ARA) – According to the National Gardening Association, more than 75 percent of Americans enjoy gardening, making it one of the most popular pastimes in the country. Whether a small herb garden or a collection of outdoor plants you brought inside to nurture, greenery makes the entire year brighter.
Gardening gifts are perfect for the person who has everything because it encourages the enjoyment of plant life and flowers all year long. Here are some ideas to make your favorite gardener happy:
1) Oxygenized Water
Plants need water, sun and nutrients to survive, but recent studies have shown oxygen is another key element for successful plant growth. The Enki watering system takes this knowledge and puts it right in the hands of gardeners. The enhanced watering pitcher oxygenates water by up to 150 percent, far surpassing the oxygen levels in tap water or even that of rain water.
This new pitcher provides oxygen in the water to help encourage better root systems.
Tests conducted by a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticulture reveal the system’s substantial benefits. Super oxygenated water helps to achieve earlier flowering with more vibrant colors, and increased numbers of flowers and vegetables.
Enki is the eco-friendly way to enhance plants by stimulating the roots. This unique gift idea can be used right away because it benefits both indoor and outdoor plants with visible results.
2) Books
Books are a great way to keep your favorite gardener educated. With the wide variety available, choose one that suits their interests. From flowers to herbs to vegetables, there are essays and informational books to encourage successful gardening. If you’re not sure, pick a book about plants local to the region. General how-to books are also great because they can be a good reference throughout the year.
3) Classes
Gardening classes are conducted year round at gardening centers and nurseries, schools and community education centers. Why not give the gift of knowledge for that special someone? Whether for your mother, the family gardener, or your cousin who just moved into a new home, a gardening or landscape class can benefit them now. They might meet some new people that share their interest or can help answer their questions.
4) Indoor Plants and Accessories
According to the National Gardener’s Survey, 43 million Americans participate in some type of indoor gardening. An indoor herb garden is a simple gift that is easy to care for and provides fresh herbs for cooking. Seasonal plants are great too! Pair one with the Enki watering pitcher and you have the perfect gift that keeps giving as the plant flourishes. Special indoor gardening tools make great gifts because they are created particularly for indoor use and are helpful for successful indoor gardening.
For more information on great gardening gift ideas visit www.MyEnki.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - For the 117th year on February 2nd, millions around the world will breathlessly await the most famous furry forecaster, “Punxsutawney Phil’s” annual prediction of an end to winter.
February 2nd brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year — and the only one led by a rodent! Legend has it that on this morning, if a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is on the way.
Tens of thousands of people will descend on Punxsutawney, Penn., a small town of about 6,100 people, for a little midwinter revelry and celebration and, of course, Phil’s prediction. The events are numerous throughout the day and are sponsored by a variety of companies. This year “Groundhog Stopper”, an OMRI certified, fully organic ground hog repellent is among the long lists of sponsors. But don’t worry! Not a drop of the product will be sprayed at the event! Phil can feel free to predict his much anticipated forecast without fretting about groundhog stopper….at least on February 2nd.
The truth of the matter is, whether Phil sees his shadow or not, spring will arrive as scheduled on March 21st. Come springtime, Phil’s groundhog cousins (also known as woodchucks or whistle-pigs) are sure to follow his lead and awake from their long winter naps. Phil and his brethren may also set about plundering gardens, digging burrows where they’re not wanted, and otherwise coming into conflict with their human neighbors.
There is a bit of irony in our relationship with groundhogs. We’ve made a star out of Phil, and forged a mythology out of the by-play between his shadow and the coming of spring. Then, just a few weeks later, we curse his cousins for helping themselves to our garden vegetables!
Groundhogs don’t have to be the enemy of our gardens, and trapping them won’t solve the problems between humans and these large, likable rodents. As long as there’s habitat available, other groundhogs will quickly fill the vacated niche. Trapping and relocating groundhogs may also lead to starving young left behind. We all want to humanely discourage groundhog damage, and encourage a peaceful coexistence with our wild neighbors.
As we all are well aware, the advent of spring brings the wildlife out of hibernation, and most likely right into our backyards and gardens. As spring is sprung, we suddenly are faced with a wide variety of pesky critters right in our own backyards.
While wildlife creatures are often quite beautiful, none of us want them damaging our lavish landscapes and gorgeous gardens. As a rule of thumb, it is far better to prevent wildlife damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it.
This spring Messina Wildlife Management can help you protect your beautiful backyards and your gardens with a full line of OMRI certified (100 percent) organic animal repellents. The products are all easily applied in a ready to use spray on bottle. They dry clear, are all pleasant smelling, and work for 30 days before reapplication, no matter the weather. The full product line can even be used on edibles, and none of the products causes harm or physical irritation to the animals they repel. The products work by smell and taste, repelling pesky critters from your backyard, and they’re all pleasant smelling and safe to humans.
