How To Find Great Little Known Hiking Trails

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Guest

 Tips On Finding Less Traveled Trails

Little Known Trail

If you’ve already hiked all the popular trails in your area, or even if you just prefer exploring the lesser known and lesser traveled trails, you may wonder how to find these options. Try the following tips to find little known hiking trails that are worth your time:

Do Initial Research Online

Research online, looking for hikes that are listed on the second, third, and fourth pages of Google search results. Google State Park hikes, National Park hikes, and private hikes, conducting separate searches for each of those keyword phrases with local town names, city names, region names, and state names. Make note of hikes that have reviews, and compare the list you compile with whatever hikes you’ve already explored. Print out maps, reviews, and descriptions until you’ve compiled a list of possible options.

Invest In A Few Local Hiking Guidebooks

Compare the list you compiled from online resources with trusted guidebooks that focus on the area you want to explore. Avoid hiking guidebooks that cover too wide of an area—they’ll be less likely to have information about the lesser known hiking trails. Look for guidebooks that focus on a small area or region and provide a lot of details. Some of my favorite hiking guidebooks are the Lonely Planet Hiking Guidebooks.

Talk To State And National Park Employees

Once you’ve identified the region you want to explore, make a few calls to people who work in the state and national park systems. These people know the areas inside and out and can direct you to some great hikes. They’ll know if the lesser known hikes are worth exploring or if the hiking trail is a dud. They’ll also know how difficult the trail is to traverse and can give you tips regarding how to tackle the hike.

Exploring Hikes In Privately Owned Nature Preserves

In some states, you’ll discover there are privately owned hiking trails that are well worth exploring. In many cases you’ll have to pay a fee to enter the private preserve. Because privately owned trails are not subject to the maintenance standards the state and national park trails are subject to, you will want to proceed with caution, realizing the trail may be dangerous, unkempt, or poorly marked.

Preparing To Hike A Little Known Trail

If the trail is not well known, you’ll want to take the following precautions before hiking it.

• Let a friend or relative know where you’re going and when you intend to be back.
• Take along a dog or friend for protection.
• Stash a few extra safety items into your backpack (a reflective, heat-retaining blanket, a rain poncho, a compass, a flare, a set of waterproof matches, a canister of pepper spray, and a couple of power bars should do the trick).
• Bring along a reliable map and a mode of communication.

It can be very exciting to explore a little known hiking trail, especially if you are lucky enough to be one of the few people who have ever traversed the trail. Have fun and stay safe!

About the Author:

Bridget Sandorford is a grant researcher and writer for CulinarySchools.org. Along with her passion for whipping up recipes that incorporate “superfoods”, she recently finished research on the best culinary schools and culinary schools in southern California.

Posted in Hiking | Tagged , | 1 Comment

How To Choose A Sleeping Bag For Camping

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Stephanie

Camping In Montana

Tips For Getting The Right Bag

If you are new to camping or a veteran camper, there is one piece of equipment that you must have. That is a sleeping bag. A comfortable sleeping bag will make or break your camping trip. So let’s take a little time and discuss what to look for if you are in the market for a sleeping bag.

Temperature

Sleeping bags have ratings based on the minimum temperature you expect to encounter when you are camping. If it says 20+, that means it would keep the average camper comfortably warm down to 20 degrees.  Be sure to factor in the possibility of a sudden dip in temperature during the night. I remember waking up one morning on July 4th and finding my water frozen.

Many bags are designated as 3 season bags. These would be sufficient for most camping in the spring, summer and fall. If you are camping in a tent as opposed to an RV, you should go a little extra on the cold side.

Family Camping

Material

The filling is very important in sleeping bags. There are two main types of filling:  synthetic and down. Each has its own special features. Once again, it’s important to know the general area where you are planning to camp. Here’s why.

• Synthetic materials are very light weight. They have improved greatly in recent years. They may not be quite as warm as down bags, but if they get wet, they retain more of their insulating ability.
• Down bags are also light weight and quite a bit warmer than synthetic bags. However, they lose their insulating ability if they get wet. If your favorite camping areas tend to be swampy or get a lot of rainfall, you’re probably better going with a synthetic bag.

