The Italians are known for their fresh ingredients and simple recipes, and pizza certainly is not excluded from the list. Just imagine, a cultural change took place all because Americans started growing this little herb in their gardens.

One of the greatest bits of information or tips anyone can glean from the Italians is their love of gardening. Although it is not the actual garden that gives it such a precious value, but the end product fresh ripe vegetables and fruit that are delivered from their little or not so little plot of plowed land.

Taking this principle of fresh ingredients to heart, anyone can then make their own pizza taste better and healthier than any veggie pizza on the market by creating their own pizza garden. Here’s how…

Choosing the Toppings:

There are endless toppings a person can choose from when designing their own pizza themed garden. So make sure to pick vegetables and fruit you actually enjoy eating. Although adding asparagus as a topping may sound chic and creative, it will not do much good if it simply gets picked off when the pizza is served.

Here are a few basic toppings most everyone in your family will enjoy and are easy to grow:

Fresh Tomatoes:

Tomatoes on top of a tomato based pizza sauce – yes you read that correctly. Adding thin (or thick depending on preference) slices of tomatoes as an additional toppings adds a greater depth to your pizza.

Pizza sauce (whether it includes meat or not) has a drastically different taste and flavor than that of fresh tomatoes. So don’t worry about having too much of a tomato flavor – fresh tomatoes are an excellent choice, and besides, who doesn’t grow tomatoes in a garden?

One tip to keep in mind is what type of tomato you want to grow and when will they actually produce. Some tomatoes are known for delivering in mid-summer, while others tend to hold off until the late summer months to produce a nice harvest.

Basil:

Basil is an amazing herb whose varieties are enjoyed in different cultures around the world. However, fresh Genovese Sweet Basil brings to life a dull pizza any day of the week, any hour of the day and any second of an hour.

Fortunately, basil grows easily with the tomatoes and are a great companion plant. In addition, basil enjoys the hotter weather and therefore is usually in full bloom around the same time tomatoes are producing making them not only compatible for the garden but for the pizza as well.

Here is a tip to keep in mind when using basil on your pizza. Never place basil on as a topping until the final minute of baking – and one can go so far as to say not until it comes out of the oven. This herb will dry up and lose its precious flavored natural oils if heated too fast and will leave you disappointed.

Green Peppers:

Not everything has to be as delicate as the tomato and basil pizza, but for those who have a natural leaning towards spicy foods, growing your own hot peppers can be an excellent choice for a pizza topping.

Peppers come in all sorts of varieties and it might be a good idea to plant a few different kinds to really mix things up from your red hot chili peppers to more mild banana peppers to even the crispy common green pepper.

Unlike the basil, peppers can be placed on a pizza before it goes into the oven and are liked by both those who favor meat toppings and those who prefer to go without.

Let’s Talk about the Dough:

Anyone can make a pizza dough at home. All it requires is olive oil, flour, yeast, lukewarm water and a dash of salt. You can also choose to buy your dough already made which many grocery stores will import from pizza makers in NY or PA and store in the freezer section where the breads are kept. Let the dough thaw over night in the refrigerator and you are ready to go the next day.

However, the easiest way to get your pizza dough is to buy the crust already precooked. The downside to this method is that it will most likely not have the “fresh” factor and quite frankly not all of them taste very good.

Here is a quick recipe for homemade pizza dough:

1. Start by dissolving 1 tsp salt into lukewarm water along with 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast in a large bowl
2. Then let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast foams a little
3. Gradually add 3 cups of flour to the water and knead until the dough becomes a smooth elastic like texture . You do not want the dough sticky, so gently add more flour a little at a time until the right consistency is achieved
4. Roll into a ball, cover and put in your fridge overnight. If you need it the same day, keep it out, covered, and wait for half an hour to an hour for it to rise
5. When ready, roll out onto a greased pizza pan and bake at 400F for about 8 to 15 minutes or depending on the thickness of the dough and toppings used.

