How Does an Indoor Garden Work?

If you plan on having a garden inside the home, there are so many things you need to consider. While the garden looks so good, a lot goes into it to ensure it looks and works as well as it does. If you are not careful, your plants might die. Here are the main things you need to know about the garden and make it work.

The Location

The first thing you need to consider about your indoor garden is the location. Often you will find that the garden cannot stay in your living room because it does not have optimal light and temperatures to grow. Whenever you plan out the garden for your home, ensure you consider where you will put it. Most people put their plants by the window or the balcony to get some air.

The Plants

Once you have settled on the location, the next thing you need to keep in mind is the type of plants. Not all plants will work well indoors as some plants can be used for food while some are for aesthetics. Figure out the kind of garden you want to have before you decide to set it up. Many people prefer to put fruits and vegetables in an indoor garden, which you can try out. As long as the plants do not spread around the whole house, you are good to go.

The Care

Another vital thing you have to consider when getting indoor plants for your garden is how to care for them. Just like the plants in your outside garden, they will need to be watered and put in place where they can get enough light. You also need to figure out whether they need fertilizer and get the fertilizer into the house. If you have children, you have to figure out how you will use fertilizer without putting the lives of your family at risk since most of them can be dangerous.

Seasons

Plants
Inside the room, plenty of cacti are placed next to the window

The other thing you need to consider when you are planting your indoor plans is the most convenient weather for you. You often find that you can only grow in a certain season, and planting them when it is off-season will mean more work for you that produces less yield. You can get more resilient herbs to harsh winters and hot summers, or you could choose to plant your vegetables in rotation. That way, you will have vegetables in your home all year.

Create a Planting Calendar

While your garden might start small, you might choose to get a bigger place and set up a more elaborate garden indoors. For this reason, you will get to a point where you are planting so much and can lose track of everything. The best way to deal with this is to have a planting calendar. Make a list of the past you want to have in your garden and their seasons. That way, you can always switch up to new plants based on the type of vegetables you have. They will also help you remember to add fertilizer to them and weed them where need be. A planning calendar can also come in handy if you plan on using your product in your kitchen. You can plan your meals around the harvest times.

Final Thoughts

Having a garden indoors is a great way for you to spend time with your children doing something together. It also helps, especially now that there have been so many lockdowns going on. It also ensures you have fresh produce whenever you need it in your kitchen.

What Goes Where: 7 Indoor Plants and the Best-Fitting Rooms For Each

There are many reasons why a person should own an indoor plant or two. Plants add beauty to a room and clean the air. Further, plants add humidity by releasing water as vapor. Here’s a look at several indoor plants and where they fit in your home.

 

How to Select an Indoor Plant

How do you select a healthy plant? First, choose plants with a healthy root system. The healthiest roots are light-colored and thick. Next, look at the plant’s leaves. There should be no dead leaves, discoloration, or signs of insects. What type of plant should you buy? Go for a plant that you like. Most plants can adapt to your home. Green plants are beautiful as well as exotic blooms like one may see in Kanoa Hawaii.

#1 Peace Lily

The Peace Lily is an evergreen with beautiful foliage that looks good in any room. It’s a showy plant, so consider placing it in the living room or foyer. The trick to owning a peace lily is to coax the plant to bloom. Peace Lilies produce white blooms periodically. The secret is a well-lit room brings on blooms. This lilly is a tropical plant and needs to be kept in temperatures above 60 degrees.

#2 Orchids

Orchids come in several varieties with different lighting needs. Choose an orchid based on the lighting in your home. Orchids make a great centerpiece on the dining room table. Likewise, orchids make the perfect decoration in a living room. Some orchids like humidity, so the plant would fit well in a bathroom that gets some light.

#3 Schefflera

A Schefflera goes well in the family room or living room. In addition, the evergreen complements a home office. This houseplant likes bright light and can be placed outside when the temperatures stays above 45 degrees. Scheffleras tolerate medium light but the plant’s growth slows.

#4 Parlor Palm

Parlor Palms thrive in bright light or filtered light. This elegant plant looks good in a solarium or in the living room. Parlor Palms should be watered thoroughly when an inch of soil is dry.