Style

There are two types of styles or shapes: the mummy bag and the rectangular bag.  Your choice will depend on your size and sleeping habits.

• The mummy bag will hug your body, leaving less air space to heat. These are good choices for children and small adults.
• Rectangular bags have more room in them for moving around. If you are a large adult, or tend to thrash around in your sleep, perhaps this shape would suit you best.

Accessories

There are several accessories that you should consider when you purchase your sleeping bag.

• A sleeping pad is essential if you are sleeping in a tent. It will insulate you from the cold ground and smooth out the bumps and lumps under your sleeping bag. Sleeping pads can be made of foam or they can be inflatable. You can buy ones that are full body length or that just fit from shoulder to hip. If you are backpacking, the shorter ones are the way to go.
• Sleeping bag liners fit inside the sleeping bag and add warmth to the sleeping bag. They also help to keep your bag clean. They can easily be washed, which is a lot easier than washing the whole sleeping bag.
• A stuff sack is just that. It’s a small sack with a tie at the top that you stuff your sleeping bag into when you are traveling. It’s a handy way to keep your bag clean and easy to pack.

Great Family Activity

These simple guidelines should help you when you are shopping for a  Sleeping Bags. A well chosen sleeping bag will definitely enhance your camping experience.  Take the time to look around and find one that’s just right for you.

Posted in Camping, Outdoor gear and clothing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Essential Items for Festival Goers

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Guest

8 Must Have Items For Camping At A Music Festival

UK Music Festival

So you’ve bought your festival tickets and now it’s time to pack for the big weekend. You’re probably wondering what the essentials are, so hopefully I’ll be able to provide you with a list of things you definitely shouldn’t even consider leaving behind.

1. A tent.

Sounds like common sense – but you’re going to need somewhere to sleep. Try splitting the price with a friend and share your sleeping space (chances are, you won’t be sleeping much anyway). A decent tent can cost quite a bit of money but try shops like Decathlon for reasonable prices and quality too. Insider tip: pick a patterned tent or one that is brightly coloured;  it’ll make locating it that much easier in a field of hundreds. Remember a sleeping bag to go in the tent too – otherwise you’re in for a cold night!

2. Wellington Boots.

Doesn’t matter if you buy a cheap pair or an expensive designer pair – these long waterproof boots are a must for any festival goer. Team them with some thick knee length socks for optimum protection against cold, muddy feet.

3. A Torch.

For those midnight strolls through the campsite (when you’ll probably be a little drunk) a torch is a life saver. Not only does it prevent you unzipping and falling asleep in the wrong tent but it also helps you avoid tripping over various obstacles you’re bound to encounter.

4. Food. (And Drink).

Do a huge food shop before you set up camp, ensuring you stock up on things that are easy to prepare but also easy to carry. Carbohydrates are great for curing hangover blues, and bottled water is important to stay hydrated (especially if the festival is happening in the heart of summer). Try and steer clear of things such as ice-cream (for the obvious reason – it will melt). Also remember not to buy anything with glass packaging – so make sure all your beer is either in cans or plastic bottles.

5. Dry Shampoo and Baby wipes.

Dry Shampoo is a spray that gives you hair that looks freshly washed and brands like Batiste are amazing. When you don’t want to queue up for a shower (or when it’s too cold to be walking around with wet hair) this is the perfect solution. Baby wipes keep you feeling clean too, and keeps the smelliness at bay. Both products make sure you look photo-worthy all weekend. Bring on the camera!

6. A Camera.

To document the awesome time you’re going to have, you need a camera, of course! Just make sure you keep it with you at all times. If possible, it might be worth buying a cheap second hand camera off Ebay (because festivals are chaos at times, and you could lose it or break it) – taking your expensive SLR might not be the brightest idea.

7. An Anorak.

Take a couple of these as you’ll probably end up lending them to friends once the heavens open up and it starts to rain. Perfect for keeping you dry, and if you get patterned or coloured ones it also makes finding your friends in the crowds much easier!

