Energy News You Can Use
27 Oct
Usually, wildlife prefers to be left alone and skittish animals try to avoid humans at all costs. But every once in awhile, you get a bold little critter that seems to be hell-bent on ruining your property. Raccoons may be burrowing their dens beneath your porch and screeching at you to keep away from “their” new territory. Squirrels may be chewing their way through your soffit to roost inside your house. A mother opossum may be harassing your dog to protect her young. Coyotes may be lurking to eat your chickens. To keep out the worst of the worst, you may benefit from the humane Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent.
Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent is a humane way to repel deer, dogs, raccoons, groundhogs, opossums, skunks, rabbits, cats, squirrels, birds and geese from your lawn and garden. When its infra-red sensors detects an animal, the electronic valve releases a three-second blast of water from the attached garden hose, which can project up to 35-feet away and sweep across 180-feet. Each time it goes off, this device uses just two to three cups of water per activation. There are sensitivity detectors and random spray patterns, which prevent animals from becoming too accustomed to the device. Over time, the sudden noise and water spray will condition the animals to avoid the area all together.
The happiest purchasers of the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent say they use the deterrent for raccoons, deer and stray dogs. Most buyers want to protect their lawns, their flowering shrubs, their fish ponds and their gardens from wildlife damage. The sprayer is also a great repellent for your own cats if they’ve taken to making your garden their litter-box or to chew on your chives. Neighborhood cats will think twice before scrapping in your yard! Cats are wise but they really hate water, so they’ll quickly avoid your property altogether. You will also never have to worry about negligent dog owners letting their pets dump on your lawn again, consumers report.
Several people were dissatisfied with the quality of the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Activated Water Repellent, admitting some frustration putting the parts together, connecting it to the hose or getting it to work as advertised. They feel for such a high price, they should have a product that is easy to assemble and works great every time. Some consumers report that raccoons and geese actually seem to like their “baths” in the Havahart and that the motion sensor is better at detecting people than small cats. The ideal use for this product seems to be for large, hungry, skittish deer.
Sarah Lomas is a foremost expert in yeast infection home remedy. She has had extensive experience and conducted countless experiments in finding natural cure for yeast infection. She is also a highly acclaimed writer in the yeast infection field and you can find out more at remedyforyeastinfection.com.
26 Oct
After reading the manufacturer’s description of the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906, you can’t help but feel confident that this technology will be your pesky rodent’s worst nightmare. How could it possibly stand up to “the secret weapon of golf courses and landscapers,” after all? The description of the Mole Chaser’s advanced technology and powerful vibrations seems infallible. The “anodized rich gold tone” that is “crafted from a single billet of aluminum,” the “watertight cap” and the “patented battery cylinder” make it sound as though this product is virtually indestructible. Despite these “self-pats-on-the-back,” the consumers have spoken and this gizmo is not as it seems.
Customer dissatisfaction with the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906 is rampant on the Internet. Many consumers purchased multiple products to use at home in their clay-based soils, hoping to rid themselves of pesky burrowers once and for all. However, upon following the instructions and placing the Mole Chasers in the ground, they found these devices actually invited trouble, rather than deterring it! Moles and gophers were setting up shop right alongside the product and more pests soon arrived. Consumers say they’ve given the product days, weeks, months and seasons to work and it still has not solved their pest problems. In conclusion, customers say this product is proof of the saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
On the other hand, there have been a few favorable reviews of the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906. A reviewer from Virginia said this product worked within six weeks to cure his persistent mole problem. A reviewer from Moss Beach, California advised that they should be placed 10-20 feet apart to cover the lawn and be patient. “The gophers are territorial so if they’re making mounds right next to the device, that means it’s annoying them and they’re making a close pass to check out what’s in their territory,” he wrote. The manufacturer’s website also confirms that persistence is the key to encouraging steadfast rodents to move on. Other satisfied buyers advise people to “check their batteries every so often” (every 3-4 months) to be sure it’s still working.
