Fun Ideas for the Yard and Garden

I just have to post some of the cute ideas my friend Linda has sent to me. There aren't any directions but most are self explanatory. If you DO have any questions just send me an email and I will do my best to find the directions or connect you with Linda. I think you will be just fine :-) I just love these (you know how I LOVE gardening and yard art) and plan to use most (if not all) of these ideas!! Thank you Linda!!

How to Store Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

This information came from a great site called Organic Authority!

Know Which Fruits and Veggies Produce Gas

Fruits and veggies naturally emit an odorless, harmless, and tasteless gas called ethylene, and some produce it in greater quantities than others. When ethylene-producing foods are stored next to ethylene-sensitive foods, the gas will speed up the ripening process of the other produce. This is great if you need to ripen a piece of produce, for example, pair an apple with an unripe avocado. However, if you don't want to speed up the ripening (or decay) process, store or keep the following fruits and veggies separate.

Produce That Creates Ethylene Gas: Apples, apricots, avocados, ripening bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, citrus fruit (not grapefruit), figs, grapes, green onions, honeydew, ripe kiwi fruit, mangoes, melons, mushrooms, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, peaches, pears, peppers, pineapple, plums, prunes, tomatoes and watermelon.

Produce That Is Damaged by Ethylene Gas: Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, kale, kiwi fruit, leafy greens, lettuce, parsley, peas, peppers, potatoes, romaine lettuce, spinach, squash,sweet potatoes, watercress and yams.

Take the Time to Plan Your Meals

• Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and create a shopping list
• Only buy what's on your shopping list
• Eat and or cook the produce with the shortest shelf life first
• If you still can't manage to eat all of your fruits and veggies, throw them in yourcompost pile (along with your food prep scraps)

Follow These Food Storage Guidelines

Produce	Storage	Life Expectancy
Apples	refrigerator (loose, not in bag)	up to 1 month
Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums	counter until ripe, then refrigerate in a bag	2-4 days
Artichokes	refrigerator, in a bag	1-2 weeks
Asparagus	refrigerator, trim stems, upright in a jar of water	3-4 days
Avocados	counter, store uneaten portion with the pit intact in a bag in the fridge	3-4 days
Bananas	counter	2 days
Berries & Cherries	covered in the fridge. Don’t wash until you use them (too much moisture in the package speeds spoilage).	1-2 days
Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower	refrigerator, bag in the crisper	4-7 days
Carrots	refrigerator, take tops off	2 weeks
Celery	refrigerator, wrapped in aluminum foil	1-2 weeks
Citrus	room temperature of 60-70 degrees	1-2 weeks
Cucumber	refrigerator, bag in the crisper	4-5 days
Eggplant	cool, dry, dark place (counter, cupboard, basket)	3-4 days
Garlic	unpeeled - cool, dry, dark place; peeled - sealed container in refrigerator or freezer	unpeeled - several months; peeled - several weeks in refrigerator, months in freezer
Ginger	store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, then freeze remainder	if refrigerated - 2-3 weeks; if frozen - 2 months
Grapes	refrigerator, in a bag	1 week
Green Beans & Peas	refrigerator, in bag or container	3-5 days
Greens (lettuce,kale, spinach, cabbage)	refrigerator, bag in the crisper	1-2 weeks
Herbs (fresh)	refrigerator, trim stems, upright in a jar of water	1 week
Kiwis	counter until ripe, then refrigerate in a bag	3-4 days
Mangoes, Melons	counter until ripe, then refrigerate in a bag	4 - 7 days
Mushrooms	cool, dry dark place (counter, cupboard, basket) in a bag	2-3 days
Onions	cool, dry dark place (counter, cupboard, basket)	2 months
Pears	counter until ripe, then refrigerate in a bag	3-4 days
Peppers	refrigerator, bag in the crisper	4-5 days
Potatoes	cool, dry dark place (counter, cupboard, basket)	1-2 weeks
Root vegetables (radishes, beets,turnips)	refrigerator, leave greens on	1-2 weeks
Squash	cool, dry dark place (counter, cupboard, basket)	4-5 days
Tomatoes	counter, uncovered; refrigerate if very ripe	2-3 days

http://www.organicauthority.com/

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants

As soon as the weather warms in early spring, the ants come marching in! Here are some natural ways to fight them.

Vinegar

Put some distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the entrance points and along the trail. Respray as needed.

Essential Oils

Ants are known to dislike eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, and citrus oils. Put about 10 drops of cinnamon essential oil and water into a small squirt bottle and spray entrance points and along trails. I had to reapply a few more times after it dried. A ratio of 50/50 eucalyptus oil and water works well.

Herbs/Spices

If you don't have essential oils, you can sprinkle powdered cinnamon, clove, garlic, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, mint or bay leaves at entrance points. 

Soapy water

This is Brie at DIY Life's favorite way to get rid of ants. Fill a spray bottle with 2 tablespoons dish soap and 1/2 cup water. It kills ants and destroys the pheromone trail. It only works when wet, so you'll need to reapply for a few days. I also use soapy water spray on my garden plants to kill aphids and other little crawly things that like to dine in my garden.

Alcohol

In a spray bottle, add 1 part rubbing alcohol or tequila to 1 part water. Spray at entrance points or trails. Reapply for a few days. 

Chalk

It is reported that ants won't cross chalk lines. Draw lines with chalk at their entrance points or to block their trails. Amanda at Easy Peasy Organic had good results with this method. I've not tried it yet, but I plan to. 

Baby Powder

Sprinkle baby powder at entrance points or to block their trails. They won't walk across it.

Citrus or Cucumber Peels

They are toxic to the kind of fungi ants feed on. Leave peels at entrance points. Replace every other day. Or puree peels in a blender, add water, and smear at entrance points or along trails. Haven't tried this one either.

Lemon Juice

Dab lemon juice at entrance points or areas they visit.

Coffee Grounds

Ants don't like the smell of coffee. Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the perimeter of your house or at entrance points.

Baking Soda & Powdered Sugar

The powdered sugar will attract ants and the baking soda will kill them when they eat it. Mix together 1 part baking soda and 1 part powdered sugar. Leave where you see ants. 

Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

It’s an all-natural dust made from tiny fossilized water plants. It is lethal to insects because of its microscopic razor sharp edges. You can sprinkle it around the perimeter of your house and it will kill bugs that touch it. It won't harm warm-blooded animals, birds, or earthworms. I use diatomaceous earth in my garden as well - slugs are no longer a problem there!