Ready, Set, Organize! A Workbook For the Organizationally Challenged

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"Ready, Set, Organize! A Workbook for the Organizationally Challenged" by Pipi Campbell Peterson with Mary Campbell is just what it claims to be, a book of useful, entertaining, and quick advice for work and home.

If you are unorganized, you don't want to read a huge length text on what you need to do. After all, time is something you are most likely short of, that is part of the problem! One thing I really liked about "Ready, Set, Organize!" is that it was a quick read. Being disorganized wastes time. This book takes no time at all to gain advice that you can put to use now.

If you like lists, you will especially like "Ready, Set, Organize!" The book contains numerous list and charts to assist you with your planning and organizing. While you could just fill them in, I would recommend photo copying the pages and keep the book where you can make additional copies as needed. Or, you may wish you use the forms and lists in the text as guides to make you own on the computer so you can print them out when needed, or even keep your planning on the computer entirely.

The book is organized with nine chapters divided into three parts. Each chapter is simple, to the point, and relevant to get you organized right away. Part One focuses on taking the time to find time. It is the planning before the organizing. This is a very important step. If you are someone who already writes out your priorities, your mission, and your goals, this part might not be as beneficial. There are more complete texts on these topics. However, if you have never completed exercises such as these, do them. This is a great little primer to start. Chapter one gets you thinking about what your priorities are, how you use your time, and determining what your goals and objectives are. Chapter two then goes into determining what you want to accomplish with annual, monthly, and daily agendas. This leads to the third chapter which focuses on using a planner to organize your days.

Part Two focuses on your stuff. Chapter four gets you looking at what kind of belonging you have and what places you have to store them. And just like the rests of the book, there are lists and ideas to help you along. Chapter five covers a problem that many people seem to have with their clothes. No room to keep them all! If your clothes are unorganized this chapter will help! Chapter six goes into one of the biggest areas of clutter for just about everyone. The paper chase. Short chapter on creating files from piles. There are entire books on this topic, so if you need more help it is out there. But this chapter will give you a good start, and may be all you need.

Part Three focuses on organizing your household. Chapter seven will help you organize your home office, both for personal and business activities. Chapter eight has suggestions and ideas on organizing children's stuff and how you can get them to assist you with the organization. If you have kids, there are some good tips here. Chapter nine is the last chapter and it teaches you how to organize personal and family records, personal property, financial information and your final wishes. Most of this chapter is forms and worksheets to assist you in organizing. Photocopy them or use them as guides and you'll be able to get your things in order.

Read this book and get organized today. It is a quick read with loads of practical advice. It contains numerous lists and worksheets to assist you. If you really want to succeed in life and get the most out of your time, being organized is a must. This book will help you get started and more importantly, keep you on track.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney with Bennett Law Office P.C. and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He writes and speaks about a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional dvds, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese at his websites http://www.burrese.com/ or http://www.bennettlawofficepc.com/

The Greenest Thing You Can Do - Square Foot Gardening

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AppId is over the quota

I really love this article, because it records my first real step in becoming a consciously sustainable person. I don't mean becoming eco-friendly or environmentally conscious or any other nebulous phrase that suggests some effort at environmental awareness without really being concrete enough to define a measurable standard.

I have taken tentative steps before, but now that I have done my research, I know what true sustainability is, I know that is our highest goal, and I know how to get it done. I chose to start this journey to full sustainability by starting to become a producer. Yes, of course I will still consume, and for right now there a lot of holes in my game, but I am becoming a producer as well, and it feels pretty damn good.

I bought All New Square Foot Gardening because I had heard good things about it, and I wanted to start growing my own fruits and vegetables with the least amount of hassle. I happen to know that hydroponics is the most efficient way to grow anything, but it is a pretty complicated place to start. Square Foot Gardening seemed to be a good simple solution from the outside looking in. But would it deliver?

After reading it and buying the materials for starting my own square foot garden, I have to say it truly does provide a very easy way to start growing your own food. Among the many fantastic things about this method is that it can be done in any living setting, even an apartment balcony. I strongly recommend this book to people like me who do not want to deal with the hassle of gardening. The author Mel Bartholomew provides a step by step process for building your planter box, mixing the perfect soil, planting, growing and harvesting. No fertilizers. No pesticides. It is good stuff.

It took me less than a week to read the book, purchase the materials, put the box together, mix the soil and plant my veggies. The author does not mention costs, so I am going to list my costs for materials right here, for your benefit:

Heirloom Seeds (more on heirloom in my next blog): 8 packets - $23.25Lumber: (1) sheet of plywood + (2) 2x6 redwood - $28.59Soil Mix: vermiculite + peat moss + compost - $80.93Grid: 5/8" x 1/4" trim board - $14.98Total cost: $147.75Work Time: roughly 8 man hours

This was more than I expected, but most of the costs are one time. The only ongoing costs are for compost and seeds. If you compost yourself, that line item is eliminated. With Mel's technique, seed use and waste is significantly reduced in comparison with tradition row gardening, so seed packets can last as much as five years.

So what is the payoff?

