Mar
2015

Your Garden Matters: Common Pests That Are Found in the Country

categories: Advice

Living in the countryside is nothing short of idyllic. You have an expanse of land and garden that you can make the most of during the summer. But, with this, there comes other problems. As such, you may find that your garden is more susceptible to pests.

Pests can be a burden. They can eat away at your crops, plants and flowers. But, they can have an impact on your health too. It goes without saying that you need to ensure that your land is pest and bug free. Of course, you can never be truly rid of bugs in the countryside! But, you can make sure that you have beneficial insects in your garden.

  1. Slugs

Slugs and snails are not wanted by most gardeners. They can leave a trail of destruction behind them when it comes to the garden. They are prone to eating flowers and plants. If you find that you have holes in your plants leaves, this could be symptomatic of slugs. Slugs don’t tend to serve many purposes in the garden. As such, it may be wise to get rid of them. Eradicating slugs can be easy. All you need to do is add a little salt around your borders. This will not impact your flowers, plants or crops. But, it will ensure that slugs are stopped in their tracks.

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  1. Beetles

Beetles can be a serious threat to your garden. They are more prevalent in the summertime. As such, now is the time to become beetle savvy. These little black bugs may be harmless to humans; beetle can breed in alarming numbers. With this in mind, they can take over your garden before you know it! According to the experts, at http://pest.24hourly.com it’s vital that you get rid of these as a matter of urgency. What is more, these can get into your home as they thrive on flour, wheat, and pulses. If this happens, you need to call an exterminator. But, do ensure that you are using need-based products to eradicate them permanently.

  1. Mice

Mice are often found more widely in the country. They are not something that you want in your garden. Mice can present a lot of health problems. They are not just an annoyance; they are a very real threat to your home and garden. Mice will find a way into your home if you do not have sufficient food sources in your garden. If you have a vegetable plot, they may attack it. The best thing that you can do is remove debris from his garden. Piles of leaves make an attractive home for mice. Make sure that you don’t leave food outside. But, more importantly, ensure that you are sealing doors and windows so that they cannot gain entry to your home. If things get out of hand though, one needs to call in professional pest exterminating services similar to the Pest Authority of Charlottesville to get the mice situation in check.

  1. Harlequin Ladybugs

Ladybugs in the traditional sense are not a massive problem. But, there is a new strain of ladybugs that are now found in gardens. The traditional ladybird is okay. But, the harlequin bugs are not pleasant in the home. They live in wallpaper and window frames. They will not prevent greenfly from eating your plants. Rather, they will take up lodging in your home and eat away at your fabrics. Make sure that you eradicate these as they enter your home. They rarely come into your property in isolation. So, make sure that you get rid of them using insecticide sprays.


Mar
2015

Tips for Moving Home

categories: Lifestyle, Tips

Since change is inevitable at one point or another in your life, it is very likely that you may have to deal with the idea of leaving California, or the residence where you are based, to move to a totally new place that is unfamiliar to you. Truth is, moving out can be a tedious and nerve-wracking affair especially when you have a lot of stuff.

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Mar
2015

Moving to the Countryside? Here Are Some Tips to Help Your Dog Adjust

categories: Advice

Moving to the countryside is a big move for you and your family. But, your dog may be feeling the pinch too. As dogs are highly intelligent animals, they will be aware that change is underfoot. Moving to any part of the country can have a severe impact on your dog. But, helping them adjust to a new life in the country is one of the most important things that you can do as a responsible pet owner.

Be Aware of Health Concerns

While the countryside is a perfect new start for you, your dog will be more prone to health issues. The change in the environment can see fit to make your dog poorly. There will be a whole host of new things that they will want to explore. But, this new voyage of exploration means that your dog will be prone to some health issues that they may not have experienced before. Worms, fleas and ticks can all be found in the countryside. With other animals being more prevalent in the area, dogs will find themselves susceptible to these issues.

However, you can ensure that you are preventing these health problems. Do be sure to implement a worming and tick regimen with your hound. You can source a lot of canine related health supplements from http://www.wormers.co.uk/. These are the best line of defence in making sure that your dog is well adjusted to your new rural lifestyle.

Keep Your Dogs Old Bedding

A dog’s nose is highly sensitive and as such, the unfamiliar scents of the new property and the countryside can be overwhelming. It’s vital that you keep some mementos of your previous home. Their bedding should not be washed until they have settled into their new home. The scent of your previous home can be a massive source of comfort for your pooch. So, while you may think that the dog bed needs sprucing up, leave it until your hound is settled. Ultimately, this will make them happier and better adjusted to their new house.

Combating Insecurity

Your dog may be feeling insecure in their new home. This can be remedied with ease. Make sure that you are making time for your dog. Make time to play and to explore with them. It’s important that you allow them to explore your new home and to take in the new scents and smells around them.

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Don’t Let them Off the Lead!

While it’s tempting to allow your dog to explore, this can present problems. After all, rural life means that there are wide open spaces. As such, your dog can bolt and run, and you won’t be able to catch them. Make sure that you allow your dog to soak in their new surroundings, but keep them on a leash for the first couple of months. Allow them to be acquainted with their new area before giving them more freedom. After all, dogs are territorial and other farm dogs may not take too kindly to your pup.

