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Tips For Reducing Food Waste

Today’s post was written by my guest blogger, Ella Andrews

No matter what kind of monthly rubbish clearance routine you have and regardless of the junk removal you do every week, if you’re not taking care of food waste properly, you are doing a disservice to this planet.

Food waste is a huge issue with millions of tons of food being thrown out every year in homes across the globe. With a few smart tricks and savvy tips, you can utilize leftovers, dispose of food scraps efficiently, recycle and reuse what you already have. Save money, eat better and be eco-friendly by reducing food wastage.

smoothies

Here are some tips that might help you handle your waste recycling better. Waste disposal is not the answer to everything, sometimes you do need to make an effort and use any method to help the planet.

1. Do your food shopping after meals.

If you shop on a full stomach, chances are you’ll buy less and buy only those items that you need. This is also effective in preventing impulse buying sprees. The fact is, everything seems much more tempting when you have an empty stomach. So you stock up on foods that are either unhealthy or unnecessary as you probably won’t consume them for ages and they’ll gather dust in your pantry.

2. Go for bulk buying.

Bulk buying comes in handy in many ways. You get a steep discount and you save money. Plus you end up with less packaging for your waste disposal system; reducing your carbon footprint too. Just remember to check expiry dates and buy only what you need. fresh fruit from market

3. Recycling food at home by reusing leftovers

Don’t throw away leftovers – there are many delicious recipes that you could whip up in minutes with leftovers from previous meals. You could make smoothies with leftover fruits, sandwiches with fillings and so many other items. Search online for cool ideas.

4. Share your food with everyone.

If you’ve too many apples at home, make smoothies and invite your friends and family over. Or if you like to bake, make apple cobblers or pies and pass them to neighbors and colleagues at work. Everyone will adore you for the scrumptious food and you get rid of the food without wasting it – win-win!

Incorporate these waste recycling tips and see how better your waste clearance will be without all the actual wasting. You merely need to put in a small effort and instead of treating food leftovers like junk collections waiting to be disposed, think of them as something you can still use, even if simply for composting. There is always something you can do – simply think a bit and see what that something is.

Reduce Your Food Wastage with These Handy Tips

Bio: Ella Andrews is dedicated writer and blogger, who has great flair for home improving and home maintenance projects. She is constantly searching for new sources of inspiration. Her present article is focused on reducing food wastage. For more helpful household related tips visit: wasteremovalilford.co.uk

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Growing a Vegetable Garden at Home

Spring was cold and damp in Delaware and now it seems as though we are heading into a hot and dry summer.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to start a garden and now the Mint has taken over.  If you are thinking about starting a vegetable garden at home, here is a great article with tips from my guest blogger, Ella Andrews.

Making your own vegetable garden at home can be an excellent way to save money and to make your extra space useful. You can easily grow about ten pounds worth of fruit over each season if not even more even with a small amount of space. In almost all of your cases the variety and texture of your plants will be something that could even exceed grocery stores if you handle it right. In the end growing vegetables can be fun, as you will spend plenty of time outdoors and you can make use of your gardening efforts in many ways. The following examples will explain how that can be done:

choose the right veggies

Choosing the right plants for your vegetable garden

The first thing you need to consider is working on the job by starting small. Many gardening chances will open up each season, giving you a chance to plant many of them. A lot of gardeners will end up planting plenty but they may end up overwhelmed by the amount of work necessary. The first thing you should consider is figuring out a good gardening plan with your family, as certain vegetables in general, such as peppers, squash and tomatoes will provide you with what you need. Carrots, radishes and more will be a good addition to your home, so once you figure out the optimal solution for your needs. Keep in mind that not all the space you have will be useful of course, so you may need to work on containers on a balcony for examples or a different solution that would make use of limited options. The following tips will give you the information you may need to make it work:

Choosing the right spot

No matter the size of your gardening space, you will need to carefully consider what you want to plant in there, as not all plants have the same preferences when it comes to soil, sunlight levels and more.

growing veggies in full sunlight

Full sunlight

Most of the vegetables out there will need a good six to eight hours of full sunlight if you want them to thrive. If you don’t do this there won’t be much they can do to survive insects and diseases, so you should look for a chance to make use of the full amount of sunlight each day if possible, especially for leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach. If your climate is hot, then you may need to look for better cool season varieties such as peas that would work better in partial shade.

Proper irrigation

Since most vegetables are not exactly tolerant to drought, you will have to give them plenty of water to thrive. A clean and ready source of water should be readily available at any time, especially during summers so make sure you keep your gardening organized and ready at all times.

choose the right soil for your garden

Choosing the right soil

The choice of proper soil could make or break your efforts to keep things afloat, so you should choose wisely, supplementing the nutrients in the soil with organic matter such as mulch, compost and manure if need be.

Bio: Ella Andrews is dedicated writer and blogger, who has great flair for home improving and home maintenance projects. She is constantly searching for new sources of inspiration. Presently she contributes articles mainly on gardening and landscaping related themes. For more helpful tips visit: Gardeners Elmstead Ltd.