I will have to wait and find out for myself, but according to the book, here is an example harvest from a 4x4 box:

1 cabbage1 broccoli1 cauliflower4 romaine lettuce heads4 red lettuce heads4 leaf lettuce heads4 salad lettuce heads16 scallions5 lbs. of sugar peas8 swiss chard9 bunches of spinach32 carrots32 radishes16 beets

I priced out this theoretical harvest at my local supermarket, and it came to over $115.00. If you have two growing seasons per year (this is typical), you will be in the bonus after the second harvest.

You have probably heard a million times about "getting back in touch with nature", so I'm not going to bore you with that. What I do want to say is that the project is a lot fun, it is a fantastic way to beautify your yard, it has endless possibilities for adaptation and creativity, and it is one of the greenest things you can do. Sometimes I think green can be summed up in one sentence: make it yourself, or buy local. That is the long and the short of it.

The book is far more detailed and complete than this little summary suggests, so I strongly urge you to buy it, read it and make it happen in your garden.

There are a few other items I would like to mention before I sign off that I will be expanding upon in future blogs.

As I mentioned before, my researched has determined that hydroponic agriculture is the most efficient, and I love the idea, but it does require more upfront cash than a square foot garden.I will be pursuing this in the future though, so stay tuned.

One technique I will be testing in future growing is living water. I am not doing it in this first season, so this first yield can be considered as a control in my little experiment. For those of you who are not familiar with the work of Victor Shauberger or Masaru Emoto, water can have amazing regenerative and vitalizing properties given the correct energetic charging. As with hydroponics, I will elucidate in the near future.

OK, one last near future note. One method which is outside of the square foot gardening book that I did experiment with is the seed planting process mentioned in Anastasia, the first book in the Ringing Cedars series. I am late to this party, having just finished the first book, but all I can say is wow. That book has already contributed mightily to the shifting of the paradigm and the material is great, but I am not going just take it at its word. I will review that book in the near future, and let you know just how effective the practical advice in that book is based upon how my crop turns out.

That is all I have for now. Happy Passover, and love to all,

Millard

Source Green Blog [http://source-green.com] offers sustainable news, movie and book reviews, success stories and practical solutions from our "Road To Green" series. For more information on Source Green, please visit our What We Believe page.

Owner and founder Millard Nathan Arterberry, Jr. was born and raised in San Diego. He graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995, has worked in the architectural profession for over 12 years, and is LEED accredited by the United States Green Building Council.

Do It Yourself "How To Books" - Electrical

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AppId is over the quota

When there are better and more interesting things to do why should one bother with trying to learn how to fix ply boards, repair the fuse and rectify the water faucet? This feeling is most prevalent when one is an adolescent and nagging parents seem to disturb the peace and quite of a teens room. All they want and that too all the time is to make you be an apprentice in whatever they are doing be it plumbing work, electrical work or kitchen work.

With pop, it is either a beam that requires holding while he fixes a hole in the shed wall or handing over nails or holding the torchlight while he tries to get back the electricity. All that this apprentice work gives you is a pain in all the joints that you can count. Little do we realize that we are missing out on a training that will probably come handy some day. It is only on the day that the crisis lands up at our doorstep that we look back longingly and feel "had I paid more attention, I would have been able to solve this issue"

When you finally buy a house of your own and the first night the electric power goes off, you repent that you have never ever tried to learn the nuances of fixing a fuse wire or understanding the live wires from the earthed ones. At times like these one regrets the decision not to invest in some handy 'how to' books.

Looking at all sorts of wires and trying to figure out a way to get the power can have you cracking. These 'how to' electric books explain the matter in great detail using charts and illustrations. This helps the most ignorant people as to the various steps involved when standard issues crop up. There are separate books available for trouble shooting

Before buying a particular 'how to' guide, you must research the Internet and ask those who have purchased such books in the past. Once the right choice is made, these books can help in becoming an all-in-on worker at home. It gives you a sense of pride at having achieved control over certain circumstances. The next thing you know you shall be buying drills and tools and actually looking for areas in your house that need the use o these tools.

To find tips on many subjects check out some "how to" books [http://advice-books.com/how-to-electrical-books.php] visit [http://advice-books.com]

World's Best Compost

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AppId is over the quota

Are you having trouble getting your plants to bloom out in all their glory? If so, you may want to read this review. If you are into gardening, then you are more than aware of the importance of good compost. For it is the compost that provides your plants with the essential nutrients, of course, you could go the 'toxic route' or anything similar. But if you need your plants to bloom naturally, it is always better to do it with good compost than with a chemical fertilizer hot out of a chemical plant. Natural is in and everything else is out, especially if you expect your plants to grow naturally. No good comes out of artificial stuff and sooner than later, you will be bound to come across a whole range of problems if chemical fertilizers are your stuff. Try out the e-book, the world's best compost as it shows you how to get the best out of your plants the natural way.

The world's best compost is all about developing your own compost, without having to hold your breath in. Yeah, as hard as it may seem to believe, this compost method does not stink to the high heavens and you do not need to turn it over either. Every greenhouse needs a good compost to get the best out of the plants, be it roses or orchids. If you are an orchid buff, you probably would not mind splurging a bit on the latest chemical fertilizer. However, before you do so, you may want to consider the long term effects on your orchids due to large scale use of the fertilizer on your part. It is better to stick with natural products and world's best compost, for with the compost method listed here; your plants will start to shine in no time at all.

This book comes packed with all the information that you need in order to develop /make your own colloidal humus compost. The humus compost is the better version of the traditional compost in the sense that it does not stink or does it require to be turned over once in a while. I guess, it is the easy take on the traditional compost methods and this e-book should show you just how to go about it as it comes packed with information, diagrams and photographs to show you exactly how to make your own.

This book is written in an easy-to-understand format so you should have no issues in making sense of it. The process is fairly easy and the only requirement is that you have some basic gardening know-how. So, if you are looking for natural ways to get your plants to bloom, you may want to give this book a second look.

Reuben Wallis has reviewed Rod Turner's e-book the worlds best compost. For a detailed take on growing plants naturally, do click on worlds best compost reviews.

Squash Vine Borer Controlling

Recently a grower from the UK sent us a photo of damage to a pumpkin janick plant and wanted to know what it was and whether it could be controlled. This pest had apparently been a problem for a long time, to the extent that it was questionable whether it was worthwhile planting pumpkins or squashes Kiwi.

Like all vegetables, pumpkins and squashes are no strangers to disease and bugs. Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae), which is what was preventing our pumpkins, grower's is only one of the range of pests that affects members of the cucurbit family (members of which include pumpkins, squashes, zucchinis, cucumbers, melons etc). Besides the Squash vine borer lives UK in most temperate areas of North America, although not on the Pacific Coast. This pest is renowned for the fact that you cannot see it until it is too late (when the plant is wilted and does not recover when watered). Close examinations will reveal that the stem has been severed just above ground level.

Symptoms

When you examine the base of affected plants, you will notice a small hole and some frass (sawdust-like droppings). The hole is a sign of the presence of the Squash Vine Borer. If there are multiple numbers of borers, these pests can actually cause the stem to break-especially if it is colder-or to rot, depending on the weather. The injury will also prevent the plant from taking up water and nutrients, which will ultimately cause it to die.

The Squash Vine Borer is the larvae of a species of black moth that attacks both wild and cultivated varieties of squash. The moth looks like a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange scales on its hind legs. It has a wing span or around 25 to 37 mm (1-11/2). The females usually reddish-brown lay eggs on the leaves, and when they hatch the larvae bore their way into the base of the stem? the larvae feed on and inside the stalk, eventually killing the leaf. From the leaf, the caterpillars migrate to the main stem, and with enough feeding damage to the stem, the entire plant may die.

Squash Vine Borers can affect hubbard squash, gourds, pumpkins, zucchinis and other squashes. It is not common to find them on cucumbers or melons. Control Squash Vine Borer Gardeners find a difficult pest to combat. Some try to avoid it by timing the production season to harvest before the pests can build up, or after they have peaked. However, there are cultural control measures that can be implemented.

Squash Vine Borers As overwinter in the soil as larvae in cocoons, removing and destroying old vines after harvesting will help. Tilling the soil will also help to destroy any cocoons that may be there. Birds will also assist you with this job once the soil is tilled.

Once your crop is planted, if you are vigilant, you may be able to remove eggs when they appear. As the larvae bore into the stem usually close to ground level, a paper or other wrapping at the base of the stem may assist as a barrier. If you notice the plant wilting or a hole at the base of the stem, it is possible (if you are very careful) to slit open the stem and remove the larvae, and then cover the stem with dry soil so that it can grow more roots. In fact if you notice a hole, you can even just pile some dry soil over the affected area to try and promote new root growth so that the plant will not die.

An old trick for growing pumpkins and squash is to cover the vine with earth at various points along its length, inducing rooting at several points, thereby continuing to feed the developing fruit despite the loss of the original stem. After the vine has taken root at multiple points, the infected portion of the plant can be cut off, along with another inch where the larvae is eating into healthy tissue, without significant damage to the plant. Row covers are another option that can be used up until bloom.

Some gardeners use pesticides, but these are ineffective after the larvae are inside the plant. It is also not recommended as these pesticides used to kill the adult moth may contaminate the flowers and the East kill pollinators through poisoned nectar or pollen.

Lucia Grimmer is the main author of best selling books How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes and How to Grow Good Potatoes.

Lucia Grimmer is a world renowned expert in plant disease and nutrition who trains horticulturists, agronomists and professional growers. She has won awards for her technical papers and regularly conducts trials on a range of crops with the objective of improving yield and reducing disease.

Co-author Annette Welsford also has a horticultural background, however her true skills like with taking complex technical information and representing it so that even novice gardeners find it easy to understand.

Their books are considered to be the authoritative "bibles" on Growing Tomatoes and Growing Potatoes and have sold to thousands of novice and professional gardeners in 85 countries, and have been featured on TV, radio and leading gardening publications in 4 continents.

Save Water on Your Landscaping Outside Your Southwestern Home

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What if you live in the Southwest and are worried about water usage outside your home? You know that typically 55% of your water use will be outside your home, but water is in short supply in the desert regions where you live, worse, the authorities are calling for voluntarily water conservation. If this does not work, there will be a level II drought, maybe even a level three in the future.

Imagine, trying to plant a lawn and keep it green in this environment. Not all types of plants can grow well in the desert regions of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California. And what about Mexico, you think it's dry in the US in these regions, what about our neighbors in Mexico? You see, if we are going to work together to save water, then we must start paying attention to our landscapes outside our homes.

May I be so blunt to recommend a very good book to you on this subject? A book, which can help you do your part to help, because if we all do a little, we will collectively accomplish a lot:

"Plants for Dry Climates; How to Select, Grow and Enjoy" by Mary Rose Duffield and Warren D. Jones. 2001 (upgraded and re-edited edition).

The book explains the annual rainfall rates, winds, weather, high heat, low humidity, and yes, it all matters. In fact, areas within the regions have micro-climates that can significantly change which plants will grow best. The direction that you house faces and where the shade is and for how long during the day maybe ideal for some plants and bad for others.

Over 600 plant species are in this book with graphs, charts and information is inside. Learn about the different species of lawns, cacti, sage brush, flowers, and what suits your fancy. You will not believe the incredible choices and opportunity for your xeriscape landscape to save water. Please consider doing your part to save water.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Compost - Rodale Press - A Book Review

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AppId is over the quota

Coming in at slightly less than 100 pages Rodale's Compost is a "black gold" mine of information on composting.

Rodale's Compost is organized as six chapters. It covers topics ranging from the basics all the way up to of commercial compost.

It opens with a chapter on the reasons for composting, and its benefits for your garden and the overall ecosystem.

Chapter 2 is a review of composting tools and supplies It recommends seven basic tools for the gardener for composting. After reviewing the types of composting piles and containers, it notes a few of the advantages of the different types. Also covered are some unusual techniques for gathering waste materials that are broken out by region of the country.

The next chapter goes into a review of the how compost is made. From this they introduce techniques which are useful for improving the speed and efficiency of your composting. This includes a look at the creatures that may inhabit your bin, and their individual roles in breaking down your waste materials.

Chapter 4 gives the basic process for making compost, including a good list of things to not try composting. This chapter discusses the carbon to nitrogen ratio charts that can be the bane of some gardeners, and includes a sample chart. But it's presented in a clear and understandable way that helps get the makeup of your waste pile right for rapid composting. There is a section on troubleshooting problems that may be seen in a compost pile as well.

The next chapter details ways to use compost After determining that it is properly finished, they go into how and when to sift it, and basic spreading and application techniques.

The final chapter has an overview of commercially available compost, with recommendations on what to look for and especially those things that gardeners should avoid when buying compost.

The final section of the book has a seasonal guide to composting, with a comprehensive glossary, along with a list of recommended reading and web sites as well.

If there were one area that I would like to have seen improved, is would be to have a more comprehensive review of some of the more popular compost bins and tumblers. The book does have a general overview of the various types, but it does not have enough detail that it can serve as a buying guide. Aside from that observation, this book packs a lot of useful information into a compact, clearly illustrated guide.

Editor: Vicki Mattern

Publisher: Rodale Press

ISBN: 0-87596-856-2

How2Compost features information and tools to Jump Start your Composting, including Compost Bins and a review of Compost Tumblers.

What's A Disorganized Person To Do? By Stacey Platt

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AppId is over the quota

"What's A Disorganized Person To Do?" by Stacey Platt has a subtitle of "317 Ideas, Tips, Projects, and Lists to Unclutter Your Home and Streamline Your Life." That's pretty much exactly what this book is, a book of tips, ideas and strategies to organize your home, and thus your life. The book is easy to read and is well organized (I would hope so!) to find the areas you need help with. It can be a good book to quickly read through once, and then use as a reference when you need help with certain areas of your home.

There is a short introduction to the book, and then a section on general principles. These principles are shared, like everything in this book, with short tips or lessons. Things such as Three habits of highly organized people (Consume consciously, spend your clutter, and live within your space means), lessons from the silverware drawer (forks kept with forks, single consistent home, etc.), and ten steps to organizing anything, which I won't list here.

The book then goes into sections regarding each area of a person's home. These include: The entry, kitchen, bedrooms and closets, bathrooms, living rooms and dens, home office, utility and storage areas, kid clutter, and finally a section on trips and moving. None of the tips are that long or complicated, and the book has many photographs of well organized areas of the home to motivate you with your organizing. Some tips, like how to fold a fitted sheet are accompanied by photographs to teach you the method.

There are 267 topics in the book. I'm guessing the 317 from the title is because some of the tips contain more than one. Such as topic 4 mentioned above that includes ten steps to organizing anything. Regardless of the number, the book is packed full of tips, suggestions and ideas on organizing. Most likely, you won't like or use them all. However, I bet you do find things in this book that can help you become more organized. It's an easy to read book and an attractive one with the layout and quality photographs. (Even though some remind me of some model home in some showcase and not one that is actually lived in)

There are many books on organizing and getting rid of clutter. Some of my favorites are those by Don Aslett, just because I like his style of writing and attitude about the topic. I think this book by Stacey Platt is good for those that need some tips and suggestions on getting organized. It does not have the motivation that Aslett's books have, but that is his style. I'd recommend this as a good reference for organizational tips and suggestions.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results, as well as resolve conflict and negotiate. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/

Composting For All - Book Review

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AppId is over the quota

Nicki Scott released the second edition of Composting For All in 2004; obviously this is a popular publication within the UK, and it is certainly affordable. Here is one booklet that practices what it preaches - the cover is printed on 80% recycled material and the inside pages are printed on 100% recycled paper. I thought the front cover's image of mom, dad and young girl happily tending to a compost bin near their bountiful garden and lush yard was quite cute.

Thirty-two pages and seventeen chapters (including the introduction and resource sections) are filled with sketches and illustrations by Bob Gale. This short booklet explains what composting involves in a simple way and terms like vermiculture and aerobic bacteria become less confusing. Learn how to begin composting safely wit little hassle. Discover old and new composting methods from hot and cold composts, fermentation methods and vermiculture. He even discusses compost activators (those that increase decomposition process) and how to reuse an old chest freezer to make a worm bin. The booklet closes with a very small reference section for readers to contact eleven associations and publications to further their journey in waste reduction.

I enjoyed his discussion about the amazing array of life forms are supported by composting activities, and the final product that encourages healthier green spaces, gardens, balcony and roof gardens and flowerboxes in our communities. This results in a wonderful bio-support system to help the other critters that share our world, and healthy plants that clean our air.

The suggestion that most appealed to me was substituting leaf compost for peat requirements in our gardens. I had no idea that many commercially bagged compost actually contain peat. Environmentalists will tell you how important it is to avoid using peat-based products, and alternatives such as ground coconut husk have been around for some time.

Cities concerned with stressed landfills offer compost bins or worm bins to help people handle organic waste. Unfortunately the training available for citizens to use is not always readily available. This is what makes books like these so valuable to our society.

Nicki Scott has authored two booklets, one book and a video on composting and other methods we can all employ reduce waste. He has served as the chairperson for the Community Compost Network in the UK.

Author: Nicki Scott
Illustrator: Bob Gale
Publisher: Green books (UK)
ISBN: 1-903998-23-9

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca/)

Feng Shui For Architecture - Book Review

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AppId is over the quota

Feng Shui for Architecture: How to Design, Build and Remodel to Create a Healthy and Serene Home
By Simona F. Mainini, Dr. Arch.
Founder and President of Feng Shui Architecture, Inc. Beverly Hills, CA

Feng Shui for Architecture by Simona Mainini is a handbook for builders, homeowners, professional designers, and architects. There is valuable advice for each group to be found within its covers, not the least of which is her desires to "assist homeowners and professionals in designing houses with 'good' Feng Shui from the start instead of trying to put a bandage on problems or make patchwork corrections after the fact."

Ms. Mainini is a graduate of Milan, Italy's Polytechnic School of Architecture and interned with Eric Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles, CA. She studied with Master Larry Sang founder of the American Feng Shui Institute, where she also became a teacher. This book can be used as a reference for home/office design and furniture or as a check list for those of you who are planning to build or buy.

After an interesting discussion on the history and development of feng shui the subject turns to what feng shui can and cannot do, how to choose a consultant and a short discussion on western styles of feng shui that have become popular of late. The relationship between architect and feng shui practitioner can be fraught with misunderstanding. The author provides some valuable insights on this relationship. After all, both professionals want the same result, a beautiful building that functions well and provides an environment conducive to productivity and health.

In the following chapters the applications of feng shui to architecture are outlined. From the beginning step of selecting the site through designing the interiors, the building energy, customizing the building, to construction and timing are covered. Qi, the basic life force practitioners work with, is often difficult to explain. Here it discussed in terms that are easy to understand and connections are made to other culture and even modern physics. Yin and Yang, the forces that we balance in the environment, and the 5 element transformations, one of the ways we accomplish this balancing and the 8 trigrams/lo shu are also covered.

Concepts presented in the book are illustrated with photos and real case studies. This format makes it easier for the reader to relate to the information. You are not just told to do this or not to do that, but what might happen if you do. After covering topics such as land elevations, soils, plantings, water features, the different types of shas (negative energy), building shapes, doors, square footage, various rooms in the house, and more, Ms. Mainini gives a quick peak into more advanced theories such a 8 mansions, which matches occupants with specific buildings and flying stars, which take into consideration the element of time.

This is a handy and well written book for anyone interested in traditional feng shui and its application. If I had to make a criticism it would be that the black and white photos were not as sharp as I wished for. But that is indeed a very small thing. Go find this book and read it today.

Diane Kern has been trained in the ancient art of Feng Shui in the traditional method. The knowledge has been transmitted through 13 generations from Masters to student via an apprenticeship of extensive study and practical field experience. Ms. Kern was included in a small group of students selected by her Master for advanced training. She is a member of an international team of experts, Alliance Feng Shui, whose resources can be called upon to accomplish your goals.

Ms. Kern assures the privacy and confidentiality of clients. Your name will not be used for advertising or referrals. The culture of integrity, respect and discipline instilled by her Master ensures you a productive working relationship and attention towards successful completion of your goals.

http://dianekern.com/

3 Things To Think About When Growing Grapes

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AppId is over the quota

If you're going to grow grape vines on a small to medium scale, it may be helpful to read this. For the enthusiastic future vintners, you may find this post to not meet your needs. You're going to have to think about what you're going to with your vines after you get them established. You also may think a little about what you're going to do with them period. We all want luscious plants that are going to give us plenty of fruit. I know I want that. I also know that your eyes can be bigger than your gardening skills.

Where do you want to put your vines?

Plant placement is all but too important wen think of where to pout your vines. I don't think that you could contain a producing vine anywhere near a porch or patio. There's no doubt that anything can be done and you may be able to get creative and pull from on vine to decorate part of your house.

