Adobe earth homes are houses constructed from bricks comprised of tightly compacted earth, clay and straw. Adobe earth homes can even be naturally waterproofed by using fermented cactus juice.

Earth-sheltered homes are constructed mostly beneath the ground surface. Surrounding soil is an effective and natural insulation that makes these homes very inexpensive to heat and cool. Usually installed in a well-drained hillside, earth-sheltered homes are built with a skylight window that fills the home with natural sunlight. Although costs may run a bit higher than conventional home construction, earth-sheltered homes are a good, long-term investment because the lowered maintenance and energy savings make up the difference.

Straw bale homes are not as popular, but they are equally as sound and strong as the adobe. These homes are obviously constructed of straw and grass, are energy efficient, and can cut material building costs by as much as fifty percent. Traditionally, bales created on farms with baling machines are used; but recently, higher-density, pre-compressed bales are used to give increased strength to the walls.

Other types of homes, such as cob houses are built from clay, straw, sand and water. Similar to the adobe homes; however, cob homes do not use bricks or blocks. Instead, the walls are sculpted into smooth forms. Again, very energy efficient, cob homes are well-suited for very cold climates as well as the hot deserts. The cob material is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity, and inexpensive. It can be used to create artistic, sculptural forms and has been revived in recent years by the natural building and sustainability movements.

Rammed earth homes may have over 18-inch thick walls that are made from a combination of dirt, sand, cement and water. Energy efficient, rammed earth homes have the appearance of bungalow-style charm and also help keep the house warm in winter and cool in the summer. Because of their sturdy construction, rammed earth homes may last hundreds of years.

Who can build an earth home? Almost anyone. The only limit is your imagination. Homes can be constructed utilizing a variety of materials mixed and matched to your personal specifications. Earth homes conserve energy, and in most cases are easier to maintain, and can endure for years to come.

As we embark on a strange, new age and with global warming continuously on the rise, doesn’t it make sense to construct your new custom home as an earth home?

Everyone has clothing, handbags, or shoes that were once “must haves.” Yearly the trends changed and and another brand, style, or color is in style. The older ones get shoved to the back of the closet and take up space. A good alternative for those items that are no longer used is to take them to a consignment store.

It sometimes takes patience and persistence to find the right store, but the research involved is well worth the effort. Every store has its own focus and personality. By knowing the rules ahead of time, you don’t waste time and can realize a higher profit. The following suggestions will help make the process easier.

Basic Maintenance

Before leaving home for the consignment store, carefully check the items.To get the best prices, be sure to check the condition of the clothing. Consignment stores generally do not accept items that are torn, dirty or heavily worn. Minor improvements can have a big impact on the amount assigned value. Wash or dry clean the item, iron or steam out wrinkles, and replace any missing buttons. Check the hems and other seams for damage. Be aware that larger sizes generally move quickly, as well as trendy or stylish items.

Marketing Seasons

Quick turnarounds equal higher returns for both the store and the clothing owner. Spend the time and analyze what is selling at any particular time. Heavy coats will not sell in late spring when people are looking for summer clothes. Swim suits will not sell as well in late fall.

Consignment stores have policies for how long they will keep an item before donating it to charity. A little research ahead of time will prevent a zero dollar return.

Store Policies

Check to see if appointments are required or if you can simply drop off anytime. Do you receive cash or store credit? Do they want clothes on hangers or just folded? Know ahead of time what their expectations are to avoid surprises at the store.

Most consignment stores will assess items when they are brought in and assign a selling price in their store of about one-third the original retail value. Then, when it sells, you receive anywhere from 35% to 50% of that sales price. The amount will either be in cash or in store credit depending on store policy.
Either browse the store ahead of time or ask questions as the store employee sorts through your items to be sure that the appropriate articles are brought in for consignment. Not all stores accept all types of clothing. It is a waste of your time if you have children’s clothing and the store does not accept them.

Avoid Designer Knockoffs

Don’t waste your time and theirs by bringing designer knockoffs. Employees are trained and experienced. They know what to look for. It is illegal, and the stores will not accept them.

Shopping At The Store

When visiting a consignment store to buy something, be sure to try it on before leaving. The item may be marked one size but has been altered to another size. Buying quality clothes at a consignment store becomes easier with practice. Careful inspection, however, ensures that you are buying something you will actually wear.

New merchandise is being added to the floor every day. Shop often and learn to spot bargains. The only way to do that is to practice. When you find something that really catches your eye, buy it that day. If you delay for a while, it will probably be gone. There are no duplicates of items because of the constant turnover.

