Common Cleaning Products Are a Ticking Time Bomb

If your home or office is typical, it already has dozens of cleaning and personal care products that contain harmful chemicals. Recent studies have revealed that most households/offices contain over 63 hazardous products that together contain hundreds of chemicals. These chemicals have the potential to greatly harm or even kill your children, your pets and you, should they accidentally not be used with the utmost caution.

Could these tragedies happen in your home or office? When little Jennifer Smith of Salt Lake City, UT was but a year old she crawled over to the dishwasher while her mother was unloading the dishes. She put her small finger in the detergent dispensing cup and ate a finger full of wet but un-dissolved commercial dish detergent. In minutes her face was red and blistered, the inside of her mouth and tongue were burned white. Luckily she was rushed to a nearby hospital emergency room for quick medical attention. She recovered in a few days.

Another documented case was a 20 month old boy who had to be fed through tubes for five months and suffered through many operations. Again, the culprit was dishwasher detergent.

This is only two of thousands of cases reflecting children ingesting and being exposed to, what most consider common household products, terrible life threatening consequences.

It is estimated that the U.S. Poison Control Center has nearly 1.5 million reported cases of accidental ingestion of poisons every year. Sadly most of these cases were under 12 years of age.

Have you ever wondered what the strong odor in the cleaners' isle of your supermarket is?

Ingestion is only one of three major ways that these products enter the body. Inhalation is even for more dangerous because when breathed in these harmful chemicals go directly into the blood stream and can quickly affect the lungs, heart, brain liver and kidneys.

By the way, that strong smell in your supermarket cleaner isle is caused by what industry experts describe as "out gassing". Out gassing are the vapors escaping from the "sealed" containers on the supermarkets shelves. Which obviously are extremely harmful to your health!

Have you ever been literally driven out of your bathroom shower while using one of the most popular tile cleaners? These types of cleaners must contain strong chemicals in order to do the job. The job may get done but you are at risk from the strong vapors that are generated. By the time you have exited the bathroom the chemical vapors have entered your blood stream and are wrecking havoc with your health. Where are your rubber gloves?

Do you know that one square centimeter of skin (the size of a dime) contains 3 million cells and 4 yards of nerves? How do you think nicotine and hormone replacement patches work? Do the chemicals somehow enter the body from the patch through the skin to do their work? Of course they do.

This same absorption occurs every time a cleaning product touches your skin. By the way, if your baby happens to crawl across your nicely scrubbed kitchen floor, even several days after, the skin will pick up and absorb whatever harmful chemicals happen to be in the cleaner.

Consumer Beware! Why isn't the consumer informed and protected from the potentially dangerous chemicals contained in cleaning and personal care products? * The government has very limited power to regulate and require proper testing. * Products that kill 50% of lab animals can still get designated as "non-toxic". * Of 17,000 household chemicals only about 5,100, or approximately 30%, have been adequately tested and less than 10% have been tested on the nervous system. * No law requires manufactures to list the exact ingredients on the package label. All Natural Cleaners!

Just imagine your peace of mind if you never had to be concerned again about your family suffering from the misuse of harmful cleaning chemicals. Environmentally safe cleaning products provide a powerful answer to the harm that ingestion, inhalation and absorption of common household products. Safe cleaning products combine all-natural ingredients and vigorous cleaning action for the ultimate in consumer safety and environmental health.

All-natural, gentle and powerful, safe cleaning products use only citrus-based oils, as well as ingredients from corn and other replenish able materials. They contain no dyes, artificial fragrances, or pesticide residues. Even the packaging and labels are constructed solely from recycled materials by many safe product manufactures.

The news is incredible, a line of environmentally safe cleaning products work like no other cleansers on the market today.

Consumers everywhere, including those at businesses, hospitals and schools are switching to environmentally, safe, effective cleaners to increase health among family members, clients and employees.

5B5

Just how good are these cleaners? The environmentally safe formulas are used exclusively by over 30 National Parks, a few which include Yellowstone, Grant Teton and Yosemite. These safely formulated cleaners were also chosen by the City of Santa Monica after conducting tests for the most effective and environmentally safe cleansers for the city's cleaning needs. Warner Brothers and Fox Studios, the University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ and world-famous resorts have also chosen safe products to clean their facilities. And most recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is testing safe products for use on its fleet of air and water quality testing ships., some companies make these safe products available to you, for use in both your home and your office. It is a powerful, effective and non-toxic alternative to traditional cleaners.

Start protecting your health today!! Don't waste another minute. You owe it to yourself, your family, friends and employees to get the protection that safe and effective products provide. Access to these earth friendly products is so easy and convenient.

Fill your shopping basket with safe products. Get rid of all those harmful products forever and replace them with environmentally safe products!

Ronald Hudkins is a consumer advocate and champions for public s340afety which includes environmentally safe cleaning and personal care products in the home and office environments. To learn more about all natural cleaners visit https://www.ezinfocenter.com/9999222/Department.vstore?id=32

Moroccan Rugs - Interpret your Moroccan Rug and What Magic it May Carry

Weaving is a long running tradition in Morocco. Since very early in its history, Morocco has been making beautiful woven materials. The country is most well-known for its hand-woven, intricately detailed rugs and carpets. Some Moroccans have these tapestries in their home simply for their beauty and function, while others purchase them for their magical powers and ability to ward off the evil eye.

Even the loom used for weaving is the ultimate symbol of magical protection. It is seen by the weaver as a living thing and treated as one. The loom is thought to possess baraka. This term refers to a sense of divine presence, charisma or wisdom that is transmitted from the loom to the weaver.

The oCB6thers tools used by the weaver are also thought to have magical powers. Scissors, weaving combs and knives help to counter the effect of the evil eye. Often the tools have beautifully carved handles and designs to counter the different evils of the world.

Upon its completion, the textile is thought to have taken on all the powers of the tools used. The finished design is considered a woven net giving protection against evil forces.

To determine if your Moroccan rug posses any baraka, you need to look at the materials used and the designs woven into it. For example, wool is considered lucky, so if your rug is made of wool, or has wool in it, then it will bring good luck to your home.

The most frequently used motif is that of Fatimas hand, which is used to ward off the evil eye. This design can be woven in many stylized variations and can include crosses and other geometric shapes.

Crosses are often woven into design at right angles, diagonally or in a linear sequence. Triangle, lozenges, eyes or tattoos may be incorporated with the cross. The cross is believed to have the power first to draw in evil spirits and then disperse them into the six directions of the ancient Moroccan universe, north, south, east, west, above, and below.

