Category: Outdoors

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Outdoors

Transition to Off-Grid Tent Living Using a Tent Rental

Home as we know it keeps us safe, it keeps us warm, it keeps us dry, and it keeps us comfortable. It also keeps us connected. Our world today has us absorbed by electronics. We lose out on so many precious moments of life because our attention is drawn away by a ring, a ding, a chirp, or a you’ve got mail. It is more common to see a group of individuals standing together looking down at cell phones than it is to see a group of kids playing a game of baseball in the park. When you feel overwhelmed by all the technology, it is time to try out tent living to unplug. From using a tent rental for shelter to raising livestock, you could turn a piece of vacant, secluded land into an adventure and an opportunity to disconnect yourself from all the daily stimuli.

Keep reading for the basic steps to help you transition to world of off-grid tent living.

Using a Rental for Tent Living

Shelter is necessary. You may think that you want to go off the grid in an extreme way, but, after exposed to the wildlife, the insects, the weather and its elements, you will likely change your mind – quickly.

One of the most cost efficient forms of shelter is a large tent rental. These tent rentals are especially handy since they can be assembled at any location. If going off-grid tent living, that could mean you will need shelter in a remote area with the possibility of tricky terrain. Tents are customizable, allowing you to design them to meet your needs in size, and shape. You can also include flooring, sidewalls, windows, etc. Rental tents are also made of durable fabric and can withstand any potential damage that can come your way.

Other potential shelters are campers, or professionally built residences. Anything that is large enough to live in and turn into a comfortable tent living space can be your shelter.

Water is a Necessity

It’s a fact of life – if you want to survive, you will need access to clean water. Unless you plan on walking down to the creek to fill your bucket, walk back home, treat your water, and hope you have enough for all that your family will need – you are going to want to make sure you are hooked up to a well or some other water irrigation system that can deliver you clean water.

Say no to gathering water bottles and gallon jugs, unless you intend to reuse them. You are going off-grid to live off the land. Therefore, don’t pollute that very land with wasteful plastic!

Food

Here is when you must show everyone what you are made of. Are you able to forego dining out, fast food, and Starbucks? Will you learn to hunt for your food and have a farm with livestock and a garden? Livestock, such as cows, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and pigs, among others, can serve as a great food source. Tending a garden can produce healthy and tasty veggies and fruits that are full of the good stuff for you. The best news? You control what your livestock eats and what you spray on your garden. In other words, you will finally have total control over the food your family eats.

You will likely make sporadic trips to a grocery store or market, depending on how remote you’re tent living is. However, when you do so, you can stock up on staples like rice, beans, powdered milk, or any other non- perishable food items you may desire.

Energy Sources

The rage is all about solar panels! These panels use the sun’s rays and convert it to an energy source. The cost of solar panels may put a dent in your wallet initially. However, the system will last you for many years. When you average out the monthly cost you currently pay in your fully-wired home, you will realize you are actually going to be saving money.

Wind is another possible source of energy. However, not all off-grid tent living homes are located in areas in which wind would be a feasible source.

Septic

You will have to go to the bathroom. Your family members will, too. It is a fact of life. And, well, it must go somewhere. Because you will want to make sure your waste doesn’t negatively affect your food sources or water, you will want to ensure you have a properly functioning septic system. Whether it is built into the ground or a motor home-type septic tank that will require occasional emptying, you will be thankful for the septic tank.

Another method some hardcore off-grid folks choose is a composting toilet. This will collect your waste and turn it into compost.

Whatever method you choose, make sure to consult the zoning board in your area to confirm your septic method meets the requirements.

Willingness to Embrace Change

When choosing to move to a remote location and completely rearrange everything about the way you currently live your life, you are going to have to expect some difficulty in adjusting. Living off grid means getting rid of things such as TVs, cell phones, tablets, computers, washers and dryers, microwaves, air conditioning, etc. Sure, you can still have these items, but you will not likely have the means to use them how you are used to. Remember – you are making your own energy now.

