Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
Sometimes it seems like we throw out more food than we eat. While that probably isn't true, the average household does waste a lot of food. Here are some ideas for cutting down your home food waste.
Compost
While you are still discarding the leftover food when you compost, you are recycling it into a useful substance that can be used to grow more food (or anything else you like) in the garden. Only compost food that has no other use and can't be recycled in the kitchen anymore.
Smaller Portions
It's interesting to note that studies have shown that the size of the plate makes a difference in how much we eat. Smaller plates mean smaller portions, and while going back for seconds is not taboo, it still holds true that smaller plates result in less food being consumed at a meal. So break out the "salad plates" and other smaller dishes, and cook and serve up smaller portions.
Larger Portions
Yes, this is the opposite of smaller portions, but increasing the amount of food you cook in one session in the kitchen can actually help reduce waste. If you double a recipe, for example, you spend the same amount of time and energy in the kitchen as you would for the regular recipe, but you have twice the food. You can then freeze the other half and have a future meal ready in less time (and wasting less energy on oven use).
Plan Meals and Make a Shopping List
Each week, plan out your meals and shop accordingly. That doesn't mean you have to pass up spontaneous bargains that you find (you can always freeze those!), but it does mean that you have a general plan of what you are going to be eating that week and the required ingredients. This helps reduce waste because you are not buying impulsively, filling your fridge and pantry with food items you may never use.
Creative Use of Leftovers
There are so many great uses for leftovers - get creative! Here are some suggestions:
* Refrigerated mashed potatoes can be used in breads, to make potato pancakes, or to top a Shepherd's Pie.
* Aging celery, carrots and/or onions (and even apples) can be used to make vegetable stock.
* Leftover fruit salad, canned or fresh, be pureed and drunk as a fruit smoothie or frozen into popsicles.
* Make breadcrumbs from stale bread and freeze them.
* Citrus peals can be simmered in sugar syrup and candied.
* Leftover steamed vegetables can be mixed with rice or noodles, topped with cheese, and baked as a casserole.
Good Containers
Invest in a good set of glass storage containers with tight-fitting lids. These will preserve your food better than haphazard containers covered with plastic wrap. Be sure to label all containers with the content and date.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Easy Ways to Plan Your Vegetable Garden without Feeling Overwhelmed
Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
Yes, we all know those people - the people who have enormous greenhouses and pick their first tomato before Easter. Not all of us can accomplish such feats, but the good news is, there are easy ways to plan your vegetable garden without getting overwhelmed before you even start. Here are some tips and ideas.
1. Choose easy vegetables
Some vegetables are easier to grow than others. The following vegetables are easy to grow from seed, but if you purchase seedlings they are even less trouble to grow.
* Tomatoes
* Pole beans
* Lettuce
* Greens (chard, kale, spinach)
* Zucchini
* Yellow squash
* Cucumbers
* Bell peppers
* Hot peppers
* Radishes
* Beets
* Scallions
* Garlic
* Potatoes (you can even use that potato sprouting in the back of your pantry to start your plant!)
2. Choose vegetables that will grow in your area
You are likely to get overwhelmed if you try to grow vegetables that do not normally grow in your climate, or that are unsuited to the amount of moisture and sun you have. Here are some vegetables (and a few fruits) that grow well in various conditions.
* Lettuce, scallions, strawberries, blackberries can tolerate some shade.
* Hot peppers, 'Sugar Baby' watermelons, purslane and snap beans are heat and drought tolerant.
* Tomatoes and bell peppers require full sun (at least six hours a day).
3. Square foot gardening
This is a simple gardening method that can make your vegetable growing efforts easier and fruitful. A variation of the planter box, square foot gardening maximizes space and minimizes maintenance. Make a 4-foot square wooden frame from four 2" x 6" boards. Using more boards, divide the square into 1-foot square segments (there will be 16 segments).