While some people attest to its usefulness, the P3 International Vibrasonic Mole Chaser #P7906 seems to be a bit of a dud overall. One reviewer said he took it apart to find it “just has a small rotor engine inside that vibrates” and this vibrating can be heard from 20 feet away. A couple of buyers commented that it “sounded like a rattlesnake” and when one person actually found a rattlesnake in her yard, she seriously contemplated just throwing the device out. Many consumers hated the increased activity of moles after the installation, but the manufacturer warns that this is normal. Perhaps there is some confusion about the proper way to use this product, the best conditions of usage and the amount of time needed for it to work. Or maybe it’s just another over-hyped piece of junk. Given the split reaction, it’s hard to tell.
Beth Kaminski is the leading expert in the field of end panic attacks and cure for anxiety disorders. For more information on tips to stop these attacks as well as anxiety treatment center, visit her site today.
17 Oct
Joy of Gardening is a best-selling book by Dick Raymond, who is a world renowned garden expert. After working as head vegetable gardening specialist at Garden Way Gardens in Vermont for 15 years, Dick Raymond went on to produce a TV series (also called “Joy of Gardening”), and penned several books on care for gardens in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California. This garden guru brings more than 40 years of wisdom to the table in this 365-page book.
Joy of Gardening is full of valuable information for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. First, you’ll learn about Dick Raymond’s “wide row gardening system” and how to create a continual harvest, save hours on weeding and watering, thin out-of-control crops and plant multi-crop rows. You’ll learn about “Salad Gardens,” “Summer Gardens” and “Eat N’ Store Gardens.” In chapter two, you will learn about getting the soil ready, creating raised beds, testing soil for pH and terrace gardens. Chapter 3 advises on how to start planting and how to calculate dates; choosing pots, soil and light; transplanting; tunnel growing and getting an early crop of radishes. Chapter 4 provides you with the tools you need to fight persistent weeds. Chapter 5 talks about garden care topics like mulching, watering, composting, harvesting and fall gardens. Chapter 6 is about “green” manures. Chapter 7 entails root cellar protocol. In this book, you will also learn about a treasure trove of vegetable growing techniques for beans, cabbage, corn, eggplants, green veggies, okra, onions, peanuts, peppers, potatoes, root crops, sunflowers, tomatoes, vine crops and garden perennials. You will also gain insight into pest deterrents and disease prevention.
You’ll find that readers of this book are almost cult-like in their fanaticism about every pearly word of wisdom Dick Raymond has. For proof, just read some of the glowing reviews at www.amazon.com. People call Raymond “my guru” or “my master” and talk about spouting off quotes from the book everyday. Disheartened gardeners who suffered a bad season find they are rejuvenated by this book and experienced gardeners learn tips and techniques that take them further than they ever thought before. “My garden looks ten times’ better than last year’s,” one reviewer writes. “This is the only book you’ll need,” another satisfied customer adds. At www.angeluspress.org, Joy of Gardening was called “so vivid you can almost smell the dirt and taste the fresh vegetables!” The review adds, “The locals around here say this is the best book on gardening.” On the Powell’s Books website, an enthusiastic reviewer writes, “I have had this book for years, and refer to it each year. In fact, in early January and February it’s good for the soul to read about gardening.”
Given the dicey economy, it’s no surprise that seed orders were up 40% in 2008 or that backyard gardens have sprouted up like crazy. Gardens are one of the best investments you can make — giving you high yields and fostering healthier living. Whether you’re working with a full yard, a terrace, a box, a pot or a raised bed, Joy of Gardening can get you started with everything you need to know to create delicious and successful organic food for your family. You can buy this book at www.lehmans.com or www.amazon.com.
Beth Kaminski is the leading expert in the field of anxiety therapy and cure for anxiety disorders. For more information on tips to stop these attacks as well as treating panic disorder, visit her site today.
