Keeping Country Cats Safe

One of the major causes of outdoor cat mortality is trauma. Some wander off to the road and get hit by cars. Other cats crawl into warm tractor engines or other farm implements when they are turned off and then when they are started up again, this causes harm to the cat. Other causes of trauma include fights with other outdoor cats, or other animals such as dogs, raccoons or foxes. Despite a full set of fangs and claws, cats rarely have a chance against dogs. Declawed cats are even more at risk.

Other animals can give cats a variety of diseases, so it's important to make sure your kittens are up-to-date on their yearly vaccinations. Make sure your cats are spayed or neutered. Beyond birth control, spaying and neutering your cat has life-saving benefits as well. Spaying or neutering will help prevent, especially in outdoor males, aggression and roaming and the tendency to fight. It may also help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as feline leukemia, FIV, rabies, and common cuts, scratches and abscesses.

If you use rat poison around your property, be careful. If a cat eats a rodent that has died from the poison, the cat can also die.

This Tip of the Week was reprinted with permission from Living the Country Life magazine. Copyright Meredith Corporation 2010. All rights reserved.

Visit http://www.countrylivingassociation.org/ to view past tips. Have one to share? E-mail director@countrylivingassociation.org.

Planting Veggies for the Fall

If you plant seeds in your garden right now for fall production, they can yield great results.

Most cool-season vegetables planted in the summer grow just as well or better than those planted in the spring. And, the flavors of fall vegetables are often sweeter and milder.

Choose a fall vegetable based on available space, preference and intended use. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, potatoes, leaf lettuce, radishes and spinach can withstand light frost (about 30 degrees F to 32 degrees F). Hardy vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, and kale can withstand several frosts but die when temperatures drop near 20 degrees F.

When selecting seed, look for cultivars labeled early season or select seed with the fewest days to maturity.

To estimate when to plant fall crops, use the following formula: Number of days from seeding to harvest + average harvest period + fall factor (about 14 days) + frost tender factor (about 14 days) = days to count back from first expected fall frost.

Start fresh with a fall garden as weeds can often take over during the summer months. If the soil is extremely dry, lightly water a day or two before planting. In order to conserve moisture, plant the seeds in narrow trenches. Cover the seeds twice as deep as you would during spring planting to keep them from dying during germination.



This Tip of the Week was reprinted with permission from Living the Country Life magazine. Copyright Meredith Corporation 2010. All rights reserved.

Visit www.countrylivingassociation.org to view past tips. Have one to share? E-mail director@countrylivingassociation.org.

Washing Reusable Grocery Bags

A new study has found that there may be dangerous levels of bacteria in reusable grocery bags. It is important to wash them just like you do with your clothes.

Washing your reusable bags regularly cuts down on bacterial contamination which was the culprit for most of the bacterial findings in the study. Remember that washing kills nearly all bacteria that can accumulate in the bags.

It's a good idea to designate bags for certain uses. For example, use one bag specifically for meat, one for produce and one for items like detergent and cleaning solutions.

Don't store the bags in the trunk. Even though this may be convenient, a hot car filled with items such as running shoes makes a great atmosphere for bacteria to grow. Plus, the higher temperature in your trunk can actually speed the reproduction of bacteria on fresh food.

By being aware of the potential for cross-contamination and taking steps to prevent it, you can protect yourself, your family and the environment.


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Orchard Maintenance

Summer is a great time to take care of important maintenance issues to ensure a good harvest.

The bulk of pruning is usually done in late winter or early spring, but you can do it this time of year as well, especially to keep small trees from getting too tall. If you are growing cherries, you may prefer to prune in August to correct issues with tree shape and crowding. Pruning in the summer doesn't revitalize the tree to inspire new growth like latent pruning does in winter and spring.

The fruit on your trees should be thinned out too. Fruits compete with each other for light and nutrients. If you have too many fruits on a limb, they will wind up being smaller and of poor quality. Therefore, it is very important to thin a fruit tree. In some cases, birds do this and strip the trees clean. To prevent the birds from taking your fruit, you can buy bird netting and drape it over the trees.

Even though it is summertime, it is not too early to be thinking about wintertime protection. One thing to do is paint young trees with a white latex paint to reflect sunlight and prevent winter injury. It might also be a good idea to put some sort of barrier around to keep mice from getting to the trunk and eating.

