What’s Wrong With My Refrigerator? Three Common Refrigerator Repair Issues and DIY Fixes

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Your fridge may be the hardest working appliance in your home. After all, it’s always on, constantly working to keep your food and drinks cold and fresh. But when it malfunctions, you can have a real problem on your hands: spoiled food. While certain problems are more comprehensive than others, not all refrigerator problems require the expert services of a refrigerator repairman. A few can be fixed by even an appliance novice with only observation, small adjustments, and some behavior changes.

Freezer Is Frosting Too Much

Is your freezer turning into a winter wonderland, filled with frost and ice? You might have a leak in the door seal. When cold air is seeping out of the freezer, the unit will work harder to compensate-causing that frost buildup that’s freezer-burning your food and eating up energy. Do a thorough visual examination of the door gasket, looking for tears, holes, and gaps. If none are present, check that nothing in the freezer is keeping the door from closing all the way. Also check your own habits. Do you make sure the freezer door is fully closed each time you get something out? If you’re sure the door is sealed and closed and the frost problem continues, call in a refrigerator repair expert to assess the situation.

Refrigerator Cycles Too Often

If your fridge is working harder than usual and your energy bills are on the rise, check the condenser coils behind the vent panel for dust and, if you have pets, animal fur. Debris on the coils can make them work harder to get rid of the heat buildup as your fridge runs. You can use the hose extension on your vacuum to gently remove dust and hair. You can also install a piece of old pantyhose or similar material inside the vent panel; the hot air will be able to get out, but debris won’t get in. Of course, if the coils are clean and the fridge feels overheated, it’s time to bring in an appliance repair pro.

Freezer Door Opens When You Close the Fridge

This frustrating problem is more common than you might think. Because your fridge is meant to be airtight, when you close the fridge door hard, the air can push up through the vent system into the freezer, forcing that door open. The same thing can happen in reverse, though it’s less likely because the freezer door is lighter than the fridge compartment door. Before you call a technician for refrigeration repair, check that the gaskets on both doors are fully sealing. Then, prop up the front of the fridge so that it’s slightly higher than the back; this will help the doors close via gravity, as well as force. You can also place some heavy items in the freezer door to help keep it closed.

These minor issues can often be addressed on your own, but major refrigerator malfunctions, such as leaks and a complete inability to keep food cool, are cause for an immediate call to your local appliance repair company. The problem might lie in the fan, the cooling system, the compressors, the condenser coils, or a number of other components, and you don’t want to damage your fridge beyond repair by trying to fix it yourself. A repair professional will have the skill and the experience to solve the problem on your behalf.

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Source by Kelly R Robertson

Healthy Glowing Skin With Ayurvedic Skin Care

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If you are concerned about the health and appearance of your skin, you can very well depend on Ayurveda. Ayurveda gives you the answers for all your skin care problems. Healthy glowing skin is part of your general health. The food you eat, your daily routines and the kind of materials you use as cosmetics also play an important role in the health and radiance of your skin. Ayurveda skin care primarily takes into account one’s prakriti (constitution) in determining the appropriate skin care procedures and products.

Recognizing Your Skin Type

Listed below are the basic guidelines that help you determine the type of skin you have.

Vata – Healthy Vata skin is soft, delicate and with a clear radiance. When imbalanced, it is dry, lined and flaky. At times, skin appears too thin and transparent. Vata type skin is also characterized by smaller pores when compared to other skin types. You can occasionally find grayish or bluish hue for the skin. This can be attributed to the presence of minimal number of capillaries in the skin. Skin below eye area, forehead and ears are particularly vulnerable for skin conditions like darkening and discoloration, wrinkles, etc. The discoloration below eye areas is mainly due to accumulation of hemoglobin in the soft tissues there. Forehead and ears are also considered to be Vata dominant areas, as the skin there tends to be of Vata type.

