| How to Buy Local Posted: 27 Aug 2021 05:00 PM PDT Buying locally is great for your whole town—it helps boost the local economy, and even makes your community more sustainable.[1] Don't worry—there are tons of ways you can support your local businesses. We've put together some ideas and hacks to help you on your next shopping trip. [Edit]Stop by a farmer's market. - Check online to see which farmer's markets are in your area. These shops are a great way to enjoy fresh produce while also supporting your local farming community. Double-check when the marketplace opens and closes, as some shops are only open on the weekend.[2]
- Bring cash with you whenever you shop at a farmer's market, since they might not accept card.
[Edit]Buy seasonal produce. - Seasonal produce is more likely to come from a local seller. Check online to see which fruits and veggies are in season; this way, you'll have a better shot at supporting a local business.[3] Feel free to reference this site for help: https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org.
[Edit]Eat at farm-to-table restaurants. - Farm-to-table restaurants get their ingredients from local farms. So, whenever you eat at this kind of restaurant, you're actually supporting multiple local businesses! Check online to see what farm-to-table eateries are near you.[4]
[Edit]Pick up fresh seafood. - You can get lots of fresh fish from local fishermen. If you live near the coast, see if your local fishing community holds any special fishermen's markets. Other locals may sell their fish and seafood directly off the boat.[5]
- CSA lets you get weekly produce from local farms. Sign up with a local CSA so you can enjoy fresh produce frequently. You'll also be supporting your local community![6]
- You can find a nearby CSA here: https://www.localharvest.org.
- Local fishing communities have a similar program known as a Community Supported Fishery (CSF).[7]
[Edit]Frequent a local bookstore. - Shop at an independent bookstore instead of a big-name one. Look online to see what kinds of bookstores are near you. When you have some free time, stop by the bookshop and see if any titles strike your fancy.[8]
[Edit]Use eBay. - Narrow down your search via your zip code. This is a great way to see what's being sold in your community. If you can, buy something from a local seller instead of a more popular store.[9]
[Edit]Check Craigslist. - Select your location by state, region, or city. Then, type in whatever product you're searching for. Lots of local people post listings on Craigslist every day, so this is a great place to check.[10]
[Edit]Browse Facebook Marketplace. - Hit the "Marketplace" tab on Facebook. Then, specify the category, location, and price range you'd prefer. Use these search terms to find local sellers and goods in your community![11]
- Other sites like LetGo and OfferUp are other great places to buy from local sellers.[12]
[Edit]References |
| How to Build a Compost Container Posted: 27 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT Composting is a simple way to recycle your food waste and make your own all-natural fertilizer that your plants will just love. It's also easy to do—all you really need is a good container to hold the material while it breaks down. Whether you're looking to build a container in your yard or collect and compost your food scraps indoors, we've got some great options for you to choose from so you can get to it! [Edit]Making a Simple Pallet Container - Choose a level area of your yard and clear out any grass. Look for a nice, flat spot in your yard that gets some sunlight that can warm your compost and help it break down. Use a shovel to clear away any grass in the area and use a tamper if you need to level out the ground.[1]
- If you can build your compost container near a water source, like a hose, even better. Compost needs to be slightly damp, so having water nearby will make things easier later on.
- Select 4 pallets and clean them with soap and water. Pick up some standard shipping pallets that don't have any cracks or damaged boards. Scrub them down with some mild soap and water and rinse away the soap with clean water.[2]
- Look for pallets at your local hardware store or shipping supply store. You may also be able to find some free ones at local grocery stores.
- Stand 1 pallet upright on one of its long edges. This will be the back of your container.[3]
- Drive a wooden stake into the ground at each end of the pallet. Use long wooden stakes for this (they'll need to be taller than the pallet when it's standing upright). Slide one of the stakes through the slats at one end of the pallet until it makes contact with the ground. Use a sledgehammer to drive the stake about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) deep into the soil. Then, drive another stake into the ground at the other end of the pallet so it's nice and stable.[4]
- If you want the stakes to be flush with the top of the pallet after you drive them into the ground, you can trim them down with a bone saw.
- Look for stakes at your local hardware or home improvement store.
- Connect 2 pallets at right angles to the first to make the sides. Take another one of your pallets and stand it up on its long edge so it's flush against the back pallet and forms a right angle with the rear side. Drive stakes about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) deep into the ground between the slats at each end of the pallet so it's firmly held upright. Then, stand up another pallet on its long edge so it's flush against the backside to form another right angle. Drive stakes between the slats at each end of the pallet so you have a 3-sided structure.[5]
- Attach the 4th pallet to the front with 2-3 metal hinges to make a door. Screw metal hinges onto one of the long edges of the last pallet. Then, connect the hinges to the long edge of one of the sides of the pallets secured to the ground so you have a door that swings open and shut.[6]
- Having a door makes it easier for you to add material and remove compost whenever you need it.
