If you’re a fan of eggs, you’re not alone. Besides being a tasty and nutritious choice, eggshells come with some surprising benefits. Before you toss them out, here are seven reasons to consider keeping those eggshells around.
1. Natural Pest Repellent
Got slugs and snails wreaking havoc in your garden? Crushed eggshells scattered around your plants can help. These critters dislike the rough texture, so eggshells can keep them at a distance naturally.
2. Deer Deterrent
Living near wooded areas can mean deer snacking on your plants. But scattered eggshells may be the answer. Deer dislike the scent of eggshells, making this an easy way to keep them away from your garden.
3. Bird Attractor
Eggshells can help attract birds to your garden, which not only adds to the ambiance but also helps with insect control. Sprinkle a few crushed eggshells around, and you’ll likely see more feathered visitors keeping pests in check.
4. Soil Enricher
Eggshells are a great source of calcium and other nutrients that improve soil quality. Adding crushed eggshells to your garden beds can give your plants a little nutritional boost, helping them grow stronger.
5. Calcium Boost for Vegetables
Certain vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, need extra calcium to avoid issues like blossom-end rot. Mixing crushed eggshells into the soil around their roots can help keep your veggies healthy, flavorful, and firm.
With these simple tricks, your leftover eggshells can be a natural boost for your garden!
A teenager built his ideal tiny house entirely from reused materials and now enjoys living without paying rent
While many people typically wait until they are at least 30 years old to build their dream home, the thrill of hand-crafting your ideal living space is unmatched.
Imagine the journey of creating a plan, putting your heart and soul into it, and finally seeing your vision come to life. That’s exactly what Tom did. At just 17 years old, he used his skill, creativity, and determination to make his dream a reality.
Driven by rising housing costs and a desire for independence, Tom set out to build a modest home using recycled materials. He discovered he could create something completely from scratch while staying within a budget.
“My vision for the cabin was to keep things simple and provide a stress-free lifestyle. Everything I have is mine; I paid for everything”, Tom explained.
Now, at 20, Tom is relieved knowing he won’t have to spend his hard-earned money on rent. “It’s a no-brainer life and once you’ve built something, it really is yours”, he added.
Tom’s house is located on his grandfather’s extensive property and retains a charming English country aesthetic, complete with a side window. At 17, he bought a caravan and immediately began building it while working and completing his carpentry apprenticeship, which he completed in December.
The front of his house is made of larch wood, sourced cheaply from a local sawmill, while the side walls are made of fence boards. All the windows are recycled, sourced from a website that specializes in used materials. He recently added a porch, using boards from a scaffolding company and other scrap and reclaimed wood he recovered from the job.
Upon entering Tom’s home, visitors are greeted by beautiful reclaimed wood and a tranquil poster of a seascape. “My goal was to use only reclaimed wood for the build because it’s budget-friendly,” Tom noted. Much of the wood in his home was salvaged from old homes that he personally stripped down, sanded and repurposed.
The living area includes a compact workspace for his work and meals, a standard sofa, and a wall-mounted TV. In the future, he hopes to upgrade to a multifunctional sofa with built-in storage.
Tom especially loves his kitchen, where he made a fully functional worktop out of recycled scaffolding boards and spent hours sanding and painting it. The kitchen is equipped with essential appliances such as a fridge, stove and toaster.
Opposite the kitchen is a compact bathroom with a small chemical toilet with electric flush. The shower area has corrugated iron walls and copper fittings, evoking a rustic farmhouse feel. Back in the living room, a ladder leads to the loft, which leads to Tom’s cozy bedroom with double mattress.
Tom began building his dream home at age 17 with a budget of $8,200 and an hourly wage of $5.50 and managed to save most of his income to finance the construction of his home using recycled materials.
Imagine how his home will evolve as he completes the various upgrades he has in mind! For a full tour of Tom’s home, check out the video below
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