Orbit b-hyve Smart Wifi Indoor Sprinkler Timer – Review

A few months ago, we invested in upgrading our automatic sprinkler system. Since all the sprinkler heads and piping was redone, we really needed a new control panel. I am thrilled to have the Orbit b-hyve Smart Wifi Indoor Sprinkler Timer controlling our watering system. 

The old controller was set not the easiest to use. It was a series of dials which were hard to figure out. The sprinkler stations wiring was the same as this new b-hyve unit which made it a breeze to install. The installation instructions are simple to understand, and the unit is pretty cool looking. This unit works on Wifi with a smart phone application. Once we had the unit wired to the sprinkler stations, we could connect it to the Wifi using the Orbit b-hyve application available for apple and android platforms. 

The application set up is easy to understand. It recognized our network quickly and was attached to the Wifi in no time at all. Once it was all communicating with the app, the customizing of the sprinklers can begin. 

The app offers smart watering which takes in account the weather based on the location. It asks for your location to provide the most recent data. We have a 3 station sprinkler system which is no problem for this 4 station unit. A few clicks on the app and each of the front lawn zones are set to our watering specifications. It is not a huge lawn, so just 10 minutes in each zone a few times a week is sufficient. In the app, you can set up several watering programs to automatically run at specific times. It keeps track on an easy to read calendar. 

My husband likes to manually control the watering when needed instead of using a program. This is no problem with the b-hyve app. It works as a remote control! Each zone can be adjusted for the length of time required plus it can be paused or stopped during the watering process. I like the progress screen letting me know how long it still has for watering. It can be controlled from anywhere by using the app. 

The app provides good information. It has a clean readable interface, although I found it could be a little simpler in the instructions for programming and for manual operation. Once we worked with the app and the unit for a few times, it comes easy. 

The sprinklers can also be turned on manually at the controller if the Wifi app is not available. A plus since we installed the app on my phone. If I am not home, and not available to control it remotely, my husband can still activate the sprinklers. 

Overall, we are thrilled with the quality and ease of using the Orbit b-hyve Sprinkler timer. It is a modern way to control our sprinklers! 

Look for Orbit b-hyve products at Home Depot or order online. Check your area for possible water dept rebates! 

Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection

If you have a child who loves fairies, here’s a great idea for a birthday cake: decorate it with fairy figurines and accessories from the Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection, a collectible set of child-friendly miniature gardening decorations based on the Flower Fairies books written and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker nearly a century ago.

One example is the cake below – created by award-winning Chicago cake decorator and special effects artist Dina Cimarusti to celebrate what would have been Barker’s 121^st birthday on June 28.

The cake incorporates tiny fairies dressed in the leaves and flowers of his or her special plant – replicating Barker’s charming illustrations – along with flowers, butterflies, steppingstones and other accessories like a fairy door from the Secret Garden collection, creating a magical world of make-believe that any young or old fairy fan will love.

My Thoughts

I have always taught my children to believe in the magic of fairies, and the delightful Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection truly brings that magic to life. While I would never be able to create a cake as beautiful as the one pictured above, these figurines could definitely add a magical touch to cupcakes or birthday cakes. They are also beautiful garden decor. My daughter loved setting up all the pieces that we received. There are many different sets to choose from. We received a beautiful wooden bridge, a slide complete with a lovely winged fairy, and a mail box set.  You can even get imitation grass if you want to set up your fairy house inside.

What makes these so much fun is that you can use them anywhere. If you want them in your garden, they are well made and will hold up well under various weather conditions. Inside, they make great imaginative toys for little girls.  Each piece is incredibly detailed. The fairy's features are so life-like, you'll swear you are holding a real fairy in your hand and just waiting for it to come to life. Even the accessories are stunning. The bridge is trimmed with the flowers and the mailbox was a slot that you can actually slide little messages into. 

Of course, these are only a few of the accessories they offer. Here are a few other examples of the fairies you can choose from.

If you'd like to learn more about Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection, be sure to visit their website or follow them on social media. Check out their store locator to find a location near you that sells these beautiful fairies.