Another dominant design used to avert evil from the home is the central red oculus, a type of tree found in the snow capes of the western High Atlas Berbers. Woven with the tree is a lizard, a symbol passed down from the ancient sun cults. Designs made around the lizard, both inside and out, are seen as eyes. The energy that flows from the eyes is represented with curved and wavy lines.

The lizard is also used in many other popular designs. If a woven design includes snakes, lizards, scorpions or turtles, it is believed to bring fertility and protect against adultery.

These are just a few examples of the many, many designs used in Moroccan textiles. When purchasing a Moroccan rug, keep in mind the powers it is believed to possess. Find out what your particular design means and the carpet will not only bring beauty to a room, but also a whole new personality.

Adeal Benhayoun is the owner of Star of Morocco, which specializes in Moroccan rugs and Moroccan lighting. Please visit us, to learn more about

Moroccan bedding ideas.

How to Buy a Safe Backyard Playset

Parents are buying their kids backyard playsets or jungle gyms today more than ever. We know they're good for our kids development and it allows everyone to have fun. However, a lot of parents dont know what to look for in a backyard playset when buying one. This lack of knowledge can even be a hazard to their children if they buy dangerous products.

One of the most important things in buying any kind of playset is safety. You should never buy anything that can fall apart or hurt your child in any way. Check and make sure the screws are going to fit where they go. If a screw point is sticking out it can cut your child or even take out an eye. I know that sounds like it will happen but stranger things occur every day and its best to be prepared.

Another thing to watch for is splinters. Make sure that the wood is cut and sanded correctly so that nothing can hurt your child. Also make sure the wood is treated for rot so that there is no chance it will fall apart for a long time. Buying a wooden playset is an investment for your childs physical growth and happiness and you dont need that investment falling apart in only a few years.

Another thing to look for is accessories and add-ons. Ask yourself if your kid will want things added on at a later date and also if it has enough accessories attached to it now. You dont want to get home and realize that the backyard gym doesn't make everyone happy. The best way to help with this is get backyard swingsets that already have everything attached (rope ladder, fort, slides, slings, etc).

One important thing to look for is value. Shop around and dont just stick with one store. A lot of people cant afford to spend a few thousand dollars on a nice wooden playset. However, most people can spend a few hundred for one, maybe even a used one. A used playset is a very good option if it has been taken care of.

Overall, the main things to look for when shopping for a playset are value, durability, and accessories. One of the best solutions is to take your kids with you when you shop. You can473 then tell them how much to spend and let them pick one out themselves. This means that the kids have pride they picked it out and you have pride that your kids are happy.

Our homes are becoming the castles we dream about. And now, more of us are building the backyard playsets our children need to be safe and have fun at home. Learn more about backyard fun at http://swingsets4kids.info

Designing Your Bathroom Aesthetically

While redecorating your bathroom the way you want, you can wo1C80rk with lots of different ideas. Before you start the designing process, it is of paramount importance that you take into account the style of your own bathroom and be creative with your thinking. A few important styles include traditional, modern, country, southwestern and Victorian styled bathrooms.

You may explore the internet, interior decoration books and magazines and relevant home shows on the television to get ideas for the design and dcor of your own bathroom.

Below, you will find some natural bathroom design ideas that can enhance the overall look of your bathroom.

Natural Lighting

It has been noticed that soft and natural lighting in a bathroom are relaxing in nature. For this reason, there is hardly a surprise that majority of people prefer to install skylights in their bathrooms, that guarantees natural light in their bathroom.

If, for any reason, you are unable to install skylights in the bathroom, you always have a choice of a window to let the sunshine in. But this will only happen when your window is big enough to let the light and air inside the bathroom. You may also go for halogen lights. The best thing about halogen lights is that they give you more natural feel as compared to bulbs and fluorescent lights.

Natural Flooring

Your bathroom floor can also give you a natural feel, provided you are willing to put in some hard work. First and foremost, you have to get rid of vinyl and carpeting. Laminate wood or ceramic tile flooring is a much better option as compared to vinyl and carpeting if you want a natural feel in your bathroom. Secondly, the color of your flooring should be lighter especially if you have dark walls. On the other hand, if you have light walls, it is recommended that your flooring color is dark. If you have no issues in budget, you may opt go for natural stones as your flooring. Travertine and marble look absolutely fantastic in a bathroom.

Natural Walls

There are some people who ignore the significance of bathroom walls while designing their bathroom. This is not wise because bathroom walls can set the whole mood of your bathroom on its own. For example, selecting natural wallpaper for your bathroom not only gives a natural feel to your bathroom dcor but can also change the whole outlook of your bathroom. There are plenty of wallpapers available in the market that resists all of weather conditions.

To design your bathroom aesthetically you not only need expensive and beautiful furnishings, but good selection of materials and resources too. Only natural and balanced furniture that is complemented by proper setting can help you in aesthetically designing your bathroom.

http://www.4BathroomFurniture.com is a complete guide to buying bathroom furniture and decorating it. The site provides reliable information on Contemporary Bathroom Storage Furniture, Bathroom Vanity Furniture, Wicker Bathroom Furniture and more to buy the best product.

Little Giant Ladder System - Upsides and Downsides

You want safety and security. You want strength and stability. And of course you want versatility and a cos1C49t effective ladder. That is why millions around the world have chosen the Little Giant Ladder System. You will be getting everything from a Little Giant Ladder that you expect a ladder to have. Little Giant Ladder has a firm grip and can stand on any uneven surfaces giving full protection to you. The little giant ladder company also provides you with the accessory called little giant ladder leveler to provide improved balance during working on soft or muddy ground.

Safety: On our earth no other ladder is as safe as the Little Giant Ladder. The little giant ladder can be used safely on ramps, stairs, curbs, docks or other uneven surfaces since it is so adjustable. Little Giant Ladder is now available with the 'triple-locking' hinge. In the extended position it is sturdier than ever.

Strength: '6005-T5' grade thick-wall aluminum, which is used in aircraft manufacturing is used for Little Giant ladder. Therefore little giant ladder is light and portable while remaining as ultra-strong. The Little Giant ladder can hold up to 300 pounds of load, but it has been tested for up to '1200 pounds' of tensile strength.

Versatility: The Little Giant Ladder provides you the amount of user-friendly facility that no other ladder can give you. A recently concluded market survey has predicted that in near future two third of the ladder market share will be captured by the magic little giant ladder.

Little Giant Ladder Configurations:-

'A-Frame Ladder': With a simple click of the 'patented hinge', the Little Giant can be used as a traditional 'A-Frame ladder'.

'Staircase Ladder': Little giant is adjustable in one-foot increments, so the Little Giant ladder allows one side of the ladder to be extended allowing safe use on uneven surfaces like staircases, curbs or docks. Provision is made to work against any vertical surface also.

