I'm new to gardening. Did I get the right 10 items to start? What else do I need?
I bought a bucket/tower system to hold tomato plants upright. Did I spend too much?
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Is there a better tomato growing system I could have chosen? Did I spend too much on this $47 system? If so, please tell me because I'd like to add a few more tomato towers in the future.
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Grow bags seemed like an easier way to harvest potatoes, but will they last?
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I love the velcro window that will let me see if root vegetables are fully grown and provide easy access for picking. However, I've never used grow bags. Will they wear out after a couple growing seasons? Should I have gone with plastic or ceramic pots instead?
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Did I overspend on potting soil? Should I go organic or choose the leading national brand?
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I was tempted to go with cheap potting soil, but many of today's blogs make it sound as if there's no way of knowing what chemicals may be added to that kind of soil. Do you have a strong opinion on this subject? Buying just a few bags of the organic stuff turned out to be expensive. I'll need to buy a whole lot more. What brand is best?
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I bought automatic plant watering stakes for lazy gardeners. Are these the best kind?
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When I learned about automatic plant stakes that work with water bottles to slowly deliver hydration while gardeners are away on vacation, I thought, "WOW. I need these in my life." My only concern is that the stakes aren't long enough to work with my deep planting bags. Is there a better option? I've been looking. I'd like to collect some short stakes for small containers with longer stakes for larger containers.
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I picked these standard tools by Fiskars. What other tools do I need?
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I chose an organic orange oil pesticide
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If bugs become an issue, I don't want to spray chemicals on my plants. I like the smell of orange oil better than other organic pesticides like tea tree or eucalyptus. I considered lavender and lemongrass, but those oils attract bees. That's the last thing I need while spending time outside!
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I bought a variety pack of onion bulbs because I couldn't decide!
Super sweet, non GMO tomatoes? It sounded good to me.
I picked organic, non GMO potato seeds
Burpless, sweet cucumbers produced in the USA? I'm sold.
I wanted to include beans for protein, and Lima beans are said to be easy to grow.
A Quick Emergency Survival Checklist
Get a super powerful water filter that does not require expensive cartridges
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Don't be caught without a backup plan when filter cartridges disappear from store shelves! When cartridge supplies are scarce, remember that the Saywer Water Filter is the most powerful travel filter on the market. It's designed to filter NASTY water for hikers or military marchers who must drink from puddles, swamps and streams. It removes an impressive 99.99999% of all bacteria from questionable water sources, including your own faucet. You'll never waste money on cartridges because this single filter can purify up to 100,000 gallons before it wears out. The filter comes with a syringe to backwash and clean.
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Every home needs a few 5 gallon, BPA free water storage container with a spigot
Stock up on protein rich beans in 25 pound bags
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This emergency stove can run on twigs, leaves, wood scraps or charcoal
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Have you ever thought about how you might cook food if your gas or electricity ws shut off? What if there's no charcoal or propane to run your trusty backyard grill? This easy-to-assemble stove can run on twigs, leaves, cardboard or scraps collected from the yard. The tight position of the tray ensures that you won't blow through too much precious wood or charcoal for a single meal. If wood and charcoal become scarce, you might cherish this cheap but durable contraption more than your fancy grill.
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Choose proper camp cookware that can be used over open fires
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It's no secret that Teflon pans emit dangerous toxins when overheated. For this reason, it's better to choose stainless steel or cast iron for open fire cooking. Stainless steel is lighter, more convenient and easier to wash. It doesn't rust as easily as cast iron, but it won't take as much abuse from frequent outdoor cooking. A good cast iron set can be handed down to children and grandchildren, provided you keep it dry so that it doesn't rust.
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Lighters are great, but don't be without emergency fire starting tools
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Never put all of your faith into items that can run out of fuel. A proper emergency survival collection should include three ways to start fire.
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A simple canopy will allow you to keep cooking outdoors if it rains
Don't get caught without lanterns and emergency candles that burn for nine days
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A generator will ensure that refrigerated foods don't go bad
Should you choose a propane heater or a space heater?
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This extra warm blanket weighs eight pounds
A good quilted snow suit will keep you from freezing to death
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Consider that you may have to sleep in your snow suit if the furnace dies in the dead of winter. HOT TIP: This Carhartt classic can be found at many local stores. If you stumble upon one, rip it from the rack and run to the checkout immediately. If you wait until the fall, they'll be sold out for the holidays. This suit is pure warming magic. Even in zero degree weather, you'll end up sweating. Wear this suit while hiking, ice fishing, shoveling snow, chopping wood, sledding, snowmobiling and more.
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Make a comfortable place to isolate high-risk housemates from children
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Just in case you missed the viral videos on Facebook, parents who work in hospitals are setting up tents in their yards and garages to separate themselves from the family. If you work in a high risk environment such as a grocery store or hospital, you might consider separating yourself from family members until Coronavirus cases are on the decline. Tents can also be used to contain sick housemates or shield healthy housemates from potential carriers.