Cover a 4-foot area with newspapers for weed control, set the frame on it, and fill with dirt. In each square segment, you can plant, for example, one tomato or bell pepper plant, 4 lettuces, or 9 beets. You can grow enough in one of these to keep you in salads all summer!
4. Seedlings instead of seeds
One of the things that can make garden planning stressful is that you have to begin so early in the season. In fact, if you are going to start seeds, it needs to be done in the middle or end of winter. Thus, you may feel rushed and overwhelmed if you miss seed-planting time. But not to worry - purchase seedlings instead, or purchase seedlings and start seeds even if it is a bit late. That will give you two yields, as your seedlings will bear fruit early in the season and the seeds you start will bear later.
5. Container gardening
If you go for containers, this relieves you of the task of tilling the earth and preparing the soil. You can also move your plants to get more sun during the day. The soil warms up more quickly in containers, so seeds can be sown directly in the containers rather than starting them indoors.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com
The Affiliate Mini Mall
Yes, we all know those people - the people who have enormous greenhouses and pick their first tomato before Easter. Not all of us can accomplish such feats, but the good news is, there are easy ways to plan your vegetable garden without getting overwhelmed before you even start. Here are some tips and ideas.
1. Choose easy vegetables
Some vegetables are easier to grow than others. The following vegetables are easy to grow from seed, but if you purchase seedlings they are even less trouble to grow.
* Tomatoes
* Pole beans
* Lettuce
* Greens (chard, kale, spinach)
* Zucchini
* Yellow squash
* Cucumbers
* Bell peppers
* Hot peppers
* Radishes
* Beets
* Scallions
* Garlic
* Potatoes (you can even use that potato sprouting in the back of your pantry to start your plant!)
2. Choose vegetables that will grow in your area
You are likely to get overwhelmed if you try to grow vegetables that do not normally grow in your climate, or that are unsuited to the amount of moisture and sun you have. Here are some vegetables (and a few fruits) that grow well in various conditions.
* Lettuce, scallions, strawberries, blackberries can tolerate some shade.
* Hot peppers, 'Sugar Baby' watermelons, purslane and snap beans are heat and drought tolerant.
* Tomatoes and bell peppers require full sun (at least six hours a day).
3. Square foot gardening
This is a simple gardening method that can make your vegetable growing efforts easier and fruitful. A variation of the planter box, square foot gardening maximizes space and minimizes maintenance. Make a 4-foot square wooden frame from four 2" x 6" boards. Using more boards, divide the square into 1-foot square segments (there will be 16 segments).
Cover a 4-foot area with newspapers for weed control, set the frame on it, and fill with dirt. In each square segment, you can plant, for example, one tomato or bell pepper plant, 4 lettuces, or 9 beets. You can grow enough in one of these to keep you in salads all summer!
4. Seedlings instead of seeds
One of the things that can make garden planning stressful is that you have to begin so early in the season. In fact, if you are going to start seeds, it needs to be done in the middle or end of winter. Thus, you may feel rushed and overwhelmed if you miss seed-planting time. But not to worry - purchase seedlings instead, or purchase seedlings and start seeds even if it is a bit late. That will give you two yields, as your seedlings will bear fruit early in the season and the seeds you start will bear later.
5. Container gardening
If you go for containers, this relieves you of the task of tilling the earth and preparing the soil. You can also move your plants to get more sun during the day. The soil warms up more quickly in containers, so seeds can be sown directly in the containers rather than starting them indoors.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Different Ways of Composting Food Waste
Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall
There are so many ways to compost your food waste. There is some sort of composting option for everyone! Here are some of the ways you can compost your food waste.
1. Trench Composting
If this is allowed in your area, trench composting is a very simple and odor-free method that can be done easily without a great deal of effort. Basically, you dig a hole or trench near the plants you want to fertilize with compost. The shape doesn't matter - it depends on your garden or lawn needs and lay-out.
Put food scraps into the hole, and then cover it back up with the soil you removed when you dug the hole. That's it. You don't have to turn the compost, or even spread it around. Your plants' roots will freely partake of the rich compost as the food waste decomposes.