Pitta – Skin is primarily a Pitta organ. Pitta skin is healthy glowing and rosy. When exposed to sunlight, it can become bloodshot. External factors can also cause inflammations and wrinkles. The central areas of the face including nose, the back of neck and scalp and predominantly are predominantly Pitta areas. Pitta skin type persons are susceptible to pimples, acne and lesions.

Kapha – Kapha skin is smooth, oily and mostly free from wrinkles and dryness. Excess Kapha can cause problems like cystic acne, which can leave scars. Excessively oily skin is the most common type of vitiated Kapha skin. The Kapha areas of skin are chin and neck. This skin type is also at higher risk of edema than the other two skin types.

Ayurvedic Principles of Healthy Skin Care

Once you know the type of skin you have, you can take appropriate measures to keep it healthy. Dry Vata type skin benefits from application of oils, while dry cleansers will be needed to balance the excessive oil of Kapha type skin. Appropriate type of herbs and minerals help in maintaining the balance of skin and to keeping it healthy and glowing, while safeguarding against the effects of excess of dosha.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Skin Problems

Different skin types require different treatments, which are briefly described below.

Vata Remedies – Vata type skin requires nourishment to keep it warm and moisturized. Fat content of ghee is beneficial for such persons and they can include food items prepared with ghee in their diet. They can also use moisturizing products that contain olive oil, almond oil, etc, which can nourish the

skin and keep it moisturized.

Take 4 oz. of milk, 1 oz. of water, 2 tsp. each of Shatavari root, Hibiscus flowers, and Vithari root powder and boil them together for a few minutes. Mix it with 3 parts of plain yogurt. You can use this as a face pack. Leave the pack on your face and neck for 10 minutes in the morning and in the evening.

Pitta Remedies – Cooling oils and herbs are ideal choices for Pitta skin types. It is easy to regain the natural luster and radiance. Neem, turmeric, manjistha, cucumber, ghee, coconut, khus, rose, and sandalwood etc are all herbs that can help. The skin care products with these herbs as ingredients are best choice for predominantly Pitta type skins. Pitta is hot and the diet should be cooling. Avoid acidic and heavily spicy food items.

Combine in a glass jar 8 oz. coconut oil, 2oz. ghee, 2 tsp. each of the powders of neem leaf, turmeric root, haritaki fruit, sandalwood, and rose petal, and 1 small grated cucumber. Mix well, cover, and allow it to stay for 7 days in a cool place. Transfer the jar outdoors under the moonlight in the evening and replace in a cool area during the day. Strain and store in another clean glass jar. Apply oil to skin morning and evening for 5-10 minutes or longer.

Kapha Remedies – Kapha skin is largely oil and supple, the regular problems are usually of acne and pimples associated with oily skin. Toners and cleansers give good care to the skin. Aloe vera, sage leaf, lotus petals, rose petals, etc are good herbs for Kapha type skin.

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Source by Roy Chavarcode

Tasty Cold Soup Recipes That Will Change Your Soup Game

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When you hear the word “soup”, you think of a warm delicious meal. But did you know that some people enjoy their soup cold? It’s a delicious and refreshing starter for a warm lunch or dinner, something that is definitely a must-try.

Cook these cold soup recipes to find out:

Herbed Lemon Avocado Soup

What you need:

  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  • 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon chopped lemon basil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons minced shallots
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Mix together avocados, lemon juice, lemon zest, vegetable broth, coconut milk, lemon basil, white wine vinegar, shallots and kosher salt in a blender or food processor. Puree until mixture is smooth. Transfer mixture to a glass container, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight. Add more lemon juice or salt if necessary.

