You may have heard that you should not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator; store them at room temperature right on the kitchen countertop instead. But what do you do if you have a bumper crop of ripe tomatoes? To extend the shelf life of a ripe tomato, go ahead and put it in the refrigerator. The chill will prevent it from ripening more. When you're ready to enjoy it, bring it out of the fridge and let it warm back up to room temperature. It'll taste like you just picked it from the garden.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're in the market for a leaf blower to do some cleanup around the yard, consider battery-powered instead of a gas-guzzling blower. New long-lasting lithium ion battery-powered lawn and garden products are readily available at any home improvement store. These rechargeable batteries hold a longer charge (plus, the batteries are recyclable when you need to replace them down the road). So instead of emitting smelly fumes from gas-powered blowers, you can now clean and be green when doing yardwork.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're doing some cleaning and organizing around your house, it may be tempting to purge boxes of old holiday decorations like Christmas ornaments, artificial trees, wreaths and garland. But while the weather outside may be saying anything but "White Christmas," consider holding onto your unwanted decor until the fall months. Starting in early November, charity shops like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will be in need of used holiday decor, which they stock up on and sell to raise money. Like any other business, charity shops are able to sell holiday items and decor best during the holiday months, and they often will not accept these items for donation during the offseason.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION