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J Ruppel - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
J Ruppel has been gardening for over 20 years. He writes articles about gardening, some of his favorite gardening gadgets, including composting and composters. His favorite place to write about tips for both indoor and outdoor gardens is at howtogardenguide.com. In addition he writes a number of articles about home improvement topics.
[View J Ruppel's Extended Author Bio]
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- Tree Faces - Add Character to Your Backyard With Tree Faces
[Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating] We all would like to make our backyard landscaping a little unique. A tree face is a low cost way to add some real character to your back yard. Here's a look at some of the choices.
- Fast Compost - Keys to Making Compost Fast
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] While every gardener knows that compost is one of the best additions we can make to the garden, many struggle with getting compost from their composter in a timely manner. Here are some tips to getting your compost pile working faster.
- Mini Tillers - Affordable Small Tillers For Home Gardens
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] One of the hardest chores the typical gardener has to face is the weeding and cultivation of the garden space. One of the more affordable ways to handle this is with a small mini tiller.
- Indoor Greenhouses - Garden Year Round With an Indoor Greenhouse
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Indoor greenhouses can solve several problems for gardeners. For example, if you don't have a garden, or even a patio or a balcony, then gardening indoors in a greenhouse may be your only option for growing plants, be it small vegetables or even flowers if your exterior lighting is minimal.
- Garden Tools Sets - Which Tools to Include in a Garden Tool Set?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Garden tool sets can be a great gift, or just an easy way to get started gardening on your own. But there is a wide range of tool sets available, so here is a look at the different garden tools you may want to make sure are in your garden tool set.
- Watering Tomatoes - A Few Tips on How to Water Tomatoes
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Watering tomatoes is sometimes a little tricky. Here are a few tips to help you get it right.
- Fire Pits For Your Back Yard - Should You Build Or Buy?
[Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating] A fire pit is a great addition to your back yard or patio. Here is a look at the tradeoffs of building or buying a fire pit.
- Tomato Cages - Buy Or Make Tomato Cages?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Tomatoes are a favorite crop of almost every home gardener. While they are generally easy to grow, one way they differ from many crops is that they need some type of support. We look at some different types of cages you can make or buy.
- Cool Weather Gardening Favorites - Peas, Radishes, Lettuce and More
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Gardeners trying to get the jump on old man winter can get the earliest start with their cold weather crops. These crops can take a little bit of a hit from a frost, and will yield a crop without the benefit of warm weather.
- Beginner Gardening - Try Growing Lettuce and Radishes
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Many people are just beginning with gardening, and would like to pick some crops that are easy to grow, are something they want to eat, and will yield quickly. We take a look at 2 great crops for the beginner gardener, lettuce and radishes.
- Solar Bird Feeder - What is a Solar Powered Bird Feeder?
[Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating] Solar bird feeders have become popular over the last couple of years. But if a bird feeder has no moving parts, why do you need a solar powered bird feeder?
- Wooden Sheds - Ideas For Wooden Shed Plans
[Home-Improvement:Storage-Garage] Storage space is always at a premium for the average homeowner. A storage shed is a great way to create more space, and building a wooden shed is a flexible and inexpensive way to add space. But simple storage is not the only use for these wooden sheds.
- Pepper Suet Repels Squirrels From Your Suet Feeder
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] Suet feeders are a great way to keep the birds feed in the winter time. But the problem is that the squirrels think it's a great way to get fed as well. We look at how pepper suet can help solve this problem.
- Keep Birds From Crashing Into Windows
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] We've all heard it. That distressing thump when a bird crashes into one of your windows. We take a look at what can be done to help keep birds from crashing into your windows.
- Early Spring Tomatoes Tips - Getting Those Early Tomatoes
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Most gardeners get the urge to get going in the garden early every spring. One of the most popular things to try is to get early tomatoes. Here are some tips to make sure your tomatoes do well in the cold of early spring.
- Gardening With Children - Ideas For Your Kids' Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] In this day and age it's tough to get your kids outdoors and in the fresh air. When they get involved in helping you in the garden they are naturally in the healthy setting of the great outdoors, and can begin to appreciate the beauty of creation.
