The allure to miniature gardening or fairy gardens is that all ages that can create a garden suited to their lifestyle and surroundings. From small-scale terrarium gardens to large-scale landscape gardens, miniatures can be displayed in a variety of places. People living in the country may consider designing a plot of land for their garden, while apartment dwellers may chose container or terrarium mini gardens. Whatever the size of your garden, having a consistent scale will create realism in the world of minis.There are a variety of scales used in miniature gardening, but the most popular size is 1:12 or 1-inch equals 1-foot. This is considered a large scale. The next size would be the 1:24 scale or medium scale, which is a great size for smaller pots or wicker basket tabletop gardens since.05-inches equals 1-foot. Lastly, there is the small scale, which works well with terrarium or tiny pots. This scale has a 1:48 ratio and.25-inches equal 1-foot. These three sizes are most commonly used in mini gardening, although there are additional scales that are popular with miniature enthusiasts.In the fascinating world of miniature trains and railroads a variety of scales are used. When it comes to outdoor garden railways, the G-gauge or 1:22 scale is generally accepted. Even though the “G” comes from the German word for big, many feel it stands for the garden railroad. These medium scale model railroads are landscaped with live plants and they are designed to represent the real world. Since the G-gauge is so close to the 1:24 scale, many miniature gardening items can be used to set the scene.When planning a Garden Railroad the scale not only relates to the accessories, but it also refers to the foliage growing throughout the landscape. Make your garden railroad come alive with plants. Add some moss to create a lawn or plant a small Boxwood Honeysuckle to become a shrub. According to the Chicago Botanic Railroad Garden’s Resource Guide, here are a few of the plants recommended for the miniature garden: Blue Star Creeper, Boxwood, Cotoneaster, Duckfoot English Ivy, Stonecrop, Picea glauca Spruce, and Scotch Moss. In addition to plants, the garden spaces can include waterfalls, ponds, pathways, retaining walls, and hardscape. Do you want a real life looking Garden Railroad? If yes, then take time to select items that are in proportion to the trains and tracks in the garden.My final thoughts on scale in the garden include, “What if I measure the mini accessory and it doesn’t match any scale?” Select the scale that is the closest. Next, look at the proportion of the plant or accessory in comparison to the miniature garden and decide if you should go smaller or larger. Unless your miniature garden is entered in a competition, something that is close in scale will work fine and make your miniature gardening the topic of the neighborhood.
Grow a Fall Garden: Tips and Shortcuts
Fall can be a great time to grow a vegetable garden. We typically think of spring as the best planting season, but believe it or not fall can be an even better time of year to grow a garden. Even though summer is coming to an end, it’s not too late to grow a fall garden. Fall gardens work best with a little advanced planning, but I can help you throw one together quickly.If you’re interested in planting a fall garden now, you can! I know you’re busy, that’s the way of the world. We are constantly over-booked and running from one responsibility to the next. In the essence of time, I will give you some great short-cuts. You can order mostly everything you need right now while you’re searching the web. Then, within the next few days or by this weekend you can start growing a fall garden. It should take you an hour or less to get it going. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get too it!Tips and Shortcuts:
• Use the internet to reduce shopping time
• Order plants today
• Order an easy to assemble raised garden bed
• Determine your growing climate
• Buy Gardening Soil & Organic Fertilizer
• Set aside time and start your gardenPURCHASE ONLINE
I know how busy life can be. Who has time to drive from store to store looking for the right plants and materials to set-up a garden? I know I don’t have that much time, so I’m sure you don’t either. Hey, since you’re sitting here learning about how to grow a fall garden, I bet you can spend another 15 minutes ordering all the supplies you need to get started. I promise that’s all the time it will take you. I will give you links to quickly direct you to the information you need to get a jump start on growing your garden.ORDER PLANTS TODAY
I have to admit, we’re getting a late start on our fall garden. Since fall is just a few days away, the best thing to do is to start with seedlings or pre-sprouted plants. There are many good options for direct sow seeds that can be used in fall gardens, but at this time I think we should start with pre-grown plants. That way we can avoid the dreaded freezing of our lovely crops. Burpee.com is a great site to visit when planning your fall garden. You can order just about any plant you’re looking for, and in my experience the plants you get from Burpee are healthy and grow very well.ORDER AN EASY-TO ASSEMBLE-RAISED GARDEN BED