Home gardeners know the value of this process and create them in their back yards for use on both indoor and outdoor plants. Cities and towns encourage this use because it lessens the impact on their landfills. In fact, many cities currently offer bins or containers to homeowners at little or no cost.

There are several different structures or methods to make these piles with none better than the other. It is a matter of personal preference and/or space. It can start with just a small pile in a back corner or a bin can be constructed to contain the materials. Many people prefer to have the area tidy and out of sight. They buy or construct some sort of unit to hide the work in progress.

A compost pile generates microorganisms that work to digest the material in the pile. This produces heat and carbon dioxide. An active, healthy system will heat up and destroy pathogens and weed seeds and other unwanted materials. In the process of decaying this organic matter, bacteria are the initial, most numerous and effective decomposers. Fungi and protozoa also break down plant tissue. Later in the cycle, centipedes, millipedes, beetles, earthworms and other organisms do their part.

The work required in keeping a healthy compost pile is minimal. Depending upon the size you want, the entire process can take anywhere from a few months to a year or better. There is some maintenance involved toward keeping the proper balance of carbon and nitrogen materials, turning the pile and keeping it moist, and cutting large items into smaller pieces before adding them to the pile. Chopping all materials or running them through a shredder will speed up the process because the microorganisms have more surface areas to work on.

Organic materials for the pile will contain carbon and nitrogen in various amounts. Plant trimmings, fresh grass clippings, and kitchen vegetable scraps contain a high amount of nitrogen. Dry brown materials such as dead leaves, straw and paper contain a high quantity of carbon. Ideally, your pile should contain an approximate ratio of 3:1 brown carbon to green nitrogen. This ratio contributes to decomposition with little odor.

A higher proportion of brown materials will take longer to decompose. A higher proportion of green materials may develop odors. It is important to note that no meat, dairy products, fats, oils, or pet feces should be used in creating your pile. These items cause odors and contain pathogens that inhibit the decaying process.

Microorganisms in your pile need oxygen and moisture in order to survive and do their work. The pile should be kept moist at all times and not allowed to dry out. It should not, however, be dripping wet. The pile should be mixed, or turned, every week or two (depending on the size) to provide oxygen for the microorganisms and enhance the process. As you turn the pile, check to make sure the items are moist. If it starts to dry out, you simply sprinkle a little water over it. If the pile is not turned or is allowed to dry out, the whole process can take longer; and in some cases may stop completely.

You will know when the process has completed by looking at the texture and feel of the material in the pile. It should resemble good potting soil. You can now mix it into your vegetable or flower gardens or blend it with potting soil for container plants. You can even spread it over your lawn as fertilizer for the grass. Used properly around trees and shrubs, it helps cool the root zone and increase soil moisture retention during the summer.

In some situations, however, the bullying is coming from the boss. This presents an entirely different set of circumstances. Fear of retaliation or even of being fired will oftentimes prompt people to simply put up with harassment instead of speaking up. However, when the mistreatment affects productivity or impacts mental and physical health, there comes a time for action.

Eventually a time comes when the worker needs to stand up for their rights and take action. The following tips can help to make that process easier.

Keep written records

Writing down the behaviors as they happen will show there is a recurring problem. Be specific in the description, including persons involved, where it happened, and when.

Check laws

Some types of discrimination is illegal. However, much of the harassment and/or violence isn’t. Research incidents based on your written notes.

Make an initial effort to resolve the issue

Speaking privately to the bullying person can sometimes let them know the situation is unacceptable. Maybe they just don’t realize what is going on. A calm, matter-of-fact tone detailing your concerns can sometimes relieve the stress.

For those people who thrive on bullying, that action won’t do any good. You need to evaluate the situation carefully to determine which action to take.

Talk to human resources for advice

If the harassment is coming from your boss, a talk with an HR official might be in order before confronting the situation. They can offer advice from previous experiences. It might also be that your boss has had other complaints. They can help you deal with the problem and ensure that your viewpoint is registered with them.

Even if the harassment is coming from a co-worker, it might be good to talk to HR before going to your boss. They are trained to deal with these types of issues. Their job is to ensure that bullying is not encouraged in the workplace.

Talk to top managers

If your efforts have not been productive, and HR has not responded in a timely fashion, your alternative is to go directly to a top manager. Make sure you have proper documentation with dates that you can present to them. Stress that this problem is affecting your productivity and possibly the company overall. The bullying may be a bigger problem than even you realize.

