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	<title>Your Home And Garden Blog</title>
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	<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com</link>
	<description>Your single source for Home and Gardening resources</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:49:25 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>How to select a pond fountain for your backyard pond</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/ponds/how-to-select-a-pond-fountain-for-your-backyard-pond</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/ponds/how-to-select-a-pond-fountain-for-your-backyard-pond#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:49:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Ponds]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[koi pond]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A pond fountain adds to the beauty to your garden pond and provides a serene atmosphere for you to relax. If you are in the market for a pond fountain, there are so many options to choose from. You can go for the dramatic fountains that are made out of cast stone. You can save [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
A pond fountain adds to the beauty to your garden pond and provides a serene atmosphere for you to relax. If you are in the market for a pond fountain, there are so many options to choose from. You can go for the dramatic fountains that are made out of cast stone. You can save space by going for wall fountains. There are so many finishing to select. There are garden wall fountains that are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use. There are sandstone finishes that add classy appeal. Among this myriad of options, here are some pointers on how to select your garden pond fountain.
</div>
<p>Tips for Buying and Maintaining a Pond Fountain<BR><br />
Author: <a title="Davis Marco" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/davis-marco/75834.htm">Davis Marco</a></p>
<p>A pond fountain adds a lot of aesthetic appeal to your pond. The sight and sound of falling water are very soothing to the senses. A fountain in the pond also attracts birds. You can enjoy the beauty of nature while sitting close to your pond. It is one of the good ways to unwind after a hectic day at work. Besides adding beauty to your pond, fountains also help in aeration. This reduces the occurrence of algae in your pond. There are no foul odours that normally occur due to stagnation of water in the pond. </p>
<p><strong>There are few things that you should remember before buying a pond fountain. These are as follows:</strong></p>
<p><UL><br />
<LI> Location of the fountain: The fountain should be strategically placed so that it can augment the charisma of your pond. Always choose your fountain place carefully.</LI></p>
<p><LI> Height of the <a href="http://www.soothingwalls.com/Wall-Fountains-s/44.htm">fountain spray</a>: The height of the fountain spray should be in proportion to the size of your pond. The height of the spray should not exceed half the diameter of the pond; otherwise the water will spill out. You should carefully choose the height of the spray to prevent any wastage of the water.<br />
</LI> </p>
<p><LI> Type of fountain: A large variety of fountains of different shapes, sizes and materials are available in the market these days. You can select the material and style of your fountain depending upon your budget and outdoor ambience. You can also use a decorative statue to enhance the beauty of your fountain.<br />
</LI> </p>
<p><LI> Type of spray pattern: There is a wide variety of jets available that give different kinds of spray patterns. You can choose one depending on your taste and theme like umbrella, foam etc.</p>
<p> </LI><br />
<LI>Pump: You can select the pump depending upon the volume of the water that has to be pumped by the fountain. Nowadays, solar pumps are also available that are environment friendly. You can buy them and save on your electricity bills too.<br />
</LI><br />
<LI>Lights and music: You can add lights and music to your pond water fountain. This kind of fountain looks mesmerising at night. You can also make a provision to add such features later.</p>
<p><strong> Once you have installed your pond fountain, you should regularly maintain it. A few maintenance tips are as below: </strong></p>
<p><LI> Clean your pond regularly: You should regularly clean your pond to remove algae and other vegetation. This will keep your pond and fountain in good health and odour free.<br />
</LI> </p>
<p><LI><br />
Clean the pump: For maximum efficiency and long life of the pump, it is necessary that you should check the maintenance of your pond pump regularly. Never operate your pump on low water levels as that causes damage to the pump.<br />
</LI><br />
<LI><br />
Clean the statues: If you have decorative statues, you should regularly clean them of mineral deposits and dust. Depending on the type of the material of the statue, you should use the appropriate cleaning agent.<br />
</LI><br />
<LI> </p>
<p>Maintaining electrical: Regularly replace the burnt-out bulbs, if you have lighting in your pond fountain. This will make it appear fantastic at all times.<br />
</LI><br />
</UL><br />
A pond fountain can enhance the beauty of your garden and home if chosen and maintained carefully.</p>
<p><strong>About the Author:</strong>
<p>Apurva writes for Soothing Walls, a leading retailer of <a href="http://www.soothingwalls.com/Pebble-Wall-Fountains-s/313.htm"> pond fountain </a> and garden fountains. For more information about different types of fountains visit <a href="http://www.soothingwalls.com"> <a href="http://www.soothingwalls.com" target="_blank">www.soothingwalls.com</a></a>.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/tips-for-buying-and-maintaining-a-pond-fountain-577678.html" title="Tips for Buying and Maintaining a Pond Fountain">Tips for Buying and Maintaining a Pond Fountain</a></p>


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		<title>Best way to prune your tomato plants</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/vegetable-gardening/best-way-to-prune-your-tomato-plants</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/vegetable-gardening/best-way-to-prune-your-tomato-plants#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:40:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Vegetable Gardening]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[tomatoes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=1134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href=http://yourhomegardenblog.com/vegetable-gardening/best-way-to-prune-your-tomato-plants><img src=http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tomato_cut_lower_leaves_for_deep_planting2-300x225.jpg class=imgtfe hspace=5 align=left width=100  border=0></a>It is widely accepted that the best tomatoes are the ones grown in our home gardens. That is why home gardeners so often decide to grow their own tomato plants. You need to know that the effort put into growing tomatoes is relatively minimal in compared to other fruits and vegetables. There&#8217;s absolutely nothing better [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class=editors-comment>
It is widely accepted that the best tomatoes are the ones grown in our home gardens. That is why home gardeners so often decide to grow their own tomato plants. You need to know that the effort put into growing tomatoes is relatively minimal in compared to other fruits and vegetables. There&#8217;s absolutely nothing better than walking out to the garden to gather the makings of the freshest salad in the world.</p>
<p>Pruning is one of the very effective methods by which you can increase the yield of your tomato plants.
</p></div>
<p><image_adv></p>
<p>How to Prune Tomato Plants the Right Way<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pawel_Kalkus">Pawel Kalkus</a> </p>
<p>Pruning tomato plants is yet another important task that must be tended to when growing tomatoes in your garden. Pruning tomato plants will also help the plant to thrive and it will minimize the possibility of disease. Left to fend for itself the tomato plant would end up taking up about 4 square feet of space, it will probably have about 10 stems, and it will ultimately be hounded with disease. Using a device such as a tomato stake or even a tomato cage will help you to take proper care of your plants.</p>
<div id="attachment_660" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tomato_cut_lower_leaves_for_deep_planting2.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tomato_cut_lower_leaves_for_deep_planting2-300x225.jpg" alt="tomatoes - Before you plant, cut the lower leaves for deep planting" title="tomatoes - Before you plant, cut the lower leaves for deep planting" width="300" height="225" class="size-medium wp-image-660" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">tomatoes - Before you plant, cut the lower leaves for deep planting</p></div>
<p>Next you will want to tie them in the case you are using stakes with a soft string such as soft yarn or something like that. Then you will want to prune them by removing all of the leaves below the first flower cluster on the plants. You also want to make sure that each leave section has plenty of room to grow, and capture the sunshine. In order to produce the sugars that are necessary for the plant to live it needs the light.</p>
<p>When you see a plant that has yellowing leaves, the leaves have turned yellow because that section is using more sugar than it is producing. This is due to lack of sunshine in the case of outdoor plants, and still not enough light on those growing indoors. If you are taking proper care of your outdoor plants, you will get larger fruit from it, and it will steadily produce until the first frost occurs. That can turn into a LOT of tomatoes!</p>
<p><text_adv></p>
<p><strong>Some little things you need to consider too are:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>The plants and leaves can&#8217;t touch the ground.