16 Oct
This winter, you can give the “foodie” in your family a thoughtful gift, such as the Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set. These rustic little pots make an attractive display on the windowsill, while also providing the utilitarian functionality of growing fresh herbs to use in your recipes. It can sometimes be difficult to procure seeds in the dead of winter, but with the kit, growing is made easy. There are advanced AeroGardens for the serious growers, but a smaller kit is a great way to see if you’re ready to take your winter gardening to the next level.
“You won’t believe the difference in flavor between using dried seasonings and using the herbs you’ll grow with our classic Italian Herb Garden Trio. You can’t get fresher ingredients,” says the official description. The Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set comes with three attractive, green, 7 inch stoneware planters; a 13-inch long drip tray; seeds for three aromatic herbs (basil, oregano and chives); growing instructions; and peat soil pellets (which will expand when exposed to water). As with any garden, buyers will need to pay attention to water, temperature and sunlight requirements to achieve success with this product. If you like this kit, you can also buy the French Herb Garden Trio, with Parsley, marjoram and lemon basil. For $11.95, you can also buy Amazon’s “Assortment of 12 Culinary Herb Seeds” that includes parsley, thyme, cilantro/coriander, basil, dill, oregano, sweet marjoram, chives, garlic, mustard and sage — and can be grown in the same pots if you’d like.
“I recently purchased this for my wife for the kitchen. [The] pot’s beautiful and it’s growing just fine,” writes one happy customer at www.wonderbox.com. “It is exactly as pictured and I’m planning on getting more for Christmas for friends and family.” At www.austingardens.com, most consumers gave the Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set 5/5 or 4/5 stars. “The pots are extremely attractive,” says one consumer, who plans to use her pots for growing cat nip. “I am pleased with this cute little set.” Another reviewer says she fell in love with the green pots, which will add some life to her office space. “I ordered the set and it’s beautiful on my desk,” she writes. One consumer admits she was nervous after reading some of the reviews, but took the chance and now has “plants that are 3-4 inches tall!”
On the downside, an Italian Herb Garden Trio: Indoor Garden Gift Set reviewer from Tennessee complained that the seeds did not grow with the soil provided or outside. “The pots are the only good thing about this product,” the buyer writes, adding: “The second time i tried it i had about 10 little chive plants grow and that was it.” Similarly, another man commented he was “happy with the ceramic tray and containers — not happy with the seeds. One had no seeds and the seeds in the other two failed to produce.” An Arizonan complained that the chives never materialized and months later, hardly anything had sprouted. A woman from Pennsylvania received her kit without any seeds included, much to her dismay. “Finding gardening seeds in the dead of winter is no simple feat, and for the almost $40 (with shipping) that I paid for this item, I would not expect to have to deal with trying to find them anyhow,” she wrote.
Sarah Lomas is a foremost expert in yeast infection cures field. Her work has been extensively published in various online publications in the areas of cure for yeast infection. For more information on the treatment for yeast infections, visit remedyforyeastinfection.com.
14 Oct
Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer is a great product for the green thumb who wants to ensure an early planting season the next spring and a quick rebound from dead, dry grass to thriving green pastures. A little bit of eco-friendly maintenance can go a long way. Planters can sprinkle some of this product onto their lawn just twice a year (in spring and early fall) to deliver a long-lasting formula for success. After just 10-14 days, your lawn should be much greener and more vibrant! Ideally, lawns would have all the right conditions to proliferate on their own, but sometimes they get stagnant and require a boost from us.
Many of us have been using chemical fertilizers for years because there is this long-standing stigma that “all-natural products don’t work as well.” However, there are many problems with this approach, say the makers of Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer. For one, chemicals provide little more than a short-lived boost that make your lawn ultimately more dependent upon these chemicals and more vulnerable to damage and disease when you fail to fertilize. Instead, an all-natural fertilizer gradually bio-degrades, giving the soil a steadier supply of nutrients over a longer period of time and creating the kind of stability you ultimately need. Earthworms and bacteria cannot survive a chemical onslaught, but they can flourish naturally given natural fertilizer and do their part in aiding the aeration and composition of the soil.
