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Notice the lowly earthworm, squirming away, going about its everyday business. Simple creatures you may think but they have quite a important use in the garden. Did you know the earthworms are nature’s first gardeners? They don’t exist just for kids to eat and fishermen to use as bait

Some Basic Earthworm Facts
Earthworms are present in almost every type of soil but the healthier the soil the greater the numbers. A healthy soil permits lots of air and moisture, both of which are needed by the earthworm for a continued existence. Earthworms have no lungs like you or me but instead breathe through their skin. Their whole skin absorbs oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. They also need moisture to assist them in respiration but too much moisture is not good for them.

There are four types of earthworm that you may run into:

Nightcrawlers: 8 to 10 inches long and the fisherman’s favourite.
Garden Worms: 5 to 7 inches long and found commonly in damp soils.
Manure Worms: 4 to 5 inches long and found in manure rich soils.
Red Worms: 3 to 4 inches long and the most commercially available.

Why Earthworms in the Garden?
A garden without earthworms would miss out on all of the great benefits that they bring to it. Their first job is to till the soil by tunneling through it. Tunnels created allow air and moisture to pass easily through the soil, creating a healthy environment for plants. Tunnels retain water that the plants can take up and also hold air to help bacteria break down organic matter within the soil.

After digestion earthworms produce excrement about the size of a pin head. This excrement is called “castings” or “vermicompost” and is an excellent soil conditioning material. It improves properties of the soil such as porosity and moisture retention, aids plant growth and helps in the fight against pests and diseases.

Increasing Earthworm Population in the Garden
How does one go about increasing the number of earthworms in their garden soil? Well the best way to do so is to add more organic matter to the soil. Earthworms cannot get enough of the stuff.and will seek it out wherever they can find it.

Finally…
The earthworm is just as important to the garden as the gardener that maintains it because they till the soil and add a soil conditioner in the form of castings. They are as much a gardener as you are. The next time you see one wiggling on the ground in front of you bend down and say “got any good gardening tips?” You never know it may answer

I will leave the final word to a one Charles Darwin who once had this to say about the earthworm:

“The plow is one of the most ancient and most valuable of man’s inventions; but long before he existed, the land was in fact regularly plowed and still continues to be thus plowed by earthworms. It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures.“

Francis Kilkelly runs a popular home and gardening community at GardenStew.com, containing gardening forums and gardening blogs.

Original article location:
Earthworms in the Garden / Earthworm Facts

[tags]earthworms, earthworm, soil, castings, vermiculture, vermicomposting, garden[/tags]

Giving you home an instant makeover can be as simple are replacing your sofa slipcovers. The beauty of furniture slipcovers is that they can be changed whenever you feel like a new look. In addition, they are inexpensive to buy and quick and easy to fit. So, if you are a bit bored of the appearance of your tired looking sofa, consider livening up the whole room with a bright new sofa slipcover pattern!

Sofa slip covers come in a huge variety of colors and patterns. Think about the d

Hawaii is a first choice travel destination with millions of people - and for good reason. Bring a little of that island feeling into your home, either indoors or in your outdoor living space. You can apply this theme to an elegant dinner party, a fun and funky luau, or anything in between.

1. First, look at the space itself, including floors, walls, roof or ceiling.

Texture

Think natural materials. Try bamboo matting on the floor. It’s fairly inexpensive, very durable and easy on the feet. For a roof or large patio umbrella, consider palm leaf thatch.

Color

Choose rich vibrant colors inspired by island vegetation: hibiscus red, bird of paradise orange or palm tree green. Use pineapple and mango colored accents. Bright navy or marine blue makes an effective background.

2. Next, add the furniture. Again, natural materials are best. For example, raffia table skirts and rattan or bamboo furniture are a fast way to create that island atmosphere. If you’re using indoor dining chairs or resin patio chairs and want an elegant feel, consider slipovers made of a fabric with a Hawaiian print.

3. Now add lighting. Real flame, whether in candles or bamboo torches, will give you the most authentic look.

4. Last but not least, accessorize.

Motifs

When you think of Hawaii, you probably imagine palm trees swaying in the breeze, brightly colored exotic flowers, or maybe even hula dancers and surfboards. Each of these is an example of a motif.

Choose one motif and run with it, or mix a couple. Motifs with a common theme (such as Hawaii!) can be easily tied together by style or color.

Once you’ve picked a motif, you’ll find lots of ideas for adding it to your room. From windsocks and stepping stones to tablecloths and salt & pepper shakers, the list of thematic accessories you can find is seemingly endless.

Don’t overdo it though. Sometimes less is more, especially if you’re decorating for a full season of living in the theme.

