Olives in jars are soaked and preserved in what's called "olive brine." Much like the juice in a jar of pickles, olive brine is essentially water, salt, vinegar and whatever herbs and spices are in the jar. When the olives are consumed, save the jar and use the olive brine for cooking. It's fantastic as a marinade for fish and meat, adding a boost of flavor and tenderizing the protein at the same time. Add to sauces, pasta and soups instead of salt to give a richer depth of flavor. And quick salad dressings can be whipped up in seconds: A little olive oil and a dash of honey are all you need.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

With so much news about the dangers of the chemical glysophate found in most commercial weed killers, you might wonder: What's an effective and natural alternative? If you'd rather not pull weeds out by hand, consider mixing together white vinegar, some liquid dish soap and salt to make a DIY spray. According to HGTV, all you need is a gallon of vinegar, a cup of salt and a tablespoon of soap. Mix well and spray on top of weeds. It works because the acidic mixture draws out moisture from the weeds. For large weeds with thick roots, pulling them out by hand will be the most effective method.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Invasive plants are exactly what they sound like: They grow where you don't want them to grow, and they can be nearly impossible to control. When planting a garden or landscaping around your house, there are some innocent-looking plants that can become invasive quickly. One to avoid: English ivy. Sure, it's hardy and can grow quickly to cover the ground and sides of walls, but it also spreads and chokes out native species. In fact, in the northwest part of the U.S., it's considered one of the worst invasive plant species.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION