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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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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"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/