Music

Music is a powerful mood setter. CDs of traditional or contemporary island tunes can provide backdrop to conversation, or liven up the fun and games.

So pass around the leis and go Hawaiian in your outdoor space.

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

[tags]Luau,hawaii,hawaiin theme,decor,interior design,home interior,landscape,landscaping,home improvement[/tags]

How often do you use your kitchen counter at home? Do you have a Formica top, or another material that is just as solid and lasting? Most of us don’t give much thought to that cold, flat slab in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. But perhaps we should, since it can serve a variety of functions that we depend on every day. Let’s talk about the kitchen counter, which lies at the hub of family life and center of frequent activity.

The kitchen counter is where dirty dishes are stacked, waiting to be loaded into the dishwasher or by hand. Crusty roasters, sticky silverware, and greasy platters bide their time on that beautiful finished surface while we take care of other things before tidying up the kitchen. The counter may be the place where you sign kids’ school forms, open the mail, or write last-minute notes to family members before heading out the door for the day. It’s where we set down bags of groceries, pet feeding dishes, an armful of dry cleaning, and a host of other items related to everyday chores. Small kitchen appliances like the toaster and blender probably enjoy their own spots for making the morning breakfast and other meals or snacks. Food preparation like grating, slicing, chopping, and mixing take place in this convenient area.

With all this activity occurring on a regular basis, your kitchen counter carries a lot of weight at times. It absorbs shocks from heavy items, accepts scratches or chips, and helps to blot stains from spilled juice or strained and drained foods. It’s a wonder the counter looks as good as it does, right? That is due in large part to the industry’s formulation of tough design and solid materials, as well as a protective finish. But keeping your counter in tip-top shape beyond the manufacturer’s reach is up to you.

Start by clearing your counter of all unnecessary items. Put away containers that take up space, cover or store unused appliances, insist that no foods, like bread wrappers or jelly jars, be left sitting on the counter for any length of time. Clearing the clutter will open more space and give the entire room a sense of airiness. The counter area will be able to accommodate more time-specific tasks instead of being a gathering place for everyone’s debris. Get a cutting board for food preparation so you don’t have to damage the counter anymore.

Then make a point of wiping your counter free of crumbs, stains, and spills after each meal, or certainly at least once a day. Use a clean cloth, not a damp one that has been sitting around for hours or days, as it will have a sour smell that can be picked up by the counter. Gently wipe under the microwave or canister set to remove all crumbs and thus avoid attracting unwanted pests.

Each week or so, inspect your countertop for deep-set stains. Wipe the counter with a damp cloth to moisten it, and then lightly sprinkle baking soda on the stained areas. Allow it to set at least fifteen minutes. Get the cleaning cloth more wet, and then rub the powder in small circles to work at the stain. Rinse the counter thoroughly when you are done. Run your hand over the surface for signs of residue grit or powder, and rinse again, if needed.

Set an attractive (but unbreakable) vase or other decorator pieces on your counter to remind family members to keep it clear when not in use. This can help everyone take better care of the counter to prolong its quality.

Let experts lend a guiding hand when you stop by to visit the Cabinet Case at The Cabinet Case

[tags]home,cabinet,counter,kitchen,cooking,home improvement,home decor,home design[/tags]

With the rise in popularity of people taking on home improvement projects themselves more people are choosing to tile over their old flooring and although you may believe it is saving you time this can actually cause instability of your new floor. In addition, the floor will seldom be level and will cause your new tile floor to have a shoddy appearance. Here are some of the main reasons you should never tile of the old floor.

The surface of a vinyl floor is very slick and shiny, similar to plastic, and almost impossible to adhere to. It is also non porous which also makes it very hard to get a good bond no matter what kind of glue you attempt to use. Even the method of roughening the surface that is recommended by some people is not going to help.

One of the biggest reasons not to lay tile over the existing floor is because the floor may start lifting after you lay it causing you to have to relay a section of the floor or possibly have to redo the entire job. I don’t know about you but I hate redoing anything, I want to do the job once and be done with it. This is exactly why you should do the same and save yourself the trouble of the inevitable replacement of the floor.

Another problem with installing tile over vinyl is that it is extremely tough to get your floor level which is crucial when tiling. Additionally making transitions in areas where the floor level changes or you have to fill in areas is hard to do. It is always best to begin with a fresh, clean surface that the mortar will adhere to.

Most vinyl floors are put down on top of thin plywood or even particleboard which is not recommended at all for applying tile to. Laying tile over floors like these in not only unwise it is unsafe and due to the inherent flexibility of the vinyl the tile is likely to crack and you may have to replace the entire floor.

