Deborah Aldridge
Deborah is a Southern woman, who, like all Southern women, loves to share. When she was 30, she took her love of gardening back to school and earned an associate degree in Horticulture/Greenhouse Production. At 40, she returned to college and earned an AA in Small Business Administration so that she could run her own business. She has owned and operated several businesses over the years, and is now a full-time freelance writer, sharing her knowledge with the world.
Deborah is passionate about gardening, frugality, self-sufficiency and green/simple living. Having studied and used alternative medicine for over 20 years, she is particularly interested in women s alternative health care.
Deborah s other interests include computers, the Internet, social networking and finding and sharing ways to build a residual income online.
Her blog network, Simply Deb, has a blog for each of her passions.
Favorite Quote:
In your life, you are the only person you will never leave or lose.
To the questions of your life, you are the only answer.
To the problems of your life, you are the only solution.
~ Jo Caudert
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Deborah is passionate about gardening, frugality, self-sufficiency and green/simple living. Having studied and used alternative medicine for over 20 years, she is particularly interested in women s alternative health care.
Deborah s other interests include computers, the Internet, social networking and finding and sharing ways to build a residual income online.
Her blog network, Simply Deb, has a blog for each of her passions.
Favorite Quote:
In your life, you are the only person you will never leave or lose.
To the questions of your life, you are the only answer.
To the problems of your life, you are the only solution.
~ Jo Caudert
...
- Page Views
- 1,037,293
- Content
- 122
- Fans
- 83
- Contributor since
- 7/20/2008
Education/Experience
My education started the day I was born and will end the day I die. So much information, so little time.Interests
Gardening, Frugal/Green Living, Self-Sufficiency, Alternative/Herbal Medicine, Computers, Internet, Social Networking, Online MarketingMotto
Do What You Love, and The Money Will Follow
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Displaying Results 1 - 122 (of 122) for All Content
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Using Firefox Portable as a Workaround to Firefox Update ProblemsMozilla Firefox is a wonderful browser -- until an update goes awry. Firefox Portable provides a solution to update problems. -
5 Ways to Stay Healthy at a Memorial Day PicnicMemorial Day for many is a great entry into summer, but it can also be dangerous. Taking precautions can ensure a happy, healthy holiday. -
Using Tai Chi to Regain Balance and Recover From Fear of FallingTai chi has long been known to increase strength and flexibility, but now it has been found to prevent falls and injuries in the elderly by restoring balance. -
The Question Everyone Should Ask Their Pharmacist When Taking a New DrugThousands of people die from side effects of prescription drugs every year. A 5-minute talk with your pharmacist just may save your life. -
How Castor Oil and Biotin Are Helping Me Regrow My Thinning HairMany factors can cause thinning hair. Using castor oil and biotin may help reverse the process. -
My Experience Using MSM for Arthritic Joint Pain Associated With LupusIf you suffer with lupus, you will try anything to ease the joint pain. I found that MSM is beneficial in relieving arthritic joint pain with some surprising side-effects. -
How L-Dopa Mucuna Helped My Depression and Increased My FocusL-Dopa Mucuna is derived from the bean of the Mucuna pruriens plant, and has been used for centuries to treat depression, increase energy and boost your mental acuity and focus. -
8 Essentials of a Great Client-Writer RelationshipFreelance writers are professional business people and we need clients who respect that. -
The Danger of Using Petroleum Jelly Products Inside Your Nose and MouthPetroleum jelly is good at holding in moisture and soothing raw skin, but it is dangerous if inhaled. In fact, any fat-based product that is inhaled can be dangerous, especially to children. -
Google+ Communities Take the Site by StormGoogle+ has a loyal group of users, but it has never reached its expected potential, always lagging behind Facebook. Google+ Communities may just push it over the top, at least members are hoping so. -
Try This Warming, Healing Tea on Cold Winter NightsIf you're drinking something to warm you on cold nights, you may as well drink a tea with warming and medicinal properties. -
Ways to sleep warmer without busting your heating budgetWinter days are cold, but winter nights are colder. Try these frugal solutions that will save you money on your heating bill.Also published on: -
5 of My Favorite Winter Blooming ShrubsWinter blooming shrubs provide bursts of color when the skies are dark and grey. These five easy-to-grow beauties are perfect to get you started. -
The Proper Way to Wash a Wool BlanketWhen we think of wool, we think of dry cleaning, but that is an expensive way to clean wool blankets. Luckily, you can actually wash them without causing them any harm. -
7 Ways to Tactfully Turn Down a Holiday Dinner InvitationEveryone has had a holiday dinner invitation they wanted to get out of. It's really not that hard to say no without hurting someone's feelings. -
Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden Without PoisonsSquirrels are cute, but can be destructive. To protect your landscape from squirrel damage without poison, you will must be vigilant.
