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The Green Thumb Blog

Rooftop Gardens in Chicago

Written By: joe - Nov• 28•11

Many people view Chicago as a city of tall skyscrapers, concrete highways and industrial expanses.  However many visitors to the city are surprised and the variety of gardens and parks.  It really is an environmentally friendly city.  It is embracing green construction along with other industries such as solar and wind power.

Green roofs are multiplying throughout the city.  In fact they have over two million square feet of rooftop gardens across the city.  You can drive around and visit a McDonald’s, or an Apple shop incorporating a green roof in its design.  Even the City Hall has a green roof.  These rooftop gardens are a place where workers can relax and enjoy tranquil surroundings during their busy days.  A retreat featuring lush vegetation, a pool and even wildlife is a wonderful place to escape from the stress of day to day life.

The environmental benefits of a rooftop garden include additional insulation, the recycling of rainwater, and lowering air temperatures.  Green roofs fall in to two categories – intensive which have a deeper variety of plant materials and extensive which cover a larger area with less dense vegetation.

Along with rooftop gardens the city leaders of Chicago have been persistent in developing all types of environmental strategies.  The result is a wealth of international awards and recognition.  In the past thirty years the city has planted over half a million trees.  Along with this the amount of park space in the city has been increased.  And lakefront areas have been cleaned up and are continually undergoing pollution reduction strategies.  All of this are shaping Chicago into being the green leader in the country.

Article provided by Chicago DUI Attorney providing legal services for drivers.

Image via Creative Commons

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Small Koi Pond Businesses in Troubled Economic Times

Written By: joe - Sep• 14•11

We should all be familiar with the common philosophical adage directing us to follow our dreams, do what we love and the rest will follow. Well, some people do actually devote themselves to their passion and end up creating multimillion dollar businesses or at least end up making a healthy living. And interestingly, this is becoming more popular as the troubled economy continues to leave people without work or enough of it. Another popular adage, necessity is the mother of invention, is also holding true. And regardless of what your particular passion happens to be, there are companies like Marlabs that provide not only essential assistance but are also experts at recognizing various new directions technology is contributing to businesses of all kinds.

The landscaping business has always been relative to, though also completely separated from the individual gardening habits of many people. Well, one interesting new development that has evolved largely due to the economic crisis, is a new type of landscaping business. It takes place on a much smaller scale and is an expansion of private gardener’s skills and interest. Many people design their own front and back yards and create beautiful scenes, complete with ponds, flower gardens, gazebos and more. And while this used to just be a common hobby, some of these skilled individuals have turned their green thumb habits into extra income and in some cases an entirely new career. It’s relatively easy to gain word of mouth business in your community and one of the easiest ways to advertise is to have your work demonstrated in other people’s yards.

by Wonderlane

by Wonderlane

 

Regardless of the size of business you intend to develop, the latest company news demonstrates that even the smallest home based service business can benefit from not only establishing an Internet presence but also to take advantage of the great resources that these technologically based professionals offer. Perhaps your individual talent is to hand build beautiful Koi ponds alongside of a Japanese tea garden. And on top of that, you are an expert at maintaining the appropriate water environmental balance for the fish as well as overall health of the pond. If you put in one of these per month and then maintain them with an active account for each pond and garden you create, you are continually building and maintaining a strong cash flow and personal business. This is just one area of specialization that is becoming a particular niche in the overall field of landscaping. Individual designers are blossoming, and so are beautiful yards across the nation.

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Plants Can Add A Bit of Life to an Apartment

Written By: joe - Jun• 08•11

Apartments are great living options. They offer a decent amount of space, great amenities, and a community feeling. Many apartments are overseen by property management companies like TransGlobe Property Management and some are simply run by landlords. Either way, it can sometimes be difficult to make your apartment truly feel like home with so many restrictions. A great way to add a little life to your apartment is through plants and gardening.

While this might sound a bit strange considering an apartment doesn’t have all that much room for plants and it definitely doesn’t have room for a garden, there are ways to liven up your apartment.