The Summer Medley

What you need:

  • 1/2 kilogram assorted small tomatoes, halved
  • 8 large heirloom tomatoes, each sliced into 8 wedges, pureed
  • 2 large tomatoes, halved and cored
  • 2 small squash, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cantaloupe, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 English cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup halved blueberries
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • Cheesecloth

Line 2 layers of cheesecloth in a colander and place over a large bowl. Pour tomato puree over cheesecloth, tie ends of the cheesecloth and refrigerate overnight. When ready, extract remaining liquid from the cheesecloth by gently pressing with a spoon (should yield about 4 cups). Cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, place large tomato halves, cut side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Bake in a pre-heated oven (250 degrees) for 2 hours. When ready, place a roasted tomato half in 4 soup bowls. Divide squash, cucumber, cantaloupe, assorted tomatoes, blueberries and thyme. Season with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Stir in remaining sea salt to chilled tomato water and pour over fresh ingredients. Drizzle remaining olive oil over bowls and serve immediately.

If you want a refreshing appetizer, a satisfying snack or a simple light meal, soup is the way to go. Try something different this time and go for the chilled variety and you’ll be surprised! They’re healthy, too! Try these tasty cold soup recipes now!

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Source by Adrian T. Cheng

Advantages of Using Tupperware Aquasafe Water Bottles

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For more than 60 years, Tupperware products have been used by people all over the world. They have succeeded in changing the lives of millions of people by introducing various storage products in the markets. Different types of packaging methods have been introduced by Tupperware to store perishable food items for a longer period of time. Most of the Tupperware products are durable and reusable which reduces environmental wastages and pollution.

Commonly Used Tupperware Products:

The problem of storing food is completely negated with the use of Tupperware storage products. Most of the products are easy to clean and use. All the storage products are manufactured with a view to reduce wastages and save energy. Tupperware Aquasafe water bottles are among the most versatile products designed and manufactured by the company. These tumblers and bottles can be used effectively to store water so that it can be kept in refrigerators for cooling purposes. The use of disposable products can thus be reduced to a huge extent as Tupperware water bottles are far more beneficial and safe.

Different types of storage containers are also manufactured by the company which helps to store perishable food items. Most of the products are microwave safe and therefore food items can be heated along with the containers. Fridge Smart containers are also designed by the company to store vegetables and fruits in refrigerators so that it stays fresh for a long time.

Benefits of Using Tupperware Water Bottles:

In comparison to the ordinary plastic water bottle, the Tupperware Aquasafe bottles are versatile as it can be used to store beverages at home and outdoors quite easily. Most of these bottles are ergonomically designed with essential storage features.

Tupperware bottles are available in small sizes so that it can be easily held in the hands. It is also suitable for young children as it can be carried and used in schools easily. It is available in two sizes which include the one liter size and the half liter sizes.

One of the most attractive features of the Tupperware water bottles is its cap, which includes a tab so that it can be opened and closed easily.

There is hardly any need to use bottled water as these bottles can be used to store safe drinking products. Therefore it helps to conserve the environment by reducing plastic wastages in the landfills.

Most of the people prefer to use Tupperware products as it is quite easy to clean. Stains can be removed easily by cleaning the products with a sponge and baking soda. Most of these products are made of polycarbonate and so it lasts for a long period of time compared to other plastic products

Tupperware products are used to save space as it is available in various sizes. It is also considered to be environment friendly and safe to store food and beverages.

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Source by Anamika Swami

What May Result in Your Truck Refrigeration Bad Refrigerating Effect?

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Lots of supermarket have to rely on the refrigerated trucks or refrigerated vans to deliver fresh frozen foods, and during the frozen transportation, the temperature controlled is very important to make sure cargoes fresh. Also, the temperature controlled well is not only depended on high quality truck refrigeration or van refrigeration, but also need some smart tips that transporters take. Usually, resulting in truck refrigeration or van refrigeration not refrigerating well have many reasons, such as truck body insulation not good or much dust or frost in condenser are common to see that in the cold chain transportation.