2. Raised Bed
This is a variation on trench composting. Rather than digging a trench into the earth, with this method you dig into the side of a hill of soil (or raised bed) and put the food scraps inside, then cover up the hole. The food waste is automatically buried inside the raised garden bed.
3. Compost Pile
The compost pile is what many people think of when they think of starting their own compost supply. You start by piling up yard clippings and leaves, and then add kitchen scraps. Using a pitchfork or shovel, mound the compost up so that heat will build in the middle of the pile, helping it decompose. Your pile will have to be periodically turned by hand. Check with your local officials to make sure compost piles are allowed in your area.
4. Food Waste Digester
These cone-shaped bins are aptly named "Green Cones." In these containers, you can compost meat scraps as well as vegetable and fruit ones. Green Cones have underground and above-ground components. The underground chamber is a basket-like container through which water can flow. The cone shape is above ground, and uses the heat from the sun to "digest" the food scraps quickly.
The Green Cone does not produce compost for you to spread on your garden; it simply converts food waste into harmless, sanitary substances and releases them into the soil. Placed near a garden or planting bed, however, it is reasonable to expect that the Green Cone's residue would benefit nearby vegetation.
5. Compost "Smoothie"
You can use your blender as a composting aid. Simply put food scraps into the blender (about 3/4 full), add water to cover, and puree. In a covered bin or bucket, mix this compost smoothie with shredded newspaper to reduce odor and let it decompose for a few days before digging it into your garden. You could also dilute the smoothie with more water and pour on houseplants or directly on your lawn or garden. The dilution prevents it from "burning" the plants before it has had time to decompose.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com
The Affiliate Mini Mall
There are so many ways to compost your food waste. There is some sort of composting option for everyone! Here are some of the ways you can compost your food waste.
1. Trench Composting
If this is allowed in your area, trench composting is a very simple and odor-free method that can be done easily without a great deal of effort. Basically, you dig a hole or trench near the plants you want to fertilize with compost. The shape doesn't matter - it depends on your garden or lawn needs and lay-out.
Put food scraps into the hole, and then cover it back up with the soil you removed when you dug the hole. That's it. You don't have to turn the compost, or even spread it around. Your plants' roots will freely partake of the rich compost as the food waste decomposes.
2. Raised Bed
This is a variation on trench composting. Rather than digging a trench into the earth, with this method you dig into the side of a hill of soil (or raised bed) and put the food scraps inside, then cover up the hole. The food waste is automatically buried inside the raised garden bed.
3. Compost Pile
The compost pile is what many people think of when they think of starting their own compost supply. You start by piling up yard clippings and leaves, and then add kitchen scraps. Using a pitchfork or shovel, mound the compost up so that heat will build in the middle of the pile, helping it decompose. Your pile will have to be periodically turned by hand. Check with your local officials to make sure compost piles are allowed in your area.
4. Food Waste Digester
These cone-shaped bins are aptly named "Green Cones." In these containers, you can compost meat scraps as well as vegetable and fruit ones. Green Cones have underground and above-ground components. The underground chamber is a basket-like container through which water can flow. The cone shape is above ground, and uses the heat from the sun to "digest" the food scraps quickly.
The Green Cone does not produce compost for you to spread on your garden; it simply converts food waste into harmless, sanitary substances and releases them into the soil. Placed near a garden or planting bed, however, it is reasonable to expect that the Green Cone's residue would benefit nearby vegetation.
5. Compost "Smoothie"
You can use your blender as a composting aid. Simply put food scraps into the blender (about 3/4 full), add water to cover, and puree. In a covered bin or bucket, mix this compost smoothie with shredded newspaper to reduce odor and let it decompose for a few days before digging it into your garden. You could also dilute the smoothie with more water and pour on houseplants or directly on your lawn or garden. The dilution prevents it from "burning" the plants before it has had time to decompose.
About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com
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