Many people use arbors or a trellis of some kind for smaller operations. You want to make sure that your vines get plenty of sun and have soil that will drain easily. You don't need to hear this from me, but these requirements will be very important to you tiny jungle's success.

What are you going to use your vines for?

Some vines start off a dream to create a very tasty fruit supply for the family. This will require a bit more work, but you can achieve this. Be mindful, and very careful about managing the size of your vines because they cab get up to 30' long in some cases and you'll get much more fruit that you may have bargained for. learning how can your good will be helpful. You can also give away your crops. There's never enough goodwill in the world.

How much work do you really want to do?

The world is filled with thing that are going to fight for your attention. Knowing how much work you really want to do when you grow grapes will help you out so much in the long run. If you don't wan to do much work then start very simple. The plant will do much of the work as long as you provide its basic needs. I've gone the route of having plants to tend that get out of control. The great thing about a plant or vine is that it doesn't move! It can't run into the street. You will have to deal with it one way or another. Keep it within your span of control.

I can show you what to do with your spare time and make it more meaningful than staring at the box. I can be found writing about growing grapes @ [http://www.growsomegrapes.com]. Get all the information you need to grow successful grape vines. Sign-up for our mini-course at [http://www.growsomegrapes.com].

Considering Buying Magniwork - Free Energy Generator? Read This First!

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Magniwork-Free Energy Generator is an e-book for DIY persons that want to learn how to build their own home energy saving products (energy generator, solar panels, wind generator, etc.).

The book is 114 pages long and has sections on How to Reduce Home Electric Energy Consumption, Different Types of Power Grid Systems, Building a Free Electric Generator, Building Electric Solar Panels, Building a Wind Generator, Building Solar Air Heater Panels, and Building Solar Water Heater Panels.

I downloading the e-book and in reading it found that it contained a lot of new information that I had not seen before. Since I have been using and working with both solar systems and wind generators for over 30 years, I found the book to be mostly a rehash of things I already knew about. But I found the Free Electric Generator section the most interesting. as I have never seen anything like this before.

I also found the section on the solar hot air panels to be most informative. I have several factory built solar air panels, but believe building a solar panel out of empty beer and cola cans would be a great money saving idea, compared to the factory built panels I currently have.

Another section I found interesting was the one about building a electric wind generator. Not the wind generator itself, I have read a lot of books about building wind generators. No what I found interesting was the way that they were using regular PVC pipe to build their blades. Most other DIY wind generator books want you to either purchase a ready made blade (expensive) or try to make your own out of wood (very hard and time consuming). Using their blade building method could save you a lot of time and/or money.

What I did not like about the book? First the fact that it did not cover batch type hot water solar panels. I have been using a batch hot water panel on my home for over 30 years and have never had a problem with it. They are both cheap and easy to build, and have no moving parts.

I also found that the building a Free Electric Generator section of the e-book was very hard to follow. I believe the author of the book was assuming that everybody that would read it would already be well versus in both electronics, batteries, magnets, and electricity. This section really needs more step by step instructions and pictures.

Do I believe the e-book was worth the $49 I paid for it? With all my previous experience in both solar and wind energy over the last 30 years I found most of the book just a rehash of things I already knew and really not worth the $49 to me. But to someone new to solar and wind energy and wanting to build their own systems, it would be a great place to start. And the 60 day money back Guarantee does not hurt anything either.

Instantly access more free tips, tricks and reviews about the newest, top selling, energy saving books and internet marketing "how to" books here: [http://philips-ebook-reviews.com/about/].

Container Vegetable Gardening

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Container vegetable gardening is a great concept that will help people to do gardening even if they have a space constraint in their houses. Especially, those who live in apartments and condos will definitely find this concept highly useful. The best thing about this gardening is that you can have this garden anywhere inside your home. The only point you should ensure is to have a good ventilation and sunlight in the place you choose. The place should also be comfortable to work in.

You should buy the containers of the right size so as to fit the space you choose. The containers that are already available with you can also be used. There are no hard and fast rules about the sizes of the containers. They should be of the right size to accommodate the plants you choose to grow in your container vegetable garden. The point that is being emphasized here is that the roots of the plants should be able to grow. The containers should not be very heavy because you may like to move them when there is a need. Drainage holes should be there along the sides slightly above the bottom. For improving the drainage, you should put a 1 inch layer of gravel in the bottom of the containers.

The greatest advantage in container vegetable gardening is that the usual hassles that are associated with out-door gardening such as unfavorable weather conditions, soil-borne disease, and poor soil conditions are either not there or can easily be avoided in this.

The plants that can be grown in such containers are eggplant, green onions, beans, etc. You can also grow peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and squash. Those who have tried this type of gardening have succeeded in growing even cucumbers and pole beans. The only thing these plants need is a little extra care and a little more space because they need vines for their growth.

You should understand that synthetic soil is very good for this type of gardening because this soil is quite light and drains well. This synthetic soil is also capable of holding moisture and nutrients. The composition of this soil is compounds that include wood chips, sawdust, vermiculite, peat moss or perlite.

If you want to get this synthetic soil, you can get it from the local retailer who sells gardening items or you can make this mixture yourself. Superphosphate, horticultural grade vermiculite, limestone, peat moss and garden fertilizer are mixed in the right proportions to make this synthetic soil mixture.