#5 Jade Plant

The Jade Plant is an evergreen succulent. Most succulents are at home in the family room or solarium. Jade plants need full sun and limited watering. They should only be watered when the soil feels dry, but the plants may have a growth spurt if taken outside in the summer.

#6 Snake Plant

A recent study indicates that plants in the office give workers energy. Try a snake plant in your home office. Snake plants have tall colorful leaves. Interestingly, the snake plant is native to Africa and has a lot of nicknames. It’s often called St. George’s Sword and Mother-In-Law’s Tongue. Snake plants are also known to be very easy to care for.

#7 Weeping Fig

The Weeping Fig is a sturdy member of the ficus family. Weeping figs belong in a dining room with a high ceiling. The Weeping Fig is a tree and can grow ten feet tall. The tree prefers bright light and doesn’t like to be tampered with. This means it likes to be left alone. Repot the Weeping Fig and expect to drop some leaves. However, the leaves grow back quickly.

Indoor plants brighten up any home and help to freshen the air. Make sure you buy healthy plants and give them the correct environment. Try one plant and you’ll be addicted.

5 Perfect Tips to get an Energy-Efficient Garden

Having a home garden is a wonderful way to save money, cultivate a hobby, and teach the next generation a valuable skill that will stay with them for their entire life. We have a few ideas that will help you garden more efficiently and save energy.

To garden for pleasure is a wonderful pastime that is both peaceful, but also a great way to control your own food growth, and by extension, food consumption. You can be specific about what you plant when you harvest it, and how to properly germinate your crop to produce more plant products like fruits and vegetables.

You can also regulate what you use to kill weeds, like the best dandelion killer. That is, of course, unless you enjoy the catharsis of pulling weeds around your garden and home by hand. However, this usually is a factor in smaller gardens. Larger spans are often handled with chemicals, and at the following link you can find a dandelion killer buyer’s guide to help you make an informed choice.

The garden in today’s world

Burning yourself out and wasting tons of unnecessary money doesn’t have to be the case with the modern, energy-efficient garden. There are plenty of ways to have your veggies and eat them, too, while not pulling your hair out in frustration.

1. The soil

The better the soil, the better the growth. That is just a fact. The best soil is volcanic, but for more domestic uses, a quality potting soil that is nitrogen-rich is the best for the job. Mixing in some compost that has properly decayed is even better. And if you are feeling ambitious, manure from literally any source is a great source of nutrients plants crave.

2. Nearby trees

Planting trees, especially shade-producing trees, is a solid way to make your area cooler, and safer from the sun’s violent rays. The cooler earth, coupled with aeration from the roots, will assist in plant growth.

3. Watering, or not

Having a way to water your plants that is efficient, but not wasteful, will help you to cut your water bills, and help the environment at the same time. A watering can versus a hose is a good place to start. If you don’t want to use water, drought-resistant plants like cacti will work well for you.

4. Proper tools

Safe garden tool use that won’t hurt the plants when weeding or harvesting is the best way not to accumulate wasted product. Using hand tools versus power tools is the better way to go and will give you better control.

5. Lighting

If you want to garden for less energy consumption to keep your bills lower, solar lights are a great garden accessory to install. They use a photocell to turn on the light, and solar panels to charge it. No need to wire it to the home.

Conclusion: To garden like a pro, you have to think like a pro, and someone who has made a career out of effective, energy-efficient gardening, will know the right ways to maximize their garden’s output and produce the best product. Think of those giant tomatoes at the farmer’s market. They didn’t just happen. They were cultivated by experience, research, and time. To get your best output, do what they do, only better. Do you have an area that you use to grow your own flowers or produce?

About the Author

Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement the enthusiastic electrical works in the garden and writes for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews whether it is a drill, welding machine or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house is a representation of his skills made by his hands.

7 Tips to be A Successful Farmer in Victoria

Farming in Victoria dates back to November 1834 when the first farmer Edward Henty arrived at Portland on a boat. Two weeks after his arrival, Robert Crowley, his workman began tilling the land to plant potatoes for the first time in Victoria. That is how farming became the main economic activity in Victoria.

Today, Victoria is Australia’s largest exporter of agricultural produce. In the period 2018-19, Victoria accounted for 27 percent of the total Australian agricultural produce. This makes farming an economic driver for Victoria and Australia at large.