The little giant is a multipurpose ladder. It can be used as extension ladder as well as scaffolding mechanism with the use of little giant work plank.

Find more about Ladders on http://www.LeanderNet.com/Ladders/Little_giant_ladder.php. More useful content on LeanderNet - http://www.LeanderNet.com

Roofing Materials

Roofing materials can vary depending on what your preference. Often tiles, shingles or metal are the best choices for long life and good looks. The best option will depend on the type of roof that you have and the style of your home.

Metal

Metal roofing materials will work well with any type of roof. One of the best things about metal or aluminum roofing is that you can choose from many different colors. This means that you can color coordinate your home to your liking.

Most of the time, metal or aluminum roofing can be fitted on tBB1he roof in sheets, which means the job can be finished quicker. Metal roofing can often be just as expensive as tiles or other roof materials. It has a long life and can prove to be a good investment as the costs of heating and cooling can be reduced drastically.

Metal or aluminum roofs are also treated with a special coating to stop rusting and fading. Metal roofing materials are environmentally friendly and are often made from recycled materials. It is about the cheapest, nicest looking alternative to roofing

Roof Tiling

Roof tiles are very traditional and well known for their ability to withstand bad weather such as wind, hail, fire and rain. They also have a great life expectancy of up to 50 years. There are a few things that make tile roofing a problem with some houses. The main problem is their weight. Tile roofing materials can be very heavy.

Tiles need to be pre drilled and nailed if the roof is steep and may even need to be held in place with metal brackets. This can be very costly. Tile roofs, however, have the longest life expectancy and are often covered by a 50-year warranty, They come in an variety of colors and styles to suit any home.

Roofing Shingles

Roofing shingles are made from cedar wood and are a very environmentally friendly choice. If you are looking for a traditional look for you home, this can be a great option. Care must be taken when choosing the materials for your cedar roof as low quality materials and poor workmanship can cause the life of a roof to be drastically reduced. Life expectancy of a cedar wood shingle roof is around 30 years. It is best to get pressure treated fire resistant shingles. The cost of shingles can be quite high.

When choosing roofing materials for your home you must consider what you like as well as what will fit into your budget. Before buying roofing materials, it is advisable to consult the roofer who will be replacing your roof to find out which materials are the best for your area and weather conditions. Make sure that materials are approved for the housing industry code for your area.

Find out all there is to know about Roofing Materials and Roofing in general at http://roofing.zupatips.com

Home Mold Test Kits

Discount Kitchen Sinks

Finding big discounts on kitchen sinks is now easier than it was before. A number of kitchen stores have already put up information about their products online. Buyers just need to surf the web to find the most attractive discounts.

Part of the online marketing strategy used by manufacturers is to show a picture of the product in its best form and highlight the price discounts they are offering on these products. Apart from this, some manufacturers also offer big discounts on their shipping rates. Some even deliver for free.

However, to really find the best deals, it would be best to consult with kitchen experts. Some of these kitchen experts have online sites where buyers can take a look at their credentials. Contacting them may cost a little, but they can surely guide the buyer in choosing the store that offers the best discounts without compromising quality. This is especially helpful when the kitchen owner is undergoing a full kitchen-remodeling project.

To save more, buyers can consider choosing only discounted components of their kitchen sink. Instead of obtaining a whole new sink, owners can save more by trying to see if there are still reusable components. In doing this, they may want to consult resurfacing professionals that specialize in repairing kitchen sink finishes. They might be helpful in cutting costs, as they can determine which of the kitchen sink parts really need to be replaced. They can also refer the buyer to the best places where they can buy these parts at discounted prices.

Garage sales can also be a source of big discounts for kitchen sinks. Although slightly used, the materials found here can be cheaper than commercialized products by 85%. For instance, a brand new aluminum steel kitchen sink in the U.S., which originally costs $110, can be bought for $30 or less in garage sales.

In any case, buyers should remember that the sink they will choose should naturally match the kitchen where it will be installed.

Kitchen Sinks provides detailed information on Kitchen Sinks, Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks, Copper Kitchen Sinks, Vintage Kitchen Sinks and more. Kitchen Sinks is affiliated with Discount Kitchen Cabinets.

Old Concrete Used To Make Stairs

Roofing Materials

Roofing materials can vary depending on what your preference. Often tiles, shingles or metal are the best choices for long life and good looks. The best option will depend on the type of roof that you have and the style of your home.

Metal

Metal roofing materials will work well with any type of roof. One of the best things about metal or aluminum roofing is that you can choose from many different colors. This means that you can color coordinate your home to your liking.

Most of the time, metal or aluminum roofing can be fitted on tBB1he roof in sheets, which means the job can be finished quicker. Metal roofing can often be just as expensive as tiles or other roof materials. It has a long life and can prove to be a good investment as the costs of heating and cooling can be reduced drastically.

Metal or aluminum roofs are also treated with a special coating to stop rusting and fading. Metal roofing materials are environmentally friendly and are often made from recycled materials. It is about the cheapest, nicest looking alternative to roofing

Roof Tiling

Roof tiles are very traditional and well known for their ability to withstand bad weather such as wind, hail, fire and rain. They also have a great life expectancy of up to 50 years. There are a few things that make tile roofing a problem with some houses. The main problem is their weight. Tile roofing materials can be very heavy.

Tiles need to be pre drilled and nailed if the roof is steep and may even need to be held in place with metal brackets. This can be very costly. Tile roofs, however, have the longest life expectancy and are often covered by a 50-year warranty, They come in an variety of colors and styles to suit any home.

Roofing Shingles

Roofing shingles are made from cedar wood and are a very environmentally friendly choice. If you are looking for a traditional look for you home, this can be a great option. Care must be taken when choosing the materials for your cedar roof as low quality materials and poor workmanship can cause the life of a roof to be drastically reduced. Life expectancy of a cedar wood shingle roof is around 30 years. It is best to get pressure treated fire resistant shingles. The cost of shingles can be quite high.

When choosing roofing materials for your home you must consider what you like as well as what will fit into your budget. Before buying roofing materials, it is advisable to consult the roofer who will be replacing your roof to find out which materials are the best for your area and weather conditions. Make sure that materials are approved for the housing industry code for your area.

Find out all there is to know about Roofing Materials and Roofing in general at http://roofing.zupatips.com

Home Mold Test Kits

Decorative Wall Painting Techniques

Do your walls seem dull and uninviting? Do you long for a cozy, welcoming room? Consider decorative wall painting techniques, such as sponging, ragging, stenciling or stamping. Even if you have no experience, you can brighten even the dullest room quickly and cheaply with one of these easy decorative wall painting techniques.