So whether it’s Phil, Bambi or Bugsy in your backyard, Messina Wildlife Management’s full line of animal management repellents make it possible to live in harmony with nature.
For more information on Groundhog Stopper, retail store locations and repellents for other garden pests like deer, rabbits, moles and squirrels, visit www.messinawildlife.com. Products are available nationwide at lawn & garden and hardware stores.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Bold, biting, venom injecting, habitat invasive and just plain annoying, ants come in hundreds of varieties and are on the march across the United States. Fire ants are the worst. Their bite stings and massive numbers swarming over a young child playing in the backyard can cause death.
Fire ants, originally concentrated in the southern United States, are moving north possibly because of global warming. Fire ants are now found in the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico and other areas never inhabited until now.
Major efforts are underway to stop them. Texas farmers, for example, say Fire ants build huge porous dirt mounds up to five feet deep and two feet high in pastures and fields posing a threat to wandering livestock. Some enterprising Texas farmers have attacked Fire ants with mobile homemade cone shaped microwave contraptions that sit on top of an ant mound and cook the inhabitants inside until they perish.
The process, however, is time consuming and the ants spread faster than the farmers can keep up with them. This leads us to research by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at toxic waste dumps in Idaho where ants burrow as much as 20-feet deep in the ground, carrying buried waste to the surface.
Dr. Douglas Halford, head of the Environmental Surveillance Program (ESER), which assesses, among other things, radio-ecological issues involving toxic waste sites and the possibility of ant-spread contaminants.
Asked what effect radioactive materials have on the ants themselves, Dr. Halford says only extremely high doses of radiation affects ants. Ants, he says, are like cockroaches and other invertebrates, which are almost immune to radiation.
While ants may be capable of unearthing toxic waste, their soil moving habits are also important components of our natural ecosystem. They aerate the soil, spread seeds, release moisture and prey on other, less desirable insects.
The ants themselves are a food source for many animals including birds, bears and fish. Poisonous frogs, it is said, may develop their toxin from feeding on fire ants. Of concern is whether toxic-waste carrying ants can spread such toxins up the food chain to man.
There are 12,000 kinds of ants in the world and their combined weight is higher then the combined weight of all people on the earth. The size of an ant’s brain is bigger than any other insect brain and certain parts of the ant brain functions like the grey matter of human brains. In fact, an ant’s brain may have the same processing power as a late model Macintosh computer.
So, how do you control ants? The Chinese figured it out 2,000 years ago. China has more ants than any other place on earth. The Chinese use a nontoxic powder made from crushed petrified one-celled animals called diatoms that grew in lakes millions of years ago. This powder cuts and dehydrates ants that walk across it and they carry it into their burrows.
Because the powder is a mechanical control, ants don’t become immune to it as they do to chemical pesticides. Commonly known as diatomaceous earth, this powder is produced in the United States and sold in garden shops and hardware stores under a variety of brand names including AntEater Kitchen Bug Powder, Insect dust, and D.E.
Select one that carries the Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) label. Products that display the OMRI Seal contain no toxic ingredients or petro-chemical insecticides. Another consumer product awareness seal, called “Pet Approved,” means the product is safe for dogs, cats and other pets.
For more information visit www.milkyspore.com or for a free brochure call (800) 801-0061.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) – As surely as spring will soon arrive, so will the critters that drive you crazy — moles and voles. Make this the year you send them packing before they can cause damage in your yard.
First, an attack plan for dealing with voles. They are herbivores that if left unchecked will attack flower bulbs and eat the roots from underneath garden plants. Stopping voles can be accomplished simply by placing a six-inch deep perimeter of sharp rocks around your garden or other plantings. They don’t have the clawing power to burrow through rocks, so if a barrier exists, voles will go elsewhere.
Dealing with moles, on the other hand, will take a lot more effort. Through the years, homeowners have tried everything from throwing balls of pre-chewed gum into mole tunnels to thrusting sharp pronged pitchforks into mole tunnels, to no avail.
Want to get rid of them once and for all? Try a two-pronged approach. First apply non-toxic Holy Moley, a granular product from St. Gabriel Organics, to your lawn with a fertilizer spreader to drive the moles away.
Since you don’t want to leave anything to chance, destroy their favorite food source too. Moles snack on earthworms, and other underground insects like beetle grubs, but they are attracted to grubs more then anything else.
