Chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years and have been bred to many different varieties. Among these interesting types there will be one perfect for your backyard. There are the small bantams which get up to several pounds or one kilo at maturity or the large heavy breeds which will get well over ten pounds or up to four and a half kilos at maturity. A hen will lay eggs without a rooster around so you can choose just to keep hens if you’d like eggs without crowing. Different breeds lay different colored eggs so if you are raising chickens in your backyard you will be able to choose a breed which will lay white, cream, light brown, dark brown or even blue, green and pink eggs. The breed of chicken will also help determine the size and quantity of eggs as well. Many folks who raise chickens in their backyards choose to keep the breeds they like to watch since there is just as much joy in watching them as there is in eating the eggs. Some breeds have interesting feather arrangements such as the Frizzle which looks like it stuck it’s beak into an electric socket or the Polish which has such a big “poof” of feathers on it’s head that it is amazing it can see out from under them.

The biggest hurdle to keeping chickens in your backyard is keeping them safe. After all, they taste just like chicken and just about everything on the planet wants to eat them. Our backyard is fenced to keep wandering dogs out and our border collies have been trained not to eat the chickens but that doesn’t mean they don’t herd them all over the yard. The chickens don’t seem to mind, though. Many folks who don’t have chicken friendly dogs to keep predators away build a small chicken house with a small fenced in run for a few hens so they will be safe. The chickens can be let out into the rest of the yard in the afternoons when they can be watched so they can scratch and eat bugs and grasses.

Chickens don’t need a fancy house basically they need shelter from rain and wind and would like some sort of a horizontal pole to roost on. Our hen house is pretty small; about three feet or one meter by six

Our bags of tulip bulb had sat by the doorway for a considerable amount of time. With our whirling schedules, it was difficult to make time to plant the bulbs, and I felt just a little guilty each time I passed by the bags.

Finally we set aside one Saturday to till the earth and get our little bulbs planted before the last frost. I threw on my work clothes and headed out to join my husband in the back-breaking task of turning the soil over and removing all the rocks and excess plants.

In our house, whenever Mommy and Daddy have work to do, our three little imps are sure to show up. My youngest popped her little head out the front door and asked, “What are you doing?” She looked skeptically at our sweaty faces and the pile of shredded earth we toiled over.

We grinned at her and said, “We’re going to plant our flowers to make the yard pretty.” She nodded, obviously realizing this was real work and wanting nothing to do with it, she flounced back into the house to resume the tea party she was dressed for. I bent back over my rake and went back to work. My son ran around the corner and watched us slave away. For one shining moment I thought perhaps he was going to help out his dear mother, but he caught sight of the cat rummaging through the bushes and quickly ran off to “capture the mighty tiger!”

My husband and I chuckled, resigned to working alone. We finally cleared a good portion of ground. I was now on my hands and knees, digging the holes for our little buds. The smell of freshly turned earth was thick and pleasant. My back ached but I felt a great sense of accomplishment. A sweet peace washed over me as I covered each bulb.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a pair of sparkled sneakers topped with mismatched socks. I looked up to see my oldest daughter smiling and looking on with curiosity.

“Can I help?” she asked sweetly. I beamed at her and handed her a small spade.

Side by side, my daughter and I worked to deposit the remaining bulbs. We talked about gardening, about the fat earth worms we had uncovered and how long it would take for our tulips to grow. I watched with pride as she dug holes and planted tulip buds. There are times when I feel time has passed too quickly and my children are growing leaps and bounds. But for a moment, time slowed and my daughter and I worked together, enjoying each other’s company. Once finished, we stood up, stretching and brushing the dirt from our knees.

A cool breeze lifted the hair from my forehead and I smiled at my daughter. She grinned at me in return and I was thankful for this brief moment we shared together, planting our tulips and tending the garden of our hearts.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Coers.

Keeping a lawn lush and green is often time-consuming and expensive, especially if you have a large yard or live in an area that is too dry for a traditional lawn, has soil that’s too poor or where water isn’t plentiful. Many homeowners are shifting away from a traditional lawn and searching for lawn-less yard solutions that are both appealing and user friendly like the following.

*European Style Courtyard

Using a tall, solid privacy fence with a door-type gate for entrance allows you to turn even your front yard into a private family oasis. Brick or paving stones make an excellent floor where mosses thrive between the cracks.

You can leave any existing trees for shade and simply pave around them. Add planters or shrubs around the perimeter, a small fountain or pond and a few comfortable benches to turn an unused yard into a fun space. View one here: http://www.theapothecaryhouse. net/images/the%20courtyard.jpg

*Rock Gardens

There’s something so peaceful about a rock garden. Large boulders or raised rolling berms covered in large rocks create a stunning display when planted with trailing plants and drought tolerant flowers. A small patch of grass at the edge invites you to sit and dream.

Rock gardens are very easy to care for if the plants are chosen carefully. A few good choices are dianthus, moss rose, dwarf iris, primrose, thrift, shamrocks, yucca, ornamental grasses, yew and small trees and shrubs. View several rock gardens here: http://www.stonesmith.net/RG.h tml

*Wildlife Habitat

Turn your backyard into a wildlife refuge. Make a meadow of wildflower, grasses and trees that are left undisturbed to create homes for the wildlife in your area such as native birds, bats, beneficial insects, rabbits and squirrels.

With the loss of habitat due to the building of new homes and industries, many creatures are just barely hanging on at the fringes of our towns. Let your lawn-less yard invite them to your house. View a backyard wildlife habitat here: http://uwarboretum.org/images/ eps/links/woodland_restoration s.jpg

*Old Fashion Cottage Gardens

Turn your home into a Thomas Kincaid painting when you create a Cottage Garden with flowers like those that grandma grew. Start at your door planting taller clumps of perennial flowers and plants and work your way to the street using shorter flowers at the edge of the pathway.

Some excellent choices are hollyhocks, delphinium, foxglove and cosmos. Line the edge of your beds with bricks, stones or just a little trench and fill your walkways with pine needles or paving tiles. Add an arbor or trellis for climbing varieties at the entrance to your yard to add some interest. View a cottage garden here: http://decorvillage.files.word press.com/2007/09/go-informal. jpg

*Formal Herb or Rose Garden

The English have beautiful herb and rose gardens surrounded by neatly trimmed shrubs that form a mosaic design. Herbs for the most part take good care of themselves and roses arent time consuming either. Use a good mulch to keep grass from growing back and make your walkways the width of your lawn mower for easy maintenance. View one: http://static.howstuffworks.co m/gif/how-to-grow-an-herb-gard en-5.jpg

*Drought Tolerant Garden

If you live in a dry western state or where there are watering bans, there are plenty of drought tolerant plants with which to fill your yard. Create irregularly shaped beds with a meandering path that leads to the door.

You could plant cactus and cover the soil with sand or pebbles or if you prefer traditional flowers try coreopsis, baby’s breath, bellflower, Shasta daisies, coneflower, lavender and hundreds of other choices. There are beautiful grasses as well such as Maiden Grass, Blue Fescue and Northern Sea oats. View one here: http://i.ehow.com/images/Globa lPhoto/Articles/2377598/P10100 06-main_Full.jpg

*Create a Mini Farm

Use that green thumb and turn your yard into a mini farm. Run trellises up fences and the backside of your house for climbing varieties and make raised beds to help control weeds and for aesthetic purposes. Grow one item to sell or grow all your favorites.

You may even have enough left to share with friends or to sell. If there is room and no ordinances prohibit it, you could even raise a few chickens or rabbits or you could start a dog kennel. View a backyard farm here: http://dominomag.typepad.com/p hotos/uncategorized/2008/06/12 /farm_2.jpg

*Create A Park

Pave that lawn-less yard with cement or brick or cover it with gravel or pebbles and add a large fishpond with water lilies, cattails and other aquatic life. A fountain will do if the fishpond is too much maintenance. A few pieces of outdoor artwork, a graceful gazebo and some comfortable benches will create a welcoming oasis for neighbors and friends. Border the yard with shrubs or flowers. View one here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kuln m8Gjhh8/SBR5joJUU5I/AAAAAAAAGD o/cszjUkc4eZY/s400/backyard.jp g

*Build A Swimming Pool

Once the grass is gone, build that swimming pool with a waterfall you always wanted and create a patio as a gathering place for friends and family. Incorporate an existing back porch by creating an outside room complete with comfortable furniture and mood lighting for entertaining in the evenings. Get ideas here: http://www.unilock.com/images/ designIdeas/0000000004-13md.jp g

*Build A Place To Play

There’ll be no need to join a gym if you turn your backyard into a fun place to exercise. You can build a tennis or basketball court, a track for running or pole vaulting, a putting green or a children’s play area complete with a jungle gym, swings, monkey bars, slide and a sandbox. Create a skateboarders heaven or a track for dirt biking. View one here: http://www.componentplayground s.com/images/Gallery/CH/CH52-1 0_greencolors_bluetireswing_ex trasupportbars_large.jpg

Whatev er the reason you wish to go lawn-less, you can achieve it without lowering your curb appeal with a lawn-less yard solution more in tune with your needs and lifestyle. Find the perfect solution for your family and add to the value of you home. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, after all, it is your yard. Just be considerate of any close neighbors.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Kay.