1.Poor insulating effect and poor sealing of refrigerated truck body

High quality of refrigerated truck bodies are one of reason that guarantees best refrigerating effect. Besides that, when choose refrigerated truck bodies, customers also should take humidity resistance performance into consideration, because if the truck bodies are humid, it may be out of shape, even corrupted, which result in the poor insulating effect and temperature down slowly in truck bodies. Another reason is that poor sealing, and hot air flow goes into truck bodies. When you see moisture consideration in the sealing areas, it means that poor sealing in this areas. What’s more, frequently open door can also result in much hot airflow into, so in this condition, a large cooling capacity longest lasting truck refrigeration unit is best choice.

Tip: Guchen Thermo TR-650 Large Cooling Capacity Transport Frozen Units China

2.Much dust or frost attach to evaporator

We all know that truck refrigeration evaporator or van refrigeration evaporator installed in the internal truck body or van body. It blows refrigerating airflow evenly into cargoes,keep cargoes fresh, so if there are much dust or frost attached to evaporator, it will result in heat exchange and bad refrigerating effect. So transporters should defrost and clean evaporator regularly. There are two ways that help you to defrost in transport refrigeration units evaporator.

â� ã��Stop truck engine to defrost. That is to say, stop truck refrigeration units compressors running, then open door until the frost melt when temperature is growing in the truck body and restart compressor to run.

��Defrosting with hot water. Remove cargoes in truck bodies and flush frost in the evaporator tube with hot water until defrosting.

To make a conclusion, these are two commonly to see reasons above that will result in your refrigerated trucks not good refrigerating effect. Now, please check whether you have noticed the reasons above!

About Guchen Thermo Co.,ltd

As the truck engine drive refrigeration manufacturers and van refrigeration manufacturers, with over 20 years experience in truck and bus HVAC field, we are glad to share useful information and high quality of truck refrigeration and van refrigeration to our customers. With the business developing, Guchen Thermo needs distributors all over the world to help local end-customers get our products. As for the distributorship matters, please feel free to contact us, our manger will reply in 24h. We warmly welcome you to cooperate with us! Guchen Thermo you can trust on!

truck refrigeration direct drive manufacturers and van refrigeration manufacturers

Photo: truck refrigeration direct drive manufacturers and van refrigeration manufacturers

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Source by Amelia Liu

It Really Is the Icing on the Cake – How to Make Great Cake Icing

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You have just taken your homemade cake out of the oven, and it is cooling on the counter. Maybe this is the first time you have made a cake from scratch, and you have relatives or friends you want to impress. I can help you with an easy to make frosting recipe that is extremely delicious and versatile.

This recipe is easy to follow, and can be flavored many different ways to customize your frosting to your cake flavor. You can substitute other flavored powder creamers, and substitute the whipping cream for other flavored liquid creamers. There are also different concentrated flavoring options on the market that can be used in place of the vanilla extract in this recipe.

White Buttercream Frosting

  • 8 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups Crisco shortening
  • 3/4 – 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup Creme Bouquet flavor (or whatever flavor you choose)
  1. In a KitchenAid or other heavy duty mixer, combine all of the dry ingredients. Blend for 2 minutes.
  2. Add heavy whipping cream slowly and then the vanilla extract and Creme Bouquet flavors (or other flavoring). Gently add the softened butter and Crisco shortening. Mixture will be extremely thick at this point. You may want to cover your mixer with a towel.
  3. Turn the mixture speed up to whip it a little more, then decrease the speed. Add more heavy whipping cream a little at a time, and then beat well for seven to ten minutes until you reach the consistency desired.

Variations:

Butterscotch Buttercream Buttercream – Omit the creme bouquet flavor. Melt and cool one 11 oz. package of butterscotch chips, and then add in step two after the butter and shortening. Proceed with the rest of the instructions.

Eggnog Buttercream – Omit the creme bouquet flavor and substitute the liquid whipping cream for the eggnog and continue with the rest of the instructions.

This is my favorite white buttercream frosting recipe. The longer you whip it, the fluffier it gets. I stop at ten minutes so that it can be piped through a pastry bag.

