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Yard Work/Gardening Is Work But Fun

April 27, 2011 by


Melinda and I have been working in the yard for the last three days mulching and getting our vegetable garden ready for another wonderful season. Thankfully we are lucky enough to live in a place where ground and space are plentiful but if we didn’t we would definitely be turning to City Hydroponic.

Melinda loves growing fresh vegetable and wouldn’t allow space to hold her back and that is where City Hydroponic aeroponic gardening comes into play.

Aeroponic gardens consist of a frame, allowing leaves or canopy to grow upward and roots to expand downward, and a system for delivering nutrient-rich water vapor to the roots. Plants spend approximately 99.98% of their time exposed to air and .02% of their time in contact with a hydro-atomize nutrient solution.

Aeroponic allows your plants to grow without soil or medium to hinder natural growth but allows for maximum root expansion along with 100% access to CO2 which allows you more garden in less space.  I must be honest, until today I had no idea about this kind of gardening.  I wish when Melinda and I were living in our apartment we knew about aeroponic gardens because we would have utilized this form of gardening for sure.

I am not sure what kind of hydroponic supplies you will need to start a garden for the space that you current have but if you live in a condo or apartment don’t let the lack of space keep you from growing that garden you have always wanted.

Do you currently have a garden or are working on one as we speak?  Is your yard large enough for a tradition garden or no?










I Disclose




Olive Barn for Garden Shopping and Wind Chime Giveaway-CLOSED

September 13, 2010 by

Music soothes the savage beast. It can at least bring some peace and calm to a stressful or hectic day. This is what my Music of the Spheres Soprano Chimes do for me. Sitting on my deck with the wind blowing, sun shining, drink in hand and the soothing musical sounds are a great way to wind down at the end of the week.

“These are professional grade, hand tuned wind chimes that are built to last. The sleek design of black, powder-coated, aluminum alloy tubing make these chimes outstanding in both sound quality and visual appeal. They are the only brand we carry at Olive Barn because no other brand meets the industry standards for tonal quality, sustain and durability. Best of all, these are made right here in the USA. Handcrafted in Austin, Texas by the talented artisans at Music of the Spheres®, Inc.”

I was given the opportunity another great item from Olive Barn. With a shop full of unique and eco-conscious garden goodies I was ecstatic when I opened up my Gypsy tuned wind chimes. We had the perfect spot near the sliding glass doors so that they can be heard inside also. Being on the end unit and having a field behind us gives us these great winds throughout the day. We are constantly being serenaded by the dingdong sounds.

A few weeks back Shaun and I were admiring wind chimes at a local shop and we realized we didn’t like the “tinkling” sounds that come from the smaller, lesser quality instruments. He picked out a wind chime very similar to the one received from Olive Barn. We ended up not purchasing it due to other purchases made that day. He’s very excited about having one now; he knows it makes his mommy happy.

Whether it’s a beautiful set of wind chimes or striking sun-catchers or seeds and bulbs for the garden Olive Barn has a mix of practical and indulgent gifts for yourself and others. Being a “green” business is also very important. Using only eco-friendly shipping materials whenever possible helps them make a positive impact on the world we all live in. They like this planet and they want to keep it around for as long as possible.

Shopping is fun and exciting at Olive Barn but winning is even better. Win Music of the Spheres Soprano Wind Chimes for yourself. Listen to the available tunings and tell me which you prefer.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Review, Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and Olive Barn on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 1 time per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Wind Chime #giveaway from @OliveBarn @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/cfs0oy             
  • Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!  and Olive Barn on Facebook AND post about this giveaway on your wall. (include link to giveaway)
  • Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description the the contest and prize
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday,  October 4, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




Redoing the Garden

September 9, 2010 by

When we moved here I was excited because the backyard already had a vegetable garden. Within a week I was discouraged; it was filled with weeds, rainbow chard that tasted like grass and some other things I couldn’t recognize. The only thing I tended to were the tomatoes, they flourished.


The plants weren’t the only thing wrong, there wasn’t any soil, it was all clay and rocks. I’m not sure what the previous tenants were thinking but the garden as a whole was a nightmare.
Next year I want more tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, spinach, herbs, strawberries and maybe green beans or peas. I’m off to do some research on how to get these things in the ground at the right time and how to build up the garden so it supports my thriving veggies and fruit next year.
I know I’ll need to rip everything up soon and till the space and of course add some quality soil. I did some potted veggies too but I’d like to keep the deck clear next year maybe that way Shae won’t think the grape tomato plant is her own personal snack machine. Do you have any advice on what to grow, how to care for things or a schedule on when to plant certain plants?




Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro Recap

September 8, 2010 by

Are you looking for a more natural way to collect water for your household garden and plants? Melinda and I were too and recently we were lucky enough to receive a Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro.

The Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro arrived just in time because at our house we have a full garden plus we have additional tomato and pepper plants in pots as well as herbs in a pot. We use a TON of water during the spring and summer months to keep all of our vegetables and herbs hydrated. Before receiving the rain barrel Melinda and I discussed ways we would collect rain water so we could use a more natural approach in our watering. We tried to leave the watering can out to collect rain which it was able to collect some but nowhere near enough to water everything.
Here are a few features of the Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro then we will discuss the installation process.

 

Features

 

  • DiveterPro™ channels rainwater from the downspout into the rain barrel. When the barrel is full, the diverter channels the water back to the downspout and away from your home
  • Removable filter to capture debris and transparent door to see if cleaning is needed
  • Fits both standard downspout sizes.
  • Spice granite color
  • Holds 58 gallons
  • Barrel and cover made of recyclable, UV-treated, impact-resistant polyethylene
  • Integrated base provides clearance for filling watering cans
  • Flat-back fits snug to house
  • Rain barrel made in U.S.A.
  • Limited 3-year warranty

 

Ok, now on to the install process. I’m not a person who typically reads directions but I made sure I did this time so before you install the rain barrel and DiverterPro be sure to read the directions (it is in your best interest). You will need to make a few measurements and cuts to the rain downspout on your home and you only have one chance to do it right so please be sure to read the directions. Believe it or not it was pretty simple to install. The hardest part for me was getting the ground level for my rain barrel. I actually needed to go to Home Depot so I could pick up a few patio pavers to make a level surface. Other then that everything else was pretty straight forward. You will need a drill to drill a hole in the side of the rain barrel and also a saw to cut the downspout. The DiverterPro went on easy and installing the tube from the DiverterPro to the rain barrel was straight forward as well.

 

Now I am waiting for rain, LOL. While we were away on vacation the barrel collected some rain but not enough to use yet. So I am hoping I get to use the Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro before the end of the season but if not no big deal I will have it for next year where it will get used for sure.

 

Need/want a rain barrel for your home? If so you have struck gold because Fiskars is giving one lucky Look What Mom Found…and Dad too! Reader a Fiskars Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro valued at $149.99.  Go to Fiskars and tell me something you learned about Fiskars or a product you would love to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and Fiskars on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway up to 3 times per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Win a @fiskars_hq Salsa Rain Barrel @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/aNecUZ
  • Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!  and Fiskars on Facebook AND post about this giveaway on your wall. (include link to giveaway)
  • Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description the the contest and prize
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Wednesday,  September 29, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




Fresh from the Garden

July 31, 2010 by

My garden to be specific.

This just makes me happy. The thought of fresh fresh veggies, fruits and herbs 10 feet from my kitchen door is so exciting to me.  Hopefully I can get the bigger garden down in the yard really going next year and produce tons more stuff.




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