Before painting your room, pick out a color scheme for your walls. When you chose your paint, remember that many painting techniques use two shades of one color. If you are using one of the techniques that does use two shades of color, you can pick a darker color than you normally would chose for your base color, since the lighter top color will make the final result much lighter.

To sponge or rag a wall, paint on your base color and let it dry thoroughly. Then, dip your sponge or rag into th1692e lighter paint color and sponge or drag the lighter color over the base coat until you are satisfied with the effect. If you are unhappy with your final result, you can repaint any areas that you dont like with the base coat. Once the repainted area is dry, repeat the faux painting technique.

If you are considering using a decorative painting technique such as stenciling or stamping, you may just want to create a wallpaper effect by stamping or stenciling a simple design over your base coat. However, you may want to go a step further with your project and use stencils or stamps to create a faux brick or stone wall. You dont need to be an artist to create one of these faux finishes. Just follow these simple steps. First, paint the walls with the color you chose for the mortar between the bricks or stones. Once the base coat is dry, stamp or stencil your bricks or stones over the base coat. Once the brick or stonework is dry, spatter a bit of the darker color over your faux art to give it depth and make it appear more realistic.

Creating faux effects such as making your walls look like they are made of plaster or suede can also really make your room stand out. You can easily learn how to create these seemingly difficult finishes at your local paint store. Paint bases that automatically give a suede or textured effect to the walls are a shortcut that even artists use to create fun finishes.

Finally, no matter which decorative wall painting technique you choose, remember that it is just a few layers of paint. You can always redo the finish on your walls as you learn more about the art of decorative painting.

This article was provided courtesy PaintSplashes.com where you can find tons of information on faux painting and interior painting ideas and techniques.

Landscaping Stairs Made

Obtaining a Home Improvement Estimate

When you are unsure what a home improvement repair or project will cost because you have never done anything similar before you can ask for a home improvement estimate. Your estimate will be a guide as to what the entire project may cost and is a great way to figure out how many dollars you will need to find to remodel a room.

A home improvement estimate will cost the project based on the dimensions of your room. You will need to be specific about the materials you wish to use and the finished look that you are trying to achieve. Your consultant will inform you of any contractor markups that you may be responsible for and the estimate will take into account regional pricing differences.

These costs come from researchers who compile the material costs by contacting hundreds of lumDBDberyards throughout the United States. The labor costs are compiled by tracking the labor trends and collecting data from professional remodeling contractors who use the pricing service.

When you are obtaining your estimate, the costs are collected from many different regions. These costs are used to determine the price of your project and are specific to your job. This information is combined with knowledge of the area that you live in, all of which assists with your home improvement estimate. The closer they are, the easier it is to get your items.

The price you get during a home improvement estimate is based on the information you provide to the consultant. This is a good indication of what your project will cost, but your actual price may vary. When you decide on a contractor, they will be able to take accurate measurements and flesh out the details you have already received. Other factors can impact the final price of your project as well. Things like access to the work area, unusual terrain, scheduling, seasonal conditions, etc.

Most of the items in your estimate will be quoted at retail price. This is what you would pay if you bought these items from a retail store. This way you get a better idea what the style and quality of the product is you are specifying. Appliances are an excellent example of something you would buy from a retailer. All of these considerations will be taken into account with your home improvement estimate.

If you want to cut down on the cost of your project take a look at the jobs that you can do yourself. There will always be jobs that you can do on your own without having to pay someone else. Find a good home improvement repair book and follow the instructions. Start with smaller jobs like painting and slowly build your handyman proficiency, and this alone can cut the cost of your home improvement by half, if not more.

Timing Your Remodeling Project For A Better Price

Are you looking for materials for a new deck, for example? Try waiting until the fall instead of buying in the spring. As winter approaches there are fewer people putting in decks, which means that you may get your materials more cheaply in October than you can in April. Also, if you can wait for the holiday sales to buy you can often save a lot. Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays are typically good times to buy remodeling materials. With a little attention to the sales you can dramatically reduce your home improvement estimate.

Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains The Home Improvement Website to assist homeowners with home improvement tips and information.

Home Mold Test Kits

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74287

Garage Door Rough Openings

One of the most confusing aspects of homebuilding can be the rough opening for an overhead garage door. It is one of the most frequent questions I am asked.

The rough opening for a garage door, simply put, is the actual size of the door itself. For example, if the garage door is a 7'0" x 16'0", then that is the size the rough opening should be framed to. This is also what the opening in the Foundation should be. The studs and cripples will then stop right at the edge of the Foundation.

The Foundation usually drops 8" to allow the concrete floor to be poured over the top of it. This has to be accounted for when figuring the length of the cripples to get the right height of the overhead door header. Normally the floor is poured 3" below the top of the Foundation wall. If the overhead door is 7' then 4 and 1/2" is subtracted from that height. This is the 3" drop and 1 1/2" for the bottom plate. Your total cripple length would be 6' 7 1/2".

Once the floor is poured, the door jambs can be installed. The width of these jamb pieces vary with the size of the wall and what the wall is finished with (brick, siding, dryvit, etc). The header piece is installed first, then the two side pieces. These go from the header to the finished concrete floor. Once the jambs are in the door can be installed. With the door installed the door stops are then put on either with or without weatherstripping.

If you know the door size of your overhead door, you know the rough opening. From there its determining where to start and stop your framing.

(c) Mike Merisko www.sawkerfs.com

About the Author: Mike Merisko has been a carpenter for 26 years. Most of those years were spent in the homebuilding and remodeling industries. He was also in business as a carpentry and general contractor. While that is his forte, he also has experience in bridge building, commercial construction, and exhibit building which is how he earns his living these days. You can browse through articles by him and others at his website http://www.sawkerfs.com or visit his blog at http://www.sawkerfs.blogspot.com

Stairpictures

Vintage Style Kitchens Have A Charm Of Their Own

Enormous amounts of time and money are spent on fitted kitchens, but why not create a shabby chic or vintage style kitchen that reflects your own personality, and has so much more charm than modern day mass produced chipboard and plastic? An old-fashioned kitchen will become the center of family life, inspiring even the most reluctant cooks to don their aprons and set to work with a will.

Many kitchen utensils are attractive enough to be decorative as well as functional, whether they be genuine vintage or modern retro-style reproductions. Why not consider making a feature of them and allowing them to be seen in all their splendour? Shabby chic means looking around for rough wicker baskets, simple vintage pottery bowls, humble wooden spoons gathered together in an earthenware pitcher, a bowl of fruit waiting to be used - all these have the potential for creating beautiful 1C84still-lifes in the corners of your kitchen. Establish your basic year-round display, then add other elements as the seasons change, perhaps bowls of spring bulbs in April, or a row of pumpkins waiting to be carved as Halloween comes around. Remember too that displays like this don't mean an untidy and inefficient kitchen with lots of clutter, but that having the items you use regularly easily to hand makes the cook's life much easier. Every item should have it's own place and purpose in your vintage style kitchen.

