Thrifty Home Repair Tips » Going Green

Solar Garden Lights – Free Outdoor Illumination

CJ Eason — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:08:04 +0000

The day has arrived when all garden lighting can be accomplished with solar garden lights. Many have dreamed of this day but few have embarked on this new and rewarding trend. Solar fixtures are solely powered by the sun’s energy. Why should you purchase solar garden lighting for your home? Solar energy is abundant and absolutely free to use. It would be silly to neglect that fact and to continue using electrical energy when there is a better and less expensive option available. Solar garden light fixtures are identical in appearance to electrical fixtures. You can find recessed, wall, post, hanging, or sconce solar fixtures. Solar powered garden lights come in similar sizes, styles, and materials as electrical fixtures. The major differences have to do with the power source and the initial investment cost. Of course solar technology is going to cost more but the savings add up over time because solar lights cost nothing to operate.

When determining how many solar power garden lights you should purchase, consider putting the project on paper prior to visiting the store. Having the plan on paper allows you to position lighting fixtures to their full benefit. Solar lights for garden are highly recommended for high traffic areas like driveways, walkways, decks, patios, and the perimeter of a pool. Lighting in these areas greatly reduces the amount of accidents that happen at night because of poor visibility. Illuminating your driveway ensures that cars stay on the paved part of your property. Proper lighting in areas of entertainment like deck, patios, and pools is highly recommended for the safety of your family and guests. Position fixtures so they illuminate without blinding people as they maneuver around in the dark.

The internet is a good resource for novice garden and landscape decorators. Use the internet to see what types of solar fixtures are available. Once you have chosen your fixtures you can then look up information about proper installation and positioning of fixtures so that each fixture is used to its full capacity and benefit.

Start a Compost Bin Inside or Outside

CJ Eason — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:52:49 +0000

Installing a kitchen compost bin inside of your home is not necessarily a good idea. Some composting bins smell bad if the proper conditions are not met inside of the bin. The best place for a composting bin is the garage or outside near other waste and recycling bins. You can however keep a small composting pail in your kitchen where organic waste can be placed as long as you periodically empty it into your larger garden composter. Composting works best when you mix kitchen, yard trimmings, and certain paper products together. The right internal temperature and airflow must be established in order to speed up the compost process. Most garden compost bins for sale today are specifically designed to speed up the process which can take months if you just throw all of the waste in a pile in your back yard.

When situating your compost bin inside the garage or laundry room, always keep the bin safely secured from small children and pets. Many of the bins for sale on the market have lids that lock for that purpose. A good bin will also have plenty of air vents to allow oxygen into the bin. Oxygen is an essential part of composting and the ample oxygen is required to speed up the process in the bin. An easily accessible bottom door or tray is also important so you can remove the compost for use in your garden or plants. Organic compost can be used to feed plants, flowers, and even grass when necessary.

There are many types of bins and containers on the market. Some are fancy looking and intended more for indoor use while others are more utilitarian in appearance and perfect for backyard use. The Garden Gourmet composter was recently shown on the Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the top choices for an outdoor garden compost container. The Garden Gourmet compost bin is popular because it is made up of mostly recycled materials. It is also one of the easiest bins to assemble and maintain.

How to Make a Compost Bin

CJ Eason — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:50:17 +0000

Compost bin construction is fairly easy especially since a simple heap or pile works just as well but a good composting bin can help you speed up the process and keep things a little more contained. Most do-it-yourself compost bins are intended for the outside of your home. The internet is full of websites designed to teach you how to make a compost bin. Homemade composting bins are typically made out of wooden materials unlike store bought which are increasingly being created from plastic and recycled materials. Wood works just find but it works even better if you keep it outdoors. An indoor bin needs to be smaller and a little more contained than an outdoor bin. Carefully decide which style and type of composter will best fit the amount of waste you plan to compost.

There are many sizes and styles to choose from. When choosing which project to tackle try to stick with simple construction that is effective and durable. Look for testimonials from other people who have already done the project and are happy with the results. A good project will provide you with a step by step plan and with a complete supply and tool list so you know exactly what you will need prior to beginning the project. When shopping for the supplies always stick to the supply list recommend because that will ensure that your project will turn out the way the author intended. If you are simple looking for a kitchen compost bin then you may want to consider a small compost pail for inside of your home which means you will then have to empty the contents of the pail into your outdoor compost heap or bin.

If you find that the online projects are too difficult or too large for your composting needs, then you will definitely need to look into purchasing a compost kit which will contain all of the materials needed and step by step assembly instructions. Most small bins are easy to assemble and very effective but you should definitely compare pricing and customer reviews when possible. Never purchase something unless you have compared the price of that product size and function with other similar products on the market.

Garden Gourmet Garden Composter

CJ Eason — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:48:54 +0000

The Garden Gourmet composter was recently showcased on the Oprah Winfrey Show as an excellent choice for a backyard garden composter. The bin is attractive in appearance and it contains an efficient garden compost design that is perfect for any backyard location. The Garden Gourmet compost bin can be purchased at around $75 plus the price of shipping. The bin is made of 51% recycled materials with some of those materials being post consumer waste. The bin is easy to assembly with no tools needed. It has an easy to access lid which makes placing waste into the bin a cinch. The bin also contains an easily accessible bottom drawer which allows for simple removal of the compost once the process is complete.

The Garden Gourmet bins are especially effective because of their adjustable air vents which enable you to adjust the amount of air that can penetrate into the bin. Composting happens best when the environment around a bin is right but it happens even faster if just the right condition is reached inside of the bin. Most garden composters are designed to make the composting process as easy as possible for homeowners. The Garden Gourmet bin does exactly that and more. Successful composting is about convenience and good placement of the bin. It is recommended that you place your bin in the same area where other bins are located. For instance, if you have an outdoor trash bin or recycling bin, your garden compost bins should be located in that same area so that kitchen and yard waste can be taken care of in the same manner as other types of waste.

If you decide to purchase a compost bin for your backyard, look for materials that are sturdy, strong, and preferably recycled. Most bin kits come with everything you will need including how composting should be done and what items can be placed into the bins. The Garden Gourmet bin is no exception, it comes with everything you need and directions to get you started on the path to recycling even more waste from your kitchen and yard.