<li>Avoid having too many stems branch out from the plant. Keeping them tied will take care of this.</li>
<li>When the leaves are wet you can not tie the plant off.</li>
<li>Give your plants plenty of room to prosper! It&#8217;s far better to have 50 plants that are thriving than to try to have a hundred plants that are cramped for space!</li>
<li>Keep the plants pruned. It is far better for the plant to remove some of the leaves so that others can prosper.</li>
</ol>
<p>It is widely accepted that the best tomatoes are the ones grown in our home gardens! Of that there is little doubt. That is why home gardeners so often decide to grow their own tomato plants. You need to know that the effort put into growing tomatoes is relatively minimal in compared to other fruits and vegetables. There&#8217;s absolutely nothing better than walking out to the garden to gather the makings of the freshest salad in the world!</p>
<p>Pawel Kalkus is an internet writer and a hobbyist gardener with 15 years of experience in organic vegetables gardening. If you liked this article on pruning tomato plants go get your free copy of the &#8220;<a href="http://www.startgrowingtomatoes.com">7 Best Tomato Growing Tips</a>&#8221; ebook by visiting => http://www.startgrowingtomatoes.com</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Prune-Tomato-Plants-the-Right-Way&#038;id=2172566">How to Prune Tomato Plants the Right Way</a></p>


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		<title>Everything you wanted to know about Credit Card Charge-Off</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-finance/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-credit-card-charge-off</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-finance/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-credit-card-charge-off#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:59:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Home Finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=1165</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What banks and bill collectors call a &#8220;charge-off&#8221; is the point at which the creditor writes off the account balance as a &#8220;bad debt.&#8221; It usually happens after six months of non-payment. After that, they no longer count it on their books as an asset. You still owe the money, of course. And they will [...]


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What banks and bill collectors call a &#8220;charge-off&#8221; is the point at which the creditor writes off the account balance as a &#8220;bad debt.&#8221; It usually happens after six months of non-payment. After that, they no longer count it on their books as an asset. You still owe the money, of course. And they will certainly make continued attempts to collect it from you. But the creditor has been forced by the rules of accounting to zero out the debt on their financial ledgers.
</div>
<p>Credit Card Charge-Off - What Does It Mean and What Should You Do About It?<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Charles_Phelan" >Charles Phelan</a></p>
<p><image_adv></p>
<p>Have you been told by a creditor that your debt is about to &#8220;charge-off&#8221;? Did the bill collector make it sound like you will be ruined financially if you allow this catastrophe to happen? If you&#8217;re behind on your bills, unable to keep up with payments on your credit cards and other debts, sooner or later you will hear a creditor representative threaten you with the dreaded &#8220;charge-off.&#8221; So what is a charge-off anyway? Should you be worried? What are the consequences of this mysterious event?</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll start by explaining what a charge-off is NOT. Because the term includes the word &#8220;charge,&#8221; many people mistakenly think it has to do with cancellation of the account by the creditor. In other words, you can&#8217;t &#8220;charge&#8221; anything on your credit card anymore. But it&#8217;s not the same thing at all, and most banks will revoke charging privileges around 2-3 months before the deadline we&#8217;re talking about here.</p>
<p>What banks and bill collectors call a &#8220;charge-off&#8221; is the point at which the creditor writes off the account balance as a &#8220;bad debt.&#8221; It usually happens after six months of non-payment. After that, they no longer count it on their books as an asset. You still owe the money, of course. And they will certainly make continued attempts to collect it from you. But the creditor has been forced by the rules of accounting to zero out the debt on their financial ledgers. For causing this loss, they will punish you by placing a derogatory mark on your credit report. A &#8220;charge-off&#8221; is a serious negative mark, to be sure, but it is not the financial ruination that debt collectors would like to have you believe it is.</p>
<p><text_adv></p>
<p>Should charge-offs be avoided if possible? Certainly. Does the prospect of a charge-off mean you should panic if you have no way to pay the bill? No! Is it the end of the world if the account has already charged off? No! Too often, bill collectors make a charge-off sound so bad, and they apply so much pressure, that people cave in and make payment commitments they cannot keep. Collectors usually demand payment via post-dated checks, and this frequently leads to bounced checks and even worse financial problems. Most of us are brainwashed by the banks and media on the subject of credit. Sure, good credit is important. But committing to payments you really can&#8217;t afford just to preserve your credit is like watering the lawn while your house is burning down.</p>
<p>Here are a few simple rules to follow when trying to avoid a charge-off that hasn&#8217;t happened yet:</p>
<p>* Don’t be intimidated or threatened by pre-charge-off collection tactics. Keep a cool head and don&#8217;t take it personally when collectors try to get under your skin.</p>
<p>* Call your creditor to find out the minimum payment necessary to avoid the charge-off, and subsequent payments to keep the account current going forward. Don&#8217;t commit to this payment (or series of payments) unless you&#8217;re sure you can follow through.</p>
<p>* Negotiate a lump-sum settlement at 50% or less if you have the resources, or a workout plan for monthly payments that you can live with.</p>
<p>* Do not allow bill collectors to talk you into using post-dated checks, or providing your checking account details over the telephone. Instead, make payments via cashier&#8217;s check or money order.</p>
<p>* Do not make payments based on a verbal arrangement. Get the deal in writing and signed by a creditor representative who has authority to approve the workout plan.</p>
<p>What should you do if you simply don&#8217;t have the money to rescue the account from charge-off, or if the account has already been charged off by the creditor?</p>
<p>* Take a deep breath and relax; the sky won&#8217;t fall on your head just because you had a charge-off.</p>
<p>* Realize that you still have an opportunity to resolve the matter by dealing with the original creditor or the collection agency assigned to the account.</p>
<p>* Negotiate a lump-sum settlement with the creditor or collection agency. Again, aim for 50% or less, and ask for the charge-off to be deleted from your credit report as a condition of the settlement. (Most creditors will not agree to this, but it&#8217;s worth asking anyway. Do be sure that they will update your credit report to show that the matter has been resolved and the account has been satisfied.)</p>
<p>* If you can&#8217;t work out a deal with the collection agency assigned to your account, then wait until it goes to another agency! Eventually, it will either be assigned or sold to an outfit that you can deal with to get the matter cleared up.</p>
<p>To sum up, a charge-off is not the end of the world. It should certainly be avoided if possible, but not at the risk of making things worse by committing to payments you&#8217;re not sure you can keep up with. Just remember that the creditor doesn&#8217;t want to see a charge-off any more than you do, so use that knowledge to your advantage in working out a mutually acceptable arrangement. Get everything in writing, don&#8217;t disclose your checking account details, and follow up to make sure the creditor reports the matter correctly on your credit report. You&#8217;ll find that it&#8217;s easier than you think to resolve a charge-off situation before it happens, or clean it up if it&#8217;s already taken place.</p>
<p>Charles J. Phelan has been helping consumers become debt-free without bankruptcy since 1997. A former senior executive with one of the nation&#8217;s largest debt settlement firms, he is the author of the Debt Elimination Success Seminar™, a five-hour audio-CD course that teaches consumers how to choose between debt program options based on their financial situation. The course focuses on comprehensive instruction in do-it-yourself debt negotiation &#038; settlement designed to save $1,000s. Personal coaching and follow-up support is included. Achieves the same results as professional firms for a tiny fraction of the cost. <a target="_new" href="http://www.zipdebt.com">http://www.zipdebt.com</a></p>
<p>
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Charles_Phelan" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Phelan</a></p>
<p><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Credit-Card-Charge-Off---What-Does-It-Mean-and-What-Should-You-Do-About-It?&#038;id=81287" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Charge-Off&#8212;What-Does-It-Mean-and-What-Should-You-Do-About-It?&#038;id=81287</a></p>


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		<title>How to start a house cleaning business from your home</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/work-at-home/how-to-start-a-house-cleaning-business-from-your-home</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/work-at-home/how-to-start-a-house-cleaning-business-from-your-home#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:44:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Work At Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=1155</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly researched all aspects of [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly researched all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning their home to their specifications.