8. Toilet Roll!

Not the first thing you’d think of when packing, but the one thing you’ll regret not packing once you get there. Shove a couple of rolls into your bag and you’ll be laughing the whole weekend. It is such an overlooked item that within hours you can even use the toilet roll to trade for alcohol and food. Total win!

About the Author: Elle-Rose Williams writes for Go See Them, a UK ticketing website. Current artists and events featured on the website include The Stone Roses, Ed Sheeran and One Direction tickets.

Posted in Camping, Vacation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Backpacking: A Non-Traditional Holiday

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Stephanie

 

Holidays Abroad

Christmas In Italy

Off Season Backpacking Trips Offer Many Benefits

Most people reserve backpacking for the warm months of summer, as you don’t need as much clothing or other personal materials to get along. However, the summer season also brings along other tourists, which can make getting that real experience a little more difficult. Local shops tend to try and sell you more as this is their busiest time of the year and the traditional tourist spots can often be too crowded to get into or truly appreciate.

Winter backpacking will give you a whole new look at places you may have gone before. There are new activities, attractions and fewer tourists. So you want a unique holiday experience? Grab your sack and get trekking.

1. One benefit of traveling during the winter is that it’s an off-season for tourists. Yes, many people go abroad for skiing opportunities but those are more select cities, than as a whole. That being, airfare and other travel prices will be cheaper. For an even better price, go to CheapSally.com for a Travelocity promo code that will cut the price even more. Don’t forget to plan accordingly. For example, if you plan to make your way across Europe, book your flight to London but make the return flight in Venice. You don’t want a two-way ticket from the same place unless you plan to travel full circle.

2. Make sure you pack accordingly. Europe, Russia and many spots in Asia are quite cold during the winter as many of them receive snow. If you plan to head north, bring your warmest coat, preferably something that is also waterproof. Winter underwear may seem silly now, but you’ll be happy once you set out in the snow with your long johns and thermals on. If you’re heading south towards Spain or Portugal you’ll most likely not see snow but you should still prepare yourself with a jacket and warm sweaters.

3. Make sure you do your research before you leave. Plan out your destinations and know a few hostels in the area so you have options or in case you don’t make it to your target location. Trains and other modes of transportation can be unreliable in the winter due to snow or rain, so planning for these instances will save you a lot of trouble, especially if there’s a language barrier. Doing research also entails knowing the attractions you want to visit. This doesn’t mean you need to make a detailed list of every day you travel.  That defeats the purpose of backpacking and a non-traditional tourist trip. However, you should have a rough outline of where you’re going, especially when you are trying to make special events and deadlines.

4. Because you are traveling during the holiday season, take advantage of the trip by experiencing new cultural holidays. Each country has a different way of celebrating the holiday seasons so try to experience as many as you can. Be open minded to new traditions and holiday foods to get the best non-traditional holiday as possible.

Steff Scholl loves everything about the holiday season. From the lights and decorations down to the festive foods. She has already spent New Years in Japan and one day hopes to celebrate in a European country. When she’s ready to take that trip, Steff knows she can use a Travelocity promo code to book her flight at the best possible price.

Posted in Travel, Vacation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How To Keep Warm And Dry In The Winter

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Stephanie
Be Warm

Layer Your Clothes

Proper Winter Clothing Will Keep You Comfortable

Just because the weather turns cold doesn’t mean that you stop enjoying being outside. It just means that you make sure that you have the proper clothes to keep you warm and dry when you are outside in the cold weather. You may be a skier, snowboarder or hiker, or maybe a mom or dad sledding with your children. In either case, it’s important to understand how to dress for the outdoors in the winter.

The most important concept is layering your clothes. It’s much better to wear multiple layers of clothing rather than just throwing on a bulky, heavy jacket. It’s also easier to move in multiple layers and you can adjust your comfort level by adding or removing clothing as the temperature changes.

