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	<title>Home Touch</title>
	<link>http://www.hometouch.org</link>
	<description>Get ideas to improve your home!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:25:28 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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	<language>en</language>

	<item>
		<title>Which Fasteners to Use on Home Projects</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	When you are deciding whether to use nails or screws in a home project, it&#8217;s important to think about how the fasteners are applied and how they hold up in the long run.  You can use hand tools for both or you can use faster, easier power tools for both.

Nails can be easily hammered [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/121/which-fasteners-to-use-on-home-projects/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Creating Bookshelves</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	One of the best pieces of furniture you can make or buy is a bookshelf.  There are so many things you can store on a bookshelf, the storage can actually be part of your décor, they help you stay organized and uncluttered, bookshelves can be made cheaply, and they can be adapted to whatever [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/120/creating-bookshelves/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Attitude:  The Best Tool in Your Toolbox</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	Certain types of home repairs have problematic consequences if they cannot be completed.  For example, if you set out to change a faucet and you can’t get rid of all the leaks, you won’t be able to use that sink.  Even worse, if there are no shut-off valves between your main valve and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/119/attitude-the-best-tool-in-your-toolbox/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Principles of PVC Pipe</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	One of the greatest gifts to the do-it-yourselfer is the PVC pipe.  Traditional copper pipe is a very nice material, but cutting and soldering it is a relatively advanced-level project.  
	In contrast, PVC pipe is easy to cut and easy to put together.  You don’t need a propane torch; just some pipe [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/118/principles-of-pvc-pipe/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Choosing Wood for Your Project</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	Wood is a wonderful product.  It is strong and yet flexible.  It can be shaped in a variety of ways and it comes from the lumber yard in a huge range of sizes.  It can be used for everything from making a fence to creating a fine piece of heirloom furniture.


	When it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/117/choosing-wood-for-your-project/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Psychological Side to Renovation:  Managing the Chaos</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	In addition to normal stress such as needing to earn a living and take care of family members, renovation can add its own unique form of stress.  It happens through the mess that gets made, through financial worries, through delays, and through inconvenience.

The best choice is to try to prevent stress.  One way [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/116/the-psychological-side-to-renovation-managing-the-chaos/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Plumbing for the Anxious</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	When you buy a house, you begin to realize that there is a reason for all those do-it-yourself shows on television:  it gets expensive hiring someone to come in and do everything that needs to get done.

If you are just entering the kingdom of home ownership, then here is the first project you might [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/115/plumbing-for-the-anxious/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Order of Improvements</title>
		<description><![CDATA[	Gravity causes things to fall down, and it is the chief arbiter of the order in which you make improvements to a room, if you have any kind of choice at all.

Begin with the ceiling.  There’s nothing like a fresh coat of ceiling paint to dress a room up.  And if the floor [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/114/the-order-of-improvements/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Preparation for Planting</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Once you've decided which vegetables you want to plant and where, there is still a little bit of preparation to complete before planting. To make a good garden you must have good soil.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/111/preparation-for-planting/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Planning and Planting for Fall and Winter</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us think of planting in the Spring and harvesting in the Fall. And, for the majority of crops, that's right. But species vary, climates vary and indoor container gardening often can be carried out year 'round.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/110/planning-and-planting-for-fall-and-winter/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Pumpkin Growing Tips</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Pumpkins are great for a number of purposes. They can be used to make a great pie, and of course there's the traditional Halloween decoration. Fortunately, growing good ones takes only a modest amount of knowledge and care.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/109/pumpkin-growing-tips/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Vegetable Gardening for Everyone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Vegetable gardening has all kinds of positives. It's fun, it's good exercise in fresh air, and (not least) it provides a tasty and healthy food. But nothing comes free. It does require effort.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/108/vegetable-gardening-for-everyone/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Weed Control Methods</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Keeping weeds down is more than just an aesthetic issue. Weeds consume space, water and soil nutrients needed by growing vegetable plants.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/107/weed-control-methods/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Organic and Inorganic Methods</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It's become fashionable to tout organic gardening as the only environmentally safe way to grow vegetables.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/106/organic-and-inorganic-methods/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Lettuce Growing Tips</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Lettuce is a great addition to any vegetable gardening. Not only is it healthy to eat, it takes up very little space, unlike pumpkins. But for an optimal crop a few simple guidelines are helpful.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/105/lettuce-growing-tips/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Indoor vs Outdoor Vegetable Gardening</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you prefer to grow your vegetables indoors or out, there are trade offs involved.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/104/indoor-vs-outdoor-vegetable-gardening/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>How to Create Compost</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Creating your own compost is easy and provides an excellent natural fertilizer.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/103/how-to-create-compost/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Disease Control Tips</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Keeping your vegetables disease free is an ongoing effort. But that chore is made easier when you employ a broad-based effort that doesn't rely solely on one method.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/102/disease-control-tips/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Fertilization and Irrigation</title>
		<description><![CDATA[To produce a healthy, productive garden you'll need loamy soil.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/101/fertilization-and-irrigation/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Dealing with Tomato Problems</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Tomatoes are a wonderful addition to any vegetable garden. They add zing and a variety of healthy ingredients to any meal. But growing them can be a little tricky in some areas. Here are some tips about how to maximize your crop and minimize your problems producing them.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/100/dealing-with-tomato-problems/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Dealing With Pests</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Controlling pests in order to produce a healthy crop is an ongoing task. But it can be made easier by taking an integrated approach. Don't rely on just one method, but employ a variety.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/99/dealing-with-pests/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Container Gardening</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Growing vegetables in containers - whether inside the house, in a greenhouse or just on the porch - has many advantages. Soil maintenance is easier. Pest control is simpler. There are more options for adjusting light and temperature levels.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/98/container-gardening/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Take Care of the Details</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Pay attention to the details in home decor.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/97/take-care-of-the-details/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Growing Tips for Novices</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Orchids have the reputation of being among the hardest plants to grow. For some species, that's definitely true. But there are thousands of species of orchids and some are no more difficult to care for than an African Violet. Some are even nearly as trouble-free as a cactus.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/96/growing-tips-for-novices/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Species Selection Tips</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Selecting a species of orchid to grow will, of course, be heavily influenced by personal taste. But within that broad spectrum, those choices can and should be influenced by the care a given orchid needs. That, in turn, is determined by the native conditions of that species.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/95/species-selection-tips/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Hawaiian Orchid Species</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many islands support orchid populations. One of the most well known is the big island of the Hawaiian Islands chain: Hawaii. Often referred to as Orchid Island, this tropical paradise is festooned with flowers of all types.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/94/hawaiian-orchid-species/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Common Orchid Diseases</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Like most plants, orchids are vulnerable to many different diseases. Treatment ranges from simple brushing off to a whole routine of 'hospital' care.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/93/common-orchid-diseases/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Loveliest Flower Family</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyone will have his or her favorite flower, but there's a reason that orchids have been so popular since their introduction to Victorian society over 100 years ago. Orchids are exquisite.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/92/the-loveliest-flower-family/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Soil Preparation and Care</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The title is actually a little misleading since orchids don't really live in soil.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/91/soil-preparation-and-care/</link>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Some Orchid Species to Choose From</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are over 20,000 naturally occurring orchid species, and over 100,000 hybrids. That leaves an enormous range of possible choices, a variety that can be overwhelming. But the choice can be made easier by investigating a few examples.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.hometouch.org/90/some-orchid-species-to-choose-from/</link>
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