- St Francis Bird Feeders - A Natural For Your Backyard Birds
[Shopping-and-Product-Reviews] One of the main reasons that we like to put things like bird feeders and bird baths in the yard is that the wildlife that it attracts makes for a more natural setting. Few people were more at home with nature than St. Francis, so a St. Francis bird feeder is a "natural" choice.
- Winter Bird Feeders - Helping Birds Through the Winter
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] Many people love to set out a bird feeder or bird bath in the spring or summer time. But what are some steps we can take to help birds get through the winter?
- Birdhouse Kits - Building a Simple Birdhouse With a Kit
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] You want a birdhouse, but you want something unique. Try building a birdhouse from a kit and you can save money and get a creation of your own.
- Keeping Squirrels Out of Your Bird Feeder - Tips For Your Feeder
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] A popular way to add a touch of nature to your backyard is to keep a birdfeeder to attract birds. But one common problem with a birdfeeder is that it attracts some nuisances, particularly squirrels. We take a look at some ideas to keep squirrels out of your bird feeder.
- Hummingbird Food Recipe - How to Make Hummingbird Food
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] You don't need to buy hummingbird food. Here's a quick recipe that shows how to make hummingbird food that's easy for anyone to make.
- Gazebo Bird Feeders - Dress Up Your Yard With a Gazebo Feeder
[Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating] Bird-lovers all over like to find unique decorative feeders to add to their backyard. A gazebo feeder is one common choice, and we take a look at gazebos and their use as feeders.
- Over Toilet Storage - Space Savers in a Small Bathroom Or Dorm
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] One of the many challenges facing any homeowner is best utilizing the space in a small bathroom. This same challenge can come up in a home, apartment, or even a college dorm. Here's some ideas on best using the bathroom space.
- Victorian Bird Houses - The Ultimate House For Your Birds
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Many birdlovers enjoy putting decorative birdhouses in their yards. One of the most popular and ornate styles to be found is a Victorian birdhouse. Here's a look at some of these homes.
- Compost Tumblers - A Quick Review of Urban Garden Composters
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Gardeners agree that the single best thing to add to the garden is fresh compost. But in an urban garden with its smaller size we would like it to be esthetically pleasing as well. Here's a look at some compost tumblers for the urban composter.
- Rustic Birdhouses - We Take a Look at Rustic Bird Houses
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] One of the all time favorite styles of birdhouses is the rustic birdhouse. It just seems more appropriate to house your local wildlife in something not quite as ornate as many contemporary designs. We take a look at a few of the popular choices for rustic birdhouses.
- Corner Linen Cabinets - The Linen Cabinet For Small Bathrooms
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Small bathrooms present a real challenge for storing your necessary linens and toiletries. Corner linen cabinets provide an attractive yet functional solution to your storage needs.
- Log Cabin Birdhouses - Put Your Birds in a Log Cabin House
[Reference-and-Education:Wildlife] Bird lovers are always on the hunt for a unique spin on a birdhouse to feature in their yard. One that gives a rustic feel, but not the traditional wooden birdhouse is a log cabin birdhouse.
- Kitchen Composters - A Look at Kitchen Composting
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Composting is practiced by gardeners around the world. One of the ultimate eco friendly activities, it is also a cost effective way to improve your garden or indoor plants. But it's hard for apartment dwellers and people in smaller homes to build an outdoor compost bin. One great alternative is the use of a kitchen composter. We take a look at a couple of different types of kitchen composting.
- Compost Tumblers - A Look At The Types Of Compost Tumblers
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Compost is the black gold for gardeners everywhere, and you can make it using just a simple pile in the corner of the yard. But with a little help from the gardener the process of making compost can be accelerated greatly. Compost tumblers are one of the best ways to do this. We take a look at the types of tumblers to see which might work best for you.
- Low Cost Compost Bins - Buying An Inexpensive Composter
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] These days everyone it seems everyone is interested in helping preserve our natural resources. For the gardener, one natural step is to compost the garden and yard waste and keep it out of the landfills. We take a look at some low cost composters, and the features you want to look for in a compost bin.
