Gardeing For Kids

If you ask adult gardeners when they start learning 'gardening', their answer in most cased would be "from their childhood as a hobby". We should encourage kids to be involved in this healthy activity as this the perfect age to start this amazing hobby. Contact with the natural world can be wonderfully nurturing for children, as they make connections with natural environment, learn about the cyclic nature of the seasons, and begin to find out more about where their food comes from.



Plants have the power to change our lives. They enable the simple and therapeutic pleasure of working in one’s own garden. They play a basic role in providing clean air and serve as a nutritious basis for healthy living. And they are uniquely effective teaching tools.

The satisfying experiences of planting, cultivating, and harvesting fruits and vegetables creates a lifelong appreciation for healthy living. Gardens are a microcosm of the environment. Landscaping with water, native plants, and habitat-friendly gardens is a portal for understanding concepts and issues in environmental education both at home and at school.

This post offers reviews of useful links/sites which can guide you in this connection:

* The Kids Garden

TheKidsGarden was formed to offer a unique reference point on creative gardening for children, providing interesting features and practical advice on this subject.

"This site introduces your child to the wonders of nature through gardening. With a range of scents and colours, your kids can create a place of discovery."
There are about 70 articles which are written by professional journalists and experts - who have a particular interest, or a background in this area.

Link: TheKidsGarden.co.uk - creative gardening for children

* Kids Gardening

The National Gardening Association (NGA), founded in 1973, is a nonprofit leader in plant-based education. For more than 30 years, NGA has been working to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment through
gardening.
About (In their own words)
'We serve a national audience with timely materials designed to foster an appreciation for the benefits of gardening.
Our programs and initiatives highlight the opportunities for plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the country. We serve as a bridge to connect people to gardening in five core fields: plant-based education, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, community development, and responsible home gardening.'

Link: Kids gardening.org

* Gardening With Kids
Helps parents to teach the kids about gardening.
Link: Gardening with kids

* Composting for Kids
It is an interactive site for kids. Simple slide presentation is very interesting and informative for young kids.
Link: Composting for Kids

* My First Garden
'University of Illinois extention' offers this site for kids. This website is meant for 4th grade students to learn about the beauty of gardens, and the care involved in planning, nurturing and enjoying the benefits of gardening in a variety of spaces and places. Kids can find gardening fundamentals, basics, and planning of gardening.

Link: My first garden

* Kids Valley Garden
A gardening resource for kids, where you can get all the necessary information about caring, herbs, flowers, shrubs, plants, vegetables, and glossary of gardening terms.
Link: Kids valley garden

Americans consistently rank gardening as a favorite hobby.

Online Travel Scams

Travel scams are the second most reported fraud after online auctions. As online shopping habits have become a part of our lives due to comfort and time saving, we tend to search for online travel agents. But it really pains when you are deceived by travel agent or online sites, because holidays are the times when you plan to relax and spend some time outside your city or country. This article would become very lengthy if I quote many travel frauds and scams around us, so at the bottom of the post you can see related studies which can further help us learn about it.

According to the National Fraud Information Center, the average loss due to fraud in 2004 was $803 per incident.
According to a post at 'msnbc.msn.com' 5 top travel scams are:

1. Discount travel clubs:
If your travel club is asking for more than a few dollars for membership, they are probably scamming you. They will offer a discounted menu of trips only available to members.
For this membership, you get the privilege of booking the trip, probably a substandard product and a newsletter. They get your money plus the commission paid by the travel supplier.

2. Become a travel agent
Once you pay a fee to a company, it will issue “credentials” allowing you access to travel agent freebies and discounts and commissions on selling travel.

3. Deceptive pricing

Look at any major airline ad and you will see their too good to be true fares. Be sure you read all of the fine print before you hand over the credit card or click on the “buy” button.

4. Timeshares
Most timeshare offers are made while you are already on vacation and your guard is down, but many are from contest entry forms where you fill out a form while waiting for your Chinese take-out. Very simply, never agree to a meeting or a presentation. Ask that any information be sent to you.

5. Out of business

'Think glink' describes most common travel scams in detail:

Travel scam #1:
The fax comes in and it sounds too good to be true – a trip to Mexico or Florida including airfare, hotel and transfers for only $99, $199, or perhaps $299 per person. What happens when you call to book the trip? Nothing will be available on the dates you want at the magic price point. But for another $400 or more, you can get the hotel you want, the dates you want – well, you get the picture.

Watch out for: extra fees, upgrade charges, sales pressure tactics

Travel scam #2:
Free vacation to Florida or Arizona
The kicker behind these so-called “free” vacations is a tough sales presentation for timeshares. The worst part about timeshares is they are virtually impossible to get rid of once you buy one. So you’re stuck paying the maintenance fee forever.

