"Weather Vanes - The storm predictors!"
The wind plays a key role in most outdoor activities and a weather vane can predict an oncoming storm with ease! They have taken on many shapes and designs over the centuries.   At some point, probably around the 14th century, the rooster became very fashionable and still is today.Early wind vanes would have been carved from wood, but because wood couldn't survive the elements for too long, there are very few vanes of old still in existence. The ones that are found are considered to be very valuable. Iron and copper moulds replaced the traditional wood carving methods and hand-made specimens are very much sought after. Weather vanes were fairly expensive to make and normally they would be found on public buildings or large manor houses. However, the keen gardener would have made some form of weather predictor and this is reflected in our passion for these wonderful and practical sculptures we buy ( or make ) today. They have been lovingly crafted by specialists and one or two are still lurking around antique shops, if you really are determined to find one! Although they are mass produced today, there is still a thriving cottage industry in many rural areas, and some of these wonderful craftsmen and women will make your weather predictor exactly as you would like it. The gardener's tool: Gardener's are always predicting the weather! I know from my own experience in the garden that the rain sends it's scent on ahead! Planting by the moon and observing weather conditions can mean the difference between a failed crop and an abundant harvest. A weather predictor can alert a gardener to changes in the wind, and steps can be taken to protect delicate plants in time. Weather vanes for US delivery can be ordered online at Amazon. They have a wide range of weather instruments. Happy Gardening!
Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back to Garden Decor Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to 'Creative Gardening' - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/weathervanes.html |