Head And Extremities

When the temperature is below freezing, your extremities are the first part of your body to be subject to frostbite. Your fingers, toes, ears and head will suffer first. Here are some suggestions for keeping them warm.

• Always wear a hat when you are out in cold weather. A bare head sucks body heat out of your body. Forget about “hat head”. You need to protect your head when you are out in freezing weather. Wool is a good fabric for a hat because it retains its insulating properties, even when it is wet. L.L.Bean has a variety of hats and gloves or mittens to choose from.

• Gloves or mittens are essential. Mittens actually keep your hands warmer because your fingers can warm each other. When you are buying gloves or mittens, look for ones that have Thinsulate insulation. Thinsulate is a product made by 3M corporation. It works by trapping air in its many small fibers. That layer of air will protect your warm body parts from the outside air. You also want to look for a product that is water resistant.

• When you are buying socks it’s important that you choose socks that are water resistant as well as being well insulated. There are many synthetic materials that will do this. It’s also important that they are able to wick away moisture. Your feet need to stay dry as well as warm when you are outdoors. I have a pair of socks that are made of possum down (who knew!) and they are extremely warm. Two pairs of socks will go a long way in keeping your feet warm.

Everything Else (Torso)

Here is where layering is most important. The layers trap your body heat and insulate you from the cold.

• Your first layer that is right next to your skin should be able to wick away moisture. Once you get moving, you will sweat. Avoid cotton shirts because when they get wet they will not keep you warm. Look for a synthetic material that has wicking properties. Eastern Mountain Sports sent me a shirt to try out and I have to say that I love it. It’s the EMS Women’s Techwick Essential Crew and it’s on sale right now. It has those wicking properties that I mentioned above. When it’s cold you can wear it right next to your skin and add additional layers. When it’s slightly warmer weather, you can wear it as a standalone. I have really enjoyed wearing this shirt because it is so soft and lightweight. It has long sleeves and is long enough to tuck into my pants or to just wear it loose. It’s slightly tapered at the waist which looks good and it comes in a variety of colors. It would make a great gift for that outdoors person on your list.

• Once you have your first layer, your second layer should be a fleece, wool or flannel layer. I personally like wool because it will continue to insulate you even if it gets wet.

• Your outer layer should protect against rain and wind. But remember, you don’t need a bulky jacket because you already have two layers holding in your body heat. So lighter is better. Look for jackets that have sealed or coated seams and shielded zippers. These extras will help to keep your body heat where it belongs.

• When you’re choosing pants, stay away from denim jeans. They are heavy and take forever to dry. Choose pants made with lightweight synthetic material that will keep you warm and dry. Don’t forget to include a layer of long underwear first. You’ll want to insulate your lower body just like you did your torso.

Now you know how to dress for outdoor activity in the wintertime. With the proper clothing, you will be warm and comfortable as you head outside to participate in winter sports, or to just build a snowman with your children.

Posted in Outdoor gear and clothing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Top 5 iPhone Apps for Skiers & Snowboarders

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Guest

 

Try These Apps For Skiing And Snowboarding

Skiers

Winter can be lots of fun. Skiing and Snowboarding are very popular activities in places like Vail, Colorado. Skiers and Snowboarders will benefit greatly from iPhone ski apps. There are a number of iPhone apps to chose from.

There are a few things to consider when choosing the best iPhone apps. The iPhone is a sleek, attractive and easy to use device and we expect the same from our iPhone apps. Another thing to consider is cost. We want value in return for our money. Free of course, is very appealing. Here are our top 5 iPhone Apps for Skiers and Snowboarders based on our research.

* Snocator

Snocator is a very handy iPhone App. Snocator has GPS ski trail map that covers well over 70 ski areas in North America. With Snocator you can see where you are located on a map as well as what trail you are on. Snocator can also tell you where you can find the nearest lodges, ski lifts, restaurants and more.

Another great feature of Snocator is the ability to check the latest weather forecasts. Get the latest snow report or check out the view of the mountain from real-time cams on the mountain. Best of all Snocator is very affordable.

