Sprucehaven Farms

Making concrete blocks and garden ornaments is a profitable business. You can start from home working in your garage with very little cost. Using hand molds you can produce a wide selection of concrete products.
Concrete blocks are a staple of the building trades and are used for all kinds of structures. Everything from large buildings to small backyard compost boxes is built using concrete blocks. Using hand molds you can turn out 100 blocks per day quite easily.
Concrete bird baths are a big seller. Demand is huge and they sell very well. These are easily turned out from hand made molds and can be sold through garden stores and local building supply stores. They will be happy to have a local supplier since transporting

concrete products from distant sources is expensive. With no transportation costs you can sell at a very competitive price and make an excellent profit.
Plans are available for making all kinds of concrete garden ornaments and furniture from either hand made or commercial molds. Concrete vases of all sizes right up to huge ‘Ali Baba’ type vases do not require molds. You can make a wide selection of these using very simple production methods.
The basic concrete block manufacturing business can be supplemented by producing these very popular decorative items. Making them is easy and there is a strong demand for them. They are a great addition to any concrete products business.
By starting part time working from your garage you have no financial risk. You can start with just the cost of plywood and sheet metal to make your cement block molds. The ingredients for your concrete mix are Portland cement,sand,gravel and water which you will find at your local building supplier. When your business grows you will decide when to go full time.
When hand molds are no longer enough to make the large quantity of blocks you will need,to fill orders,you will want to acquire a concrete block machine. Several manufacturers supply these but they are quite expensive. The other option is to build your own machine.
You can build an excellent concrete block machine from auto parts,sheet metal and a few bits and pieces. Plans and instructions are available for this project. The cost is low and it works as well as any commercial model.
When your volume of production reaches a certain level you will need bigger premises to house the racks for drying your concrete blocks. A second person to move the blocks from the machine to the racks will be required. The profits from your business at this stage can readily absorb these extra expenses.
You can start your concrete block business with very little money. It will grow into a full time very profitable enterprise with hard work. There is no limit to how far you can go in this profitable business. Demand for concrete products continues to increase and you can earn an income you have only dreamed about till now.

If you are looking for ways for you or your children to provide cheap presents for the extended family, or just like to give gifts that have a personal element to them, then here is a suggestion or two for you.

If you are looking to make a present for the gardener in the family or someone who has recently moved into their own home, someone in a flat or unit, or a person who can’t manage a full sized yard, or a family member who loves to cook with fresh ingredients, etc. Then why not consider giving them something from your own garden? Here I am talking about plants that you have divided off from your own garden plants.

There are many plants growing in the average garden that can be divided, or that have naturally self layered themselves. Where you could go along and take a rooted section, pot them up and with a bit of dressing up of the planting container, you could produce a really nice gift for someone you care about.

These plants include many herbs as well as perennials or shrubs and even some trees which manage to send out self-layering branches or suckers from the root system. Some perennials or bulbs will increase their size or number of bulbs over time. Chance seedlings coming up in the wrong place for you, can easily also be used. All of these provide you with an opportunity to cheaply create a wonderful present for someone else.

First things first you will need to obtain a number of pots either plastic ones left over from additions to the garden population, or from someone you know, or you can go out and purchase a pot plastic/ceramic/terracotta etc., to suit your needs. If the person you are giving the plant to is not a real gardener, then you might consider getting a pot with a waterwell in the base to increase the plants’ chances of surviving.

Next, you need to begin looking for your plant material, so take a careful look around your garden at the soil level. Check out which plants are showing multiple stalks growing out of the ground. Or those sprawling plants where a branch has leaned over on to the ground and taken root along the branch, maybe one where a branch has become buried under the mulch.

Or one where there is a sucker growing from the soil a short distance from the parent plant. Another possibility is seedlings growing in the garden a distance from the parent plant material. Maybe there is a clump of plants or a big patch of bulbs where you can do some dividing.

Many of these plants benefit from being divided up or being allowed some more growing room in the particular area where you have taken away some material.

Different parts of Australia will have a differing range of plant species, which lend themselves to this form of self-propagation. If you can’t find any plants that are doing this in your own garden, why not look at a friends or neighbours garden. Or you could maybe join forces and give a joint present using plants from another family member’s garden. Or another possibility is to buy a plant in a pot that has several plants already established in it.

Divide that up before you use half in your own garden, and still have half to repot and give away. Even if you are not confident about your gardening skills you can still pick up cheap plants at the local market, school/church fair, garage sale etc. Repot them into a bigger or nicer pot for a fairly cheap present.

