophrenia or depression. On the other hand, CBD does not come with such adverse effects. What’s more, the pros of using CBD far outweigh the cons.

To better understand CBD’s positive and negative aspects, we should take a closer look at how cannabidiol affects the human body. 

How Does CBD Work?

As we said, the use of cannabidiol is still under research. Scientists are trying to learn more about this compound, mostly because of the massive CBD industry.

That said, we already know that CBD impacts the regulatory mechanisms in the human brain. To be precise, cannabidiol interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD stimulates the neurotransmitters in the endocannabinoid system, and this interaction has a positive impact on the body. 

These chemical reactions are scientifically proven, and plenty of credible sources can confirm these findings. However, many people refuse to acknowledge the vast amounts of scientific data.

Even if you ignore experts and believe the next-door YouTuber who claims that CBD is evil, can you ignore millions of real-life stories that confirm the benefits of cannabidiol? Here are some of the positive effects of CBD.

Essential Benefits of CBD

First of all, CBD has a well-documented anti-inflammatory effect. What this means is that cannabidiol promotes homeostasis within the human cells. For that reason, CBD can reduce acne or eczema.

Of course, inflammation of the skin is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the CBD benefits. For instance, this chemical compound can reduce chronic pain. Also, CBD can reduce seizures and other similar symptoms.

CBD can serve as a painkiller, predominantly in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment. Likewise, CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

Also, CBD can lower your blood pressure by acting as a stress-reducer. Consequently, your circulatory system and your heart health could improve as well.

Last but not least, we should mention the fact that CBD can also improve the quality of your sleep. In short, cannabidiol will make you feel relaxed, which results in a good-quality sleep. Of course, the quality of sleep has a profound impact on the entire body.

Types of CBD-Infused Products

As you can see, misconceptions about the use of CBD come in all shapes and sizes. That being said, lots of people believe that the only form that CBD can take is oil.

Well, that would be another myth we have to bust. In other words, the truth is that the CBD market offers an ever-expanding array of products.

CBD-infused products come in various forms. What’s more, it seems that the catalog is growing by the day. Nevertheless, the most popular categories of CBD products are edibles, tinctures, and mouth sprays. Believe it or not, CBD has even found its way into dog food!

So, you can dissolve, inhale, or eat the products—the choice is yours. According to people’s needs and specific conditions, CBD products can leave a series of positive effects on the body.

However, it is crucial to choose the right type of product. Also, make sure to follow the dosage as well as any other guidelines. In some cases, CBD could interfere with other medications. Thus, it would be wise to consult a doctor or a pharmacist if you want to incorporate CBD into your therapy.

Final Thoughts

A natural approach to medicine is a cure in itself, and we should never underestimate the power of nature. No matter if CBD comes from marijuana or hemp, the positive influence on the human body is all that matters.

Therefore, it’s time to get rid of the stigma that surrounds the use of medical cannabis. By doing so, we can harness the benefits of CBD and make our lives better in the long run.

How to build a DIY outdoor movie screen

COVID-19 means that we are spending more time at home in order to protect our own and others' safety. Social distancing and working from home when possible are also likely to be with us for some time.  To cope with this, we need to find new ways to do things we used to enjoy in a fully socially distanced way. In this post, we look at how to build your own movie screen as one way to enjoy some escapism and hark back to happier times in a safe and socially distanced way.

Step-by-step guide to make your own movie screen

When socially distancing, outdoor activities are better as they carry less risk than indoor activities. Equally, indoor cinemas make one of the worst environments in terms of risk of spreading COVID-19. As such, an outdoor movie screen is a great way to overcome this challenge. Theatres and cinemas around the world are also finding novel ways to bring performances to our homes. Why not enjoy it on the big screen, safe in the comfort of your own garden?

Here, we outline the simple steps you can follow to build your own outdoor movie screen from scratch:

1. Get materials together

The first thing you'll need to do is find or buy the following items:

  • A large drop cloth canvas (for the screen) - make sure to buy a canvas that is not made from scraps and that is made form full panels.
  • A projector (can you borrow one from work?)
  • At least 26 screws
  • 3 X 2 by 4 wooden studs
  • An electric saw (a miter saw wood be good)
  • A screwdriver
  • A staple gun/ hammer and nails
  • A measuring tape

2. Cut the screen frame to size

Once you've got your wood and canvas, you need to decide how big you want your screen to be. This will obviously have to be within the bounds of what is offered by the wood and the canvas. A 3-by-5 feet screen is a decent size that is fairly easy to maneuver. Cut your 2 X 4 wood studs as required. The 3 feet represents the height, whilst 5 feet is for the width.

For a 3 X 5 screen, this would actually require cutting 4 X 5 feet long wooden studs. The extra length on the height can then be used as feet for the screen. You will also need 2 pieces of at least 2 feet to attach as stabilizers for the feet/frame-legs. A miter saw makes this task easier but any saw will do. Alternatively, you could cut 2 extra studs so that the feet and the frame are separate if you have plenty of wood.

3. Assemble the screen frame

Lay out the frame flat on the ground, leaving the feet stabilizers to one side for the time being. Ideally, place the flattest edges together for a neater finish. The flattest edges will be likely to be the stud edges that were machine cut -  unless you're particularly neat with your cuts. These can then all be screwed together tightly.

It is a good idea to pre-drill holes in the frame. This helps to prevent the wood from splitting and makes the task a whole lot easier. Deck screws are ideal for this task. It's good to place at least 4 on each join to ensure that the frame is securely fastened together. This will also make it much more durable in the long-run.

4. Staple/nail your cloth canvas onto the frame

It's best to have at least a couple of pairs of hands for this next part. Ideally, the canvas should be big enough to be pulled tightly over the frame and stapled onto the back of the frame. A mid-thickness canvas of 8-10-oz will be easiest to work with. You should also give the canvas a good wash and dry it out first. This helps to ensure the screen is completely clean and helps to ensure there are no wrinkles in it before placement.

Pull the canvas tight and staple it in place if you have a staple gun. If not, you can hammer in the staples. Make sure to pull the canvas completely taut before stapling. Once it is stapled in place, you can trim off any unsightly edges. This would be very challenging with just a single pair of hands.

5. Attach the stabilizers

Now you're ready to test it's standing legs and attach the stabilizers. Put the 2 feet block you held in reserve against the base of the feet and screw it into place. If it feels at all unstable, you may wish to add a stabilizing bracket as a support between the stabilizer and the legs. This is a good idea if things can get a little bit windy where you live. However, this will require a couple of diagonal cuts which can be more challenging.

 With that, you are good to go! You will need a decent stand for your projector though so if  you are loving your newfound carpentry skills, then you can give making a box-stand a whirl with any leftover pieces from the screen frame.

This project won't take long to complete and is a great way to enjoy some light-relief in a challenging time. As quarantines adapt over time it also makes it possible to be in the vicinity of loved ones safely. With this project, we can do this whilst enjoying the wonders of the cinema, theatre, or anything else you want to watch in the great outdoors.

1 2 3 4 … 26