Home & Garden Information Center: 2011

Un appartement Autrichien

Sandra Haischberger, la créatrice de talent qui se cache derrière les porcelaines Feinedinge,

a élu domicile à Vienne, en Autriche. De même pour sa boutique et son atelier.

Sources : Design Sponge

Preparing Your Home and Garden for Spring

As the cool winter begins to subside, everyone is looking forward to the coming of spring. Spring means lighter and warmer days. Nevertheless, you cannot fully enjoy spring if you do not prepare your home and garden for it. Preparing your home and garden for spring means a lot of work, so it is important to evaluate the work ahead in order to accomplish them in time. Start by checking the outside of your home and check out doors and windows. It is also a good idea to check out your exterior wall as well and find out if there are cracks, holes or leaks due to the cold season.

It is necessary to review your major home ventilation, hating and air-conditioning systems. Before the climate changes, make certain that filters are replaced or cleaned and the air conditioner in good condition. Clean windows, ceiling fans and clean the fireplace. Do not forget to check the emergency systems in your home such as the smoke alarms, home alarm, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguisher and make certain they are in good working condition. Check other areas in your home as well, like the roof, clean the gutters and remove twigs, leaves and branches on the roof.

Prepare your garden for spring since winter could definitely affect it. Winter has frozen your plants, trees, destroyed plants, flowers and left your garden in a kind of mess. The first thing you should do is to find out when winter ends officially so you can begin rehabilitating your garden. Remove twigs, dry leaves and other items that could mean obstructions on your garden. Clean the entire are with a rake and prepare your garden tools. Make sure they are sharp and ready for use. Start buying bulbs, seedlings and garden decorations.

Cultivate the soil so it will be ready for new plants to be planted. Prepare your walkways and areas adjacent to your landscaping. Make sure to replace old and cracked garden hoses and remove tree limbs and debris from the sidewalks. If there is no more snow in your area, it is a good time to begin planning your spring landscaping and lawn maintenance. Pressure wash paver and concrete areas that have turned dirty during winter and power wash brick walls, vinyl siding and the vertical surfaces in your home if necessary.

By preparing your home for the spring is rewarding today and still rewarding three months from now. Remember that your home goes through many changes due to climatic changes and as it ages. Spring preparation and maintenance is good for every homeowner. Furthermore, it is more important if you plan to sell your home soon. Homebuyers want to make certain that all home systems are well-maintained and taken cared of before they purchase. If you are unsure, consider hiring a professional home inspector. A home inspection covers your home from top to bottom. So, what are you waiting for? Prepare your home now because the warmer climate is just around the corner. Time to go outdoors and enjoy the sun.

Un repos bien mérité [3]

Certains jours, on n'a qu'une envie : se reposer !

Sources : KTR , Myfotolog , GPH , La Belle Vie , LITR , Brabourne Farm , Down and Out Chic , Maison Bohème , My Ideal Home , Méchant Design

My Organic Garden - Organic Gardening Vegetables

Growing vegetables on your very own garden or backyard can be exciting, not to mention all the benefits you can get from it. Harvesting and eating freshly picked veggies can be real fun and healthy especially at these times when everything is instant. While environmentally sensitive organic gardening vegetable is not always easy, but it can be very rewarding. Alright then, here are some simple tips on how to set up an organic garden.

Click Here For My Organic Garden Instant Access Now!

Grow only those vegetables that you like eating. It will be pointless to grow veggies that you don't like, unless you are doing so for business purposes. Thus, it is very important to make a list of all the vegetables you plan to grow. List them by family. Knowing the vegetable families will help in planning rotations.

It will be perfect to give priority to those valued for incredible flavor when eaten fresh from the garden, such as, sweet corn, beans and peas, tomatoes and young spinach to mention a few.

When getting started, of course, you will also need to plan your garden carefully in order to save yourself a lot of trouble in the future. Begin by considering the site of the garden. When choosing a place for the garden, you need to choose according to what your plants will need and not by appearance. You have to make it a point that it is situated where your plants can receive direct sunlight for at least six hours everyday. The sun warms the air and the soil as well.

Water is another necessity for plants and it is especially important at transplanting time or when a plant is on the process of making fruit, so make sure that you place your garden near a water source.

In organic gardening vegetable, soil type is also a very important factor. You need to make it a point that the soil is very good for gardening. You can enhance the quality of the soil by adding organic matter, lime and nutrients. Choose a place for your garden with soil that is well drained and rich in organic matter.

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Ergonomic Tools for Home and Garden

The need for ergonomic tools is important to identify when using hand tools in the home and garden. Especially if the tools are used for extended periods of time. Finding the right tool for the task at hand will save unwanted discomfort in the future.

Examples of causes of carpal tunnel and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) are chain saws, power tools, hand weeding, painting, pruning, improperly fitting gloves, screw divers, pressing tool into palm and using spray guns, etc.

To avoid painful carpal tunnel, the use of ergonomic tools allows hands to be in a more neutral position reducing the stress on wrists, arms and fingers. Many ergonomic hand tools have a bent handle which prevents excess bending and pressure.

Cushioned handles will add comfort, reducing strain and in general protect your hands.

Also, available are gloves designed to improve fit and hand function. This helps to eliminate pressure on the hand while wearing gloves.

Operating hand held power tools at the lowest speed necessary for performing the task and wearing anti-vibration gloves will help prevent HAVS. Power tools you may use in the home and garden are drills, saws, staplers and sanders.

Have you painted your home and garden spaces with a hand held brush to discover you keep shifting the paintbrush around to keep a comfortable grip? Paint brushes are available which are designed to reduce stress and discomfort to forearm and wist. The brushes are able to be held with the right or left hand holding positions with ease. The ergonomic brush handles are slightly curved to fit your grip with finger grooves at the base of the brush for comfort.

Ergonomic positioning is equally important as well holding the tool as recommended by the manufacturer. Adjusting straps on equipment will reduce strain on your body for any hand held equipment.

Wheelbarrows have been designed to reduce up to 45% of the impact on your body by keeping loads level as compared to conventional wheelbarrow. The weight is distributed on the front wheel reducing the load on the handles and strain on the operator especially when dealing with sloping areas.