Many people who have chosen this route either loved it or hated it. It surely isn’t for everyone. But, those who love their decision and have embraced the change to off-grid tent living, have found a sense of calm that somehow gets lost in the midst of all the electronics. In fact, families are brought together because, being cut off civilization, they don’t have anywhere else to turn. It can break down barriers. And for those with kids – this change can teach responsibility, the joy of the outdoors, learning to live off the land, and staying connected with family.

Are you ready? Unplug and go. Now – before you change your mind!

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Outdoors

Why You Need a Clear Tent for Your Garden

Your home is your place of comfort. It offers you a sense of protection and it makes you feel welcomed each time you walk through the door. Your home is the place where your family builds traditions and makes memories. It is also the place where you entertain loved ones. Why not make it the place where you grow food and flowers to add to the care you have for your family? Adding a transparent tent garden canopy to your yard will not only provide you with a warm, inviting escape or small entertaining spot, it can also provide you with food, herbs, and flowers – and the confidence in knowing that you created something good.

If you are still questioning whether or not a clear tent is a must -have for your backyard, keep reading!

What is a Clear Tent?

Clear tents are great additions to your home. They come in all shapes and sizes and offer a place for you to grow a garden while being shielded from weather conditions. These canopies come in all sorts of designs, colors, and made from all types of materials. However, if you want the benefit of a garden canopy without giving up your view, a clear tent is what you need. Transparent garden canopies allow protection while maintaining the view!

These flexible tent rentals allow you to extend your home to the outdoors – enhancing your home and its outdoor functionality.

What can you do with a Clear Tent Rental?

Not only can you grow food and flowers in a tent, but you can also entertain guests. Maybe you are just looking to escape to your backyard and spend some time with nature. Maybe you live in a rainy part of the country and are looking for something that will allow you to be outside – and remain dry.

If you don’t necessarily have a green thumb, but you are looking for shade and protection in your backyard for your deck or patio, a clear tent rental can be your best friend. They will protect your outdoor furniture, and allow you the ability to sit outdoors whenever you feel like it – not just when the weather says you can! Tent rentals can allow you to have dinner with your family outside, have get-togethers inside and outside, and even protect your outdoor pets from being exposed to the elements.

No matter your preference or desire, tents can come in handy. Their possibilities are endless. Besides, if you get creative, you are likely to find so many more things you can use tent rentals for – no matter how big or small your backyard is.

Grow Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs

Depending on what you are trying to grow and where you live, you are likely, for one reason or another, going to need a protected area to grow specific items since most produce cannot grow in all types of weather conditions.

The number of veggies, fruits and herbs you can grow under your clear tent is enormous.

Here are the best vegetables to grow in a shaded area:

  • Arugula
  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Lettuce
  • Root vegetables, such as yams, beets, parsnips, turnips, carrots, and celery.

The following fruits thrive in a shaded area:

  • Cherries
  • Berries, such as gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries
  • Plums
  • Strawberries
  • Black currants
  • Pears

Herbs also produce well in the shade. Here are the best – and most successful – choices:

  • Chives
  • Tarragon
  • Mint
  • Parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Thyme
  • Oregano

With a little research and a lot of tending, you and your family could put together a very well-rounded garden that could grow throughout all the seasons.

Grow Plants and Flowers  

The best part of planting a garden under a canopy is the ability to add beauty and color to your yard. There is just something special about looking out your back window and seeing bright, beautiful blooming flowers after a rough day at work or waking up early and sipping coffee as you read your newspaper while the sun rises. You brought these flowers to life and the transparency of your clear tent garden canopy allows you to view this exquisiteness from anywhere on your property.

Not sure what to plant? Here are a few ideas of the best flowers to grow using a garden canopy:

  • Lily of the valley
  • Alpine Forget-Me-Not
  • Jacob’s Ladder
  • Violas
  • Begonias
  • Heliotropes
  • Impatiens

A Quiet Retreat

You work hard. You handle work, your family, taking care of your home – and now you take care of your own garden. Because of all this, you deserve a place to relax and escape. Why not create a small nook within your clear tent where you can relax, read a book, drink coffee, draw, etc.? Besides, where else can you escape peacefully amongst greenery? A clear tent rental is spacious enough to allow for the extra room. Search your local outdoor furniture store and find a small table and chairs – like a bistro set – and put it in an open area under the canopy.

