Wine is a drink that has been made for centuries. It consists of grapes, sugar, and yeast that are allowed to ferment until gas stops being released. Once that is done, the beverage is bottled up and stored so that the flavors can mellow and sweeten with age.
The preparation of the grapes slightly differs according to the type of wine that is being made. Red wine is made from the juice, skins, and seeds of red grapes while white wine is made from white grape juice only.
To begin the wine making process requires that every piece of equipment be sanitized. This includes one 2 to 4 gallon food-grade pail with lid, plastic tubing half-inch in diameter, two 1-gallon glass jugs, fermentation lock and bung, five large wine bottles, and one potato masher.
From a design standpoint, “plants that work well together” really means “plants that look good together”—complementary plants (not companion plants). For example, dramatic rose petals and wispy Queen Anne’s lace are two flowers that naturally go hand-in-hand, particularly in a bouquet or an arrangement. The purpose of selecting dynamic duos is to create combinations that produce a visual impact that is greater than the sum of the parts.
As people leave their residence to go on vacation, many are not thinking about the health of their plants and have not even planned for their care. In the rush to prepare for the much-needed vacation, many will hire house sitters and pet sitters but will not consider their plants until they get home. Normally the homeowner gets home after a well-rested time off to find their plants in dire stress or dead. This year can be different with a little planning and some help from Outdora.
Perhaps our forefathers could have easily anticipated the firework-filled, meat roasting summer celebration that July 4th has become. Since the birth of our nation, Americans have been known for their adventurous spirit and gluttonous appetite for life. The founding fathers in particular left a long history of Congressional fistfights and scathing diatribes over dinners, particularly during the drafting of The Declaration of Independence.
Human ingenuity is a beautiful thing and, when combined with grapes, turns out a pretty good wine. A simple and inexpensive wine can be made by anyone that has a plastic milk jug, grape juice, yeast and a balloon.
A cloche can loosely be defined as a structure that is placed over a plant to protect it from the cold. The first mentioning of a cloche can be found around 1630 in a gardening treaty. John Evelyn (1620-1706) mentioned bell glasses as a mandatory 
Many people desire to have plants in their life but do not have what some refer to as a “green thumb.” This “green thumb” for some, seems to come from their genetic code while others learn to be a plant whisperer through family, friends, and books. This skill may seem mystical by nature but it is really simple. Plants require sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and room to grow. If these basic needs are met, the plant will thrive but there does exist a fine line between meeting the need and going overboard.
Today everyone is looking for ways of growing things closer to home. This reduces the carbon footprint of product production and increases food security. But many may believe that some items cannot be grown close to home. The reasons vary for this belief include space, climate and even lack of skill. But before you throw in your garden spade consider growing the simple grape.
When it comes to good barbeque, we all know that your choice of fuel has a huge effect on the finished product. We also know that temperature control, smoke, and recipes are fundamental to success. We sometimes forget one of the most important aspects of outdoor cookery, the actual surface you use. A grill surface is something we often take for granted as part and parcel of the barbeque, and don’t often questions our options in cooking surfaces. In much the same way you might prefer a cast iron pan for cooking bacon, and a teflon pan for easy-over eggs, the material of your barbeque grate can change the way you grill.
Father’s Day is approaching. The looming question “What Would Dad Want?” hangs in the air heavier than the musk of his damp gym clothes and the entire family stands frozen, the thought bubble answers to this timely question blank. Stop asking yourself “WWDW?”, put down the magazine subscription requests, unhand the golf clubs and get dad a present that Cliff Huxtable, Al Bundy, and Andy Griffith would all admire – a barbecue grill.