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  1. BIRDS IN OUR GARDEN

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    BENEFITS OF BIRD FEEDING

    It's not only enjoyable for us to watch wildlife in our gardens or to teach our kids about nature and importance of caring for animals, but feeding birds all year round will encourage healthy birds. By simply putting out a bird feeder and keeping it clean and full will greatly improve the chances that birds and their offspring will survive.

    YES YOU HEARD RIGHT !!!!!   ALL YEAR ROUND !!!!

    Birds will get used to your garden, they won't have a need to search for food elsewhere and will have nutritious food everyday. In exchange they ass a welcome splash of colour to dreary winter days and overall interest to your garden on many different levels. So  Please once you start and birds are used to coming in to your garden keep the feeders full, in this case QUALITY over the QUANTITY. Fill up in small amounts but more regulary.

    Are you new to bird feeding or you already looking after your garden birds and want to just check out few tips HERE ARE  SOME OF THE FAQ YOU MIGHT HAVE 

    • WHAT FOOD to feed garden birds :  if you want more diversity in your garden offer more vairety in food. ( See further below for more info on food ). In general its good to start with peanuts and sunflower hearts, they are both eaten by variety of species and have high protein and calorie contents
    • WHEN TO FEED as has been stated already above its good to feed birds all year round especially around spring breeding season and cold winter months are MUST. During these months natural sourses are depleted, small birds used lots of their energy to stay warm and shorter days means less time to find food for themselves. During breeding season food given to them in the garden is eaten by adult birds and that gives them more time and energy to source protein rich food for their offsprings.
    • WHERE TO  put out feeders in the garden. In general its good to place them somewhere near a bush or small tree, birds  can use this as a look-out point to make sure it is safe. And if there is such a spot near house that is idela. There is no need to hide them in the corner of the garden, birds will happilly visit feeders close to house, so you can enjoy watching them comfortably from your kitchen or living room. 
    • HOW TO LOOK AFTER FEEDERS Regularly clean your feeders to prevent spreading any diseases and build up toxins. Remove any stale food and wash with warm water and mild disinfectant and leave to dry thoroughly and to do so every 1-2 weeks. 

      It’s also worthwhile to switch the location of your feeders from time to time, so that there isn’t a build of droppings in any one location, and to spread your feeders around the garden so birds aren’t all coming together at one location.

      Though most of the bacteria and parasites that might affect birds have little impact on humans, it’s important to wash your hands properly after touching and cleaning your feeders – just to be sure!

    • WHAT NOT TO DO  most garden birds are not able to process SALT and will die if they eat too much. So don't feed them salted peanuts, chips, salty bacon or crisps

    • WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T FORGET Don't forget to put out water fot birds not only for drinking but bathing too. Water is just as important as food it will help to safe their energy which they would use otherwise in search of food. They will also spend more time in your garden and you would be able to observe them for longer.

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    FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EACH BIRD FOOD

    PEANUTS

    PEANUTS :One of the most popular bird foods, and for good reason. They have a high calorie content (behind only sunflower hearts), are high in protein and they have no shell that birds need to wrestle off. Perfect if you want to avoid spillage and waste too. Be sure to hang them in an appropriate mesh feeder, and don’t use plastic netting bags. Take care to ensure no mouldy or shrivelled peanuts are in your feeders as these can produce aflatoxins which can kill birds. To avoid this, store them in a dry area and half-fill your peanut feeders at a time, allowing them to empty before refilling.

    BIRDS WHO LOVE THOSE : TITS, SPARROWS, FINCHES and more

    NYJER NIBBLES  : Nyjer Nibbles are highly nutritious seeds. Packed in energy and rich in oil. It's the perfect food for beautiful GOLDFINCH and other garden birds including SISKIS and GREENFINCHES. Nyjer requires a specialised bird feeder with smaller holes as it can be quite messy

    BIRDS WHO LOVE THOSE : goldfinch, siskis, redpoll

     

     

    SUNFLOWER SEEDS :Sunflower seeds come in different forms – with striped shell, black shell or no shell (‘hearts’). Striped shelled sunflower seeds have a tough outer shell that’s difficult for birds to remove and they have a lower calorie content than the other varieties. Black sunflower seeds have higher oil and calorie content and a thinner shell too. Sunflower hearts are the best of the lot though as they have more oils and calories than the others, and no shell – so the birds waste no energy when eating them. They’re a bit more expensive as a result, but worth the money Tom Chambers Scrummy Sunflower Hearts are a husk free, no mess source of bird food. Packed with calories and essential oils.
    For use in seed feeders, on ground feeders or on bird table

    BIRDS WHO LOVE THOSE : BLUE TIT , WOODPECKER, ROBINS, BLACK BIRD

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NUJER_NIBBLES

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  2. BENEFITS OF HOUSEPLANTS

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    When you embellish interior spaces with houseplants, you’re not just adding greenery. These living organisms interact with your body, mind and home in ways that enhance the quality of life.

    Breathing Easier

    When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels.

    At night, photosynthesis ceases, and plants typically respire like humans, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. A few plants – orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads – do just the opposite, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Place these plants in bedrooms to refresh air during the night.

    Releasing Water

    As part of the photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Plants release roughly 97 percent of the water they take in. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Studies at the Agricultural University of Norway document that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs.