If you are not looking for a quiet retreat, but rather a social hotspot, a tent rental can provide a great place to host a garden party – inside the tent and out. Stringing lights, playing soft music, cold drinks and hors d ‘oeuvres can turn your garden into a magical mingling spot.

Clear rentals are completely customizable canopies that provide you with the ability to have new adventures in your backyard. The size of your yard does not matter. Whether you choose a large tent rental or a small one, you are likely to realize that your purchase will transform your life. A garden canopy is the perfect addition to your home! What are you waiting for?

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Outdoors

Year Round Construction Tents Protect Workers and Projects

Every job is important. But what happens if you can’t work? Not because of illness or disability, but because of weather. Yes, of course, almost all of us who work in warm, cozy offices would love to call in sick from work on the coldest day in February and stay nestled in our beds. But life doesn’t work that way. You need the money and your employer needs you. But what about those construction workers who subject their bodies to conditions the rest of us run from? It’s snowing, they are working. It’s raining, they are working. It’s windy, they are working. It’s freezing and icy, they are working. Luckily, with year round construction tents that are available to crews at all times, they can work more comfortably.

Due to all their deadlines and huge projects to complete on a timeline, construction crews cannot stop working. Plus, as consumers, we need them! They take care of many jobs that keep our society functioning, such as roadways, bridges, homes, office buildings, various transportation methods, etc. Thankfully, the construction industry has perfected methods to beat Mother Nature at her own game with year round construction tents!

Year Round Construction Tents as Temporary Shelter

Umbrellas, ponchos, raincoats, galoshes – all protect us when we head out in wet weather. But what protects construction workers? Have you ever seen a construction crew decked out in raincoats or holding umbrellas? Likely not. Since they have big jobs to do and rain doesn’t last all day, they generally find a place to take cover until they can get back to work.

Job sites don’t always come with shelter. Some are even in remote or very open areas. In cases such as this, workers may have to take shelter in their cars or call it at day – immediately putting the job behind schedule.

Good news for construction companies, though – it doesn’t have to be that way! Construction tents can serve as a temporary shelter on a wet day and allow the crew to return to work once the weather dries up.

Surviving the Summer Heat

Although it depends on where you live, most of the country struggles with brutal heat each summer. Add the lack of cool breeze to the heat and you have a stagnant summer heat that has caused fatalities for some and sent countless others to the hospital for things such as heat stroke and dehydration.

Now, think about construction workers – in the north especially, summertime is the best time for construction crews to knock out pending work. They do this while many of us are relaxing comfortably in our air-conditioned offices or homes.

What do construction crews do to keep cool? How do they avoid dealing with the detrimental heat? Water and shade. Drinking water is a must for working outdoors under the summer sun. However, having a place to cool down and rest your body from the rays is just as important.

Many crew members must struggle to find a shady tree or overhang while others may be lucky enough to have a construction tent. Yes, a tent that provides shelter. Many construction companies use them for storage or protection for equipment, but they have a dual purpose of protecting workers, as well.

Falling Leaves and Temperatures

Fall is beautiful and it may just be the most beautiful season of work for construction workers too. Sure, it starts getting a bit chilly, but nothing a few extra layers of clothes or socks can’t fix!

However, depending on your construction project, falling leaves could get in the way a bit. Year round tents are customizable in size and may be able to cover your project in its entirety, blocking out the pesky leaves. Not to mention, it would help keep the chill out of the air for your crew, as well.

Winter Weather

It is so hard to get moving in the early morning during winter time. However, construction crews are typically some of the first risers, many starting work before the sun is even up! Layered up for warmth, they head out to face the wintry cold. With year round tents, the can brave the winter weather slightly easier.