Don't automatically assume that fitted cabinets are the only answer when planning your kitchen. Think about installing an old-fashioned kitchen dresser - a great solution to your storage problems. You can keep rarely used objects hidden away in the bottom half, cutlery and all those odds and ends that you need handy in the drawers, and display your everyday china and utensils on the shelves. If your budget won't run to a dresser, then even inexpensive ready made shelves can be customised to meet your shabby chic desires. You can attach small hooks to the edge or underside of the shelves to hold cups and mugs, and edge the shelves with a pretty fabric or paper border to match the rest of your decor - this is a great way to add colour and interest to a plain surface.

It's worth mentioning colour too - this is a very personal choice, but I think that some colours do work better in a vintage style kitchen than others. As you're trying to emphasise natural, home-grown and home-made produce, then natural colours like greens and browns work well as do soft whites, creams and yellows. Strong, modern colours will look completely out of place in a vintage decorating scheme.

Large expanses of wall painted in a neutral colour do need to be broken up. Soft watercolour paintings can look great on such walls. If you don't feel up to, or don't want to paint your own, then there are plenty of lovely images out there. Postcards can also be mounted and framed in groups for a great display at very little expense. Don't overdo it though, a little goes a long way and quality in this instance is definitely worth more than quality. You could always commission a personalised print from DevonBear Designs, sure to be a talking point in any kitchen scheme.

Helen Dickson is the owner of DevonBear Designs. She designs and makes a small range of really practical - and pretty - textile items and stationery all inspired by the wonderful coast and countryside of South Devon, England. Helen is a talented watercolour artist and all DevonBear Designs products feature one of her images. Visit her site at http://www.devonbeardesigns.com

Curved Stairs

Wood Furniture

There is a large selection of oaks, pines and hardwoods to construct furniture out of, and with the addition of hybrids and other genetically engineered lumber, it is getting harder to determine what type of wood your furniture is made out of. This article will give you clues on how to determine what type of furniture you prefer and what wood is best for certain types of furniture units.

Mahogany

The classic-designed Greene & Greene furniture is usually constructed from solid mahogany. This type of wood usually has a straight grain and bears a reddish-brown color that darkens over time. Mahogany is very durable and is many times used in the construction of boats; it is also among the most expensive types of wood. There is one type of mahogany that is of inferior quality known as Philippine mahogany; this wood is inexpensive, soft, and not very durable. The only acceptable form of this wood would be when it is used as a top, decorative layer on plywood.

White Oak

Authentic Mission style furniture is constructed from solid quarter sawn White Oak. White Oak is known as being "barrel tight" because of the fiber that grows within the tree that makes it strong enough to prevent leaking (for example) through a barrel. Other reliable solid oak includes Siberian oak and American Red Oak. The unique specks that make quarter sawn oak so valuable are actually protein that run perpendicular to growth rings on a lumber log. This protein makes the wood stronger as well as gives it a distinctive aesthetic. The most productive craftsmen, the Amish, hand pick the lumber to go into a unit and the parts that are left over are many times used for drawer sides.

Cedar

Most recently, however, drawers are constructed from aromatic cedar, which has its benefits. Cedar repels moths and is aesthetically beautiful besides the fresh smell it leaves behind. After years of use however, cedar is known to oxidize and the smell wears off but can be revitalized by sanding the cedar. Nevertheless for the most durable drawers, hardwood construction is the best.

Hardwood

While you can get the most use from furniture with solid tops because they will last longer and can absorb finishes easier, hardwood constructed furniture or furniture with veneer tops can visually take on any style because they are available in a variety of stains, particularly darker ones. For example, the Barn Furniture Mart offers birch, cherry, and maple, both hardwoods in cappuccino and cherry finishes. Hardwoods come from trees that are available all year long.

While many people think softwood is the complete opposite of hardwood, there are many overlapping characteristics. Hardwood is generally harder than softwood, but many are actually softer than softwood. Balsa is a type of hardwood that's actually softer than pine and there's yew that's an example of a hard softwood. Softwood comes from trees that are conifers (needle-bearing) and include pine, cedar, and spruce.

Pine

Pine is a beautiful softwood known mostly for its attractive knots, but knots are actually signs of weakness in the wood. Nevertheless, a pine knot is stronger than a knot in oak furniture, which would probably fall out. To make sure the knot in your furniture isn't going to eventually fall out, a good test is to scratch around the edge of it. Pine is perfect for achieving a rustic look in your home, and it's usually the knots that add to its beauty but recently pine farmers are growing pine without knots. These genetically engineered trees are being farmed to grow fast and to grow without low branches (because that is where the knots co5B4me from.)

Rubberwood

Rubberwood was discovered during the 16th century in Brazil however tree farms were started in Thailand and China. The sap from the tree has been used for many things from tires to condoms. Rubberwood features a nice grain and is widely used in to the furniture from Vietnam, Thailand and China. This type of wood is farmed, therefore is renewable and is durable. Its quality is comparable to oak as it is stronger than some hardwoods.

Plywood

Plywood is often used in modern furniture as well. It is a panel made up of multiple layers sometimes including particle wood and solid wood. The layers are not very thick, only about a few millimeters and they are layered in different directions to make it stronger. Plywood is also very good as sides on a drawer because of its sturdiness and is usually pretty inexpensive.

Veneers

Lastly, although usually frowned upon, veneer is not as bad as it is made out to be. It is great for pieces that won't get much use and can be very good-looking. Many times what causes veneer to be of poor quality is the construction of it. It is recommended to purchase furniture that does not require assembly. If you notice that the furniture is constructed of veneer and only features that decorative layer of veneer on one side, be prepared to not have that piece for very long. When moisture is absorbed by wood unevenly on one side only, it will4D0 swell and the board will warp. Even solid wood needs to be finished on both sides to prevent warping.

If you're interested in viewing beautiful dining furniture, bedroom furniture and home office furniture in various styles such Mission style, Traditional and Amish furniture. Barn Furniture has specialized in oak furniture and wood furniture for over 60 years!

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Making Improvements to Your Bathroom

Although the bathroom is probably the smallest room in your home, the room probably is scrutinized the most. This may be bDF7ecause it's so small and when people are in this room, they are usually "looking around". Many women like to make have bathroom improvement ideas that they like to implement at least every three years. These improvement ideas may be a total renovations with blueprint plans or simply a new medicine cabinet or vanity. This is the second-most used room in your home, but sometimes all it needs is a new throw rug or matching towels to give it an entire new look.

