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Making Great Compost

Compost

It is very rewarding to make your own compost. You can make one of the most nutrient-rich soils for your garden plants and vegetables without putting a strain on the environment. This is totally in conformity with nature and the healthiest way to feed your garden.

Building the Heap

You need to start preparing the area or container that you are going to use. You can either just build a heap by the garden or in your backyard or buy a fancy bin to contain your compost.

The best way to build a heap is with wood because it is the most economical and eco-friendly material. You simply need to build four sides of the same size to contain it and have one side be removable so you can move the compost through it in order to mix it or remove it.

Then you need to cover the bottom or your compost heap with biodegradable material like straw, twigs or newspaper. This will help it to have better drainage and will help produce compost more quickly.

What can you compost?

Organic waste that you can put into your compost heap would include things like grass clippings, fallen leaves, flower and vegetable waste, small twigs, straw, hay, peat moss, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, and coffee grounds.

Heating it up

In order for your organic waste to turn into compost, you will need heat. You can accomplish this by layering soil with layers of waste. This will help trap the heat in and your waste will turn into compost faster. You can also get heat into your compost heap by keeping it covered. You can use a blanket or layer of plastic.

Your compost will take approximately 3 months to be ready. You can help things along by turning the heap every few weeks. You just need to uncover your heap and use a large stick or shovel to turn the compost in order to distribute the heat.

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Show Off Friday #54

Show Off Friday

Perpetual Parades

Hi and welcome back! Wow, another weekend is upon us! I hope you have a good one :)

This week there is an amazing variety of features. And here they are -the “Super 8!” -Enjoy!

How I lost 20lbs in 3 months-Part 1
Congratulations, Evelyn! My Turn for Us

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Cheesecake with Chocolate Mousse
Ooooh… Too delicious! Winnie’s Blog

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Paper Flower Prayer Garland
This is so pretty and thoughtful! Subjects Chosen at Random

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Home-Depot-Zipper-Pathway
TI really like this! It sure has style. The Wilderness Wife

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You Say Potato…
Here is a great way to grow potatoes! My Sister’s Pantry

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T Shirt into a Chic Summer Sundress
Just how sweet is this! The Tip Toe Fairy

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Make the Most of Link Parties
There are a lot of great tips here! My Snippets of Inspiration

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Sewing Cabinet Gets Ready for School
What a lovely sewing cabinet! The Weekend Country Girl

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Congratulations! Thank you all for sharing your wonderful inspirations with us. I hope you enjoy these amazing features!

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8 Tips on Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Naturally

In our modern world with all the busyness and stress it’s often hard to unwind at the end of the day and get a good night’s sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep without the use of chemicals or drugs is possible. Here are a few ideas to help you relax and naturally fall asleep.

Set Aside Time to Unwind

First and foremost allow yourself some time to change gears. Fill that time with calm and relaxing things. This would be a perfect time to listen to your favorite relaxing music.

Lavender and a Nice Warm Bath

Lavender is known to have wonderful soothing qualities. You can use a few drops in a natural oil form in a nice warm bath. This will help your body relax. You can also drop a few drops of lavender onto your pillow to help you fall asleep.

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Herbal Tea

This is another wonderful thing to use to help you fall asleep. A warm tea after a lavender bath will help soothe the senses and relax you to help you sleep. There are many nightime or goodnight blends of herbal tea available and chamomile is especially good for having calming properties so enjoy a nice soothing cup of herbal tea.
Photo credit © sherrie smith | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Quiet Reading Time

This is one of my favorites. You need to be careful to not read very mentally stimulating or challenging books though. Go for a nice enjoyable novel to help relax your mind.

Light a Candle or a Little Fire in the Fireplacedreamstimefree_255832

This really helps to calm your mood. Did you ever go camping and just sit and enjoy watching the campfire? Or a nice scented candle in a dimly lit room while you are reading or sipping your herbal tea will help get you into a relaxed mood. Be careful that you don’t fall asleep with a fire burning, though!
Photo credit © Illreality | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Avoid Eating High Calorie Snacks after Supper

Most people have experienced a restless sleep from time to time when they eat too much before bed. Keep it light and refreshing and you will sleep better.

Prayer Time

The evening is a great time to reflect on your day and your goals and share these during prayer time. It’s always good to look beyond ourselves and put things into perspective.

Journaling Blogging or Writing Letters

For many people writing is very relaxing and can help your mind to switch gears and get into a reflective mood. If you are of an older generation, you will probably remember enjoying writing letters. I always found letter writing to be very relaxing and a great way to share and build friendships. This is not an entirely lost art. If you are someone who likes to keep to yourself, a journal is a wonderful way to reflect and share your thoughts and emotions. And then there is blogging!

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Show Off Friday #51 -Double Features!

Show Off Friday

Perpetual Parades

This week I am doing Double Features! -Just like I promised :-)

Moving is finally done! It took us 3 weeks to move our whole household and acreage including a few sheds amidst snow storms and freezing rain, etc. This lovely Alberta weather! This year the snow is staying well past it’s welcome and is usually long gone by now. We also had serious electrical issues that have finally been resolved after destroying 2 water pumps, our new stove, microwave and 2 clock radios because of power surges. Internet has now been hooked up and the plumbing issues have almost been all fixed. We don’t seem to have any more “critters” except for a little sound down one heat register :0 -we will be getting to the bottom of it and our cats will help tremendously. So as you can tell, I’m quite worn out and loving that things are finally getting back to normal! Thank you for morale support.

So now enjoy the great features. It’s a real buffet!

Butterfinger Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Cupcakes
Don’t these look and sound amazing! The Tip Toe Fairy Blog

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Spring Challenge: Airy But Colorful Living Room
I really like this style! Meeha Meeha

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Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Here’s a great recipe to add some heat to your salad! Mary’s Kitchen

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Not Your Grandma’s Potatoes -Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
I will definitelty be trying this! OH Mrs. Tucker!

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How to create a Photo Gallery with Image Links
This looks like a lot of fun! I’m saving this with my handy dandy codes. Pursuit of Functional Home

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Chicken Soup
Here is a real classic! My Turn for Us

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Handmade Journal
This is such a beautiful project! And what a lovely gift it would make! The Crafty Blog Stalker

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A Taste of Britain: Easter Simnel Cake
This cake is too pretty to eat! What a beautiful work of art! Sew Lah Tea Dough

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Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastry
Yumm! Diana Rambles

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Sprouting Hard Red Wheat
Thank you, Mary, for always encouraging us in healthy habits! Back to the Basics!

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Recipe: Roast Lamb
I love the delicious smell of roast lamb! a little bit of everything

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Seed Starting – Tips and Tricks
This is sure making me look forward to spring! My Sister’s Pantry

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How To Clean Glass Shower Doors The Easy Way
I love this tip! I’m sure it would work well on most bathroom surfaces where scum is involved. The Pin Junkie

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Abstract Photo 2640 A TO Z “D” proudly Defeated
This is another beautiful photo submitted by Leovi! la fotografia efectista abstracta

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Congratulations! Thank you all for stopping in and sharing your wonderful inspirations and creations with the rest of us!

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