The best way to get a garden growing quickly is by purchasing an easy to assemble raised garden bed. By doing this you can avoid tilling up your yard and will minimize the amount of digging required. There are many easy to assemble garden beds available for online purchase. Both Burpee and Amazon have some great products. I will give you direct links to a few of these products on my website if you want to quickly link to them and get them shipped to you in a hurry.DETERMINE YOUR GROWING CLIMATE
One of the most important steps in growing a fall garden is to determine your growing climate and choose the right plants. It’s easy to get lost in a slew of maps on the internet. I am a big fan of the Burpee website; they make it easy for the typical gardener. They have a growing calendar tool. All you do is enter your zip code and boom there’s a list of the crops you can grow throughout the year. This awesome tool even gives you information on which method to use for planting (direct sow, indoor sow or transplant). If this sounds like something of interest to you, I will give direct links on my website so you don’t have to spend too much time searching around. I’ll do the leg-work for you to make this process as quick as possible.BUY GARDENING SOIL AND ORGANIC FERTILIZER
Since we will be using an easy to assemble raised garden bed, our plants will get fresh healthy soil. This makes plants happy! It also makes gardeners happy because it eliminates the step of having to till and dig up our yard in order to get the ground ready for planting. This is the most simple and effective way to get a fall garden growing quickly with healthy plants.Get this:
• Two bags of topsoil
• 1-2 Bags of more expensive garden soil/compost
• Organic FertilizerYou can just buy these things from your local garden store. You can stop by on your way home from work and run in, it should only take you a few minutes. Remember, we’re doing this quickly. You will also need a few handfuls of grass clippings or leaves to spread over the top. You can have your kids collect these from your yard. It shouldn’t be too hard, and it gives your garden some nice organic material.SET ASIDE TIME TO SET-UP AND PLANT YOUR GARDEN
You should set aside about an hour to get your garden set-up. Depending on which raised garden bed model you choose, your time commitment for setting-up the garden may be more or less. This is a simple process. Here we go!Prepare the Bed:
• Choose a location for your garden
• Take your raised garden bed assembly kit, plants, soil and fertilizer to your garden location
• Make sure you have a garden hose nearby
• Assemble the raised garden bed kit
• Take your top soil bags and lay them down near the garden bed
• Poke several holes in the bottom of the bags
• Lay the bags inside the raised garden bed
• Cut off the tops of the top soil bags
• Pour the garden soil/compost, little by little on the top soil mixing the soils as you go
• Add the organic fertilizer to your top soil/compost mixture, mix again with your handsBasically, what we’ve done here is create a quick and effortless healthy soil for your plants to thrive in. By leaving the top-soil bags partially in-tact we are reducing the amount of weeds that will attack your veggie garden. Don’t forget to cut holes in the bottom of the top soil bags though. This ensures proper drainage of the soil. We also combined healthy garden soil/compost with a cheaper top-soil to cut cost. By blending in the fertilizer, we are ensuring your garden will have a healthy start.Now it’s time to plant:
• When planting, be sure to leave a small pathway between your rows of plants
• Take the plants, one at a time and wet them well with the garden hose
• Remove the plants from their containers, one at a time
• Plant in rows, close enough to prevent weeds from taking over bare spots
• Once you’ve planted all your seedlings, top with grass clippings or leavesIt’s important to plant your vegetables close together. It may seem counterproductive, but this will reduce the weeds in your garden. By wetting the plants before removing them from the pots, we are giving them a nice and minimizing the amount of root damage upon removal. Topping the garden with grass clippings or leaves adds organic matter, further preventing weeds and other undesirables.Conclusion:
Planting a fall vegetable garden doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Gather most of your supplies by ordering online and your time commitment is reduced even more. This can be quick, easy and painless. I will add this article to my website with simple links to get you directly some easy-to-assemble raised garden bed, plants and climate research tools.It should literally take you 15-20 minutes to order your supplies. Running into the garden center for soil and fertilizer should be quick. Your time commitment to setting up the garden should only be about an hour. That’s a total commitment of about an hour and a half. Just think how great it will be to have healthy, organic food growing right in your back yard. Let’s do this thing!
Crypto Currency Vs Fiat Currency
Crypto currency vs. Fiat currency
Are you aware of the fiat currencies and the crypto currencies? They both are currencies in one form or the other and are open for public use across the world. But they are both different and distinct in their own ways. There is always one group that favors the use of cryptos, while the other has a soft corner for the fiat currencies.
