Apr
2016

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Horse Owner?

categories: Tips

Owning a horse isn’t something anybody should take lightly. You need to go into horse ownership fully aware of what you’re letting yourself in for. Although it can be a real joy, it can also make a huge dent in your finances and leave you little spare time to do much else. Read on to find out if you have what it takes…

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The Finances

Owning a horse is probably one of the most expensive things you’ll ever do. It takes a whole lot of commitment financially to own a horse. To start with, it is best to look at where you can keep your horse, which is when people start looking at farms or ranches for sale. After that, you not only need to buy the horse but you need to buy all of the associated equipment. You need grooming products, clothing, stables – there are so many things to consider before you get excited about owning your first horse. Then there’s the importance of keeping your horse healthy. Vets can be expensive, as can buying medication. You can buy some medication online, such as Prascend horse tablets. However, you need to be sure that the medication is legitimate. You don’t want to end up hurting your horse!

The Patience

Owning a horse takes a lot of patience. You need to be patient with your horse as it gets used to you and it’s surroundings. You really need to bond with a horse if you’re going to be a good horse owner!

The Time

Owning a horse takes lots of time. How much time will depend on many different factors, but you’re looking at putting in work most days. You’ll need to exercise your horse, feed your horse, clean out your horse, and more. You need to be prepared to spend the time doing these things, and most of all, you need to enjoy doing them! You shouldn’t see horse ownership as a chore, or you probably shouldn’t be a horse owner. It’s spending time like this that will allow you to bond with your horse. Many horse owners say that there’s no bond like the one between you and your horse.

The Knowledge

Owning a horse requires at least a base knowledge of horses, horse riding, and things like that. You should do plenty of research on horses, the different kinds, and how to care for them. Speaking to professionals and getting lessons is a great idea, as this will prepare you for a life of horse ownership. If you have friends that love horses, that’s even better. Sharing knowledge this way is a great way to stay brushed up on your knowledge.

Owning a horse isn’t a split second decision you make. They are beautiful, intelligent creatures and owning one can be extremely rewarding. That being said, they are still lots of hard work and they are definitely not for the faint hearted! If you think you have what it takes, then it could be time to start looking into reputable sellers. Make sure you know how to spot a seller that isn’t genuine, as there are many of them around. Good luck on the hunt for the right horse!


Apr
2016

Before You Build Your Home Extension, Consider These Issues

categories: Tips

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One of the great things about living in the country is that you’ll have a lot of space to play around with. Usually, as well as your property you’ll have a sizable plot of land. That means that you can spend a little time making your garden look stunning. Or, you can choose to add an extension on to your home and make it grander.

There are a few advantages to building a home extension. The first is quite obvious. It will give you more space and could be the ideal solution if you are thinking about growing your family. It will save you from having to move to another property when you think about having more children. The other advantage is that it makes your home a lot more valuable. An extension can add as much as twenty-five percent on to the asking value of your home. But building a home extension isn’t easy, and there are a few considerations you’ll need to think about.

Planning Permission

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The first issue you’ll have to consider is getting planning permission to build the extension. You’ll usually have to contact your local council about this, but you should also look at the house buyers contract. You might find that terms in the contract prohibit you from changing the aesthetic of your home. That may limit your possibilities when considering building a home extension. Planning permission usually takes a few weeks to be approved. But it can be as long as three months. You can find out more about planning permission on http://www.yourhome.gov.au/.

Cost Coverage

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You’re also going to have to consider the cost of your home extension. A home extension could cost anything between five and ten grand. It might even be more than that depending on how big you want or need the space to be you need to consider the cost of tools, raw materials and labouring time if you’re bringing in a professional. It’s a good idea to always shop around for quotes too. It’s likely you’ll need a skip for a large renovation and skiphire.com can provide quotes  so that can be a good starting point. You can also get quotes for flooring materials, professional contractors or even tool hire. Whatever you need, make sure you get a quote first. It’s important that you keep the cost of your extension under the control. Otherwise, it could end up costing a lot more than it’s worth.

Expert Help

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You might think that you’ve got the skills to get your home sorted out with the extension yourself. But there’s always the tricky parts that you are sure to find difficult. Setting up the electricity wiring always presents fun and games that every homeowner isn’t prepared for. Instead, it’s best to think about hiring a professional electric company to complete this job for you. You can have a look at more info on https://www.grahamandsonselectrics.com.au/. There, you’ll find out more about the type of job we’re talking about.

Letting The Neighbours Know

Finally, an extension is a job that often requires heavy machinery, loud noises and the blockages of roads. The good news is that in the country you might have enough space that you won’t bother anyone with this. But, if you do live close to other houses it’s worth giving them a friendly heads up. That way you won’t get any complaints to the council that could stop your extension in its tracks.

Good luck completing your extension. We’re sure when it’s finished it will look as brilliant as the one below.

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Mar
2016

5 Farming Industries You’ve Never Heard Of

categories: Lifestyle

When someone talks about agriculture, you probably think of pigs, cows, and chickens. This trinity makes up a pretty big part of the industry, but it certainly doesn’t stop there! There are all kinds of weird and wonderful agricultural projects scattered around the world. Here are five which I bet you didn’t know about!