A survey of mole problems by the University of Missouri found that moles consume up to 80 percent of their body weight each day. In the stomach of one mole, researchers found the remains of 187 grubs.
To eliminate the grubs in your yard, apply Milky Spore, also from St. Gabriel Laborato-ries, to your lawn. It is guaranteed to eliminate grubs quickly and efficiently, and once applied, will remain viable in the soil for ten years. The spores in the product will not kill beneficial insects such as earthworms and one application keeps working for many seasons, unaffected by freezing or pesticides.
Both Holy Moley and Milky Spore are pet approved by veterinarians and neither will af-fect wells, ponds or streams. For more information on Holy Moley and Milky Spore or to purchase, call St. Gabriel Organics at (800) 801-0061 or visit www.MilkySpore.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Temperatures are on the rise, more kids are playing outside, and before you know it, gardens will be flourishing. All these signs point to one glorious time of year — spring. For people living in predominantly southern regions of the United States, spring also means that fire ants are back in force.
Fire ants, an unfortunately common pest in about 15 states, are both a nuisance and a health risk. Taking up residence in yards, sidewalks, playgrounds, and electricity boxes, fire ants are most active during the spring season. With warm, humid air and occasional rain showers, a welcoming environment for fire ants is created.
Spring is the perfect opportunity for fire ants to begin working on their mounds. During this time, winged fire ants begin the task of starting new colonies and foragers start doing some work near the surface of the soil. Ants are out looking for food and traveling from yard to yard — so now is the best time to stop these pests in their tracks.
“It is extremely important to treat before the fire ants divide into new colonies,” says Neal Denton, extension agent and county director with the University of Tennessee. “In order to do so, you must get to them early in the spring before they are first waking up.”
Building mounds in areas where humans come in frequent, direct contact with them, fire ants are a threat to families, children and pets. The best way to combat fire ants is to use a broadcast treatment over your entire yard. Broadcast treatments, such as Over ‘n Out Fire Ant Killer, eliminate mounds and ants that can’t be seen. This method is a sure-fire way to gain control and the treatment creates a fire ant-free zone in as little as three weeks.
The broadcast treatment can be distributed by a spreader across the whole yard. Once the Over ‘n Out Fire Ant Killer has been administered, control of fire ants lasts all year long, with results visible in as few as three days.
For homeowners looking to go the extra mile and stamp out fire ants in an entire neighborhood, collaboration between neighbors is essential for a continued and concurrent effort to treat for fire ants.
“Neighborhood programs are extremely valuable in controlling fire ants,” says Denton. “To stop fire ants from spreading from one yard to the next, an entire neighborhood can work together and use a broadcast treatment that is more effective than treating a spot here and there.”
Studies have shown that areas with diligent neighborhood programs, where multiple homeowners treat their property at the same time with the same treatment, can reduce the number of active mounds by as much as 96 percent. Neighborhood programs are a proven method to prevent fire ant infestations, making communities safer for everyone. But for many fire ant experts, lapses in successful neighborhood suppression programs are as irritating as a fire ant sting.
“There are a number of benefits to neighborhood programs,” says Tim Davis, fire ant
suppression specialist with Clemson (S.C.) University. “The larger the treated area, the longer the dormant period lasts. A coordinated effort between neighbors makes the treated areas bigger, making it harder for fire ants to re-colonize.”
For more information about fire ants visit www.FireAntFree.com or the FireRANT! blog at http://blog.TheFireRant.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) – More homeowners are focusing on health by planting their own vegetable gardens this year, rejecting the rising cost of food and fuel, and pesticide-laden produce most often found in supermarkets.
Just about every environmental group in the United States, Canada and in
Europe warns that store-bought produce is loaded with petro-chemical pesticides that build up in the human body. These chemicals are being blamed for many illnesses, from autism in children to cancer at all ages. Consider the following:
* Potatoes, lettuce and cucumbers have the highest concentration of pesticides, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’sits annual crop report.
* A major study by the New York State Department of Health directly links pesticides to diabetes, now one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States.
* The environmental group Global Pesticide Campaign warns that glyphosate used in Roundup causes auto-immune deficiencies in children and the elderly.
* Cornell University says carbyl, an ingredient in Sevin insect dust and liquid, has been linked to Parkinson’s disease.
* Purdue University warns “weed and feed” type lawn chemicals have caused bladder cancer in dogs. An Ohio K-9 corps reports several of their dogs developed cancer by coming in contact with chemical fertilizers around their dog pens. Consequently, the federal government is urging veterinarians to report all cancer in animals as an early warning sign for man.