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10 Ways to Gear Up Your House for Winter

10 Ways to Gear Up Your House for Winter

The season of goodwill and holiday cheer shall soon be upon us. Winter can be a time for family and friendship, but it also brings about its own bundle of troubles once the snow begins to fall. Here are some ideas to get your house up to code for the colder months, so you can enjoy the holidays in peace and comfort!

1. Clean out your gutters Man cleaning the gutter from autumn leaves

With increased snowfall, your home will soon be covered in a thick layer of frozen water. Your gutters better be up to the task! Cluttered gutters can lead to problems like leaky roofs, or ice buildup around your house. Rolling up your sleeves and cleaning them off now can save you a ton of headache in the long term. Check out this article here for information on how you can keep your gutters from getting clogged in the first place.

2. Sweep the chimney

During winter, nothing makes the inside of your home cozier or more homely than the heat of burning firewood touching your cold hands after a day in the snow. However, if you spent last winter doing this exact thing, it’s safe to say that it might be time to clean your chimney. One of the leading causes of house fires in wintertime is caused by creosote buildup in the chimney over time and use. Having a clean chimney also gives you the most heat, while cutting down the smoke that stays in your house. If you’re not afraid of a little soot, it might be time to make like Santa Claus and head down the chimney!

3. Turn off exterior water

Water buildup inside of hoses and faucets outside will cause damage to these items. In some cases, the frozen water can even build up inside until a pipe bursts on the inside of your, causing tremendous water damage. To save you repair and replacement costs in the future, all you need to do is turn the valves for your outdoor faucets off, and then drain any remaining water. If, for some reason, you still need functional outdoor faucets during winter, it may be wise to purchase insulated covers for them to prevent freezing.

4. Check your heater

Getting the heat in your home in working order is especially important in wintertime, where you will be needing refuge from the colder elements. A proper inspection may be best left to an HVACR professional, but there are some precautions you can take yourself. Before winter begins, change the filter in your furnace, and make sure the furnace isn’t cluttered, but clean and functional. Checking your air ducts for leaks to be repaired can also make your heating system give you the most bang for its buck.

5. Put energy saving bulbs in outdoor lights

During winter, we experience less daylight hours, despite still having plenty of outdoor activities to do! This means that outdoor light sources will be on a lot more than you may be used to. Getting energy efficient bulbs for the outdoors will give you more light for longer, and save you money in energy bills that will already go higher around the holiday season.

6. Ready your roof

roof repair

The winter season can be rough on your house’s roofing. Water damage and buildups of moisture can cause leaks that will rain down inside your home. Prevent this now by getting up there and inspecting it for yourself. Getting a professional opinion may not be such a bad idea, either. Also be sure to sweep off any leaves on your roof, as they may have moisture in them that will freeze and expand once it is covered in a mountain of snow.

7. Fix cracks in concrete

Those tiny cracks in your driveway may look small, now, but after months of being subjected to brutal environmental conditions and a repeating freeze-thaw cycle you may find your concrete in shambles once the flowers blossom for spring. The good news is that most of those smaller cracks can be cheaply and easily repaired right now, but once the winter damage takes hold you may have to start replacing entire chunks of your driveway or sidewalk. Concrete patch tubes are relatively cheap, and can be found at your local department store.

8. Fix leaks in doors and windows

Leaky doors and windows could be costing you hundreds of dollars every year. Updating them will save your gas and electric bill from a little extra pressure. Using a caulking gun around windows and doors is a simple and easy-to-do way to make your home a little more prepared for the holiday season.

9. Store your sprinkler system safely

Discovering that your sprinkling system has been destroyed is a poor way to start off the spring. Stop that from ever happening right now by making sure that your sprinkling system is safe for the winter months. Excess water that expands as it freezes will inevitably burst a pipe, so it is important to drain all water out of the system. Be sure to make sure that you shut it off from the water supply before you do!

10. Clean out garage

One of the greatest discomforts of winter is waiting for a frozen car to defrost, meanwhile you’re sitting, shivering, and wondering if you’ll be to work on time. This is a good reason to make sure that your garage is clean and organized before the first snowflake even falls. Building additional shelving can help clear up space and guarantee that you get a parking spot in your own home.

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5 Areas to Organize Inside Your Home Before Summer Ends

5 Areas to Organize Inside Your Home Before Summer Ends

Author: Alyssa Craig

Though you may have already done some spring cleaning, there always seems to be a corner of the house that needs a little bit of attention. This summer, you may find yourself with good conditions or simply the time to do a little more organizing that will make your summer and the upcoming seasons easier.

