Did you finish the last dill pickle and wonder what you could do with all that leftover pickle juice in the jar? Use it to kill stubborn weeds. The acid in vinegar -- the main ingredient in pickle brine -- is an effective natural weed killer. For stubborn weeds that have long roots that are almost impossible to pull up by hand, pour the juice on top. Wait a few weeks, and watch them disappear.
Do Just One Thing for July 20, 2014
Here's another reason to choose natural charcoal over charcoal briquettes, which have chemical additives like lighter fluid embedded inside: You can use them after you've grilled up dinner. Natural, additive-free charcoal has potash, a nutrient that plants love. After the charcoal has cooled off enough (about 48 hours after use), you can take the ash and spread it around the garden as a natural fertilizer. You can also mix it in your backyard compost bin to help increase the carbon content and create a richer compost. If you have larger charcoal pieces that didn't burn down into ash, mix them in with orchids to help them thrive, too.
Do Just One Thing for July 19, 2014
If you love avocados but not their expensive price tag, listen up. Summer is a good time to stock up on seasonal produce like avocados because not only are they at their peak, but they are also at their lowest prices. But instead of going nuts by eating an avocado-only diet, save them by freezing them. Just cut the fruit in half and remove the pit. Keep the skin on and place it in a freezer bag; squeeze as much air as possible out of the bag before sealing it shut. Avocadoes will freeze well for about three months, so whenever you want to whip up some guacamole, you'll have your stash ready to go.