Watch out for: timeshare sales presentation

Travel scam #3:
Discount travel clubs
An honest travel club will be started by someone with loads of experience in the travel industry. The dishonest ones are run by companies out to make a fast buck but aren’t offering anything real for the cash.

The concept behind a travel club is that you pay a few dollars, get a newsletter, and then get the opportunity to sign up for unique trips or specially discounted trips. But if your travel club is asking for more than a few bucks, it could be a scam.

Watch out for: huge “initiation” fees, overpriced or substandard trips, and newsletter. No real deals here.

Travel scam #4:
Identity theft

Unfortunately, identity theft has touched us all. So far in 2005, nearly 50 million people have had their personal information compromised. Now, complaints are rising about identity theft stemming from things we do while on vacation or traveling for business.

Hotel rooms seem to be the focus of some complaints. Take care not to leave any personal information lying around your hotel room, whether it is receipts, credit cards or passports, personal computers (unless they are heavily password protected), or other detailed information. Use the hotel room safe. If your room doesn’t have a safe, ask the hotel if it provides one elsewhere.

Watch out for: don’t leave personal information lying around; use hotel safe in room; password protect computer;

According to the U.S. Department of Consumer Affairs, there are some ways to protect yourself:

- Beware of travel companies that misrepresent information about booking and travel costs.
- Remember the old maxim: if it sounds too good to be true – it is.
- Wherever you are, don’t let anyone take your credit card out of your sight, not even for a minute. The latest rage in Europe is a credit card machine that can be brought to your table.
- Make sure you ask for, and read, all travel brochures, flyers, and any printed information about a package trip before you sign on the dotted line.
- Do all the background research you can. The Internet will be especially helpful in looking for people who have had poor experiences and are vocal about it.
Make sure you check out the travel company at Better Business Bureau www.bbbonline.org.
- If someone is pressuring you, or tells you you’ll “lose the trip if you don’t act now,” hang up.
- If someone calls you on the phone and tells you about a special deal too good to pass up, take 10 seconds and think about why the salesperson on the phone isn’t offering the deal to his or her mother.
- Make sure you receive paperwork that includes the “final” or “total” price of a deal or package. Keep all of your paperwork until you’re back from the trip, safe and sound.

You can get more information at the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov/

More studies:

* Travel frauds

* A post from 'Scam Busters.org3 big travel scams

* Online travel scams

* The 13 best travel scams

Benefits of Gardening

During primary and high school level, we were usually asked to write essays on some typical topics like 'my favourite hobby', 'my school' or 'my favorite hobby' etc and 'gardening' was a common topic among them. So benefits of gardening are known to many of us for years. Being a nature lover I always liked observing nature and gardening is no doubt an ideal activity to go close to nature.

This post helps you learn benefits of gardening which you may know before or may be not.

Steve Upson, horticulturist for the Ardmore-based Noble Foundation says, 'The older I get, the more aware I become of the importance of physical activity in maintaining my health," Upson said. "Numerous studies show that regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature death, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, adult-onset diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and certain types of cancer."

Gardening contributes to physical health, since activities such as digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting are all part of three types of physical activity: endurance, flexibility, and strength.

"Gardening is a labor of love. Exercise is just plain labor," Upson observed. "Human nature suggests that you're going to do something you love much more frequently than something you don’t love. Given the choice between a treadmill and gardening, I'll take the garden anytime."

The benefits of gardening are not all in the body; they're also in the mind. Tending your garden is a real stress buster, helping relieve feelings of anxiety and providing a break from the general rush of life. Because the work involved is mainly physical, gardeners have a chance to think about their concerns, meditate, or just spend a few hours daydreaming. They can also feel a sense of accomplishment in a job well done.

"While I'm gardening, I'm thinking not so much about the health benefits as I am about consuming some great-tasting food," Upson noted. "The thought of feasting on fresh roasted sweet corn, a vine ripe tomato, or a cold slice of melon is what really motivates me. Is this quality of life or what!"

Scientists have built a strong body of evidence that shows that fruits and vegetables promote general good health and may protect against heart disease and several types of cancer. Besides being low in calories and fat, fruits and vegetables contain many essential vitamins and minerals.

They also contain substances referred to as phytochemicals, which are usually related to plant pigments. Yellow, orange, red, green, and purple colored fruits and vegetables generally contain the most phytochemicals. More than 900 different phytochemicals have been found in plant foods, and more will likely be discovered. Phytochemicals work in concert with other nutrients to protect against disease. Supplements and pills contain large doses of only one or two phytochemicals and have not proven effective, Upson explained.