Margarita Pizza:

This pizza is very popular in Italy and has its roots in Naples, Italy where it first became popular. It does not use a sauce but relies on fresh garden ingredients to satisfy the appetite.

1. To make a margarita pizza which uses two of the ingredients above simply slice your tomatoes (meaty ones are best such as Roma), and place them on the pizza crust.
2. Next, slice some fresh mozzarella balls to the same thickness of the tomatoes. The regular blocks of mozzarella will not work – it must be fresh – the kind which you will find near the deli. Place the slices on the crust as well, spacing them between the tomatoes trying not to overlap
3. Bake in a 400F oven for approximately 14 minutes making sure to check that the cheese does not burn.
4. Right before removing from the oven, sprinkle generously with your fresh basil leaves and leave for 1 minute or less
5. Remove from oven and have a taste of heaven!

About the writer: Pizza is enjoyed by everyone, and that includes writer Liz Krause who owns and operates her own Italian cooking website. She enjoys writing about recipes and reviews of various products from the Waring Pro meat grinder to pizza slicers. Liz grew up in an Italian home and understands the benefits of growing fresh ingredients in the backyard believing fresh food and simple ingredients are the best way to enjoy Italian cuisine!

Sustainable landscape design combines beauty and practicality

Whether for resale value or just the daily enjoyment of your home, sustainable landscaping designs are great investments. 

Sure, you can create your own garden and landscaping plan.  But starting with a professional’s design ensures that all of the latest developments are incorporated.  After that initial stage, handling maintenance yourself will be simpler and more enjoyable. 

Rich Hayes of Green Acres Landscape in Indianapolis, IN, says homeowners should not underestimate the importance of good landscape design.  “It has been proven that the well planned, landscaped and maintained exterior of a home has a dramatic affect on the homeowner’s enjoyment and resale of a home.”

For example, to help homeowners become more educated, Hayes explains the maintenance involved in installing water features. This helps the make educated choices on not only what looks good, but what will benefit the environment and work for their family’s lifestyle. 

 Green Acres strives to be a sustainable business working with sustainable landscapes. From a business started in Rich’s garage in 1986, today the company is a  full-service, well staffed landscape contractor. Hayes says he works hard to leave the Green Acres’ “mark of quality and exceptional service in the Indianapolis  landscape industry  by having a clear mission of setting standards for the highest quality and sustainable landscape plants, products and professional workmanship to enhance and simplify our customer’s quality of life.” 

Landscape architects and professional designers know how to incorporate sustainable products and designs to complement your family’s lifestyle.  They take the information gathered from your family, as well as a complete survey of the land, climate and exposure on your property, and create a comprehensive design. 

But not every landscape designer is experienced in sustainable practices, and that’s one of Hayes’ pet peeves.  “Many landscape companies are doing projects with little or no expertise,” says Hayes. That type of work undermines the industry and “eventually involves cutting corners and service in some manner.” 

As more homeowners continue to stay closer to home it will drive the desire to create more inviting outdoor living spaces for their enjoyment.  Hayes warns homeowners that shoddy workmanship may not be obvious at first, but shows up in unstable walls or patios and substandard plantings over time. 

Landscape Design for a Backyard Sanctuary

A sustainable home carries that principle from property line to property line and everything in between.  The backyard is no exception. As with every home improvement investment, Hayes says homeowners must be educated before they embark on a project.  He offers these 7 tips for hiring a professional landscape contractor. 

1. Research and know as much as possible about the contractor they are looking to hire.
2. Understand the process of completing a project vs. your own expectations.
3. Ask about payment details, special promotions, discounts, warranties, guarantees, maintenance, requirements before the job starts.
4. Know the contact person for your job and what the schedule of completion is.  Insist the workforce shows up on time, everytime.
5. Offer your input is valuable. Hire a contractor who also thinks it’s important.
6. Insist that the workforce be professional and courteous and leave the jobsite organized and clean at the end of each work day.
7. Look for a landscape contractor who is knowledgeable in providing sustainable solutions in his design and installation. 