Growing your own pesticide-free food is easy and there’s nothing healthier and as good tasting as produce picked at maturity right in your back yard. Using organic methods, follow these few simple steps.
1. Prepare your garden the old fashioned way. Rent a roto-tiller and turn over the earth in a given plot exposing the earth to the sun and the rain. In early spring, hard rake the earth and break up the clumps. Dig a 5-inch deep trench around the plot and fill with sharp stones. This stops voles from burrowing into the garden. Sprinkle the earth with Milky Spore powder to do away with white grubs that eat away at the roots of garden plants. Milky Spore was developed by the USDA, is nontoxic and approved for organic
farming by the manufacturer.
2. Begin by planting early “cool season” crops like spring onions, lettuce, radishes, green peas, Chinese cabbage, broccoli and turnips. A trip to your local garden center will provide you with lots of growing ideas. Don’t pick seeds that have been genetically altered like GM corn, soy or wheat. These seeds contain the DNA of pesticides. Buy old fashioned “heirloom” seeds that grandfather planted. Use organic fertilizer, not the chemical kind.
3. As the season warms up and the bugs arrive, control them with “organic
insecticides.” A simple dusting of plants with diatomaceous earth stops almost all bugs. Organic liquid sprays knock down flying bugs without contaminating the crops. Organic repellents keep away deer, hedge hogs, rabbits and other animals.
4. Put in companion plants such as mint and other herbs that repel insects and bugs. Plant watermelon, tomatoes and other great garden crops. Plant blackberries and raspberries as these keep coming back year after year and require little attention. Just a few blackberries contain more vitamin C than an orange.
5. When weeds arrive, pull them out by hand, or, selectively spray them with
an organic weed killer.
If you do buy produce at the supermarket, be sure to wash it with warm water, then spray with white vinegar. Mix one part white vinegar to one part water. This helps dissolve the pesticide residue. Let sit for 30 minutes, then wash again but with cold water.
You will be surprised at how bountiful a home garden can be and by the second year you might be planning to enlarge the original plot to include a bigger variety than the first time around.
Organic bug sprays, weed killers and other natural controls and products can be found at www.milkyspore.com, or by calling (800) 801-0061 for a free brochure from St. Gabriel Organics.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Though lawn mowing can be time-consuming, it’s a “must do” for both the health of your lawn and basic curb appeal. Consequently, homeowners are looking for mowers to help them maintain their yards as quickly and easily as possible so they can spend more time enjoying their lawns.
A 2007 national consumer survey sponsored by outdoor power equipment manufacturer Lawn-Boy shows that homeowners are looking for features that make their lives easier. More than 65 percent of lawn-mowing consumers ranked a deck designed to reduce trimming chores, easy height adjustment, lightweight and easy to maneuver, and an easy-to-use grass clippings bag as the most important features they look for in a new mower.
With all of these features and options available on today’s mowers, the buying process can be both confusing and overwhelming. Joe Hager, Lawn-Boy senior engineer, says, “The key to choosing the right lawn mower is to take a good look at your specific needs and go from there.” But how do you know which mower, or what combination of features, fits you and your specific needs? To find out, you must ask yourself a few simple questions:
* Who will use the mower? Will you be the only user or will several people in your household use it throughout the season?
If several people will be mowing the lawn, consider a mower that can be easily adjusted to fit a variety of operator heights. Some models let you adjust the handle height with a single, easy-to-reach knob. Also consider a mower with a self-propel system, like Lawn-Boy’s Sens-a-Speed system that automatically senses and intuitively adjusts to each person’s walking speed, from 0 to 5 miles per hour.
* How big is your yard?
If your yard is a half-acre or less, consider a walk-behind mower with self-propel system. If it is more than a half-acre, consider a riding mower instead of a walk-behind. Also, a riding mower with a 38-inch cutting deck is a good choice for a moderate-sized yard less than one acre.
* Do you feel fatigued after mowing?
Consider a mower with ergonomic, padded grips to make mowing comfortable and help ease the strain on hands and arms.
* Do you frequently have to stop mowing to pick up debris, toys or other obstacles?
Look for a mower with a Blade Control System (BCS), which stops the blade when you release the mower’s handle, allowing you to pause to empty the bag, pick up debris or roll across a driveway or sidewalk without having to stop — and then restart — the engine.
* Do you bag your grass regularly?
Attaching or removing the bag can be a hassle on many mowers. Look for a mower with an Easy Lift bag, which can be put on or taken off with just one hand. This feature comes standard on all Lawn-Boy Insight, Insight Gold and Insight Platinum mowers.
* Do you have limited storage space?
If the answer is “yes,” many mowers today fold for convenient storage.