Here are five key areas you can focus your attention on before summer closes out:

rack in the auto garage

rack in the auto garage

Garage

Summer is the ideal time to pull everything out on your driveway and start from scratch. This gives you a chance not only to sort through everything you have acquired in that dungeon, but also to give it a good scrubbing while you are in there. As you start to put items back in your garage, make one pile for items to throw away and another pile for items to donate. You can also choose to have a garage sale with the items that are still in good condition. As you go about organizing the items you are keeping, consider the following:

use storage containers for like items (ie. winter snow gear, costumes, sports equipment)

install shelving for more use of vertical storage space

use hooks to hang tools or bikes on the walls or ceiling

Kids’ Closets

Now that the kids are home for the summer, this is a great time to go through their closets together. Unless you have kept a close eye on their backpacks throughout the school year, it is possible there are papers, projects, and all sorts of surprises that have accumulated over the last nine months or so. Throw away old papers and if there are any special reports or projects they would like to keep, help them create a scrapbook or “special” box for them to keep these items.

Kids grow like weeds, so the summer is also a great time to re-evaluate their clothing. Go through their fall and winter clothing items and determine what no longer fits or what will likely no longer fit once those seasons come around again. This will help you put together a good list of what they will need for the new school year.

As you go through their clothes, do not forget to also address shoes, as feet grow quickly. This is also a great opportunity to spray them and clean them off, to prevent that stinky feet smell from getting out of control.

kid's closet

Pantry

When was the last time you went through your pantry? It is likely there are many items inside you do not even remember purchasing because they have been tucked away in a corner for so long.

Start by taking everything out and wiping down the shelves and floor before returning the items you are going to keep. As you strive to make better use of the foods you buy (money saver!) and prepare healthy meals for your family, try some of these organization tips:

First and foremost, ditch anything expired and FINALLY get rid of any lingering holiday or Easter goodies.

Use Labels: This will help differentiate between similar looking products more easily (such as flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, etc). You can also use it to mark expiration dates in a more visible way.

Install pull out drawers to make everything more easily visible and accessible, such as those suggested here.

Use containers or baskets to group similar foods together such as baking items, goodies, breads, etc.

cane basket with blank label or tag

Mudroom

Your mudroom is probably a major drop zone in your house, full of shoes, jackets, bags and who knows what else has been left there over the last few months. Take some time to get everything put away in its rightful place in your home. The summer is a great time to get coats dry cleaned and boots and other winter shoes cleaned and winterized. You will be grateful when the cool weather hits that you thought to do this while those items were not in demand.

Take this time to do a deep cleaning of the cubbies and shelves in your mudroom. You may consider buying baskets that fit inside of the cubbies to keep the room looking more organized, as you won’t see individual items floating freely. If you have not already done so, assign each family member their own shelf or cubby space for them to be in charge of as the year goes on, giving them ownership and responsibility over keeping that space clean and organized from here on out.

Kitchen

The kitchen tends to be the typical family gathering place, so there needs to be a sense of order where there is likely often chaos instead. Make it a place where each person can find what they need without being overwhelmed by clutter that may build up. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:

Create an area for mail to be sorted and taken care of. Have a slot for bills, one for fun items such as wedding invitations, or perhaps even a mail slot for each member of the family.

Keep wipes and paper towels handy for sticky ice cream and popsicle messes throughout the summer. This will help you keep the kitchen clean.

Look for creative ways to store countertop appliances, such as keeping them hidden in cupboards or drawers when they are not in use. This will help create a more clutter free feeling.

As school starts again, your children will likely be spending more time in the kitchen doing homework. Take inventory of your drawer that contains pencils, pens, and other school supplies and determine what can be thrown away (the 20 pens that no longer work) and what needs replacing.

By taking care of these five areas of your home, you will slowly, but surely feel a little more organized and ready to take on the next whirlwind life throws your way.

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Winter to Summer Storage

Hello friends, I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather yesterday.  I worked in the yard for a few hours and then was able to relax on the back deck to read before the sun went down. 

I pulled out a few of my patio cushions from the garage and wanted to share a tip and how to store them for the winter without spending a lot on bags that are sold specifically for them.  

After the holidays purchase a few artificial Christmas Tree bags which are large enough to hold several cushions and they keep the dust and bugs out when stored in the garage.

I hope your day is just as beautiful as you are!

New Year ~ New You

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Snacks in a Sack ~ Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag Review


Hello friends, how many of you were affected by the first major “snow storm of the season”?  I don’t care how many people complained about it turning out to be a dud, I am truly glad that it didn’t turn out to be as bad as predicted.  

However, it did get me to think about making another DIY “snow survival kit for the car.  This year’s kit is going to be stored in a Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag from Amazon.

Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag Review

The Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag with an adjustable shoulder strap is a great size, perfect for soccer moms who carry snacks to the game or for an extra large lunch for the road crew who are out salting the roads in anticipation of the next big snow storm.

It also features an elastic rope on the side to hold beverages, magazines or newspapers and a side handle for an easy grip and go.
Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag has side ropes to carry magazines The Sacko Insulated Lunch Bag is 12.25″h x 10.25″w x 8.75″d and I have mine filled with non perishables food items as well as bottles of water to keep in the back seat in case of an emergency this winter.  It will also make for a great beach tote this summer.  

You should order one today from Amazon for a quick ship, that way you’ll have it before the next “major snow storm of the season”.  Remember last year’s #PolarVortex hit around this same time in February!!!

Sacko Sack makes for perfect soccer mom snack pack

Stay safe and warm until the next storm!

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