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Dads, Kids, Gardening and Corona Tools

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, May, 31, 2012 @ 13:05 PM

Corona Tools GrowumsAs a father, one of my favorite things to do is teach my two young kids about gardening.  It’s always a challenge to make it fun and interesting for them but one Monday night I was on Brenda Haas’ #gardenchat with her host, @Growums.  And by the luck of the draw, I won a complete Growums kit, designed to get kids introduced to gardening.

Growums with Corona TrowelI love that it comes with everything you need to grow a complete meal (ours was a pizza kit) and it’s made just for kids.  Both my kids got into the great characters and videos they have when you register it on the Growums website.  The kit tells you how to get your seeds started, watering, planting and fertilizing in a way that kids relate to.  The planter box is easy to put together and it even tells you when it needs water. Best of all, my kids still go outside, check it out, check the water and are excited to watch them grow. Well done Growums!

As a parent, we all want our kids to live long, healthy lives and anything that gets children interesting in growing fresh food (and hopefully eating them) makes me feel like I’m getting them off to a good start.

How Does Your Father Inspire Your Gardening Giveaway

So with Father’s Day just around the corner, we want to hear your story of how your father, or even your grandfather, helps inspire others to grow fresh healthy foods.  Starting today, you can send us your story and picture of Dad and share how he influences your passion for gardening.  Doesn’t need to be a novel, just a thank you for what he teaches you, words of wisdom he imparts, a memory from your childhood that stuck with you over the years…etc.  You get the idea…! 

Corona Hand ToolsOn 6/13, Corona will select 3 posts and celebrate them on our Facebook page.  Corona Tools fans will comment or like them to cast their vote for the post they think celebrates a father’s inspiration to gardening.  Then on Father’s Day, we’ll award the post with the most comments and likes with $100 shopping spree on coronatoolsusa.com.  And of course, since he’s inspired you, we’ll give you a matching gift.  The other 2 shares selected, will each get a set of or new ComfortGEL snips and pruners or our e-Grip Garden Hand Tools with Corona tote.

Share your dad’s story with us and we’ll help you both celebrate this very special Father’s Day!   And for those dads who garden with us in spirit, it certainly doesn’t diminish the contributions they've made in our lives.  Keep the tools and think of him when you use them or share them with someone you know who may be new to gardening.  Happy Father's Day and happy story telling everyone!

Topics: gardening, Landscaping, planting, tools, watering, Kids

When Tree Care Goes Wrong

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, May, 17, 2012 @ 19:05 PM

Crimes Against Treemanity

corona treechatYou know you’ve seen it…a thriving healthy tree one day, then a trunk with no branches the next.  Or that tree that someone planted year ago, whose owner forgot, IT WILL GROW…!  Sometimes it’s poor planning, poor maintenance, limited knowledge of what trees need, and in some cases, a blatant disregard for a tree's health.  What we’re talking about are crimes against treemanity!

This week on #treechat, we discussed and had a photo share about some of the awful things homeowners and some landscape “professionals” do to trees.  Many homeowners think a tree just gets planted and their done.  While the un-professional contractor, who knows little about tree care, takes out their chainsaw and just starts butchering trees.

Our goal is to bring awareness to the many crimes against treemanity we see throughout our neighborhoods and cities and to help others learn what they can to prevent these mistakes in their landscapes.  Our arborist community, who participates weekly on #treechat, shared some great tips on how to help prevent these horrible crimes against nature;

corona treechatRemove bracing cables and poles – after the first 2-3 years a tree is established and no longer needs the added support.

Plan before you plant – when planting your trees, think about the space and will it accommodate your tree when mature.  Is it next to the house or will it grow into the electrical lines…?

Resist volcano mulching – more is not always better, especially not piled up around the base of the trunk which can lead to diseases or tree loss.

Proper pruning – the operative word, PROPER!  It invigorates a tree's health, maintains it shape and balance between a trees canopies and roots.

And #1 takeaway...

Hire a certified arborist – not only do they care about a tree’s health but they will properly maintain it.  It’s easy to locate one from organizations such as TCIA, located in your area.  Just ask yourself, would you prefer a plumber or a physician to provide you with your personal health services?   You get the idea...

You can check out all the great tips and photo shares on our Storify “Crimes Against Treemanity

Corona Wants to Help

Corona is doing its part to help stamp out the bad things that happen to trees every day.  We’re giving one lucky treehugger a set of Corona tools Including a professional pair of loppers, hand pruners, and folding saw valued at approx $150 the most shared photo.

Throughout the month of May (5/31), you can share your Crimes Against Treemanity pictures on any of the #treechat networks;

On Twitter: mention @Coronatools & use the #treechat, post your photo on our Facebook or Google+ page, or pin it on the Crimes Against Treemanity photo board on Pinterest!

Share your post and picture with family and friends and let people know why it’s a “crime” and we'll award the Corona pruning tools to the share that generates the most buzz and awareness.  We’ll announce the winner on 6/1/2012 and along the way, create greater awareness so others will take the time and provide proper care to their trees!

Topics: #treechat, tree care, landscape, planting, tools

What's Mom Got to do With Your Garden Passion?

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, May, 03, 2012 @ 10:05 AM

corona tools bp 3160 While out in the garage organizing some things last week, I came across a box of what I would reference as “miscellaneous” items.  As I rummaged through it, I realized it was a box of garden stuff that belonged to my mom.  A pair of old gloves, some small pots for her African Violets, among other things, and a pair of bypass pruners.  Low and behold, they were Corona!  Mom always did have great taste…!

corona toolsOf course this time of year, the country is gearing up for Mother’s Day and finding that box reminded me how much my mom taught me about gardening growing up in the Pacific Northwest.  We grew all the basic veggies and even some of the obscure ones…I don’t know anyone these days who grows kohlrabi…!  She was also a “mad-canner” of everything from beans, tomatoes and pickles.  Little did I know she was setting me up with the skills and a passion for growing fresh that I’m now teaching to my kids.  Thanks Mom and I hope I do you proud!

It seemed fitting that as we celebrate Mom across the country on 5/13, to give back to all the mom’s out there who help nurture and inspire us to garden.  Starting today, you can send us your story and picture of Mom and share how she influences (or influenced) your passion for gardening.  Doesn’t need to be a novel, just a thank you for what she teaches you, words of wisdom she imparts, a memory from your childhood that stuck with you over the years…etc.  You get the idea…! 

corona hand tool toteOn 5/10, Corona will select 3 posts and celebrate them on our Facebook page.  Corona Tools fans will comment or like them to cast their vote for the post they think really celebrates Mom.  Then on Mother’s Day, we’ll award the post with the most comments and likes with $100 shopping spree on coronatoolsusa.com.  And of course, since you are continuing in her gardening footsteps, we’ll give you a matching gift.  The other 2 shares selected, will each get a set of or new ComfortGEL snips and pruners or our e-Grip Garden Hand Tools with Corona tote.

Start sharing what Mom has to do with your growing passion here and we’ll help you both celebrate this very special Mother’s Day!   And for those moms who garden with us in spirit, it certainly doesn’t diminish the contributions they made in our lives.  Keep the tools and think of her when you use them or share them with someone you know who may be new to gardening.  Happy Mother's Day and happy story telling everyone!

Topics: Corona Tools, gardening

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