| How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in the Garden Posted: 17 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT Your garden is already the greenest part of your home, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Taking steps like planting tree cover to lower your household energy usage and switching to handheld gardening tools can cut down on the amount of harmful gases you produce and help pave the way for a greener planet. You might be surprised by how big a difference even small changes can make. EditChoosing the Right Plants - Grow your own vegetables and fruits. Set aside one corner of your garden for tending a few small crops like tomatoes, strawberries, beans, peppers, and squash. Fewer trips to the grocery store will help you save money and fuel, as well as say no to the plastic bags and packages that have a tendency to pile up once you're there.[1]
- Raising a selection of your own crops will also ensure that you always have fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables to eat.
- Make room for a patch of fresh herbs like rosemary, basil, and cilantro. You'll then have everything you need to put together a delicious meal.[2]
- Fill in open space with trees, shrubs, and flowers. The less grass there is covering your lawn, the less gas you'll consume while mowing it. In addition, trees and other large plants absorb carbon and convert it to clean, breathable oxygen, which helps to purify the air.
- Attractive, well-kept landscaping can also add value to your property, making it practical as well as responsible.
- Plant shade-producing trees near your home. A wall of natural shade can cool your home during the summer and block cold winds in the winter. Situate your trees near your fenceline to establish a boundary, or disperse them throughout your yard for more of a forest effect.[3]
- Trees can offer privacy when strategically positioned near windows, patios, and property lines.
- Prune the lower branches of trees planted on the sunrise side of your home to keep them from obstructing the view.
- Bring in more native plants that are well-suited for your area. These species generally require less water and fertilizer, and will have all the nutrients they need in the surrounding soil. They're also more resistant to common pests, which means you won't be forced to saturate your lawn or garden with harmful pesticides.[4]
- Consult a regional gardening handbook or use an online plant finder tool to learn what sorts of plants are indigenous to your area.[5]
- Native plants play a vital role in supporting a diverse and flourishing local ecosystem.
EditReducing, Reusing, and Recycling - Decrease the overall size of your lawn. Put in a paved patio or picnic area to create some outdoor living space. Alternatively, you could add ornamental touches like a man-made pond, rock garden, or bed of wildflowers The idea is to limit the amount of space that has to be regularly mowed, fertilized, or sprayed.
- Grass itself is an unexpected source of serious carbon emissions. Downsizing therefore not only has the potential to beautify your property, but make it that much greener at the same time.[6]
- Consider relocating your gardening hutch or workshed to one corner of your yard to cover up patches of unused grass.
- Turn kitchen and garden waste into useful compost. Buy or make a compost bin, or simply designate an out-of-the way corner of your yard as a dump site—all you need is a space about 3 square feet in size. You can throw in anything that's biodegradable, including grass clippings, raked leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, and even shredded newspaper or cardboard.[7]
- Turn the compost frequently with a rake and keep it slightly moist to speed up the decomposition process.
- Never put meats, dairy products, or processed food items in your compost pile. The bacteria that accumulates when these items decompose can pose a health risk.[8]
- Apply mulch liberally around plants and trees to conserve water. Spread the mulch a few inches away from the base of your plants and water it thoroughly. Mulch promotes healthy growth, prevents runoff, and smothers weeds. It even insulates root systems during particularly hot or cold stretches of weather.[9]
- Shredded hardwood, pine straw, and recycled leaf mulches are among the most popular varieties used by environmentally-conscious gardeners.[10]
- Avoid piling your mulch any higher than about . Too thick a layer can interfere with the absorption of water and nutrients.[11]
- Collect and store rainwater in barrels. Set up your barrels near your garden so that you'll always have a fresh supply of water close at hand. You can use this water to fill watering cans and give thirsty plants, trees, and crops just as much moisture as they need rather than letting the hose run interminably.
- If you live in an area that receives sparse precipitation, situate your rain barrels under a downspout to help them fill up faster.
- Rainwater can even be used for drinking once it's been properly purified.[12]
- Stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These products contain chemicals that may be harmful to both the user and the surrounding environment. If you want to be more mindful of your cultivation practices, switch to all-natural organic fertilizers and pesticides, or learn to make your own from basic household items.[13]
- You can also use the material from your compost pile for fertilizer, effectively killing two birds with one stone.
