End of Summer Gardening Tips

When people think about gardening, they usually think about Spring. However, there are things you can do in your garden in late summer and early autumn that can save you some serious cash. Now is a great time to be outside!

My favorite money saver this time of year is autumn gardening.  Mid-August is a great time of year to plant veggies that thrive in cold weather. Loose leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, beets and peas are all very easy plants to grow from seeds. Onions are great too but I recommend starting them from "sets" (they look like miniature onions) as starting from seeds can take a long time. For only a few dollars, you can have all you can eat organic salad for several weeks. They grow very well in patio containers as well. 

Another great way to save money this fall is to start composting. All those fallen leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps that you are currently paying for trash disposal, can actually go towards making quality compost for your garden next spring. Just create a container at least 3x3 feet (or bigger) and add your organic waste. A few pieces of advice though. First, don't include any animal waste (except egg shells) as it will stink and attract pests. Second, it does help to shred leaves and such before tossing them in. Third, it also helps to take a shovel and mix it up once in a while. 

Been thinking about adding new trees or perennials to your yard? August and September are great times to buy as most garden centers have them marked way down but it's till fine to plant them as they will have a few months to acclimate before winter sets in. 

Finally, take some time to think ahead to next spring. Want to start a new garden bed? The best time to prepare is right now! Mark out where you want to plant, and cover with an old tarp, or even cardboard or newspaper. Cover with a few rocks and spray cardboard and paper with a hose so the wind doesn't blow it away. Keep it covered all winter and in the Spring, pull off the tarp and all the grass and weeds underneath will be dead. Just till up and plant! If you used cardboard or newspaper, then they will rot into the ground and you can just till whatever is left into the soil. Nothing could be easier. 

So don't put away your garden tools and gloves yet! This is a great time of year to get outside and save some cash.

Post by Janice Lilly

From: Mending the Piggy Bank-click here for link

Magazines To Go

Courtesy of Raynham Public Library 

Thanks to a new service that we've just launched at the library, I no longer have to limit my magazine selection to whatever is lying around a waiting room. I can now choose my own magazines to read online anytime, anywhere. The service is called Zinio for Libraries, and it offers a collection of 50 popular titles. I can choose magazines from a wide range of categories including business and news, computer and electronics, crafts, fashion, food and cooking, health and fitness, home and family, science and history, travel, pop culture or sports. The collection includes popular favorites such as Newsweek, Reader's Digest, Glamour, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, National Geographic, Golf Digest and yes, even ESPN Magazine.

To get started with Zinio for Libraries, use your PC or Mac to visit the library's website, raynhampubliclibrary.org; click on elibrary, and then on the Zinio icon. You'll be asked to enter your library card number and create an account. Browse the collection and check out any title you like. You have access to the current issue as well as a year's worth of back issues. You even have the option of being notified by email when the next issue is available. There is no waiting, no checkout limit and no return. You may keep issues as long as you like. All magazines are full-color and interactive. Click on an article listed in the Table of Contents, and you'll be taken directly to that page.

For reading on the go (and all those waiting rooms), download one of Zinio's mobile apps for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD/HDX, and read on your tablet or smartphone. Have questions? Give us a call or make an appointment for a one-on-one help session.

From the directors blog at www.raynhampubliclibrary.com