Friday, June 14, 2013

Hug The Earth

Hug The Earth

We all need a hug every now and then. What better time is there to show the earth a little love than today, Earth Day. Here are ten ways you can show our rock how much you care:

· Feed wildlife - Many plants have berries and nuts that provide food for our furry and feathered friends.

· Install a rain barrel - Collect and use water off of your roof to water your plants. It is free!

· Maintain a health lawn - Turf grass not only looks nice, it puts out a lot of oxygen and filters pollutants before they get to the water table.

· Create a home for wildlife - Many plants also provide shelter for animals.

· Use native plants - Plants that grow naturally in our climate are more resistant to harmful insects and diseases so less pesticides will be used to care for them.

· Plant a vegetable garden - Not only will you get fresh vegetables for your family (and a big feeling of satisfaction), no fuel will be used to truck your vegetables to the store.

· Keep cool - A shade tree put in the correct place in your yard can shade your home in the summer and let sun in to warm it in the winter.

· Recycle yard waste - Don't pick up your grass clippings, it is free fertilizer for your lawn. Leaves, when composted, turn into wonderful leafmold for next year's garden.

· Clean water - A rain garden helps clean the water coming out of your gutters before it goes into the ground.

· Get outside - Nothing says you care like spending time with a loved one. Go for a hike or a picnic. Enjoy, and hug, our earth. It is the only one we have.

A patio is a patio right? Not exactly. We view patios as an extension of your home, your outdoor family room, so to speak. A family room is not a family room right? It is your family room and you have probably gone to great lengths to make it special. Why not do the same with your patio?

Here are a few ways to make your patio awesome:

Add a seat wall - This sounds simple enough, and it is. A seat wall around part of your patio not only provides extra seating capacity, but also creates a boundary to your patio, making it feel cozier and more private. Another benefit to a seat wall is that when other families come over, the children naturally migrate to sit on the seat wall leaving the parents to enjoy the meal even more.

Light it up - Lighting can greatly enhance any patio room and extend its usefulness into the night. With today's technology, LED lights can also save energy and reduce the need to change light bulbs. An automatic timer makes the whole system care free.

Let there be fire! - What is better than sitting around a campfire in the comfort of your backyard. A fire pit can really make a good evening a great evening. Choose from wood burning or gas, just save us a s'more.

There is no reason in the world to settle for boring. With these options, your patio can be awesome!

See more of our patios at Our Portfolio.