Back to Roots #MushroomFarm

Grow gourmet, organic oyster mushrooms right out of the box in just 10 days! Just open the box, mist with water, and harvest 10 days later. The Mushroom Farm lasts for months in the box unopened, making a great gift item for kids, families, foodies & chefs! Includes:

• organic plant-based soil (can grow multiple crops!)
• oyster mushroom spawn
• spray mister
• BONUS: organic heirloom tomato seeds to grow with your composted mushroom kit

Save your back from pain with The Heft

Low back pain will affect many of the 140 million Americans who shovel snow or work in their gardens. That PAIN will be dramatically reduced with The HEFT.

The HEFT is a small secondary handle that allows the user to stand more upright when they work.

If you are looking for the Best Gift Idea under $25, why not do what 300,000 Canadians have already done and get your hands on a HEFT? The HEFT is an award-winning secondary handle that makes snow shoveling or gardening safer, easier and more comfortable by quickly and easily attaching to most standard long shaft tools – like shovels or rakes. 

The HEFT is brand new to the US market and is unlike any other secondary handle in the market. The patented opposing collars mean The HEFT can be attached, repositioned or removed in literally ONE SECOND as there are no moving parts or tools required for attachment.

You will love The HEFT for its many benefits:

·         Maintains a safer and more comfortable upright posture for the user

·         Endorsed by a Harvard trained Doctor

·         Is ON or OFF in just ONE SECOND with a simple twist

·         Very user friendly as there are no tools required for attachment

·         Versatile as it fits a wide variety of tools – not just shovels

·         Cost effective – no need to buy expensive ergonomic tools

·         Winner of multiple awards (National Hardware Show and National Lawn & Garden Show)

·         Made in North America for the highest quality

Twist on a HEFT and let it do the heavy lifting – 300,000 people already have!

Connect with The Heft

Website - Facebook - Twitter

My Thoughts

I was interested in this product because my husband and I get lower back pain. For him, it is a herniated disc injury and for me my sciatica nerve. While we don't get many bad winters here, I was curious how this would help with yard work, such as gardening with a shovel when lifting dirt.

The Heft handle was easy to put on as well as take off. When first looking at it, I expected it to be a bit more complicated, but it really wasn't It was as simple as twisting it on and twisting it off.  When it was on the pole, it was study. Not loose to where I had to worry about it being more of a pain trying to keep it in place. Instead, it locked on and stayed in place where I needed it.

Shoveling with The Heft on took some getting used it. It's normal to want to bend over and scoop. It took a few tries using this to get coordinated, but after I got the hang of it, I could really see this being a big help to someone with back issues who may need to shovel a lot of snow in the winters or for gardening in the summers.

I was really impressed with this product and would recommend it to anyone, back issues or not. Once I got the hang of it, it was almost easier to shovel with it on then off. A really great product to try.

Click and Grow #Giveaway

Grow Your Own Indoor Garden Giveaway with Click And Grow (2 Winners) TRV $160

Deliciously Savvy is hosting an amazing giveaway in which 2 lucky winners will receive a Click and Grow Starter Kit PLUS a Tomato Refill Pack! TRV is $160. I LOVE my Click And Grow and you can read all about it HERE! Enter Today To Win & Good Luck!

Check out My Savvy Review of The Click and Grow Here!

Sponsored By: Click and Grow

Hosted By: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom // Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // My Silly Little Gang // Oh My Heartsie Girl // Life in a House of Testosterone // IMHO Views, Reviews and Giveaways // Cha Ching Queen // Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains // Michigan Saving and More // Capri's Coupons

PLUS a Big Thank You To All Blogs Helping To Promote This Fabulous Giveaway! You Rock!

 

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ INSTAGRAM

THE DETAILS:

2 Lucky Winners Will Receive The Items Below (TRV $160)

(Each Winner Receives) The Smart Herb Garden Starter Kit ($60 RV) *Comes with 3 Complimentary Basil Starter Plants*

(Each Winner Receives) Mini Tomato Refill Pack ($20 RV)

And Now The Giveaway!!!

Giveaway Dates ~ 09/01 9PM EST until 09/23 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 09/23/2016.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

By Supporting Our Blogs Via Social Media You Are Helping Us To Provide Fabulous Prizes For Amazing Future Giveaways! Good Luck & Thank You!

Book Review: Mother Earth News Almanac

Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons returns! The 1970s classic has been out of print for years. Now, updated for today's readers and back in print, its information is as useful as ever. It contains instructions and illustrations for everything from harnessing solar energy to cultivating a sustainable garden to learning how to keep bees. Simply put, Mother Earth News Almanac is designed to empower readers to be self-sufficient.