The good news is that some manufacturers are listening closely and developing new features to meet homeowners’ evolving needs. “Technology has finally advanced to the point where we can give people exactly what they’ve always wanted,” says Lawn-Boy’s Hager.
To help you find the right lawn mower for your needs, Lawn-Boy developed an online shopping guide that walks you through the decision-making process. At www.FindYourMower.com, you can assess your mowing needs, find the corresponding features and identify the best mower or mowers for you. In just a few minutes, you’ll be on your way to the right mower.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) – If you’re unsure what you can do to successfully grow your savings account, you’re not alone. Just like committing to a regular workout routine and eating healthier, getting out of the starting blocks is half the battle. Beginning a savings program is no different and according to a recent national survey, the majority of Americans are not following the three simple steps that are key to a successful savings plan.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Countrywide Bank, FSB, the nation’s third largest federal savings bank, shows that the majority of Americans who have both savings and checking accounts keep them at the same bank; they have never thought of having the accounts at separate banks, and have no automatic savings plan in place.
“Consumers are potentially leaving money on the table,” says Pierre P. Habis, managing director for deposits and investment services at Countrywide Bank. “Serious savers view their savings accounts as ‘one way’ only, meaning they make more deposits than withdrawals. They succeed at this by keeping their transactional banking relationship at one bank and savings at another.”
“We’ve found that if consumers’ checking and savings are under the same roof, it’s too easy to draw from that nest egg, and that’s when savings stagnate,” he adds.
So what are the three secrets of successful savers? Habis offers the following advice:
1. Separate
In the Harris survey, 71 percent of respondents said they keep their savings and checking accounts in the same bank. And 67 percent have never even considered separating their accounts. This, Habis says, can be a serious mistake.
Keep your primary savings and checking accounts at different financial institutions. This strategy may help you get the best rates, and will make it more difficult to dip into your savings – one of the worst saving mistakes people commit. Shop around for institutions that offer the best possible terms. It is possible that the institution that best meets your checking needs might not be suited for providing market-leading savings rates.
2. Automate
Sixty one percent of the respondents in the Harris poll do not automatically transfer or deposit a set amount into their savings on a regular basis. Paying yourself first is one of the hallmarks of a basic savings plan. Habis recommends that consumers establish a savings plan, whereby a percentage of your income, or a set dollar amount, is automatically deposited into your savings account on a regular basis. “Start out by trying to allocate a small amount, perhaps even $20 per week to start, towards a high-yielding account,” says Habis.
3. Shop for the Best Rate
If you’re not sure what the annual percentage yield (APY) is on your savings account, how do you know if your money is working hard for you? According to the survey, 32 percent of adults with savings accounts don’t know what the yield and corresponding interest rate is, and 45 percent know that it is less than 5 percent. To find the best rate, survey several banks and compare the APY on your savings accounts, money market accounts or certificates of deposit.
Avoid leaving money on the table by ensuring that your account has market-leading savings rates. Web sites such as www.bankrate.com help consumers identify the highest rates available in their market.
“As with any financial decision, consumers should carefully evaluate their options and fully understand the advantages and disadvantages before making a change,” Habis says. “Consumers can maximize their returns if they separate, automate and always seek the best rate.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Countrywide Bank, FSB, is a member of the Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) family of companies. For more information about Countrywide Bank, visit www.countrywidebank.com or call (866) 805-5919. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
Raleigh, NC – The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation announced today that it has formed a search committee to fill the newly established position of Executive Vice-President. The search committee is headed by Lee Arnold, Secretary; and AKC CHF Board Members: Ronald Menaker, J. Charles Garvin, MD, and Steve Remspecher.
“The Executive Vice-President will be critical to the success of the foundation’s mission of improving canine health,” states Lee Arnold. “This individual will ensure the organization’s effective use of financial and human resources.”
Major criteria include a track record for highly successful fundraising and effective business management experience. The Executive Vice President position will be located at AKC CHF’s offices in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The search committee has engaged the services of Drum Associates, a leading executive search Firm. Interested candidates should contact Drum at 212-233-7550. For more information on the AKC Canine Health Foundation, please visit their website: www.akcchf.org.
SOURCE:CarolinaNewsWire
The N.C. Defense Fund, the political action committee of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, endorses Judge Linda Stephens for election in 2008 for Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Judicial candidate endorsements by the NC Defense Fund are made based on the following criteria:
- Substantial exposure to or appreciation of issues involved in civil litigation;
- Commitment to the evenhanded application of the rules governing our courts;
- An outstanding reputation in the legal community;
- An outstanding record of judicial achievement or possession of the potential to be an outstanding judge.
- Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
