How to grow and sell plants and flowers

Growing plants and flowers is a great hobby that is difficult to master, but extremely rewarding once you have got the hang of it. You can even make a living out of it. Perhaps you could grow rare plants and sell them on? Or experiment with different arrangements that stand out from the usual displays?

Flickr.com/photos/timpatterson/503497030/

Choose your plant or flower

There are countless routes you could go down when it comes to growing plants and flowers. As you will most likely going to be starting off on a very small scale, it is recommended that you decide on a specific type of plant or flower to perfect and make that what you are known for. Have a look around your local area and see what other people are selling at markets and in shops. Try to find a niche that you can fill.

Care for your plants

There are many things to remember when growing plants and flowers, but perhaps the most important is to make sure they have the right environment to grow in. Every plant is unique, so do plenty of reading up on your specific area.

Some basic rules to always remember include the container or pot you are using must be big enough, you must keep your plants at a steady temperature, make sure that your plants get the right amount of natural sunlight, do not over- or under-water your plants, and remember to give your plants fertilizer and or plant food.

Flickr.com/photos/mmmchoco/373562430/ 

Label your plants and stay organised

Labelling your plants and flowers is extremely important if you are looking to sell them at a later date. There is nothing worse than putting in lots of effort when planting and grow them, only find out you cannot recognise your plant.

Keeping your plants and flowers organised with labels is a quick and easy way of saving yourself lots of time in the future. You will be extremely pleased with yourself for doing it.
Often seeds and bulbs can with labels already, but these are often poorly made and it can be a good idea to source better quality labels elsewhere.

Companies such as South East Labels offer a wide range of horticultural labels, such as synthetic ‘slug proof’, waterproof, loop lock and stick-in labels.

Visit www.southeastlabels.co.uk to find out more information. Labels are also useful for selling your products; you can price them and show your customers information.

Flickr.com/photos/goynang/4548158314/

Find your marketplace

Do as much research as possible. Find a market or shop that will stock your product and ask around, you will soon find the perfect place to sell your flowers and plants. If your local town does not have anywhere for you to pitch a stall or stock your product in a shop then you should certainly consider selling online.

Useful links

Plant of the week
The Guardian newspaper offers a 'Plant of the week'.

BBC Plant Finder
Useful resource on identifying plants from the BBC.

Which? Guide to herbs
Which? magazine guide to growing your own herbs.

How to fight the winter fatigue

Many factors can be taken into account to explain the feeling of tiredness that comes with January. Mainly, the lack of sun and the cold weather are making us feeling drained and depressed. Combine this with the return to work and the end of a month-long of festivities and you have a month that feels like a bad hangover. If you should take only one New Year resolution, it should be to do everything to avoid the January blues and fight the fatigue.

Sleep more, keep active and eat well

It seems simple and obvious, but these three things have to be done properly if you want to start the year in the best conditions. First, make sure you get plenty of sleep, but instead of what you did in December, go to bed early and get up early. You will need some energy and willpower to get up when the night is still dark, so make sure you have at least 8 hours of sleep.

Even though you feel tired and without energy, push yourself to be active. You will feel more energised if you do some simple things like walking to work, going for a walk or a ride at the week-end, or practice any sports you enjoy. The gym is a good alternative since it's indoor. The important thing is to not overdoing it or you'll get more tired!

The cold is draining more energy from your body even if you don't do much, so make sure to eat well. Keep a balanced diet, especially if you over-indulged during the holidays, but be careful to eat enough calories to fight the cold.

How to make yourself more employable in the UK

Many people who have been out of the workforce for a long spell find that getting back into it is mission impossible. The good news is that the skills that make people employable overlap in a profoundly close way. Skills and strengths such as communication, adaptability, being a good team player and reliability all feed into each other. So it's more realistic to call it mission employable, rather than mission impossible. Here are some straightforward ways to getting that job you want in the UK.