If you are a Victorian farmer or planning to start a farm in Victoria, there are several things you should do for you to be one of the top farmers in the region. Read on to find out the 7 most important tips to be a successful farmer in Victoria.

Be Aware of Your Responsibilities as a Landowner

As a landowner, you have a responsibility to sustainably manage your farm and cut down biosecurity risks to ensure the success of Victoria’s agricultural industry. There are three things you should do for you to be a responsible landowner:

1. Be a Good Neighbor

For starters, you can strike a conversation with your neighbor. This is a good way to build healthy relationships and reduce the number of disagreements between neighbors.

Acknowledge that your neighbor is different and has expectations that might be different from yours. Be aware that your farm activities affect your neighbors and that your neighbor might not be informed about their responsibilities for land, pests, and weed management. Inform them.

2. Learn How to Solve Disputes

Farming and land ownership are not without disputes. Using legal action is both expensive and time-consuming. Disputes are a result of simple misunderstandings but are escalated by other unrelated things such as rumors, gossip, and misinformation. Learning how to solve disputes can save you weeks, months, or years that can be wasted using legal action. Some of the ways you can use to solve disputes include mutual resolution, third party intervention, and mediation. Also, the dispute settlement center of Victoria is free and confidential for the residents.

3. Learn How to Manage Invasive Plants and Animals

Every farmer has the responsibility of protecting Victoria from invasive plants and animals. As a landowner be aware of your legal obligation to control pests and weeds on your property. Be aware of the noxious weed species and non- native pest animals, management techniques, and how you can be involved in the weed and pest management in Victoria.

Focus on Your Land’s Management

Below are four Land management tips you need to succeed as a farmer in Victoria.

1. Time Management

Although time-management concerns all farmers, part-time farmers are the ones most affected by time issues. The first thing a farmer needs to realize is that they cannot do all the work. To save time and do more ensure that you divide and delegate your farm jobs.

If you are a part-time farmer, invest in an enterprise that you can handle. For example, cattle require less time as compared to other livestock. Also, trees and perennial crops require less time and labor most of the time. Ensure that you invest in an enterprise that matches your available time.

2. Leasing Land

Leasing land means expanding your farming business by accessing more resources without having to buy land. This comes in handy especially if you have a shortage of funds. Under long leases, both parties accept additional risks that may arise. For example, the lessor might miss out on a high income if the land price rises. The lessee can also incur losses on a bad season if the lease price is higher than the income. Ensure that you perform thorough research before entering into any lease agreement.

3. Drought Management

A good farmer should always be prepared for hard conditions. When faced by drought the decisions you make will affect your land, animals, and lifestyle. Things that you need to plan for during drought include water, food animal health among other things.

Also, remember that you have a legal responsibility towards the welfare of your animals. You are not allowed to let stock suffer or die. Apart from that, it’s not in your best interests as a farmer for livestock to die.

4. Learn From other People’s Mistakes

Farming is a continuous learning process. Keep your eyes open to see what’s working and what isn’t. Talk to farmers who are already successful in whatever they are doing. This can help improve your ideas and boost your confidence in farming.

The more you observe, the more you understand farming. This will help you in your decision-making process avoiding failure in your farm business. You do not have to repeat a mistake that has already been made.

How to Maintain a Healthy Garden – 7 Useful Tips

If you are a nature lover like me, then why not create a beautiful garden in your backyard, especially if you have the space for gardening? A garden not just uplifts the aesthetic appeal of the house but also gives you your own zen area to relax. Gardening is a hobby you need to develop as there is a lot of work involved to maintain a beautiful garden. We have discussed a few tips below to help you keep it clean and healthy.

1. Learn Thoroughly About the Plants You Choose

Each plant has different sunlight, nutrients, and water requirements. You cannot water all the plants equally and a few plants may need extreme sunlight whereas others may die if exposed to extreme sunlight. Do thorough research about all the plants you choose for your backyard to make sure you are taking the best care of them.

2. Maintain Proper Spacing

Make sure to maintain adequate distance between the plants as the roots need space to spread. If plants are placed in a crowded manner then the plants will grow poorly as they would compete for water, nutrients, and light.