</div>
<p><image_adv></p>
<p>How to Start a House Cleaning Business on a Tight Budget<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Patti_Page" >Patti Page</a></p>
<p>&#8220;If you use Emotion and Love to drive your sales and your business, you will create Loyalty Beyond Reason. And I promise you, you will build relationships and enjoy a business that exceeds beyond your wildest expectations&#8221;</p>
<p>First of all, before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you. You will need to be in good physical condition. Cleaning is very hard strenuous work. You will need to have good customer relation skills. You will need to have basic office skills and some accounting skills.</p>
<p>If you are planning on leaving your full time position to start a cleaning business, make sure you have at least six months of savings. Or keep your full time job and start out part time.</p>
<p>Research all the aspects of the cleaning service business. From customer service to advertising, taxes, employees, insurance and bonding, what to charge and how to clean a home professionally. Cleaning your own home and cleaning professionally is totally different. Learning how to clean professionally takes a lot of time. When a client pays for your services they expect to come home and find their home spotless.</p>
<p><text_adv></p>
<p>Getting those first clients takes time, persistence and patience. You will not get a hundred clients overnight.</p>
<p><strong>Obtaining Those First Clients</strong> The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly researched all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning their home to their specifications. Be confident. I can&#8217;t stress this enough. Clients love to see confidence. It relieves their worries and lets them know that their home is in good hands.</p>
<p>References: To get a few good references when starting out, ask some friends or family members if you can clean their home for free or at a discounted rate. The sound of working for free may not be appealing but it will be worth it to get some good testimonials.</p>
<p>When cleaning those first homes, go for quality, not how fast you can clean the home. Cleaning efficiently takes a long time, but you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time. After cleaning make sure you go back and double check all rooms to make sure you didn&#8217;t miss anything. Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon.</p>
<p><strong>Advertising</strong> Your company image is everything. Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material. Your image is very important. Be consistent with all your advertising. If you have a logo be sure to use it on all your advertising materials. I think it is best to have a website developed before you start advertising. When advertising, stick with the same logo and colors.</p>
<p><strong>Advertise in Local Paper:</strong> Start by running a text ad in your local newspaper. Try to come up with an eye catching ad. Do not sell your services on low rates, sell your services on your quality of work and what you can do for the client that other companies don&#8217;t. There is a lot of competition in the cleaning service. You have to stand out from the rest.</p>
<p><strong>Magnetic Signs or Lettering for your Vehicle:</strong> Having your business name and contact information on your vehicle is a great way to advertise. We use the vinyl lettering. The lettering looks much more professional than the magnetic signs.</p>
<p><strong>Flyers:</strong> You can print nice flyers on your home computer, but I would suggest investing in some professional flyers. Hang flyers at Hair Dressers, Laundromats, Restaurants, Bakeries, Grocery Stores, etc. Put flyers on car windows at local groceries stores and businesses. You can even go door to door in neighborhoods you would like to work in. You cannot put them in mailboxes. but you can put them in the front door.</p>
<p><strong>Door Hangers:</strong> Door hangers are a great way to get new clients. Pick the neighborhood you would like to work in and hang the door hangers on the doors. When people get flyers or ads in their mailbox they usually throw them away with the junk mail. But if there is a door hanger on the door they will take the time to look at it.</p>
<p><strong>Business Cards:</strong> Start passing out your business cards to friends and family members. You can also ask your local businesses if you can leave some cards on their counters.</p>
<p><strong>Referral Program:</strong> A great way to obtain new clients is through a referral program. Offer existing clients a discount when they refer a friend. You can give your existing clients a discount when the friend uses your services three times.</p>
<p><strong>Website:</strong> These days people live very busy lives so they use the convenience of the internet to shop for the services they need. A lot of working women will shop for services while at work.  Everyone that has a business should have a website. It shows clients that you are serious about your business and allows them research your business in their own time.</p>
<p><b>Cleaning Products: </b>By using all natrual products, you can offer your clients a healthy cleaning experience and protect ourselves against harsh chemicals. Clients love the natural cleaning products with essential oils. They come home to a healthy clean home filled with the wonderful scents of aromatherapy essential oils.</p>
<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Always carry hand sanitizer and wash your hands often while cleaning homes. Wear gloves when cleaning bathrooms. You will be exposed to a lot of different germs in clients homes.</p>
<p>Remember most customers prefer that you bring your own cleaning supplies. That way they do not have to worry about going to the store for cleaning supplies before you clean. Some customers have special cleaners for certain appliances or floors in their houses. These customers usually will have these cleaners on hand for you to use. We almost always use the customers vacuum cleaner. That way you do not have to carry a heavy vacuum from house to house.</p>
<p><strong>What to Charge</strong> I mentioned earlier that you should sell your services on your quality of work and not your low rates. If your rates are too low, clients will think that your work is sub-standard and that you are not experienced. Also you want to attract the clients that can afford your services. I made the mistake of pricing my work too low when I first started out. Cleaning is hard work, charge what you are worth. As the old saying goes &#8220;You get what you pay for.&#8221;</p>
<p>Some companies charge by the hour, some charge by the room, some charge a flat rate per home and some charge by the square foot.  I think it is better to charge by the home, not by the hour. If a client knows they have to pay one set fee, they don&#8217;t care if you take 2 hours or 5 hours. Also your clients will know what they are paying up front and won&#8217;t have to worry about added expenses.</p>
<p>No two houses are the same. And there is no set charge for all homes. You have to clean for awhile yourself to get some experience and to work out a system to clean efficiently. Only you know what you want and need to make. Decide what you need to make hourly to cover all expenses and still make a good profit.</p>
<p><strong>A word of advise:</strong> Make sure when you start your company that you charge what you would charge if you had employees. Some people make the mistake of under charging when they start out just to get customers and then later on when they grow and need to hire help they aren&#8217;t making enough money on their houses to pay help. Don&#8217;t under price your work. Cleaning homes is very hard physical work and you didn&#8217;t get into this business to work for nothing.</p>
<p><strong>New Construction Cleaning</strong> If you decide to do this type of work you will need more equipment. You will need ladders, window cleaning kits with long extensions, a shop vac, etc. These types of jobs are usually 2 to 3 person jobs. New construction cleaning requires a lot more cleaning. You may have to remove stickers and labels from windows and bathroom showers, sinks and toilets. Some require that you clean the vents to remove dust from construction work. There will be ceiling fans to clean, scrubbing floors, and cleaning woodwork to remove dust. New construction cleaning rates depend on the area you live in. Normally they run from .12 cents per sq .ft. to .25 cents per sq .ft. depending on where you are located. Insurance and Bonding</p>
<p><strong>Insurance and Bonding.</strong> You need to be an honest person and somewhat personable. People will need to trust you to be in their homes. Most clients are concerned about having someone new in their house, with good reason. You should be bonded and fully insured. Liability insurance rates depend on your insurance carrier and where you are located. Each person you hire will increase your liability insurance. It&#8217;s well worth the cost. You can pay quarterly or yearly. You can purchase your bond through your local insurance company. You will need to renew the bond every year. *Note: if you hire employees and cover them under your insurance, they must be an employee on payroll and not a sub-contractor. If you employ them as a sub-contractor your insurance will not cover them. If they are a sub-contractor they are required to carry their own insurance. You</p>
<p><strong>Hiring Help</strong> If you start out cleaning the homes by yourself, you will eventually get to the point where you need to expand your business. Start out with one part time employee. Train her and let her take your place one day a week. Then have her take your place 2 days a week and so on. This will give you the free time that you need to market your business and obtain more clients. After you get more clients you will be able to hire more part time help. Eventually you will be able to stop doing the cleaning yourself and just run the business end, which is the only way you will be able to grow your business. When training new employees, always, either train them yourself or have a lead person train them. Make sure there is a lead person on each and every cleaning job. Employees have a tendency to slack off when they are on their own.</p>
<p><strong>Growing Your Business</strong> You will eventually get to the point where you have enough employees and lead people and you will be able to stop working in your business and start running your business. You will find that after awhile it will get to be too much trying to clean everyday and at the same time giving estimates, answering calls, scheduling, doing book work, obtaining new clients, etc.</p>