If you still want to leave the vinyl floor underneath you will have to make some structural changes to the floor by screwing the vinyl down and then putting down a mortar base with mesh and concrete or lay down a plywood sub-floor that may help lessen the possibility of cracking. It is just as much work to do all of this as there would be if you lifted the vinyl up in the first place.

I hope that I have succeeded in dissuading your ideas to install tile over vinyl. Be sure to keep all of the negatives I have discussed in mind because the short cut of tiling over vinyl is really not a short cut, it will cost you more time and money in the future.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Laminate and Hardwood Flooring at http://www.hardwoodandlaminateflooring.com

[tags]home improvement, flooring, laminate flooring[/tags]

Have small living quarters and trying to figure out where to sleep at night? If so, you aren’t alone. There are many people who are living in cramped quarters, whether they are college students, have too many roommates, or just have more belongings than space available.

For these people, choosing a Futon bed is often a wise choice. The Futon has its origin in Japan, however the western style of Futons varies from the original version. In Japan, the mattress rests upon a Tatami mat and isn’t set upon a bed frame, as is the norm in the west. The Futon mattress also is folded and stored away during the day in Japan.

In the western countries, a Futon bed mattress is typically set upon a bed frame and the futon is used as both a bed and a couch. This makes the Futon a suitable choice for those who have very little living space and can act as a couch and a bed.

The Futon Mattress: Springless Beauty

The Japanese Futons use environmentally friendly mattresses that are comprised of cotton batting. They air out their mattresses by placing them in direct sunlight then beating them with a bamboo stick or tool. This is actually a very healthy practice as science is just now releasing facts regarding how many germs and bacteria thrive on mattresses and pillows.

In Western countries, the Futon and its mattress are often inseparable. The mattress is not taken outside for daily airings nor stored away in closets. Like any other bed, the futon mattress remains on the bed frame, however, one thing is similar, and that is that most Western Futon mattresses are eco-friendly as well and are made with foam style batting. Though thicker than their Japanese counterparts, they are often springless mattresses. If you absolutely prefer a mattress made with springs, you can purchase a spring-filled mattress.

There are many benefits for choosing a Futon. Besides the ability to save space, you can also substitute a Futon in a small guest room and have a wonderfully decorated room making the most out of your limited space. You can purchase a Futon in a number of different patterns and styles, making the Futon suitable for any guest room’s d

As energy prices increase, warming and cooling your home is becoming more and more expensive. Upgrading your insulation is one way to fight the increased costs.

A Guide to Insulation for Your Home

Insulation acts as a blanket for you home. During cold winters, it serves as a barrier to keep as much of the warm air produced by your heating system as possible in the home. In summers, it servers the opposite role of keeping warm air out and cool air in. All and all, this makes it a pretty flexible building material when you think about it.

The key to keeping your heating and cooling costs down is to understand insulation and use the best possible type for you home. To assist in this regard, every community maintains building codes calling out for minimum levels of insulation. Unfortunately, these minimum levels often are insufficient, a particular problem with new homes given that builders use them as the standard to minimize the cost of construction. Nearly every home could significantly cut heating and cooling costs if they upgraded their insulation.

Insulation comes in three basic forms - flexible insulation, loose-fill insulation and reflective insulation. Flexible insulation is the most familiar, to wit, the rolls of pink stuff you see at construction projects. Loose-fill insulation comes in bags and is actually sprayed into walls. Reflective insulation is used like flexible insulation to fill stud walls, but works by using a material that reflects the radiating heat in a structure. There is also rigid insulation, but it is rarely used.

When considering insulation in your home, there are two key issues to address. First, the insulation in your home should have an “R” value, which represents the insulations resistance to the transfer of heat. If you really want to cut utility costs, you should replace your current insulation with a brand that has double the R value you currently have installed.

A second issue to consider is coverage. You might be surprised to learn that insulation is missing in certain key areas of your home. Heat rises, so checking the insulation in your attic should be your first step. You should also consider placing a seal around the entrance to the attic from the interior of the home. This space is almost always unsealed and acts as a highway for heat to escape.

Insulation is hardly a sexy topic when it comes to home improvements. While it may be bland, improving it can save you thousands and thousands of dollars.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - visit us to find out more about building your own home.

[tags]home improvements, cooling, heating, insulation, insulate, winter, summer,[/tags]

Every year, various Realtor groups poll home improvement stores and other Realtors to come up with a list of home improvements that actually add value to your house. Year after year, the top results are the same. Kitchen remodeling is the home improvement job that adds the most value to your house. In fact, you’ll recover 80-90% of your kitchen remodeling costs in the added value to your house - more if you’re handy enough to do the work yourself.

