| How to Make a Kite Posted: 26 Jan 2018 04:00 PM PST Kites are fun to make and fly outside on a nice, slightly windy day. Making a simple diamond kite is an easy craft project you can complete in one afternoon. Start by making the frame for the kite. Then, measure and cut the sail for the kite in the shape of a diamond. Finish up the kite by adding the flying line and the tail to ensure it flies properly. You can also decorate the kite when it is done so it looks extra pretty as it soars in the air. EditMaking the Frame - Make a lower case T-shape with your sticks. Take the stick and put it across the stick so that you create a lowercase T-shape with them. These sticks are the frame for your kite.[1]
- If you want to make a larger kite, use longer sticks. Make sure the horizontal stick is at least shorter than the vertical stick.
- Attach the 2 sticks together with string or glue. Wrap twine around the 2 pieces in the middle 1-2 times. Then, tie the string or twine with a small knot and trim off excess string with scissors. You can also put a dab of super glue between the 2 pieces and press them together at the joint so they are secure.[2]
- Make sure the sticks form a right angle to each other when they are attached. The horizontal stick should be positioned straight across the vertical stick.
- Make horizontal notches at the end of each stick. Use scissors to make 1 notch at the end of each stick. These notches should run horizontally, or across the width of the stick. Make them deep enough to fit the string you are going to use to attach the sail.[3]
- If you are using very thin sticks and thin string, you can poke holes into the ends of the sticks instead of making notches.
- Stretch the string around the frame. Loop the string around the top notch on the frame, wrapping it once around the stick. Then, pull the string through the notch on the right end of the frame. Stretch the string to the notch at the bottom end of the frame and then through the left end of the frame. Finally, wrap the string 1-2 times around the top end of the frame. Remove any excess string with scissors.[4]
- Make sure the string is taut but not too tight to prevent the sticks from bending or warping.
- The string helps the frame to retain its shape as the kite flies in the air.
EditMeasuring and Cutting the Sail - Use a plastic bag, paper, or fabric that is wide for the sail. A large, white garbage bag is the best option, as it is durable and easy to decorate. You can also use strong white contact paper or newspaper.[5]
- Fabric can also work for the sail in a pinch, though it should be thick and sturdy so the sail is strong.
- Lay the frame on the sail. Spread the material you are using for the sail flat on the ground. Then, place the frame in the center of the sail.
- Outline the frame with a ruler. Place the ruler on the top of the frame and then down the end of the stick on the right side of the frame. Use a pen or pencil to draw diagonal line from the top end to the end of the stick on the right, using the ruler as a guide. Do this again from the right end to the bottom end of the frame as well as from the bottom end to the left end. Finish by drawing a diagonal line from the left end up to the top end of the frame.[6]
- You should have a diamond shape on the sail, with the frame in the middle of the diamond.
- Cut the diamond wider than the outline. Use scissors to cut out the diamond, leaving a bit of space around the outline so you can wrap the sail to the frame easily.[7]
- You should now have a nice, clean diamond sail that can fit snugly over the frame.
EditAssembling the Kite - Fold the edge of the sail over the frame and glue or tape it down. Run a thin line of super glue on the frame and press the edge of the sail on the frame to keep it in place. You can also use masking tape or electrical tape to secure the sail to the frame, taping the edge onto the inside of the sail.[8]
- Check that the sail sits tightly over the frame, as you do not want to come loose in the air.
- Attach the flying line. Use string that is at least long for the flying line. Poke a small hole right above where the 2 sticks meet with scissors. The hole should be big enough to fit the flying line. Then, pull one end of the flying line through the hole and tie it tightly around the cross point. Let the flying line hang down freely while you finish the rest of the kite.[9]
- You can then add string to the flying line to make it longer based on your arm length and height. Sometimes, adding more string to the flying line can also help the kite to fly straighter.
- Make a kite tail with a long piece of thick string. Attach the tail to the bottom end of the frame, looping it over the frame several times and tying it tightly. Use thick string or a strip of cloth for the tail.[10]
- Pick a string or cloth color that matches the color of your sail so your kite looks pretty in the air.
- Attach pieces of cloth or ribbon to the tail at intervals. Use pieces that are long. Tie them onto the tail with a small knot, allowing them to dangle down off the string. The cloth or ribbon pieces will help the tail stay balanced and ensure the kite flies straight.
- Decorate the kite with markers or colored paper. Once you have finished putting the kite together, get creative by writing inspirational words or phrases on it with markers. You can also color your kite with markers, creating a fun pattern like stripes or dots. Try gluing shapes made from colored paper like swirls, triangles, or circles onto the sail.
