Good pruning shears are an expensive, but worthwhile investment in garden tools. Good pruners are a pleasure to use, and with a little care and maintenance, can provide years of service. Here are some tips on how to clean and sharpen pruning shears.

When using pruning shears, be careful not to catch support wires or wire fencing in the blades since this will severely damage the cutting edges.

Every time you put your garden pruners away, take the time to clean them properly. A few moments on maintenance will make your garden shears last much longer.

How to Take Care of Pruning Shears

When you buy new hand shears, it’s best to give the trimmers a rudimentary clean with some soapy water.

Before storing the pruning shears, wipe any moisture, dirt, grease, grime, or sap from the blades with a clean rag using a smooth motion. If the sap is difficult to remove, use steel wool and really rub those spots down. Here’s where you can get dry steel wool.

If there are any rust spots on the blades, you can rub those areas with dry steel wool as well. A drop of oil on the pivot point will keep the blades moving smoothly.

 

Examine the Blades of your Garden Shears

Sharp clippers make pruning easier on the gardener and healthier for plants. Crushed, torn or splintered branches indicate dull cutting edges.

Examine both blades carefully. The thick metal blade is called the anvil, and a thinner curved blade is the cutting blade.

To maximize the shearing effect of the anvil blade, there should be a clean right-angle where the top of the blade and the side of the blade meet.

The 90-degree angle of the anvil forms the cutting edge. There should be no dings or ragged bits of metal showing along the length of the angle.

The second blade is the cutting blade. It works like a guillotine to shear branches pressed against the anvil.

It should have a smooth knife-edge, with no visible dents or chips. If damage is visible on either one of the blades, they need to be sharpened.

How do you sharpen Pruning Shears yourself?

Some garden centers will sharpen pruning shears for a fairly reasonable price, but it is a job that a do-it-yourself-gardener can manage at home. All it takes are:

• A fine-toothed flat file, or a sharpening stone.
• A few drops of machine oil.
• A little care and patience.

If the anvil blade is damaged, wrap a bit of rag around the opposite cutting blade before proceeding to avoid cut fingers.

Use the sharpening stone to smooth burrs and dings on the anvil blade. Strive to maintain a clean right-angle.

A few drops of oil on the blade may help the process.

To sharpen the cutting blade, hold the sharpening stone or file at an angle approximately the same as the angle of the bevel on the cutting edge.

Hold the stone perpendicular to the beveled cutting edge, move the stone from the thick edge of the blade toward the knife edge.

The file or stone will not be able to cover the entire blade at once, so start near the hinge and repeat this motion down the length of the curved blade, always moving in the same direction.

Make an occasional pass on the flat, back side of the blade to remove small irregularities and insure a fine cutting edge.

Storing Pruning Shears

Always clean your shears before storing and wipe a light coating of oil on the blades. This will help to keep rust from forming, and also, always store the shears out of the weather.

These tips work for any hand cutters and also telescopic shears, which are great for taking off branches on taller trees.

With a little care, the shears will last a lifetime. Invest in a good quality set of garden pruners and then take care of them.

We have had great experience with the Fiskars brand – excellent quality and they aren’t expensive.

 

Gardening Stuff you Want to Know

• Want to learn about Pruning Shrubs and Fruit Trees?
• Backyard overgrown? Here’s how you can Restore a Neglected Garden.
• Got stubborn weeds? Try this all natural Weed Killer recipe – works on even the toughest weeds!
• Learn more about maintaining garden tools.

 

Remember to sharpen pruning shears regularly to make them last!

 

 

 

originally published 2020; latest update October 2022

How to get rid of  flies in the house  – use these home remedies!

House flies can be quite the pest to have around your home. Since many of us suffer from having these little creatures get indoors and fly around everywhere, I wanted to share some tips to help you get rid of house flies naturally.

I’m sure you’ve seen those sticky strips that are full of chemicals like this Permethrin, and other harsh pesticides that they say will rid your world of house flies, but I wanted to provide a few DIY natural ways to trap flies and get rid of these pests.

It’s important to use natural remedies anytime you can for pest control to avoid putting extra pollutants into your air and home.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of House Flies

Flies are one of the most pesky insects. Flies are annoying and they are dirty.