An herb garden is a great place to start. Planting an herb garden can be as simple as putting in a window planter or planting different types of herbs into a couple pots and keeping them on your patio table. Either way you decide to do it will be beneficial, it will give you fresh herbs to cook with and give you something to focus on.

Potted flowers are also an idea. Go to the store and buy some potted indoor flowers or plants and put them on your kitchen table or on end tables. They will serve as decoration as well as make the air fresh. If you don’t want potted flowers, you can always go to the store and buy a bouquet of flowers and put it in a vase.

Plants are proven to lift your spirits and put you in a better mood. When you are living in a small confined space, it is worth the time to have plants, as they will only serve to benefit your living experience.

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Insurance Claims for Flood Damage

Written By: joe - Jun• 07•11

The laws governing insurance policies vary from state to state. If you are filing a claim for San Diego flood damage you will be subject to different regulations than someone filing a claim in New York or Alaska. Make sure you know what coverage you have and how it works when you purchase your policy. Don’t wait until you have a flood.

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the particulars of your policy before you contact your insurance agent. In some places even consulting with your agent about what to do can result in a form being filed that will adversely affect your future premiums or even prevent you from getting coverage. This may happen even if you decide not to file a claim through the company.

If you are going to file a claim, you will need to officially report the damage to your insurance agent and an adjuster will come to inspect your home. You should not make any major repairs until that inspection occurs. It is a good idea to take photos or video of the damage as soon as possible. This will help prove your claim.

Once the claim is filed, your agent will work with you to find approved professionals to help with the clean up. Your policy may provide for the insurer to hire and pay the contractors or may result in you getting a check that you use to pay for the work.

You need to keep thorough documentation of all reports, applications, and communication between you, the insurance company, and the contractors. This will help you in case anything comes under dispute later.

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Where to Find a Good Mortgage

Written By: joe - May• 29•11

The majority of the population needs a mortgage in order to buy property. They don’t have the cash available to buy property outright, so they need a mortgage lender to make it possible. If they haven’t bought property before, they may not know where to look for a good mortgage. In many cases, a real estate agent or mortgage broker can help them find a lender. However, some people may choose to get pre-approved for a mortgage before they start looking for a house. In these cases, they will need to approach a lender independently.

Banks are usually the primary lenders for mortgages. Many borrowers will talk to a mortgage officer at the bank or banks where they already have accounts. They feel that they have a better chance of getting approved by an institution with whom they already have a relationship. It is usually a good idea to look at the terms and Mortgage Rates being offered by several different banks in order to find the best mortgage.

Credit unions are another option for mortgages. There are also lenders who specialize in mortgages and do not offer other banking services. These large mortgage bankers will have offices around the country or will be online lenders. Borrowers can find listings of their products and mortgage rates as well as information about branch offices online. Lastly, there are online services that will bring together mortgage terms and rates from multiple lenders and allow the borrowers to compare their options side by side. This will help them choose which mortgage is right for them.

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Great Dining Options in Vegas Include Family Owned Italian

Written By: joe - May• 17•11

While many people dream of the great buffets and fabulous dining opportunities that are waiting for them at Mandalay bay las vegas and their other favorite casinos in Las Vegas, it’s also great to know that there are many other options available, or in addition to, the great food and restaurants you’ll find in the casinos. There are the standard regional or national favorites that include Ruth’s Chris, PF Changs and Z’Tejas Grill , which are just as popular as the top casino options, as well as some great locally based and inspired varieties.

For many people, when they travel they make a special point of sampling the locally based cuisine and also the regionally based arts. In Vegas this includes food from all around the world. Battista’s Hole in the Wall Italian Restaurant is popular with locals and almost a magnet for tourists. The moderately priced excellent food establishment has a smoke free environment and vegetarian options, which makes it popular with a wide demographic spectrum. In addition it is family owned and operated and has been for the past 30 years, which gives the restaurant a true Vegas feel and authenticity. Next time you’re in Vegas enjoy a bit of everything this city has to offer, including some of its locally based food.