- Fancy Birdhouses - A Look At Some Unique Birdhouse Designs
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Supplies] No backyard is complete without a birdhouse of some sort to attract the local bird population. But the fact is, the birdhouses aren't just for the birds. You can improve the backyard for the human population as well with the addition of a decorative birdhouse.
- Building a Spud Gun or Potato Cannon
[Recreation-and-Sports] Spud guns. For anyone who grew up on a farm, you may have fond memories of all sorts of home brew pyrotechnics. And the spud gun is the king of them all, with its resounding firing sound, and the incredible range you can get with a potato cannon. Learn more about building one of these potato cannons.
- Decorating a Small Bathroom - Storage Ideas for a Small Bathroom
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] There are always one or two bathrooms in the house that are somewhat small, and give a little extra challenge in terms of decorating and storage. Here are couple of ideas to help with decorating finding room in that small bathroom.
- Growing Tomatoes on a Balcony
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Everyone loves growing tomatoes. Unfortunately, not everyone has the space for a garden. We take a look at some ideas for how to grow tomatoes on a balcony or patio.
- Tomato Growing Tips - Growing Tomatoes in Your Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Growing tomatoes is one of the most popular gardening activities. It's not that hard to do, but to help out we've listed some of our top tomato growing tips to improve your home grown crop.
- Growing Strawberries - Tips on How to Grow Strawberries in the Home Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Growing strawberries in your garden is easy to do, and the payoff is great, as nothing beats the taste of freshly picked home grown strawberries. We take a look at growing them in you home garden, and tips on keeping them going for years.
- Curio Cabinets - A Look at the Styles That Can Work In Your Home
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Curio cabinets have been around for years. But they continue to change to reflect the tastes of modern designers. Here's a look at a few different ideas.
- Children's Garden Tools - Garden Tools For Your Kids
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] There are few things more satisfying to the home gardener than having their children express a desire to help out in the garden. But the tools of the trade are not typically sized for small toddler hands. We take a look at some that are better suited for them.
- Self Watering Containers - Making Self Watering Planters
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Self watering planters solve many of the problems you may see in container gardening. We take a look at the trade offs of building or buying a self watering container.
- Fluorescent Grow Lights - Grow Lights For the Home Gardener
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] There are times when the average home gardener may need grow lights for his or her indoor gardening needs. That's the time you start looking at grow lights. Here we look at grow lights that work for the home gardener.
- Barrister Bookcases - Advantages of the Barrister Bookcase
[Home-Improvement:Furniture] One of the more popular styles of bookcases these day is the barrister bookcase. Barrister bookcases have a long history in the US, because they have a number of advantages.
- Hanging Tomato Planters - How Well Do Hanging Tomato Planters Work?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Each year we start looking to the best way to grow tomatoes in our vegetable gardens. Hanging tomato planters have become a popular way to increase our bounty over the last few years. We take a look at the advantages of hanging planters.
- How to Clean a Penny - Things to Know About Cleaning Pennies
[Home-Improvement:Cleaning-Tips-and-Tools] If you ever come across some old pennies, the first thing you might want to do is to clean those filthy old pennies up. We take a look at whether you should, and a variety of ways to actually clean them up.
- Black Kitchen Cabinets - Incorporating Black Cabinets Into Your Kitchen
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Black cabinets can make a dramatic statement in your kitchen design. But a little goes a long way, and black needs to be used with care in your design.
- Glazing Kitchen Cabinets - Is Glazing a Good Choice for Your Cabinets?
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Are you interested in glazing your kitchen cabinets? Not sure of the difference between glazing and painting? We take a look at a few of the basics of glazing your kitchen cabinets as a way to create a totally unique feel to your home.
- Kitchen Cabinets - Replace, Reface, or Repaint
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Remodeling a kitchen leaves you with decisions on how best to fit your budget and decorating needs. We look at a few options for your kitchen cabinets.