In short, if you do your container vegetable gardening properly, you will not only enjoy the experience but you will be able to grow useful plants also.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Phil Faustini, Grandson of Stephen Follett, creator of "Watch Us Grow". In the 1940's Stephen Follett developed this unique Plant Food. After many years of trials and experiments on all types of plants and crops. 1952 was the year "Watch Us Grow" was made available to the public. Since then the positive testimonials have poured in from all over the world, from professional to novice growers "Watch Us Grow" has made believers out of them all. Go to http://www.allpurposeplantfood.com/ and try some for yourself to see why the gardening world is so excited about "Watch Us Grow"

Book Review for Sink Reflections, By Marla Cilley - The FlyLady

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In A Nutshell: If your house and life are in chaos and you can't seem to find any of your stuff because it is hiding under piles of clutter, then Sink Reflections will help you get organized, back in control and able to live with some cleanliness and peace of mind. Learn how to love yourself, your home and your life.

Why Buy This Book

If you are so overwhelmed with the mess in your life that you cannot seem to find any technique to get it together, then you will benefit greatly from the advice of FlyLady. Cilley's own chaotic and cluttered life lead to her coming up with the ideas in this book. You'll find an easy, loving, step-by-easy-step process to reclaim your house, your family and your sanity. You will see improvements from the moment you open the book. That is how effective Cilley's advice is.

Why Not Buy This Book

If you can easily get moving to make progress on any task, have any kind of organizational skills that helps you stay on top of things, then you won't need this book. This book tends to be aimed for chronic mess-a-holics and clutter-gluttons.

Why I recommend this book

Sink Reflections isn't just about how to stay organized and maintain a functioning home, it's about loving yourself, your life, your things and your family. It's a wonderful lesson in learning to take 100% responsibility for your things and your life. It teaches you that yelling at your loved ones over a clean home will only hurt the family, the home and the energy there.

"Anne Dessens is the editor/founder of the Anne Dessens.com website about getting organized and improving your life. Learn more about how to reduce clutter in your life by reading this article: http://www.annedessens.com/self-improvement-basics.html

- Sign up for Anne's RSS feed and get weekly updates about how to improve your life: http://blog.annedessens.com/2010/09/21/tying-it-all-in-self-improvement-and-getting-organized-go-hand-in-hand/

- Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact."

Office in the Garden

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The reality is: nothing declares straightforward magnificence than having a timber garden office. First of all, when you say timber, the very first thing that is certain to cross you mind would be logs and that would be robust, wooden logs very similar to those used in log cabins. A timber garden office can afford you the same magnificence quite as simply if only you know the way to choose one that will best fit your space.

Only one note to consider though: though you can always hire a contractor to build your structure, you won't desire to deal with rising work costs, varying prices of the materials, building allows, wood stretched in and around your house, and the very long noisy months while the office is being constructed. So a more sensible choice would be to reserve a ready-to-ship model instead.

Here are a few valuable pointers on how you can select a timber garden office which will suit your wants.

1. Make sure that your space is about five meters away from your home and about 1 meter away from your land's boundaries (firewall, backyard hedge, fence, etc.). Please do not fall into the common trap of ordering a very large model and trying to fit it into a particularly tiny space; or getting an extremely petite model that you have no other option but take some of your work back into your house. The opposite is true if your area has too many days in a year under overcast skies.

2. This is a very straightforward energy saving practice you may want to practice. Lighter coloured structures have a tendency to reflect back sunlight and heat, which can help bring your household bills down. On the other hand, darker coloured structures soak up heat.

3. Select the model which will afford you the amount of natural illumination you are most happy with. Virtually all timber garden office models have large and numerous window setups. Again, if your area has too much sunlight, you may want to choose office models with fewer or smaller windows. This will also mean that you spend less money trying to fit blinds or curtains that would cut out some of the glare from particularly sunny days.

Declutter Fast! E-Book Review

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Have you been wanting to get organized, but just haven't found the energy to actually start? We've all been there - organizing can be a daunting task. I've tried many different methods of home organization, and there are definitely standbys everyone can use.

Over the past year, I've worked in various NYC offices. I've helped organize and declutter the most disorderly and grimy spaces there are. With that in mind, I was at first a little skeptical of Mimi Tanner's book, Declutter Fast!, but was impressed by her depth of knowledge and succinct, practical advice.

Read on for an overview of her book:

Product Overview

Declutter Fast! is an e-Book by Mimi Tanner that promises to show how to declutter your home, no matter how messy it may be. I was impressed by was Tanner's insistence on the importance of a clutter-free home to have a stress-free life. In our fast-paced modern life, I think we often ignore the effects of environment on our mental health. There's no question that we feel more at ease in an ordered, clean room, than in one that is full of debris and is dirty or full of dust and clutter.

Features

Learn about how your environmental level of clutter can affect others' opinion of youLearn how to organize and declutter your space right away - Mimi promises you can have a completely decluttered home in "two days, tops"How to have everything you need and still be clutter-freeOrganize the stress-free wayOvercome procrastinationHow to organize paperworkHow to organize clothing quickly and easilyHow to organize and declutter your home for a happy, less stressful life

Value

Tanner's book normally sells for $24.99, but it is currently available for $19.99. The best aspect of her book is its absence of "filler" information - the book is concise and to the point, making it perfect for incorporating her advice into practical, home-organizing use. Organize your home, put your mind at ease, impress your family and friends, and declutter for life!