3. Prune the Damaged Limbs Timely

It is essential to prune the damaged parts of the plant. If not, the plant will divert all its energy and most nutrients to the damaged part in order to salvage it which may affect the health of the entire plant. A wounded limb is also prone to disease that may spread to the entire plant. Make sure you have the proper tools, such as a limb saw, and make clean cuts that heal rapidly.

4. Use Fertilizers Carefully

It is obvious that you will have to use fertilizers in order to give your plants the essential nutrients, but then you need to be careful about choosing the right fertilizer for your plants. All your plants may need different nutrient combinations to grow better, and using the wrong fertilizer can burn the roots. To avoid these, get a soil test done by a local agency to get the information about nutrient levels and the soil so you know your next steps.

5. Fence Your Garden

An open backyard without a fence is never a good idea as critters, strays and even wild animals like deers can be attracted by the plants you are growing and soil your entire garden. Especially young plants are more prone to danger if not protected from these animals, hence fence your entire garden using metal fencing material to protect it from all large animals and small critters.

6. Treat for Bugs and Insects

Keep checking your plants for any infestation as insect damage is common in plants and if not treated can spread to other plants. There are chemical sprays available for different types of bugs and insects, consult an expert before you use any of those on your affected plants.

7. Keep it Clean and Tidy

An untidy garden will promote the growth of insects and germs, hence occasionally clean the garden to save your plants and also create a beautiful-looking garden for you to enjoy.

Plants are essential parts of our ecosystem and the more we can plant trees, the lesser our carbon footprint will be. Hence consider taking up gardening as your new hobby as it is not just good for you but the entire planet.

Landscaping Supplies You Need To Create a Beautiful Garden

A beautiful backyard not only makes your house look more welcoming and homely, but it also increases the property value. Some professional landscapers have all the landscaping supplies and equipment to work in your backyard. You can hire professional landscapers, or if you so choose, you can also work in your backyard. If you want the latter option, you may need to make a list of all the landscaping supplies you will need in the process of making a garden. Not only that, but you will also have to order all the necessary tools and equipment. Do remember that some of the materials may be hard to source, or may not be available locally.

Here Are Some of The Necessary Landscaping Supplies That You Need for The Task.

Soil

This is a no-brainer. You need to select a soil that will be good for the plants you are going to plant. Not only that, but the soil should also be compatible with the existing soil in your backyard. You may think that all soils are the same, but they are not. There are different varieties of soil; some are more porous than others. Some even contain toxins. You need to choose carefully. If you can try and smell the soil, if you smell anything rusty or funny, then you should know that the soil will likely damage your backyard and plants. Also, you should check for the soil texture. Good soil will not have any or few stones in it and also will not contain any clumps. When you lay a new soil over the existing soil, make sure that you mixed the soils.

You also need an excellent fertilizer that can replenish the existing soil if it lacks nutrients.

Gravel

Now you can use this to provide support for the paving, or you can use this to decorate your garden and create some contrast with the greenery. Gravels are mostly used in different sizes when they are to be used for paving purposes. When gravel is used for decoration, people tend to opt for similar sized and shapes to create uniformity. Also, you need gravel when it comes to landscaping because if you have a gravel runway in your backyard, you can use heavy cars and trucks without causing any damage to the grass and the soil. If you do happen to damage the grass, here’s how to make grass green fast.

There is yet another use for this landscaping supply. Gravel helps in draining the water from the grass and soil, which means, you will not face the problem of stagnant water and the growth of flies and mosquitoes around your house.

Mulch

Mulch is used as a form of a coating or to finish the landscaping project. Mulch traps in moisture within the soil, to keep the grass and the plants hydrated. Also, it means that you do not have to water the plants and the grass too often. 

Weed is a big problem when it comes to your backyards. There is one way to tackle weed, you can use mulch. Yes, mulch cover is a great way to keep weeds from growing in your backyard!

Sand

No landscaping supplies can be complete without sand. The types of sand that you can get depend entirely on your region. You can find various kinds of colored sand, which also differ in their sizes and texture. What sand you are supposed to use entirely depends on what you are going to use that sand for? Are you going to use it for creating your kid’s sandpit, or are you going to use it for paving?

Conclusion

Landscapers mainly use clean river washed sands that are not contaminated to create standouts, but if you are going to use for paving, you need to use a type of sand that contains a large amount of clay in it to create a good stable base.

