CONTAINER GARDENING

                                                  JUST PLANT IT

Materials:
Soil
Fertilizer
Seeds or Plants
Container: any thing that holds enough
soil to grow a plant to its maturity.
Selecting a container depends on choice of plant and time to dedicate for watering.Large containers retain water better and gives the plant ample room for root growth.
Small containers dry out faster and do not allow good root growth,feeding and watering is much more frequent.
Small containers are great for Hens and Chicks and other succulents type plants, needing much less care during hot summer days.
As for the vegetables, larger the container the better growing.
Here a 25gal. container is planted with carrots,this makes it much easier to harvest at the end of the season.


When planting containers line the bottom with stone,this
ensures the root system will have adequate drainage.
Mix manure and soil together and place on top.
No digging potatoes method,fill container with a few inches of soil,place seed potatoes on top and just cover the seed potatoes with soil. When the potato begins to sprout cover the green sprout with more soil.(just enough to cover the sprout) This process is done every time the sprout emerges from the soil.
Continue this process until the container is filled to the top with soil.
At this point allow the plant to grow and flower through out the season.
When harvest time comes just flip the container over and expose your spuds. Its that easy, no digging, just flip and separate.
 If you have a porch,deck,sidewalk,balcony or patio
 "You can Do It Yourself" Natures way

How to make a Relief Carved Shelf

                                                                  CARVED SHELF

 This shelf project is a little more involved than other projects .                         

Materials Needed:
Oak board 8"x1/2"
Air brush
Wood Chisels
Dremel
Sand paper
Router
First step :
Draw your pattern on the oak board.
Wood ducks were chosen for this project with oak leaves as a center. The oak leaves were traced from an actual oak leave making it easy for the pattern. Wood ducks are drawn on paper and cut out. This allows both directions of the pattern to be transferred easily.
Step two:
Relief carve the back ground using chisels and the Dremel tool. Go as deep as possible ,this is a 1/2" thick board . The depth for this pattern is approx. 1/4" only the outside of your pattern is removed
 to this depth. After the background is removed and your pattern stands out from the board.
Start detailing the ducks and leaves follow the pattern lines using the Dremel with a fine cutting tool.
The pattern lines don't need to be as deep as the background they will be enhanced by air brushing and staining of your design. Place the eye in the carving and watch it take on a life like look.
When airbrushing a relief carved subject be careful of over spray of paint on to the background . Blue paint tape may be used to cover the background or any area of the carving. Or spray a coat or two of polyurethane clear satin on the entire carving before airbrushing begins and all low to dry. This will protect the areas and not allow the paint to soak in to the wood. Then any over spray mistakes will be easily removed with a Q-tip and lacquer thinner.
Be creative ,do it yourself.
Natures way

BABY SHOWER FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Three easy steps

                                       BABY SHOWER ARRANGEMENT

MATERIALS:
Toy trucks
Sand box toys
Floral Oasis
Floral tape
Floral greens
Flowers of choice

FIRST STEP:
Size and cut oasis to fit inside back of dump truck.,Watering can or any sand box toy purchased. Soak oasis in cool water add floral saver 
or flower food if available. Tape oasis tightly to the truck, using small pieces of water proof floral tape.

STEP TWO:
Green the arrangement using leather leaf, box wood etc: what ever greens are available .
When greening make sure all mechanics of the design are hidden with the greens.

STEP THREE:
Design the arrangement to fit the size of your container.
Start with adding flowers on top, center and work in flowers accordingly.
The baby's breath was accented with a touch of blue, for the traditional baby boy color.
Then yellow pomp's and white carnations are added to fill in to finish the arrangement.

This is a quick easy arrangement that will save money,broaden your imagination and brighten any baby shower table. 

Keep the arrangement well watered and fed it should last a couple of weeks.
When the arrangement is spent toss the flowers and give the kids the toys.
That's it another creative design
saving money and proving you can "DO IT YOURSELF"
          Natures way

HOW TO MAKE A FEATHER PICTURE

                 FEATHERS AND GLASS

This project is easily constructed and produces a fine piece of art or craft.
If you raise birds the cost is minimal, but if not, feathers may be purchased at AC Moore , Michael's or any local craft store. Feathers from peacock, geese, chickens,ducks and pheasants may be used with the same great results.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Tape
Scissors
Feathers
Old or new picture frame with glass
Paper for background
Wire to hang
Elmer's glue
Imagination
FIRST STEP:Collect or purchase feathers..
Anyone that raises birds is aware they molt yearly. Molting is when a bird looses its feathers as does a dog or cat sheds hair.This process usually takes place after the breeding season when feathers are prime.
I have been fortunate to raise many different birds over the years. pheasants and peafowl are some of my favorite They are easy to raise and provide exceptional feathers for crafts .
SECOND STEP:Backing
I used a brown wrapping paper for the background in this picture.
Lay the paper over the back board of the picture secure it with tape on the back side.Flip the back board over keeping the paper flat.
STEP THREE:Feather placement
Start with the outer most part of the picture
dry set some feathers to get a pattern.
Once you have decided on a pattern begin gluing one layer at a time.
Place a drop of glue on the feather quill and set in place
,allow the glue to crust over before applying a second layer of feathers.
Continue until the pattern is complete allow to dry, add the picture frame with glass and hang it on the wall.
There it is another " Do it yourself " project by
                      Natures way

DO IT YOURSELF DANDELION WINE Part#1

                                         HOMEMADE DANDELION WINE

INGREDIENTS:
Dandelion flowers 2qts
Water 1Gal.
Honey 4Lbs.
Orange juice from 1 fresh orange
Lemon juice from1 fresh lemon
Orange peel from 1 orange no pulp
Lemon Peel grated 2 teaspoons
Sugar 1 cup
Brewers yeast

FIRST:
Pick 2 quarts of fresh flower heads
wash in cool water.Remove all green parts on the flower heads soak over night in one gal. of water.