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A Southern Woman Speaks to the Problems with the Republican PartyWhat on earth has happened to the Republican party? It's seemingly become a party of old, white, bigoted, mysogynist men. Can they change, or will they soon become just another dead party?
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7 Upcycled Trash-to-Treasure Headboard IdeasNeed a new headboard but have no money? Start thinking outside the box and turn trash-to-treasure for a unique piece of bedroom art.
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8 Creative Kitchen Storage SolutionsIf you need more kitchen storage space, it's there. You only need to find ways to utilize the space you have with these simple storage solutions.
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In Campaign's Waning Days, Battleground Florida Has a Strange VibeFlorida, Florida, Florida ... the biggest prize in the battleground states. This time around, the air is negatively charged, and people are actually afraid.Also published on:
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How an Herbal Parasite Cleanse Changed My LifeIn 2010, I did an herbal parasite cleanse to treat what I thought was an eye infection. What I discovered was more than I had bargained for.
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3 Questions to Ask Before You Add Fruit Trees to Your Urban FarmAdding fruit trees to an urban farm is a big decision, especially with limited space. Consider these major points first.
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Out-of-the-Box Uses for Hanging Shoe OrganizersHanging shoe organizers are for more than just shoes. Using your imagination, you can find a myriad of uses for these handy space savers.
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Get Ready for Winter with This Fall Home ChecklistPreparing for the winter weather takes a little work, but it's best to have all these things done before it's too late. You don't want to be struggling with these in freezing temperatures.
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Should you reuse baby food jars for canning?Little jars of preserves are cute, but should you be canning them in reused baby food jars? This may not be the safest thing to do.
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Inspired storage with plastic crates and thrift store findsIf you've ever moved into a much smaller space, you know how important storage solutions are. This one was unplanned, but worked out really well.
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5 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your HealthIf you're tired, depressed and wondering if you will ever feel well again, try changing just these 5 things in your daiy routine. Sometimes small changes can give big health results.
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6 Ways to Keep Winter Gardening Withdrawal at BayWinter gardening withdrawal isn't a joke. It can cause anxiety and depression in those of us who simply must garden. Fortunately, there are things to do to prevent it.
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Creating Storage Space for StockpilingTo save money, I stockpile food and other items I buy on sale. Stockpiling can save the day when times get tough unexpectedly.
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My Antidepressant Is Affecting My MemoryAre you losing your mind? No, but you may be losing your memory, and bupropion may be the cause.
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Turn old sheets into something useful and beautifulBefore you throw or give those old sheets away or stick them in a box in the attic, consider using all that fabric to make something useful.
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Use Mirrors to Brighten Your HomeMirrors, placed properly, can reflect light to brighten dark rooms. Learn how to use the different shapes of mirrors to their best advantage.
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Flowering Annuals to Brighten the Fall GardenFall brings colorful leaves and chrysanthemums...lots of chrysanthemums. If you want something different, why not try some fall flowering annuals?
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Save a Bundle of Money at End-of-Summer Garden SalesWhether it's finally being able to afford that plant you've been craving or stocking up on sinfully cheap garden supplies, the garden sales at the end of the summer are a frugal gardener's dream.
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End-of-summer cleanup makes winter storage a breezeHate putting things away for winter? Well, start in late summer, and it will be a much easier task once the weather turns cold.
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Sneaky Ways to Compost Fall LeavesDo you want to compost your own leaves, but can't because of unreasonable city ordinances? There are ways to compost legally without your city finding out.
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How to Relieve Neck Tension Headaches Without MedicationTension headaches are some of the most common of all headaches, and can be hard to relieve without muscle relaxers. I found an acupressure technique online that relieves these headaches quickly.
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Avoiding Gardening BurnoutGardening is fun, but sometimes it's difficult. A beautiful yard can turn into a beast very quickly and wear down even the most enthusiastic gardener.
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Remembering the Joy and Benefits of Growing HouseplantsVeggie gardening is the new big trend. As you fill your yard with edibles, don't forget to make room for indoor gardens as well.
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8 Mistakes People Make With the Master CleanseThe Master Cleanse is one of the most popular health fasts. Most of the detractors seem to be people who have not performed the cleanse properly, thus haven't gotten the desired results.
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The Late Summer Battle for the Backyard: Going to War with Mother NatureNature if a powerful force, and it can overtake an area very quickly. When it gets out of control, sometimes you have to get brutal.
