Thursday, March 21, 2013

5 Ways to Still Garden in Small Living Quarters-Guest Post

image via Styleathome.com

By: Jenner Watson

  Many people think that just because they have a small yard or live in an apartment, that they cannot garden. This is not true - with a little creativity and work, anyone can have a beautiful garden. It will be more difficult without loads of open space, but it can be done. This can be very rewarding on a personal level, garner tons of tips from friend and also save money on food and gifts!!

Flowerpot This may be obvious for the likes of flowers, but flowerpots can be used for many kinds of fruits and veggies. This may seem like an odd choice, but don't rule it out just yet. Make sure the pot has a hole for drainage on the bottom. Remember to use good soil and put it in the right place and it should do well.

This would be perfect for corn, since it grows up, not out. A flowerpot is great because you can put them in spaces whether otherwise nothing could grow. For example on a corner of another garden plot.

 Growing Inside Don't be afraid to grow plants for food inside either. It won't work for everything, but for some, it works great - for instance garnishes and herbs. Anything that won't take up tons of room should be fine, so long as there's adequate sunlight (get your fingers to work on Google) and you do your due diligence by watering often (but not too much!) If you're not much for guests, you could even squeeze every last inch out of window space to get a great variety in your garden. Or, reserve one room to plants and save your other room for social events.

Plants on Railings

Putting a plant on a hangar, and hanging it from a railing is great not only for aesthetics, but practicality, as it is a smart way to maximize space in a small yard. You can even buy hanging baskets for sale, ready to go. This is great for things like sweet potato vines. Surely it won't really add beauty to your house and yard, but this is very practical.

 

Roof 

image via rooftopgardentips

This might not be viable for everyone. But if you have a roof that is safe to access, you could easily plant a garden up there. This is usually not too common, especially in very large buildings. Even if you're not sure whether it's allowed, simply ask whoever is in charge - you might be surprised how generous they are if you're generous in return (be sure that they can share in the sustenance, beauty, profits, or whatever else it is that you're growing). This is especially efficient when it comes to watering, assuming you live somewhere with decent precipitation.

 

Companion Planting

If you can combine two or more plants that compliment each other, you can take advantage of the space, while helping both plants. For example, planting basil next to tomatoes is a very good idea. Since basil does not like the hot sun, it can get shade from the tomatoes. Or you can plant lettuce under taller growing plants to give it shade. This is also a great way to cut down on pest infestations in your garden (Google which combinations are best for this). It also can be fun, and a thing of beauty if done right.

It is pretty simple to garden in a small area. Being creative and squeezing space out of every available inch is important. One thing to keep in mind though - when trying to save space, never plant things in the wrong spot. For example, placing a plant that requires sunlight in
the shade or vice-versa. Remember all these tips, and even if your place is on the small side, it'll be green with beauty in no time.

Jenner Watson writes about green living and all things related to the great outdoors. His best work is called How Do I become an Environmental Scientist?

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Guest Post: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Home Decor Trends

By: Eva Stephen

 When we think about renovating our home, we rather think about how the new space will look than how healthy it will be to live in it. Eco movements and “green” home décor experts are creating awareness about the importance of living in a healthy home, so we are on the right path to change the way we approach working on our home.
image via homeanddecor.ca
Identifying the sources of danger

 You might ask what can be so unhealthy inside a house. Aren’t we safer inside than outside where cars and buses pass by all the time, polluting the air? Believe it or not, one of the most problematic things in our house is any kind of fabric. So, the danger of unhealthy particles that we breathe in comes from our rugs, curtains, upholstered furniture, bed covers, etc.

Safe and responsible shopping 

Whether you’re the kind of person who likes shopping for furniture online, on the reliable shop4furniture.net, or in real off-line stores, you have to look out for the same type of things: the kind of materials the furniture is made of. If you are shopping for wooden chairs and tables, make sure it’s solid wood and not particleboard or plywood.

image via becgreen.ca

 Solid wood emits the lowest levels of formaldehyde that can cause all kinds of illnesses. When shopping for upholstered furniture, go for natural and chemical-free fabrics like cotton and wool, not only because they are your safest healthy choice, but also because they are more durable than synthetic, unhealthy materials. Be well informed about the type of fabric you are buying and the potential dangers it hides.

 Rethink the type of flooring 

 If you have a wall-to-wall carpet or a synthetic rug, you might want to rethink your flooring choice. These kinds of flooring are the most common source of unhealthy, toxic substances. You should instead choose a carpet-less wooden floor or ceramic tiles for the kitchen and bathroom. Not only is this a healthier solution, but it’s also easier to clean. If you still want some warmer flooring during the winter, you can alternate between bare floors during summer and small organic wool rugs during winter.



image via logoclic.info

  Mold is a serious enemy

It is recommended that we repaint our walls once a year. Many people do not have the time or money to do it this often, but in that case you should examine your walls carefully and look for the slightest sign of mold. If you find it, repainting the walls won’t exactly solve your problem, but it help you avoid inhaling the toxic particles in the short run, while you search for a permanent solution.