Additionally, the Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer helps cut back on thatch, which occurs when roots grow to the soil in search of surface-dwelling chemical nutrients. The Fall Lawns Alive product penetrates down into the soil so the roots grab hold down below, where they belong. The soil is softer where beneficial microorganisms exist, which allows nutrients, roots and water to penetrate. You won’t need to run the sprinkler daily when you fertilize naturally, which is a far cry from a chemically treated lawn. You can also enjoy fewer weeds and bare spots once that thatch is under control.
There is no negative press to be found about the Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer; except perhaps that it’s a little on the pricey side and a little difficult to obtain. Most customers order by phone, by catalog or at www.gardensalive.com. Garden’s Alive offers a wide range of outdoor garden and lawn care products, including flower fertilizer, spring time fertilizer, live lady bugs and praying mantises, natural pet care products and grass seeds. A little bit of care and maintenance can give you that soft, green grass you so desire.
Sarah Lomas is a foremost expert in finding natural cure for yeast infection field. Her work has been extensively published in various online publications in the areas of medications for yeast infections. For more information on the treatment for yeast infections, visit remedyforyeastinfection.com.
7 Oct
Normally, if a bug lands on you, the instinctual reaction is to scream, shake it off, recoil or smash it… but not if that bug happens to be a ladybug! These delicate red and black friends do not fly erratically or try to eat your food. In fact, they’re normally a bit aloof, so if one happens to land on you, consider yourself blessed! Many people make a wish and send that little lady flying off to the garden, where they’ll discreetly munch on harmful predators like aphids, beetles and larvae. Did you know that you can buy live ladybugs as natural “centurions” for your garden?
When you order your live ladybugs, you will receive a UPS shipment of adult stage insects. Within 8-10 days of their release, each female ladybug will lay 10 to 50 eggs beneath leaves in your yard. In just 2 to 5 days, dark flight-less creatures with orange spots will emerge, ready to feast upon 50 to 60 aphids per day. After 21 days, they pupate and the prettier adult ladybugs come out in 2 to 5 days, hungry and ready to consume 5,000 aphids each! Arbico Organics ships their ladybugs Monday through Wednesday, with orders going out next-day. Since some ladybugs may perish during transport, extra ones are sent with each order. Ladybugs prefer temperatures from 61 to 82 degrees. If necessary, you may store adults for 1 to 3 weeks at 35 to 45 degrees before releasing them into the world to propagate.
Arbico (Arizona Biological Control Inc) Organics began as a small upstart more than 30 years ago when biology teacher Rick Frey came up with an innovative way to control garden pests without the use of harmful pesticides.”Just imagine how many tons of pesticides we have stopped from going into the environment over the years,” says this self-professed “Bug-Man.” Rick’s wife, Sheri, speaks about “bio-balance” at biological control conferences and sustainable agriculture events around the world. The 10-acre ARBICO facility is situated in the Catalina mountains of Tucson, Arizona, where helpful live ladybugs are raised at affordable prices for commercial and residential gardeners.
Once you order your live ladybugs from www.arbico-organics.com, you will want to take a few measures to see that these beneficial friends stick around and don’t take wing with your $40 investment. First, release the ladybugs in the garden at night so they do not immediately fly away. (Ladybugs like to fly in temperatures above 55 degrees and in mid-day sun). Secondly, make sure to water your garden regularly so they have plenty to drink. Let the ladybugs do their thing and kill the aphids; just be aware that the ladybugs will only stick around as long as their food supply does. Keep plants that ladybugs appreciate around too, like cilantro, mustard, crimson clover, bronze fennel, vetches and buckwheat.
Beth Kaminski is a leading expert in the panic attacks help and has been publishing lots of information on the best anxiety disorder medication for years now.