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4 Inexpensive Ways to Lower Your Air Conditioning Bills During the Hottest Summer DaysLowering the cost of cooling your home is a high priority during these hot summer months. Using these tips, you can save money on air conditioning while staying cool.
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Need Home and Garden Help? Try BarteringBartering is an age-old system that is an excellent way to pay for services and goods for your home and garden. Learning to barter is fun and it can be profitable.
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What Disaster and Hurricane Survival Sites Don't Tell YouAnyone who has been through a major disaster or hurricane knows that the lists of what you should put in your survival kit omit several important items. While you're waiting to be rescued, some of these things may save you and your family.
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Prevent Spring Problems with Late Summer Lawn Care TipsDid you know that most of your lawn pest and disease problems start the year before? By treating problems in late summer, you can protect next year's grass.
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Conventional and Alternative Medicine: Friends or Foes?The use of alternative therapies is skyrocketing due to increasing health care costs and patient disillusion with conventional physicians. Can they learn to work together for the good of all?
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Ticks in the trees: How to protect yourself in the gardenGardening can be dangerous to your health if you pick up a tick. Be aware that they are everywhere and protect yourself and your pets from these vectors of disease.
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Choosing Bulbs to Plant in the Fall for Spring BloomsThe big box stores may tempt you with bags of bulbs with pretty pictures, but be sure that those bulbs will grow in your yard before you waste your money.
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5 Ways to Protect Your House from Severe Summer WeatherYou only have to go through one severe summer weather event to know to prepare for the next. And there will be a next one. Be prepared to protect your house from summer storm devastation.
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Replace your lawn with a crop you can eatWhile some cities forbid vegetables planted in front yards, there are ways to comply and still have an edible front yard.Also published on:
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5 Ways to Make Your Cookie-Cutter Tract Home Stand OutTract houses, sometimes called cookie-cutter houses, are basically all the same. To make one stand out takes a little creativity.
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Get Your Garden Ready for Fall VegetablesWhen summer gardens start winding down, it's time to start preparing for planting your fall vegetable crops. Get those seeds started and seedlings in the ground by late July, and you'll have vegetables before frost.
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Why I Don't Carry My Cell Phone Everywhere -- and Don't Care If it Bothers YouAre cell phones a convenience or a nuisance? Maybe both.
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How I Lowered My Cholesterol 40 Points with a Healthy DietIt isn't easy, but you can change your diet and lifestyle and lower your cholesterol. The effort is worth the results.
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A Potential Beneficiary of Obamacare Speaks Out Against the MandateI'm below the poverty level and will benefit greatly from the Affordable Care Act, but I believe that the insurance mandate hurts more people than it helps.
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To Buy or Not to Buy Markdown PlantsBuying plants on markdown may seem like a bargain, but it can be a waste of money if you don't know what you're doing.
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Colorful Heat-Tolerant Shrubs that Add a Pop to the GardenMake your yard turn heads with these heat-loving, easy to grow, colorful shrubs.
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Getting Rid of Pesky Fungus Gnats Without ChemicalsFungus gnats are tiny, annoying flies that destroy plant roots. Prevention and treatment are relatively simple.
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Best Beginner Yoga Types for Women Over 50Yoga is an excellent exercise for women over 50. The gentle posturing and meditative aspects are designed to strengthen your body and your mind.
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Beautify Your Yard with the Perfect Flowering ContainerA large container of flowering plants is always beautiful, but if you take a few minutes to plant it right, you can have the most amazing container gardens in town.
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3 Ways to Calculate Roof PitchIf you are a do-it-yourselfer with a roof in need of repair or re-covering, roof pitch can help you calculate the area of your roof without physically measuring it.
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4 Ways to Eliminate Carpet Grass from Your LawnCarpet grass may be nice in wet, low-lying areas where no other grass will grow, but in a pristeen lawn, it's a nightmare. It's difficult, but not impossible, to kill.
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5 Steps to Save a Plant with Root RotThere are several fungus species that attack plant roots. Root rot fungus kills quickly and is hard to control.
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Tips to keep your tomato plants disease freeTomatoes aren't hard to grow, but they are susceptible to a few diseases. Proper care can keep your tomatoes healthy and bearing a bumper crop.
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Don't give weeds a home in your lawnA beautiful lawn is a status symbol in some places, but
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6 Ways to Beat the Heat in the GardenThat heat-related deaths and illnesses rise in the summer is not unusual, but following these steps can keep you cool in the summer heat so you don't become a statistic.
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Hate to Paint but Love to Redecorate? Neutral Wall Colors Are the AnswerPainting walls neutral colors may seem boring, but it actually opens up a whole new world of decorating color options.