Maintain Your Routine

Much like kids, dogs need routine too. Even though moving to your new home in the country may be a stressful time, ensuring your dogs happiness is a must. Do be sure to feed and walk your dog at the same time everyday, irrespective of how busy you are. It’s an excellent way to ensure that they adjust to their new surroundings.

 


Mar
2015

Becoming an Active Member of the Community

categories: Tips

Many of us are overwhelmingly busy. Between work, family, play and school, we’ve got a lot to do. But sometimes, we may feel like something is missing — a meaningful connection to the community perhaps? Becoming an active member of the community is an ideal way to get that connection and stay involved with local events and organizations. So how can you do your part to actively engage in the community? Here are a few things to try:

Church Ministries

If you belong to a church, going to Mass or other celebration each week is probably where your commitment ends. But there are other ways to more deeply ingrain yourself in the workings of the church and how it engages with the community around you. Sign up for participation in men’s, women’s or youth ministries to grow your faith and build spiritual, emotional and social skills as they relate to God’s divine purpose, according to Petra International Ministries. Churches may also run food drives, youth programs, hunger walks, counseling services and health ministries that aim to aid those in the community who need it most.

Hospitals

Nothing is worse than being stuck in a hospital with nowhere to go, especially when the prognosis isn’t good. Patients, particularly children, can get scared being in a strange place for days or weeks on end. You don’t have to have a background in medicine to be a volunteer at a hospital. All you have to have is a love for people and a goal of making people smile. Contact your local hospital to see if it offers volunteer opportunities that you could sign up for. You may be able to use your talents to make patients happy, such as knitting hats for young children or making colorful paintings for their rooms. You can visit with patients, greet visitors or donate your time by working in the cafeteria or gift shop.

Homeless Shelters

Perhaps you’ve donated canned goods to homeless shelters in the past, which is extremely helpful to the community food banks. However, you could take this a step further and head down to the local shelter and serve food, especially during busy times in the winter or over the holidays. Want to do something a little different that you can involve your kids in? Guiltless Giving suggests creating hygiene kits for the homeless comprised of anything from toothpaste and toothbrushes to deodorant, combs and soap. These kits may also contain a reference card with important numbers where recipients can get the help and assistance they need to get back on their feet.

Nursing Homes

Because elderly residents of a nursing home have often been placed there due to medical reasons or because they can’t safely live on their own anymore, they often become sad and withdrawn. Sure, there are activities in place throughout the day to engage them, but often times this isn’t enough to cheer up those who no longer have the comfort of their own homes. More than 50 percent of nursing home residents do not have close relatives, and 46 percent have no living children, leaving 85 percent of residents with no visitors, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Ask the volunteer coordinator at your local nursing home what you could do, such as lead a sing-a-long in the common room, lead the daily Bingo game, read books and poetry, craft scrapbooks, teach a language, or simply sit with each resident and ask them to tell you happy memories of their lives.

Getting active in your community doesn’t take a lot of effort but it does require that you take the first step. Get active today and make a difference in someone’s life.


Mar
2015

Essential Tools for any Toolkit

categories: Tips

Home Improvement 1For those who love to take on projects around the house on their own, there are many tools that can come in pretty handy. While some may simply seem like a luxury item, there are many tools that are a must have for the serious handyman. A lot of work can occur in a garden shed, you never know, there could be some serious TIG welding going on in there. For that, great toolkits are needed. One of these tools is the oscillating multi-tool.

As the name implies, this tool allows the D.I.Y-er the to complete several tasks at the same time. With this tool, you will be able to grind, sand and cut with a back and forth motion, rather than the traditional-and more unstable-spinning motion. Because of this, there are many reasons that this is the perfect tool for your toolbox.

Accuracy

One of the best things about this type of tool is that it is extremely accurate. Because of the back and forth method rather than the spinning motion, you will have much more control over the tool than ever before. The reason for this is because it feels more like vibration rather than movement.

It is also a tool that is easy to use, meaning that there won’t be a giant learning curve to overcome. Because of this, you can quickly begin tackling your household projects with little to no instruction. Many other power tools can be somewhat complicated and difficult to learn to use.

Versatility

Along with being accurate, you will also find that this tool is very versatile. It’s designed to be used for many different projects. It is can easily sand or cut a piece of wood, but it is also a great tool to help remove rusted bolts and screws.

Because of the design of the device, it is easy to use in a variety of locations. Plus, you won’t need to worry that it will go off course as you would with some other commonly used power tools.

Speed

Not only can you rely on the accuracy of the oscillating tool for many projects, but you will also be able to complete the project quickly. Many jobs that this tool can do are extremely time-consuming when you are doing the same job by hand.

Instead, you can rely on this device to help you speed up the project, complete it with unparalleled accuracy and be able to move on to your next project sooner than before. Not only is speed a great benefit when you are working in a woodshop, but it is also a great benefit for around the house as well.

So, if you are a serious handyman and have yet to add one of these tools to your arsenal, you are really missing out. There are so many projects that this tool will come in handy for. You will be surprised at the umber of times you’ll find yourself using it.

When it comes to caring for this tool, simply make sure that you are replacing the blades as needed. This will help make sure that every job you do goes off without a hitch. Additionally, performing all necessary scheduled maintenance will make sure that you are getting the most out of your oscillating multi-tool, increasing the life expectancy.