Sustainable Solar Lighting for Your Garden

How green is your lifestyle?

If you're like many Americans, you're probably living a more sustainable lifestyle today than you were a decade ago. You've probably unscrewed your last incandescent bulb and made the switch to CFLs or LEDs, a simple change that can save Americans almost $6 billion per year and significantly reduce energy usage. Perhaps you've replaced your windows, added insulation or bought a hybrid vehicle—all moves designed to use less energy while allowing you to live the kind of life you want to.

In addition to using less energy, Americans are also using more renewable energy sources than ever before. About 13 percent of electricity in the United States comes from renewable sources.

3 Big Ways to Save by Making Your Own Cleaning Supplies

Maybe we should add cleaning to the list of life’s inevitabilities.

Your could skip your housekeeping chores, but eventually someone will want to come over and you’ll have to play catch up to get the job done. Cleaning is one of those things that is just never really finished.

It’s also pretty expensive. Just take a peek at the pricing the next time you walk down the soap aisle at the grocery store. A gallon of dish soap will run you about $26, which is a good seven or eight times the price of milk or gasoline.

Since you can’t stop cleaning if you care at all about your health, hygiene and house value, it makes sense to find a way to cut down on the cost of your cleaning supplies. Fortunately, there are lots of DIY solutions that can cut your bills and make your spring cleaning a little more eco-friendly to boot.

1. DIY Swiffer Covers

Swiffers are a game-changer, and you were probably thrilled to kick your mop to the curb in favor of this handy floor duster to pick up pet hair, dust and all the other crud that gets in your house.

It’s Time for Some DIY Home Maintenance! Take This Quiz to See if You’re Ready to Roll

Owning your own home can be an exciting adventure, but sooner or later something will go wrong. Do you know how to make basic repairs and keep your appliances and systems up to date? Find out if you're a DIY expert or just a newbie with this quiz.

1. How should you dispose of old paint?

a. Seal the lid and throw it in the trash.

b. Pour it down the drain.

c. Recycle it at an approved drop-off location.

d. You actually can’t get rid of it.

Answer: Liquid paint contains solvents that can contaminate groundwater, so take it to an approved collector for proper disposal. You can also add kitty litter and allow it to dry out completely if you prefer to throw it in the trash.

One-Weekend Project Idea: Install Crown Molding

Installing crown molding in your home is a great way to add aesthetic appeal and make rooms a bit more formal. It's a nice addition to older homes to boost the historical character, and it works in any room of the house. Best of all, this home improvement project can be completed in just one weekend - but the results will last a lifetime.

Here's everything you need to know for DIY crown molding installation.

Step 1

For the first piece, measure from wall to wall near the ceiling where you will place the crown molding. Use this measurement to cut a length of crown molding with the miter saw set at a standard 90 degrees.

Growing Leeks: From Starting Seeds to Blanching Bulbs

If you’ve never grown leeks, you don’t know what you’re missing! This straight-laced member of the allium family has a milder flavor than onions, and it’s extremely cold hardy, making it a great choice for Northern gardeners looking for fresh vegetables in the dead of winter.

To reap the fancier flavor of leeks for your cooking, you’ll also have to do some fancier planting. Unlike onions, which can be grown from sets that you just pop into the soil, leeks must be grown from seed. These plants are slow growers, so the sooner you get started, the more robust your seedlings will be come spring.

Here’s how to grow leeks in your homestead garden.

Plan Ahead To Start Seeds Early

It’s almost never too early to start your leek seeds indoors, especially if you live in a climate with a long, cold winter. I usually start mine sometime during the last week of January so that they’ll be big enough to set outside by early April. Like onions, leeks can handle being transplanted outdoors about four to six weeks before your frost-free date — basically as soon as you can work the soil in the spring.