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Image from Flickr

  1. Spider Goat Farm, USA

You’ve probably never heard of spider goats before, let alone a farm for one. That’s because they’re a genetically engineered animal, that have only existed for a few years! On the surface, they look like your normal goat. The difference is that they contain spider DNA. Their milk, containing golden orb spider silk, is used to create many durable materials. The next time you see fishing line or a parachute, there’s a fair chance it came from these remarkable animals.

  1. Leech Farm, Wales

Some people think the leech industry is a relic of primitive medieval medicine. However, the medical benefits of leeches are still getting a lot of attention. The Biopharm leech farm in Swansea is just one place where leeches are raised for medical applications. This, and other centres provide around 60,000 leeches a year to European hospitals. They’re also used to treat a variety of conditions in animals.

  1. Bird Nest Farm, Indonesia

Far eastern cultures have always been known for their unique cuisine. I bet you had no idea that bird’s nests make up part of it! In these operations, an open, wooden house is built specifically to attract swiftlets. After being used, their nests are harvested, dried, and processed for use in a range of dishes. The finished product is something truly beautiful, and is sold soaked in an aromatic flavouring. As you can imagine, this is quite the delicacy, and doesn’t come cheap! Here’s where you can find a natural bird nest for sale.

  1. Elephant Dung Farm, Thailand

Everyone seems to be a coffee connoisseur these days. You can’t really wave that title around without having tried elephant dung coffee! That’s right, for around $500 a pound, you can buy coffee beans which have been plucked from the dung of Asian elephants. Many of the elephants used in this operation are rescued from the streets of Thailand, and get a pretty sweet gig out of it too! I’m sure if you can get past the mental block, you’ll have one great espresso.

  1. Tiger Farm, China

In case you’re wondering, yes this is heavily opposed. Tiger farming is one of the most unique and most controversial agricultural operations on earth. Animal rights groups the world over have been fighting against it, considering less than 4,000 tigers in Asia remain free in the wild. There’s still a high demand for tiger body parts, both for their fur and their meat. Recently, it was still perfectly legal to buy tiger steaks straight from the farm. While there are still illegal tiger farms operating, the trade is under fire from all sides. Hopefully, we won’t be hearing about it for much longer.

 


Mar
2016

7 Tips for Country Style Decor in Your Home

categories: Lifestyle, Tips

Country style decor is a great look to go for in the home, whether you have a new build or something quite rustic already. The country style can be really cosy and perfect for just about anybody, whether you’re a family or a couple. These 7 tips will help you to create the country style decor in your home:

Use Suitable Patterns

When you think of a country style decor, you probably think of a few specific patterns before anything else. You wouldn’t use geometric patterns in this kind of decor, for example. You’d be more suited to using things like florals and plaid. You could even get away with using cute polka dots. Mixing patterns can be done too, but that can take a little practice so your design doesn’t look all over the place.

Use Plenty of Wood and Similar Textures

Wood is a big texture in the country style decor, so make sure you use enough of it. House of Oak have some great examples. Although materials like granite and metals can look nice, they don’t go too well when you’re trying to create a country feel. They suit more modern home designs. Stick to wood textures and things that suit that sort of feel and you’ll be well on your way to creating a country style home.

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Use Vintage Items and Antiques to Decorate

Vintage items and antiques look best in a country style decor, so now is your chance to go hunting for some antique treasures! You can really have fun with what you use here to make the look your own. However, you shouldn’t go too crazy and buy all kinds of little accessories, as this can clutter up the space visually. Instead, you could go for some bigger vintage items and antiques. They’ll take up more space but your decor won’t look as cluttered.

Use Unexpected Items for Different Things

One thing I love about country style decor is using unexpected items for different things. For example, some people use old wooden crates as shelves and it can look amazing! Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.

Always Include Plants and Flowers

Always include plants and flowers in your country style decor, as that’s what the look is all about. You can even use decent looking fake flowers if you like!

Use Pinterest to Inspire You

Pinterest has a wealth of pictures that can inspire you, so make a board and see if you find anything you really love. If you spot anything popping up often, you know that’s something you should really have in your decor.

Do Some DIY

Do a little DIY to make your country style decor your own. You could create your own art, furniture, cushions…whatever you’re good at! This will add to the country feel. Anything handmade always looks great in a country style home! The best things is making your own DIY can save you a lot of money especially if you use coupons from websites like this one https://www.raise.com/coupons/lowes and also it’s so much more fun!

Use these 7 tips for country style decor in your home and you’ll have a look you’re proud of in no time!


Mar
2016

How to Start a Farmers’ Market Stall

categories: Tips

Growing and making your own food, so you’re self-sufficient, is wonderful. We love harvesting fruit and vegetables on the farm, as well as having food from the animals. Sometimes, however, you have more than enough. If you want to make a living from your farm, selling your produce to other people will help you. A stall at a farmers’ market is the perfect way to promote and sell your products. If you haven’t started selling anything yet, it ideal to get you started. But you need to have some business sense (a tax calculator and basic accounting software wouldn’t hurt either) if you want to be successful. Read on to find out how to do it properly.
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