6 Oct
Gardens can be utilitarian, growing delicious produce for your family to enjoy, or they can be breathtaking, showing your penchant for flower cultivating. Yet no one likes the back-breaking process of ripping up the hardened ground each spring to kick off the new season. Since 1980, Mantis has been the leader in high-powered gardening tools aimed at making the job easier. The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator is the most highly praised garden power tool in the Organic Gardening Buyer’s Guide. It holds the “Member Tested and Recommended” Seal of Approval from the National Home Gardening Club and it’s a “Best Buy” in Consumers Digest.
Don’t let the lightweight Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator fool you. While it’s 9-inch wide mouth is petite enough to do edging work between rows and alongside fences, once you pull the throttle-activated clutch, the powerful patented tines begin digging down 10 inches into the dirt, sod, solid clay and hard ground at 240 RPM. According to the manufacturer, you can effectively cultivate, weed and till a 30 x 40 foot garden in just 20 minutes. The versatile attachments include a plow, planter/furrower, border edger, aerator, hedge trimmer and lawn dethatcher. With the company’s one-year “no questions asked” money-back guarantee, the 5 year warranty and the lifetime guarantee against tine breakage, the user can feel good about this purchase.
What consumers seem to like most about the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator is its versatility. They love how easy it is to use and the different attachments that allow them to perform all types of jobs. The lightweight nature and the predictability of where the tines are going makes precision jobs much, much easier, consumers report at sites like Amazon, Epinions and Viewpoints. Many individuals report owning their Mantis products for 10-25 years and never having trouble with the workmanship. There is great satisfaction with the Mantis warranty and customer service for those who are admittedly “hard” on their machinery and needed a replacement tine after a run-in with a rock. “I had the tines replaced for free after digging deep ditches in rocky clay,” says one buyer.
Some senior citizens may prefer the Mantis 4-Cycle Gas Tiller Powered by Honda over the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator because it uses 1.1 horsepower (rather than 0.9), it’s quieter and it uses gas only (compared to a gas/oil mix). This model sells for $100 more but is just as versatile and weighs only three pounds more than the 2-cycle. Consumers may also want to check out the Mantis electric tiller if they’re not keen on gas-operated machinery. There are many options at www.mantis.com, which offers free shipping and optional $30 assembly to all buyers.
Beth Kaminski is a leading expert in how to end panic attacks and has been publishing lots of information on the best anxiety disorder medication for years now at anxietydisordercure.com.
5 Oct
The $30 Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Owl - Sound and Motion Sensored is at the high end of predator decoy garden defense. On the low end, you’ve got brands like Jobes and Dalen, selling their owls for $17.99. Many owls you can buy will just sit there, looking intimidating, but the Easy Gardener owl actually operates by motion and sound sensors, so it can spring to life and startle pests. For green thumbs who don’t want to use toxins or traps in their yards, this product’s concept is worth considering.
The manufacturer of the Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Owl - Sound and Motion Sensored says that this owl “frightens birds, squirrels, rabbits, rodents and other destructive pests,” while also making “an attractive lawn ornament or patio accent.” To use, you simply install the owl on a pole or hang it from a tree. Some people perch the owl up high, while others put it closer to the areas it’s protecting. Sound and motion sensors pick up the movement of animals and cause the owl to elicit a realistic “HOOT!” This model of the Great Horned Owl is intimidating to many other animals and runs off three AA batteries. For the best results, the manufacturer says you should “reposition the owl decoy every few days.”
Gloria from Spruce Grove, Alberta in Canada says the Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Owl - Sound and Motion Sensored is “well worth the money.” She purchased hers to keep the cat off her chair and she says it “works great.” Other consumers report that this product is ideal for keeping away timid little squirrels, who are easily spooked. “I have not seen a squirrel since the owl went up [and] we had at least three every year eating the mangoes,” writes one reviewer. Many people buy the product to keep birds from pooping on the porch too. One consumer advises, “If you have pigeons that have already laid eggs… you must get rid of them first and then use the owl.”