* Satski

Satski is a useful and fun iPhone app with GPS capability and 3D trail maps. Best of all, you don’t need an internet connection to access any of the Satski maps once the map has been downloaded from the Satski website. This is a great offline feature in areas with poor connection.

Other features include information about emergency service, buddy tracking, real time replay (allows you to review the slopes you have skied) and a whole host of resort related information. Price for Satski is affordable at just over $5.

* Realski

One of the standout features of this app is that it uses AR ( augmented reality). In fact, it is the very first iPhone app with augmented reality for skiers and snowboarders. Features include geotagging, capturing photos with AR tags or geotags, sharing photos with the AR data tags and the ability to comment on social media outlets like Facebook. Realski is also FREE to download.

*Phresheez

Want to brag about the best run of your life? Want to show off that amazing run to your friends? Phresheez is the iPhone app for you. Phresheez records the steepness and speed of your run. If your friends have Phresheez as well, you can compare stats and see who truly has the best skills set. A great app for healthy competition. among friends.

Phresheez also includes a function that tracks all members of your party and makes it easier to meet up on the slopes. This app is also FREE to download.

* The Snow Report

This is an essential iPhone app for any skier and snowboarder. This app gives daily updates on snow conditions as well as a 5 day forecast. You can use the “Track Day” feature, to record the mountains conditions on the days you have spent in the snow, and post photos direct to Facebook and other social media tools. This handy little app is FREE to download.

Author bio:  When Mary White is not writing about traveling, she’s researching Vail accommodations for her next Colorado ski trip on www.gcpvail.com.

Posted in Adventure, Outdoor gear and clothing, Vacation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

How To Keep The Bite Out Of Frost

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Stephanie
Guard against frostbite

Keeping Warm Outdoors

Should I Be Worried About Frostbite?

Now that snow has begun to fall and the temperatures are dropping below freezing on a regular basis, let’s take a look at a winter hazard–frostbite.  By knowing what frostbite is and learning how to prevent it, we can take the worry out of winter.

Each season has it’s own hazards and winter’s is definitely frostbite, or its lesser cousin, frostnip.  Frostbite can happen to anyone outdoors with exposed skin when the temperature drops below freezing.  Frostbite is frozen body tissue.  The severity depends on how deeply the frozen tissue extends.  It can affect not only super athletes hiking on frozen mountains, but also your child sledding on a neighborhood hill or building a snowman.  Frostbite requires medical attention.  Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite that is easily treatable with warming.

Prevention

Proper clothing is your first line of defense against frostbite.  Then comes proper nutrition, followed by common sense.

  • Layer your clothes.  Start with undergarments made of synthetic material that will wick away perspiration from your body.  Then follow with a snug fitting shirt and/or warm sweater.  Wool is a good choice because of its insulating value.  Finish off with a water and wind resistant jacket.
  • Always cover your head and ears.  If it’s extremely cold, wear a ski hat.  It’s the extremities such as ears, nose, fingers and toes that freeze first.
  • Wear waterproof boots.  Two layers of socks should be adequate.  Make sure the socks next to your skin are made of material that wicks away water, just like the shirt that you are wearing.
  • Mittens are a better choice than gloves, because the fingers can warm each other.

It takes a lot of fuel to keep your body warm in below freezing temperatures.  Here are some suggestions.

  • Eat high carbohydrate and high protein meals to give your body lots of fuel to keep you warm.
  • Make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.  It’s not just the sun that sucks moisture from your body.  When you can see your breath in the air, realize that it is water escaping from your body.
  • If you’re going on an extended hike, carry high protein snacks and plenty of water or a warm drink.

Use common sense when you or your children are outside in the cold.

  • At set intervals, call a time out and have everyone come inside to warm up.
  • Have plenty of warm drinks available
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages or caffeine laden drinks, because they will cause you to excrete water.
  • Remove any wet clothes and replace them with dry ones.

Symptoms

Be aware of the symptoms of frostbite.