Growing produce for market is an excellent way to generate additional income. However, don't underestimate the myriad other benefits gardening can provide.

"Ever wonder why God placed Adam and Eve in a garden?" Upson said. "The reason is that gardening is good for you!".

Source: The Benefits of Gardening

Related studies:

- Benefits of gardening (pdf report)

Your Online Gardening Resource - 'Garden Guides'

Gardening is one of the healthy hobbies which is considered a good stress reliever.

Minnie Aumonier expressed it eloquently with,

“When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the Garden.”

Gardening is a key tool for improved health by providing exercise, stress reduction, and relaxation. From the medical perspective, researchers have documented that people who interact with plants recover more quickly fromeveryday stress and mental fatigue.

For many, the garden is their escape from the pressures of the job and family responsibilities. This relaxation technique reduces stress levels and related issues like heart disease.

Garden Guides.com is a FREE online resource which can guide you well for this healthy hobby.

Mission: 'To be the best online resource for gardening enthusiasts.'
(In their own words)
'We have been a popular internet resource for many years, due to our collection of top-quality gardening information, including gardening how-to's by top garden writers, plant fact sheets and guide sheets, seasonal tips and garden techniques, garden recipes, and much more.'
'Garden Guides' have a wide range of expertise, which helps us make sure Garden Guides is a resource for all types of gardeners, from novices to experts.

Whether you are new to gardening, or a seasoned gardening pro, Garden Guides has everything you need. For more than eight years, Garden Guides has been a leader in online gardening information, providing thousands of pages of detailed and extensive information on plants, pests, gardening tips & techniques, gardening recipes, seeds & bulbs, gardening books, nurseries & landscapers, and much more.

Other features of the site:

* Resources: In the Garden Guides' resources section you will find listings for more than 13,000 nurseries and more than 7,500 landscapers located in the United States. You can also find definitions of close to 10,000 key gardening terms in our extensive botanical dictionary or locate a great public garden to visit in our garden walks listings.

* Ask and answer questions, and have in depth discussions with a community of thousands of gardeners.
- Community

* Garden Guides gives you all the gardening tips, techniques & tricks to help your green thumb improve. It offers:
Basic Gardening Tips
Container & Indoor Gardening Tips
Over 1,000 Recipes
All Gardening Tips
- How to's

* In the Garden Guides' garden supplies section you will find detailed and in depth information on seeds, bulbs, and gardening books and pamphlets.
- Garden Supplies

A Fun Photo Site- 'This Makes Me Laugh'

Fun and humour are essential part of life and brings spice to our lives. Internet offers lots of sites providing fun and humour stuff. There are many sites with jokes, quotes, stories or other stuff. But I like to visit the sites offering fun news around the world.

This makes me laugh is a fun photo site. You can find fun pictures at the site.

Catagories of fun photos:
Adverts
Animals
Books
Cars
Classified ads
Computers
Food
Graffiti
In the street
People
Shops
Signs
Websites

You can add your photo at the site.

There are many photos which really bring smile to your face.

Tips To Apply For Credit Cards

Although this blog deals in stuff related to hobby, leisure, recreation and fun topics, but my post "Tips to Deal With Bad Credit Cards" was very appreciated and I can understand that these money or finance related posts are also read with interest. Today's post would help you learn the tips and techniques before applying for credit cards.

Tips to maximize the chance of getting approved on credit card

1- Don't apply for multiple credit cards over a short period of time.

2- Don't apply for a card you're not likely to get.

3- Applying for a credit cards and being declined only damages you credit.

4- Know Your Credit Score before you apply.

READ BEFORE APPLYING FOR CREDIT CARD

The 0% application provided with balance transfer credit deals can make you a happy holder of bank cards with 0 balance transfers. Applying for credit cards, remember -- the best balance transfer ones charge higher rates afterwards. Balance transfer may be rate free for 6 to 12 months. Chase credit deal for balance transfer will be a good choice then.

Compare all 0 money transmission options properly. The online credit applications include offers for fair credit (and never the deals for no payment history).
We do not offer secured business plastics, or the platinum one, as well as the best balance transfer deals to bad payment history people. So read the terms carefully.
Low balance transfer deals can carry high penalties. Some 0% APR balance transfer card applications can make you choose a credit product with a low APR, charging high balance transfer fees.

So before inserting a 0% application, you should anticipate if this 0% APR balance transfer credit application suits you. Before submitting the application online, first study the details of the plastics with money transmissions.

Besides credit application for 0% APR, you will find applications for the other types of plastic such as cash back rewards deals, gasoline deals and credit deals for the student.
Tips provided by:
apply credit