- Curio Cabinets - These Are Not Your Father's Cabinets
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] Curio cabinets have a long history as a way to protect and display your valuables. We take a look at how this traditional favorite has evolved for use in today's home.
- Try Bamboo Kitchen Cabinets - A Great Eco Friendly Design
[Home-Improvement:Cabinets] When looking at kitchen cabinet choices, you want your wood choice to have a minimal impact on the environment as well. But your want it to be visually appealing as well. Bamboo can be an excellent choice for your kitchen cabinets.
- Indoor Hydroponics Systems - Your Key to Year Round Fresh Vegetables
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] An indoor hydroponics system can give you access to fresh vegetables year round. We take a look at the pros and cons of a popular hydroponics system.
- Suet Bird Feeders - Winter Bird Feeder for Your Yard
[Pets:Birds] Winter time is a stressful time of year for the birds in most areas. Like humans, birds are warm blooded creatures, and need energy just to stay warm when it's cold outside. But their food sources largely go away in the winter. So what are some things we can do to keep them fed and warm in the winter time?
- Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders - Ways to Get Rid of Squirrels in Your Feeder
[Pets:Birds] The bane of almost any bird lover who is working to attract birds to his yard is that bushy tailed rodent, the squirrel. They not only are driven to find a free meal at the expense of the birds you are trying to attract, but the simple fact that they are there will drive the birds away as well. To solve this dilemma, we take a look a the different types of squirrel proof feeders to see how effective they are.
- Wooden Birdhouses - What Makes a Good Wooden Bird House?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Wood is a great material to use for a birdhouse. After all, nature has chosen wood as the base material for natural housing for birds. So what makes for a good wooden birdhouse?
- Earth Box Garden - Does the Earth Box Planter Work?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] The Earth Box planter has gotten a lot of visibility over the last 5-6 years. It is a container gardening system that includes most of what you would need to get started growing vegetables on you patio or balcony. But does it solve the problems often found with container gardens?
- Upside Down and Topsy Turvy Tomatoes - Grow Tomatoes Hanging Upside Down Without A Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Tomatoes are one of the first things a gardener will want to grow. One obstacle to growing tomatoes is the space they need to grow. Here's an idea that even someone with just a patio or balcony can use to grow fresh tomatoes in their home.
- Organic Pest Control - Humane Cat, Squirrel, Dog and Deer Repellent
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Gardening gets us outdoors and in contact with nature. Unfortunately, at times it brings outdoor pests as well. We look at ways to repel garden pests without causing them harm.
- AeroGrow AeroGarden Hydroponics Kit Review - Indoor Hydroponics for the Rest of Us
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] The Aerogrow Aerogarden Hydroponics garden kit is one of the truly unique gardening innovations to come along in many years. Indoor hydroponics lets you harvest fresh herbs and vegetables year round.
- Upside Down - Perfect for Growing Your Tomatoes
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Upside down tomato planters have become quite popular over the last few years. We look at the different types, and the advantages to this type of vegetable planters for growing your tomatoes.
- Grow Tomatoes in Pots - Extend Your Growing Season
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Tomatoes are the cornerstone of many gardens. But they are not at all frost tolerant. We look at growing tomatoes in pots as a way to extend the tomato growing season.
- Starting a New Vegetable Garden - Finding the Best Location
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] When think about starting a new garden, the first thing to consider is the location. Here are few ideas to make sure you choose a good location.
- Container Vegetable Gardening - Some Tips for Your Container Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Indoor container vegetable gardens are a way for many urbanites and apartment dwellers to enjoy some fruits and vegetables year round. But it's not without the occasional complications. We look at a few tips for your container gardening.
- Compost - Rodale Press - A Book Review
[Book-Reviews:Home-Garden] Coming in at slightly less than 100 pages Rodale's Compost is a "black gold" mine of information on composting. It has six chapters of informative articles and illustrations that represent a fairly complete overview of the art of composting.
- Compost Tumblers - Pros And Cons Of Compost Tumblers
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Many consider compost tumblers to be the ultimate composting tool. There are many advantages to using a tumbler, and we take a look at a few here.
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