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Just like their human companions, dogs and cats enjoy the carefree and playful summer months. During the days when the temperature and humidity soar, you need to take special care to keep your pets safe and comfortable. Due to their limited ability to keep cool, pets can become overheated quickly. Overheating can result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death. The following tips will aid in keeping your beloved companions happy and healthy throughout the summer months and help them “keep their cool” as the mercury rises. Never leave pets in a parked car in summer, even with windows...

Victory gardens have often been popular in times of adversity, whether it is wartime, economic depressions, or other strenuous periods. Most common during World War I and World War II, these at-home plots have served many purposes, and they can be just as helpful during the coronavirus pandemic. What Is a Victory Garden? There are no hard-and-fast rules about the size or style of a victory garden, or what it must grow. Different gardens may yield different harvests of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Initially, wartime victory gardens were promoted to help supplement rations, promote patriotism, and boost morale with...

As daylight lengthens and temperatures warm, gardeners are always eager to get right into spring planting. If you look past the first flush of spring, however, you can take easy steps early in the season to give your garden a great summer. 10 Spring Steps for a Great Summer Garden It doesn’t matter how large your garden may be, whether you plant in containers, raised beds, small plots, or longer rows, or whether you grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, or herbs. These simple steps can help you prepare your garden in spring so the summer growing season will be easier, healthier,...

Spring is the busiest season of all on the farm, and understanding spring farm tasks is the first step in being ready to tackle each one for a productive and prosperous season. In spring… Snow melts and fields and roads flood.Moisture is essential for seeds to sprout and crops to grow, but the deluge of moisture in spring can wash out roads and flood fields. Inspecting roads and pathways for appropriate drainage is essential, and livestock should be examined so they do not suffer from moisture-related food trouble. Weather warms and animals are turned outside.After a long winter indoors, livestock...

Whether you have just a few chickens or a large, widely varied flock, a happy, healthy flock will be better socialized and will be more productive layers. Fortunately, happy and healthy go together and it is easy to keep chickens in superb condition with just a few easy steps. Provide Appropriate Space Chickens need adequate space both in the coop and in an outdoor run to be happy and healthy. The space should include plenty of roosting perches as well as shelter from winter winds and shade from summer sun as needed. An overcrowded space will be messier and can...