Don't forget about the pests. It's probably still necessary to continue your insecticide and fungicide spraying programs.

Please take a look at this short survey from this week's sponsor, PBI Gordon Corporation, and voice your opinion on Tow-Behind Sprayer uses. Click here to take the survey.




This Tip of the Week was reprinted with permission from Living the Country Life magazine. Copyright Meredith Corporation 2010. All rights reserved.

Visit http://www.countrylivingassociation.org/ to view past tips. Have one to share? E-mail director@countrylivingassociation.org.

Home Maintenance in August

August is a great time to catch up on housework before the busy fall months ahead.

Clean windows balance. If your windows stick, clean the tracks in which the sash slides with a mild detergent. If the window drags, lubricate with silicone spray.

Make sure your ceiling fans are working properly. Look out for a warped blade, loose blade screws, or a wobbling motor. Be sure to clean the blades regularly.

To keep allergens at bay, damp-wipe window blinds and fan blades. Also, vacuum your home thoroughly at least once a week.

Clean the barbeque. Run a gas grill for 10 to 15 minutes on high in order to burn off residue, then turn off and clean with a wire brush.

Remember to turn off indoor lights when you are using your deck or porch at night to keep insects from going inside your house.

Now is a good time to order bulbs for fall planting. You'll find plenty of design ideas and a wide selection in catalogues. Tip: buying in bulk through the mail usually means a discount.

It is also not a bad idea to touch up exterior paint before fall sets in, as a sudden drop in temperature can compromise your paint job. Any blistered or peeling areas should be scraped, sanded and cleaned. Spot-prime and apply a finish coat with enough overlap to adhere to the existing paint surface.



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Visit www.countrylivingassociation.org to view past tips. Have one to share? E-mail CLA at director@countrylivingassociation.org.

Salt Water Swimming Pools

If you are considering a salt water pool, it's important to understand the level and function of salt. A salt water pool is less than 10 times as salty as the ocean. The salt level in the pool is about the same as the salt level in the human body. Therefore, it is unlikely to bother you to the extent that ocean water might.

Cost-wise, the installation of a salt water pool requires some initial upfront costs. However, because the salt naturally produces chlorine, you will save money and time on chemicals, weekly treatments and cleaning. Consider how long you will want to keep the pool or stay in your present house to make the right decision as to whether a salt water pool system is right for you.

With a salt water pool, you need to consider the relative levels of acidity, or the PH level. The PH level of a salt water pool can fluctuate quickly and drastically, requiring a corrective treatment. Even though this is a rare occurrence, changes in PH levels of salt water pools are something you need to be attentive about.

While there's not enough salt in a salt water pool system to be destructive or harmful, the salt can be unsightly and irritating. Some people describe a sticky feeling on their skin after a swim while others say that the salt water softens their skin. If possible, test out a friend's salt water pool to consider the effects of the salt.

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Building a Barbeque Pit

When building a barbeque pit, you can choose to make it any size you want. Most are at least 24 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep.

Build the pit close to your house, so that it will be easy for you to bring food in and out of the house. However, make sure the pit is not too close to low-hanging trees or structures that could catch fire.

After you have chosen the site, you can buy the accessories you want for it. It's important to figure out what you want before you build the pit. For example, if you want an in-ground pit but you also want a rotisserie, you will want to find the rotisserie motor and motorized spit first. These will give you your dimensions so you know what and how much weight you can put on there. Then, you can think about the structure of the pit.

A brick barbeque will need a solid base to sit properly, whether it's dug into the ground a little or sitting on top. A strong choice is a layer of cinderblock.

Line a firebox with fire brick made for handling high heat. You can organize the structure by having three tiers, two tiers, or just a flat, open pit area. You can construct this part using the same fire brick and cinderblock. Add a fire grate to cook on and shelves for your barbeque tools. Remember that you will have to clean out the ashes every now and then. This is easier if your design allows access from the back.

When you are finished, add a material like thin-stone veneer that will match your house.

This Tip of the Week was reprinted with permission from Living the Country Life magazine. Copyright Meredith Corporation 2010. All rights reserved.

Visit www.countrylivingassociation.org to view past tips. Have one to share? E-mail CLA at director@countrylivingassociation.org.