Rose Cottage Ltd

Don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but some foods – especially fruits and vegetables, just don’t seem to have the flavor they used to have.

I’ve been using nearly the same level of ingredients in my spaghetti sauce for around 35 years and have noticed I now usually go back and add more basil or oregano to the sauce. I suspect the green and yellow peppers are not providing the flavor punch they used to add.

Many of us are growing more and more suspicious of what is being done to our food supply. You don’t have to be paranoid to know about GMO corn, or vegetables sprayed with wax so they “look” appetizing longer. You also don’t have to be a scientist to realize that soil used over and over without adding nutrients, will not produce the same result year-over-year.

I’ve been looking into hydroponics for the last month or so and have decided to order the Dealzer Hydroponics 101 Training e-book to see if this is something I can manage. If you’ve wanted to know more about hydroponic “gardening” you can get more info here.

The good news is that for those who don’t happen to have their own farmland or room or even access to garden space, you can still “grow your own” in one of the many units available from Dealzer. It might be a good resolution for this new year of 2014 to take a little control back of what you eat.

Oh goody – double-checked to make sure I DID put the correct year!!!

Definition: HOA

Home Owner’s Association – The Community Associations Institute trade association estimated that HOAs governed 24.8 million American homes and 62 million residents in 2010.

If you’ve never been in one and are confronted with a HOA via your next purchase – make sure you read the fine print. Not only are there monthly fees, but Home Owner’s Association rules and restrictions as to what is allowed to occur on your property may be more invasive than you imagine. What keeps your neighbor from painting his front door neon pink, might also stop you from painting YOUR front door that nice Forest Green you wanted.

Have a community pool and tennis courts? Have a condo unit with a gym, pool, and landscaping covered by the association fees? A $300,000 condo could have fees of $300 to $500 a month for the HOA so as in all things, do your homework.

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More next Saturday. Until then, stay as warm as you can!!