Did you know genetic testing traces the origin of the potato to Peru and parts of Bolivia? Wild potatoes grow in the southern U.S. I grow mine in my small urban yard in the Midwest, in 20-gallon lightweight cloth growing bags called Smart Pots. Whether you’re raising them in growing bags, in the ground or in a raised bed, read on to find out all you need to know about how to grow potatoes....
When cleaning up a garden in the fall, many people overlook saving seeds for the next season. While purchasing fresh packets of seeds generally doesn’t break a budget, it can be satisfying and simple to learn how to save seeds from the garden. “A lot of people get intimidated by seed saving, but it’s really not that difficult,” said Phil Kauth, director of preservation at The Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa....
For many homeowners, a bright green lawn is part and parcel of the American dream. From cookouts with friends or a game of touch football with the kids, a soft and luxurious green lawn enhances our enjoyment of outdoor living spaces. But what do you do when that lawn is threatened by extreme heat? There are three main types of heat a lawn must resist: normal seasonal heat, unexpected heat waves and heat associated with a drought....
A proper frame is key to a strong house that can withstand inclement weather and decades of wear. And when constructing the frames for walls, floors and roofs, nothing is more important than ensuring sharp right angles and straight alignments. Correct measurements will yield strong, straight walls. Fortunately, this is easier than ever to achieve with the help of a specific hammer—one that comes with a little tooth on it. It’s called a hammertooth hammer, and it’s especially useful for framing projects....
fotostorm/Getty Images Spring is fast approaching and that means it’s time to get around to organizing the most important room in your house: Your bedroom. We’ve got some great tips for how to organize your room in under an hour to create the serene space you need to recharge. Plan Out Your Attack First things first. If you’re going to clear the clutter in one hour, you need to plan ahead....
Via The Home Depot What is a Tankless Water Heater Tankless water heaters take up much less space than storage water heaters as they heat the water directly. When you turn on the hot water, the cold water travels through a pipe and into the tankless water heater unit where it is heated by a gas burner or an electric element. This allows you a constant supply of hot water....
Thomas Northcut/Getty Images In Minnesota, where I live, I typically mow my lawn once each week. Of course, this varies by the time of year. The grass grows much slower during the spring months, accelerating as the hot summer months roll in. During fall, grass growth slows as it prepares for dormancy during the winter. I like to get my lawn chores done early in the day, but is that the best time?...
It’s called a refrigerator, yet many of us refer to it simply as a fridge. Usually, abbreviations simply cut down the spelling of a longer word. So what’s up with the added “D” in fridge?! These six maintenance steps will prevent most refrigerator breakdowns. Maybe it was your inquisitive kid who asked the question. Maybe the grammar police in you is curious yourself. Whatever the case, it’s time to nail down why is it refrigerator and fridge?...
Ed Bock/Getty Images The impact of COVID-19 disrupted countless businesses and industries across the world in 2020, forcing many established companies to make difficult decisions. One outlier to this trend was the home building industry in the U.S., which for the most part remained stable and highly productive throughout the economic and societal turbulence. It’s not clear if the industry will maintain that success in the new year. But one metric suggests home builders certainly expect it to....
An internal combustion engine needs air to breath, the same as you or I. The more clean air, the better. An engine air filter, which is different from the cabin air filter, traps solid pollutants so they don’t get into the engine. A dirty air filter can cause the dreaded Check Engine Light to come on and lead to all kinds of performance problems. Over the years I’ve replaced many clogged, filthy and rotted air filters....
Do you let your mail and magazines pile up? Has your kitchen junk drawer expanded to two or more drawers? That black hole of a closet could probably use some attention, too. Once something goes in, it never comes out. Decluttering living spaces tops countless New Year’s resolution and spring-cleaning lists year after year. But how many of us actually do it? Why does the task seem so daunting? And what’s so bad about having a messy living space, anyway?...
Don’t be fooled by the pretty purple blooms. When you see thistle flowering in your neighborhood, be prepared to soon find your neighbor’s weeds in your lawn and gardens. If it’s already there, take heart. With persistence and these proven methods, learn how to get rid of thistle for good. What Is Thistle? Although thistle is technically a herbacious plant of the daisy family, it’s also classified as a Noxious Weed in many states, meaning it’s harmful enough to warrant government-regulated control....
Aluminum siding celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 9, 1995. On that date, a Washington Post article called the budget siding material “a marvel of mass production” but also “a suburban eyesore.” Those two phrases pretty much sum up the main pros and cons of aluminum siding. Back in 1995, sales of aluminum siding were estimated to be between $6 and $20 billion annually. Although that figure rose to $151 billion in 2020, aluminum now commands only a small percentage of the national siding market....
“Buying American” means supporting local communities and bolstering the economy at every level. It may also give you a slight edge if you have warranty issues. But is buying American always in your best interest? We’ll take an honest look at the pros and the cons of seeking out American-made tools. Downsides of Buying Tools Made in the U.S. Hard to Identify: It can be surprisingly time-consuming to find a product made in America, by an American company....
Your room could have a knockout view of the Atlantic ocean and designer furnishings – but it wouldn’t matter if your ceiling is unappealing. Stained tiles, outdated 2 x 4-ft. drop ceilings or textured “popcorn” ceilings can detract from any room’s appearance. That’s because the ceiling is the biggest visual expanse in a room. It’s like a big, blank fifth wall that frames the entire space. The good news? You can easily redeem an unattractive ceiling – without messy repairs or an arduous removal process....
When you think of tambour, do you think of a tambourine? You would if you wanted to be historically accurate, according to award-winning Brooklyn architect Eugene Colberg of Colberg Architecture. “The word comes from tambourine, and refers to a circle, drum or frame,” he says. Both words date back to an elongated type of drum known as a “tamborin de Provençe,” which was used in medieval times. The drum was also known as a tambour, suggesting that the words were more or less interchangeable from the beginning....
Lynn Whitt/Shutterstock So Where Do Bugs Go in the Winter? Most insects don’t migrate, unlike the monarch butterflies that escape to the warmer climates of the south. Instead, the bugs who do stay in colder climates over winter months stay hidden in the landscape in various stages of their life cycles. Here’s how and where some of your favorite backyard guests withstand the chilly weather. Plus, here are 14 important steps you can take to prevent home entry from these pests!...
We all have our Christmas traditions, but here’s one perhaps you haven’t heard of: The Christmas pickle. Why Do Some People Hang a Pickle on Their Christmas Tree? Believe it or not, some people hang a pickle ornament from their Christmas tree. The first person or child to find the ornament gets a present. Others believe the finder will be the recipient of good fortune in the new year. However, no one seems to know where the tradition comes from....
When you think of the trade industry, the image of a brawny man in dirty work boots may come to mind. But this lingering stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. Women cemented their place in the United State’s skilled labor force during World War II, filling positions they were often excluded from while the men went off to fight. Today, with gender roles changing and trade industry opportunities for women increasing, we’re seeing more and more women considering careers in the trades....
Too often, the way we arrange furniture and home decor makes cleaning more difficult. Professional house cleaner Schar Ward, author of Teaching Children to Clean, A Guide to Teaching Life Skills to Children Ages 3-16, shared her list of “don’ts” when it comes to selecting and arranging home furnishings and decor. Ways You May be Sabotaging Your Cleaning Success Beds Pushed Up Against the Wall If you’ve arranged beds so that they’re pushed up against a wall, you’re making cleaning that much more difficult....