Talk to a lawyer

When all your efforts have fallen on deaf ears, your last recourse is to seek legal advice. They can advise you about alternate actions. Another option is to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for advice or assistance. Search online for options that other people have used.

At some point, you might need to review your options with staying at this job. Changing jobs might be the only resolution that is healthy for you. The stress of finding and learning a new job might not be as much as the stress created by staying in a job of discrimination.

Along with teaching the idea that saving money is good, make the action of saving money become a part of their life. Whenever the child asks for something non-essential, you can suggest that the child start saving for it. Once that goal is set, they learn fairly quickly that they can be responsible for reaching the goal. Putting money aside for a rainy day doesn’t make sense to a kid, but, by making it goal-oriented, a child can eventually see fruit of his labor.

Establish a goal

It is important to set savings goals where children can see progress. This will be different with each child depending on age and abilities. A realistic goal is where children can appreciate the efforts of saving after a short time. Unrealistic or far-off goals will tend to be discouraging. Once they experience the payoff of saving, and their attitudes toward saving money mature, the savings goals can become more long-term.

Agree on a task

Very young children have to rely on their parents for opportunities to earn money. As they learn that a little extra effort and attention to detail can result in added money, they can go beyond that which is expected. You can stress that it is never enough to just get the job done but to go the extra step and do a great job. The older child that does chores according to their abilities can also look for openings to earn money outside the home.

As your child does a good job with their household chores, give them extra opportunities to earn more money. Later in life they will experience hard work that can create a new opportunity and will be prepared to grasp the chance. It is important that children realize the real-life benefits of hard work. If your child does more than is expected of them, reward that with a bonus in allowance.

Making Choices

Learning the value of saving money involves also making proper buying decisions. When you encourage them to realize that spending their money on something now makes it difficult to reach their goal later, you are instilling decision making habits for their lifetime.

As your child grows, you learn where to draw the line. Making a very young child pay for all of their needs may be a bit harsh. However, when they become teens and want more independence, you can allow them more freedom to make decisions. As long as the lines of communication remain open, they will trust your opinions and develop habits that fit their lifestyle.

Children will usually appreciate the fact that you are allowing them the freedom to make their own financial decisions, even if they don’t admit it. Making mistakes and learning from them is a part of human life. When they have to do without some things because of bad decision making, they gain experience that helps them in the next situation that comes along.

Show by example

Utilize every opportunity to stress that saving money can be fun and rewarding. Share with your child how and why you save money. Let them see that you make contributions to an IRA or savings account every time you are paid. Encourage and praise them when they save money, or take them to open a savings account at the bank. Showing your child that you care about their saving habits and support their good decisions will do wonders for your personal relationship with them. Children respond to the attitude projected from their parents.

Establishing habits early in the child’s life ensures that those habits will be lasting.

Depending on your area of interest, a single article could be submitted to many different publications with slight changes. For instance, an article on making a memory book for each of your children could be submitted to Parenting Magazine or AARP with clever choice of wording.

There are some guidelines, however, to keep in mind when you write your article. They are listed below in no specific order since the topic you choose will take different paths. A point of interest here is to not send the same article or query letter to more than one publication at a time. To maintain a high quality reputation, you must wait for a rejection before sending out another letter on the same article.

Explore your market.

You are free to decide on a topic and then find the publication, or you can find the publication you want and then decide on a topic. Either way, you want to ensure that the document you submit is appropriate for an individual publication. It is a waste of your time to do otherwise. Having said that, you have a great deal of leeway as to the type of article you write and the type of publication you submit it to. You can search through Magazine.com for specific information and then make your choices.

When you are searching for a specific magazine, make sure you have studied several issues to get a feel for the type of writing that they accept. Study the articles printed in as many copies as you can find. Really get the feel of the article. They will have a particular format and range of subjects for that publication. If you want to submit an article, make sure that you have rewritten your article in the style for that publication. Do your homework on this step. It will go a long way toward getting your article accepted. It will pay off in the long run if you receive an accepted letter instead of a rejection.

Send a query letter.

From any of the publications that you have read, you should be able to find the name of the articles or features editor. Address your query letter to that person. Publications are all structured differently so you may have to search around for the exact person of the department you are looking for. Even then, that person may pass it along to someone else. Always enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with anything you want returned if not accepted. This helps you organize your submissions to avoid embarrassment. Allow at least three to four weeks for a reply. If you haven’t heard anything in that time, you might call.