At least as important as the added monetary value of kitchen remodeling is the more subtle benefit - a newly remodeled kitchen is more likely to sell your house than virtually any other home improvement you can make. The kitchen is the heart of the home for most people, and a welcoming, warm and modern kitchen is an overwhelming factor in the decision to buy one house over another.

But kitchen remodeling is an awfully broad term, and some kitchen remodels are more valuable than others in a buyer’s eyes. Which kitchen remodeling jobs should you tackle if your primary intent is to make your home more appealing to prospective buyers? The Realtors have the answer for that question as well.

In general, the recommendations are for cosmetic changes rather than major changes to structure. The top five kitchen remodeling jobs recommended by Realtors are painting, cabinet re-facing, new countertops, new floors and a modern cook-top range.

Painting is the easiest and most affordable kitchen remodeling job on the list - and it’s also the one most likely to be an effective selling tool for your house. Fresh, clean walls in a neutral color are best. Warm neutrals make everyone look and feel their best, and go with just about any d

How comfortable you are with your bedding, can be the difference between an excellent night’s sleep or an extra night of tossing and turning as we fight to try and get to sleep.

We spend something like one third of our lives in our beds. We need around 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If we do suffer trouble sleeping at night, then more than likely, we are going to have difficulties when we face our daylight hours.

Considering how we occupy such a large amount of time in our beds, shouldn’t we look to make our bed and bedroom as comfy as possible for ourselves? We probably should be more prepared to invest in our bedrooms than any other room in our home. Because if we don’t obtain the sleep we require, it can easily start affecting our health.

Are you comfortable with your bedspreads, pillows, mattresses, blankets and sheets? Do they help you to feel relaxed and comfortable or are they old and want replacing?

Perhaps the first item you ought to look at is your mattress. Is your mattress old? Do you toss and turn a lot during the night? Do you wake up in the morning feeling stiff? If so, then it’s maybe time you started looking at a new mattress. Your mattress should be supporting you, not fighting with you.

What about your pillows? Do you feel relaxed shortly after your head hits the pillow? Or do you find your pillows lumpy and uncomfortable? Pillows are quite inexpensive and changing an old lumpy pillow and treating yourself to a new comfortable pillow can and will improve your night’s sleep.

The sheets you lay upon will also determine how comfortable you feel at night. When buying any new bed linen, you will see that there are different thread counts obtainable. Basically, the higher the thread count, the more comfortable the sheets will feel to you.

Mark Gardner runs the website http://www.at-bedding.com an online resource for everything you need to know about beds and bedding.

[tags]bed, beds, bedding, mattresses, mattress, pillows. pillow.[/tags]

You enter the bathroom. You turn on the lights. You dream of having a nice, relaxing bath or a cold, invigorating shower. What you get instead is a strangled shriek and despair.

Yes, ceramic tiles sure brighten up any bathroom or kitchen with their artistic and wonderful designs. We all love that glossy finish and the pearl-like shine. But moldy and dirty ceramic tiles are a big turn off, especially to those who have a fetish about bathing in a spotlessly clean bathroom.

What about your kitchen? Can you bear placing your food atop a surface that looks dubious? Can you imagine the germs sticking themselves to your favorite vegetable? Ewww

Alas, help from professional cleaners may cost us hundreds to thousands of dollars. That money can be better spent on other worthwhile items. All we need to know is how to properly care for our ceramic tiles so they’ll keep looking clean and brand new.

1. Wipe ‘Em Daily

Keep this as a mantra to yourself. This is easy enough to do, especially on kitchen counters, and it won’t take you more than 15 minutes. All you need is a wiping cloth and some water. Always wipe surfaces after use. This is the best method from keeping dirt and debris from piling up. Dry tiles with a cloth or a sponge to prevent mildew formation.

2. Felt and Pads

Do you have heavy furniture made of wood, metal, aluminum or even plastic? Try to place felt or similar pads to their legs. This will help reduce the wear and tear on the tiles and will also facilitate easier shuffling and movement.

3. Protection with Mats

All houses have spots where heavy pivoting occurs. This could be your doorstep, or in front of the kitchen sink or the bathroom door. Situate mats of good quality to protect your tiles from pressure, weight or friction. These mats can also reduce dirt, grit, sand and oil that is deposited in your tiles since the fibers of the mat trap them nicely.

Make sure to wash the mats every once in a while to remove the deposits. Replace worn mats if possible.

4. Weekly Appointments with the Damp Mop

Aside from the daily regimen of wiping them, your ceramic tiles can also benefit a great deal from mopping them with a solution of vinegar and water. Mix