While more time is spent in the kitchen, the bathroom is frequented many times in a day by many people. You will want the room to look cheerful, friendly, and clean. Many online sites have professionals willing to give advice on how to make your bathroom family friendly. This may include a hamper for everyone or his and her sinks or individual personalized trays in the drawers.

The one thing that every family feels there is not enough of is space, especially for storage. If you're renovating or remodeling your bathroom, this is the perfect time to make those little additions or changes you've always talked about. There is usually something behind every wall, but in some cases, it may just be unused space or a closet from a bedroom that's located on the other side of the wall. If and extra bedroom is on the other side and you can spare some space from the closet, you can use the space to have a built-in shelves in your bathroom. These shelves can be used for extra towels or miscellaneous personal hygiene items.

The bathroom is a room that is used by everyone in the family, so don't be afraid to get everyone's input when remodeling or renovating. Keep cleaning in mind as you make your plans. Be sure to get flooring and walls that are easy to keep clean. While tiles look great for floors, they are sometimes more difficult to clean then linoleum.

Another thing to keep in mind is electrical outlets. While you may not think you use a lot of electricity in the bathroom, keep in mind blow dryers, curling irons and electric shavers. Make sure your circuit breakers are large enough to carry the load as well. While you're thinking of electricity, give lighting some real consideration. Remodeling your bathroom gives you the chance to put in some stylish new light fixtures that not only look great, but also provide a lot of light. You'll be glad you did when you're shaving or putting on makeup.

Focusing on the topic of how to use a compressor, the author publishes primarily for http://www.insidewoodworking.com . You might see his comments on finding a good air compressor over at http://www.insidewoodworking.com/compressors/index.html and different sources for finding a good air compressor tips.

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Building Log Book Requirements - Part 2

For the majority of buildings the Log Book should comprise of fifteen sections, containing information as indicated below. This part contains Sections 1 to 6.

Section 1. Updates and Annual Reviews

This Section has a table to record the updates and reviews made to the building and its systems during its lifetime. The log book should be reviewed annually as part of the organisations quality assurance system and an entry should be made for each review. Where the log book has been updated then the changed pages should be recorded.

Section 2 Purpose and Responsibilities

This Section contains statements of purpose, the log book author contact details, the facilities manager contact details and a statement of the facilities managers responsibilities.

Section 3 Links to other Key Documents

This Section should contain the location of other key documents such as the emergency procedures, health & safety file master index, hazard register, O&M Manuals, maintenance schedules, asset register, BMS Manual, record drawings and equipment log books such as the boiler log book.

Section 4 Main Contacts

This Section should contain all of the major construction participants both design and build, along with the primary emergency contacts and those for the electrical and gas supplies.

These should include the architect, services engineers, planning supervisor, main contractor, services contractors, commissioning engineers, O&M Manual and Building Log Book authors, facilities managers and maintenance contractors.

Section 5 Commissioning, Handover and Compliance

Section 5 should contain information relating to the commissioning and handover of the building to the occupiers.

It should contain a summary of the arrangements for the commissioning who carried it out, when and what procedures and codes were followed, such as Codes A, B, C, L, M, R and W.

The commissioning results should be summarised for each system.

Air Infiltration and Insulation Continuity results should be included here.

The commissioning manager should be identified here.

Dates for Handover, end of Defects Liability should be included.

A list of documents provided at Handover should be provided here.

Section 6 Overall Building Design

This Section is a major part of the Log Book. It should contain:

• a general description of the building usually provided by the architect.
• the clients design requirements normally provided by the services designers.
• the conceptual design provided by both the architect and the services designers.
• a diagram representing the fundamental features of the building systems design usually developed by the log book author.
• any special design features provided by the architect and/or services designers.
• the carbon emission design assessment by the services designers.
• key interactions between the building and its systems and between the various systems to be provided by the architect and services designers.
• the benefits and limitations of the designs provided by both the architect and the services designers.
• key does and donts what should the occupiers do to make efficient use of their building and systems and what they should not do. Often common sense but the services designers should make sure these contain relevant items.

This article is produced by Tony Dolling, Director of

Krisco Technical Publications Ltd. Krisco are Technical Authors specilizing in the construction industry. They produce Building Log Books, Health & Safety Files, Operation & Maintenance Manuals and Tenants Manuals.

Tel. - +448 700 343 550
Fax. - +448 700 343 551
Email - sales@tm31.co.uk
Web - http://www.tm31.co.uk

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List Building - List Building Opt In Page Optimization

When building your list, you need to optimize your opt in page. This means paying a professional to do your headers and graphics. This also means paying a professional to do your bullet points.

The best converting opt in pages are the ones that use five or six bullet points that list in detail the benefits of what the customer will be receiving after opting in to your list.

These can simply be the features of your product arranged in a form that creates a picture of the customer using your product and how they will benefit from its use.

The headline on the opt in page needs to be large size, in color and in bold. It also needs to take up a large portion of the top of the page.

It needs to be an attention grabber and create the impulse to opt in quickly. The copy on the opt in page needs to create a sense of urgency that will encourage your visitor to opt in immediately in order to satisfy their curiosity and to benefit ultimately from the value that you are providing them.

Avoid using distracting copy but keep it simple and something that will allow the eyes to naturally flow to the opt in web form box and opt in.

Also be sure to include the disclaimer on the webform that their information is privately used and not shared with any other party.

This will increase opt in subscriber conversions simply because you are establishing trust. Using audio and video has been proven in case studies to increase the number of people who subscribe on an opt in page.

Both of these media can be used very inexpesively if not free and so they are highly recommended ways to immediately increase your subscribers conversion rate.

It may take a little effort and time, but the rewards will be lasting and well worth it.

The increase in perceived value will mean an increase in customer spending.

Download My Free Report: "How To Quickly And Easily Build An Opt In List Of Hyper Responsive Subscribers Who Are Willing To Spend Money With You Right Now!"

http://nocostlistbuilding.com/lbr-report.htm

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Building Muscle

Are you trying to add lean muscle mass? Confused by all of the muscle building systems out there? Which system will work the best for you? There is High Intensity, Heavy Duty, Power Partials, Static Contractions, X-Reps, X-Size (different from X-Reps), High Volume, Pyramid, Twenty Rep Squats, Central Nervous System(CNS), my own Quick Hammer Routine, and many, many more to choose from. So, which one should you try? Why not take the best points out of each system and use them all? Obviously, you cannot do some of each of these systems, each and every workout.