Hayes says Green Acres Landscape holds to its core values “even when no one is looking.”  They encourage homeowners to compost and haul any landscape waste to their nursery for recycling or composting whenever possible.

Originally posted 2010-03-04 11:32:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Signs of a Good Year

Home Improvement projects often show up high on homeowner’s list of New Year’s resolutions.  But without proper planning it’s easy to spend too much or hire a disreputable contractor.  Then the home improvement project that should bring you joy turns into a home improvement nightmare.

Here’s a list of five New Year’s resolutions that will help bring you peace and joy in the New Year:

1. I will do my research online weather I am hiring a home improvement contractor or doing it myself.

2. I will not pick the first home improvement contractor that shows up in a Google search or has the best looking website.

3. I will ask for and check at least three references.

4. I will check with the local contractor’s board or licensing agency to see if there are any complaints against the home improvement contractor AND see how it was resolved.

5. I won’t make a decision until I have attended my local home and garden show and met the home improvement contractor I am going to hire. Here is a list of the best home and garden shows in North America: http://www.hgsei.com/

When there’s a bumper crop of fresh herbs, the best way to preserve them is in oil. Here’s a great recipe to do this.

1. Pluck leaves from the stems and pack them down in a measuring cup.
2. Place two hard-packed cups of herbs in a blender or food processor.
3. Add 1 cup of good-quality cooking oil (such as extra-virgin olive oil) and blend until pureed.
4. Place in small containers, cover tightly and freeze.

Oil brings out the flavors of herbs. This method will keep them fresh up to six months. It works especially well with:

• Fresh dill
• Tarragon
• Oregano
• Sage
• Mints
• Lemon
• Thyme
• Basil

Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh herbs, so when substituting dried herbs for fresh, the ratio is one measure of dried herbs to three of fresh. This also works in reverse.

How much of a fresh herb to add to a recipe is a personal decision. Use common sense and Barclay’s axiom- “Stop adding when it turns green.” Fresh herbs will not overpower a dish as easily as dried, so do not be too concerned about overdoing it.

To chop herbs finely and quickly, place leaves in a bowl and use scissors to snip.

From NGC Club Program Lesson Plan #4, “Enchanting, Useful & Romantic Herbs.” Available from Member Services. With special thanks to Nell Denman, NGC Mentors Committee Chair.

Other Herb Articles:
Creeping Winter Savory Is Tasty Addition to Any Garden
Locating and Planning Your Herb Garden

Originally posted 2010-11-28 07:00:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Going green is all the rage these days, but there’s nothing new or trendy about spending less money on home energy needs. The latest home heating and air conditioning units, as well as water heaters, are more energy efficient than ever – helping soften the impact on the environment as well as a homeowner’s wallet.  

“Energy efficient basically means that the product can produce the same amount of comfort, or hot water, by using less energy, which also results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions,” says Brad Huff, president of Mister Quik Home Services in Indianapolis, IN. “Energy efficient choices can save families about one-third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions–without sacrificing features, style or comfort. You can save yourself and family money in lower utility costs while doing something good for the environment.”

Replace Old HVAC Systems for Instant Savings 

For example, Mr. Quik offers Trane heating and cooling systems with 96.7% efficiency. Replacing an old system with a more efficient one results in immediate energy savings.  

“The minimum system today would be an 80% system,” says Huff. “What this means is that 80% of the energy output goes to heating and cooling your home, and 20% goes out the chimney. With a 96.7% efficient system, very little energy goes to waste.”   

The higher the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating on gas heating equipment, the more efficient it is. The percentage reflects the amount of heating the equipment delivers for every fuel dollar spent.

Replacing a traditional water heater with a tankless variety is another way to reduce energy consumption in the home. While a traditional water heater heats and reheats water around the clock, a tankless water heater such as the Rinnai system, heats and delivers hot water as needed. Because the hot water is instant, there is no need to run the tap waiting for the water to warm. The result is a savings in both water and energy.  