Winter conditions can leave construction workers subjected to ice, snow, sleet, and hail. Many winter days bring only gray skies – no sunshine for warmth. Construction crews should, of course, be wearing the proper gear for working outdoors in freezing weather. For example:

  • Thermal undergarments
  • Thermal socks (more than one pair)
  • Gloves (two pair if necessary)
  • Waterproof boots that will keep your feet warm
  • Thermal coveralls
  • Helmet liners or snowcaps under hardhat
  • Scarves

Having a place to warm up can be beneficial for many reasons. For one, it can reduce the risk for hypothermia and frost bite. In addition, it can help to keep muscles warm, which, in turn, reduces the risk of injury.

Construction Tents for the Job Site

Construction tents are like superheroes for the job site. They are much needed and openly welcomed by crews everywhere. These year round tents are completely customizable based on your needs. This includes sizing, flooring, and walls – or lack thereof.

Construction tents can even be climate controlled which can assist crews during the coldest and hottest months. During the winter, heaters can provide great warmth to your freezing crew. During the summer months, fans and cooling systems can keep your construction crew content, healthy, and happy.

Even basic construction tents without all the perks can still provide shade and shelter. When subjected to outdoor weather conditions, every little bit of protection helps! Rain or shine, cold or hot, construction year round tents serve a purpose far greater than you can imagine. While they can be used to help complete your job, they are also able to protect your crew. Without your crew, you have no completed project, right? Take care of them!

 

 

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Outdoors

How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

We do not always know when a natural disaster is coming. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are all capable of doing massive amounts of devastating damage. While we cannot always prevent natural disasters, we can learn how to prepare for a natural disaster before and after. Between organizing your own emergency kit and seeking out industrial tents for shelter, there are several ways to prepare for a potential disaster.

Each geographical region has different threats than others. For example, earthquakes are found more along the pacific coast of the U.S. while tornadoes are a greater threat in the Midwest. Understand the weather and possible threats in your area and follow these steps to assist with your safety.

Here’s how to prepare for a natural disaster.

Emergency Kit

Before the disaster strikes, you will want to make sure you have an emergency kit prepared. These can be as big or as small as you would like, but be careful when considering the container. For instance, if you reside in a flood-prone area, then you would benefit more from a waterproof container, rather than one that will be destroyed if it gets wet. Likewise, if you live in an area prone to fires, a fire-proof container will be a better bet.

Knowing how to prepare for a natural disaster starts with an emergency kit.

Things to include in your emergency kit can vary from person to person, dependent on specific needs. However, here are a few of the most important items:

  • Food (non-perishable)
  • Water
  • Medications
  • First Aid kit
  • A change of clothes
  • Blankets
  • Important papers such as insurance, passports, birth/marriage certificates, deeds
  • Radio
  • Flashlights
  • Backup phone chargers
  • Batteries

Because you never know how long a disaster can affect you and your family, you will want to make sure you have enough supplies in your emergency kit to last at least 3-5 days. Your disaster may affect you longer, but this will allow enough time for emergency help to arrive and start to assist.

Make sure to keep your emergency kit in a handy spot that you will always remember. Sometimes, when faced with a threatening danger, our thoughts may turn to panic. If you have a clear plan and a designated spot for your emergency supplies, this can make your dash for survival a bit easier.

Evacuations

Certain natural disasters give us advanced warning. If you live in an evacuation zone or are advised to evacuate, then do so! Disobeying the evacuation requests can put your life in danger, as well as the lives of the emergency crews that may need to come rescue you. You are given advanced warning for good reason. Use that time to grab your family, your emergency kit and hit the road!

Now would be a good time to learn your evacuation route if you don’t already know it.

A Contact Plan

Keep a list of contact information for loved ones. During times of disaster, electricity and cell phone service may be interrupted. Nowadays, with cell phones being so common, many people do not have phone numbers memorized. This can create an issue should you find yourself with a dead phone battery and no power to charge it.

An alternative to phone numbers is the use of social media. For example, Facebook has recently started a “safety check” feature. If you are in an area affected by a natural disaster, Facebook will give you the option to check in as safe, allowing your friends and family to rest assured that you are OK, even if they cannot get hold of you by phone. However, keep in mind that this may not work if power or services are down. Always have a backup plan.

Industrial Tents for Emergencies

The good news is that most cities have an emergency plan in place. You do what you need to do to protect yourself before the storm, your government officials and other city leaders will do what they need to do to ensure your safety and well-being after.

