Install Christmas Lights at Your Home

11/10/2014

Before you even buy your first light, make a plan. I know, it seems far more fun to just buy some and hang them, but you will save yourself plenty of time and money if you take a little bit of time to plan. Grab a notepad, a pencil, and a tape measure. Sketch out the areas of your home where you want to add lights and decorations. Add some symbols for what type of lights you want where. Now measure those areas, yes, all of them. Also measure the distance to the nearest electrical outlet for your extension cord(s).

Calculate Power Wattage for Christmas Lights

If you are planning on going big, and I mean National Lampoon big, you will need to make sure your outlets can handle to wattage your lights will be using. If you pull too many watts, your breaker will flip and it won't be very bright. If you have this problem, there are some choices. LED lights use a whole lot less power, but they cost more. You could have an electrician add another outlet with its own fuse. You could also run a long extension cord to a different outdoor outlet if it is on a different fuse.

General rule for maximum number of strands to connect:
LED can connect up to 25.
Incandescent can connect between 3 to 6.

Math to Calculate Wattage
Wattage of the bulb x Number of sockets / 115 = Total Amps

9 Comments

How To Make A Raised Vegetable Garden

3/14/2014

4 Comments

It seems more and more people are growing food at their homes. It is easy to understand why with both the price of food rising and the manipulation of food by large industries. Who doesn't want wholesome food for cheaper than you can pay at the store.

What most people are finding out is it is pretty easy to grow food to supplement your regular grocery shopping. Growing your own food has the added benefit of getting your household excited about eating vegetables!

Raised Vegetable Garden Building Supplies

For a basic raised vegetable garden, you will need:

2-3/4" outdoor wood screws
Drill
Power saw
three treated 2x10x8 boards
one treated 2x4 or four wood spikes
25 cubic feet of garden bed builder soil
1 cubic foot of composted cow manure
1 cubic foot of composted chicken manure
1 cubic foot of mushroom compost
1 cubic foot of compost with alfalfa and humate
seeds

First you will need to cut one of the 2x10x8 boards. Layout the two uncut 2x10x8 boards parallel to one another four feet apart with the two 2x10x4 on both ends making a box.
Next cut the four 10" length sections from the 2x4. cut the bottom of each 10" segment to a pointed angle. Place the spikes on the flat on the ground and lay the cut 2x10x4 on top flush with the edges and a little lower than the top of what will be the side wall of the box. Use two screws to fasten each spike to the wall.

When all spikes are fastened, lined up the remaining 2x10x8 and mark where the screws will need to be. Lay down the 2x10x8s and partially drill the screws so they are firmly in the wood.
Next, line them back up with the ends of the box and finish drilling the holes.
You may also want to screw the sides of the box to the spikes as well.

Bring the completed box to a very sunny area of your yard with access to water and place it as you like. Either safely drop the box or stand on the corners until the spikes drive into the ground. You may also use a soft mallet.
Remove the grass and till the dirt so the soil is loosened.

Pour in the vegetable soil mix. Next add composted manures and other soil amendments. Work the soil amendments into the other soil and mix well.
Form two mounds along the length of the box divided at the center. Flatten the tops of the mounds and plant your seeds accordingly.

You can add plants such as marigolds, sage, etc. to deter insects from your vegetables.
Add some slow release fertilizer to help your plants along the way.
Water your vegetable garden regularly and you should be able to eat what you grow in no time, enjoy!

GreenSeasons Homegrown Food
Vegetable Gardens, Chicken Coops, and Fruit Trees

GreenSeasons installs and maintains vegetable gardens, chicken coops and fruit trees in the greater Baton Rouge, greater New Orleans, Slidell, Prairieville, Walker, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Baker, Zachary, Hammond and Covington areas. If you want to eat what you grow, just click here for a free quote and we will give you a call.

If you would simply like some advice on homegrown food, please contact us and we will be more than happy to help.

4 Comments

How to Make a Giant Jenga Set

9/21/2013

3 Comments

My friend fully immersed in Jenga.

I was recently at an event in Dallas when I came across giant Jenga. As it turns out, giant Jenga is a great way to pass the time at any outdoor event such as family gatherings, a night in with friends, barbecues, seafood boils or tailgating. On my trip home, I thought it would be great to have a set of this around for when I had people ready and willing to play. Since it isn't very complicated, I decided to build one and share with you how to make one also.

Playing Jenga is simple. Stack 54 blocks in alternating rows of three at 90 degree angles. Remove one piece of wood from any completed level and stack it on the top level. You You must complete a level with three blocks before going up. If the stack falls on your turn, you lose. Click here for official Jenga Rules.

DIY Giant Jenga Materials

5 - 10 foot long 2x4 pieces of wood (sort through them to get the smoothest ones)
Saw with a fresh blade meant for fine/smooth cuts- preferably electric
Measuring Tape
Sandpaper - (a tool to hold the sand paper will make it a lot easier)
Safety Glasses
Work Gloves
Dust Mask
Pencil
Chalk Line (optional)

DIY Giant Jenga Guide

Put on your safety glasses, gloves and dust mask. Use the sandpaper to smooth out any noticeable rough areas on the boards. Measure and mark 10.5 inch lengths of the 2x4 until you run out of room on each. Each 2x4 should make eleven blocks with an extra block that will not be used. Mark an "X" on the final piece to show it is too short in case it gets mixed in with the other blocks.

Cut each of the marked spots at 90 degree cuts. Continue to cut the boards until all the marks have been cut. If you feel confident or have suitable equipment, you can cut multiple boards at a time. Remember to place the extra piece from each cut aside so it does not get mixed into the Jenga pieces.

Use the sandpaper on the edges to remove any splintering or rough edges. Rough spots will cause a lot of frustration while playing. Be sure to wear your dust mask, gloves and eye protection. This Jenga set is not weather proof so be sure to store it indoors. Sealing or painting the wood will cause it to stick so it is not a good idea. Be sure to play Jenga on a sturdy raised surface. A great idea would be to build a box with handles to hold the Jenga set that could also be used as a table to play on top.

Giant Jenga is really is a lot of fun and I would recommend bringing it to your next tailgate party. Giant Jenga sets also make great gifts for birthdays or holidays. If you want to give your set a little color, paint only the cut ends. Enjoy your new game that you made!

Additional Help

GreenSeasons does not typically craft this type of thing, but we thought it was interesting and wanted to share. We like the idea bringing you and those close to you together for something fun.

If you are looking for landscaping, lawn maintenance of pest control service in the Baton Rouge or New Orleans area, just click here and we will give you a call. If you would simply like some advice or just want to chat, please contact us.

3 Comments

Install Christmas Lights at Your Home

Calculate Power Wattage for Christmas Lights

How To Make A Raised Vegetable Garden

Raised Vegetable Garden Building Supplies

GreenSeasons Homegrown Food
Vegetable Gardens, Chicken Coops, and Fruit Trees

How to Make a Giant Jenga Set

DIY Giant Jenga Materials

DIY Giant Jenga Guide

Additional Help

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Install Christmas Lights at Your Home

Calculate Power Wattage for Christmas Lights

How To Make A Raised Vegetable Garden

Raised Vegetable Garden Building Supplies

GreenSeasons Homegrown FoodVegetable Gardens, Chicken Coops, and Fruit Trees

How to Make a Giant Jenga Set

DIY Giant Jenga Materials

DIY Giant Jenga Guide

Additional Help

Author

Categories

Archives

Contact

Services

About

Locations

GreenSeasons Homegrown Food
Vegetable Gardens, Chicken Coops, and Fruit Trees