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Common Considerations of Insurance for Travel

Written By: joe - Apr• 20•11

If you are planning a trip outside of your own country, for any reason, there is an insurance policy available that will be structured around your specific needs. This is true for travelers who plan to be out of the country from five days to up to two years. These are typical time parameters and if your plans fall somewhere outside the indicated time frames, you can speak to your agent about your options. Meanwhile, the length of time you plan to spend out of the country is not the only factor involved in determining the best policy for you.

You might want to choose from a selection of limited coverage options if you are in good health and will not be exposing yourself to obvious immediate threats or dangers. These can be pre-selected policy coverage and cost totals with deductible possibilities ranging from zero to a couple thousand dollars. Typically, the coverage type and deduction rates will be based on your expected medical care needs. Regardless of the amount of time you plan to be away, or the specific reason or reasons why you are traveling, having the right visitors insurance policy in place before you leave is one of the best travel preparations, and self care measures you can take before your trip.

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Making a Statement with Wheels

Written By: joe - Apr• 03•11

An easy way to make a statement with your car is to invest in fancy rims and tires . While you may not want to go full out to pimp your car like they do on those car makeover shows, there’s nothing wrong with doing a few things to set your car apart from the rest of those on the road. If a custom paint job or off the wall accessories aren’t your style, then buying custom rims may be the answer.

The most common rims will be made of fancy chrome , steel or aluminum. Wheels come in different colors such as black, bronze or gold or can be customized in colors like red, yellow, and orange. Some may even include more than one color. There seem to be an infinite number of designs and styles available, so you should be able to find just the right rims to express your personality.

There are all sorts of places to find rims for sale . You’ll find them at brand name tire dealers, used tire stores, and at auto parts and accessories dealers. Some body shops also sell custom rims and there are plenty of online stores that will ship rims right to your door, just remember that you’ll have to find a way to mount them on your car.

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You Might Have More to Put in a Home Safe Than You Realize

Written By: joe - Mar• 24•11

There are a number of things to consider in making decisions about your personal home security and safety practices. People are investing in security screen doors , large bolt locks and even barring their windows. However, one other practice that is occurring on a regular basis and is one of the most assured security precautions one can take for their valuables, is the purchase and use of a one of a variety of home safes . And based on the above information, one of the immediate benefits of using a safe is it won’t block your window views, though of course the two security measures are intended for different things.

With all of that in mind, it is important to recognize the value and benefit that a home safe can provide you. Many people have a lot more valuable possessions in their homes than what they realize. And this is due to some extent on the fact that many people don’t realize what all in their homes has significant value. For instance, family heirloom items, jewelry pieces, certain rare collections and many other items may actually be worth more than you realize, particularly when put in context with the other items. It shouldn’t take a trip to the Antiques Roadshow or even a local appraiser to realize the importance of what you have and to take measures to protect it. And frequently this means securing your items in a safe.

Posted in Home , | 1 Comment »

Choosing a Mask and Headgear for Your CPAP Machine

Written By: joe - Mar• 20•11

There are some decisions you’ll need to make when purchasing your CPAP machine, and some of them include whether or not you want a humidifier to come as part of the machine, if the motor noise is going to be a factor and also what levels of comfort the different settings can offer. These are some standard feature considerations when making your machine purchase. And while these are extremely important and it’s well known that an overall satisfaction with machine’s functioning directly relates to compliance and consistency of use, there are other important decisions and considerations you’ll need to make.

One of the most important parts of the machine, which is frequently considered to be an accessory, is the specific CPAP mask that you’ll want to use. Sometimes your doctor will have a particular recommendation for you, such as how much coverage you are likely to need. And even with the advice of your physician there will be some varieties in options and you’ll have certain things to consider. Some of the masks are built with various ways to cushion the placement area and this can affect the overall comfort of its wear. Additional some are designed to be extremely light, while others are built to guarantee stability of placement. In addition, to the mask you’ll have to pick out the headgear, though this is likely to be less complicated. The amount of choices you’ll have are intended to promote consistency of use. And if the CPAP machine is going to be effective, it’s important to use it as directed.

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