In cashless society- crypto money play a huge role
If you have a look at the market of the 1970s and 1980s, you will find that the cash played the dominant role. But, with the change in the technology, electronic transactions have become the usual norm. Today, more and more people are influenced in becoming the cashless society. With the progress towards the cashless society, cryptocurrencies have a big role to play.
Crypto currency and fiat currency are always at loggerheads
Cryptocurrency and fiat currency are popular types of digital currency, especially when it is about an online transaction. They both are currencies currently in use in the market but have some differences in them. There is a hell lot of hypes that you will hear on a daily basis comparing the crypto money and the fiat money. This article will highlight the difference between the two in a more comprehensive and clear manner.
Differentiating in what the currencies stand for
Before going for the difference between the two, you must understand what do they stand for and how are they are defined.
The fiat currency is a legal tender that has the support of the central government, and it operates in the physical form. For instance, US dollars, British Pounds, Euro etc. On the other hand, the crypto currency is a non-legal tender, and doesn’t have any backup from the central government or bank.
Hence, the difference between crypto currency and fiat currency is noted as follows:
• Crypto-currencies are decentralized and global in nature. There are no one entity or government that controls the currency with their laws and regulations. The Fiat currency is centralized, under the control of the laws and regulations of the banks and government.
• Crypto-currencies have their existence only in the digital domain. On the other hand, you will find that the fiat currencies have a tangible and physical existence.
• There is a limited supply of crypto-currencies with a maximum set of them getting supplied in the market. Whereas, the fiat money has an unlimited supply as the government and bank are entitled to produce coins and paper money whenever the situation is required.
• The Bitcoin and other crypto type currencies are created by the computers, while the fiat currencies are issued by the local government and the banks.
• Cryptocurrencies are presented as the public and private code pieces. On the other hand, the fiat currencies are presented in the form of coins and paper money.
• The value of the crypto currencies is not recognized by the supply and demand of the market. Whereas, the fiat currency value is determined by the market regulations of supply and demand.
The different types of crypto and fiat currencies
In the last one decade, the popularity of crypto type currencies has emerged as a huge success. It was in 2009, when Bitcoin was first introduced, and years after several other types of crypto currencies have emerged. Starting from Litecoin. Dogecoin, Ripple to the Dcash and Zcash, there is a plethora of them. On the other hand, the fiat currency has a rich and ancient roots, with the Great British Pound, that dates back to 775 AD. It is considered as the oldest currency in the world that is still in use.
The differences in the anonymity between the two currencies
When you are using the fiat currencies, you need to undergo a user identification or verification process. You are asked to upload a recent picture of yourself and some of the required documents to be issued as per the public authorities. You don’t need to undergo any of the required processes with the crypto currencies. Though your personal information and confidential details don’t get public, but all your transactions are recorded and tracked in both the fiat and the crypto currencies.
Fiat currency vs crypto currency: transparency level
• The transparency level with the crypto type currencies are considered to be more. This is because the revenue streams are displayed in a public chain. Everyone can witness their own and others’ transactions.
• The fiat or govt. currencies are not transparent, as there are not public chains to see the revenue streams of the people.
A comparative historical roots
If you compare the crypto money with that of its counterpart, fiat or government currency, you will find that their existence and creation brings the difference. The Fiat or government currency, dates back its existence as early as 775 AD with the introduction of the Great British Pound. This is why fiat type currency is easily accepted by the people all over.
On the other hand, the crypto coin was perhaps first introduced only a decade ago, with the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009. The challenge that the Bitcoin and other crypto currencies face is catching up with the immense popularity and increasing fan base of the fiat currency. Crypto currency, is no doubt gaining importance and popularity in the economic market, but it has still not been accepted widely in the society as the fiat currency.
A comparative history of the two currencies:
• It was in the 11th century, when the Chinese Song dynasty was perhaps the first one to issue the paper money. It was not allowed to exchange with valuables like gold and silver or silk.
• There were Tally sticks that were introduced as a fiat or government currency. 1100 Tally sticks were introduced as a combat for the shortages in gold.
• 1971, was the year, when the fiat currency received a worldwide recognition. President Nixon introduced it in order to eliminate the dollar pegging system to gold.
• It was in 1998, when the idea of an anonymous electronic cash system emerged by Wei Dai. Bitgold-the very first crypto currency was created by Nick Szabo, but it didn’t receive as much attention as Bitcoin.
• In 2009, Bitcoin was introduced in the market, that became the first crypto currency that was accepted across the globe. In 2011 and after, a series of several other crypto currencies were introduced. Some of the popular ones include, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Zcash, Dash and so on.