Many communities will have a point of contact or a command center set up. Industrial tents work to house basic needs for those affected. These industrial tents are large enough to serve as storage centers, temporary government offices to process emergency requests, and for food and water distribution. Most officials opt for these industrial tents because they allow aid workers to quickly set up a location in the heart of where they are needed most.

It’s Over, I Survived, Now What?

Learning how to prepare for a natural disaster includes what you will do after the disaster as well. After storms, floods, fires, or any other natural disaster, the cleanup begins. Be prepared to get to work and get your hands dirty. Make sure to reach out to your community. It is during these times that people tend to come together, providing much needed relief and support. Depending on the extent of the disaster, there are a few things you will want to address or pay attention to.

  • Contaminated water supply – make sure you listen for boil water notices or other advisories concerning your water supply before consuming. (This is where your bottled water in your emergency kit will come in handy).
  • Downed electrical wires – these can cause electric shock if you encounter a live wire.
  • Puddles of water – electrical wires can find themselves located in puddles of water. If you decide to walk – or let your kids play in the puddles – you are putting yourself and them at risk for getting electrocuted. It is not safe, just don’t do it!
  • Debris – Most disasters can leave debris behind. Keep an eye out for debris found in roads, blocking access for emergency crews
  • Damaged buildings or homes – never enter a building or structure of any type that shows signs of damage. The structural walls may be jeopardized and could lead to devastating, or fatal, results.
  • Mold – If you home or office was subjected to flood waters, make sure you thoroughly clean the area and dry it well to ensure that harmful mold does not develop.

Clean up after a natural disaster can take time, leading to many frustrations for those affected. Knowing the possibility of the disaster and being prepared before it happens can ease the burden. Don’t wait for a moment of crisis to occur before learning how to prepare for a natural disaster – it may be too late!

 

 

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Outdoors

This Summer Try Backyard Glamping

Life gets busy sometimes. Our phones are always making some sort of ding, ring, chirp, vibration alerting us to calls, emails, text messages, app notifications. Sometimes we need to step away. The idea of running out into the woods, popping up a tent and secluding yourself may sound delightful. The idea of actually doing it, not so much. The idea of giving up your four walls of safety for a tent is a bit scary. Not to mention that you may have a hard time falling asleep knowing that you are resting right in the middle of the home of all nocturnal wildlife – and bugs! Fact is, camping is not for everyone and can create a challenge for those not willing to give up the comforts of home, which is why some people prefer backyard glamping!

Good news — Camping outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean that you have you to give up the luxuries you are used to. Glamping is a term comprised of the words glamorous and camping. It takes the idea of camping and adds the comforts of home. Sometimes, even more! This allows everyone a time to enjoy nature and remove daily routines without having to learn what it means to rough it.

And what better way to go glamping than to have a party at your house… by trying backyard glamping! Below are some ideas from using a clear span fabric structure instead of a tent to what luxuries to bring, that will help you get started on creating the most memorable backyard glamping experience ever.

Who to Invite?

Who do you invite to a backyard glamping party? Well, you surely would want to steer clear from hardcore campers. This is glamping, after all – not camping! Pick a few of your favorite people who will openly enjoy the experience and add to yours.

Remember, you will be in an element a tad bit different than you are used to so make sure you select those guests you know will be willing to join you without hesitation!

What Luxuries should You Bring?

The options are endless. Because you want to make sure that you and your guests do not feel deprived, you will want to make sure that you have items that make you feel comfortable. First on the list is comfortable bedding. Long gone are the days of stuffing yourself into a zipped up sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground. For your glamping party, use blown up air mattresses (or even actual mattresses) complete with sheets, blankets and pillows.

Lighting is also important. When indoors we take for granted all the light sources at our fingertips. Outside, however, once the sun goes down you want to make sure you have a means to see. Rather than using old camping lanterns, get creative. Candles, string lights, tiki torches, etc. are all good examples.

While the point of moving outdoors is to unplug from phones, television, social media, computers, etc. The luck of being in your backyard, however, will allow you to run an extension cord, providing a source for electricity. And, likely, a wi-fi signal. If you still decide you want try not to use electronics, the idea that you can still charge your phone and camera, for example, will be comforting.

