Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Smart Solution: Burn the Midnight Oil with a Solar Shed Light

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Problem: You regularly work on projects in your storage shed, garden shed, or greenhouse, but once the sunlight begins to fade, you are forced to abandon your work until the next day.  Interrupting a productive work cycle can be immensely frustrating.  What if the train of thought you were riding the previous day doesn’t come chugging back into the station?  Many projects ultimately go unfinished for this very reason.

Solution #1: Hire an electrician to run an electrical line from your house to the storage shed.  Unfortunately, this means tearing up part of your yard in order to accommodate the wiring.  Oh, and another thing…electricians don’t come cheap.

Solution #2: Attach an LED solar shed light to your storage shed, garden shed, or greenhouse, and get back to work.Solar Shed Light  Solar lights require no special wiring since they get their power from the sun, and there are no set up costs or operating costs beyond the initial purchase of the light.  Simply mount the accompanying solar panel to the sunniest side of your storage shed, and it will soak up the sun’s rays during the day.  The solar shed light then uses that stored energy to properly illuminate your task inside the storage shed until you are ready to pack it in for the day.

Thanks to smart solutions like the solar shed light, you can be the one who decides when work is finished instead of living at the mercy of the setting sun.

Backyard Fun, Holidays & Gift Ideas, Outdoor Entertaining

Birthday Gifts for Your Favorite Guy!

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Birthday Party

Today is my husband’s birthday (happy birthday, Jeremy!), and I have been considering the ideal gifts for men. Options abound for choosing the perfect gift for the man in your life, young or old. Below are two great options that are sure to please every husband, boyfriend, brother, and dad around!Grill

Grilling is a passion for most men. Give them a kitchen, and they might not produce, but give them a a grill and the great outdoors and you will have a delicious meal in no time! Even if your guy already has an outdoor grill, it might be time to upgrade! There are so many options in outdoor cooking available today. Electric, propane/gas, charcoal, and smokers ensure that there is something for everyone. You could even get him a portable grill that is perfect for family vacations, tailgating, and outdoor hobbies, like fishing or hunting.

Outdoor TV Outdoor tvs are a dream for many men! They can only imagine being about to watch their favorite  sporting events or movies live while cooking lunch on the new grill or lounging in the pool. Outdoor tvs make this luxury idea into a reality. Designed for permanent outdoor installation, you can safely watch tv in all kinds of weather. They are perfect for patios and decks, barbecues, pool side, and outdoor kitchens. Rain, dirt, insects, scratches, sun, and extreme temperatures are not an issue because of the water tight enclosure and rugged, but crystal clear, screen.

No matter which gift you choose for your favorite man, be sure to make it special and give them a gift that they will never forget!

Beach Accessories, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Take Recycling to the Next Level and Look Good in the Process

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Classic Adirondack Chair

You’ve reduced the amount of stuff you buy, and you recycle what you can, but do you go that next step and make a point to buy products made from recycled materials?  A little online research can lead you to find most anything you need or want made from other people’s recycled trash.   Patio furniture is a good example.

Recycled patio furniture can certainly be made from reclaimed wood or with bits and pieces salvaged from retired patio furniture.  But, recycled plastic is a better choice for outdoor furniture.   Furniture made with recycled plastics, such as that which is produced by Poly-Wood, has exceptional resistance to corrosive substances, oil and fuels, insects, fungi, salt spray, and other environmental stresses.   The furniture does not absorb moisture, so there is never a worry about rotting, splintering, or cracking.  Poly-Wood’s recycled furniture pieces resist all harsh weather conditions, and they never need to be painted, stained, or water proofed.  It doesn’t hurt, either, that this recycled patio furniture is stylish, sturdy, and comfortable.

Recycling your plastic bottles and containers is only one part of the process.  Making the effort to buy products made from recycled materials is another crucial piece of the process that some consumers overlook.  Luckily, it’s getting easier to find recycled products, like patio furniture, and the variety of products available is increasing. According to Earth911’s Plastic Recycling Facts, the plastics recycling business has grown significantly in the past few years.  In fact, “more than 1,600 businesses are involved in recycling post-consumer plastics.”  Using products made from recycled plastics ensures that a hefty chunk of those milk jugs, water bottles, and food containers from which we can’t seem to escape are put to good use.

Backyard Fun

Swings with Zing: Keeping Swing Sets Updated and Cool

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Tire Swing

 

As kids grow older, their needs and abilities change.  Keeping your backyard swing set updated with accessories that meets your kids’ current needs and interests will ensure that the swing set continues to be used and enjoyed over the course of many years.   There’s no need to completely overhaul your swing set at one time, though.  Start with one improvement and see how that goes before adding or changing anything else.  Swings are a good place to start.

How old were your kids when you first purchased their backyard swing set?  Were they young enough to need a bucket swing or half-bucket swing for safety?  Updating the swings on your swing set is an easy and inexpensive way to keep the kids coming back out to play.  Instead of buying a new standard belt swing, though, choose a swing with somePine Wood Chair Swing zing.

Some popular alternative choices for traditional swings include tire swings and glider swings, both of which can support at least two people at a time.  A disc swing is another fun option that, like the tire swing, is not limited to just a back and forth movement.  For older kids and even adults, a wooden chair swing is an appealing spot for swinging gently while chatting with a friend or reading a book.

Getting the most use out of your backyard swing set means that a little updating of the accessories now and then is necessary.  Keep up with your kids’ interests as they grow and change, and you’ll keep them coming back to play.

Innovative Solutions, Shade Solutions, Storage Solutions

Temporary Garages Expand Your Space

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Temporary Garages
Winter weather can be harsh, and with so many things to protect, you can quickly run out of outdoor storage space. Cars, boats, campers, recreational vehicles, and even lawnmowers all need a dry, protected space to be stored for the winter. If you are lucky, your garage will hold one or two of these things. Where does that leave the rest of your tools and toys? Temporary garages might be the solution that you are looking for. Available in a wide range of sizes, they offer rugged protection against rain, snow, wind, UV rays, and other environmental factors. Steel frames and durable, long lasting cover materials make sure that your structure will last many years. They come with doors to offer complete protection. Expand your storage space and create enough room for ALL of your favorite outdoor things!