1. Polish up the CV

Think of this document as the first handshake, before your shining, charming personality can win recruiters over. So, better make sure that it's grammatically and syntactically correct, and that the formatting is easy to read. Don't ramble on for more than three pages. And make sure to demonstrate key qualities in real, concrete terms. i.e. ‘sales increased by 72.3% under my supervision'.

2. Be reliable

A person's longevity in a role, and how punctual they are, are definite draw cards for recruiters. This is one way of measuring a person's integrity, honesty and commitment to the role. It's the first step towards building a trustworthy professional relationship. Job seekers should cultivate this skill and, if they know themselves to be reliable, provide demonstrable examples of this from previous roles on their CV.

3. Be adaptable

This can be defined as being able to cope with uncertainty and changing circumstances. A person who can hit the ground running, with minimal hand-holding, is a definite plus for recruiters and employers.

On the other end of the scale, adaptability doesn't mean working long hours for no overtime pay or being an employer's doormat, there's a subtle difference. A canny idea is to write down concrete examples of adaptability from prior roles or study. Then pull these out of the hat during the interview. 

4. Be a team player

A good team member will understand other people's strengths and abilities and help others to do their job in a fair and amiable way. When a group of people achieve cohesion then, like a well-oiled machine, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  A good way to stand out from the crowd is by demonstrating how well you can work with others, both in high pressure situations and with the different personalities of colleagues all jostling for attention and recognition.

5. Be a confident communicator 

The skills of confidence and communication feed into each other very nicely. Training and professional development courses will help job seekers to understand industry-specific jargon and ways to engage with colleagues. Communication skills can assist professionals to mentor others, be good leaders and team members and to work smarter, not harder.  Check out the Skola website for courses that fit the bill for career growth.

6. Diversify and deepen your skills

Often, a stumbling block for job seekers happens when a job asks for qualifications that a person simply doesn't have. Instead of getting disheartened by this, consider further study as a way to narrow the knowledge gap and gain skills.  Short courses, diplomas and even a degree could be the way to go. Consider an English course for adults; these courses are an invaluable way for job seekers to polish their skills.

Volunteering in the not-for-profit sector offers people with lesser qualifications a real chance to gain practical experience in their chosen field.  Employers always smile upon candidates who have pro-actively filled their knowledge gap with volunteer work experience and training. 

Useful links

BBC World of Work

More revealing tips for how to make it in the business world, from the BBC

HR Magazine

A recruiter's eye view on employability and what this means for them

Student Employability

The Guardian's Higher Education Network and their advice for graduates and school leavers looking to join the workforce

How to make the most of your Gap Year

Not everybody will listen to the advice given to them about gap years. One of the most important things is to be prepared, and sort it out early. The earlier you get on top of this, the more eager you appear and the more chance you’ll have of beating others to get there first. Many of us have taken gap years to either work, to travel or to ‘find ourselves’. It’s a year that (as many know) can go far too quickly. So it’s fairly obvious that you need to make the most of it. The big question is what do you want to get out of your gap year?

Internships

A good place to start would be looking for your dream internship. I’d like to think you’re studying for a reason; if you want a career in the subject you’re studying then why not aim for the best possible thing you could do? Think of the top organisations/people in your industry and hassle them. You’d be surprised at your luck if you showed plenty of ambition & determination for a work placement.



You can gain a vast amount of quality experience in the industry which can inevitably help with job applications once you’ve eventually finished your studies. Nobody is stopping you from getting a placement apart from yourself. If you really want it, you can go and get it! Don’t apply for 1 or 2 placements though; make sure you branch out and apply for lots of things you wouldn’t ever have imagined of being accepted for- the more doors you bang on, the more chance of somebody opening.

Traveling Abroad

This would be a great chance to see the world. Traveling can open your eyes as you start to see it from a different perspective. Sure, we have the internet nowadays, so we can see any place we’d want to in the world through a screen. But it doesn’t beat the experience of walking on foreign lands, living life in a different culture, trying different foods and generally seeing how other people live their lives. It may make you feel lucky to live the life you lead.
You can buy round the world tickets, which do exactly what they say on the tin. This way, you really can stretch to different corners of the planet. Planning a trip is highly recommended, so you know roughly where you’ll be going and that you will be doing it safely.