- Staple chicken wire or wire netting to the inside of the container. Wrap the wire or netting along all of the sides except the front door of the container. Use U-shaped nails or a staple gun to fasten the wire or netting to the pallets on the inside of the container.[7]
- The wire or mesh will help keep the compost from spilling out of the container.
- Look for chicken wire or netting at your local hardware or home improvement store.
- Stain the exterior of the container if you want to spruce it up. Choose a stain color that you like and use a paintbrush to apply an even layer to the outside of your pallets. Allow the stain to dry and add additional layers if you want it to be darker.[8]
- Make sure you only apply stain to the exterior of your container so the chemicals don't leach into your compost.
- Fill your container with browns, greens, and kitchen scraps. Start with browns such as dried leaves and torn pieces of cardboard. Add fresh green material like grass and vegetables.[9] Then, start adding any kitchen scraps to the pile.[10]
- Try to keep a good balance of browns and greens so air can penetrate the compost and help speed up the decomposition process.
[Edit]Creating an Indoor Container - Choose a plastic storage container with a lid. Pick up a clean plastic container from your local home improvement or hardware store. Choose one that has a lid and is large enough to hold your food scraps but is small enough to fit wherever you plan to keep it.[11]
- Good places to keep an indoor compost container include beneath your sink, on a shelf in your pantry, or simply on your counter.[12]
- A lid will help keep out flies and other insects, so make sure you've got a container with a lid that fits well!
- Drill 5 holes in the lid of the container. Take a power drill and allow the bit to get up to speed. Press the end of the bit against the surface of the lid and gently push it through to create a clean hole with smooth sides. Drill 4 more holes into the lid to allow for plenty of ventilation.[13]
- The size of the drill bit doesn't really matter here—you just need holes so air can flow in and out of the container.
- Having good airflow in your container will help the materials break down and turn into compost.
- Cut a piece of nylon screen large enough to cover the air holes. Take a sheet of nylon screen and lay it over the lid of your container. Mark the areas you need to trim with a marker. Take a pair of scissors and cut the screen to size.[14]
- Try to trim the screen as neatly as you can so it doesn't hang over the edge of the lid.
- Cover the air holes with the nylon screen. Place the screen against the underside of the lid so it covers the air holes. Apply hot glue to the screen to firmly attach it to the lid so fruit flies and other insects can't get inside.[15]
- Line the bottom of the container with newspaper and garden soil. Take sheets of newspaper and tear them up into shreds. Add the shredded newspaper to the bottom of the container to help soak up any extra moisture. Then, add a layer of garden soil and your container is ready to go![16]
- The garden soil introduces the microbes that will help break down your food scraps into compost.[17]
- Add of red worms for every of waste. If you want to help your food scraps break down more quickly, red worms (Eisenia Foetida or Lumbricus rubellus) will do the trick.[18] Add them into your container and they'll start eating the scraps and turning them into black gold, a.k.a. high-quality compost.[19]
- Look for red worms at your local gardening supply store or nursery. You can also order them online and you may even be able to find them at a local fishing supply store in the bait section.
- Fill your container with kitchen scraps every day. Add banana peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and veggies as you cook or clean out your fridge. Break them up into smaller pieces so they'll decompose more quickly in the compost.[20][21]
- Try not to add fat, meat, or dairy to your compost container or it could start to smell and potentially attract pests or rodents.
- Once your container gets full of compost, you can add it to an outdoor compost pile, use it in your garden, or donate it to a collection site!
- When you add food scraps, bury them into the layer of compost to help them start to break down.
- Your compost bin should be slightly damp at all times. If it looks dried out, add some water with a watering can.[22]
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid adding meats, dairy, or fats to your compost bin so you don't attract rodents and pests.[23]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Making a Simple Pallet Container - Shovel
- 4 standard shipping pallets
- 6 wooden stakes
- Sledgehammer
- 2-3 metal hinges with screws
- Power drill
- Chicken wire or wire netting
- Staple gun or U-shaped nails
- Wood stain (optional)
[Edit]Creating an Indoor Container - Plastic storage container with a lid
- Power drill
- Nylon screen
- Marker
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Newspaper
- Garden soil
- Red worms (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Make Friends in a Small Town Posted: 27 Aug 2021 01:00 AM PDT Getting to know new people in a small town can be really exciting. Small towns offer a community-oriented feel, with neighbors and residents usually knowing each other pretty well. This is an awesome perk of small-town life, and it's a great opportunity to join an already tight-knit community. If you're wondering how to put yourself out there and befriend people, there's a whole host of things you can do. [Edit]Introduce yourself to your neighbors. - Befriending your neighbors is a great place to start. So much of friendship has to do with proximity, as well as seeing someone regularly. Next time you see your neighbor in their front yard, wave, say hi, and introduce yourself.[1]
- If you just moved to the neighborhood, say something like, "Hi, I don't think we've met. My name is..." Follow that by telling them that you're new to the area.
