If you’re interested in sustainability, aquatic life and gardening, you might consider aquaponics with fish. Aquaponics combines methods from hydroponic gardening and aquaculture to create a symbiotic environment in your home fish tank.

To learn more about aquaponics, here is a basic guide to help:

How it works

Aquaponic systems are used to cultivate fish and plants in a mutually beneficial environment. Using aquaponics, you can grow plants without soil, while also providing a healthy living environment for aquatic animals.

The aquaponic system process consists of these five steps:

• Fish eat fish food.
• Fish waste is eaten by special microorganisms called nitrifying bacteria.
• The bacteria convert the fish waste and create nutrient rich water.
• The plants soak up the nutrients like a natural fertilizer, purifying the tank water.
• Fresh water returns to the environment for the process to begin anew.

The main components of an aquaponics system are:

• Fish tank or aquarium.
• Water pump and filter.
• Grow lights.
• Your choice of plants.

There are beginner kits available with all the parts necessary to set up your own aquaponics system at home. You can grow fruits, veggies and tropical plants among a wide variety of fish and water-dwelling creatures.

Benefits

From a gardening perspective, there are many advantages to aquaponics. Growing plants in water is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional soil gardening, and comes without the risk of weeds or most plant pests. The combination of fish waste and helpful bacteria removes the need to add fertilizer, and the water gives plant roots plenty of room to grow.

Aquaponics systems are versatile, and can be set up almost anywhere. You can have an outdoor aquaponic pond, or a desktop garden over a small aquarium. Not only is there very little waste in the process, it’s an excellent way to combine two interests - cultivate plants and fish at the same time!

 

Chili is a classic dish that’s easy to make in large quantities. Unfortunately, sometimes that turns into a large quantity of leftovers. Rather than eat the same chili every night for a week, try adding your leftover chili to other recipes to create new and exciting dishes. Here are some of the simplest and tastiest ways to use up your leftover chili:

Chili Dogs

You don’t need a BBQ or picnic as an excuse to eat hot dogs. By adding a bit of chili and other garnish, you can instantly dress up a sausage in a bun and use some of your leftovers at the same time. The most popular way to serve chili dogs is with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top. Adding leftover veggie chili to a grilled tofu dog is a delicious vegetarian-friendly alternative with all the same flavor and fun.

Chili Mac

What could be better comfort food than two comfort foods combined? For a simple and hearty meal, add some leftover chili to your macaroni and cheese. Whether you cook it from a box or completely from scratch, creamy mac and cheese makes a perfect companion to savory chili. Add a little extra spice with some chopped jalapenos or your favorite hot sauce.

Chili & Rice

Plain rice is another common leftover food item. Conveniently, it pairs very well with leftover chili. The tried-and-true combination of beans and rice is especially powerful when you mix up your leftover rice with chili and add a garnish of your choice. This makes a cozy, satisfying meal with the bonus of using two leftover dishes in one.

Chili Stuffed Peppers

If you love stuffed peppers, you’ll love filling them with your leftover chili. Instead of spending the time and effort to make a brand new filling for your next batch of peppers, just use some chili and top with the cheese of your choice. The flavors and texture of the chili work perfectly as a filling whether you grill or bake your bell peppers.

Chili Taco Salad

Taco salad is a highly customizable dish that you can also use your leftover chili for. Instead of cooking a fresh batch of meat, beans or veggies, just add a hefty dollop of chili to your taco salad and enjoy instant flavor. You can use whatever type of fresh greens and veggies you’d like and your choice of chips or container. Top with your favorite garnish like fresh pico de gallo or some cool sour cream and you have an excellent low-effort meal.

Chili itself is a versatile dish, which makes it even better to combine with other foods. No matter what you like in your chili, you can create new favorites by adding your leftovers to a variety of ingredients and meals.

If you want a creative project that won’t break your budget, consider DIYs with paint. Painting an entire room or house can take time and effort, but smaller projects can be accomplished in a single weekend. You can even make your own custom decor by upcycling items you already own. Here are some budget-friendly DIY ideas with paint to try:

Decorate your coffee cup

Bring new life to your old cups and mugs by adding some paint. There are many kinds of paint you can use depending on what the cup is made of. Acrylic paints will work on most surfaces, but check the label to make sure it’s suitable for glazed ceramic, glass, metal or plastic. For a simple and modern geometric DIY paint project, try making angles and shapes with painter's tape. Opt for metallic gold or silver to add a bit of shine.

Paint your chalkboard wall

Another fun DIY with paint is creating your own chalkboard wall. You can buy chalkboard paint at any craft or home improvement store and use it to transform any surface in your home. For a simple chalkboard wall DIY, section off a rectangular space on the wall with painter’s tape. Fill in the space with a solid coat of paint, adding more if the included directions recommend it. Once it dries you’ll have a perfect spot for doodles, lists and pretty cool inspiring messages.

Add color to drawers and cabinets

If you have dressers, cupboards or cabinets with drab, unpainted drawers, try adding a fresh coat of paint to the inside surfaces. You can add fun pops of color to the inside of dresser drawers and even the backs of shelves. The color choice is completely up to your preference, whether you want something bold and bright or neutral. Even a coat of bright white on the inside of a drawer can refresh the entire piece and make the storage space seem larger.

These are just a few of the best budget-friendly DIY ideas with paint. Try these and other paint projects to add new life to your existing walls and furnishings.