Volunteering Abroad

By volunteering you’d receive the same sort of benefits as traveling, plus a bit more. You have the opportunity to see the world and – like previously – live your life in different cultures, making you see the world from a different perspective. You could do almost anything when volunteering; there are people from much more deprived countries that are so grateful for help & support from students. Whether you were good at sports or are training to be a doctor- you can help people.

I think one of the most beneficial things about volunteering is that firstly, you see the world, and secondly, you feel rewarded from the good deeds that you do for others who really appreciated it. Companies such as Projects Abroad UK offer opportunities to help others in loads of different countries and many different sectors. You could find yourself coaching football to 6-17 year olds in Argentina or volunteering in Nepal as a carer or even a teacher- the possibilities truly are endless! There’s a volunteering opportunity out there for everybody.



So if you’re taking a gap year have a really good think about your options; what do you want to get out of it? Develop your career in the right internship? See the World? Help others? This could be a life-changing year for you if you approach it with the right kind of attitude!

Resource box:

UCAS
Take a look at gap year recommendations from UCAS.

Channel 4
Sitcom about interns taking a placement that is completely fake- but not to their knowledge.

BBC
Advice on whether a gap year is for you.

How to use technology to spend less: modern money saving tips

Technology does not just make things easier – it can also be used to make things cheaper. Whether you are adding a second landline using VoIP to save money, or scanning barcodes with your smartphone to find the cheapest way to buy something, there are so many ways to make technology work for you to make your money go further. Here are some ideas that even the biggest technophobe will have to acknowledge the value of.

Get open to open source

With the latest software and operating system versions usually priced as high as the producers think the market will bear, you can stop dancing to their tune by opting for open source equivalents. These are produced by a community of developers who look for others to make iterative improvements and so are free to use.

Look out for operating systems such as Linux (which is generally seen to be more stable than its big brother counterpart Windows), productivity suites such as OpenOffice, image editing software such as Picassa from Google and web browsers such as Firefox.

Snoop on coupon sites

Whether it is days out, meals out, designer wear or homeware, there are just so many great deals out there on the internet for those prepared to snoop them out. Sites like Groupon, Vouchercodes.co.uk and a host of others are serving up daily deals to those in the know.

Use VoIP to save money

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services offer you drastically lower call rates by using your internet connection rather than the traditional copper wire phone network. This does not mean you have to use a headset and computer to make a call, as nifty adapters allow your standard home phone to tap into your broadband supply without relying on your PC. National packages can offer you unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines anywhere in the UK and international packages offer you unlimited calls to Spain, India, Australia or any combination of countries. In addition, you will receive premium services without the premiums such as caller identification, call divert, call waiting and even voicemail messages emailed as text to your email account.

Internet-based VoIP services like Skype can also allow you to make a video call to anyone in the world without paying a single penny so you can not only hear them but see them. Perfect for catching up with friends overseas or seeing your relatives’ faces as they open the presents you have sent.

Avoid the high price trap with a barcode app

The latest smartphones have cameras sophisticated enough to scan barcodes and there are plenty of apps out there that can make this capability start working for you. Imagine you are out shopping and you see something that you just must buy. How do you know if the price is right? With a tap on an app and a click of the camera you can compare prices from high-street and online retailers in a second and even order the product from the seller with the very best deal.

Make your money go far with solar

Sometimes there can be a lot of green in being green. The latest solar panels require much less initial financial outlay but still promise great financial returns. Solar power can generate electricity (solar PV), or for lower set-up costs can heat your water (solar thermal), and both can cut your heating bills by at least a third. In addition, a new scheme known as the Feed-in Tariff actually pays you to generate electricity and promises returns as high as £25,000 over 25 years.