After soaking over night add honey,lemon peel and juice,orange peel and juice and sugar to the dandelion mixture and boil for 1hr.
Allow the mixture to cool to around 100 degrees, add the package of yeast.
Cover and allow to sit over night.



Once the mixture has sat for 24 hours
its time to bottle.
Fill your sterilized bottles.
Poke a few holes in a  small plastic bag or balloon and secure it tightly on top.
(This keeps out the unwanted wild yeast.)
Then set  the bottles in a cool dark area for three weeks.
This allows unwanted solids to settle making a clear beverage.
In three weeks we will rack and cork the wine in part#2.
Spring is the time to collect those dandelions,
so get out "Do it yourself" Natures way

                                                                                                    

                                                                         

HOW TO BUILD A UNIQUE TREE SHAPED BOOK SHELF

                                          TREE SHAPED BOOK SHELF
Material List:
Imagination
4x6 wooden beam
2x4 lumber
1x2 pine
Wood screws 3"
Elmer's Wood glue
4" grinder with sanding disc
Wood Screws2"
Skill saw
Saws all
Various Water color paint
Stain and clear finish
First step:
Decide the wall space that the shelf will occupy,ours is 48" wide by 82" tall.
Start cutting limbs out of the 2x4" stock.
Adding angle cuts for a more realistic look.
Attach using wood screws and Elmer's wood glue. Pictured is the first limb attached to the 4x6" old cedar beam. The limb process took a few days allowing the glue to dry for a good bond.
STEP TWO:
Using the four inch grinder begin to shape the tree trunk,and blend the limbs into the trunk.
This process is time consuming don't rush it.
Note: the bottom of the tree trunk:
Two pieces of the 4x6" beam were added for stability and the tree trunk shape.At this point detailing my begin using the 4" grinder.






The main limbs will act as book shelves or just shelves for what ever.
Now this is where IMAGINATION really has to kick in.
Once the limb placement is figured out and all limbs are fitted to the trunk,continue to shape the tree using the 4" grinder.
                             






Detailing:
Cut relief holes in outside limbs and shelves using a drill with a 1" bit . Then enlarge the holes with a skill saw giving the tree depth and character.At this point 1x2 pine is attached and shaped for a more realistic look.










Once shaping and sanding is complete staining and painting is the only step left.
This step is optional, green and yellow water color paint is applied as a wash(very light and watered down) to highlight certain sections of the limbs .








Golden oak stain was used to blend in all water color paint and give the tree a uniform
look.Once the stain is dry a coat of clear satin finish is applied.


                                                 

The only step left is to place it in the room add a few books and trinkets and admire your
unique one of a kind Tree Shaped Book Shelf
 The best is "you did it yourself"
               Natures way
                                

HOMESTEADING

                                              HOMESTEADING

 Homesteading is in full swing as it was back in the early 70"s Today is much different though with the Internet chuck full of information on every aspect of living off the grid.One is able to search any topic with hundreds of articles on any subject to homestead.
That is great but when it comes time to fulfill those dreams and purchase a little livestock here is how to do it.
If you live in a rural area you to may be seeing more and more people gardening or raising a few chickens maybe a cow or pig.People who never before would dream of such a life are now sparking an interest and are trying to subsidise their lifestyle with home grown produce and livestock.
Here is an easy way to fulfill that dream and gain knowledge at the same time right from the source.
Here in up state New York every Spring and Fall at a local fair grounds a tailgate sale is held.
Everything from pigeons to pigs are sold at a very reasonable price.Not only good prices and variety are available but knowledge. Most of the participants in the tailgate sale are Farmers, who are very willing to tell about their experiences with livestock,farming or life. These are people that don't write blog articles about homesteading,prepping or living off the land. They live it every day and are very willing to strike a conversation about what they know about it.
So if you have the time to investigate the rural life , I suggest you pick up a local penny saver ,check with your county cooperative extension , 4-H or FFA ( Future Farmers of America) and find out where the next Auction, Farm sale or tailgate sale is going to be and gain some knowledge right from the people that are already living your dream.
Below are pictures from our local tailgate sale held every year on the first Sunday of May and again on the first Sunday of October.

I have been attending this sale for over 28 years and watched it gain in popularity with attendees from Pennsylvania,Connecticut Massachusetts ,Vermont and of coarse New York. They all come to sell and share their knowledge with anyone that's willing to listen.

Pictured are Roller pigeons average price under ten dollars.






Here is a great set up for hauling and displaying birds for sale. All four sides of the trailer lift up exposing smaller cages. Holding Guinea hens,ducklings,turkey pullets and chicks.










Pictured are Peafowl bagged and ready for sale.Each peacock or peahen is placed in a feed bag with the corner cut . The head sticks out one end and the long tail sticks out the back end.This keeps the bird secure and unable to damage its feathering.These birds were priced $90.00 -$125.00 each.











This is another smart set up a horse trailer with the doors open and  a small pen attached allowing the baby goats full access to the trailer and pen.This held many different breeds priced at $45-$60.00 each.
So locate a local farm auction this Summer,you never know what you might find or learn.