Living in a small apartment doesn't offer many options for elaborate holiday decor. With a little ingenuity, however, I've created a lovely holiday-themed apartment. A miniature lighted Christmas tree carefully placed on my side table greets visitors as they enter my home. Making good use of my front room window, I have adorned it with decor, using tinsel and garland, as well as miniature stockings hung with suction cups. As a festive alternative, you might try hanging shiny ornaments on the window in much the same way. If your apartment is designed with a staircase, decorate the banister. Use garland, tinsel, holly or even holiday greeting cards. Finally, if your apartment is furnished with a fireplace, decorate the mantel. I've placed a two-foot tall animated and musical Santa on my mantel. I hope my blog gives you some fun decorating ideas for your small home.
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Tending a garden is a wonderful way to connect with nature on a personal level and create a backyard oasis for you, and wildlife, to enjoy. There are, however, some tending methods that are more eco-friendly than others. Read on for three eco-friendly gardening tips that are outlined below.
Make Native Plants Your First Choice
Native plants are those plants that have lived in and adapted to your local ecosystem. They are much easier to care for, as these plants have adapted to thrive under local conditions, and they're also great for attracting local wildlife.
While exotic plants can be beautiful, their needs are usually not well suited to the area, meaning they require more care as well as more resources. Exotic plants usually require more water, chemical fertilizers, and other interventions to remain healthy in an environment not their own. They could also be harmful to the local wildlife.
Utilize Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are a great way to reduce your water use when caring for your garden's plants. The collection and use of rain water will not only ease your water bill but also benefit the plants.
Rain water is "soft" water, which means it hasn't been exposed to calcium, magnesium, and other metals. As the purest form of natural water, it has a neutral pH level, which is exactly what most plants need to thrive. While they may be able to work with more acidic or alkaline pH levels, neutral is optimum.
Turn Waste Into Compost
Composting is a free, easy way to develop rich, fertile soil that nourishes your garden. Kitchen scraps, such as rinds and peels, egg shells, coffee grounds, and even tea bags can keep your plants happy and healthy.
Compost piles contain carbon dioxide and nitrogen—two elements that act as great natural fertilizers. As they are all natural, they are completely safe for children and animals to come into contact with. Give back to nature by saving your kitchen scraps in a composting bucket.
Gardening and landscaping can be a great way to give back to your local ecosystem. Above are three eco-friendly gardening tips that can help you to preserve natural resources and help your plants to thrive. By working with native plants, you decrease the amount of time and resources needed to tend to them. And when you collect rain water and compost, you're giving your plants the exact nutrients they need to not only survive, but thrive.
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