Q: Farms often attract starlings, but the birds can eat your livestock feed and spread disease to your animals. Using feed and feeding methods that do not attract starlings can help keep the birds off of your farm. Provide either granular feed or large pellets (at least 0.5 inch in size) that are more difficult for starlings to eat. Do not put animal feed directly on the ground. Use bird-proof feeders. Many of these will make "clanging" noises periodically or have covers that birds cannot penetrate. Feed animals in a covered area, such as a barn. Feed animals in the evening or after dark. If you use bird feeders to attract songbirds to your yard, you may be annoyed by starlings eating all of your bird feed and scaring off other birds. Place wide netting or a cage around feeders. Smaller songbirds will be able to penetrate the holes, but starlings will not. Cut perches very short so that only smaller birds can perch on your feeders. Try a feeder that requires birds to feed upside down: starlings do not like to eat upside down. Do not put birdseed directly on the ground. Standing water should be drained or limited to depths containers in which the water level is at least six inches below the edge of the container and the depth of the water is at least three inches. Different types of spray that are safe for humans are available. This is a particularly good option if you have a crop that starlings like to eat, like grapes or berries. Try spraying methyl anthranilate, a grape flavoring, on food sources. Garlic oil may also deter starlings. Applying it to bird seed "bait" or spraying it on or around potential food sources may encourage them to relocate.
A: Deter starlings from eating livestock feed. Adapt bird feeding techniques to smaller birds. Limit standing water levels. Spray food sources with anti-bird spray.

Q: When you do your first split, you're probably (understandably) focused on possible injury or discomfort you might experience, so it's easy to forget that you can shred certain types of clothing by doing a split. Don't put yourself at risk for an embarrassing rip! Wear loose or flexible clothing, such as the following suggestions: Athletic shorts, leggings, track pants, skirt, or sweat pants. Loose t-shirts or tank tops. Skin-tight elastic material - spandex or lycra leotards, dance clothes, etc. Martial arts clothing - karate gi, etc. Socks or tights. You may also go barefoot. Never attempt to push yourself past your limit. Doing the splits requires lots of time and plenty of patient practice. Increasing your flexibility can take months. Since this is a process that happens gradually over time, you may not notice improvement every time you attempt the splits. Stick with it! You will get better as you practice every day. Keep in mind that the splits are not a comfortable position even for most people who have them.
A: Wear flexible clothing. Be patient.

Q: Everyone makes mistakes! Don't beat yourself up for the issues in your relationships. Think about the lessons you've learned instead. Write down how each relationship has improved you. Recognize the work you put into the relationship. Instead of trying to find love, give love to yourself. List the things you love about yourself, including your personality, body, and talents. Use positive self-talk to create a good outlook about yourself. To use positive self-talk, notice when you're telling yourself negative things. Replace those thoughts with honest, positive statements. You can also use positive affirmations. Date yourself! Go to the movies, go out for coffee, eat dinner in a nice restaurant, go for a nice walk in the park, or get tickets to a concert you've always wanted to see. You and your ex broke up for a reason. Even if you didn't want to break up, it's important to remember your ex had their reasons. They may not have wanted the same things you did, and they clearly didn't love you as much as you deserve. Look for the person who will. Make a list of everything you want in a relationship and how your ex didn't fulfill those needs. If you broke off the relationship, remember why you wanted to part ways. This will help you direct your energies toward personal fulfillment, not your ex. Even a tiny step toward your goal can help you feel better. Do something easy, then keep up the momentum! Break your goal into small, manageable steps. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you might start by training for a 5K. You deserve a treat! This will help you feel better about your life and yourself. Here are some ideas: Go out for lunch. Spend time on a hobby. Do something relaxing, like going for a nature walk or getting a massage. Buy yourself a coffee. Pick up a dessert to go. Buy yourself something you've been eyeing. Instead of looking at what you don't have, meaning your ex, take note of what's going well in your life. Think about your career, friendships, hobbies, goals, etc. Here are some things to consider: Look at your life the way you're looking at your ex. Turn your own highlight reel into a story about how well your life is going. If you're having trouble finding things to celebrate, ask those closest to you to help point out the good things in your life. Chances are they'll be able to list off several awesome things you're overlooking! Get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Choose an exercise that lets you blow off some steam, like kickboxing, dancing, or running. You might try high-intensity training or interval training. The high intensity portions of the workout will allow you to release built up emotions. The recovery periods will give you time to catch your breath. If you're not used to exercising, work your way up to it gradually. For example, you might start by walking for 10 minutes a day. Working with a trainer can also help. When you're going through a tough time, it's normal to neglect your self-care. However, it's extremely important that you take care of yourself. Give yourself the care you need, such as the following: Maintain your sleep schedule. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Soak in the bathtub. Engage in relaxing activities. Don't rush into a new relationship or go out looking for a one-night stand. While there's nothing wrong with exploring the dating scene, wait until you're fully ready. Not giving yourself enough time to recover will only make you feel worse.
A: Forgive yourself for your past relationship mistakes. Embrace self-love. Tell yourself you deserve someone who wants the same things you do. Take a step toward a goal you have. Do one nice thing for yourself each day. Focus on the positive things in your life. Work out your feelings through exercise. Tend to your self-care. Begin dating again only when you're ready.

Q: Although experienced nettle harvesters often go bare-handed, this isn't just because they know how to avoid stings. Many of them have become resistant to the stings over years of exposure, while others enjoy the sensation. Consider wearing gloves, or plucking the nettles with tongs. Nettle is a traditional treatment for arthritis, and there's some scientific evidence that it works. So if you suffer from arthritis in the hands, getting stung may actually reduce your pain! Mature nettles may contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can trigger gout episodes or irritate the urinary tract. When picking nettles to eat, look for young plants that have not yet flowered. Look for these in early to mid spring in most areas. Burning nettle, a very similar plant often mistaken for stinging nettle, can germinate anywhere from late fall through early spring. In mild coastal climates, it may flower year round. Any of these processes will neutralize the nettle and make it safe to eat. The two most common uses for nettle are nettle soup and nettle tea.
A:
Considering protecting your hands. Harvest young nettles. Cook, freeze, or dry to remove the sting.