Slugs In The Kitchen

Slugs in the garden is one thing, but slugs in the kitchen?

One unfortunate home owner woke one morning to find slugs in the sink and kitchen. Professional advice was to use a dehumidifier because slugs love damp and wet conditions.

Other than that, the usual methods of slug control in gardens was given. Beer traps, ground egg shells, cocoa bean hulls, and copper sheets were advised.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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Garage Sales Go Big Time

With the price of gas and groceries, and almost everything else as well, garage sales aren't just for small priced items anymore.

At one garage sale, a $249,000 RV was put up for sale at $40,000 because the owner needed the money for medical bills.

While most people don't have that expensive of items to sell, whatever items are put out for sale should bring as much money as possible. Price your items, display the items attractively, advertise your sale, and the garage sale will be a success.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Miracle Spray Deters Slugs

For years gardeners have tried every trick in the book to keep slugs off of plants. Everything from eggshells, to diatomaceous earth, to copper rings and beer.

But for plants in pots............... one seemingly innocuous product does the job. It's WD-40. Just spray the WD-40 around the pots!

There are many other organic tricks to keep slugs away and off plants.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Yard Sale Bulletin Boards

With the increased popularity of garage sales, some communities are starting to put up bulletin boards solely for garage or yard sale advertisements.

Many cities are starting to restrict how many signs that a household having a garage sale may post. They are also restricting where the signs may be posted, the size of signs, and how many days the signs may remain for public viewing.

Anyone desiring more exposure of garage sales in their area would do well to start a bulletin board somewhere in their city.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Slow Economy Increases Garage Sales

Garage sale permits are increasing by anywhere from ten percent to fifty percent in 2008 than in 2007.

Many people are having garage, or yard sales, to sell a few unused items in order to make a quick buck. Making enough to simply fill the gas tank or a week of groceries is the goal of many home owners.

Make the most money from your garage sale as possible but be willing to lower prices to what customers will pay to be sure to sell everything and not be left with items to give away. $1.00 for a full sack is better than not selling it at all.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Coffee As Pain Reliever

Coffee provides as much relief from muscle pain as aspirin or ibuprofen.

According to researcher Patrick O'Connor of the department of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, Athens caffeine works better than either of the two drugs.

According to the studies, just two cups of coffee will provide post workout muscle pain by 50 percent. The coffee remedy also seems to work better for people who don't regularly drink coffee but can be helpful to those who do as well.

The studies proved so impressive that the British Coffee Association validated the results by saying that coffee can be used to aid in sports training. Coffee also has many more health benefits.

And for gardening enthusiasts, coffee is very useful in the garden as well.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Fireflies Love Slugs

Considering the misery and constant vigilance needed by gardeners to keep slugs at bay, seeing the light of fireflies at night is cause for celebration.

If you have pesky slugs, be glad if you have fireflies, also known as lightning bugs. The larvae of fireflies are known as glowworms.

Fireflies are not flies. They are actually beetles. The female firefly deposits her eggs in the ground or in rotting wood or dead leaves on the ground.

When the firefly larvae hatch they catch the scent of the slime trail made by a slug and find the slug. The larvae inject the slug with a numbing fluid and then eat them.

In addition to nature's own predators, here are some tips on controlling slugs.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Limits On Yard Sales

Some cities are starting to limit the amount of yard sales any one household may hold in a year.

If you are having a garage sale to get rid of unused items, an estate sale, a sale to sell crafts etc. be sure to check the laws of your city first.

Many cities are also starting to enforce the amount of signs that can be posted and when they need to come down as well.

With the popularity of garage sales increasing the best way to make money from a garage sale is to be well prepared. It takes time to prepare well for a garage sale so if your city or town only allows two or three sales a year, plan well during the months between sales.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Downy Mildew Attacking Cucumbers

The rainy weather in many parts of the US this spring has caused an epidemic of downy mildew on cucumbers and other cucurbits.

Cucumbers are easy to grow and have few problems except for cucumber beetles which can be a serious pest. But in extremely moist environments downy mildew can be a problem.

Downy mildew is caused by a fungal organism Pseudoperonospora cubensis. It's not easy to control because the spores are carried by wind, or by infected garden tools and on the clothing of the gardener.

Downy mildew loves humidity so hot, dry days can be helpful. Downy mildew loves heavy dews, fog, and frequent rains.

Fungicide is the only known means of controlling downy mildew. Fortunately there are organic fungicides. One such fungicide is made from neem oil which is produced from a tree.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Control Slugs With Coffee

Coffee kills slugs better than the most commonly sold poison bait for slugs.

Placing coffee grounds around plants will deter slugs but liquid coffee is even more beneficial.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service in Hilo, Hawaii, concentrations of as los as 0.01 percent caffeine repel slugs. A cup of instant coffee contains 0.05 percent caffeine. In studies a solution of one to two percent caffeine kills most slugs within two days.

The studies show that caffeine is more effective than metaldehyde which is the most commonly used poison for slugs. Metaldehyde is fatal to pets and wildlife.

Slugs can be easily controlled without endangering animals and small inquisitive children.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Slug Eats Earthworms

A new slug seen in England, which previously was found in only Turkey and Georgia, eats beneficial earthworms.

The slug is called the Ghost Slug because it most likely evolved in a cave in darkness. It is white, has razor sharp teeth and is carnivorous.

An ecologist at Cardiff University says the places to search for the slug is under plant pots, paving slabs or stones on soil. Be on the lookout while digging in gardens as well because these slugs like the soft soil in which earthworms live. Check out compost heaps too.

While scientists search for a cure for the ghost slug, there are simple ways to control common garden slugs in the garden.


*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Yard Sale Reveals Treasure

As the economy slows and more homeowners are having garage sales to earn a few extra dollars valuable items may inadvertently be put up for sale for just a few dollars.

Know the value of what you have before you place your possessions on a garage sale.

In one instance, a bond worth $1,000 was sold for a mere $25.00.

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Control Flea Beetles With Soap

Flea beetles are an early season pest that can be easily controlled without poisons.

Flea beetles chew tiny holes in the leaves of plants. When they attack seedlings they can destroy the plants before they have a chance to grow. On older plants the damage is minimal.

Mixing a small amount of liquid soap in water is one of several methods of organic control of flea beetles.


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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
*****************************************

Slugs Love Potatoes

Potatoes can be used as a trap for slugs.

Potato blight is the most serious disease that potato growers worry about. But slugs can cause as much damage to potato plants as does the blight.

Slugs love to live under the leaves of potatoes and then munch on the tubers causing much damage. Just one little hole in a tuber causes the entire potato to rot.

Slugs tend to chomp on already damaged tubers in preference to undamaged tubers. In fact, flat pieces of potato or potato skins laid out in the garden make excellent traps for slugs.

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email: Current address on website
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