Now that you know what supplies you need to create a garden, you should hurry up and source these materials!

Getting in Touch with Nature at Your Own Home 

Being able to spend some time in the open and enjoy nature is one of the most special feelings in the world. But if you do that in the comfort of your own home, it’s even better! If you’re one of those lucky people who live in a home that’s surrounded by a front and back yard, you simply have to make the most of it. Therefore, here are some of the best ways to get in touch with nature at your own home. 

Spice up your porch

Some people have a problem spending quality time in their front yard because they feel that everyone who passes by is able to see them. But if you design and build a great porch, you could be spending all your free time here – alone or with other people. You and your family could start having your meals there, or you could have a cup of coffee with your friends. Ultimately, you can even take a nap here or enjoy your books, but the most important thing is that you’ll be spending more time in the open than ever. 

Fix your deck

If you’re not a fan of letting random passers-by see you in your private moments, you can always introduce a totally different idea. Making the most of your backyard and giving your deck a brand new life is always a great choice. You don’t have to hide in your living room all summer long but instead, enjoy the outside area. From boosting your motivation to helping you discover a new hangout place, you’ll certainly get in touch with the nature around you. Instead of being stuck in dark, gloomy, improperly illuminated and poorly ventilated spaces, you’ll be surrounded by trees, fresh air, and lots of sunshine, which is great for your health, both mental and physical.

Regulate the exposure

Speaking of sunshine, you have to remember that not just any amount will do, no matter how amazing and healthy this is. Too much sunshine might harm you, especially if you’re living in a hot region with lots of sunny days on a yearly level. That’s why people living in places like Australia, for instance, might look into those handy shade sails that don’t just make your home more visually appealing but also help you connect to nature in a more meaningful way. Being able to spend time protected against too much sunshine will help you fall in love with your outdoor space again and again, and that’s always great.

Add more plants

In case you can’t or don’t want to spend time outside, you can always do the same in the comfort of your own home. Instead of going out, you could bring nature in, and turn your home into an oasis you can enjoy every day of the week. You just need to find some of the most durable house plants and incorporate them into every corner of your home. These will purify your indoor air, give your home a more natural look, boost your motivation, help you wake up in the morning, and turn into the focal points of your indoor space. You could also combine these with some eco-friendly décor, and take the green potential of your home to a much higher level.

As you can see, getting in touch with nature at your own home isn’t as hard or challenging as people generally think. It’s all about finding the right ideas and figuring out a way to make them work in your own space. And if you manage to do so, you too could start enjoying nature straight away!

Move Your Garden for Following Winter!

Being a fan of flowers and plants is a great thing, and that’s a hobby that can make you happy all year long. Still, lots of gardeners have a problem once the winter comes – most of their delicate plants and flowers don’t react well to low temperatures, and that’s why they have to do something about it. Reacting on time and moving your plants before it’s too cold is the only way to save them and avoid a disaster. If you too are thinking about doing that as well, here are a few tips that might help you.

Start on time

As mentioned before, moving your plants on time is the only way to keep them safe, but when is the right time to do so. Different people have different schedules, but if you want to listen to the experts, you have to know that they suggest doing so before the outdoor temperature drops below 45° F. Since temperature varies from one place to the next, you should keep track of the temperature at your home every single day and react as soon as it drops below 45° F. But, if you prefer having tropical plants, you might consider moving them even before, just to make sure they survive the cold weather.

Find the right place inside your home

Winter garden

Moving your plants in your home is a simple and easy task, but it needs to be done carefully and delicately. What’s even more important is to find the right spot for your plants. What most people do is move them into their bedrooms and living rooms, because these are the biggest rooms in their homes. However, bigger isn’t always better, and that means your living room might not be good enough for your plants. You need space that has lots of light, which is particularly vital in the winter, as well as the proper level of humidity that should help your plants live through the cold days. This means you may have to move your plants to your hallway, your dining room, your study, or even your kitchen, so keep an open mind.