Resource Box

Free Office software

Find free versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more

Barcode scanner apps

Find the best deal available by scanning the barcode of products

How to buy solar panels

Research how to buy solar panels and find out how much you could be saving

3 ways to make custom labels for your jars

Whether you’re making homemade pickles for Christmas gifts or just wanting to give your jams a personal touch, nothing will set your jars off like your own custom labels. If you’re feeling creative, and have the technical know-how, you can get your basic equipment from specialist supplies such as http://www.southeastlabels.co.uk and make stunning labels using programs like Photoshop on your computer. But you don’t have to be a designer to make beautiful labels.

There are simple ways to customise templates, downloadable designs and even the possibility of using beautiful scrapbook paper to make your labels. Here are three ways to create custom labels that will make your homemade food jars look fantastic.

Using just paper

Whether you use some shop-bought patterned scrapbook paper or print a design onto plain paper, it’s easy to make your own jar labels with just paper and clear packing tape.

1.     Measure around your jar. If you want your label to meet, you’ll need paper strips a tiny bit longer than this. If you don’t mind a gap then make them shorter.

2.     Make sure your clear packing tape is about a quarter of an inch taller than your paper. If your label is 1 ¾” you will need 2” tape.

3.     Lay your label on the table and measure a length of tape just longer, then place it sticky side down on your label. You should have tape showing over the edge of the label on each side.

4.     Pick up the label and tape (which are now one) and carefully guide it round your jar. Your custom label may not be fully waterproof, but will be fine to go in and out of fridges and survive a thorough sponge down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamjar/7230185740/

Using label templates

With a little creativity, a computer, printer and plain labels on rolls or labels on sheets, you can create distinctive labels for your home-made jars of jam or pickles. The process is similar using either Microsoft Publisher or Word, but as it’s easier for the beginner, this step-by-step guide uses Publisher as an example.

1. From the Publisher Catalogue choose Labels and then select Jar/Product before clicking Start Wizard. You don’t need to fill in the information requested so click Finish.

2. Clean up the bits you don’t want on the template by selecting and cutting them. Cut the boxes for Business Name, Date, logo and the line in the middle of the white box.

3. Select Colour Schemes and choose one you like.

4. Next add some text by clicking the Label Title and choosing your font.

5. You can add pictures using the Insert menu. Change the size of your image by clicking its corner and dragging it in or out.

6. Print on 3.33 x 4 inch shipping labels – or the option that matches the labels you have.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/4012455676/

Downloading label templates

There are a number of sites that will allow you to download your own jar templates. Simply find the ones you like, download them and then print them onto your labels. Personalisation here is done the old fashioned way ─ with a pen!

Resource box

Downloadable jar label templates

Find hundreds of ready-made designs to download

Design labels using Word

Learn how to use Word to create your jar labels

Inspirational jar labels

Browse classic designs of famous labels for inspiration

How to make American pancakes

America’s pancakes are slightly different from the ones we make in England; they even have restaurants that are specifically just for pancakes! IHOP is a famous American pancake house, below is a simple recipe on how to make pancakes just as good as theirs!

Prepare

Get everything you need first; Frying pan, Whisk, Mixing Bowl, Sieve, Flower(135g) , Caster Sugar(2tbsp), Egg(1), Milk (130ml), Butter(2tbsp) and a pinch of salt.

Mix

Sift the salt, baking powder caster sugar and the flour into the mixing bowl and then break the eggs into the middle. Melt the butter and then start whisking the egg and milk in a separate bowl, once the butter has melted whisk it into the milk and egg.  Pour the two mixtures together, beat with a form making sure that there aren’t any lumps.

Frying

Heat up the frying pan, add some butter and wait for it to melt. Once it has melted add some of the mixture onto the frying pan and make sure that it is thick.  Once the pancake has started to bubble, turn it over , leave it to cook for a few minutes and it should then be golden brown. Repeat this until the mixture has been used up.

Eat

They are at their best straight from the pan, but you can always re heat in the microwave once they have been cooked. The pancakes can be served with butter or syrup depending on your preference.