Take it from a camping enthusiast who owns multiple tents. The Coleman Sundome (pictured above) is one of the most reliable tents available for campers on a budget. The WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams helps ensure you stay dry, even in torrential rains. The Sundome normally retails for around $45, but prices have risen by double since Corona came to town. If you desire a larger tent with much thicker fabric, the Gazelle popup tent is a premium choice. The Gazelle T4 model is large enough for a 6.5" tall person to stand up and walk around inside. By contrast, most folks would have to stoop to get into the Coleman Sundome. As the "Cadillac" of popup tents, the Gazelle springs into place in less than a minute. On the downside, the Gazelle T4 costs about $350. Camping enthusiasts are used to spending top dollar on tents, but emergency yard dwellers may not want to drop a bundle of money on temporary shelter. |
This premium steel hatchet is forged in once piece
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In desperate times, you may have to hack away your own tree branches for fuel. Don't be without a simple but durable chopping device! For more than a year, I was torn between ordering this 14 inch hatchet and a mini survival hatchet. I ended up getting both of them. I can't tell you how much safer it feels to have a longer handle! The curved design allows me to hit my target more precisely. The extra length helps put more momentum behind my swing. The blade is thicker and the head feels far more secure. Best of all, I don't have to worry about the head popping off because the whole thing is forged in one piece. At $34, I feel it was worth every penny.
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A good survival knife is indispensable
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Heaven forbid you'll ever have to kill your own dinner, but if push comes to shove, you'll be lost without quality gaming tools. These titanium steel scissors will cut through bone and make easy work of cleaning squirrels, rabbits and fish. They're also great at cutting raw steak for fajitas! I was so impressed that I ended up buying three pairs, including one for each of our camp bags and one for the kitchen. I don't want to imagine an emergency survival scenario where I would be without a good pair of gaming sheers.
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Gaming sheers are great for cutting raw steak and cleaning fish
This waterproof headlamp provides excellent night vision
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To find the best head lamp, a research lab tested more than 100 models before subjecting the best 27 to a gauntlet of side-by-side tests. Each product was lab-tested and field-tested. Industrial light meters were used to measure brightness. An automated "light coffin" with a data-logging light meter was used to measure battery life. This head lamp was one of the three top performing lamps, second only to an insanely expensive model. At $36, I knew I couldn't pass this deal by.
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Kaolin clay stops bleeding fast, and it's cheap
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The choice is yours. Spend $13 on a wound clotting sponge impregnated with kaolin clay or buy a whole pound of kaolin clay for $10. Simply store the clay in a clean salt shaker and sprinkle it onto the affected area after cleaning and drying your wound. Apply direct pressure with a cotton pad or clean cloth. Note: Kaolin clay is normally used for facials and body purification. It's valued by salons around the world for its ability to pull toxins from skin. Since the clay has a shelf life of three years, you can use your leftover supplies for facials.
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Activated charcoal can save you from food or chemical poisoning
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Activated charcoal is routinely administered in hospitals for food poisoning, chemical poisoning and alcohol poisoning. When possible, choose charcoal derived from coconut shells versus hardwood. The absorption power is greater. Don’t use charcoal for benzo overdose. When in doubt, call U.S. Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidelines. Dosages will vary according to an individual’s weight. I like to transfer my charcoal to small screw-top jars that can be stashed in first aid kits, backpacks and boating bags.
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Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful antibiotic for ear infections, yeast infections and antibiotic resistant UTI's
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Grapefruit seed extract has long been prized as an emergency water purifying agent, but it's also commonly used to fight respiratory infections, ear infections and antibiotic resistant urinary tract infections. All over the world, GSE is used for killing salmonella, E.Coli, staph, strep, parasites, viruses and fungi (including Candida). Health enthusiasts use grapefruit seed extract as a daily supplement to kill disease causing microbes. Print this guide to learn how to use GSE for various ailments
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Strong fabric bandages won't fall off when you sweat
Quality bandage rolls are cheap to buy online
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If peroxide and Neosporin aren't available, coconut oil can be used for dressing wounds
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Those tiny tubes of Neosporin run out quickly, and it's not always possible to get the the store. Coconut oil has long been demonstrated to kill bacteria, speed the healing of cuts, kill fungal rashes, treat yeast infections and cure athlete's foot. For yeast infections, coconut oil can be administered vaginally with a syringe.
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A loaded pill box is a must. This one is designed to seal out moisture and contamination!
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No first aid kit is complete without ace bandages to support strains and sprains
Use splint material to immobilize or stabilize broken bones
Duct tape has many first aid uses
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In addition to closing wounds and holding wraps in place, duct tape has many emergency medical applications. Check out the following blog for inspiration:
Eight Genius First Aid Uses for Duct Tape: https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/duct-tape-first-aid/ |
A flexible ice pack is far superior to a rigid ice pack
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This ultra flexible ice pack allows you to cradle the curves of different body parts more effectively. I love it! When my problem knee is sore, I don't have to sit an hold a hard ice pack in place. I just drape this thing around it and relax.
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Choose a good thermometer that's easy to read