EditUsing More Efficient Tools - Make use of handheld tools whenever possible. There are plenty of opportunities to go green while tending to the sweat-inducing work in your garden. Leave the gas-powered tools in the garage and start raking leaves and pulling weeds by hand. You could even downgrade to a push mower to keep your lawn tidy while getting a workout in![14]
- Other options for manual manicuring include tilling the soil with a trowel and using an axe to chop up downed trees.
- Invest in a soaker hose. Traditional irrigation systems like sprinklers are responsible for a lot of wasted water. With a soaker hose, you're only giving your plants as much moisture as they can absorb at one time. And since that water is being deployed from ground level at an extremely low pressure, there's less chance of overwatering or causing destructive runoff.[15]
- Simply stretch your soaker hose out along the base of your plants and turn on the main water supply. You can even snake it throughout your garden to make sure the water is only going where you need it.
- Soaker hoses have been shown to use 30-50% less water on average than standard irrigation systems, which means you'll be saving money while doing your part to save the planet.[16]
- Keep your electric and gas-powered equipment in good condition. Get in the habit of performing routine maintenance on your tools. Replace air filters at regular intervals, and have cutting blades sharpened or changed as soon as they start to dull. By keeping your motorized equipment running efficiently, you can reduce their overall energy consumption.[17]
- Most basic maintenance tasks are simple and inexpensive enough to take care of yourself.
- Install solar landscape lighting to conserve energy. Solar lights get their power directly from the sun, so they won't put a drain on the local electricity or your wallet. They're a cinch to put in—all you have to do is hang them up or stake them into the ground along the walkways in your garden. As an added bonus, most types come equipped with dimness sensors, so you'll never have to worry about forgetting to turn them on and off.[18]
- No wiring or complicated parts means no calls to the electrician for repairs.
- Another major advantage of solar lighting sources is that they'll continue to provide illumination even in the event of a power outage.[19]
- Research all new additions to your garden thoroughly before you plant them. Under the wrong conditions, some species actually give off more carbon than they take in.
- Whenever possible, look for natural alternatives to commercial gardening supplies. The energy that goes into manufacturing, packaging, and transporting these products also contributes indirectly to your carbon footprint.
- If you really want to go the extra mile, utilize planters and waste containers made from recycled materials, or rig up your own from repurposed objects like boxes or tires.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Customize Clothes Posted: 16 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT There are tons of creative and fun ways to customize your clothes to make them look unique and represent your own personal style. If you're interested in adding a few touches of flair to an article of clothing, you can do things such as use fabric paint to create designs, sew patches onto jackets, or add lace to shorts or tank tops. For an entirely new look, try turning t-shirts into crop tops or old jeans into a pair of stylish shorts. EditAdding Embellishments - Create embroidery using a needle and thread. Sew your own creations or designs onto a jacket, shirt, or pair of pants. You can pick out a pattern from a book or online, or create one yourself.[1]
- Make sure you use a needle and thread that suits your fabric.
- For example, if you're embroidering a pair of jeans, you'll want thick thread and a larger needle.
- Use fabric paint to create personalized designs. Pick out a color of fabric paint that you'd like to use on a pair of jeans, jacket, or shirt. Use a paintbrush or foam brush to paint the fabric paint onto the clothing, either using a stencil as a pattern or going free-hand.[2]
- You could cut a small heart stencil out of paper, using the stencil to paint hearts all over a jean jacket.
- As a free-style option, use different colors of fabric paint and a thin paintbrush to create a picture or design, such as a dog, flower, or piece of fruit, on a pocket of a shirt.
- You can also use bottled fabric paints that come in a squeezable form.
- Sew bows onto your clothes for a cute look. You can sew 2 pieces of ribbon onto an open-back sweater, allowing you to tie the ribbon together to create a bow. You can also sew bows onto a pocket of a t-shirt or jacket, or onto the belt loops of shorts or pants.[3]
- Attach a zipper to the side of a shirt or bottom of a pair of pants. To add style to your outfits while also making your clothing easier to put on, cut a slit where you'd like the new zipper to go. Now all you have to do is line the zipper up with the cut edges and sew it in place.[4]
- Attach a zipper to the bottom of each leg on a pair of skinny jeans to make taking them on and off easier.
