The Northern Rivers Times
November 23, 2023
46 GARDENING
Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper The Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper is a versatile and powerful tool, ideal for garden maintenance. It functions as a 3-in-1 cleaning tool, capable of being used as a garden vacuum, leaf blower, and garden mulcher. This makes it very useful for cleaning up various types of garden debris such as leaves and grass clippings in outdoor spaces like driveways, paths, and decks. Key features of the Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper include: • Powerful HP™ Brushless Motor: This high-performance motor ensures more power, longer motor life, and extended battery run-times, making it efficient for prolonged use. • Increased Air Speed: The tool offers a 25% increase in air speed compared to its previous model. • Ease of Maintenance: It features a detachable rear motor housing and a transparent upper
tube, which helps in identifying and clearing blockages easily. • Three-Speed Settings: These settings provide users with control over the power and speed needed for different tasks. • Metal Mulching Blades: These blades efficiently turn garden debris into mulch, adding value to your garden waste. • Large Capacity Vacuum Bag: The 45L garden vacuum bag can hold a significant amount of mulch, reducing the frequency of emptying it. • Extreme Power and Speed: The tool boasts a blower speed of 252km/h and a vacuum speed of 126km/h. Additionally, the tool’s weight is 4.0 kg, making it relatively easy to handle for most users. In summary, the Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper R18XBLV20 stands out for its versatility, power, and convenience, making it a valuable tool for garden maintenance tasks.
Budget Gardening: Cultivating Joy Amidst Australia’s Cost of Living Crisis In today’s Australia, as many grapple with the cost of living crisis, simple pleasures like gardening can feel increasingly out of reach. With rising prices affecting everything from utilities to groceries, tightening the purse strings has become a common theme for households. However, amidst this challenging economic backdrop, gardening can not only be an affordable hobby but also a strategic response to rising food prices. Here’s some tips on how you can cultivate a garden without digging deep into your pockets. 1. Start with Seeds, Not Seedlings While it’s tempting to buy young plants ready for transplanting, starting from seeds can save you a significant amount. Seed packets often contain enough seeds for multiple seasons, and with a little patience, you’ll have a garden full of plants at a fraction of the cost. As a bonus, seeds offer a broader
variety of plant options than what’s usually available as seedlings. 2. DIY Composting Instead of buying expensive fertilisers, start composting kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Over time, these will decompose to produce rich, nourishing compost for your plants. This not only reduces waste but also bolsters your garden’s health without extra expense. 3. Embrace Upcycling Before rushing to the garden centre for pots and planters, look around your home. Old buckets, containers, wooden crates, or even worn-out boots can be repurposed into quirky plant holders. This approach not only saves money but also adds a unique touch to your garden. 4. Go for Perennials and Edibles Perennial plants, which regrow every year, offer better value for money compared to annuals that last just one season. Additionally, consider
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growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. With the cost of fresh produce on the rise due to the current economic situation, cultivating edibles can offer tangible savings on grocery bills. 5. Connect with the Gardening Community Joining local gardening clubs or online groups can open doors to a wealth of resources. Members often share seeds, cuttings, tools, and expertise. Plant swaps are a fantastic way to diversify your garden without spending, and the shared knowledge can be invaluable for troubleshooting or learning new cost-saving tips. 6. Water Wisely Water bills can be a significant expense in gardening. Collect rainwater in barrels, mulch around plants to retain moisture, and water during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. If possible, design your garden with water-wise plants, particularly natives that are adapted to Australia’s
climate and require less hydration. 7. Reuse and Recycle Before buying new, think of ways to reuse items. Old newspapers can be used as weed barriers, broken pots can become drainage material for planters, and cardboard boxes can serve as composting material. Embracing a mindset of reuse not only aligns with the sustainable spirit of gardening but also curtails expenses. Amidst the financial pressures of Australia’s cost of living crisis, gardening emerges as a beacon of hope and resilience. It’s a testament to the fact that with creativity and resourcefulness, we can find pockets of joy and sustenance even in trying times. More than just a hobby, gardening can be a way of life – a declaration that even when times are tough, growth, both literal and metaphorical, remains within our grasp.
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