<p>Remember one of the most important qualifications for a cleaning service is TRUST. A client has to know they can trust you alone in their home. After you acquire a few cleaning positions ask the clients if you can use them for a reference. Most of the time they are more than willing to let you use them for a reference. This is how you build your business and acquire new clients is through referrals. Be dependable. Most clients will want to be set up on an every week or every other week schedule on the same day of the week. Try to always keep this same schedule unless the client asks you to switch to another day. If you have to cancel a cleaning date, make sure you try to reschedule at the earliest possible date to make up the cleaning.</p>
<p>You are free to use this article in part or full provided you include the bio below.</p>
<p>Patti Page is the owner of Page&#8217;s Personal Cleaning in Cincinnati OH. <br /> Website: <a target="_new" href="http://www.pagespersonalcleaning.net/cleaningarticles.htm">http://www.pagespersonalcleaning.net/cleaningarticles.htm</a></p>
<p>
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Patti_Page" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patti_Page</a></p>
<p><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-House-Cleaning-Business-on-a-Tight-Budget&#038;id=5122" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-House-Cleaning-Business-on-a-Tight-Budget&#038;id=5122</a></p>


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		<title>How to train your puppy, tips and techniques for home</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/pets/how-to-train-your-puppy-tips-and-techniques-for-home</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/pets/how-to-train-your-puppy-tips-and-techniques-for-home#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:38:55 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Pets]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Here is a great article from author Diane Ellis describing the top 10 things you must teach your puppy before they are one year old.


10 Things You Must Teach Your Puppy Before They Are a Year Old
By Diane Ellis 
Have you ever come across a dog at the dog park, or had to look after [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
Here is a great article from author Diane Ellis describing the top 10 things you must teach your puppy before they are one year old.
</div>
<p><image_adv><br />
10 Things You Must Teach Your Puppy Before They Are a Year Old<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Diane_Ellis">Diane Ellis </a></p>
<p>Have you ever come across a dog at the dog park, or had to look after a dog for a friend, and found that they had absolutely no doggie manners at all? That&#8217;s because they haven&#8217;t been trained properly. Here are the 10 things you MUST teach your puppy before they are a year old, so you can have the best behaved dog on the street!</p>
<p>OK - we&#8217;ll start with the basics&#8230;.</p>
<p><strong>Toilet Training</strong><br />
We all know it&#8217;s important to teach your puppy where to go to the toilet, but it&#8217;s equally important to teach them to alert you WHEN they need to go to the toilet. You might think it&#8217;s easier to teach the puppy to go at pre-arranged times (after meals and just before bed), and this is true. However, there may be times in your dog&#8217;s life (such as when they are unwell) when they might just need an extra pit stop.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a great idea to teach your dog to alert you when they need to go outside. Or, you can teach your dog to answer your question &#8220;do you need to go pee?&#8221;. No seriously - if you ask this question each time they go out to do their business, they will eventually associate that phrase with going to the toilet. So when you ask the question, they will either be disinterested, or jump up ready to go. Trust me - this comes in very handy later on in your dog&#8217;s life.</p>
<p><text_adv> </p>
<p><strong>Sit, Stay, Drop </strong><br />
It seems to me I shouldn&#8217;t have to mention this, but it amazes me the number of dogs who won&#8217;t sit on command! The earlier you teach your puppy, the better. Drop can be particularly hard for puppies, but it&#8217;s worth persevering with. The Drop command is quite a submissive action for a dog, and can be very useful when there are young children about, putting the dog below them in terms of height.</p>
<p><strong>Walk on Leash &#038; Off Leash With You</strong><br />
Going for a walk should be fun, but not out of control. Teach your puppy from an early age to stand still while you put on their leash (and collar if they don&#8217;t wear one indoors).  When walking, your dog should walk beside you - not in front, and not wandering all over the place sniffing and peeing. Your dog can have some &#8220;free time&#8221; (see later on in this article), but most of the walk should be by your side and calm.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s also a good idea to teach your dog to walk beside you off leash (once you have mastered on leash of course). It&#8217;s best to start this off in your own fenced yard before you move outdoors. And always take the lead with you as back up. However, this is very handy if your dog somehow gets out or off leash when you are outdoors. You should be able to call them to you and then put them on leash or walk them home without one.</p>
<p><strong>Fetch &#038; Release</strong><br />
Throwing a ball or Frisbee and having them retrieve it is a great game for a puppy. It&#8217;s great exercise, it&#8217;s fun, and they are with you! However, it is just as important to teach your puppy to release the ball or Frisbee when they return to you. It is more important actually - they need to acknowledge that you are in charge of the game, and that the ball always gets given back to you.</p>
<p>Do NOT wrestle with the dog for the ball or Frisbee, and don&#8217;t allow them to &#8220;play growl&#8221;. Tug is a separate game played with a tug toy. In Fetch they must always release the ball back to you. If they won&#8217;t - stop playing.</p>
<p><strong>Doggie etiquette</strong><br />
When your puppy meets another dog or cat, it needs to know the right etiquette for introducing itself. Puppies usually learn this from their litter mates, but I have seen many cases where puppies were obviously taken away from their litter too soon, and they have no idea at all how to behave around other animals.</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll know if your puppy has a problem by how it behaves when guests arrive. A well behaved puppy will approach the visitors and want a pat or some attention, but not demand it. Badly behaved puppies demand attention by pushing their noses at people, or jumping. If your puppy does either of these, chances are it won&#8217;t behave very well around new animals either. And that could spell trouble at the dog park! Nip it in the bud now.</p>
<p><strong>No jumping</strong><br />
Following on from our point on etiquette, you may think it&#8217;s cute now that your puppy jumps at your legs to get attention or tries to jump on your lap. But wait until they are a fully grown dog, or when they try it on a frail elderly person and knock them over. No jumping on people - ever.</p>
<p><strong>Sharing Food and Toys</strong><br />
This is a very important lesson to teach if you have, or plan on having, other animals or children in the house. Some dogs can be very possessive, especially with their food and/or toys. Puppies need to be taught at a young age that nothing is theirs alone - not their food nor their toys. You need to start this training when they are young. Take the toy or food away from the dog and give it to your child to give back to the dog. This teaches the dog that things come back - they won&#8217;t necessarily lose them forever.</p>
<p>If you have another animal, especially another dog, then make sure that both (or all) dogs play with all toys. No toys belong to any one dog.</p>
<p><strong>Go to your bed</strong><br />
Your dog needs a &#8220;safe&#8221; zone - somewhere they can go to get some time out, sleep, or eat their food. This can be their bed, a rug, or even their crate. Teach them from an early age to go there on command. This way, if puppy misbehaves you can send them for some time out with this command.</p>
<p><strong>&#8220;Free&#8221; time</strong><br />
OK - I mentioned this when we talked about walking on leash. It is important that your dog is allowed some free time to run and play and be silly and sniff things and pee on things. Teaching your dog early by using the word &#8220;free&#8221; said loudly and happily will train your dog that now he can be himself! This is a great command to use at the dog park. You also need to have an &#8220;off&#8221; word so they come back to you when it&#8217;s time to go home or back on the leash. Whether that&#8217;s calling their name, or &#8220;come&#8221;, or another word you use.</p>
<p><strong>Who&#8217;s in charge</strong><br />
If you have been able to teach your puppy all of the above behaviours, then you have also taught your dog who&#8217;s in charge - you!</p>
<p>If you teach your puppy to be a well behaved, well mannered puppy, then you&#8217;ll have a dog you can be proud of later in life.</p>
<p>Di Ellis is an avid dog lover, and <a href="http://www.BestDoggieTips.com">co-author of</a> the where you can get loads of useful tips and information about our four legged friends including free recipes, dog cartoons (updated weekly) and links to the best free dog stuff on the Net. And when you sign up for our free newsletter, we&#8217;ll send you a copy of our Dog Recipe Book.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Things-You-Must-Teach-Your-Puppy-Before-They-Are-a-Year-Old&#038;id=2491306">10 Things You Must Teach Your Puppy Before They Are a Year Old</a></p>


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		<title>Natural remedies for constipation</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-remedies/natural-remedies-for-constipation</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-remedies/natural-remedies-for-constipation#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:26:38 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Home Remedies]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, bran, honey, lentils, green and leafy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, clarified butter, and cream. You should also chew food properly; avoid hurried meals [...]