The traits of both the currencies
The potential of the crypto type currencies and fiat currencies, accessing their traits is important. You will find that in some of the criteria, Bitcoin and other crypto currency is superior than the fiat or government currency, and in some cases, the latter surpasses. It is absolutely your call to choose the type of currency (crypto type currency or fiat type currency) based on your personal needs and requirements.
Let us compare their traits with respect to certain factors.
• Both the crypto coins and fiat type currencies are interchangeable in nature.
• As per the portability is concerned both the currencies secure more or less the same position.
• With respect to the non consumable criteria, crypto currency and fiat type currency have the equal status.
• Crypto type currencies have high durability as compared to the fiat-currencies that have moderate level of durability.
• Both the crypto or virtual currencies and the fiat or government currencies ensure secure and safeguarded transactions and exchange.
• Crypto or digital currencies are highly divisible in nature. On the other hand, the fiat type currencies are moderately divisible.
• In terms of the transaction process, the crypto currencies are easy and hassle free. Whereas, on the other hand, the traction process associated with the fiat currencies are easy, but not like the cryptos.
• The crypto based currencies are decentralized and global in nature, unlike the fiat currencies that are centralized and functions under the laws and regulations of the government.
• The crypto based currencies have high scarcity, where as, the fiat currencies are unlimited as the government can issue coins and paper money whenever there is a need.
• The crypto based currencies are based on mathematical algorithms, and are programmable. The fiat currencies are not at all programmable.
• The fiat currencies are sovereign in nature, while the crypto currencies are not.
The process of the functioning of the currencies
You can find the significant differences between the crypto or digital currencies and the fiat currencies with the way they both operate and the transaction process that take place. They are contrasting in nature. The transfer of money using the Bitcoin is very quick, and you absolutely don’t need any third party association.
On the other hand, if you are involved with the money exchange using Fiat type currency, a mobile wallet is in use. You can exchange an amount of e-money that gets transferred into the equal e-value amount. Both the fiat and the crypto currencies enable you to purchase everything that you desire. But the processes involved are absolutely distinct from each other.
Depending on the things you purchase, you will find that one currency form is better than the other. This is absolutely your choice.
Is Bitcoin, a crypto currency better than the fiat-currency?
The long term benefits and the capability of the Bitcoins is still not established. But it has been predicted by the crypto currency gurus and experts, that they will go a long way, especially revolutionizing the way the online transactions are done. In the current market, the Bitcoin is mainly included in the online casinos and the gambling, but it is not limited to it.
Furthermore, when you compare the fiat currencies, the Bitcoin allows you to seize the power and authority from the banks and the government since it is not controlled. The cryptography based currency has the capability to create or come up with the free market capitals. Fiat currencies are affected by the inflation and the changes in the market, unlike the crypto based currencies. Such aspects make individuals believe that cryptograph based currencies will soon take over the mainstream currencies and bring a transformation in the way the money is used.
Why is Bitcoins considered to be a better aspect than the fiat type currencies?
• Bitcoin gives you the opportunity to re-create a free market capitalism.
• The power of controlling the money is absolutely with the individuals, and not with the banks like the fiat type currencies.
• When there is an inflation, the Bitcoin is not affected. But the Fiat type currency will be easier to lose and get affected by it.
• The Bitcoin currency is easy easier to exchange and transfer as compared to the fiat or government currencies.
• The transaction fees involved with the Bitcoin are way cheaper and easily affordable.
Crypto currencies seem to be a favorable option among the people
The fiat type currencies are the centralized and legal way of exchanging money. But, the crypto currencies have acquired immense popularity in the past few years. There will never be anyone who would act as a middle man, like the case with the banks. Moreover, the cryptos are way cheaper and less expensive that the conventional fiat currencies.
Send money anywhere directly without waiting for the bank’s approval
You can send money to anyone in the world directly, and it is super fast. The money gets cleared within a few minutes time. You don’t have to wait for the traditional clearing and verification processes of the banking systems, which might take up to several days to get a clearance. Since it is decentralized and doesn’t come under the law and regulations of the government, nobody has any power to do anything with your account.
The blockchain technology has a very big role to play
Thanks to the crypto currencies, that gives us the power and the authority to become our very own bank, and take control over our finances. It is because of the blockchain technology that offers a higher level of sophistication while dealing with the finances. In fact, there are some mainstream financial industries that have started incorporating the idea of the technology.