One reviewer at www.yardlover.com complained, “Maybe I got a defective one, but during the daytime, it never worked. The birds were feasting on my grass seed. But the first night, the darn thing moved its head and hooted all night long while the contented birds slept on a full stomach! The next morning I heard a complaint from the neighbor. I’m sending it back.” Similarly, another reviewer at www.tipshopping.com reported that the owl only hooted and moved once. Some consumers also argue that the owl is “cheaply made.” A consumer reported, “There are some flaws that need attending… it is not water proof.” This reviewer added that some of the plastic breaks off as well. “This Owl worked great until it rained, and then it went wacky!” says another dissatisfied customer. “Now it goes off when the wind blows and sometimes for no apparent reason!” It seems the Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Owl - Sound and Motion Sensored held a lot of promise but could use some tweaking of its many flaws.
Jeremy Larson is a foremost expert in the natural acid reflux wedge. He has had extensive experience and conducted countless experiments in finding natural remedy for acid reflux. He is also a highly acclaimed writer in the medical field.
28 Sep
When Brenda Horrigan’s potted rosemary plant wouldn’t stop wilting all winter long, she didn’t know what to do. She tried more water, but that didn’t seem to help. She purchased the $60 EasyBloom Plant Sensor to tap into data from horticulturists, green thumbs and greenhouse operators. Within 24 hours, the sensor alerted her that she needed to use less water and provide more sunlight. “It’s like going to the garden center and asking, ‘What does my plant need?’” she explained. High-tech gardening gadgets are catching on as more and more consumers try to pack their backyards with money-saving vegetable gardens.
To use the EasyBloom Plant Sensor, you plug it into a computer’s USB port to register, download the necessary software program and access the online plant library. Choose a mode, such as Water, Recommend or Monitor. In “Water” mode, you’ll find out if your plants are getting too much or too little water. In “Monitor” mode, EasyBloom will tell you what’s wrong with an ailing plant and give you clues on how to fix it. With “Recommend” mode, EasyBloom will tell you the ideal plants to grow in the given conditions. Next, you place the sensor in the location where you’d like to put your garden, leaving it to analyze for at least 24 hours. As you sleep, the Plant Sensor will begin analyzing the sunlight, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and drainage, using the same technology NASA uses to measure the soil on Mars. Then you can plug your Plant Sensor back into your USB and see what this “Plant Doctor” can do!
The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is intended for beginner gardeners. “Probably the best part of the device is the web interface that provides detailed information on recommended plants,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “It is virtually an on-line encyclopedia and more expansive than the Western Garden Book,” adds another gardener. She adds, “I have never seen a plant monitor like this that is so extensive or thorough with thousands of plants and analysis. This is a must for any serious gardener.” People like being able to save their plant data, analyze their ailing plants and peruse a list of the best plants and flowers for their area. The program’s interface is reportedly “easy to use,” even for those who consider themselves “not very technologically savvy.”
The EasyBloom Plant Sensor does not win everyone over. Some people feel that gardening should be an intimate moment involving man and nature only. “This is not hands-on gardening,” argues Bruce Butterfield of the National Gardening Association. “I’ll rely on my old-fashioned green thumb,” adds St. Petersburg Times contributor Yvonne Swanson, who says that “most of the rules are thrown out the window” with Florida gardening. One Amazon reviewer from Texas argues that this gadget only alerts you to the water/sunlight conditions of the plants and that “Using your better judgment would be more effective and allow you to learn as a gardener.” Other reviewers say they don’t like that they had to register before being able to use this gizmo.
Jeremy Larson is a foremost expert in natural cures for acid reflux. He has had extensive experience and conducted countless experiments in finding natural remedy. He is also a highly acclaimed writer in the medical field and you can find out more at remedyforacidreflux.com.