- You can also write your name on the kite so everyone knows it belongs to you and you can see your name flying in the air.
- Try out the kite in a spot with no trees or power lines. Look for an area close to a body of water like a lake or the ocean, as it will have good winds for kite flying. Hold tight to the kite string and run in the direction of the wind. Then, release the kite as you are running, pushing it upward into the wind. Use the flying line to keep the kite in the air.
- There are many other types of kites you can make once you master the simple diamond kite, such as a delta, shed, and eddy kite. Look up these other kites so you can try to make a few different ones.
EditThings You'll Need - Plastic garbage bag, strong paper, or thin fabric
- 2 thin wood or bamboo sticks, and
- Cotton string or twine, at least
- 5-6 pieces of ribbon or cloth
- Super glue
- Masking or electrical tape
- A ruler
- Scissors
- Colored pencils /markers/colored paper (optional)
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Grow Ghost Peppers Posted: 26 Jan 2018 08:00 AM PST Ghost peppers are an extremely hot pepper variety that are great for people who love a thrill. They're relatively easy to grow as long as they get plenty of sun and warm weather. You can encourage the production of good peppers in about 100-120 days by fertilizing the soil and watering the pepper plants frequently. Use gloves and goggles when harvesting them--these peppers are so spicy they can burn bare skin! EditPreparing the Soil - Choose well-draining soil. If you're planting pepper plants in the ground, pick an area that is free of any muddy areas or pools of water. On the other hand, the soil should not be completely dry, either. If your soil does not drain well, the easiest option is to grow your ghost peppers in planters filled with potting soil. To test how well your soil drains:[1]
- Take a coffee can and remove its top and bottom.
- Dig a hole deep into your soil.
- Set the coffee can in the hole. Fill in any extra space around it with soil.
- Pour water into the can until it fills up.
- Wait an hour, then come back and measure how far down the water has dropped in the can, using a ruler.
- If or more of water has drained out within the hour, then your soil drains well.
- Check your soil's pH. Peppers thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil that has a pH between 6.2 and 7.0. Buy a soil pH testing kit from any garden store. You can use either a digital probe or paper strips. Just follow the instructions included with your kit for proper use.[2]
- You can add pulverized limestone to your soil if it is too acidic. Usually, you can apply per square. If you're working with a small area, just lightly sprinkle a bit on your soil.
- If your soil is too alkaline (with a pH above 7.0), then you can add soil sulfur by lightly sprinkling some where you want to grow your peppers. Some gardeners will place 2-3 unlit matches in the soil per plant instead (match heads contain sulfur).
- Pulverized limestone and soil sulfur can be found at garden stores. Follow the package directions for exact instructions on how to mix them into your soil.
- Choose a location that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. Peppers need lots of warmth and light to grow well. If you have plants in containers, you can move them around during the day to ensure they get as much sun as possible.[3]
- If there is ever a danger of frost, you'll need to cover the plants with a frost blanket.
- Add compost and bone and blood meal if you're planting in the ground. Dump a layer of compost about thick on top of the soil where you want to plant your peppers. Use a spade to mix it into the first layer of soil. Add some bone and blood meal to the soil to make it even richer.[4]
- Blood and bone meal are available at garden stores. Just follow the package directions for instructions on how much to use.
- If you are planting your peppers in containers, just use a good quality loamy soil mix.
EditGerminating Your Seeds - Soak your pepper seeds in water for at least 8 hours. Place the seeds in a cup of water and place the cup in the fridge overnight. The wet and cold conditions will help jumpstart your seeds so they germinate faster.[5]
- If any of the seeds float to the top of the water, throw them away. You only want to germinate seeds that sink in the container.
- You can also grow ghost peppers from seedlings, but these may be harder to find than seeds.
- Start your seeds in peat pods 6 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Plant them in small seedling containers or peat pods. Push the seeds down into the soil and cover them up.
- If you're using peat pods, wet them until they swell up. Then push your seeds just below the surface.
- If you're using seedling containers, fill them with soil and then cover the seeds.
- Place 2-3 seeds per pod or container. You can thin the seedlings later if all of them sprout.
- Water your seeds. Keep the seeds moist while waiting for them to germinate. If you planted them in peat pods, they'll stay moist for a while. If you're using seedling containers, lightly mist them with water until the soil is thoroughly wet.
- Lightly cover the pods or containers with plastic wrap to help the pots retain moisture.
- Water whenever necessary to keep the pods/soil moist.
- Keep the seeds warm. Look for a warm, bright spot to place your pods or containers in, such as on top of your fridge or in a sunny window. Keeping them there will encourage your seeds to germinate.
