How to get started with deep beds

Written by Frann Leach


The use of deep beds as a method of growing crops has become very popular with organic gardeners for several reasons, including:

  • once set up,repparttar amount of work you have to do every year (digging and so on) is much reduced
  • there is an improvement in soil structure because of reduced compaction from being walked on
  • you can cut down onrepparttar 116231 amount of compost or fertiliser you use, because you don't waste it on areas that aren't going to be used for growing.

The basic idea ofrepparttar 116232 deep bed is that you divide your plot into sections about 2-3m (6-10') long by about 40cm (4') wide, separated by pathways about 500cm (2') wide. The dimensions are important:repparttar 116233 width should be no more than is comfortable to reach across (for weeding, planting, harvesting andrepparttar 116234 like) from either pathway. The length should be long enough to be usable, but not so long that you are tempted to take a shortcut acrossrepparttar 116235 middle. If you do find yourself doing this, cutrepparttar 116236 bed in half with another path. When planningrepparttar 116237 layout ofrepparttar 116238 deep beds, try to align them so thatrepparttar 116239 length ofrepparttar 116240 beds is on a north-south axis, to giverepparttar 116241 crops maximum benefit fromrepparttar 116242 sunshine, and when planningrepparttar 116243 cropping ofrepparttar 116244 beds remember to siterepparttar 116245 tall crops onrepparttar 116246 northern side so that they do not overshadowrepparttar 116247 lower growing crops.

Many people use wooden or plastic supporting 'walls' aroundrepparttar 116248 beds. You can make a frame out of planks of wood, if you wish. However, if you have any trouble with slugs or snails (and who doesn't?), you will quickly find that these provide a lovely little haven for them. You may prefer to go without, or you may work onrepparttar 116249 principal that, if you know whererepparttar 116250 culprits are, they are easier to deal with.

Guidelines for Printing Great Photos at Home

Written by Kelly Paal


So you have this great digital camera and you’ve taken lots of great photos. Now what? Well you could go to a store and have them print your images for you, but isn’t that what you did with film? The point of all this great digital technology is that you can print your own photos at home without having to pay someone else to do it. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. It’ll seem like a lot of money at first but spendrepparttar money to get a good printer. Six color at least. Ink jets are wonderful for printing snapshots. You won’t need more than that. Also look around atrepparttar 116230 computer brands that sell computer packages for digital printing,repparttar 116231 printer that they recommend is perfect for printing photos at home.

2. Buy some photo editing software. There are lots of brands out there many of them for pros but you can easily find software under one hundred dollars that will have lots more options than you will ever use. Look for software that has automatic settings so thatrepparttar 116232 computer can automatically color correct, auto focus, brighten, or darken, etc. At least until you learn number 3.

3. Learn your equipment. Takerepparttar 116233 time play withrepparttar 116234 settings. Don’t try to print perfect photos right away. Most people with a little time and practice can learn to do basic photo special effects. Give yourselfrepparttar 116235 time to learn.

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