- Insert a black or bold zipper on a flowy shirt to add some flair.
- Add pockets or patches made of different fabrics to your clothes. Cut out a pocket square using a fabric that you like and sew it on to the front of a plain shirt to customize it. You can also cut out pieces of cool fabric in different shapes, such as squares, hearts, or stars, and sew them onto jackets or pants as patches.[5]
- For example, cut 2 hearts out of a red velvet fabric. Sew 1 heart onto each sleeve of a jacket to create unique elbow patches.
- Folding over the cut or frayed edges of a patch or piece of fabric before sewing a patch onto your clothes will provide a more clean-cut look.
- Personalize a shirt or pair of pants by creating a monogram. If you have a monogramming machine, you can use this to add your own personal monogram onto an article of clothing to make it your own. If you're confident sewing your initials into your clothing free-hand, you can do this as well.[6]
- There are also places you can take clothes to get monogrammed by a professional. Do a quick online search to find a local monogrammer near you.
- Design a professional look using iron-on transfers. You can buy iron-on transfers at a craft store or online that are already designed and ready to be ironed on to your clothing. Follow the instructions on the transfer to determine how long to iron the design, as well as how to wash and treat the clothing.[7]
- You can also create your own transfer by printing out a unique design onto transfer paper using your home printer.
- Add lace to tank tops, jeans, or shorts. You can match the color of a thick lace to a tank top, sewing the lace on to create sleeves. Adding a white lace trim to the bottom of a pair of shorts also creates a customized look.[8]
- If you have holes or slits in your jeans, try sewing lace onto the inside where the slits are to add some style to your outfit.
- Use a thread color that matches the lace.
- Purchase or create a customized belt. You can buy the materials to create a leather or fabric belt, choosing a design that you like and measuring your own waist to get the right fit. You can also get leather belts personally engraved, giving them a unique look.
EditTransforming Old Clothing - Shorten a dress, shirt, or pair of pants. Turn a maxi or mid-length dress into an above-the-knee dress by using scissors to trim the bottom. You can also turn a regular shirt into a cropped top, as well as turning a pair of jeans into a pair of capris or jean shorts.[9]
- If desired, you can fix the hem by creating a fold at the very bottom of the article of clothing and sewing it together for a more polished look.
- Turn a t-shirt into a cropped top. Take a t-shirt and cut off the sleeves so that it resembles a tank top. If the t-shirt has a high neckline, cut a deeper U-shape where your head would go. Lastly, trim the bottom of the shirt to create a cropped top, measuring how short you want the top before cutting.[10]
- It's best to cut a little bit off at a time — you can always cut more if needed.
- Use scissors to create a fringe t-shirt. Starting at the bottom of the shirt, use scissors to cut vertical strips into the shirt. Do this around the entire bottom of the shirt, cutting even lines and deciding how far up the shirt you'd like the fringe to go.[11]
- Most fringe shirts have the fringe line stopping right above your natural waistline.
- Braid the back of a shirt to create a racerback. Cut off the sleeves of a shirt, cutting a bit deeper than a normal tank top so that most of the sides of the shirt are removed. Separate the back of the shirt from the neckline, cutting right where the stitching is at the top. Cut 3 strips into the back of the shirt to braid them, and then sew the top of the braid back onto the neckline.[12]
- When you cut the sleeves of the shirt, you'll be creating a drop armhole tank.
- Once you're finished, the front of the shirt should resemble a normal tank top and the back of the shirt will have 1 braid going down the center of your back.
- Create a dress out of a men's shirt. Take a men's collared shirt that's a bit long and customize it by cutting off the sleeves and pairing it with a belt and leggings. You can also cut out slits at the top of each sleeve, creating a bare-shoulder look.[13]
- Cut off a collar to form an off-the-shoulder top. Using scissors, cut off the collar on a collared shirt, going all the way around the neck. Once the collar is completely off, you can trim the hole to be as large and wide as you'd like, creating an off-the-shoulder top.[14]
- Try on the shirt after you've cut off the collar before making additional cuts to see how the shirt is fitting on your shoulders.