Think outside the box

Speaking of areas where you can move your plants, you should take outdoor areas into consideration as well. These may not seem like the perfect choice at first, but actually, make a lot of sense in the long run. Places like decks, patios, and porches might look much better and more visually appealing if they’re full of plants and flowers, so you need to remember that too. You should also consider looking into those amazing sheds that can be quite versatile as well. Since they come in different shapes and sizes, you’ll soon realize why the best solution are sheds that aren’t just protective, but also durable, so your plants and flowers will be protected all winter long.

Keep taking care of your plants

Garden of Morning Calm

Taking care of your plants in the winter is the only way for you to save them, but if you move them in, you’ll have to adjust your maintenance schedule. Luckily, there are a few methods that should prove to be just enough, so be sure to explore these first. Start by adjusting your watering routine and water your plants less frequently. However, you should try to improve the humidity in your home because that’s more important than watering. Finally, adjust your indoor temperature and make sure your living space is full of natural sunlight too.

Moving your plants in before the winter might take some time and energy, but if you do everything right, you’ll be able to continue enjoying your plants in the spring as well – and that’s something all homeowners want!

 

What to Consider When You Hire a Pest Control Professional

Dealing with pests is one job that isn’t much fun. Most times, it’s best you hire a professional to help out than handling it by yourself. And if the infestation worsens or the control products needed are only available to authorized personnel, then you don’t have many options. Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer. It isn’t quite as simple as searching for an “exterminator near me” – there is a lot to think about before hiring the help you need.

Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer.

1. The company

The first thing you want to consider when hiring a pest control professional is the type of company. According to Brisbane Bennetts Services Pest Control, you’ll need to find out if the company is insured and bonded, to stay protected against liability. To go about this, visit their website and ask lots of questions.

From your research and findings, you’ll be able to determine if they are knowledgeable and professional enough to control the pest situation for you.

2. The technician

The technician you hire is perhaps the most important consideration to keep in mind. Even after selecting a pest control company you feel is right for you, you still have to confirm if the technician is perfect for the situation.

Before allowing any technician into your home, ask for their license, certification, and identification, and make sure they are all current. Every state mandate that pest control technicians be certified, so there’s no excuse for not having these requirements. The growing number of providers increases the chance that many are not certified, as only technicians who haven’t participated in the annual training have outdated licenses.

3. How knowledgeable the sales representative or technician is

If you just discovered pests in your home, you’ll have lots of control questions to ask. And what better people than technicians and sales representatives to answer them? It’s okay to not know everything since there are so many aspects of pest control. However, a basic understanding of what needs to be done and how the control process will occur is crucial information every technician and sales representative must know.

4. Professional appearance

An aspect of quality that every service company must have is the right appearance. Indeed, most people decide on who they hire based on what they can see and deduce from the technician. Their overall appearance, truck, and equipment must be clean and professional.

5. Price

A low-priced service is perhaps not the best deal, and neither is an expensive one. The ideal price is somewhere in the middle, and the best way to find it is to compare it with the price of other companies. In your search for the right pest control professional to pick, don’t compromise quality for the price.

6. References

What other people have to say about a business or service greatly affects the number of customers they’ll have. Therefore, before you go about ringing a pest control company, ask your neighbors and friends for referrals. You can also check your state’s pest control association. If you don’t seem to find anything, then ask the provider directly for referrals.

7. Contract details

Like in any other service business, ensure you discuss contract details at the onset. You should not assume that the frequency of care is known to the technician or sales representative. Make sure you read carefully through the contract and ask the right questions before you go on to sign it.

8. Chemicals

Chemicals for elimination are usually the most used. However, the technician should be open to discussing their adverse effects and whether non-chemical options are available. In either case, the container should be clean and have a professional appearance. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be provided upon request for every chemical used.

9. Service

Before going on to carry out any service, ensure that you discuss with the technician, and they are fully aware of what the problem is. After this discussion, the technician should inspect your property to determine the best plan of action.

10. Documentation

The technician should be able to provide you with a report after the process has been completed. Also, any follow-up action and customer advice should be included to ensure your house and property remains pest-free.

11. Guarantee

A sign of a good pest control company is in its ability to give its customers a guarantee for its services. You should read this guarantee carefully to know when you can invoke it, what it covers, what you need to do to keep it, and how long it lasts for.

In conclusion

If pests or rodents have recently infected your home, then seeking professional help is a smart decision to make. With their advanced equipment and expertise, you should be assured of a complete and proper inspection of your property and the control of pests in it.