    Purifying Air

    Plants remove toxins from air – up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours, according to NASA research. VOCs include substances like formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags), benzene and trichloroethylene (both found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents and paint). Benzene is commonly found in high concentrations in study settings, where books and printed papers abound.

    Modern climate-controlled, air-tight buildings trap VOCs inside. The NASA research discovered that plants purify that trapped air by pulling contaminants into soil, where root zone microorganisms convert VOCs into food for the plant.

    Where should you put the houseplants

    Plants can look nice almost anywhere and you should put them anywhere, but there is an area called your personal living area. This is an area where you spend most of your time, sitting at the computer, sleeping or on the couch or chair reading or watching TV. Your personal breathing zone is an area of 6 to 8 cubic feet (0.17 to 0.23 cu. m.). Put at least a couple of plants in this zone.

     TIPS FOR

    CARING FOR YOUR HOUSEPLANTS

     Remember 3 most important things for a plant

    LIGHT    FOOD   WATER

    You need to give your plant plenty of

    natural light, clean fresh water and  the correct plant food for its species

    • Rotate the plant every once in a while so that all parts of the plant get some light. If the light in the window is very intense (put your hand in the window; if your hand gets really hot quickly there in the summer, it's probably too hot for most plants too; ditto the winter and cold) find a spot for the plant about twelve inches away from the window if it's too hot or cold in the window. It's ok to pull the curtains at night to keep your rooms warm; just remember to open them in the morning so your plants get their several daily hours of light!
    • Once you have success with some easy plants, try some harder ones: African violets or orchids, for example. They are very rewarding to grow and there are many special interest groups, both online and sometimes in your town, who will be happy to help you learn to grow them well and enjoy propagating them.
    • Check the soil before you water the plant. Most plants die from over-watering rather than under-watering.Too much love can kill your plants, so stick your finger in the dirt before you water to see if its already moist.

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     PLANTS FOR

    OFFICE AND WORKPLACE

     

    NASA research found that   about a dozen common indoor plants, and a few exotic varieties, can remove   noxious gases effectively. Many of these gases are to be found in modern offices   - toxic fumes from carpets, furniture, office cleaning products, printers and   photocopiers. These can often lead to poor concentration and increased sick   leave. Is this costing you money?

     

     

    TEN FABULOUS HOUSEPLANTS

    THAT WORK AS LIVING AIR PURIFERS

    ALOE VERA We all know  that aloe vrea is present ina many skin care products. Not only does it help with skin burns but also with filtering various gas emissions from dangerously toxic materials. Clamed to possess tons of cedical properties, this incredible succulent can also be grown as an ornamantal plant.

     

    air areca palmARECA PALM This very sensitive plant with feathery fronds is bes known as a humidifier. though the palnt grows slowly and needs year- round care, it can be kept anywhere in the house, especially next to newly varnished furniture or in carpeted areas. The areca palm helps remove toxins like formaldehyde and xylene.

     

     

    air boston fernAIR BOSTON FERNAn exotic plant that has gracefully arching fronds and frilly leaves, the Boston fern also acts as a natural humidifier. Boston ferns grow better in filtered sunlight and in humid conditions. By releasing moisture into the air, they remove nasty air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and xylene, providing clean air inside the home. 

     

    air chinese evergreenCHINESE EVERGREENAn excellent air-purifier plant, Chinese evergreen is a herbaceous perennial  plant. A very common houseplant with shiny, green leaves that have interesting  markings on them, it grows even better with less water and minimum light. It can  also filter out airborne toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde.

     

     

    air dracaena marginataDRACEANA MARGINATA One cannot ignore the beauty of marginata, a plant that has glossy thin leaves  with red edges. It is a famously slow-growing flowering houseplant with very few  growing requirements. It also not only removes formaldehyde and benzene from the  air, but is also capable of filtering out other toxins present. However, proper  care should be taken while placing the plant inside, as it could be poisonous to  dogs.

    air english ivyENGLISH IVY  is a very popular houseplant and is  best suited for people with asthma and allergic conditions. Easy to grow in  bright sunlight, this plant has the amazing ability to remove benzene and  formaldehyde and to off-gas various chemicals released by synthetic materials.  Thus, it keeps the inside air non-toxic. With its ground-covering quality,  English ivy also often serves well in landscaping.

     

    air golden pothos GOLDON POTHOS Also known as Devil’s ivy or silver vine, the golden pothos can be a highly  invasive plant. With evergreen leaves and progressive stems, this hardy plant  easily overtakes its surrounding area. Yet it is also very efficient when it  comes to removing indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and xylene.

     

    air snake plant

    SNAKE PLANT Widely used as an ornamental plant, the snake plant is an evergreen perennial species that is tolerant of irregular watering and less lightning. Scientists at NASA have found out that this plant has the amazing ability to absorb formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, and a variety of other chemicals present in the air.

     

    air spider plant SPIDER PLANTA beautiful houseplant with long grassy leaves, the spider plant also grows rapidly. This elegant plant is great at removing poisonous gases as well as other impurities like formaldehyde and xylene. For better effect, it should be kept in the kitchen or near the fireplace, as these are the places where carbon monoxide accumulates a lot.

     

    air. peace lily PEACE LILY is known to reduce harmful indoor toxins that may cause  cancer. An easy-to-care-for houseplant, the peace lily is a great pollution  fighter and air-purifier. It helps in removing benzene and formaldehyde present  in the house.