Top Tips To Maximize Your Crop Production This Year

Top Tips To Maximize Your Crop Production This Year

At the beginning of every planting season, we all do our best to predict our approximate crop yield. Even so, it’s not always possible to know exactly how much to expect. There are countless factors at play, many of which we can’t control.

While we can’t control unexpected pest infestations or weather patterns, there are plenty of factors we can control to increase our numbers. Following these top tips to maximize your crop production this year will help you do just that.

Practice Crop Rotation

Each type of crop responds to soil differently. For instance, corn takes nitrogen from the soil, while peas have the opposite effect. Planting either of these on the same plot of land season after season could damage the land, depleting the soil’s nitrogen or oversaturating it. This could result in lower yields.

The best way to avoid this is to establish a crop rotation system that promotes healthy soil. This system should emphasize principles such as growing like families together, following nitrogen-depleting crops with nitrogen-producing crops, and planting cover crops throughout the year.

Test Your Soil

It’s hard to determine the best spot to plant a crop if you don’t know what is already in the soil. That’s where soil testing kits come in handy. Along with the level of nitrogen, a testing kit can let you know about the content level of these nutrients in your soil:

  • Magnesium
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Sulfur
  • Sodium

Pay Attention to Fencing

If your farm includes crops and livestock, good fencing is an essential way to increase crop production this year. Fencing will help prevent damage to your crops that could decrease your yield, and it will keep out any predators from outside your farm.

But there are times when your choice of fencing materials may actually be counterproductive, inviting pests to your field. Wooden fences are often prone to insect infestations that may impact your crops. That’s why so many farmers choose synthetic timbers for their fences instead.

What Military Appreciation Month Is and How To Celebrate It

What Military Appreciation Month Is and How To Celebrate It

Most people don’t realize that May is Military Appreciation Month. We usually skip from Easter right to the Fourth of July, but there’s a whole month dedicated to honoring those who served or are serving our country.

This article will show you what Military Appreciation Month is and how to celebrate it.

What Is Military Appreciation Month?

Military Appreciation Month is a time to show our gratitude for all the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. These armed forces include those who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard.

It’s also a time to remember the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country.

Recognize Your Local Veterans

One way to celebrate Military Appreciation Month is to recognize the veterans in your community. This recognition can be as simple as saying “thank you” to a veteran you see in public.

You could also write a letter of thanks to a veteran or even make a care package to send to troops overseas. Whatever you do, please take a moment to let the veterans in your life know that you appreciate their service.

Donate Clothing or Other Supplies to Veteran Organizations

Many veteran organizations collect donations of clothing and other supplies to help those in need. This donation is a great way to show your support, and it’s something that everyone can do.

You can usually find donation bins at local businesses or contact a veteran organization directly to see what kind of donations they are accepting.

Soldiers understand the importance of proper footwear in the military, so an excellent way to support them is by donating shoes to soldiers. Some organizations that do this are TOMS, Operation Gratitude, and Boots for Troops.

Volunteer at a Veteran’s Event

Another great way to show your support is volunteering at a veteran’s event. This event could be a fundraiser, a 5K run/walk, or a Memorial Day parade.

There are usually plenty of opportunities to volunteer, and it’s a great way to get involved in the community. You can generally find information about upcoming events on the websites of local veteran organizations.

Celebrate Military Families

It’s important to remember that military families make sacrifices too. They often have to deal with deployment, moving to new places, and living without a loved one.

This Military Appreciation Month, take some time to celebrate military families. You could throw a party, cook a special meal, or spend some time with them.

Whatever you do, let them know that you appreciate all they do for our country.

These are a few ideas for how to celebrate Military Appreciation Month. Whatever you do, please take a moment to show your support for the men and women who have served or are currently serving our country.

You could even use this month to learn more about the military and what it’s like to serve. There are plenty of resources available, and you might be surprised by how much you didn’t know.

Why Spring Is the Best Season To Purchase a Golf Cart

Why Spring Is the Best Season To Purchase a Golf Cart

Have you ever considered owning a personal golf cart? Maybe you frequent the golf course enough to warrant this investment. Perhaps you seek a comfortable way to silently hunt prey, with plenty of space to bring your meats home for dinner. Heck, maybe you already own one and are absolutely thrilled with it.

There are so many benefits to buying this alternative method of transportation, including affordability, customization, and entertainment. So what are you waiting for? Here’s why spring is the best season to purchase a golf cart.

Inventory Is High

Spring is the time of year when golf cart inventory is highest. Dealerships and aftermarket sellers know that the presence of nicer weather means more people are hunting, golfing, and participating in outdoor activities. Manufacturers release new models in the winter, arriving at dealerships around March and April. If you want a wider selection to shop from, now’s the best time to go out and explore, since you can find a great deal on the secondhand market from eager sellers.