 Spine is as important as the lungs 
 
We are not only in danger of what we breathe in, but also where we sit and sleep in. Our spine is susceptible to damage if we sleep on uncomfortable beds or sit in an irregular position for too long. That is why choosing the right kind of bed and mattress is of utmost importance for our health.

Image via minimalisti.com
  Spend time outside 
 
 If you have a balcony or a back yard, you should be spending as much time outside as you can. In order to make that time enjoyable, you should put some nice chairs and a table outside, where you can have a pleasant breakfast or supper surrounded by all that nice, fresh greenery.
 
image via homeaway.com
 These pieces of advice are not here to make you panic, but to help you organize yourself the next time you decide to renovate.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

This magnificent seaside palace was built in between 1905 and 1915 for the Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild. The villa, named Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, overlooks the Mediterranean.
Ephrussi was the Baroness' married name. It is located on the Cap Ferrat which is a narrow isthmus surrounded on both sides by the sea. It is one of 3 major capes on the French Riveria In 2012 the Cap Ferrat was the second most expensive residential location after Monaco.
The Rothschilds were so well know for designing their palaces with extravagant interiors that their style became known as "Gout Rothschild" This detailed and elaborate style of interior decorating was emulated by many of rich and powerful families of the 19th Century.
There are nine gardens surrounding the home designed by Achille Duchene. The gardens have received the moniker of one of the "Notable Gardens of France" by the French Ministry of Culture.

Below are my favorite rooms in the villa.

The Grand Salon

The Grand Salon is a splendid example of Le Gout Rothschild.  The outside provides views of the the Baie des Fourmis at Beaulieu-sur-Mer while the inside surrounds you in sumptuous wall panels from the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. Louis XVI furniture, beautiful drapery and carpets  completes the palatial salon.
While the spectacular furnishings and accessories are great, I take pause at the painted vines on the pillars. It seems like a departure from the elegance that anchors the rest of the Salon.

The Small Salon

The Small Salon. With its two alcoves, this room was designed for after-dinner conversation beneath 18th century tapestries woven at the royal Gobelins Manufactory in Paris and depicting scenes from the adventures of Don Quixote.




The Tapestry Room
 This room takes its name from the huge tapestries that hang on the walls. Again, like in other rooms of the palace, the tapestries are from royal Gobelins Manufactory.

 Cartoons by François Bouche inspired two of the tapestries that show pastoral and romantic scenes. The racy subject matter includes a young couple among the trees with the woman's breast exposed.
To see and learn more about this estate, visit the Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa and Gardens website.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

2013 Evening of Masquerade

On January 26th  Hand Made Events, an event planning organization out of San Francisco, hosted an Evening of Masquerade at Fort Mason in the Marina.  Over 1,500 participants attended the black and white gala with wagons,baskets and rolling carts in tow containing dinner plates, stemware,candelabras, floral arrangements and pretty much everything needed to create their own personal and elegant setting on bare tables and chairs that awaited guests the freedom to embellish.

photo courtesy hand made events
I purchased tickets in advance. Unfortunately, I overlooked the "no children allowed" print so had to give away the tickets. The coordinators originally started as Le Diner San Francisco which is a sort of outdoor dining flash mob.    The event coordinators select a public location for a 4 hour dinner party. The location is kept confidential until 2 hours before the start time. Interested attendees join a limited guest list and are only given the date and time months in advance of the gathering.
photo courtesy hand made events
The idea was inspired by Diner en Blanc which is an international event that originated in France by François Pasquier over 25 years ago.
photo courtesy hand made events
 The Paris event currently assembles nearly 15,000 participants each year.  Diners gather at the city's most beautiful public spaces dressed in all white carrying everything they need from food and wine to portable tables,chairs and any accoutrements necessary to create an unforgettable and elegant dining experience under the stars.
photo courtesy hand made events
 An Evening at the Masquerade followed the same idea of keeping secret the event location until 2 hours beforehand.  However, the planners reserved the location and space ahead of time instead of adhering to the Diner en Blanc's tradition of spontaneously filling a public space.
photo courtesy hand made events
But, by withholding the information they maintained the anticipation and excitement that is characteristic of original flash mob idea.

photo courtesy hand made events

Reserving the space and charging a fee allowed the organizers to provide entertainment,alcoholic beverages,tables and chairs for the attendees' convenience   Participants brought their own food,tableware and decorations.
photo courtesy hand made events

Hand Made Events will resume it's outdoor flash mob dining on September 27th at a secret location in San Francisco.  For more information visit Handmade-events.com

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Our First Christmas At The Dacha


Seasons Greetings!  Our family thoroughly enjoyed our first Christmas at the Russian River Dacha.

As promised, here are photos of the Dacha decorated for our first Christmas.








 The little guy was up early Christmas morning to see what Santa and Grammy brought him.









Papa Dan made spiral cut ham with au gratin potatoes and haricot verts for Christmas dinner.
Hopefully, Peter the Great is overlooking the dining room in approval of our Dacha.

 On behalf of our family, we wish you and your loved ones a very joyous season and prosperous 2013.