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DIY Home Security Tips and Tricks

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You don’t have to install a 10 ft high fence with a fingerprint scanning gate to have a safer home. You don’t have to buy expensive cameras or alarms- securing your home doesn’t have to break the bank. It just takes some elbow grease and a little know-how. Check out this post by The Family Handyman for some easy tips on making your home a little more secure:

-Install solar powered motion detector lights

-Reinforce exterior door jambs- Remove the puny 3/4-in. screws from the strike plate. Drill pilot holes into the framing behind the jamb. Then drive in 3-in. screws to anchor the strike plate to the framing.

-Shred or burn important documents to avoid identity theft

-Put a camera (a fake one works just as well) by your front door so thieves avoid your home.

Photo Credit: Ervins Strauhmanis 

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DIY Pest Control and Other Tips

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Lots of people these days are interested in eating organic food, and growing their own organic gardens. Personally, I don’t think it matters- at least from a health standpoint- as long as you thoroughly wash all produce before eating it. However, commercial pesticides can be expensive! That’s why I’m always looking for cheaper alternatives- hopefully using ingredients that I already have on hand. That’s why I love this post by Fresh Organic Gardening. Here are some remedies for keeping away the pests and growing your garden beautifully using items from your home:

-Slug beer trap: bury a container til it’s level with soil, fill with beer. Slugs will get stuck and drown (good old fashioned salt also repels slugs).

-Egg deer repellant: in a blender, combine 4 eggs with quart of water. Put into a spray bottle and spray your plants- deer hate the smell of eggs and will keep away.

-Grind up eggshells and put into plant soil- the calcium boost will fend off rot.

-Mix a tablespoon of dish soap into a half gallon of water- spray onto plants. This will kill most bugs.

Photo Credit: Jon Nelson 

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DIY Wood Wall….Using Stickers??

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I love the look of wooden walls, but not all of us can live in a secluded cabin in the mountains. The rustic look is extremely popular right now- if you want it in your home, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars knocking out your drywall and installing logs from Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home. All you need to get a nice wooden wall in your home is this tutorial by Ann Monroe at Momtastic. The best part is, it’s real wood. The other best part is, it’s “peel n’ stick”. Check out the post here for some gorgeous inspiration.

Photo Credit: Pexels 

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Beet Growing Tips

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Beets are delicious, and make a wonderful addition to any Fall garden. Once harvested, they taste amazing in soups and salads, and are crazy nutritious. Plus, they’re easy to grow, and they can be planted at almost any time of year (gardening procrastinators, rejoice!) Check out these tips by Cris at The Homestead Garden for growing beets today:

**They do best in a sunny position, in a light, sandy soil.

**They prefer a soil of pH 6.5-7.0.

**Beet seeds can be difficult to germinate. Soak the seeds in warm water for 30 minutes before sowing them in order to soften them and wash out the germination inhibitor.

**Once the plants are established and the roots are starting to swell, water moderately unless the conditions are very dry.

Photo Credit: Liz West 

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How To Grow A Lemon Tree

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I love the smell of lemons! They make the air smell fresher and cleaner. Plus, lemon trees actually flourish indoors and are fairly easy to grow. Whether you want your own supply of fresh lemonade, you like the smell, or you just want more green in your home, check out these tips by Jamie Butler at JamieButler.com on how to grow your own lemon tree from seeds: 

-The outer shell protects the seed, and will keep it from germinating if not removed. Gently peel it off, along with the brown skin covering, with a paring knife.

-Place your baby seeds on top of a damp paper towel and tuck into a clear sandwich bag, and put it in a bright place for a few hours a day to kickstart germination.

-You can plant when the tails are about 1/2 inch long, just enough to root in soil. Place the seed tail down in damp soil and cover over with a shallow bit of soil. If your seed is planted too deep, the growing sprout may never reach sunlight and will die or become stunted. Keep in a warm, sunny window or in a bright place.

Photo Credit: Yellow.Cat 

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Becoming Self Sufficient

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Sometimes, it worries me how dependent I’ve become on the modern world. I don’t think I could survive without a cell phone, let alone a supermarket and electricity. No, I’m not one of those crazy “doomsday preppers,” I just think it would be nice to be able to depend on myself more, rather than corporations. That’s why I love this article by Karissa at The Crunchy Chronicles. Here are ways to become more self sufficient, even if you live in an apartment:

-Plant windowsill herbs, or grow veggies in a container

-Cook your meals from scratch, rather than dining out or buying things pre-packaged. Stock your pantry with basic ingredients and staples instead of boxed or frozen meals.

-Make your own soap and bodywash (it’s easy, and you can control the ingredients!)

-Buy from local farmers and ranchers.

-Learn how to can and preserve.

Photo Credit: Cliff 

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Planting Pumpkins

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Fall is my favorite season, and this last week of summer could not go by fast enough for me. Fall is also pumpkin season, which is my favorite vegetable! This year, I’m considering planting my own pumpkins. How awesome would it be to have your own pumpkin patch in your backyard? For tips on growing them yourself, check out this post by Jessica at Decoradventures:

-Pumpkins can take 100-120 days to grow, so start from late-May to mid-June, based on your zone.

– Professionals recommend the Connecticut Field Pumpkin or the Jack O’ Lantern varieties.

-Make sure your pumpkins have lots of space for their vines, up to 50 feet or more. Plant when the soil is warm and water deeply only when needed.

Photo Credit: Liz West 

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