They can be a real nuisance, especially when you end up having a fly infestation in your home. Having flies everywhere in the house is disgusting but it can happen more easily than we think.

At certain times of years, there are more flies, especially in rural areas. Flies are most prevalent after winter when Spring brings warm weather.

 

Why do I have so many flies in my house?

You may be wondering why you have so many flies in your house. Many factors can be the cause of house flies getting inside. And, not only “regular” house flies, but cluster flies and mosquitos too.

Any food based trash will attract flies and other insects. Be sure to never leave kitchen trash in your inside trash cans too long without removing to outside garbage cans.

Regular cleaning of the garbage cans will help as well, as there could be food particles inside the can. Soda and other sugary foods will attract pests.

You could have some cracks or crevices in the windowsills or pet excrement outside the house. Flies also just sneak in when you open and shut the house door.

Adult flies can live (and the females will) lay batches of eggs in compost bins, if those bins contain any type of animal food. Animal carcasses (like bones from steak!) and rotting meat are perfect sources of food.

If you live close to a farm, you will have more of a problem with flies. This is because flies and other pests are attracted to the manure of cows, horses and pigs. 

 

Even though you may clean up your yard of any pet waste, flies will still come from other areas, if you have livestock near by your home.

Whatever the reasons, we’ve all fallen victim to the ever-annoying house flies. These natural ways to get rid of house flies will help you remove these flying insects from your home for good.

And, if you’re having trouble with lots of wasps, here’s a very simple way to kill hornets and wasps!

Tips to Kill Flies Indoors

Keep a Fly Swatter at Hand

This one is so obvious, but it bears reinforcing. There is nothing as quick as a fly swatter in the right hand! Since flies tend to hang out in the corner of a window, it makes it pretty easy to find them!

And if you have ever had a really bad fly infestation, you may already have had that satisfaction when you nail a few of these little pests with one shot. I wouldn’t say I like to kill flies, but yeah, sometimes I like to kill flies!

Note: When they’re on the window, kill a fly straight on and do NOT smear them down the window. You’re welcome. 

Use Vinegar and Dish Soap to get Rid of House Flies

Our first natural fly control method uses two kitchen ingredients. Do flies like vinegar? Yes they sure do. Using vinegar and dish soap for flies works very well.

Grab a tall glass and mix about one inch of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap. Cover the glass with plastic wrap and secure it in place with a rubber band.

Poke a few holes in the top of the plastic cover then place the glass in an area where you want house flies to get trapped.

The apple cider vinegar will attract the house flies while the dish soap will sink the house flies in the glass of vinegar and dish soap.

 

Using Sticky Window Traps to Catch House Flies

These window sticky traps work great. They don’t use chemicals, the fly bait is all natural!

We have used them a lot and here is a picture to show how well they work.

It also shows how many flies we had in our mud room! Also, the photo is kind of disgusting. Ready?

 

I know, I did mention it was kind of gross. We had such a terrible problem with house flies here on the farm. 

Thank goodness, we now have that under control using these methods.

Hanging Fly Strips

There are these hanging fly strips as well. No doubt you’ve seen these and maybe even used them. 

I guess they have their place, we have used them on our porch. You can use a thumbtack to attach the string that’s at the top of the trap, to a ceiling.

But really, I can’t stand using these – they are ugly, super sticky and they look disgusting, even when they don’t have thousands of flies stuck to them.

I much prefer the window traps – you can hide them in the corner of the window and I just keep a decorative lantern in front of them. 

No one even knows that trap is there!

 

Getting Rid of House Flies with a Venus Flytrap Plant

It’s always nice to have plants in the house and one plant that can help get rid of house flies naturally is the Venus Flytrap.

This houseplant can be found at most garden nurseries or on Amazon for sale and is relatively inexpensive.

While you will have the plant spit out the exoskeleton of your pesky house flies, it will eat them so that you have fewer house flies to contend with around the home.

 

 

Spray for House Flies – Use Essential Oils as Fly Repellents

You can make an essential oil spray with some of the oils that flies naturally hate.

Some oil options for fly repellents include lavender, clove, mint, lemongrass, basil and eucalyptus oil.

Create a mixture of essential oils and water in a spray bottle. You will find this spray for house flies works really well as a repellant.