Chris Snowe is the author of this article. You can find out more about Mimi Tanner's excellent book, Declutter Fast!, by viewing my original article here: Declutter Your Home.

Home Landscaping Book Review - Illustrations, Drawings, Designs, and Pictures

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Are you in need of a decent home landscaping book to shape up the walkways, or spruce up the back yard? Do you need to fix up the area around your house to improve the property value for sale? Perhaps, you've decided in this housing market to stay put for a decade or more. Well if so, there is a very good book which I'd certainly like to recommend to you. I own this book and the name of the book is:

"Ideas for Landscaping" A Sunset Series Book, by the Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine, Edited by Linda Hogan, Illustrations: Gary J. Patterson, Lane Book Publishers, Menlo Park, CA, (1975 - Eighth Printing) pages 96, Library of Congress Number: 70-180522, Title Number: 376-03453-X

Ever wonder the best way to hold up bougainvillea vines? Where to put vines, or how to control them? Well this is a great book for that, best of all you can build your own trusses and know they can take the weight, weather the heat, and hold off the winds. Putting in a fire pit, BBQ pit, BBQ area, well you will find drawings, samples, and excellent examples of everything you are looking for in this Landscaping book. How about sprinkler systems - yes, all listed in easy "How To" form. Much better than anything I've seen on the Internet.

Which way the house is facing for the best shading, and considerations of decks, gazebos, fencing, pools, tree lines, etc - yes, again all covered in this volume. The book also speaks to the concern of airflow, prevailing winds, and how to design shrubs, and fencing to keep every the way you want it, including how to protect a flower garden from the wind. How about lighting, both Sun and artificial lighting, accent lighting, BBQ area lighting, pool accenting - indeed, you will find a whole section on this too.

If you are considering plants for your front or back yard, well, this book shows you which regions of our country are best suited temperature-wise. Of course, with the global cooling we are having and the trend seems to be well documented, you might wish to consider that as well. And if you want to build a deck or plant ferns, lots of very excellent pages on both of these topics too. Yes, this is an excellent book, I just wish I hadn't borrowed to my neighbor, he's working on his property and I doubt he'll return it until he's completed. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes it's hard work to write 21,300 articles; http://www.bloggingcontent.net/

The Hypertufa How to Manual - Review

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The Hypertufa How To Manual on How To Become a Creative Mud-Pie Maker Extraordinaire is a sensational eBook written by Claudia Brownlie; simply, it tells you how to create wonderful mud pies. If there's anything you need to know about making astonishing hypertufa artwork that's going to last the whole year and survive climate changes easily, this is it. Anyone who is serious about having a beautiful garden should give this book a look over, for you will not be disappointed. Claudia Brownlie is a creative genius!

This manual not only teaches you how to create works of hypertufa art that are high quality, but it's also very easy to follow. This manual is laid out in a simple step by step formation, allowing the reader to follow the guide with ease. Many how to manuals try to use the "kitchen sink" approach, which makes them hard to follow; this is also very frustrating and can discourage even the most enthusiastic artists from continuing. However, you can rest assured that the Hypertufa How To Manual is easy, not complex. Besides being easy, this is also a very fun pursuit and something you can enjoy no matter who you are.

Claudia Brownlie is an expert when it comes to hypertufa creations. In her eBook, she'll share her expertise with you, the reader, so that you can create long-lasting hypertufa art that is also sturdy. However, she doesn't just stick with one type of garden creation in her eBook; she also uses many garden attributes like free form molding, spheres, troughs, rocks, sculpting, and stepping stones -- all of these things will improve your garden's appearance. Not only will these things enhance your garden's beauty, but they will also prove to be beneficial in the efficiency of your garden.

When you purchase Brownlie's manual, you'll receive the manual in eBook form, of course, but you'll also receive the Hypertufa Leaf Casting Project, which is a bonus eBook also written by Claudia Brownlie, free of charge. No slouch when it comes to writing, Brownlie writes this eBook as concisely and clearly as the Hypertufa How To Manual, and it, too, will be a great addition to your collection of garden books.

Claudia Brownlie is so confident with her Hypertufa How To Manual that she is even offering a very generous sixty day money back guarantee, though I doubt you will need it. Once you get your hands on the information in the Hypertufa How To Manual, I doubt you will be willing to let it go. However, if it should be true that you have some dissatisfaction with the product, you have 60 days to have your money returned -- more than enough time to decide if you like the product or not. Not only will you receive a full refund, but you will also get it without any questions as to why you want a refund. Claudia Brownlie wants you to enjoy her eBook, and if for some reason you do not then she is more than happy to refund your money, no questions asked.

The Hypertufa How To Manual is a necessary addition for anyone who wants to have a beautiful garden but doesn't want the hard work and fuss other manuals can give you. Why wait? Begin creating amazing hypertufa products today with the easy to follow Hypertufa How To Manual.

Seb Brown maintains the website Hypertufa How To which contains a wealth of information on Hypertufa, including different Hypertufa recipes for different projects and how to make many different Hypertufa objects. The site also reviews Hypertufa products like Claudia Brownlie's Hypertufa How To Manual.

home garden design idea

home garden design idea