- Wait about a week and a half for your peppers to germinate. Look for tiny green sprouts to pop out of the soil or peat pod once the seeds have germinated. If conditions are right, this should only take about 11 days.
- Let the seedlings grow. Leave the seedlings in the pods until they are about tall. At this point, they'll probably have 3 or more leaves.[6]
- Continue to keep the soil/pod moist, but not soaked, while your seedlings grow.
EditPlanting the Seedlings - Plant seedlings in the ground in areas that are warm most of the year. Ghost peppers thrive in a warm, humid environment where the temperature is or higher for at least 5 months out of the year. If you're worried about colder temperatures, plant the seedlings in pots or raised soil beds so the soil they're in stays warmer.
- Thin the seedlings by plucking the weak ones. If any of your plants are withered, diseased, or browned, pull them out of the soil. That way, there will be more room for healthy plants to grow.[7]
- Move your seedlings to containers or into the ground. If you're going to plant the seedlings outside, acclimate them over a 10 day period by moving them outside for a few hours a day. Leave them outside for one hour longer each day. To plant the seedlings, dig a small hole in the soil just larger than the seed pod. Place it in the hole and pack extra soil in the space around it. Water it well when you're done.
- A pot will be fine for a pepper seedling at first. If you are putting your seedlings in the ground, just space them apart.
- You can move your plants into larger containers later on if the original container becomes too small.
- Water your plants frequently. Ghost peppers need soil that is always slightly damp, but not soaked through. Water as often as you need to keep it in this condition. The exact frequency will depend on your location and the weather conditions.[8]
- For best results, water in early morning or after the sun starts to set.
- Add a layer of mulch around the plants to help the soil retain moisture.
- Add fish and kelp fertilizer to help the pepper plants to grow. You can find this at your local garden store. Mix the fertilizer according to the package instructions, then add it to the soil around your plants. Fish and kelp fertilizer is a great organic option for nurturing your pepper plants.
- Switch to phosphorus-potassium fertilizer to encourage pepper growth. When you start to see flowers (which will be small, light colored, and have pointed petals) on your plants, switch to a fertilizer with higher phosphorus and potassium content to help encourage pepper production.[9]
- Look for a fertilizer that is labeled 20-20-20. These numbers refer to the proportions of the minerals nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, since these will cause the flowers to fall off, and you plant will not produce peppers.
- You can find good options for organic fertilizers at most garden stores.
EditHarvesting Your Peppers - Keep an eye out for pests or other problems. Ghost peppers are so spicy that few bugs pose a problem, but some slugs may bother your plants. If you see chewed on leaves, sprinkle diatomaceous earth (available at a garden store) around the base of your plants.
- Occasionally, aphids, pill bugs, or leafminers will bother ghost pepper plants, but this is very rare. If they do appear, ask your local garden supply store for a good quality organic insecticide.
- If you see spots on your plants' leaves, this is probably a fungus that thrives in damp soil conditions. Back off on watering your plants to discourage the fungus.
- Watch for peppers to emerge. Ghost peppers will start out green, then become orange, finally a brilliant red. The exact amount of time it takes for peppers to appear on your plants will vary depending on how warm your area is.
- Let your peppers mature until they are about finger-sized. In most cases, expect it to take 100 to 120 days for ghost peppers to reach full size. The peppers will be to long when full grown. The peppers become hotter the longer they stay on the plant.[10]
- Wear protective clothing when handling your peppers. Ghost peppers are extremely spicy and can burn bare skin. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and goggles when you are harvesting the peppers. Clip the stems carefully instead of yanking peppers from the plants. Don't let cut peppers touch your bare skin. Keep children away from the peppers.[11]
EditThings You'll Need - Ghost pepper seeds
- Peat pods
- Topsoil
- Compost
- A spade
- A small cup
- Plant containers (optional)
- Frost blanket (optional)
- Blood meal
- Bone meal
- Fertilizer
- Diatomaceous earth (optional)
- Organic insecticide (optional)
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Grow Scoby Posted: 26 Jan 2018 12:00 AM PST "Scoby" is an acronym for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. When added to sweet black tea, Scoobies transform the beverage into kombucha tea, which is a natural probiotic that can be energizing and also improve gut health. If you're tired of buying expensive kombucha tea by the bottle and want to make your own at home, it starts with growing your own scoby. To do this, you'll need to make black sweet tea, put it in a jar with a bottle of kombucha tea, and leave it in a warm, dark place for a few weeks. Then, you can remove the scoby and use it to make a fresh batch of homemade kombucha tea. EditIn a Hurry? The best way to grow scoby is to combine of freshly brewed black sweet tea and a bottle of store-bought kombucha tea in a sterile glass jar. Cover the jar with a paper towel and secure it with a rubber band. Keep it in a dark place at and wait 2-5 weeks for the scoby to start growing and become at least thick. To learn how to make homemade kombucha tea once you've grown your scoby, read on! EditBrewing Black Sweet Tea - Boil of water in a pot. Measure of water in a measuring cup and pour it into a large stainless steel pot. Place it on a burner and turn the burner on medium-high heat until it begins to boil.[1]
- Add sugar to the pot and stir for 5 minutes. Once the water starts to boil, measure of white granulated sugar and add it to the pot. Stir the sugar into the water with a wooden spoon continuously to help the sugar dissolve. This should take about 5 minutes.[2]
- Turn the burner off. Turn the burner off once the sugar has dissolved into the water. Keep the pot on the burner so that the sugar water stays warm but is no longer boiling.