  • Numbness or tingling is usually the first sign of superficial frostbite.
  • The skin might look white.
  • There is resistance when the affected area is pressed.
  • Deep frostbite means that all feeling is gone.  The skin is rock hard when touched.  It may look waxy and blisters may form.  In extreme frostbite, the skin will turn black.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to rewarm the affected part slowly.  Be aware that is painful as feeling returns to the  frozen extremity.  If at all possible, take the person to a doctor or an emergency room.  It that is not possible, try the following.

  • Get the person to a warm place as quickly as possible.  Do not let them walk on frozen feet.  Don’t use artificial heat to warm the frozen area.  The damaged skin can burn easily without even feeling it.
  • Put the affected part in warm, not hot ( 100 – 106 degrees), water for 20 to 30 minutes until it turns pink and feeling returns.  If the face or ears are affected, use a washcloth or towel to bathe the frozen part.
  • Don’t thaw a frozen part if there is a possibility that it might refreeze.  The refreezing will cause more damage to body tissue.
  • Remove wet or tight clothing or jewelry.  Some swelling will probably occur.
  • Elevate extremities to reduce any swelling.
  • Protect the thawed skin from further injury.  Keep toes or fingers from rubbing against themselves.  Separate them with soft gauze or cotton balls.
  • Never rub a frozen part in an effort to return feeling.  The skin is already damaged and any further abrasion will only make it worse.

When To Seek Medical Help

All cases of frostbite should be seen by a doctor.  He can decide if the frostbite is superficial or severe.

  • If the skin is hard and white, get to the emergency room or to your doctor quickly.  A physical examination needs to be done to determine the depth of the frostbite and order appropriate treatment.  Your doctor can supervise the rewarming process.
  • Severe frostbite is often accompanied by hypothermia, which is dangerous drop in body temperature.  In this case, the whole body needs to be rewarmed.

Don’t let the fear of frostbite keep you inside.  The dangers of frostbite are real, but with proper clothing and nutrition, you should be able to enjoy yourself outdoors.

Posted in Outdoor gear and clothing, Winter camping & hiking | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How To Get Your Garden Ready For Winter

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Stephanie

Get Ready For Winter

Tips On How To Winterize Your Garden

Most of the leaves have fallen and we’ve had frost a few mornings already. It’s time to get your garden ready for winter. Whatever you do now will save you time in the spring.  Here are some chores that you should do before the snow falls.

Clean Up

  • Cut all those dead flower stalks down. The only ones you might want to leave are the flowers that have dried seeds still attached to the flower heads. I always leave my cone flowers in the garden. The thistle like seeds are loved by yellow finches and other birds and it’s a joy to see their bright colors during grey winter days.
  • Remove as many weeds from your planting areas as you can.  You can use a rototiller to till them in.  But you must cover the soil with mulch to prevent the weed seeds from sprouting.  You’ll be so glad you did next spring.
  • Pull up your old, dead vegetable plants and pick up any vegetables that have fallen on the ground. Clean any debris that may be lying around in the garden. Don’t give those veggie eating bugs a place to hide.
  • Clean up all fallen fruit under fruit trees.

Mulch

  • After a hard freeze, place some mulch around your perennials to keep them from heaving out of the ground after a cycle of freezing and thawing.
  • I like to mulch my vegetables with hay or straw. Straw is better because it doesn’t have as many seeds as hay. One of our local nurseries uses bales of straw to make their Halloween display. The week after Halloween they sell those bales for $1 apiece. I’m sure many garden stores and nurseries in your locale would be glad to sell those used bales for practically nothing. They might even give them away. It’s worth asking.
  • Another way to mulch your vegetable garden is to plant a cover crop.  A cover crop should be tilled under in the spring a few weeks before you are ready to plant.  The material you till in will add beneficial nitrogen to the soil.

Leaves

Save Your Leaves

If you are lucky enough to have trees in your yard, you will have an abundant supply of leaves. You may think it’s a curse while you are raking them, but you have a major ingredient for making Black Gold! Black gold is how gardeners feel about compost.