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<p>The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, bran, honey, lentils, green and leafy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, clarified butter, and cream. You should also chew food properly; avoid hurried meals and irregular meals and not mix too many kinds of foods in one meal. For people prone to constipation, limiting foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed foods, is also important.
</p></div>
<p><image_adv><br />
Constipation Home Remedies<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maverick_Jensen">Maverick Jensen</a> </p>
<p>Nothing&#8217;s moving, even though you know you have to move your bowels. Everything in your body is sending you that signal. You feel bloated and uncomfortable pressure, but when you try to go, nothing happens. Or, if you do finally go, it hurts. All signs prove that you are getting constipation. Constipation isn&#8217;t an illness; it&#8217;s simply what happens when bowel movements are delayed, compacted, and difficult to pass. Once you understand the basics of constipation, it&#8217;s possible to treat it. Depending on the severity of the case, it may respond to simple home remedies or it may require medical intervention.</p>
<p>The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, bran, honey, lentils, green and leafy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, clarified butter, and cream. You should also chew food properly; avoid hurried meals and irregular meals and not mix too many kinds of foods in one meal. For people prone to constipation, limiting foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed foods, is also important.<br />
<text_adv><br />
However, dieting alone is not enough. Drinking water is one of the most important remedies to remove constipation. Making sure you drink enough water and other liquids, such as fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups which may help some people with constipation. To eliminate constipation you can drink a glass of warm milk before going to bed helps in easy evacuation in the morning, or drink one liter of warm water and walk around for a few minutes immediately after waking up early in the morning, as well drink lemon juice mixed with warm water two to three times a day eases constipation.</p>
<p>A long with dieting and drinking enough water, exercising two to three times each week will help to promote healthy intestinal contractions and keep constipation at bay. Regular physical exercise is also important for maintaining proper bowel movements. To sum up, we feel that regular exercise tends to combat constipation by moving food through the bowel faster. So, you can walk, swim, and exercise because all of them play an important role in strengthening the muscles, and thereby preventing constipation.</p>
<p>You cannot risk the negative effects that a malfunctioning colon can cause. If you&#8217;re seriously interested in becoming healthier, having more energy and helping your body lose weight check out these colon cleansing remedies at <a href="http://ultracoloncleanseplus.com">colon cleanse remedies</a>. Or for the sure way to cleanse your colon the best way visit the best colon cleansing product on the market Visit the <a href="http://ultracoloncleanseplus.com">Colon Cleanse Phenomenon</a>.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?Constipation-Home-Remedies&#038;id=2436727">Constipation Home Remedies</a></p>


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		<title>Cost comparison of replacement windows</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-improvement/cost-comparison-of-replacement-windows</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-improvement/cost-comparison-of-replacement-windows#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:22:08 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Home Improvement]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[There is no easy way to comapre the cost of replacement windows, without knowing the types of windows you are replacing to. There are various cost points depending on the window type.


How Much Does it Cost to Replace Windows in a House?
By John Mannas Jr 
When one of my members asked me this question - [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
There is no easy way to comapre the cost of replacement windows, without knowing the types of windows you are replacing to. There are various cost points depending on the window type.
</div>
<p><image_adv><br />
How Much Does it Cost to Replace Windows in a House?<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Mannas_Jr">John Mannas Jr </a></p>
<p>When one of my members asked me this question - how much does it cost to replace windows in a house? I told him this is such a broad question it would take me to consider a few issues instead of just providing a one word answer. Below I will provide a very broad but helpful view of this subject - hopefully you will find information that will be helpful to you.</p>
<ol>
<li>For a price of about 9 windows you are likely to be quoted something like $5500. You can even get about that much for 6 or 8 windows especially from places like Home Depot.</li>
<li>There are some companies that will give you a quote of about $8000. I know Sears quoted one of my subscribers about that much.</li>
<li>You can get one replacement window installed in your house for about $250. You can then multiply from there to total the number of windows in your home. This charge applies to windows that are double pane and you can get some from Andersons.</li>
<li>The last time I checked ComfortWorld 4000 replacement windows will cost you about $260 to install any size.</li>
<li>I know that Xact quotes about $6000 for about 12 average siz double hung windows. Xact also gave another member a quote of $1900 for 7 DH windows.</li>
<li>Estimated prices for wood windows costs between $13000 and 19000 and vinyl will cost you between $6000 and $8000. Of course this varies per number of windows needed.</li>
<li>It is not unusual to be quoted about $450 per window. I know that some think this price is rather too high.</li>
</ol>
<p><text_adv><br />
So I hope I have answered your question on how much does it cost to replace windows in a home. Of course you still need to get your own custom made quote before you start budgeting.</p>
<p>Click Here   Cost to Replace Windows For more.</p>
<p>If you found this page interesting then you will also like: http://www.findreplacementwindowcompanies.com</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Much-Does-it-Cost-to-Replace-Windows-in-a-House?&#038;id=1960983">How Much Does it Cost to Replace Windows in a House?</a></p>


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		<item>
		<title>Building a DIY green house - Step by step instructions</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/green-house/building-a-diy-green-house-step-by-step-instructions</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/green-house/building-a-diy-green-house-step-by-step-instructions#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:46:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Green House]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=1124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may not have ever thought about building your own greenhouse, most likely because you thought it would be extremely difficult. Well, I am here to tell you that it is easier than you think. Building a greenhouse from scratch is not rocket science, it is actually very simple and is something to be proud [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://yourhomegardenblog.com/ponds/step-by-step-guide-to-build-a-garden-pond-in-your-backyard' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Step by step guide to build a garden pond in your backyard'>Step by step guide to build a garden pond in your backyard</a> <small> This post has three pages, click below to navigate...</small></li><li><a href='http://yourhomegardenblog.com/ponds/building-a-koi-pond-read-this-before-you-build-your-koi-pond' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building a Koi Pond? - Read this before you build your koi pond'>Building a Koi Pond? - Read this before you build your koi pond</a> <small> Want To Build A Koi Pond?-12 Tips You Need...</small></li></ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
You may not have ever thought about building your own greenhouse, most likely because you thought it would be extremely difficult. Well, I am here to tell you that it is easier than you think. Building a greenhouse from scratch is not rocket science, it is actually very simple and is something to be proud of.
