-Ryan Blankenship- Whisky has been around for many centuries. In fact the “Guild of Barber Surgeons” were some of the first monks to make whisky in Scotland back in the early 1400s. It was originally made for medicinal purposes and to help cure smallpox and colic. James IV of Scotland enjoyed whisky so much that he purchased over 500 bottles from the Barber Surgeons. Now at this time whisky was still so new that they didn’t even age it in barrels, so the spirit was extremely harsh to … [Read more...] about The Art of Making a Whisky Mash
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A Simple Formula for Perfect Container Gardens
Let’s set the stage: You find a great deal on the perfect ceramic pot to go beside your front door. It’s time to do it up, so you peruse Pinterest for inspiration and excitedly take a trip to the local nursery to purchase your plants, but when you get there and begin looking around you become completely overwhelmed, paralyzed. Dang, I’ve been there! Creating beautiful, balanced, professional-looking containers doesn’t have to be intimidating. Learning a simple design technique was a total … [Read more...] about A Simple Formula for Perfect Container Gardens
Fun Fall DIY Project: The Pumpulent!
-Edie Nissen- Do you love pumpkins? How about succulents? Well then, I have got the perfect DIY project for you. Introducing . . . The Pumpulent! The pumpulent is sure to satisfy all of your fall decor needs. It also makes a great gift! What you’ll need to create your pumpulent: - Pumpkin or gourd of choice - Succulents - I like to use echeveria, sedum, or haworthia - Hot glue gun - Moss - Spray adhesive (optional) Steps: 1. Use a hot glue gun to glue a handful of moss … [Read more...] about Fun Fall DIY Project: The Pumpulent!
Roots Organic Liquid Line
-Ryan Blankenship- One of my all time favorite liquid organic nutrients is from Roots Organics. This company uses top quality inputs that help create some of the best tasting fruits and flowers in my opinion. Their products are all CDFA certified which is an organic certification from California. Their testing is very stringent and more difficult to get than your traditional OMRI certification. I feel this is one reason why Roots Organics is a bit better than some of the other organic … [Read more...] about Roots Organic Liquid Line
UPDATED: Making Beer Kits at Home with Brewer’s Best
With fall on the horizon this week we decided to re-feature one of our most popular brewing posts focused on successful brewing from kits. Our kits are fantastic for people looking to get into brewing, for people with a few brews under their belts, and even for experienced brewers. Learn how to dial your kit brews up a notch or two without going to whole grain brewing and you'll have batches of beer ready to go by Oktoberfest. -Gabrial House- With fall in full swing, why not start a batch … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Making Beer Kits at Home with Brewer’s Best
A Helpful Houseplant: Aloe Vera
-Kamron Kinder- Aloe Vera is a great house plant. Not only does it add a bit of life to your house, it also has healing properties in its sap. The gel-like liquid from a broken leaf can be used to soothe minor burns and abrasions. Just clip or break off a leaf, and the sap can be applied directly to skin! Aloe is a member of the succulent plant group, meaning it has a high water-retention rate. There are some 400 species of Aloe worldwide, and it is believed to have originated in … [Read more...] about A Helpful Houseplant: Aloe Vera
Aunt Bee’s Pickles? Aw, Heck to the No!
-Ashley Mattison- Pretty much any southerner of a certain age knows ‘The Pickle Story’ episode of The Andy Griffith Show. You know, the one where the prospect of having to eat Aunt Bee’s homemade pickles drives the good gents of Mayberry to extraordinary lengths to avoid that fate. Loving store-bought pickles myself, I was wary of trying to turn my annual abundance of cucumbers into homemade pickles, both because I was well-steeped in Mayberry lore as a kid and because I thought pickling … [Read more...] about Aunt Bee’s Pickles? Aw, Heck to the No!
Introduction to Hydroponics: Integrated Pest Management
-James Gordon and Kamron Kinder- Greetings everyone! Welcome back to Introduction to Hydroponics. In this blog we will be talking about IPM, Integrated Pest Management. Integrated Pest Management is the cornerstone of every garden, as without it, you run the risk of undoing all your hard work. So let's go over what needs to be done for this very important part of our garden to thrive. From raised beds, to indoor gardens, to small air plants hanging in the window, IPM will help keep … [Read more...] about Introduction to Hydroponics: Integrated Pest Management
Beginner’s Guide to Summer Pest Control
-Sara Vandersip- As the summer heat persists, so do summer pests. Prevention and treatment for some of those pesky summer bugs in your garden is very important for keeping your plants alive and healthy. Here is our beginner’s guide to getting rid of four common pests: aphids, caterpillars, squash beetles, and June beetles. If you see little green bugs on your leaves, especially their undersides, you’re most likely dealing with aphids. They are quite tiny, with adults measuring under ¼ … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Guide to Summer Pest Control
Kolsch: Tips & Recipe
-Ryan Blankenship- After brewing and sampling beers over the last decade, I would have to say that my favorite summer ale is the Kolsch. This light colored, low hopped ale has the perfect balance for that 90 plus degree day. Whether sitting by the pool, relaxing at the beach, or even after doing all of that dreaded yard work, this ale is so refreshing. So what exactly is a Kolsch? It is an ale that takes on several characteristics of a lager. This beer is best fermented at 60F to help it … [Read more...] about Kolsch: Tips & Recipe