Keep in mind that magazines are looking for material at least 6 months ahead of time. So if you submit an article that is specific to a particular time of year, you need to give them time. Your letter should be short and to the point. It should be well crafted and should explain what the piece you submit is about. Explain what will be in the piece and why you think the subject is important. You can also include information about yourself to explain why you are qualified to write this. Include the number of words in your document and any background that will help them make a decision. Make sure your article is length-appropriate for the publication.

Negotiate for the deal.

At the same time you are researching publications for topics, make sure you note the payment scale of each magazine that you might be interested in. Writer’s Market is a good place to start. A good beginning is around a dollar a word. When you receive an acceptance letter from one of your submittals, you then deal directly with whomever is listed on the letter. If you are offered less, you might want to accept it the way it is or negotiate. Some of the variations of negotiations are to accept this one (if it is the first) and then see if they will promise that your next assignment will pay more. Make sure you read the contract carefully to full understanding of all the terms that you agree to. Each publication is different.

If the payment and contract part of your agreement is difficult for you to process, you might consider an agent who will handle all the details. If you already have an acceptance letter from a publication, it shouldn’t be too hard to find an agent. An agent interacts with the publication to maintain your rights and settle any disputes.

Assignment letter.

Along with your acceptance letter and the contract, make sure you receive an assignment letter. This will detail the financial terms, the deadline and length, the format, and anything else that that specific magazine needs. It should spell out exactly what is expected of you and of the publication so that there is no question about this at a later time.

Write your article.

You can be writing a draft of your article all through the submission process. In fact, you should have many articles in your files on any subjects that are of interest to you. Some articles can be combined or copied to other topics as you receive your acceptance letters. You will also be building a file of resources from your research. If you need to conduct an interview with someone, make sure you get their permission to publish and that you retain any tape recording you may have made.

At first, your articles should be general in nature so that they lend themselves to rewrite for an individual magazine. As you become more proficient, you can narrow the topics down into those you like. Above all, you must become familiar with each publication that interests you. You have to adapt to their rules, not the other way around. If a publication only accepts submissions for articles of 1000 words and your article is 3000, it will receive a rejection. Follow the rules exactly. Why waste your time and money on known areas of rejection.

Write and proofread.

When you have the acceptance letter, contract and assignment letter, you are ready to go. Pay close attention to the deadline. If you miss that, they may not give you a second chance no matter how brilliant your article may be. Write your article as clever as possible to create interest with the magazine’s audience. Continue to read the as you write so that you can see what is published. Focus on the topic. Stay within the guidelines. If you have time, put it aside for a day and rewrite anything that seems weak. Proofreading many times will assure you that all the details are enclosed.

Many opportunities abound for the person with self-discipline. To learn more about these skills, click here.

Working from home has it pluses and minuses – all of which should be carefully considered. The particular arrangement of the job can be complex and confusing.

Items to consider are:

List the pros and cons

In particular, list the company itself, the salary, the benefits, nature of the work to be performed, reputation of the company, peers and co-workers, potential for company growth, and how this job fits into your long-term and short-term plans and goals.

If you can, separate the list into those things that are flexible and those that are rigid as they fit your situation.

Consult other work-at-home peers

Build up a network of people who have experienced a work-at-home job and solicit their advice. Learn from their mistakes and successes.

Ask questions

Question the prospective employer on any expectations that are not spelled out elsewhere. Find out how employees communicate with each other and how the company monitors work output.

Be honest with yourself

Mentally work through what would be a typical day and see if you can find any problem areas before starting the job. Question your self-discipline and how much direct supervision you require. Do you require the input and encouragement of other employees? There are many aspects of working at home that might be a drawback to your situation.

Working at home can often be lonely. It requires strong self-discipline, a sharp focus, and the ability to keep yourself on-task and in a routine. If you need the energy of other people around you to maintain focus and motivation, working at home can be a disaster when you don’t receive that. If you need a supervisor to lead you through your tasks, the absence of one at home can lead to missed deadlines and insufficient output.

It is a risk

No matter how much advance research you do, the reality of working from home will not become apparent until you experience it for a few weeks. Discuss it with your supervisor and see if you can have a trial period.

Take the plunge

If, after considering all the possibilities, you feel that it is a good fit for your talents and abilities, go for it. Make allowances for suggestions along the way from persons whose opinions you know and trust. Be open to a new way of life and make a resolution with yourself that you will make it work. Just because you haven’t tried it before does not mean that it won’t work. Many people have successfully adjusted their outdated thinking to include new ways of getting what they want.

Freelance work

As an independent freelancer, you have the choice of as many employers as you want. Learn the skills necessary for independent work and build a reputation for yourself. For more information on this, click here.