</div>
<p><image_adv></p>
<p>9 Steps How to Build a DIY Greenhouse<br />
By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Whitney_Segura">Whitney Segura </a></p>
<p><strong>Why build a greenhouse?</strong><br />
Let&#8217;s face it you most likely have dreamed about owning a greenhouse, at least once in your life. They are fun, extremely relaxing, healthy, and have many other benefits. Well, the time to turn those thoughts into reality is now. The fact is our environment is in trouble, everyone knows it. It needs people like you to help give back the gift of life.</p>
<p>You may not have ever thought about building your own greenhouse, most likely because you thought it would be extremely difficult. Well, I am here to tell you that it is easier than you think. Building a greenhouse from scratch is not rocket science, it is actually very simple and is something to be proud of. I have compiled this list of 9 simple and key steps to take when building your own greenhouse. Don&#8217;t worry or think you can&#8217;t do this, because you can! With that said, lets get into it.</p>
<p><text_adv></p>
<p><strong>The 9 Steps:<br />
Use Salvaged Materials In Greenhouse Construction</strong><br />
Step #1	Think about using salvaged materials if you want to build a large greenhouse - this will keep costs lower, so more resources can go into heating and irrigation systems.</p>
<p><strong>Greenhouse Temperature and Shade</strong><br />
Step #2.	Take your climate into account. If you live in a temperate or cold region, then you&#8217;ll want to build an insulated greenhouse. If you live in a warmer climate, then you&#8217;ll want to have shade control as well - and in a desert region, you&#8217;ll need both!</p>
<p><strong>Ventilation Greenhouse Plans</strong><br />
Step #3.	Be sure to plan for adequate ventilation and air circulation as well as heat and humidity control. Think about the plants you plan to grow in your greenhouse and design a climate accordingly. Greenhouse ventilation is easy to do and something that is truly necessary, or your plants may suffer. </p>
<p><strong>Choosing Greenhouse Location</strong><br />
Step #4.	Build your greenhouse is a spot where it will receive plenty of sunlight. You&#8217;ll want to give your greenhouse eastern and western exposure, especially if you plan to grow vegetables and fruits. This will provide ample sunlight to ensure fruiting in these plants. Semi-shaded areas won&#8217;t hurt anything, if that is your only option.</p>
<p><strong>Greenhouse Construction Materials</strong><br />
Step #5.	Decide on a siding for your greenhouse. The best materials are glass (which can be expensive) or fiberglass. Both of these materials offer greater durability, since they do not break down as quickly as plastic siding. These materials will also make for a warmer, more humid greenhouse. You could also pick out greenhouse polycarbonate panels, which are shatter proof and nearly impossible to break. They are extremely safe and can withstand some pretty strong winds.</p>
<p><strong>Picking Your Greenhouse Base</strong><br />
Step #6.	Choose your foundation. You can use concrete, which offers a stable foundation. You can also go for a simpler foundation using salvaged materials such as railroad ties. Your foundation will affect the cost of your greenhouse, so keep your budget in mind when deciding on this.</p>
<p><strong>Additional Greenhouse Heating And Greenhouse Irrigation</strong><br />
Step #7.	If there&#8217;s room in your budget, add elements which will make your greenhouse more convenient and comfortable for you as a gardener. Heating and irrigation systems are a great addition and are in fact essential in some climates. Adding benches so you can relax and enjoy your greenhouse is also a great idea - you can even have a garden party in the dead of winter!</p>
<p><strong>Using Greenhouse Pest Control</strong><br />
Step #8.	Use organic pest control methods such as introducing natural predators which can keep the population of problematic insects down. Also, quarantining a plant which is infested with pests can control the spread of damage from these pests.</p>
<p><strong>Plan Greenhouse Construction Space For Storage</strong><br />
Step #9.	Be sure to plan some space for storage. You&#8217;ll want somewhere to keep your tools, fertilizer and potting soil. Consider placing a tool rack and a bin to keep soil and fertilizer near your potting bench for convenience. You could also use buckets or specially designed tool holders to keep your equipment handy for when you&#8217;re puttering around the greenhouse. Small greenhouse grow racks work awesome in situations where people are tight on space, I highly recommend looking into those.</p>
<p><strong>Why a do it yourself greenhouse?</strong><br />
There are so many reasons but it is cheaper than buying one, environmentally friendly, relaxing, and really it is something you can take pride in. Wouldn&#8217;t you like to brag to your neighbors about your awesome hand build greenhouse? Also will be jealous of your garden in no time, its a fact!</p>
<p><strong>Why should you follow these 9 steps?</strong><br />
These steps are the 9 most important and biggest problems people face when a building DIY greenhouse. Not taking these steps into account could very turn into a huge inconvenience. All you have to do is stick to these guidelines and you will be GROW ing wild in no time!</p>
<p>Whitney Segura is a expert at building, buying, and using <a href="http://www.minigreenhousekits.com">Mini Greenhouse Kits</a> and <a href="http://www.minigreenhousekits.com/index.php?cPath=11">Rion Hobby Greenhouses</a>. </p>
<p>Feel free to send a message if you have any need some help or have any questions at all. You can never have enough friends, that&#8217;s for sure!</p>
<p>Article Source:  <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?9-Steps-How-to-Build-a-DIY-Greenhouse&#038;id=2042992">9 Steps How to Build a DIY Greenhouse</a></p>


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		<item>
		<title>How to grow delicious asian snake gourds in your backyard</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/exotic-vegetables/how-to-grow-delicious-asian-snake-gourds-in-your-backyard</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/exotic-vegetables/how-to-grow-delicious-asian-snake-gourds-in-your-backyard#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:04:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>iris</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://yourhomegardenblog.com/?p=1064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href=http://yourhomegardenblog.com/exotic-vegetables/how-to-grow-delicious-asian-snake-gourds-in-your-backyard><img src=http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tender-snake-gourd.jpg class=imgtfe hspace=5 align=left width=100  border=0></a>
Type of Vegetable: Exotic – Asian, extensively grown in South India
Skill required: Minimal gardening skills – but you must have an exotic taste
Growing Season: May to September (In Zone 7)
Plant type: Climbing Vine
Other Names: Snake Groud, Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina, It is known as potlakaaya (in Telugu), pathola (in Sinhala), pudalankaai (in Tamil), dhunduli(in Assamese), [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><text_adv></p>
<p><strong>Type of Vegetable:</strong> Exotic – Asian, extensively grown in South India<br />
<strong>Skill required:</strong> Minimal gardening skills – but you must have an exotic taste<br />
<strong>Growing Season:</strong> May to September (In Zone 7)<br />
<strong>Plant type:</strong> Climbing Vine<br />
<strong>Other Names:</strong> Snake Groud, Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina, It is known as potlakaaya (in Telugu), pathola (in Sinhala), pudalankaai (in Tamil), dhunduli(in Assamese), paduvalakaayi (in Kannada) and padavalanga in Malayalam.<br />
<strong>Family:</strong> Cucurbitaceae<br />
<strong>Growing Structure:</strong> A 6ft tall trellis is essential</p>
<p>Snake Gourd is one my favorite vegetables. This delicious vegetable is extensively grown in South India and South Asia. In South India it is used to prepare a variety of mouth-watering dishes. When used in dishes, it has a mouthwatering buttery taste. As the name indicates, snake gourd produces long and curved fruits that appear like snakes hanging on the supports. It is ideal to grow this tender vine on a trellis for obtaining long straight fruits. Young fruits are harvested and cooked like Luffa.</p>
<div id="attachment_1109" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 410px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tender-snake-gourd.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/tender-snake-gourd.jpg" alt="tender snake gourd" title="tender snake gourd" width="400" height="533" class="size-full wp-image-1109" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">tender snake gourd</p></div>
<p>We have been growing Snake Gourd in our backyard quite successfully for the last three years. In US where these are not native plants, pests of diseases do not generally affect them. We grow them from May to September quite successfully.</p>
<p>There are some similarities between Snake Gourd and Bitter Melons (Bitter Gourd). The plants may look similar in appearance especially from a distance. Both Bitter Melons and Snake Gourds are tender vines that require a trellis for them to climb. However taste wise, Snake Gourd and Bitter Melon are way off from each other. Snake Gourds are not at all bitter. Instead they taste somewhat like cucumbers.</p>
<p><strong>Before you buy the seeds</strong><br />