This is my favorite white buttercream frosting recipe. The longer you whip it, the fluffier it gets. I stop at ten minutes so that it can be piped through a pastry bag. I recommend using icing tips 21 to pipe borders, tip 352 for leaves, tip 233 to make fur, and tip 104 for ruffles.

Please see the link for buttercream-covered cake decorating ideas. https://indd.adobe.com/view/365ace7c-6a96-482f-9fd5-75651c305438

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Source by Debra J. Mosely

Top 3 Nordic Berries and Health Their Benefits

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The Nordic landscape is easily recognized by its beautiful cloudy mountains, it’s open spaces, deep dense pine tree forests with fresh and cooling air and clean water. Eatable animals such as lamb, elk, deer roam the wood and everyone can forage for wild berries, fruit and mushrooms, as well as catch fishes of many kinds. All key ingredients in the new Nordic kitchen, which is gaining popularity rapidly due to restaurants such as Noma and some of the best gourmet chefs of the world.

Surprisingly to many, simplicity is one of the main characteristics of the Nordic cuisine. Nordic cooking is based on a lot less ingredients than many other cuisines and on more high-quality ingredients cultivated in the cold and dry Nordic climate, which significantly influences the flavour of each dish.

The unique summers are short, but features long days with a beautiful midnight sun, and hence the very short growing season. This tends to result in a brief explosion of fresh and tasty ingredients such as especially wild berries, delicious fruit and beautiful mushrooms. The long and cozy winters in our special part of the world has made the Scandinavians become experts at preserving food in order to store the summer ingredients.

The berries are what make the cuisine unique. Especially cloudberries, blueberries and buckthorn berries. They can be found in all kinds of dishes and grow wild in the nature, so that everyone can pick them up freely. Their health benefits are many and traces of their use go back all the way to the times of the Vikings who brought cloudberries with them on their journeys to avoid loss of vitamin C.

Cloudberries are the most popular berries in Norway. It’s eaten during Christmas and used all year round for a number of purposes. It is considered THE Norwegian berry and considered a national treasure. Scarce and not easy to propagate, they are not commercially grown. Cloudberries are quite similar to raspberries, but a little bit bigger in size with a sweet/ tart apple flavour. Rich in Vitamin C, they are a natural choice for recipes requiring berries, and have considerable benefits especially for healthy gums and sound teeth. The rich berries and their many health benefits were already discovered by the Vikings and it is still being recognized as one of the most tasty and healthy berries around, but unfortunately it’s also a lot more pricey than any other berry due to the rarity of this wonderful orange treat.

Next to Strawberries, blueberries rank second in popularity of berries worldwide. There are cultivated and wild blueberries to be found, the latter being more tart in flavour. Being very low in calories and plentiful of nutrition it is suggested you have a bowl of raw blueberries once a day. Blueberries have been enjoyed by Native Americans for hundreds of years. In the Nordic countries you find them in the forests, and the Scandinavians have so many great child memories from picking blueberries in the deep pine tree forests.

Buckhorn Berries or Sea Buckhorn has been a source of food and medicine for centuries in China and Russia. The berries are quite tart, sort of like sour orange with a hint of mango. Some people also compare them to pineapple. This small berry offers an impressive combination of nutrients, vitamins and superior health benefits. Believe it or not, it is actually very easy to find buckthorn and collect them yourself. These berries even grow in Copenhagen. In the summer, many Danes can be seen collecting these berries themselves and it has become something of a trend In Denmark. The sea buckthorn berry is a powerful source of Omegas 3, 6, and 9. It’s considered a real super fruit.

When visiting the Nordic countries, one should try tasting some of the delicious berries combined with the Nordic healthy dinner recipes that recently have become so popular all over the world. The Nordic kitchen is here to stay and the restaurant Noma has proved it by being awarded the best restaurant in the world more than three times during the last couple of years.

