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What is Vermicomposting? Vermi is Latin for worm, so vermicomposting is simply the decomposition of plant materials by worms. Worms consume the kitchen scraps that you feed them, and release castings (worm droppings), also called vermicompost. This is recycling at its best, transforming waste into a valuable resource for your garden. Vermicompost not only feeds plants, but it improves your soil’s texture, and may provide some protection against certain pests. It’s superior to traditional compost in several ways....

What is an annual? All plants have a life cycle, spanning from when a seed sprouts to when the plant dies. When a plant is described as an annual, that means that it grows from seed, flowers, makes more seeds, and dies all within a single year. You can save seeds to replant later. The baby plants may not look exactly like the parent plant, but that’s part of the fun....

At least when it comes to lumber prices, it seems the answer is not entirely promising. A variety of experts, including those whose businesses have ties to the lumber industry or rely on lumber supplies to operate, predict that high prices will remain for the foreseeable future. “Lumber prices are expected to rise in the next year and if this fluctuation of high prices continues the price will have tripled by 2025,” says Richard Fung, a custom home builder with Forever Homes....

Alternately, a catch—which secures the window when closed—can also fail. You may be able to bend a small part to make it work, but often the best solution is to replace the catch. Finding replacement parts can be difficult, so if you can find the make and model of the unit, you may be able to contact the manufacturer or an online parts supply source to obtain what you need....

1 tablespoon shredded lime peel 1 cup lime juice 3 tablespoon canola oil 2 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt

2 ⅔ cup warm water (105°F) 2 tablespoon granulated sugar 4 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast 7 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon kosher salt 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper Mini Pizza “Tacos” 1 15 ounce carton whole-milk ricotta cheese 3 pound zucchini Ranchero Sauce (see recipe) 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1 cup shaved red onion 30 squash blossoms (optional) 1 bunch fresh chives, cut in 2-inch lengths Crushed red pepper...

How to Paint an Outdoor Rug Follow these instructions to create a chevron pattern, or use our how-to as inspiration for your own design. This easily customizable project allows you to quickly transform an outdoor sisal rug with paint. What You Need Outdoor sisal rug Drop cloth 2-inch-wide painters tape Tape measure Scissors Ruler Chalk-finish paint (we used ½ quart of Annie Sloan’s Pure chalk paint) Cloth Large round paintbrush...

Colorful Combinations The old-fashioned bleeding heart, D. spectabilis, is truly an easy-to-grow perennial. These plants are quick to pop up alongside spring bulbs and swiftly grow to full size. D. spectabilis leaves are generally a pleasant blue-green or gold, and its heart-shaped blossoms can come in a range of colors, including pink, red, white-reds, and white. Dicentra Care Must-Knows Bleeding heart is an ephemeral plant, which means that once summer comes along, it will go dormant....

“These are likely NOT the conditions that most home gardeners would have,” says Hilary Sandler, Director of University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station. However, with a bit of preparation and some elbow grease, you can create a bed for growing these tasty, healthful berries right in your own backyard. A Bit About Cranberries The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is native to temperate regions of northeastern and central United States and southern Canada (USDA Hardiness Zones 2-6)....

While very similar in appearance, the hardy and the annual gazania have a few differences. Most common gazanias are annual varieties and tend to boast bigger blooms, brighter colors, and slightly larger foliage with silvery-white undersides. They also bloom more often and for a longer time. Perennial varieties, on the other hand, are simpler in color—blooms, which only show in the summer, are typically a solid color with minimal markings....

It may seem a bit overwhelming to attempt to cook lamb for the first time. But we promise leg of lamb is an easy cut of meat that allows for even roasting and tons of flavor. Our Test Kitchen is here to teach you how to cook leg of lamb to juicy perfection. We also include the proper temperature to cook a leg of lamb and what temperature to follow for your preferred preparation (medium or medium-rare)....

How to Get Stains Out of Carpet You worked so hard to remind people to remove their shoes and avoided bringing food into your carpeted rooms. And then it happened: the coffee spill or the flying gravy boat at Thanksgiving. Before reaching for the nearest bottle of cleaning solution, keep in mind that the best carpet cleaning solution is often water. Blot (don’t rub) the stain with a clean, slightly damp white cloth....

Getting Started Make sure the curtains are wider and longer than what you want your finished curtains to be. There needs to be room for seam allowances on the sides and enough fabric to fold the top down to create a casing and hem the bottom. Your curtain fabric needs to be wider (ideally 4 inches, but you can make do with a little less) than your blackout lining. If your blackout lining is too wide, just cut it down....

Disease science 101 Bacteria are single-celled organisms that live on various kinds of organic matter. Unable to survive in the open, bacteria live inside plants and are transferred plant to plant by insects, water, and hands. Fungi are minute organisms that live on plants and cause visible symptoms. They spread most often via water, wind, and insects. Viruses are the smallest of disease vectors and the most difficult to control. Insects typically spread diseases, but some diseases are spread by seeds and tools....

1. Mural Wallpaper There’s been a resurgence of wallpaper thanks to fresh new colors, patterns, and easy-install qualities. Thanks to those same concepts, wall murals are an interior forecast trend for 2019. “We have seen our wall art category grow year over year and believe it will only continue to go up given its increasing popularity in the home décor space,” says Andrea Stanford, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Society 6....