What I like to do is take my basic, high intensity routine and add something to the end of the set. Although I really don't use high volume, and I only occasionally play around with X-Size, I like to use parts of these other systems on a regular basis. Again, I start with a normal high intensity routine where I might do one set of one to three exercises for a bodypart. I will then add one, or a combination of more than one of some of these other rep styles to my set. For instance, if I am doing bent rowing, I do as many normal repetitions with a heavy weight as I can.

One I reach failure, I will do as many partials as I can. If this has not completely wiped me out, I will throw in a static hold, or an X-Rep for 5-10 seconds at the end. Static holds are like an Isometric rep. You hold the weight in a contracted position for a few seconds. An X-Rep is much like a Static Rep, except you kind of pulsate the weight as if your contracted muscles are vibrating. Again, I will do one of these reps for about 5-10 seconds. I cannot tell you which of these two hold reps work's best, but they both really do work.

Now, if I am doing the benchpress, I prefer Pyramids over a single set. I feel much safer going up fifty pounds each set to get my mind and my muscles prepared for the heavy benchpress. At the end of my heavy set, I will do a Static Rep for around 10 seconds to really push the pecs. Squats are a bit different because I have a really bad right knee. The only way I will do a Full squat is with a very light weight while warming up. When I start going heavy, I do Only Power Partials.

Again, like the benchpress, I prefer to Pyramid the weight up to get my body ready for the heavy weight. I also rarely do less than twenty reps on squats. Even if I am doing 400lbs, I will do 20 reps. It is amazing about the legs, but no matter how hard you push them, they seem to always finish the set! At the end of the set, I will do a Static Hold for 10-15 seconds. I do Static Holds, or X-Reps on pretty much all of my other exercises including Curls and Triceps Dips.

I purchased Pete Sisco's CNS Workout last year and I will use it from time to time. The idea behind it is to hammer the body in a quick, high intensity way to get a massive response from your central nervous system. I don't use it regularly, but it is a very good system and I use it when I think the time is right. Another routine I like is my Quick Hammer Routine. It is ideal for people who want to build mass, but are very short on time. It work's the major muscles of the body in a brief, ten minute workout. In this case, you pick one exercise for the chest, back and legs. You do the three exercises one after the other in circuit training style, with the exception that you are using heavy weights and lower reps. you perform three cycles of the exercises, wit about a minutes rest between cycles.

If you are going to use this routine for an extended period of time, you can throw in some crunches for the abs. I like doing the routine with dips, bent rows and squats, but you can also use benchpress, chins and leg presses, or any other combination you choose. You just need to make sure you are using compound exercises so you are hitting the other muscles along with your legs, back and chest.

Another thing I will do to add strength, is to do two or three weeks of Static Contraction workouts from time to time. Instead of doing the Static Holds at the end of your set with a weight that you can do a normal repetition with, you use a weight which is actually too heavy for you to perform a full rep with. You really need a power rack or smith machine for these, as you are handling extremely heavy weights and I would not like to depend on someone else to keep this weight off of me. Let's use the benchpress for our example. You set the bar about four to six inches from full extension.

Now, load the weight on the bar. I mean, really load the weight on the bar! I can bench about 330lbs, but at the end of my last Static Contraction cycle, I was doing a ten second static hold with 450lbs! The theory is that you can handle much more weight when you lift in your strongest range of motion. When you lift such an incredibly heavy weight in this range, you incorporate so many more muscle fibres, spurring rapid growth and strength gains. I can personally vouch for the strength gains. I do not have the patience to stick with this system long enough to test the mass gains. I change routines on a regular basis to avoid going stale. The routine I use most of the time is something I picked up from Dorians Yates book, "Blood and Guts", and made my own adjustments to it. I work chest and triceps in one workout, back and biceps in workout two, then Legs and shoulders in workout three.

I will perform crunches every other workout. I work each muscle a maximum of once per week, with the obvious exception of abdominals which get worked one or two times per week.

On Chest day, I pyramid the benchpress for my chest, then perform a hard set of parallel triceps dips to finish off my triceps. On back day, I do a set of deadlifts, a set of bent rowing after a lighter warm-up set, a set of chins and a set of barbell curls.

On leg day, I pyramid squats, usually performing twenty rep sets, a set of military presses and a set of dumbell side laterals.

This routine seem's to work the very best for me. You should experiment to find what work's the best for yourself.

For diet and nutrition, I like a diet that is simple enough for you to stick to for life. If it is too restrictive, you will fall off the wagon and usually go nuts on everything until you have gained back everything you lost and more! Restrictive diets also eat up alot of your valuable lean muscle tissue. What then happen's, is you start out weighing 200lbs with around a 23% bodyfat percentage. When you fall off of your diet, you have catabolized muscle mass with the fat you lost, so when you balloon back up to 200lbs, your bodyfat percentage is now around 26% or more. Now you weigh the same as you did before the diet, but you look worse! Eat smart, train and rest.

I don't recommend low carb diets unless you have alot of weight to lose. Then, I would use it in stages to break away at the fat a bit at a time, while cycling back to a more normal diet of complex carbs, protein and essential fats. Be sure to get a good protein/ carb meal or shake immediately after your training to quickly replenish your muscle protein and energy. Eat five or six small meals per day to get the most nutrients from the food, while storing less of the calories as fat.

Rest is very important for muscle growth. Your muscles do not grow while you are training. They grow while you are at rest. So if you have been training and eating well, and you are not making decent gains, you may not be getting enough rest to allow full recovery of your muscles.

I am a fitness consultant in St. Louis, Mo. I answer training questions via my website at: http://dan4fitness.com

Truck Damage To Roof

Precast Concrete Walls Are A Good Option

Precast concrete walls have been used for decades in commercial building. They are now becoming increasingly popular for use in residential projects. They offer a range of advantages over traditional poured concrete walls. Precast concrete walls offer greater construction design flexibility and offer shorter construction times than poured walls.

One of the biggest problems builders are presented with when constructing concrete walls is creating a level surface and pouring even, square walls. An easy solution to this is buying precast walls, which are poured in a factory and then delivered to the construction site to be assembled, which severely reduces the build time normally required.

Inside many precast concrete walls is a core containing insulation, which makes the walls more energy efficient for your home or other structure. Additional insulation can be introduced through holes in the wall after the wiring, pipes and other needs are filled, which will lead to longterm saving for the owner and less harm to the planet.

The rods of steel used to reinforce concrete walls is another difference between poured and precast concrete walls. A poured wall can only have horizontal rods, but precast walls can have vertical rods as well. While horizontal rods are good for stabilizing a structure against shifting ground, vertical rods can also help stabilize a wall against pressure from the sides of the wall. Most residential homes have basements, with soil against the walls of those basements, which greatly increases the need for vertical rods to keep the wall strong- thus favoring precast walls with vertical rods.