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Some Peppers Are as Decorative as They Are TastyOrnamental peppers have long been used to dress up landscapes, but did you know that they are edible as well? New varieties make them a perfect addition to your edible landscape.
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10 Pretty Edibles to Adorn Your LandscapeIt's easy to add edibles to your landscape without giving up your flowers. In fact, there are edibles that double as ornamentals and ornamentals that are edible.
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My Weekly Fitness Routine: Staying Fit With Systemic LupusExercising on a daily basis is a challenge for even healthy people, but when you have a painful and debilitating disease, it can be next to impossible.
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Vining fruits are perfect for vertical gardeningIn smaller gardens, fruit trees take up too much space, but vining fruits can be grown vertically to save space.
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6 of the easiest herbs for beginner gardenersGrowing herbs is a great way to begin an edible garden. Even beginning gardeners can grow these six easy herbs.
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My Experience with Major Depression: When Conventional Treatment FailsUntreatable depression can feel like a life sentence to misery, but it doesn't have to be. There are ways to keep yourself from falling into the dark hole of despair.
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The Facts About Controlling Ants in Your House and YardWhich poison you use to kill ants in your home and yard depends on what kind of ants you're dealing with and where they are. Using the right ant killer properly is the key to control.
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Three Simple Tips to Extend the Life of Your MicrowaveTired of buying a new microwave every couple of years? These three simple things can save you that expense and make your microwave last past its planned obsolescence date.
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42 Years Later the Kent State Massacre Still Makes Me CryThe Kent State shootings changed the very fabric of the Viet Nam war protests in the U.S. Today we mourn the end of the innocence.
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Do I Really Need to Prime the Walls Before Painting?Painting a room is hard work. Adding a primer undercoat may just seem like doubling the work for nothing, but if you want a professional finish, undercoating your paint can make a world of difference.
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The Lucky 7 Vegetables that Love the HeatWhile most vegetables succumb to the extreme heat of summer, these 7 vegetables will produce through even sweltering temperatures.
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What Kind of Gardener Are You?As in everything in life, your particular personality traits determine whether your garden will flourish or fail.
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Free Compost from the Dump -- How Safe is It?Adding organic material to your soil is never a bad thing, but it's best to be cautious when dealing with materials of unknown origins. Better safe than sorry when growing your family's food.
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Will George Zimmerman Ever Be Safe?George Zimmerman, accused of murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, has been released on bail. He is being forced into hiding after death threats put him in fear of his life.
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8 Things You Should Never Do to Your PlantsMillions of plants are killed every year by well-meaning gardeners. Using common sense can save a lot of time, money and plant life.
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Confessions of a Recovering HoarderHoarding is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects your mental and physical health. Like any addiction, you never cure it, but you can learn to control it.
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Eating Squash Leaves and Other Useful Plant BitsThere are many plant parts that end up in the compost pile that could be eaten. Learning to use every part of vegetable plants is frugal and useful.
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Are your hardy hibiscus cuttings ready for the garden?Hardy hibiscus grows easily from cuttings taken in the fall, but you must be careful when moving them outdoors.
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Battery Operated Lights Can Save the DayIn situations where you aren't able to install a hard-wired electrical fixture or there isn't an outlet nearby to plug in a lamp, battery operated lights can be a lifesaver.
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Have Fun and Make Money With a Backyard NurseryHave you ever sold some of your extra potted plants? If you have, just take that one step further and start a small backyard nursery to make your gardening hobby pay off.
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Is Your Yellow Jessamine Out of Control?Yellow Jessamine, with its glossy green leaves and voluminous yellow spring flowers, is a favorite of southern gardeners, but it's beauty hides a few secrets.
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Warm-growing Brugmansia Species for Southern GardensBrugmansia or angel's trumpet, is one of the most spectacular plants you can grow in your southern garden, but you have to choose the right species for the best results. Choose the right plant for our hot, humid climates
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Should You Use Pallets to Make Indoor Furniture?Free materials are a DIYer's dream, so reusing discarded pallets is fast becoming the new "in" thing in recycling. But should you use this abundant, free material indoors? There are valid arguments on both sides.
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3 watering tips for summer container gardensSave water and time by using proven methods to keep your plants watered during the summer heat.
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Angel Trumpets or Devil Trumpets, Which is Which?Brugmansia and Datura are closely related, but grown very differently. The differences are what makes them so fascinating.
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Urban Farming and the Locavore MovementDo you want more food or more nutrition? The answer may be as simple as eating locally grown food.