When you buy the seeds please remember that there are two completely different snake gourd seeds sold in the US.</p>
<p><strong>Hard Shell Snake Gourd</strong><br />
These are ornamental gourds that develop a hard shell when ripe. These plants belong to the group of plants which are called Hard shell Gourds (Lagenaria siceraria). These are uniformly cylindrical gourds, which can grow as much as 36-inches long and about 3 inches in diameter. These gourds are mostly used for drying, painting and displaying as snakes. These are not edible and are completely different from the edible oriental (asian) snake gourds discussed in this article</p>
<p><strong>Oriental (Asian or Indian) Snake Gourd</strong><br />
These gourds don’t have the thick skin and are unsuitable for drying and painting. These gourds have a waxy skin. They make delicious vegetables when harvested as tender fruits. When ripe the fruits simply disintegrate and the seeds and the watery pulp will fall to the ground.</p>
<p><strong>Growing Snake Gourds in your backyard</strong><br />
You can very easily grow this exotic vegetable on your backyard even if you know nothing about this plant. In this article I will show you everything you need to know about growing them.</p>
<p><strong>From where can I get the seed?</strong><br />
<image_adv></p>
<p>There are several Internet based seed stores that sell Snake Gourd Seeds. You can even buy the seeds from eBay. Given below are some of the internet stores selling snake gourd seeds.<br />
<a href="http://www.seedsofindia.com/">http://www.seedsofindia.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.evergreenseeds.com">http://www.evergreenseeds.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sandmountainherbs.com">http://www.sandmountainherbs.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.banana-tree.com">http://www.banana-tree.com</a></p>
<p><strong>What is the growing season? When should I transplant my Snake Gourd plants?</strong></p>
<p>We grow them every year in zone 7 from May to September with great success. You can grow snake gourds from seed directly by sowing the seed in its final destination. In this case you will lose about a month or more of the growing season because you will have to wait until the last frost is over to plant your seeds outdoors. Alternatively you can start them indoors, by sowing the seeds indoors about a month and a half early (early April in Zone 7). You can then transplant them by the middle of May. This will save you time and will result in longer harvest season.</p>
<div id="attachment_1110" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 234px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-tying-the-stone.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-tying-the-stone-224x300.jpg" alt="snake gourd tying the stone to prevent coiling" title="snake gourd tying the stone to prevent coiling" width="224" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-1110" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">snake gourd tying the stone to prevent coiling</p></div>
<p><strong>Selecting your planting location</strong></p>
<p>They need a lot of sun. So find the sunniest spot in your garden. Also make sure you can provide a structure for them to climb on. These are vines, which like to climb up and spread around. Unlike watermelons, they won’t fruit well if they are allowed spread on the ground. Also the fruits will get dirty from the soil and they may get all kinds of insect attack if they are in contact with the soil. Additionally to get the long gourds they need to hang down from a tall trellis. More about this is discussed later in this article.</p>
<p><strong>Preparing the ground</strong></p>
<p>Snake gourds are very easy to grow. If you have good soil, then all you need to do is to make a planting pit by loosening up the soil for about two feet in diameter and about one and half feet depth. Mix a lot of compost or dried manure before you plant the seeds. If you can prepare the pit this way a month or so in advance then it would be still better. This way all the organic matter will get decomposed to make the soil very rich. This is the ideal scenario for growing snake gourd plants.</p>
<p><strong>Planting the seed</strong></p>
<p>If you are in a colder zone (like me who is in zone seven) please wait until it is warm enough to plant your seeds. Waiting until the beginning to the middle of May (in zone 7) is a good idea. If you plant them earlier, most probably your seeds may rot. If you want to save some time, and would like to start harvesting your fruits sooner, you can sow the seeds indoors by April and then transplant them to their actual location by the middle of May.</p>
<div id="attachment_1111" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-with-stone-tied.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-with-stone-tied-225x300.jpg" alt="snake gourd with stone tied" title="snake gourd with stone tied" width="225" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-1111" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">snake gourd with stone tied</p></div>
<p>On a single pit (2 ft diameter and soil loosened to 1.5 ft deep) you can plant about ten seeds, 6 inches apart. Ten seeds are recommended particularly because, the germination percentage of snake gourd seeds are very low compared to bitter gourd. By planting 10 seeds you can expect to get about two to three plants at the end.</p>
<p><strong>Steps to make the snake gourd seeds germinate faster</strong></p>
<p>Seed has hard coat and may take a long time to germinate. Since the germination percentage is very low (compared to bitter melons) you may need to use more seeds.</p>
<p>If directly seeded, the snake gourd seeds can take almost a month to germinate. There are things you can do to hasten the germination.</p>
<p>Moisture and temperature play a very important role in hastening the germinating of snake gourd seeds. To provide these ideal conditions, you can germinate your snake gourd seeds indoors using any of the following techniques.</p>
<p><strong>1. Socking:</strong><br />
By early April, soak the seed for two hours in tap water. Then put a wet paper towel in a styrofoam plate, spread the seeds and cover it with another wet paper towel. Put the styrofoam plate on the top (not inside) of your refrigator (it’s warmer there). Keep the paper towel moist all the time. After about two weeks, the seeds will germinate.</p>
<p>At this time you can transfer them to your small containers. Let them grow for another 3 to 4 weeks in those containers. By that time they will develop a few new leaves. Now you can transplant them to the field. When you transplant, make sure to provide some artifical shade for a few days to protect the young plants from the sudden exposure to the harsh sun.</p>
<div id="attachment_1093" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-sprouted-using-wet-paper-towel.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/snake-gourd-sprouted-using-wet-paper-towel-300x171.jpg" alt="snake gourd sprouted using wet paper towel" title="snake gourd sprouted using wet paper towel" width="300" height="171" class="size-medium wp-image-1093" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">snake gourd sprouted using wet paper towel</p></div>
<p><strong>2. Breaking the seed coat:</strong><br />
We also do a little trick to make them germinate faster by breaking their hard seed coat using pliers. To break the seed coat, you need to hold the seeds between your fingers by their thinnest side and then press them with the pliers on the ridge joining the two halves of the seed.</p>
<p>Be careful when you do this, if you damage the endosperm inside the hard shell, you will kill the seeds. So, before you use this approach, make sure you have plenty of seeds.</p>
<p><strong>Building a trellis</strong><br />
This can be an easy weekend project for most people. If you build a good wood structure, you can re-use them for years to grow your bitter melons.</p>
<p>What you see on the picture is a trellis of size 12ft x 8ft built using the following:</p>
<p>Posts : 4 numbers (4 inch x 4 inch x 8 ft)<br />
Horizontal support frame – long side: 4 numbers (2 inch x 4 inch x 12 ft)<br />
Horizontal support frame – short side: 2 numbers (2 inch x 4 inch x 8 ft)<br />
Horizontal runners: 11 numbers (1 inch x 2 inch x 8 ft)<br />
All of these were bought from Lowes. You will be able to find them in the lumber section of Lowes or Home Depot.</p>
<div>
<div id="attachment_1097" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step1.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step1-150x150.jpg" alt="building the snake gourd trellis - step 1" title="building the snake gourd trellis - step 1" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1097" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">building the snake gourd trellis - step 1</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1099" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step2.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step2-150x150.jpg" alt="building the snake gourd trellis - step 2" title="building the snake gourd trellis - step 2" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1099" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">building the snake gourd trellis - step 2</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1100" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step3.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step3-150x150.jpg" alt="building the snake gourd trellis - step 3" title="building the snake gourd trellis - step 3" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1100" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">building the snake gourd trellis - step 3</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1098" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step4.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-step4-150x150.jpg" alt="building the snake gourd trellis - step 4" title="building the snake gourd trellis - step 4" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1098" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">building the snake gourd trellis - step 4</p></div>