Another possibility is to multiplant a few different plants into a long or large round tub. This will create an instant garden on the move. Some themes you might consider here is herbs, indoor foliage, bulbs, annuals, alpine/rock, cacti/succulent or even patio gardens mixing annuals and perennials.

It is best to moisten the ground around the plant that you are going to work on well before you do the dividing, as this allows you to remove the maximum amount of root mass during the dividing process.

The first step is to divide the clump or cut away the joining branch to make the separate plant available. Then using a spade, fork or gardening trowel, dig as far out from the potential plant as practicable, because this will give you the biggest root mass possible.

Go down as far you believe you need to, (this will depend on such circumstances as size of new plant, species of original plant material, type of soil, other plant or landscaping material around the area, etc.). As gently as you can dig out the new plant. Shake off any excess soil and refill the resulting hole in the ground if necessary.

Prune back the foliage of the new plant to roughly equal size of the root mass, trying to protect some of the new foliage growth. Repot as soon as practicable, so that the roots do not dry out and die.

Another thing to consider is what sort of pot you are gong to plant into; if it is only a plastic pot then you do not need to prepare it beforehand. However if you are looking at painting it, then do this before you get digging.

When painting up pots, you will need to do some preparation work for the paint to stick properly. Plastic pots should have their surface roughened up with a bit of sandpaper. While some terracotta pots should have a primer applied to the outer surface before you paint them. Try not to get primer or paint onto the inside of the planter, because while most wont, there are still some paints which contain chemicals that may affect or contaminate the soil and plant over time.

Other possibilities for decorating up pots include simply gluing on bits and pieces including stones, tiles, buttons, sticks, shells, ornaments, ribbon, stickers and decals, etc. Other ways of decorating up a pot for the initial presentation is to wrap up just the pot (not the actual plant), using either wrapping paper, cellophane, material, a cheap teatowel or even hessian. Hold these wrappers in place with string, ribbon, bandana, scarf, etc.

Other possibilities for adding value to the potplant is to provide some growing information and name tags for the plant/s included. Other little quirks you might add include a personalised name tag, (Hi, my name is David the Diffenbachia . . . ), or a little watering indicator, miniature hand tools, small amounts of fertiliser, pot ornaments, watering can etc.

So as you can see, creating a very personal gift for just about anyone can easily be within the grasp of anyone. Why not go out into your garden and start thinking about what presents you can be preparing for Christmas this weekend.

The small garden design begins and ends with thoughtful, precise planning. However, small does not mean limited. A small garden design can still deliver a huge “wow” factor.

Small Garden Design: The Problems

A small garden design comes with big challenges. Perhaps your property abuts the two-story blank wall of a neighbor’s townhouse. Maybe the space is all straight lines and right angles. Or you’ve remodeled your home, changed the elevation, added a new room and reduced the size of your backyard, all of which affect the relationship to the existing landscape.

Turning Liabilities into Assets

With small garden design, as with all landscape design, the goal is to create spaces in which the home and architectural elements have a relationship with the yard and surrounding area. First, consider the big picture-your assets and liabilities. Begin by looking at the large, possibly immoveable factors, such as trees, a long fence-line or pool equipment, and decide if they are liabilities or assets. In this way, you test the viability and capacity of the site, a determination that will help clarify your landscape design options. Landscape designers or landscape architects can bring expertise and experience to this process.

Small Garden Design: Features to Consider

? Hardscapes. Decks, patios, pergolas, arbors and gates can be used to help define a small space, break it up or create interest. These choices, in effect, create other rooms. Your material selection adds further texture, thus making the space livelier.

? Water features such as swimming pools or outdoor water fountains. Swimming pools can be custom-made to fit into a small garden design. Also outdoor water fountains can be used to good effect in small gardens. Water features create movement and pleasant sounds, both elements that heighten your enjoyment of a landscape.

? Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting, in particular, can bring an element of drama to a small space. It is good to keep in mind that your landscape is viewed at night for about 30 percent of the time. Since so many people work and don’t come home until after dark, landscape lighting means homeowners can still enjoy their outdoor property, whenever they get home. It turns the landscape into a 24-hour event. Landscape lighting is also very practical as it provides security and nighttime lighting for any tricky steps.