- Get your clothing fitted. If you have a suit that's a bit baggy on you or a pair of pants that are just too long, take your clothes to get fitted so that they're your exact size. Taking in a hemline or adjusting a waistband can transform your clothes into entirely new pieces.
EditCreating Cut-Outs - Use scissors to create slits in a pair of jeans or pants. For a grungier look, cut small horizontal slits into jeans, creating tears if desired. You can make the cuts close together and tiny or spread out and wide, whichever suits your style.
- Creating slits right where your knees go in a pair of jeans is a popular choice.
- Cut designs into shirts to create lace inserts. Draw and cut out a design in the back of your shirt, using a stencil or shape to trace, if desired. Then you can either sew lace into the shirt where the cut-out is, or you can iron hem tape into the fabric to keep the lace in place.[15]
- For example, trace a symbol like a star or heart onto the back of your shirt. Cut out the star using scissors and then replace the shirt material you just removed with lace.
- Choosing a lace that's a different color than the shirt will help the lace pop.
- Choose a shirt made of fabric that will hold together when cut into, such as cotton, flannel, or linen.
- Expand your shirt by adding lace to the sides. If you have a shirt that's too tight, create a slit that runs down each side of the shirt, starting from below the arm hole to the bottom of the shirt. Sew a section of lace onto each side, adding width to the shirt and making the sides partially transparent.[16]
- For the arms, cut off the sleeves to create a sleeveless shirt and then use lace to create wider arm holes, if desired.
- If you'd rather the sides not be transparent, you can use a different type of material that goes with the shirt, such as flannel, cotton, or fleece.
- This process should work with most fabrics, but you may need to fold over and sew fabrics that fray easily.
- Slice the back of a t-shirt to create tied-off sections. Using a ruler to measure straight lines, cut 3 or 4 horizontal lines into the back of your shirt. The ends of the lines can start right where your shoulder blades stick out. You can use lace or ribbon to tie the middle of each cut section, creating wide diamonds in the back of your shirt.[17]
- Make sure you space the lines evenly beforehand. Using a pencil to sketch out the lines before cutting is a good idea.
- To make sure the lace or ribbons stay in place, you can sew a few stitches into each section.
EditBleaching and Dyeing - Use a bleach pen to draw patterns or words onto your clothes. After shaking up a bleach pen, use the pen to write wording on shirts, draw symbols on pants, or decorate any other piece of clothing that isn't a white or light color. Rinse the article of clothing in cold water after the bleach sets.[18]
- How long you let the bleach sit on the clothing will depend on the color of the shirt and how bright you want your design. Read the bleach instructions to get a more accurate idea of how long you should wait.
- Place a piece of paper or cardboard in the middle of the article of clothing to keep the bleach from bleeding through to the other side.
- It'll be harder to see a bleach design on a light color such as yellow, pink, or a pastel color, meaning you'll need to leave the bleach on longer than you would a dark color such as navy or black. Check your piece of clothing while it's bleaching to see if it's light enough.
- Splatter bleach onto clothing for an artsy look. If you're going for a more sporadic, paint-splattered look, you can dip a paintbrush in bleach and lightly splatter an article of clothing. This looks especially great on denim material.[19]
- Splatter the bleach on a surface covered with plastic to ensure you don't get bleach on any furniture or other items. You can also splatter the bleach outside.
- Tie dye white or light-colored clothing to create colorful designs. Take a white shirt, dress, or skirt and tie it up in rubber bands before applying the dye. You can also tie dye white or light jeans and shorts.[20]
- Purchase a tie dye kit for complete instructions, as well as all the materials you'll need to complete the tie dyeing.