What Will You Eat?

Pork and beans in a can heated over a fire? No way. Backyard glamping allows you to eat good while you are camping! Make sure you have a cooler (or electric ice chest) handy. You can then keep perishable snacks for you and yours guests. Opt for cheese and crackers – and no, not American cheese with a saltine. Go for the good stuff. Pair up different combinations. Fruit platters are another great idea. (Both go well wine, too!)

You do not have to limit yourself because you are glamping. For dinner, pull out your barbecue grill and make your favorite light and refreshing meal. Try your hand at various side dishes that can be cooked on the grill, as well.

Desserts are fun. Instead of roasting s’mores over the campfire – and finding yourself covered in a sticky, gooey marshmallow mess – you can make dessert on the grill! Banana Boats are a great option! Slice an unpeeled banana lengthwise, insert mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, wrap in foil and place on the grill! When it becomes a pool of melted chocolaty goodness, squeeze it open and dig in!

Use your imagination. Get creative. And don’t stick to the boring old camping food.

Using a Clear Span Fabric Structure for Backyard Glamping

While the idea of sleeping under the stars sounds exciting, you are going to likely want the overhead protection of tent. For glamping, we are going to shy away from vinyl or canvas tents that you picked up in a box. Sure, they serve their purpose, but clear span fabric structures allow us the covering of a tent with a style that keeps with the fun and light idea of glamping.

You can either buy or rent clear span fabric structures. They are temporary tent structures, providing shade and protection from other elements such as wind and rain. Depending on their size, clear span fabric structures can come with different accessories, from temperature controls to glass sidewalls. Many even include flooring!

Yes, it is like an outdoor house in the backyard of your house!

What will You Do?

There is plenty to do while backyard glamping, no matter who your outdoor crew is. Playing a game of cornhole, horse shoes, or catch with a baseball are traditional activities. Because you will have the privilege of lighting, you aren’t limited on the amount of board games you can bust out or card games you can play.

If you are looking for a more relaxing approach to your glamping experience, you can always take time to write or read. Just make sure to bring enough for everyone. Grabbing some crayons and coloring books is also a calming way to relax. Get creative with your friends. Play music and laugh while having a dance contest, play hot potato like you did as a kid, or just enjoy chatting and mingling with your friends since you are all not burdened with daily chores.

However you choose to go backyard glamping, let your imagination go wild and put together something fantastic. Enjoy the outdoors, breathe in fresh air, and relax on your mini-vacation. You don’t have to give up luxuries to take a break and count the stars, you just need to make a plan and put it into action. Happy glamping!

 

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Outdoors

Planning a Rain and Sun Proof BBQ Event

Hosting any successful event requires planning carefully for any possible contingency, and barbecues are one outdoor event that demands being ready for any type of weather. Whether you are hosting a formal corporate barbecue or a casual family reunion, planning ahead will ensure that no one gets sunburned and your food does not get drenched. As you get ready for your special BBQ event, use these tips to make sure everyone has a good time whether it rains or shines.

Select Your Meats Wisely

Barbecues are all about the meat, which means your guests will be looking forward to sampling your menu. On a rainy day, you may want to limit the amount of time that you are outside working with the grill. Fortunately, many delicious barbecue favorites cook quickly such as skinny sausages and lean meat. You can also grill boneless meats, such as chicken breasts, that you have pounded flat to tenderize and shorten the cooking time.

Consider Precooking Your Meat

It may seem like cheating, but lots of chefs precook meat in the oven before grilling. For example, ribs fall off the bone after slowly cooking them in the oven for a few hours before throwing them on the grill. Precooking indoors will help you avoid rushing through the cooking process due to the rain; yet giving the meat a few minutes on the grill will still give you that delicious barbecue flavor.

Serve Extra Sides

With any BBQ event, you should always plan for more than enough food. Set out some chips, dip and veggie trays, and consider requesting for your guests to bring some extra sides. Asking your guests to bring a side dish will help you ensure that there is plenty of food to go around, even if it takes a little extra time to finish with the meat. Everyone has a favorite barbecue recipe that they love to share, and good-natured debates about who makes the best potato salad or baked beans are great ways to encourage interaction among your guests.

Use Covers and Lids

While grilling, you will most likely be working in stages, which means that some dishes will finish while the meat is still cooking. Try to limit the amount of foods you leave outside until it is time to eat. This way, there will not be a mad scramble to gather up dishes if a rain shower comes along. For those dishes that do stay outside, bring covers that can help keep them dry in the event of rain while also keeping the hot sun from beating down on them and changing the temperature. Just make sure that any covers you use are waterproof. Those handmade bowl covers your grandmother sewed are pretty, but they will not hold up to a heavy rain.

Plan Indoor and Outdoor Activities

It is important to give your guests options for activities so that they can get out of the rain or relentless sun if it gets uncomfortable. In addition to the typical outdoor games such as corn hole and horseshoes, set up some comfortable seating inside. Place some board games and other conversation starters around the room, so that the guests who choose to go indoors will have something to keep them engaged. If you host your event under an awning, make sure to keep your activities close to the center of the event so that wind does not blow rain onto the fun, or choose a tent with sides that can keep out any type of inclement weather.

Be Flexible With Your Timing

Although your event will likely have a defined time for your guests to arrive, try to be flexible regarding when your BBQ event hits full swing. Often, storms pass quickly so waiting a few minutes to fire up the grill can make a big difference in how your food turns out. This is where those extra sides come in handy, since your guests will have something to stave off the hunger if you need to delay your start time for cooking.

A little preplanning can help here as well since the hottest part of the day tends to be the same during most seasons. If you know that a big storm or heat wave is coming, then consider hosting your event at a different time of the day. For large events, simply let your guests know that there will be shelter so that they don’t want to stay home out of fear that the rain will cause you to cancel your BBQ.

Set Up an Event Tent

Outdoor events always go more smoothly when there is a shelter available for guests to use as shade or to keep dry in the rain. Tent rentals can be found in a variety of sizes to fit everyone on your guest list while leaving plenty of room for mingling and activities.

Depending upon the type of BBQ event you are planning, you can also choose additional features to make your guests more comfortable such as temperature control. Having a shelter available helps prevent just about every weather-related concern along with others such as keeping insects away from your guest’s plates.

Keep Your Guests Dry

While an event tent will keep everyone comfortable for the duration of your event, you may add a few extra touches to make sure everyone gets to and from the shelter dry. Scatter a few extra umbrellas and one-size-fits all raincoats around your barbecue venue that everyone can use when traveling between their cars and the event tent. Alternatively, consider setting up a covered walkway between the parking area and your tent so that no one has to worry about a sudden gust of wind and rain. Weather-proofing your event will ensure your guests have a great time.

One of the best parts about planning a BBQ event is looking forward to spending the day outside. However, outdoor events can be as unpredictable as the weather. By planning beforehand for ways to battle the inclement weather, you can ensure that everyone on your guest list has a wonderful time whether it rains or shines on your special day.

 

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Outdoors

A Guide to Creating Your Own Clearspan Greenhouse

Have you ever considered building your own personal greenhouse? Picture yourself surrounded by many rows of greens and picking veggies for your dinner in the middle of January in Wisconsin. Unlikely? Think again. Greenhouses allow you to grow plants, fruits, vegetables, and flowers all year round, despite the climate in which you live. Between clear span tents, a hoop-style or dome-shaped greenhouse, or any other variety, your options for designing a clearspan greenhouse are extensive.

Of course, you will need to have some knowledge on how to build and sustain a greenhouse. And, yes, having a green thumb is a bit helpful, too. Fortunately, with the right tools and right design, you should be able to effortlessly maintain a bright, warm growing space of your own.

To make your greenhouse handiwork easy, here are a few tidbits to grow your awareness (pun intended).

Greenhouse Types

There are a couple of different types of greenhouses to choose from, depending on the space you have available. Indoor greenhouses are perfect for those who have little or no outdoor usable space. These greenhouses use special lighting techniques and windows to simulate the sun. Some seeds may not grow as well in this type of greenhouse and it is not meant for long-term crop growing.

Cold frame or Mini greenhouses are just like their name – mini. They are outdoor greenhouses and they are portable. These greenhouses are good for seed germination, but not necessarily for long term growing.

Finally, we have grower greenhouses. These are more permanent structures, larger sizes, and offer much more in the variety of what can be grown. These can range in size, some being extremely large. They are built for growing crops to full term and year around.

Clearspan Greenhouse Structures

When it comes to building a clearspan greenhouse, there are many structures to choose from, depending on your needs and available space. Below are a few of the most popular:

Clear span tents are free-standing structures that can be customized to your liking. They appear as glass but are made of Polycarbonate sheets that are lighter and more effective in maintaining the proper temperature. Clear span tents are professionally built structures.

Hoop-style greenhouses generally have a wooden base and have PVC pipes arched overhead, creating a canopy or tunnel-type structure. They are then covered in your choice of plastic sheeting. There are many ways to build hoop-style greenhouses, from DIY types to the more professional versions.

Dome shaped (or GeoDome) greenhouses are strong and durable against harsh climates, yet are lightweight and portable structures.

Where to build

If you decide to go with a more permanent greenhouse, you must then decide where to build. This is going to vary greatly on your location – most specifically your climate and terrain.

First, you will want to build your greenhouse on the flattest part of land. This will not only make it easier for your plants and equipment to stay in place on your shelves, but it also allows for even sun distribution.

Second, building your clearspan greenhouse north to south will ensure you make the most of the sunlight during all seasons. You will also want to make sure that there is nothing blocking the sunlight, such as mountains or buildings.

Lastly, you may want to take the availability of electric and water supplies into consideration. The more conveniently these hookups are to your greenhouse, the better.

What to plant

Have you considered your options yet? There are so many! Because you will have warmth year-round in your greenhouse, you can grow a variety of produce. Leafy greens, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, various herbs, squash, strawberries, and grapes are a few of the most popular.

You don’t have to stop at fruits and veggies, either! Spruce up your greenhouse with some tropical plants or beautiful flowers such as lilies, violets, roses, and orchids.

Things to consider

Once you decide the type of clearspan greenhouse you desire to build, you must consider a few other things.

  • You will need to make sure that the building structure you chose will be able to maintain the temperature needed for what you are going to grow. Heaters during the winter months and fans during hot summer days work together with vents to combat the temperature. Making sure your greenhouse is solar-efficient and well insulated can assist, too.
  • Keeping the humidity down will help your plants grow. Sure, lots of green things grow in a rainforest. But, let’s be honest, your greenhouse is not a rainforest. Vents can help suck out the moisture and maintain a balance.
  • Your greenhouse will have a lot of sunlight – hopefully. But it doesn’t hurt to also use various lighting methods such as fluorescent lights or high intensity lighting systems. Make sure to research the best lighting for your chosen crop.

Benefits

Now that you know all the details, let’s talk about why you would want to consider spending your time and resources creating your very own clearspan greenhouse.

  • More money in your pocket. Saving money is a huge benefit to having a greenhouse. Sure, you may have to dish out some funds initially, but the ongoing reward is well worth it. Growing your own vegetables, fruits and flowers will lower your grocery bill drastically. Think about it – not only are you growing much of your meal and dessert, but your flowers for the table centerpiece, too!
  • The freshest produce. Growing your own produce also means you will be eating fresh You will no longer have to purchase your fruits and veggies from the supermarket and pretend like you don’t question where on earth they were grown and how long ago they were picked.
  • Your own personal paradise. Imagine being weeks into winter and all around you seeing nothing but bare trees. And let’s not even mention the freezing temperatures. Now, visualize having a place outside to go where it was warm, green and inviting. Having a greenhouse can help combat the winter blues!

Well, now you know the basics of creating a clearspan greenhouse. Know what you want to grow and where you intend to grow it. Once you’ve decided on what to grow choose an appropriate greenhouse structure such as a clear span tent. Then, do your homework on what combination will work best for you. Good luck discovering your green thumb!

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