Spray the essential oil blends around entryways, the kitchen, and any other area that seems to be attracting house flies.

 

Use Herbs to Keep Flies Away

Herbs can be used as an easy, low cost way to help keep flying insects out of the house, especially if you grow your own herbs. Bay leaves are disliked by flies, so even if you set some fresh leaves in a bowl on a counter, it will help.

Cloves sprinkled into a shallow bowl and left out will help as well.

 

Weatherstrip Doors and Windows

You might be surprised that flies can get in through cracks around your doors and windows, but they can.

And here’s another surprise – make sure you have baseboards!

 

 

Flies can hide in the gaps between walls and floors – ask me how I know.

Sealing our home tighter and making sure each room has baseboards has helped a lot with the number of flies that can get in.

And of course, sealing your doors and windows with caulking and weather stripping will also help cut electric bills too – so seal those gaps! 

Read more about sealing out drafts here.

Questions about Killing Flies

Do dead flies attract more flies?

Yes dead flies attract more flies because pheromones are released whenever a fly is killed. And since flies like this, they come in search of the source!

How often should I clean up dead flies?

Clean up any dead flies in your home on a regular basis; sometimes that may mean daily. In a really bad infestation here, I was cleaning up after them every couple of hours. 

The cleaner you can keep your home, the better of course. That includes getting rid of as any dead flies in the house as often as you need to.

 

Get rid of houseflies using these tips!

So, use household items like vinegar and dish soap to trap house flies or purchase a Venus flytrap or make an essential oil blend to get rid of house flies naturally.

I’m confident these tips will help you rid your house of these winged insects in no time so that you can sit back and relax without the sound of buzzing around your head.

 

More to read!

Want an all natural weed killer recipe that even works on thistle and poison ivy? 

Want chickens for eggs or meat? Here’s what you should know about chickens before getting them!

 

 

latest update July, 2023

Once the cold weather sets in, it gets a bit more difficult to spend time outside. Especially if you aren’t dressed properly. Do you actually know how to layer clothes for winter?

Many people don’t. But you should – it’s an important part of staying warm when you are outside.

The wrong outerwear over a thin shirt is simply not enough. Knowing how to layer clothes for winter time makes the difference between comfort and freezing.

Layering Clothes for Winter

Proper layering of clothing is essential for every outdoor excursion, regardless of weather conditions. When you wear layers you are always warmer.

This is because warm air gets trapped between every layer of clothing you have on. We should be wearing four layers of clothing in cold winter weather.

If it gets warmer, just take off a layer until you need to put it back on. Here are some practical clothing layer combinations for winter and late fall/early spring weather.

 

Underwear/Synthetic Fibers

 

 

 

Many new synthetic fabrics used in outdoors apparel can come in handy, but only if properly coordinated with other clothing.

Although cotton is comfortable, it absorbs large amounts of sweat and is therefore a poor option for a first layer.

The layer with actual contact with the skin should be a synthetic fabric that is lightweight and warm.

Under Armor offers a great clothing line “Cold Gear”, which is utilized by outdoorsmen and competitive athletes alike.

These garments are designed to wick away sweat, while keeping body heat in. Staying dry and warm is the core purpose of layering clothing and Under Armor provides an excellent foundation.

 

Cotton/Wool Blends

 

 

Depending on the weather conditions this layer is best suited for either thermal underwear or a warm cotton/wool blend shirt.

When camping in sub-freezing temperatures, thermal underwear would be advisable; however in warmer temperatures this would quickly become too warm.

While moisture from sweat should still be a concern at this layer, it should be fine to wear cotton blend articles.

 

Fleeces and Pants

 

 

For the legs, it is often best to wear wool socks and waterproof snow pants. While there are many viable options available at outdoors shops, snowboarding or skiing pants are prudent options.

Many modern ski and snowboard pants offer a wide range of flexibility while providing adequate warmth.

As for the upper body, a warm fleece or wool sweater is recommended. It is important to keep in mind that any fleece you wear should be waterproof as well.

Remember, once your coat comes off in the warmth of the day, it will be exposed to the elements.

 

A Shell

 

 

At this layer, your objective should be to keep external moisture out. While your first layer should regulate body moisture, this layer should provide protection against all the elements.