- As you get to know them, consider asking them over for dinner or beverages.
[Edit]Join a group or club. - This helps you get to know people with similar interests as you. Try to make the step more cohesive. If you like reading, join a book club. If you enjoy sports, join a local softball or baseball team. If you're a dancer, see if there are any group dance classes offered in your town.[2]
- Check if your small town has a community center. This is a good spot to find out about local clubs or teams.
- Meet new people while also doing some good for your town. See if any local organizations need some help. Check out the local offerings, like festivals, events, and organizations, and offer to volunteer your time. Once you're there, introduce yourself to the other volunteers.[3]
- Volunteering is also a good way to meet people with similar values as you. If you value giving back to your community and doing the right thing, others who are volunteering most likely will, too.
[Edit]Attend local events. - You'll meet lots of new people at local festivities and events. State fairs, parades, and seasonal festivals can be great environments to meet new people. Join in on the activities each offer, introduce yourself to town residents, and ask questions about the local celebrations. People will happily welcome you to participate![4]
- Check local newspaper listings for events to attend. Even Facebook and apps like NextDoor can help you find out what's going on in your neighborhood.
[Edit]Walk your dog around town. - A puppy is a great conversation starter. If you've got a dog, take them out for a walk through your neighborhood. People will most likely stop to say hello to you and your dog, and that gives you a chance to introduce yourself and make conversation.[5]
- Take your dog to a local dog park if your town has one. Introduce yourself to other dog owners so that you (and your puppy) can make friends.
[Edit]Go to a sports game in your town. - Cheering on a local team helps you feel like a community member. If it's football season, check out if there's a high school football game coming up in your town. Bring some snacks and a jacket and see if there's a group you can sit by on the bleachers. Join in on their conversation by remarking about a particular play or asking them about the teams.[6]
- You can also try local basketball or baseball games. If you're not a sports fan, attend a musical or play at the local high school or community theater.
[Edit]Join a gym. - Get fit and make friends while you do it. To really up your chances of making friends at the gym, check out what classes are being offered and join one. Introduce yourself to your classmates and as you start to hit it off with them, ask them to get coffee or lunch after class one day.[7]
- You can even ask if one of your new friends wants to be your gym buddy. You can work out at the same time each week, motivate each other to reach your goals, and chat while you exercise.[8]
[Edit]Strike up conversations whenever you can. - Take opportunities to make friends everywhere you can find them. Talk to people in line at the grocery store. Make conversation with people when you're dropping off a package at the post office. You never know, these brief conversations can lead to lasting friendships. Even if they don't, they're good practice for being social and putting yourself out there (important skills for making friends).[9]
- Use a simple but effective conversation starter like, "What a beautiful day!"
- You can also compliment the person. Try something like, "I love that jacket you're wearing."
- After the potential new friend responds, try introducing yourself with a simple, "I don't know if we've met yet, my name is..."[10]
[Edit]Avoid town gossip. - Sometimes gossip can be popular in small-town communities. Though it may not be a problem in your small town, be extra cautious not to participate if it is. When people start talking about someone else in a derogatory way (or even just saying something you know they wouldn't say to their face), gently change the subject. If that doesn't work, politely excuse yourself from the conversation. You don't want to make friendships based on putting people down.
- Change the subject gracefully by pointing out something else going on in the room. Say something like, "Oh wow, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I've never noticed that painting before!"[11]
- Gossiping can really hurt other people, and if it gets back to the wrong person, you could end up losing some potential friends.
[Edit]Be patient with yourself. - Meeting new people and building strong friendships takes time. Try not to get discouraged! If you find yourself struggling to make friends, remind yourself of all of your positive qualities. Maybe you're an excellent chef who loves cooking for your friends, or perhaps you are always there to support people in need. Know that these qualities make you a great friend, and the right people will take notice.[12]
- Even if you've been rejected by a potential friend in the past, dust yourself off and keep trying. You will meet great friends. It just might take some time.[13]
[Edit]References |
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