  The new GE Hybrid water heater takes heat out of the air surrounding the water heater and, using a sealed system, injects that heat into the tank to heat the water. According to Huff, this is the first electric water heater to qualify for an Energy Star rating, an important distinction when talking about energy efficiency.  

 Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help save money and protect the environment though energy efficient products and practices. Products that contribute to significant energy savings are eligible for the Energy Star label.  

 Energy Tax Credits Help Pay for New Systems 

While more efficient products save both energy and money, they tend to cost more up front. However, consumers can take advantage of energy tax credits to help defray the cost of these systems. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allows consumers to receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy efficient products, up to $1,500. This credit is available through Dec. 31, 2010.  

As a full home services company, Mr. Quik is in the unique position of not only fixing existing home heating and air systems, but recommending more efficient systems when their customer’s current systems wear out.    

It is a great opportunity for us to be able to educate our customers on the energy-saving product we offer and help them out when they are looking to upgrade or replace older equipment,” Huff says. “Our industry has seen such great strides in energy efficiency that we are able to help our customers install new energy-efficient products and help lower their utility bills.”  “In this economy, everyone can use that,” he says. “We also try to let them know about the federal and state rebates and incentives that will help them when looking to purchase new equipment.”

Originally posted 2010-03-17 09:00:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

What do you do in the fall when your hanging baskets are spent? You can throw them out or compost the plant material and old potting soil, saving the pot for reuse next year. And while recycling the pot is great, repurposing it and getting another use out of it is my preferred choice.

Last year, Woodward Gardens, the school garden where I volunteer, started to repurpose the old hanging baskets which had been used to decorate the garden into table decorations for Christmas. It is simple to do and a great project for children and adults alike. Better yet, we asked the purchaser to bring the pots back after the holidays so we could repurpose them again.

Turn your dead hanging baskets into beautiful Christmas center pieces

Below are the five steps to create a holiday table decoration from a hanging basket:

Step one: Remove the hanging device from the baskets. These devices are usually make of plastic or metal wire and are easily removed. Save the hanging device so that in the spring the baskets can be replanted.

Step two: Cut off all of the dead plant material leaving only the potting soil and root ball. If the plant material is not diseased, put it in the compost bin. Otherwise, destroy the plant material so as not to spread disease.

The root ball left in the pot becomes the substrate that holds the greens in the table decoration. It replaces the green floral foam that is so often used in floral arrangements. The plant stems are then inserted into the root ball which provides structure to the arrangement by holding up the foliage. It will also keep the plant material hydrated with a light watering.

Step three: Gather greens to make the arrangement. Evergreen branches with needles make a great choice. These would include spruce, cedar, yews, fir, juniper, chamaecyparis or pine. Evergreen broad leafs will add another texture to the arrangement. Consider using rhododendrons, mountain laurel, evergreen magnolia, Oregon grape, boxwood, holly, salal or eucalyptus. We use red osier dogwood and berried branches as well for interest and color. Get creative!

Step four: Making sure the root ball in the basket is moist, cut the stems at a sharp angle to make it easier to pierce the root ball and enhance water uptake. Begin by placing the branches horizontal to the table surface. This will form the base of the arrangement, hide the pot and define the shape of the decoration. Then build toward the middle and create the height you are looking for. According to Dale Rohman, America’s Flower Man, the height of the arrangement should not exceed the distance from the tip of your fingers to your elbow. This insures that you can look over the arrangement while seated at the table.

Step Five: Add some bling for interest. This could be anything from a large candle in a glass hurricane placed in the center to red bows, silver balls, etc. Make the arrangement reflect your personality and have fun.

Before placing the completed project on your table, you will want to put a water tray beneath. With frequent light watering, it will last the whole Christmas season. And when the holidays are over, get ready to repurpose it once again by composting the plant material and root ball, putting the hangers back on and planting it as a spring hanging basket. In this way you will be able to recycle it for years, enjoying it indoors and out.