The first step in building a pond is choosing an ideal location. Avoid excessively shady areas or areas under trees. Your pond will need sun in order for successful plant growth to occur. Excessive amounts of leaves will result in too much bacteria and will be deadly to fish. Obviously, your location should provide a good view of the pond and maybe a place to sit nearby and watch it. Be sure to check with your utility companies to insure you won’t hit an electric, gas, or water line when you start digging.

Next, using some string, mark off the shape and size of your pond. Be imaginative! You don’t want a plain, old square or rectangle, but you also don’t want too many twists and turns! As you dig, be sure to create an area that is at least 3 feet deep for your fish to hibernate in during the winter months. Another section that is about 2 feet to 2 1/2 feet deep should also be included. I recommend digging “shelves” into the sides of your pond at varying levels to put plants on. Be sure to pile a little extra dirt around the edges of your pond so that water won’t just run over the edges when you fill it up!

If you want to have a waterfall in your pond, you should save some of your dirt to build it up with. Place it in a heap mixed with just a bit of powder concrete mix where you want your waterfall to be placed. Be sure to leave a channel down the middle of the mound for the water to flow through and heaps on the sides so the water doesn’t flow out of the channel. Play around with shaping it the way you want it before sprinkling water on it to help set the concrete. Also, place plenty dirt on the hill of your water fall to plant vegetation if you don’t want it to be completely covered in rock. (At this point, you will want to run the tubing to the top of your waterfall and cover it with a little dirt to hide it.)

The best way to line your pond is to buy pond liner at a home improvement store such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. Pond liner is made to resist tearing and sun damage, so it definitely pays to purchase the real thing instead of just plain black plastic. You don’t want to have to replace it after the first couple of years because it wasn’t designed for that purpose. Lay your liner into the hole and allow it to drape at least a foot over the sides. You will need to cut another portion of liner to place in your water fall. Be sure it laps over the built up sides of your channel and lays over the edge into the pond.

Your pond has to have areas to grow beneficial bacteria to maintain a good balance between your plant and animal life, so it is best to place some small rocks or river rocks (not tiny gravel) in the bottom of your pond. One layer is plenty! Put some rock in the channel of your waterfall also. Then, slowly begin filling your pond with a hose. Watch carefully to see if you need to build any areas with dirt to prevent overflow.

Once your pond is filled with water, you will need to place good sized river rocks or flagstone (or a combination of the two) around the edges of the pond and waterfall to cover the edges of the liner and hold it down. This will take some time because you want to toy with it until it looks natural. I made layers in my waterfall using small pieces of flagstone, too.

Measure off your pond length and width and find an online calculator to determine the approximate number of gallons that it holds. (There are tons of these calculators available on the internet.) You need to choose a pump that will recirculate your water at least once per hour. So, if you have a 500 gallon pond, you need at least a 500 gph (gallons per hour) pump. I recommend a larger pump than necessary to prevent algae growth and provide extra oxygen if you plan to have fish in your pond. There are various types of filtration available. In my opinion, the most effective way to filter is to purchase a filter box to place your pump inside of. This provides biological and mechanical filtration. It will grow beneficial bacteria in the sponges in your filter box which will help control algae growth in your pond. In addition, the sponges will remove large debris from the water. (You will have to clean your filter at least once per week.)
You will also need a fountain head of some sort to provide a way to oxygenate the water as well as to be pretty! You can purchase various kits with pumps, fountains, and filters or purchase them all seperately. Adaptors are available to put inline with them that will run your waterfall off the same pump.

The best thing to do is allow your pond to set for a week so that the chlorine can evaporate from the water (unless you use well water or rain water to fill it) before adding living things. If you just can’t wait to add fish and plants, there is a treatment that can be purchased that will neutralize the chlorine and chloramines in about 30 minutes. Also available at the home improvement store (or online) is healthy bacteria in powdered form. This helps to eat the fish waste and plant waste that will accumulate in the bottom of your pond. I would not try to add it until your fish and plants have been present for at least one week. It has to have something to eat in order to survive!

Fish should be added a few at a time. If you want pretty plants, shebunkins and goldfish are your best bet. If you want to show off your fish, koi are a good choice. Koi are much higher maintenance and much more expensive, though! They also love to munch on your plants! If you feed your fish at the same time each day and in the same area of the pond, they will soon start coming up and begging for food! Remember, fewer fish are better because they will reproduce at least once each spring! Too many will cause an oxygen shortage and they will die.