Be sure to have a waterproof/windproof/insulated coat. These waterproof coats may be a bit pricey for the initial investment, but are well worth it in sub-par conditions.

Plus, great quality clothing lasts forever if it is taken care of. Consider this an investment and spend more money up front to never have to replace it again.

 

A Few Notes About Socks, Gloves, and Hats

 

 

In most conditions you will not need to layer these areas, but in extreme conditions or on longer trips, it may be practical.

For the feet and hands, you can buy sock liners and thin gloves. Consider glove liners too, they can be a big help.

 

 

These are the Dakine Glove Liners I recently bought and they are great. The liners keep my fingers warm in cool and damp weather. When it gets -20C, I’ll be able to easily wear these and then slip my hands into my big leather sheepskin gloves.

You should always look for waterproof, leather-upper boots.

For the hands, good quality mittens are really a much warmer option and allow adequate layering room if needed.

A bandana can be a practical option to further insulate your cranium, but cotton bandanas do tend to hold a good deal of moisture.

Under Armor also offers skullcaps to wick away sweat from your brow and keep you warm.

 

 

Layering is the easiest single way to protect yourself from the harsh elements of winter. Knowing how to layer clothes for winter makes all the difference in your comfort level.

Technological advances of the last 20 years have given us new ways to stay dry and warm in any conditions.

When used correctly, your clothing selection can be the difference between a miserable and a memorable trip.

 

Want to read more?

Snowshoeing in the Cariboo – a great way to spend a winter afternoon!

We have a wood stove, not a cook stove. But because of this one thing, we can make make wonderful meals right on top of our wood stove!

Do you have a metal roof? Here’s why you shouldn’t walk too close to your house on winter days.

 

If you want to build your own home or a cabin in the woods, you might want to think about getting a sawmill.

They aren’t cheap but when you take the cost of store bought lumber into consideration, you can recoup the money spent on a sawmill in a very short time.

We looked at it as an investment. Since we need two new buildings, the sawmill will be an investment that will pay itself off by the time these are built.

 

 

It’s been a long time dream for Graham to have his own sawmill. He’s been milling his own boards for a long time, but he wanted a REAL mill.

After a lot of research, he decided to buy a Norwood Sawmill. He was so excited when he was able to finally order one.

He spent several days putting it together. Want to see his sawmill in operation?

Keep reading and then watch the video below.

Norwood Sawmill

 

 

This is what the mill looked like when it arrived. Some assembly required here!

At least it all fit onto one pallet. There are a lot of boxes on that pallet and a lot of weight.

First, though, take a look at the sawmill he had been using for years – it is called an Alaskan Sawmill.

He’s been running this mill for over 10 years here in the Cariboo.

 

Homemade Alaskan Sawmill:

 

 

The “old” sawmill. An Alaskan sawmill is another name for a chainsaw sawmill.

Although not perfect (and not as pretty as his Norwood) this sawmill cut a lot of boards for us.

Boards for building the barn? He cut them all. Siding for the barn? Yup, he cut that too!

 

How to Build a Barn:

 

 

Want to read about how we planned to build a barn? We did it in two stages – two “halves” is more accurate.

It was a great way to spread out the money and time needed to get our barn finished.

 

Norwood Sawmill after assembly:

 

 

Here is the new Norwood sawmill after assembly. Graham put it on a frame and then onto a trailer so he can move it around the property.

It’s looking good and Graham is ready to try his first cuts!

 

Norwood Sawmill in Operation Video:

 

 

Here’s a video showing Graham running the Norwood sawmill and cutting boards.

You may want to grab a coffee and a seat to watch this. It’s about 20 minutes long.

If you’re in the market for a mill, you’ll want to watch this Norwood Sawmill in operation video from beginning to end.

This sawmill is going to be a great addition here for us! 

We also really need a new wood room to hold a couple of years of firewood. This mill is going to cut all the lumber for these projects…and more.

We will be using this mill for years to come. It’s another great investment in our homestead.

 

Find out how we find free firewood in the bush.

Do you heat with wood? Read about how this fan helps heat our house and reduces the amount of wood we need.

Here’s how to clean the woodstove to keep it burning safely.