Ensure your checklist all the things to consider we have included in this article against your potential pest control professionals.

How to Design an Eco-Friendly Backyard Kitchen

Are you looking to create an amazing backyard kitchen but worrying about the environmental impacts? Maybe you’ve heard horror stories about the carbon footprint created by an outdoor garden. For example, this article compares a family BBQ to a 90-mile car journey!

In our post, we’re looking at a backyard kitchen, and how you can make one that is both fun and eco-friendly.

Collect Water

You can’t use rainwater for everything in your outdoor kitchen, but it is environmentally friendly to collect water and use it where possible.

For instance, if you’ve chosen an outdoor pavilion as the setting for your backyard kitchen, you could use the rainwater to wash this down or clean the floor if it gets muddy.

This water shouldn’t be used for cooking. However, you can also use it to help with the next tip.

Use Your Garden to Produce

backyard-img-2

 

You can produce fruit and vegetables from your garden. This has lots of benefits, one of which is the fact that it is more eco-friendly. You can ensure that pesticides aren’t used on your produce.

Also, you can avoid the environmental impacts of food having to be shipped from other places. If you buy food from the supermarket, it could even come from abroad. The shipping impact can be huge. Many companies aren’t worried about the environmental impact, they just worry about the bottom line and if they are making a profit.

If you can grow the same produce at home you can do your bit in protest to the shipping, which can be Co2 heavy. Sadly, relying on the supermarkets and their providers to be eco-friendly is not an option.

Also, you will then have the opportunity to share. This is another way to be environmentally friendly. Why don’t you and your friends all grow something different and share with one another? This way you have variety and you’re staying eco-friendly.

Another great thing about creating products in your garden is the chance to experiment. You can find out what grows in your local area and then grow fruit, veg, and herbs which can be a part of your cooking experiments. The fact that the veggies or herbs can be right next to your cooking space in your backyard kitchen can make using this product even more convenient.

Natural Gas Grills and Solar Cooking

You may have heard that a charcoal BBQ or smoker, or even an electric grill is pretty bad for the environment. This is 100% correct. This study shows that both propane and charcoal BBQs emit CO2 comparable to car journeys.

Of course, some people argue that you can’t beat the flavor of smoked or grilled food, and you shouldn’t always deprive yourself. However, there are some great alternatives out there.

For example, a natural gas grill is the most environmentally friendly way to have a traditional BBQ.

However, you can go for a method even more eco-friendly.

Many people are turning to solar cooking. This technology embraces the sun’s rays to cook your food in an outdoor space, often over a long period of time. A parabolic cooker can get all the way up to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) so you can bake or “fry” food.

Solar Power Wherever Possible

As well as solar cooking, you can embrace solar power for the other aspects of your backyard kitchen. Why not install some solar lights around it? This can be a great way to avoid using electricity which can be bad for your carbon footprint.

There are more solar lights available than ever before and you can get string lights among other designs. You shouldn’t be stuck for choice when looking for solar lighting.

In addition, you can install solar generators that can be used to power appliances. You may have thought blenders and food processors were for indoor kitchens, but with a generator providing power outside you could even make a smoothie in your backyard using just solar power to run your blender.

Make Compost from Your Kitchen

You can complete the eco-friendly circle by making your own compost. Your backyard kitchen can incorporate a compost bin and any leftovers and waste which is suitable for composting can be put into the bin.

Include a compost starter and over time you will end up with compost that you can use for your plants, flowers, or vegetable patch. Obviously, you should keep this away from food prep areas as it can be smelly and a little unpleasant.

Repurpose Materials

When building your outdoor kitchen you should be aware of the environmental impact of this, too. If the actual building of the kitchen is not eco-friendly then the benefits of your outdoor kitchen may have been outweighed.

A surprising amount of materials can be salvaged. Chairs can be upcycled, wood can be taken from salvage yards to create tables. There are many ways you can build your outdoor kitchen without having to use materials that are a drain on the environment. Steer clear of plastics, especially single-use plastics.

Repurposing can be a fun project as well as being good for the environment.

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed our guide to creating an eco-friendly backyard garden? Are you inspired to do your own outdoor cooking? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.