  • If you compost your leaves and grass clippings in the fall, you will be rewarded with all natural fertilizer and mulch for your garden and shrubs in the spring.
  • If you don’t have leaves, find a friend who has plenty of them. I have a friend who has lots of leaves but doesn’t garden. She would have to haul the leaves to the dump, so every fall, I give her a box of garden trash bags and haul her leaves to my garden. It’s win-win for both of us.
  • I have my bags all lined up behind my garden fence. It’s a good idea to poke a hole in the bottom of the bags to let earthworms get into the leaves and do their thing.
  • I used part of my leaves to build two compost piles. Since you need both carbon and nitrogen materials, I got out my lawnmower and put the bagger attachment on it. I alternated layers of grass and leaves with a sprinkling of already finished compost on every other layer. I am letting the rain do its thing and by next spring I should have lots of compost, ready to go to fertilize my garden and mulch my trees.
  • Be sure to save enough leaves to use for composting your kitchen scraps throughout the summer.

Row Covers

Row covers are rectangular strips of different weight material that protect your plants from frost and insects. They are usually 8 ft. long and 4 or 5 ft. wide. Put them over your tender plants that might be killed by the frost or later dips in temperature. They usually need to be placed over wire frames to hold them over the row of plants. I use them on my swiss chard and parsley. Hopefully, they will keep producing well into the winter.

Miscellaneous

  • Be sure to detach your garden hoses from their faucets to prevent the water backing up into the pipes and freezing.
  • Bring your hoses inside for the winter.  They will last a lot longer that way.
  • Take your outdoor pots and put them away inside.  Water in the pot, freezing and thawing, could cause breakage.
  • Make sure your garden tools are clean and dry.

These simple chores will help you get your garden ready for winter.  Then you can relax, pull up a chair and start planning your garden for next year.

Author Bio:  Stephanie loves the outdoors and enjoys gardening.  She writes reviews about outdoor products, including a great outdoor grill.

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Plant a Tree for the Planet

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Guest

 

Help Reverse Climate Change

Plant A Tree

The United Nations has launched a plan to plant one billion trees in a single year. The initiative is called “Plant for the Planet”.  It is about getting individuals, communities and indeed, countries, to make a cumulative difference to reduce climate change and ensure that the rich natural habitat that trees provide is protected. Climate change and loss of bio-diversity are the great environmental challenges of this century.

This initiative is about empowering people to act locally and impact globally.  It believes that change is not just confined to large boardrooms.  Discussions between states are one aspect but people can take charge of fighting climate change by planting a tree.

The campaign has brought on board some large hitters to promote it, including, Prince Albert of Monaco, Wangari Maathai of Kenya – 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner and the World Agroforestry Centre. Maathai was enthused by the campaign for fighting one of the leading causes of poverty in Africa, the loss of productive farmland through desertification and depletion of minerals in the soil.

Many similar charities across the world are fighting the degradation of land and communities by engaging in planting of trees. One prominent example that the UN looked at was the “Trees for Tibet” program.  China has cut down 50% of Tibet’s trees, resulting in the deserts of Tibet growing by 50% in the last 35 years. “Trees for Tibet” have planted 800,000 trees to date, driving away the desert and reclaiming grass land from the sands.

Some people decide to buy a tree from them as a Memorial Tree. It’s about different people taking a stance and having a positive impact on their community and planet.

The scale of deforestation over the last 15 years has been so great that 140 million hectares would have to be planted to reverse the devastation.  That is an area of 1.4 million Sq. Kilometres, equal to 1/7th of the United States. 15 billion trees would have to be planted every year for 10 years. This would mean that everyone on the planet would have to plant 2 trees. Quite a body of work just to get back to where we were in the 80’s.

In America, an area the size of Connecticut is planted each year, which is about 2.5mn acres in size. It really hasn’t changed much since the 20’s and records began. It still represents a lot of trees though. Tree nurseries in America grow 1.5bn trees each year, for planting across the country.  Most of these trees are grown in the South, with Georgia’s mild climate producing 240mn trees per year.

While the size of the task is immense, it also shows that the production capacity is there. The will and the intent to plant is where we are being let down. In America, the Government only plants 13% of the trees that are set each year, and yet, it is the largest land holder.