Which berry is your favorite berry?

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Source by Julie Karla

The History of Elephants

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Elephants are the largest land mammal and can be found in both Asia and Africa. African elephants live in areas that are south of the Sahara Desert while Asian elephants are found in India and other countries in Southeast Asia. Elephants are interesting animals because of the way they travel together and care for their young. They’re also interesting to many people living in Asia and Africa because of their size and the way they can contribute to the economy. Learning about elephants can be fun for people of any age, so starting off with the basic facts is the best way to start learning about these huge creatures.

Environment & Nutrition

The natural environment of the elephant depends on the type of elephant. African forest elephants typically roam the forests while African savannah elephants roam open African plains. The Asian elephant also lives in forests. Elephants need a large range of land to roam so that they can find enough food and water to survive. They often follow elephant trails to get from one area to another to look for more food. Elephants eat bark, grasses, twigs, and leaves and they drop seeds in their dung, making them act as gardeners as they go about their travels.

Elephant Adaptations

The elephant has several adaptations that help it survive in its natural habitat. To stay comfortable in the heat, an elephant can flap its ears and create a cooling effect. The large molars in the elephant’s mouth are used for chewing and grinding very fibrous plant materials. An elephant’s trunk has many uses including picking up food, drinking water, and communicating with other elephants. Elephants also have very low-pitched sounds that allow them to communicate with each other.

Elephants & the Ecosystem

Elephants are a very important part of the ecosystems they inhabit. By dropping seeds with their dung, they are helping to create new plant life. Their large bodies can also knock down small trees and other obstacles so that smaller animals can get through to find food. If there is some kind of water drought, elephants will dig to find water deep beneath the ground surface.

Elephant Family Life

Elephants are very family-centered animals. They travel together under the supervision of a female called a matriarch. The matriarch of a herd has knowledge of food and water sources and is responsible for helping her sisters, cousins, and other family members to stay safe and healthy. When it’s time to reproduce, the female elephants mate with bull elephants after a period of courtship. The female stays pregnant for 22 months while her baby elephant grows and develops inside of her. During labor, the pregnant elephant is given help by another female elephant. Once a baby elephant is born, it may drink its mother’s milk for up to four years and will be cared for by everyone in its herd.

Elephants & Society

Elephants have had a number of key places in society. Asian elephants have been used as work animals for many years and often haul heavy loads from one place to another. They have been also used as a method of transportation in Asian and African countries. Some elephants are taken out of Asia and Africa to travel with the circus and provide entertainment. Still others are used for their tusks so that ivory products can be made. Other members of society have revered elephants and worked to protect them from harm.

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Source by Michael Tasner

The Gardener’s Contribution

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One look at our home and it is obvious that we have a passion for greening the world. Green spaces can be city parks and boulevards, but also include community gardening plots, shade producing plantings near buildings and green roofs. One can even grow vines that will flower, produce food and shade sun-drenched zones like large windows, decks and patios, walkways and entrances. And let’s not to forget to mention the water gardens, vegetable gardens and green roofs as well.

When we bought our first home, a fixer upper, we turned that abused ex-rental to a little green cottage oasis filled with trees, shrubs, flowers and food-producing gardens. It was featured in a small local magazine and also the local paper at the time. That was 11 years ago. We have since done the same to our property here too, totally changing this home and property to the point that it is no longer recognizable to people who rented here a dozen years ago. It was a thrill to have our certified wildlife habitat, bee-friendly property featured in the I Love Creston magazine a few years ago.

If you do a search online, you’ll find we are so passionate about this that we’ve written countless articles, hosted many dozens of radio broadcasts on the subject, have been invited to do interviews sharing our advice and more. And through all of this, hoping that we have inspired others to green up their spaces too.