- Add in 2 black tea bags and let them steep for 10-15 minutes. Drop in 2 black tea bags and use the wooden spoon to push them beneath the surface of the water. Stir the tea bags in the water a couple of times. Then, leave the pot alone for 10-15 minutes so that the tea bags can steep.[3]
- Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool completely. After 10-15 minutes have passed, take the tea bags out of the pot and give the tea some time to cool down. Wait until the tea is at about room temperature () before you do anything with it.[4]
EditCreating an Environment for Growth - Pour the black tea into a sterile glass jar. Get a large wide-mouthed glass jar and be sure to clean it thoroughly so that no germs or bacteria grow in it. Then, pour in your room temperature tea.[5]
- To easily and effectively clean your jar, wash it with hot water and vinegar.
- Add a bottle of store-bought kombucha tea. Get a bottle of raw organic kombucha tea and pour the entire contents of the bottle into your freshly brewed black tea. You can purchase a bottle of kombucha tea at a grocery store or online.[6]
- Cover the jar with a paper towel and secure it with a rubber band. Lay a paper towel or cheesecloth over the opening of your glass jar so that it's completely covered. Then, secure the paper towel or cheesecloth by wrapping a rubber band around the top of the jar.[7]
- Don't cover the jar with a normal lid. The tea mixture has to have exposure to air through a breathable material in order for your scoby to grow.
- Without the rubber band, your tea mixture may attract fruit flies and other pests.
- Store it in a warm, dark place for 2-5 weeks. Place the jar in a dark place, such as a kitchen cabinet, and try to keep the temperature at . Wait about 2 weeks and then check on the tea mixture every day to see how developed the scoby has become.[8] You can start using your scoby when it's at least thick.[9]
- If you store your tea mixture in an area that's slightly cooler, it'll take more time for your scoby to grow. If this is the case, consider placing a heating mat underneath the tea mixture to promote growth.
EditUsing Your Scoby - Brew 5-7 bags of tea in of water. Pour the water into a pot and set it on a burner. Turn the burner on to medium-high heat to bring the water to a boil. Then, turn the heat off, put the tea bags in, and let them steep for several minutes.[10]
- Stir in of sugar until it dissolves. Remove the tea bags. Then, measure of sugar in a measuring cup and pour it into the freshly brewed tea. Stir the tea until the sugar has dissolved completely.[11]
- Let the tea cool and transport it to a sterile glass jar. As you did before, let the tea cool down to about before you transfer it to a new, clean glass jar that's larger than the one you grew your scoby in. It's extremely important that you let your tea cool completely, or else the heat may kill your scoby.[12]
- Pour your scoby and starter tea into the new tea. After you've poured your freshly brewed tea into a clean jar, get out the jar of starter tea that your scoby is in. Simply pour the entire contents of the smaller jar into the larger jar. Then, cover the larger jar opening with a paper towel or cheesecloth and secure it with a rubber band.[13]
- This is necessary because the scoby feeds on sugar and because your starter tea likely has an undesirable bitter taste at this point.
- Keep it at room temperature for 1-3 days to let it carbonate. Keep your freshly brewed kombucha tea out of direct sunlight and in a room temperature environment for a few days. This will make your tea sightly carbonated, as kombucha tea typically is.[14]
- Store it in the refrigerator and drink it within a month. After a couple of days kept at room temperature, you'll want to move it to the refrigerator, as refrigeration will stop fermentation and carbonation. Make sure to drink your kombucha tea within a month.[15]
EditThings You'll Need - Measuring cup
- Water
- Stainless steel pot
- Granulated sugar
- Wooden spoon
- Black tea bags
- Sterile glass jars
- 1 bottle of store-bought kombucha tea
- Paper towel or Cheesecloth
- Rubber band
EditSources and Citations
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