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3 traditional southern passalong blooming bulbsPassing plants along from generation to generation is a Southern gardening tradition. Young southern gardeners are proud to receive passalong plants from a loved-one's garden.
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Free Furniture for Your New HomeCreating conversation pieces from castoffs isn't as hard as it may seem.
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Fitting Your Big Life into a Tiny SpaceCramming your life into a tiny space can be challenging, but there are more ways to get storage room than you would imagine. Creativity is the key to finding the space you need.
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How to prepare your soil for tomato plantingTomatoes are easy to grow and can provide a bounty of food for your family. Properly preparing the planting bed is essential to healthy plants and abundant fruits.
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Is your garden ready for spring?Whether you're planting flowers or veggies, proper garden preparation in late winter or early spring is essential to a glorious garden full of healthy plants.
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Why I Love PinterestI'm a visual person, so Pinterest fits naturally with my personality. You can learn so much about someone by seeing what their mind's eye finds appealing.
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5 Major Mistakes Beginner Gardeners MakeStarting your first garden is challenging, but avoiding these 5 major beginning garden mistakes can save you time, money and heartache.
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Will the Latest Craigslist Crackdown Be the Last Straw for Users?Craigslist users were furious when they were unable to post due to phone and email verification problems.
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How I Cured My Insomnia With a Single Mineral SupplementBefore you consider using pharmaceutical drugs to cure your insomnia, try this supplement for at least two weeks and see if it works for you.
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Preparing Your Florida Tropicals for a Cold SnapProtecting your Florida tropicals during a freeze involves work, but can save you the cost of replacement.
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How Women Should Communicate with Their DoctorWomen must learn how to talk to their doctors to get the information and treatment they need.
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Suffering Through Anti-Depressants' Side EffectsA Yale Study Shows that some patients may derive no benefits and actually get sicker from antidepressant use.
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Florida Legislature Seeks to Eliminate Physical Education from Middle SchoolsRepublican Representative Larry Metz Proposes a Law to Eliminate Phys Ed Requirements in Florida Middle Schools.
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First Person: 5 Uncommon Uses for Common Household ItemsFind alternative uses for common household items to help cut your household budget.
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Procrastination Vs. Success as a Freelance WriterProcrastination kills productivity and limits your success. These simple tips can get you moving along the road to freelance writing success.
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Direct Composting Saves Garden Space and TimeIf you have no room for a compost pile, direct composting works well to recycle organic matter back into the soil in small garden spaces.
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South Florida Gardening: Using Perennial Peanut as a Lawn ReplacementWater restrictions are making ground covers popular as a lawn replacement in Florida.
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How to Grow and Care for Variegated PlantsVariegated plants take special care, but are well worth the trouble.
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Lantana: A Foolproof Flowering Plant for Florida GardensLantana is one of the easiest, flowering plants to grow. If you want butterflies, this plant is a must.
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South Florida Gardening: Daylily is as Easy as it is StunningDaylily is one southern perennial that thrives even in the hot, wet summers in South Florida. Try one, and you'll want more
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South Florida Gardening: How to Grow PeppersFlorida's hot summers are perfect growing weather for peppers of all colors, shapes and sizes.
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Southern Gardening: Natural Controls for Powdery Mildew on VegetablesPowdery mildew is a common pest of vegetables during hot, humid southern summers.
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How to Make Free Plant Labels from Old Vinyl Mini BlindsYou can find discarded mini blinds in curbside trash piles everywhere. It seems sad to see them go to the landfill, so why not use them to make plant labels for your garden? Save money and the landfills by recycling mini blinds as plant labels.
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Florida Gardening: Planting in SandWhen faced with Florida sand, there are things you should know to give your plants a fighting chance.
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Bulbs for South Florida Gardening: Amaryllis FamilyGardening in South Florida doesn't mean you have to give up growing bulbs. There are many bulbs that thrive in South Florida.
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Gardening in South Florida: How to Grow Tomatoes Year AroundLearn how to have homegrown tomatoes in your South Florida garden all year around by rooting tomato cuttings.
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Gardening in South Florida: Planting in Marl SoilIf you've ever hit marl while digging, you'll remember it. It's like hitting rock or concrete. There is a way to grow plants in this soil with a little preparation.
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Vegetable Gardening in Florida: Tips for Northern TransplantsForget everything you know about gardening up north, or in the south for that matter. Growing vegetables in South Floria is not as simple as you may think.
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Working Part-Time in a Retail Environment - Pros and ConsIn this economy, many people are seeking second, part-time jobs to make ends meet. The retail environment is the first place most people look, but are you cut out for a job in retail?