Loosely defined, evergreens are trees and shrubs that do not lose their leaves all at once in the fall. They do shed leaves or needles, but do so a little at a time throughout the year.

Pruning evergreen trees and shrubs accomplishes several things:

• It helps control size and shape of the plant.
• It helps open the interior of the plant to light. This aids in air flow, which helps avoid disease (particularly fungal diseases) and encourages fuller growth.
• It removes weak or diseased branches, improving the health of the plant.

When and How to Prune Evergreens
When and how you prune your evergreen depends upon the type of tree or shrub in question. In any case, you will need sharp, clean cutters—hand pruners for smaller branches and loppers or even a pruning saw for larger limbs. (Hedge trimmers are only for hedges!) Denatured alcohol or 10% Clorox solution can be used to disinfect your trimmers. This needs to be repeated during pruning, especially if you are removing diseased wood.

Pruning Broadleaf Evergreens
Broadleaf evergreens, like rhododendrons and azaleas, should be pruned immediately following flowering. This prevents missing out on this year’s blooms, but gives the plant a chance to set flowers for the following year.

Most broadleaf evergreens don’t require pruning, but can be trimmed and shaped if needed. Begin by removing dead or diseased portions as well as tightly spaced or crossed branches. Older plants that have become leggy can be pruned back to a more desirable shape. Work your way down the branch and cut just above an older leaf rosette. Even if the older leaves are gone, you should be able to locate a ring of bumps. Cut just above the ring and new shoots should appear from the new branch terminus.

Thinning small or weak interior branches can improve air flow and allow more light to reach the plant. This helps to reduce disease and encourages more vigorous, bushy growth.

Pruning Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs, like juniper and arborvitae, can be pruned before new growth begins. This will vary by geographic region, but generally late March or early April is best. A second light pruning can be done in late June or early July to control new growth, if needed.

Again, begin by removing dead or diseased portions as well as tightly spaced or crossed branches. Hand pruning is preferable to using hedge shears or a power trimmer. With this tool you can selectively remove branches, reducing the size of the shrub without sacrificing its natural form. In this way you avoid exposing dead wood that will never produce new shoots. In addition, removing selected branches can help open up the interior of the plant. Just like with broadleaf shrubs, this allows light penetration and encourages bushier growth.

Pruning Evergreen Trees
Evergreen trees look best when allowed to grow in their natural form. With whorl-branched evergreens like pine, spruce, and fir, don’t prune back to an area where no needles or leaves are attached, as new branches will not form to conceal the stubs.

Prune spruce and fir trees in late winter, while they are still dormant. Cut just above a side bud or branch. Pine trees are pruned early June to early July when their new growth is in the “candle” stage. The “candle” is the tan-colored new growth that appears on the ends of each branch. Hand-pinching one-half of the candle’s length will limit the tree’s annual growth. Spruce and fir also put out a flush of growth in the spring, which is often a different color than the mature tree. This growth can also be pinched back to encourage denser growth.

Random-branched evergreen trees like cedar, cypress, and yew can be pruned using the guidelines listed under Pruning Evergreen Shrubs.

A Few Parting Pruning Tips!
Avoid pruning any evergreen in late summer or early fall. Pruning at this time can cause winter damage in plants. With very few exceptions, you want to avoid removing more than one-third of a tree’s branching system or more than two-thirds of a shrub or vine in any given year. Always prune to an outwardly facing bud, otherwise you will end up having to prune the new growth again! Don’t cut flush with a trunk or main branch. And, remember to stand back and reconsider your cuts once in a while—that way you avoid giving a plant a bigger “haircut” than you intended!

The most commonly used whole house dehumidifiers are either desiccant or mechanical.

Humidity levels vary from place to place.

Humidity levels at or around 50%, apart from being uncomfortable, lead to growth of fungus and mold in homes which increase health risks, such as asthma and allergies.