The Mother Earth News team has updated the essentials, but left the core of the guide intact, with all the charm of the original … from the writing style to the signature line drawings. This is a must-have for any fan of Mother Earth News, and a budget-friendly guide for a new generation of homesteaders. 

The almanac is a seasonal guide with subject matter that every passionate DIYer, homesteader or environmentally aware reader can appreciate. You'll find recipes, money-saving tips, and homesteading techniques such as illustrated directions for tying a timber hitch, cat's-paw, sheepshank, and other knots; folk medicine treatments and preventatives; tips on raising chickens and keeping bees; plans for building three kinds of kites; complete instructions for fast and easy compost; and much, much more!

The simple life doesn't have to be hard, not when you have this timeless almanac.

About Mother Earth News
The most popular and longest-running sustainable-lifestyle magazine, MOTHER EARTH NEWS provides wide-ranging, expert editorial coverage of organic foods, country living, green transportation, renewable energy, natural health and green building. Lively, insightful and on the cutting edge, MOTHER EARTH NEWS is the definitive read for the growing number of Americans who choose wisely and live well. 

Read Mother Earth News magazine and visit them on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons may be purchased both on their website and on Amazon. 

Our Thoughts
We've been on our way to a more economical, healthier lifestyle for the last several years and have now finally purchased an acreage way out in the country for a future build site.

The Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons is exactly what I want to be reading as we prepare our new place. This book isn't just about gardening, homesteading, livestock, etc - it's also full of good useful household tips on just about everything, from DIY repairs and projects, to recipes, and hints on where to find the things you need.  I like the humorous writing style it has, too. 

Many of the tips & tricks mentioned are ones I grew up with - like using wood ashes on an icy driveway - boy, as kids we hated it when Dad spread ashes on the driveway - it wasn't slippery enough to sled down anymore (but it sure made driving up it easier!).  There's even a bit in there about lubricating nails so they pound in easier - something I well know, as pins were my all-time favorite (yes, even over snaps and aplix!) on cloth diapers - have to lubricate pins, too, in order to get them to slide thru fabric like butter.  There's even a paragraph in there about hunting morel mushrooms, one of my favorite spring activities!

The Mother Earth News online magazine is filled with informative articles - I just finished reading How to Sell at a Farmers Market as I know we'll have more garden produce than we will need.  I could easily spend days on this website . . . in fact I just subscribed to their magazine, which you can get in print, digital, or both. And I know both my mother and myself will greatly enjoy the magazines.

An enjoyable read, Mother Earth News Almanac: A Guide Through the Seasons is the type of gift I'd want to receive for Mother's Day! (And it'd make a great Father's Day gift as well!)

Fun Gifts for the Gardening Mom from Crenova

If your mom love to get hers hands dirty, Crenova has some affordable gifts she's sure to love. Check out these great items and grab a few for yourself. They are available exclusively on Amazon.

• Great for gardening: These pruning shears are a necessary tool for any gardener. Scissors can be used for a wide variety of gardening tasks, from pruning delicate leaf stems to cutting tree branches.
• Designed for comfort: With the garden shears' ergonomic design, holding them will be very comfortable. You can use them for long periods of time without worrying that your hand will ache or tire. Design is particularly useful for gardeners with small hands, or those who have carpal tunnel or arthritis.
• Long-lasting and rust resistant: Blade is crafted from a durable 3CR13 stainless steel which will stay sharp for years to come and is resistant to rust build-up and chipping. You won't need to replace these shears any time soon.
• Easy to clean: Because the garden scissors features a self-cleaning sap groove, sticky debris won't get caught up in the blade, creating yet another mess for you to clean up.
• Safe for storage: The shears have a safety lock that can be activated once you're done using them. This means that you can then store them without having to worry about injury or property damage.

• The hose nozzle sprayer gives you 9 spraying patterns to choose from，mist, soaker, cone, center, flat, jet, shower, rinse, and pour. It will meet all your watering needs;
• Sturdy metal construction for durability;
• Easily adjustable spraying modes. You could easily adjust the spraying pattern by rotating the head of the nozzle;
• Buckle to hold the trigger during prolonged use, so your hands won't get tired;
• Excellent design and construction for comfort and better handling.