? Infrastructure, like irrigation systems and drainage systems. Irrigation and drainage systems are the work-horses of Houston gardens. Sprinkler systems deliver water to plants during our long, intense summer months and drainage systems take away excess water when we get our infamous torrential rains. They save money, time and worry.

The Heart of Small Garden Design

Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, “The overall objective of any great landscape design, including small garden designs, is to create a space that breathes with the home and has a relationship to its surroundings. It should reflect the client’s visual desires and functionally work together in every aspect.”

Making concrete blocks and concrete yard ornaments is a great business. You can get started by working from your garage at little cost.
With hand made molds and very simple production methods a large variety of concrete products can be made. Concrete blocks are used in many kinds of building projects and are a basic commodity of the building trade. You can easily make 100 blocks per day with hand made molds.
The number one selling garden ornament is the concrete bird bath. There is a huge demand for birdbaths and they sell extremely well. It is easy to make a range of different styles using hand made molds and they can be sold directly to the public or to building supply and garden stores.
Transporting concrete products for any distance is expensive due to their size and weight. Local stores are very pleased to have a local supplier who has low costs and a very competitive price. With no transportation costs it is possible to make excellent profits.
Many other kinds of garden ornaments and concrete garden furniture can be made from available plans. Huge ‘Ali Baba’ style vases and other vases large and small can be made without the use of molds. The simple production methods used to manufacture these can be learnt quickly. They are excellent patio and garden decorators and sell very well. These are great additions to a concrete block business. They are highly profitable.
A wide variety of other concrete ornaments can be made from either commercial or hand made molds and there is a great demand for these. By starting a part time business,working from your garage,the risk is eliminated.
Your startup costs are only the price of the sheet metal and plywood required to make your cement block molds. The concrete mix is made from Portland cement with sand,gravel and water.
As the business grows you can progress to full time work when you are ready. For volume production of cement blocks a concrete block making machine is a necessity. Several companies manufacture these machines,however they are quite expensive. The best choice may be to build your own machine.
Plans are available for building a very good machine from auto parts,sheet metal and a few bits and pieces. One of these machines can be built for a fraction of the cost of a commercial model. It can turn out hundreds of blocks daily.
A growing business will require premises large enough to accomodate the racks on which the cement blocks are kept while drying. A helper to move the blocks from the machine to the racks is also a requirement at this stage. The volume of business now possible will however more than justify the extra expenses.
A concrete products business can be started with minimal cash outlay. With hard work it can be built into a high profit full time enterprise. Demand for concrete products never dies and the sky is the limit in this excellent business opportunity. You can have an income you could only dream about while working as an employee for someone else.

Making concrete products,including cement blocks and garden ornaments,is a low cost business opportunity.

Concrete bird baths are,by far,the best selling garden ornament.There is a huge demand and they sell readily.You can make a variety of these easily with hand made molds and you can sell them to local building supply or garden stores. Transporting these heavy items from a distant supplier is expensive.These businesses will be happy to find a local supplier who has low costs and competitive prices.With no transportation costs you can make an excellent profit from your work.

You can also make many other types of concrete garden ornaments and garden furniture from available plans.Vases,large and small,including ‘Ali Baba’ style vases,are easy to make without molds.You can learn the simple production methods quickly and make a wide variety of these.They are very popular decorative items for patios and gardens.Your basic business of concrete block making can be supplemented by these items.They are easy to produce and very profitable.

You can make many other types of garden ornaments from either hand made or commercial molds and you will find a ready sale for your products. By starting part time,in your garage,you eliminate all risk.Plywood and sheet metal are the only materials needed to make your cement block molds which makes starting cost low.The appropriate concrete mix is made from Portland cement,gravel,sand and water in the correct proportions.As your business builds you can decide to go full time when you are ready.

For volume production of concrete blocks you will need a concrete block making machine.Commercial models are available.They are quite expensive however. The other option is to build your own machine.From available plans you can build a fine concrete block making machine.The components are used auto parts,sheet metal and a few odds and ends. You can build one of these at very low costand it can turn out all the blocks you will need very easily.

As business grows you will probably need to rent premises large enough for the racks needed to store your cement blocks for drying.You will also need a helper to move the blocks from the machine to the racks.At this stage however your business will make enough profits to more than justify the extra costs. You can start your own concrete product business on the proverbial shoestring. With hard work it will rapidly grow into a full time very profitable business.You will give up your job and be an entrepreneur.The sky is the limit in this business. Demand never dies for concrete products and you can have an income you could only dream about while working at a job.