Perfect Weather for Carting

Golf carts are like convertibles – they’re vehicles best suited for warmer seasons. Sure, you can modify a cart to withstand the brutal realities of the winter, but they’re far more enjoyable in the spring and summer. Clearer roads and surfaces free of snow, branches, and ice make your cart safer to drive. Additionally, it’s nice to have a zippy, fast mode of transportation, especially on ssweltering days. Slap on a quality tarp exterior to stay dry in early spring, when the weather is most unpredictable.

Time for Tinkering

Ultimately, the best aspect of owning a personal cart is the ability to customize it. Golf carts are highly modifiable, with a massive selection of parts available through dealerships, 3rd party vendors, and the aftermarket sector. As the weather warms, it’s the perfect time to roll your cart outside for seasonal tune-ups and checks. Make your coach stand out with performance and personality-boosting modifications.

Here are some quick tips for finding the best personal golf cart:

  • Do a LOT of research online, comparing different brands and models.
  • Focus on finding the features that matter the most to you, such as performance, comfort, size, and customizability.
  • Visit dealerships, both online and in-person, to test them out before purchasing.
  • Finally, do a quick search of similar models on secondhand marketplaces – chances you can find a quality cart at a killer deal.

Now that you know why spring is the best season to purchase a golf cart, nothing is holding you back anymore!

How To Prepare Your Home for Tornado Season

How To Prepare Your Home for Tornado Season

One of the worst things that can happen to a homeowner is a tornado. They can cause a lot of damage, and they’re often unpredictable. You can’t control when or where one will hit, but you can take some steps to protect your home from the damage it can cause.

Take some actionable steps to prepare your home for tornado season and minimize the risk of damage.

Create a Tornado Plan for Your Family

One of the primary things you can do to protect your family during a tornado is to have a plan. A plan includes deciding where to go in your home, how to communicate, and what supplies you will need. Sit down with your family and develop a plan for what to do if a tornado hits.

If you have pets, make sure you include them in your plan. Have a safe place for them to go, and make sure you have enough food and water to last for a few days.

Have an Emergency Kit

Build an emergency kit and keep it in a safe place. The kit should include water, food, flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, and cash. If you must evacuate your home, you’ll want to have this kit with you.

Know Where To Shelter in Place

If a tornado is heading your way, you should shelter in place. A good shelter means finding the most interior room in your home and staying there until the storm has passed.

Having an aboveground storm shelter is an even better option. Storm shelters provide a safe place to go during a tornado, and they can usually withstand the high winds.

If you don’t have a storm shelter, consider using a bathtub. It won’t provide as much protection as an aboveground shelter, but it’s better than nothing.

Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning

You should be able to differentiate between a watch and a warning. A tornado watch is when conditions are suitable for a tornado, but one has not developed yet.

A tornado warning is when someone spots a tornado, and you need to take shelter right away. Ensure that you have an NOAA weather radio to stay up-to-date on the latest weather alerts.

As the weather warms up, start preparing your home for tornado season. By taking some of these simple steps, you can help protect your home from the damage a tornado can cause.

Tornadoes can be incredibly destructive, so create a plan and stick to it. Your family’s safety is the most important thing.

How To Go Off the Grid in Safety and Comfort

How To Go Off the Grid in Safety and Comfort

If you’re considering going off the grid, take the time to determine if it’s really what you want to do. Going off the grid has a romantic, exciting appeal, but no matter how prepared you may be, cutting all ties to the comforts of society and civilization can be a severe shock. Take the time to read up on how to go off the grid in safety and comfort before making the break. Start here!

Educate Yourself

Going off grid isn’t a learn-as-you-go proposition. It’s wise to bring a library of survival skill books with you, but you should also gain and develop skills through training and practice while you still have the benefits of running water, electricity, and internet access. Enroll in live or virtual classes for finding and purifying water, repairing machinery, growing crops, and so forth. After you’ve learned these skills, practice them. In an emergency, you won’t have the benefit of making mistakes.

Establish a Support System

When you have an idea of where you want to live, don’t confuse off-the-grid living with complete disconnection from a community. Your chances of surviving and thriving increase if you have a local support system. Get to know your neighbors, even if they’re a mile away. If you plan to make regular trips to a local town for supplies, meet the local merchants, mechanics, and repair people. You may need their help someday!

Power Up

Living like a mountain man of old may seem cool, but it’ll get old if you like having heat and electricity. You may be able to equip your off-the-grid home with windmill or solar power. And if you equip the place with a bank of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, you’ll find you have plenty of power, even during windless and sunless days and nights. Going off grid doesn’t have to mean going without power.

Consider Water Woes

The last of our tips on how to go off the grid in safety and comfort is one of the most vital: be sure you have access to clean water. Water access is a nonnegotiable part of going off the grid. If you don’t have it, you’re finished before you start. You may need to drill a well for your water needs, but there’s no guarantee the water supply will be near the surface or even clean. Likewise, living on a lake or pond may seem like a solution, but purification can be an ongoing issue, and dry years can severely cut into your supply.