Additionally, high humidity is an ideal breeding environment for moths, fleas, cockroaches and termites, all of which can wreak havoc in your home.

Dehumidifiers are electrical household appliances that reduce the level of humidity in the air. These household appliances are perfect for use in humid and hot conditions where the water vapor percentage in the air is very high.

The most commonly used dehumidifiers are either desiccant or mechanical.

Desiccant Dehumidifiers

Desiccant dehumidifiers, rather than employ the use of compressors, expose a desiccative substance to an air stream with high relative humidity. They are ideal for use in areas with relatively low temperatures and low humidity levels. Mechanical dehumidifiers draw moist air over a fan and a coil and work best in places with high humidity and warmer temperatures.

Mechanical Dehumidifier

Smaller areas may only require a desiccant dehumidifier, but larger areas that have issues with humidity necessitate the use of a mechanical dehumidifier that utilizes either thermo-electric peltiers or compressors. Dehumidifiers featuring thermo-electric peltiers use thermo-electric technology by transferring heat through the passing of an electric current through two dissimilar metals.

Thermo-electric dehumidifiers are almost completely noiseless because there are no moving parts but they aren’t as energy efficient and aren’t ideal for larger areas. Dehumidifiers with compressors utilize coils that move compressed air or refrigerants through. These types of dehumidifiers are extremely effective and energy efficient, even in large areas, but are relatively loud.

Most dehumidifiers will get the job done, but some dehumidifiers have features that can help you get the job done more efficiently and even save you money in the long run. Some key features that a dehumidifier should have include:

• Humidistat. A humidistat is an electronic or digital control that allows you to control the humidity level.
• Large Tank Capacity. A large tank capacity enables your dehumidifier work more efficiently and effectively.
• Washable Air Filter. Most dehumidifiers come with air filters, but choosing a model with a washable air filter will make the maintenance process easier.
• Hose Connection. A hose diverts the condensed water into a sump pump or floor drain so you don’t have to be constantly be emptying the condensed water.
• Portability. Purchasing a dehumidifier with wheels or casters incorporated into the design will help you easily move the unit when necessary.

Investing in a dehumidifier will help your home be a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Consider all the options available to find the perfect match for your home and start dehumidifying today.

Originally posted 2010-10-29 07:00:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Interesting activities for children’s garden clubs, cub scouts, brownies or your own children and grandchildren are often difficult to find during the winter months. But there are lots of planting projects right in your own kitchen! Children can learn about Mother Nature by planting the seeds they find in the fruits they have just eaten.

Grwoing an advocado seed in water is easy

The avocado is a good one to start with, as it rarely fails. Dry the seed for a few days and then peel the brown papery skin off of it. Place the seed two thirds of the way into potting soil, leaving the tip exposed. Water it well and give it three to five hours of sun a day. You will soon see sprouts. Be sure to pinch it back as it grows, or it will get very long and leggy.

Save the largest seeds from oranges and lemons and plant several in a small pot. Water well and cover the pot with clear plastic. Keep the pot warm, but no sun until the seeds germinate in two to three weeks. When the seedlings have at least four leaves, put each one in its own little pot. They will need four to five hours of sun per day. Water them about three times a week. Citrus plants can be very pretty with their shiny leaves and fragrant flower clusters. Did you know they were among the first plants grown under glass more than 400 years ago?

Pomegranates have become more popular and readily available in the grocery stores. Clean the seed and plant it in sandy soil. Be patient, because it will take six to eight weeks to germinate. Water your seedling weekly and give it two to three hours of sun per day. It will develop into a bushy shrub and, with luck, produce brilliant orange flowers.

Kitchen gardening is inexpensive, educational and exciting for children as well as for adults. As an added bonus, if your seedlings fail, there’s no big investment down the drain! So, if life gives you lemons, make a glass of lemonade and plant the seeds!

Distributed with permission from The Garden Forum, Official Publication of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc.