“Don’t wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!” Charmaine J. Forde. “Be thankful for what you have. Your life is someone else’s fairy tale.” Wale Ayeni. “Even in the quiet and dark of November, there’s opportunity for progress while others rest or get unmotivated. So keep going.” George Saunders. “There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” Ralph H. Blum. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Vivian Greene. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Robert Brault.

As this year winds down over the next six weeks, find time to meditate on spiritual growth with encouraging and enlightening reading to inspire a renewed walk in faith with God and a profound commitment to living as such. This is a great season to reflect on the renewed and living hope we have in this life and beyond. We can trust God in the days and year ahead for He has good plans for our future. Be good stewards in all that we have been given on this journey called life!

Some landscape planning tips which could be helpful to you in the coming weeks include:

Sketch before digging or building: Always plan your steps in the landscaping process. Part of the planning involves sketching your ideas onto paper. Do the math! Determine the quantities of plants needed, the volume of materials necessary, and the costs to complete your project. This approach will help you determine exactly what you need and avoid wasting your hard-earned dollars.

Pursue the right resources: As you begin your planning, do the necessary research to find the professional assistance needed to determine economic savings with minimal waste from start to finish. Find the right personnel who will give you sound and accurate advice. This resourceful support and information may be partial or for the entirety of the project. The price you pay for an hour of consultation could prove priceless, especially if it saves you money on designs, plants, supplies and other items, as well as preventing costly errors.

Complete your project in phases: Very few people have the necessary and available funding to landscape their site or property all at once. Divide your project into phases over the next few seasons or years. This approach will be a “pay as you develop” with current funding on hand which will save you on credit or loan costs and fees. Also, you will be able to assess your progress within each phase and make any necessary changes or modifications before moving to the next phase. Do keep each phase on a time schedule to keep your family happy and interested in the project.

Look at price and quality: You should never assume that cheaper is better or that the most expensive is the best choice! You always get what you pay for, so if you go cheap you may end up with low quality and a less desirable space. Your planning choices should include all types of retail outlets from warehouse to specialty shops to determine the best investment for you. Also, when (time of season) that you buy can be very critical in so far as being a bargain or not.  It is best to buy Christmas decorations about the first of the year, plants in middle or late season, equipment in the off-season, etc. What about personal service, expert advice, guarantees, and rebates? Are these available? And, if you are planning specialized hardscapes, seek a specialty company rather than a general installation company that seldom deals with hardscapes. Also, just because it might cost more doesn’t necessarily translate into the best product and deal.

Effective shopping and buying: Develop an instinct for finding the real deals. Always accept the lower prices when it’s good enough and you know for sure that quality is not sacrificed. With some items, there’s very little difference in quality between first class and economy. (Like in a plane, both sections will arrive at a destination together so are you willing to pay extra for the comfort since timing is equal?) What benefits are the extra costs providing you?

Online shopping and mail-order sources: Research catalogs and websites to expand your choices and buying power. Shopping online or by phone does offer a convenience but be assured of product quality and availability. Be certain that the company you are dealing with is reputable and not a scam. Also, are handling, shipping, taxes, and other costs added to the purchase price? If so, is it now such a bargain? Buying local does make accessibility more convenient and much simpler.

Adapt sharing opportunities: Through friends and neighbors, you can share equipment and tools. Also, this becomes another way to be sociable and neighborly. If you are planning on renting a tiller, chipper, tractor, trencher or other piece of equipment, always plan in a manner that will provide best investment and wise use. Check with your friends and neighbors for the possibility of renting together and sharing costs to complete all projects in a specified time frame.

Prepare for end of year savings at the stores: This is a good time (after the holidays) to purchase any needed items at a significantly discounted price. These savings may mean more bang for your buck thus minimizing your project expenses.

“They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9. “They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their forefathers.” Jeremiah 11:10. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.” 1 Corinthians 11:11. “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.” Proverbs 11:12. 

Eddie Seagle is a Sustainability Verifier, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning (University System of Georgia) and Short Term Missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to csi_seagle@yahoo.com.