Plants do more for us than feed us and cool our homes. Perennial shrubs, plants and trees help mitigate climate change by absorbing pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides – releasing clean oxygen into the air. They will also filter dust from busy roads and reduce soil erosion on farmlands. They reduce UV-B rays (which causes skin cancer) and keep our vehicles from being too hot in the summer. They protect the soil by preventing water erosion and compaction, reducing flooding and actually creating soil via their life cycles.

They will also help cool the air by releasing water vapor through their leaves, protecting plantings around them from dehydration. Plantings can muffle noise, reduce heating and cooling costs for our homes, and enhance the neighborhood. They attract pollinators and provide habitat for numerous kinds of wild critters from insects to birds.

Did you know that communities with a lot of trees and green spaces actually have less crime? Children are less obese in these areas too, because they are playing and participating in community group events outdoors. Plants also provide us with food on an annual basis, especially trees and perennials that produce fruit and nut harvests annually. Gardens can help create stronger neighborhoods, as we are more likely to connect and share abundant harvests.

Gift-giving for birthdays, anniversaries, special holidays really affect a limited budget. By sharing pre-made meals, natural products, flower bouquets or preserves (jams/jelly/syrup/wine/dried herbs) made from the garden, one can greatly reduce or even eliminate the costs incurred from gift-giving.

Here, we have noticed over and over again, people walking by in pairs, in family groups, by themselves – stopping to enjoy the experience of witnessing a busy bee, a floppy butterfly dancing on leaves, a happy bird twittering… the leaves turning and swaying in the breeze… the restful shade giving people and their dogs a respite from summer heat. Children squeal with joy at the sights and the elderly love to stop and chatter, sharing memories and telling us of other amazing gardens they’ve seen during their walks. Neighbors stop when passing by and reach out to comment or ask questions.

There are many benefits to even the smallest green space – a balcony garden, a front step potted area, a terraced wall garden… they all contribute to making the world a better place. Gardeners, though, benefit the most from their protected homes, reduced energy costs, improved land value and full freezers and cupboards every year from the foods they produce. Herbs, for instance, can be very expensive and can be stored frozen or dehydrated for over a year. Just a few pots on the front step can yield all the herbs you can use; if they are very happy, you’ll have some to share as well.

For those of you wanting to learn how to do utilize your garden’s harvests, or want to take advantage of deals during peak harvest time via local farmers – check out our new cookbook! – From One Small Garden – Over 300 Delicious, Nutritious Recipes is now available at Amazon!

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Source by Lillian Brummet

A Jerky Gun – Do You Need One?

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A jerky gun is a great easy to use tool that simplifies creating beef jerky. Using one of these tools can save you time and hassle. They eliminate lot of clean up because when you’re done you just simply drop the gun in the water to soak. While beef jerky can be made by hand we want to show you why it will save time. I mean it’s simple enough to roll out your own meat dehydrate it on trays and serve right? This begs the question, do you need a beef jerky gun?

Most people are scared of using tools like this. However, keep in mind how simple using something like this really is. First, you mix up your meat mixture into a large bowl and add herbs, spices and anything else. Most jerky kits come with a ready to use mixture so it makes making the actual jerky much easier. Then you load the mixture into the jerky gun and then pull the trigger and it instantly pumps out the jerky into the desired strip length.

After you’ve made the jerky then you just put it into the food dehydrator to be dehydrated. After the jerky becomes tender and dehydrated you can then pull it from the dehydrator and lay it on a cooling tray, wax paper or baking sheet. Clean up the jerky gun and store away. Now you have fresh home made jerky that you can snack on. At this point you can add pepper or any other type of additional spice to it and go from there. The nice neat strips the jerky will come out in make it easy to serve to guests, family or friends.

In closing I don’t think a jerky gun is a priority but it can be a good addition to your kitchen. Since they are so easy to use my question for you is “why not own one?” You are not just limited to beef either you can make lamb, turkey, pork and any other type of jerky meat you can think of. So, this may be the one thing your kitchen has been missing.

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Source by Michael S. Brown