- You can also purchase tie dye from a grocery store, picking which colors you want and reading the instructions to see how long to leave the dye on the clothing.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Order Off the Starbucks "Secret" Menu Posted: 16 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT While the Starbucks Secret Menu isn't a real menu that Starbucks employees are required to learn, they're almost always happy to create your unique drink if you're able to tell them the ingredients and steps involved. Know the details of your order ahead of time and be able to give some quick, concise directions to your barista. With tons of secret menu items to choose from, you're sure to find a drink that's perfect for your taste buds. EditPlacing Your Order - Know the recipe, not just the name. When it's your turn to order, you need to be able to tell the barista exactly what is in your secret menu item drink. Visit websites like https://starbuckssecretmenu.net/ or http://hackthemenu.com/starbucks/secret-menu/ to pick a drink and get the information on how to create it.[1]
- It's a good idea to pull the recipe up on your phone so that you can refer to it if needed when ordering.
- The Starbucks employees probably won't know about the drink. The Starbucks secret menu is maintained by fans, not by Starbucks, so the employees are trained to make these drinks.
- Start with the base drink. Most secret menu drinks will be an alteration of a drink that already exists, so be sure to tell your barista what the base drink is to make their job much easier.[2]
- For example, the base drink for a Twix Frappuccino is a Caramel Frappuccino.
- Request any substitutions. Once you've stated your base drink, specify whether you'd like any substitutions in the liquid. For example, maybe your secret menu item asks for milk instead of water.[3]
- Ask for the type and number of pumps of additions. Most secret menu drinks will have an additional type of syrup or specific number of pumps that should be used. When you go to order, don't just say you'd like caramel syrup, but know the number of pumps that your drink requires.[4]
- Know the specific toppings on your drink as well, such as mocha drizzle, whipped cream, or chocolate chips.
- Be prepared to pay for the extra additions.
- Order the drink as a custom order in 1 sentence. Instead of requesting the secret menu item's name, ask for the base drink, substitutions, and additions all in 1 swift sentence.[5]
- For example, if you're ordering a Red Velvet Frappuccino, you'd say "a half White Chocolate Mocha and half Regular Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino with 2 pumps of raspberry syrup topped with whipped cream, please."[6]
EditChoosing a Drink - Order a Pink Drink for a colorful refresher. The base drink for a Pink Drink is a Strawberry Acai Refresher with coconut milk, strawberries, and blackberries.[7]
- This drink is well-known, so the barista may already know how to make it.
- Pick a Nutella Frappuccino for a chocolate treat. Order a Coffee Frappuccino with 2 pumps of mocha syrup and 1 pump of hazelnut syrup, all blended with whipped cream. Ask for a whipped cream topping and a caramel drizzle on top.[8]
- Try out a Peach Ring Tea for a sweet, fruity drink. Ask for half Valencia Orange Refresher and half Passion Tea without water. Add 1-3 pumps of peach syrup.[9]
- Opt for the Three C's for a classic. The Three C's consists of a Cinnamon Dolce Latte with a pump of caramel and a pump of chocolate mocha syrup.[10]
- Choose the Captain Crunch for a drink that tastes like the cereal. Order a Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino with a pump of caramel, 2 pumps of toffee, 1 pump of hazelnut, and 2 scoops of chocolate chips.[11]
- Drink a Citrus Berry Passion Refresher to cool you down. This drink is equal parts of Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher, Cool Lime Refresher, and Lemonade. Finish it off with a splash of Passion Tango Tea.[12]
- Ask for a Cotton Candy Frappuccino for a pink concoction. Order a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with 1-2 extra pumps of raspberry syrup.[13]
- Request Raspberry Milk Tea for a soothing thirst-quencher. This drink consists of Iced Black Tea using half and half instead of water. Ask for an extra pump of classic syrup, 1-2 pumps of toffee nut syrup, and 1-2 pumps of raspberry syrup.[14]
- Enjoy a Thin Mint Frappuccino for a minty drink. Ask for a Tazo Green Tea Frappuccino with 2 pumps of chocolate syrup, 1 pump of mint syrup, java chips, and honey.[15]
- If Starbucks is super busy and there's a long line, try not to order off the secret menu unless it's a simple order.
- Don't order a drink with food items like biscotti or brownies mixed in — employees aren't allowed to put food in the blenders unless it's fruits like bananas or blueberries.
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