As for plants, a pond needs several varieties in order to help eliminate the fish waste and provide the proper balance. First of all, every pond needs at least one water lily to provide shade for the fishies! They are available in all colors and leaf types. Hardy lilies can stay in the pond over the winter. Tropical lilies have to be removed and provided with special care during the winter months and tend to cost more!

Marginal plants like cattails, fountain grass, iris, canna lilies, and umbrella palms provide interest around the edges of the pond and attract dragon flies and other pretty insects to your pond. They also provide another way to remove excess gases and fertilizer from the water and prevent algae growth.

Finally, underwater plants shade the water and provide extra oxygen for your fish. There are tons of varieties of these available depending on the state in which you live. Some of these are not sold in some states because they are taking over lakes, so they are outlawed.

Do not be discouraged if you lose a few fish or have algae blooms when getting your pond started. These are both normal occurances. You will probably have algae blooms the first 2 years you pond is establishing until all the bacteria are balanced.

Some algae control tips:
Remove excess algae by hand.
Feed your fish less when algae is blooming (or not at all). They will eat the algae and decaying food feeds the algae.
Sprinkle cornmeal on top of the algae. As it decays, it eats the nutrients that the algae needs. The fish can eat the cornmeal without being harmed, too!
Purchase barley straw and drop it into the pond. This inhibits algae growth.
Purchase powdered bacteria and treat the pond as instructed.
Clean excess sludge out of the bottom of the pond with a pond vaccuum. (use what you remove from the pond to fertilize your grass or flower beds-they love it!)

Lastly, you might want to consider adding landscape lighting around your pond. Spotlights aimed at the fountain and waterfall make great accents. Underwater colored lights are cool also because they allow you to see your fish at night!

Although they require a good deal of work at first, ponds are tons of fun and very rewarding. Each year, they require a little less work!

Learn more about this author, aggieteacher.

Very briefly if you come in contact with poison ivy wash your hands as soon as possible. Use soapy water and get between the fingers and under the nails. Repeat the process several times, and use isopropyl alcohol or a like solvent like witch hazel to help separate the oil from your skin. This part applies in every case- remove all your clothing and wash it separately from all other clothes. Washing it twice isn’t always necessary but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The last thing you want is the oil finding it’s way back onto your body after you have just gotten rid of the rash. Second, anything you may have been using which came in contact with poison ivy should be scrubbed down to help prevent re-contamination.

Now assuming you have a rash there is no magic bullet to just get rid of it over night. The only thing you can really do is treat it to speed the healing and ease the pain. A common way to soothe the rashed area is to use an ice pack to help quell the area and ease the bubbling effect it creates. Something that works really well is soaking the area in whole milk, the fat is important here, because that eases the itching and burning sensation and that is exactly what you want as scratching only spreads the problem. Burrows Solution is an antibacterial solution that can lessen the burning sensation as well. The key to these steps are that they constrict blood vessels in the area which is what relieves the itchy feeling. Remember when you itch you just add time to the life of the rash.

After using an ice pack, cool compress, or whatever method you choose for this purpose, and give the are a soak in milk, or saltwater which helps clear the infection, be sure to apply something to help keep the itching at bay and dry the blisters. Calamine lotion is a time tested and true agent that does the job extremely well. Other excellent products are Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream with oatmeal, Band-Aid Anti Itch gel, or Aloe Vera. It is important to pair one of these or a similar agent to truly knock out the rash as soon as possible.

To further reduce the time and pain a poison ivy rash inflicts on the body, oral antihistamines can work wonders. Be sure you are able to use them and have no adverse physical reactions or allergies before using one. Benadryl is the most common solution here as it reduces the swelling, itching and burning the rash carries. If you have any doubts or aren’t sure about dosage ask a pharmacist or better yet your doctor before using an antihistamine.

Finally it sounds basic but is extremely difficult to carry through on, just don’t scratch! Scratching is poison ivy’s friend. It excites the area opening up blood vessels with causes more of the urge to itch and it spreads the infection. Don’t pop blisters, again your are just spreading the infection. keep your rashes exposed to open air as much as possible so your skin can dry out more quickly.

If a rash persists or it is just too painful to deal with please see your doctor. They can provide prescription strength treatments to ease a particularly pesky infection. They can also drain blistered areas in a safe sterile manner to ease your pain further. If you have trouble breathing, more than 1/4 of your body covered in a rash, rashes on the genital region, an odor, colored pus, or rashes/blisters around the nasal openings or eyes see a doctor at once. Poison ivy doesn’t prove lethal often but in some rare cases it is just that. Be safe and see a doctor is any of the above fit the nature of outbreak you are dealing with.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Fox.