The Government has stepped in before, in the 30’s during the great depression.  Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corp engaged in a 7 year tree planting blitz that gave us many of our most well know local forests. During the time of the CCC, volunteers planted nearly 3 billion trees to help reforest America.  They constructed more than 800 parks nationwide and upgraded most state parks, updated forest fire fighting methods, and built a network of service buildings and public roadways in remote areas. At a time of 25% unemployment, 300k young men were able to work for the benefit of all.

While planting trees is one of the most lasting actions that you can take, there are many other ways that you can help mitigate climate change. These can include driving less, switching off lights in empty rooms and turning off appliances rather than putting them on standby. It is estimated that if everyone in America, turned off their computer while not in use, that it would save the energy of one Nuclear power plant. That is a significant financial and environmental saving.

You can make a difference.  Pledge to set one tree each year, for the rest of your life. Grow seedlings and give them as gifts to your friends.

Be the change that you want to see in the world.

Posted in Environment | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Five Beautiful Places To Visit In Colorado

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Guest

Enjoy These Five Beautiful Sites

A Colorado Treat

Paint Mines

Colorado is regarded as a very popular place to go in the winter for activities such as skiing and snow boarding; its no wonder with beautiful places like Veil and Aspen. As a Colorado native I can honestly say the only way I know these places are beautiful is through friends and pictures. It’s a catch 22. Natives of Colorado often don’t go to beautiful places that tourists do, but we know places that not many tourist websites will tell you about. As a native it is also much harder to appreciate the natural beauty of a place like Colorado because you were raised with the sites. There are things to see and places that even take the breath away of a native.

1. The Paint Mines

The Paint Mines are officially an “Interpretive Park” in Calhan, Colorado, about 30 miles west of Colorado Springs. I moved to Calhan at 12-years-old and in Calhan one of the only things to do is go to the Paint Mines, so I visited them quite frequently. There was never once that I saw the giant, naturally shaped and colored rocks and was not in awe. At the park they have plaques to tell you how the Paint Mines were formed, but when you’re there it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that all of the pinks, purples, blues, yellows, and oranges were made naturally.

2. Manitou Springs

I’m fairly sure Manitou Springs is a tourist attraction and it’s well worth a visit. Manitou Springs is a city, so there’s no cost or expense, but there’s something particularly special about this city. Manitou’s streets are lined with small businesses.  On the weekends they have quirky festivals, but the true magnificence is in the nature. This city has trees growing through the buildings, plants coming out of the sidewalks, and a small creek running through it. Its nestled in the foothills of the mountains between Denver and Colorado Springs and if it weren’t always buzzing with people, it would seem like it’d been deserted for years. It’s definitely worth visiting.

3. The Mountains in the Fall

This is terribly vague but with good reason. When you drive into the mountains there are numerous spots where you can see walls of trees.  I suggest driving somewhere with a purpose, such as up to Seven Falls or a good hiking spot because it’s that much better when you discover a wall of trees. These walls of trees are all changing colors, orange, red, purple and yellow, to form a rainbow of trees.  In the mix there is anything from aspen trees to evergreens, making it the finger print of the mountains.

4. Seven Falls at Night

This is also a tourist attraction, turned local make out spot at night, but just like Manitou, there is a good reason for it. In the day Seven Falls is absolutely beautiful and that cannot be denied but during the night it’s completely different. Seven Falls during the night is an atmosphere, not a place; the mist rolls off the water onto your skin, the moon shines on the water making it glow, and the rocks shimmer with a light coating of water and moonlight. The sky is so clear from the area that there is nothing in the world like it.

5. The View of the Mountains

This is also a bit vague and at times I forget to appreciate the sheer beauty of it, which is why it is last. But it is in itself, reason to come to Colorado. When you drive down the highway and see Pikes Peak covered in snow, you can’t help but be humbled.

Author bio:  Elizabeth Baker is a member of My Blog Guest.

Posted in Travel, Vacation | Tagged , | 2 Comments