Many homeowners are also using precast concrete for their fencing needs. A concrete fence will not rot or warp like a wood fence will. Termites cannot effect concrete, and neither can the weather. Precast concrete fencing requires little work to install. Walls can be cast in a variety of textures and finishes, creating a stunning fence for any area.

In respect of certain features, both the precast and poured concrete walls are similar. Yet, one has to immediately repair any cracks in precast concrete walls, as it could result in moisture getting through inside your home, making the room air damp.

Menlo (aka The Fence Guy) has worked with the leader in concrete fence walls and high quality fences to assure the on-time execution of your landscape project. Since 1982, a variety of fence brands - Woodcrete, Brickcrete, Fencestone, Cedarcrete and Woodcrete Rail,- have become widely accepted by architects, landscape designers, engineers, residential, commercial and industrial developers, utility companies, government agencies, and others in the construction industry.

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American Indians and Plants in the Great Basin of North America - An Ancient Relationship

Originally, many scholars viewed the possibility of this ancient relationship with some skepticism, primarily because of the early anthropological work of Julian Steward, and the overall general unfamiliarity with the Great Basin environment. Rather than according the American Indians of the Great Basin the knowledge and cultural sophistication they deserved for sustainably and symbiotically living in their homeland, scholars hypothesized that indigenous Great Basin peoples were:

1) the least developed in terms of cultural sophistication and complexity,
2) had only recently migrated into the Great Basin from more resource rich areas, and
3) had little or no knowledge of Great Basin ecology. Therefore,
4) they were a dying cultural group that required little or no consultation in contemporary Great Basin resource issues.

As researchers began to actually work with Great Basin peoples, and slowly learned the epistemic value of their traditional ecological knowledge, a very different understanding has emerged. It became apparent that the Paiute, Shoshone, and other indigenous people of the Great Basin have been in their traditional homelands for thousands of years, and that their traditional lifeways and the general Great Basin ecosystem were only recently disrupted by Euroamerican colonial processes. Further, it became clear as more research was conducted that an ancient relationship between American Indians and plants in the Great Basin existed, and that knowledge from such a relationship could offer insights into restoring the Great Basin ecosystem and other natural resources problems currently at issue.

The Great Basin is a region encompassing more than 115,800 square miles between the Sierra Nevada of California in the west and the Wasatch Range of Utah in the east. The region is bounded to the north by the lower Snake River plain in Idaho and to the south by the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. Composed of a series of large, internally draining basins in which seasonal lacustrine marshes and lakes form, the Great Basin has historically provided a rich variety of resources that American Indians have relied upon for 10,000 years or more. Furthermore, these seasonally dry and sparsely vegetated basins are geographically divided by a series of north to south mountain ranges that historically provided resources in a seasonal cycle from the basin floor to the upper mountain slopes. As a result of this geography, perennial mountain streams form each spring that historically provided a number of riverine based floral resources. By knowing the environment, weather, and geography of the Great Basin, American Indians could successfully find plant resources at all times of the year. Evidence for this ancient and symbiotic relationship comes primarily from archaeological and ethnographic data, although biological data also supports these conclusions.

The archaeological evidence, which has become more refined and extensive since the time of early theories discussing American Indians of the Great Basin, argues that American Indians and plants of the Great Basin have shared an 8,000 year or longer relationship. In the eastern Great Basin, for example, the earliest evidence of people in the area comes from sites located along prehistoric lakeshores in the basin floors where people subsisted largely on seasonally available lacustrine resources. Later, evidence indicates that Great Basin peoples began to also utilize upland regions that were situated in the pion-juniper ecozones, allowing access to sage and grass communities as well as higher montane resources. Faunal and floral macrofossils, coupled with pollen analyses from across the Great Basin, further evidences a dependence on wetland food resources augmented with small seeds from dryland plants beginning in the early Holocene (9600-7000 years ago) and continuing into the ethnographic period. Although other resources apparently fluctuated over time in the diets of Great Basin peoples, plant-based resources remained constant.

Not only was plant-life exploited for subsistence purposes, but peoples of the Great Basin also used floral resources in the construction of shelters, mats, clothing, and especially baskets. The exploitation of plant-life in the construction of baskets was so important, in fact, that it has been possible to identify at least three distinct basketry manufacturing regions. Each region had special characteristics that delineated it from other basketry manufacturing styles, such as in the northern Great Basin where at least 13 different basket wall-construction techniques have been identified over time. These include at least six different coiling techniques and seven basic twining methods such as close simple twining, close diagonal twining, and open simple twining.

Beginning in the 1800s, however, contact with Euroamericans and their cultural products (i.e., diseases, material goods, weapons, horses, etc.) resulted in a disruption of the millennia old relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin. This disruption was rapid and severe, as thousands of Euroamericans entered the Great Basin to begin agricultural, industrial, or resource extraction endeavors. These processes and events, such as the now famous Comstock mining explosion, or the development of the Newlands project near present-day Reno, or the massive cattle and sheep ranching operations that took place in the early and middle twentieth century, completely disrupted the ancient symbiotic relationship between American Indians and plants in the Great Basin.

These colonizing processes of the 1800s radically changed the ecology of the Great Basin. The seasonal marshes and lacustrine resources were either trampled, drained, or consumed. Large areas were transformed into agricultural fields that produced non-indigenous agricultural products. Giant mines and their waste transformed entire mountains and watersheds, polluting the land and making it impossible for the native plants to grow. As a result of these and many other processes, the relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin has been seriously tested. Unable to access traditional resources and areas, much of this relationship has been maintained through oral traditions, ceremonial and religious practices, and in the minds and hearts of tribal elders. Today, however, there may be hope for reinvigorating this ancient relationship once again.

Great Basin peoples are beginning to establish cultural programs that teach their youth ancient cultural values and knowledge. Environmentalists and resource managers are attempting to clean up mines and restore watersheds, and applied and action-oriented social scientists are advocating for the inclusion of Great Basin peoples voices in resource issues. Together these processes bring hope to a formally bleak picture. By working together, it is possible to once again allow this relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin to flourish. Through communication, consultation, and collaboration this relationship can not only flourish, but it can be strengthened by the addition of all voices involved.

My name is Peter N. Jones, Ph.D. I am a social scientists with the Bauu Institute in Boulder, Colorado where I work on environmental, psychological, and social science issues. I have written numerous articles and two books: Respect for the Ancestors: American Indian Cultural Affiliation in the American West and American Indian mtDNA, Y Chromosome Genetic Data, and the Peopling of North America. I am also author of Indigenous Issues Today a syndicated news blog.

Concrete Garage Stem Wall Corner