</div>
<div>
<div id="attachment_1094" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-in-action.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/building-the-snake-gourd-trellis-in-action-150x150.jpg" alt="the snake gourd trellis in action" title="the snake gourd trellis in action" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1094" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">the snake gourd trellis in action</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1105" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trellis-with-bitter-melon-snake-gourd-and-others.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trellis-with-bitter-melon-snake-gourd-and-others-150x150.jpg" alt="trellis with bitter melon, snake gourd and others" title="trellis with bitter melon, snake gourd and others" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1105" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">trellis with bitter melon, snake gourd and others</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1106" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/melon-trellis.jpg"><img src="http://yourhomegardenblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/melon-trellis-150x150.jpg" alt="melon trellis" title="melon trellis" width="150" height="150" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1106" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">melon trellis</p></div>
</div>
<p><strong>Steps to build the trellis</strong></p>
<p>This is very similar to building a trellis for Bitter Melon. In fact we use the same trellis for growing snake gourd and bitter melon.</p>
<p>Prebuild the structure (frame) that goes on the top of the posts. You can do it in any flat surface or on your garage and carry it to the location. You will need a helper to carry it as well as to raise it when you want to nail them to the posts.</p>
<p><strong>Putting the Posts</strong><br />
The posts were put into holes dug 1.5 ft deep. To make the posts firmly affixed to the ground, dig a narrow hole using a crowbar. Also after putting the post, when you fill-in the hole, alternate between stones and soil and stamp them into the hole using the crowbar. Pour some water while you are doing this so that the soil will go in between the stones. Once everything is dried up, your posts will be as firm as you want them to be.</p>
<p>Some people use concrete to install the posts. Personally we prefer to use soil (dirt) to install the posts. The main reason behind this approach is that, it is very easy to remove and relocate the posts if we use mud instead of concrete.</p>
<p><strong>Irrigation</strong></p>
<p>If there is no rain you must irrigate your snake groud plants at least twice a week. If you can, setting up a drip irrigation system can save you a lot of time as well as water.</p>
<p><strong>Pest and diseases</strong></p>
<p>That’s the beauty of it: None.</p>
<p>We haven’t seen any major pests or diseases attacking these plants. Since they are not native to US, there aren’t major pests or diseases. Moreover, due to the harsh winter preceding and succeeding the growing season there is not much chance for a pest or disease to survive and spread season after season.</p>
<p><strong>Harvesting:</strong></p>
<p>For most early varieties, you should be able to start harvesting your snake gourd in about three months after germination. You should harvest the fruits before they are too mature and start ripening. If you are growing them for the first time, it may be harder to know if they are ready for picking. However it is OK to pick them young if you are not sure of their maturity. When they are young and edible the fruit will appear turgid and hard when pressed between your fingers.</p>
<p>If you wait longer, the fruits will ripen. Once it ripens, the fruits will appear soft when pressed between fingers. The internals of the fruit will become watery. At this stage the fruits are not good for cooking.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://yourhomegardenblog.com/vegetable-gardening/how-to-grow-exotic-and-delicious-bitter-melons-on-your-backyard' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: How to grow exotic and delicious bitter melons in your backyard'>How to grow exotic and delicious bitter melons in your backyard</a> <small>Bitter melons have been used in Asian cuisine for centuries...</small></li></ol></p>
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		<title>Tips for building Outdoor Shower Enclosures</title>
		<link>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-improvement/tips-for-building-outdoor-shower-enclosures</link>
		<comments>http://yourhomegardenblog.com/home-improvement/tips-for-building-outdoor-shower-enclosures#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:58:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Outdoor showers have three purposes. To help you connect with nature and people and, of course, to get clean. Any design you pick should blend in with the landscape. The shower should be close enough to your home that you will use it often. Finally, there is a romantic element to outdoor showers. The enclosure [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="editors-comment">
Outdoor showers have three purposes. To help you connect with nature and people and, of course, to get clean. Any design you pick should blend in with the landscape. The shower should be close enough to your home that you will use it often. Finally, there is a romantic element to outdoor showers. The enclosure should promote nature, romance, and fun.
</div>
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<p><strong>Outdoor Shower Enclosures</strong><br />
<br />By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Rackenthaler">Jamie Rackenthaler</a></p>
<p>Shower enclosures can be portable or stationary.  Stationary enclosures, surprisingly, add a level of excitement to your landscape.  There are many ways to design them.  Here are a few design tips.</p>
<p><b>Fence Enclosures </b></p>
<p>Most shower enclosures are just a fence with a gate.  It is the most economical way to build an enclosure.  You can expect to pay around $35.00 per linear foot to a contractor to build the enclosure.</p>
<p><b>Wood Enclosures</b></p>
<p>Wood is one of the best choices.  It is elegant, but more importantly it connects you with nature.  Avoid any products made of plastic; like vinyl.  Vinyl and plastic enclosures scream man made.  The purpose of landscaping is to rejuvenate your emotions.  The way to do this is to connect with nature.  So, please, avoid vinyl and plastic products.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t choose pressure treated wood.  It will not only contaminate the surroundings, but it doesn&#8217;t look natural. Pick cedar or redwood.  Make the fence stand out by using elegant post caps, larger than average posts (6*6), and trim work.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t stain the fence any color, but clear. Natural high quality wood is more beautiful than any stain you can buy.</p>
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<p><b>Stone Base</b></p>
<p>Use stone for the shower base.  Probably, the best choices are select pieces of flagstone.  Select pieces are larger than normal.  They look much nicer and stay in place better.  In addition, there are less cracks to deal with.  Another secret to flagstone is the use of polmeric sand.  It&#8217;s a specially formulated sand that dries hard like concrete.  It&#8217;s a good product to use between the flagstone pieces because water can&#8217;t water can&#8217;t wash it away and it looks like real sand.</p>
<p>Again, if you are thinking about concrete; think again.  To connect with nature, it must be natural.</p>
<p><b>Shower Drainage   </b></p>
<p>You will need to install a drain in your shower base.  To do so, simply dig a trench two feet deep and slope it so the water goes away from the shower into a safe place.  Determine where the end of the water should drain.  You have some options here.  You could have it drain into a hole filled with gravel, hook it into the sewer line, or just have the pipe lay in the ground.  It all depends on the frequency of your shower use and the costs you are willing to incur.</p>
<p><b>Final Tips</p>
<p></b>Outdoor showers have three purposes. To help you connect with nature and people and, of course, to get clean.  Any design you pick should blend in with the landscape.  The shower should be close enough to your home that you will use it often.  Finally, there is a romantic element to outdoor showers.  The enclosure should promote nature, romance, and fun.</p>
<p>For further information on outdoor showers, please visit <a target="_new" href="http://outdoorshower.org/enclosures.html">Outdoor Showers</a></p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Rackenthaler" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Rackenthaler</a><br /><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Outdoor-Shower-Enclosures&#038;id=994643" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Outdoor-Shower-Enclosures&#038;id=994643</a></p>


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