Why You Should Care Where Your Products Come From & How They're Made

So we at HomeandBackyard.com fully understand that in today's economy all of us are looking for ways to pinch pennies. And purchases like outdoor furniture, solar patio lights, fire pits, and outdoor heaters these days are more "nice to haves" than "need to haves." Which is why we have a lot of reduced prices on products throughout our site.

There is something else though that we believe is really important to consider when buying "cheaply". I once heard a proverb that goes something like this "If you buy something that's made cheaply, you'll end up buying it twice - once cheaply and a second time a year later because the cheap one didn't last." While frankly I believe this to be true, there's also another important consideration. Most consumers don't have a clue where their purchased products have come from, who they were made by, what they were made with and how long they can expect them to last. We are a culture of we want it cheap, fast and of quality. I hate to say it, but you can't have all three.

Which is why this post is dedicated to another old proverb, this time from the ancient Greeks:

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

This means that we need to make decisions that aren't just in our own personal interest, but we need to consider the long term implications of our actions, consumption and buying habits. It's hard to say what the human and environmental cost will be to China and the rest of the world from their more than 10% annual GDP growth these past many years. But with the speed at which coal plants are being erected in China, and tropical forests are being cut down in Brazil and SE Asia, it seems safe to say that the cost will be very, very high.

At HomeandBackyard.com, we have put extra effort in finding and selling products that either promote sustainability - solar lighting, for example - or are made from FSC certified wood products - all of our wood furniture is - or is made from recycled plastic - like our CRProducts outdoor patio furniture. While not everything we sell fits into this category of sustainability, we are continuing to look for more products and options that fit this model. And as we do we'll let you know. Visit our Environmentally Friendly Outdoor Products section of the website here: http://www.homeandbackyard.com/prod_gen.cfm?altcat=eco

HomeandBackyard.com now carrying Hatteras Hammocks, Castaway Hammocks & Sawgrass Mills Rugs

It's that time of year again - time to clean up the yard, get out the patio furniture, and begin the outdoor relaxation and entertainment season. There's no better way to relax than reliving childhood memories spending a lazy afternoon reading in a hammock. With the noted exception that today's hammocks are much more comfortable, sophisticated and decorative. Which you can now find the complete collection of Hammock Source hammocks in Home & Backyard Furnishing's online store.

So if you want to create a comfortable atmosphere in your backyard, then Home and Backyard Furnishings is the perfect place to go. We have products that can help you design the best backyard with the most possibilities.

One of the best things you can get for your lounging needs is an outdoor hammock. We are proud of the products we provide and you will find you absolutely love our selection. Our newest line of hammock products come from nationally known Hammock Source and are made with the best quality materials to ensure longevity so they last you for many years to come.

There are many different types of outdoor hammocks you can choose from when you shop online on our site. You might be imagining one that you can hang from two trees while you comfortably take a nap. If you don't have two trees, or a place to hang one, you don't have to write this option off. We're now offering a variety of wood and steel free-standing hammock stands that will allow you to put your hammock anywhere. These types of stands have a sturdy and durable frame which the fabric is connected to. We also offer hammock swings that can be installed on any patio or deck setting with a roof or overhead beams. They allow adults to comfortably lounge and swing. These are much better than the traditional outdoor hammock.

When you are shopping online at with Home & Backyard Furnishings you can find many ways to accentuate your backyard. We also offer the finest outside patio furniture selections for you to choose from. We can provide the perfect solutions to lounge by the poolside or any where in your backyard.

We are now carrying Duracord rope hammocks, polyester hammocks or they're sometimes called polycord hammocks and many other options. Lounging is not only for the daytime, so if you love the fresh air of the outdoors and want to spend time into the evening then you might want to consider a more luxurious Hatteras Hammock or Castaway Hammock quilted hammock and bolster pillows, which will make extended lounging in even more relaxing.

When you shop with Home and Backyard you will be amazed at the different solutions we can provide for you to lounge and enjoy your backyard atmosphere. We are here to help you design the perfect backyard. You might consider an amazing outdoor rope hammock which will allow you to relax or even take a nap if you like. We also carry Hammock Source's Sawgrass Mills outdoor carpets. You won't believe that these carpets are actually water and weather proof. They look like the real thing. We carry a broad and beautiful selection of styles and prints, and each comes with a 1 year warrenty. So if you are shopping for weatherproof rugs, outdoor carpets, outdoor rugs or whatever you'd like to call them, we've got the best selection.

As always, thank you for your continued support.

Browse our hammock selections here: http://www.homeandbackyard.com/prod_gen.cfm?catid=1006&subcatid=1039

Outdoor Solar Lighting - Save Energy & Money

If you are looking for a way to cut on your energy costs one of the best things you can do is install outdoor solar lights to the exterior of your home. You can find the widest selection from Home and Backyard. This is the place to go for all of your home exterior needs.

Feeling the economic pinch of today's economy, and looking for ways to reduce your ever increasing electricity? You might often get home late at night and have to leave the bulbs turned on so you can see in the dark on the way into your house. The cost of leaving the bulbs on all night long may not seem that expensive but it does add up. Consider replacing your exterior lights with zero maintenance and zero electricity solar lights at Home and Backyard Furnishings.

If you are thinking about switching to outdoor solar powered lights you are making a good decision. By using less electricity you are doing your part in going green and helping with minimizing global warming.Maybe your entire neighborhood might take part in the endeavor also.Slowing global warming is an effort that requires individual action anda change in consumption. Outdoor solar lights are a great step in that direction.

When you choose an outdoor solar light source you no longer are using your electricity. The great thing is that they are charged throughout the day from the UV rays of the sun. They store the energyfrom the sun and then have enough power to provide a light source that will allow you to see all night long.

You can find an abundance of different styles and types to choose from when you visit our website. This is the best place to shop because there are so many to choose from you are sure to find a set that you absolutely love that will accent your walkway perfectly and just the way you like.

You might feel a little intimidated about the idea of an outdoor solar light source because it might sound like something difficult to install. The truth is that there is no learning curve at all. All you have to do is find the spot you want to put them in the ground and turn them on. That's it.

When you shop at Home and Backyard Furnishings you will find the best lighting for the exterior of your home. There is no reason to go anywhere else because our lighting is easy to install and there are so many different types to choose from. You are also doing an excellent thing by saving money on your energy costs too. Home and Backyard strives to provide all of your exterior home solutions.

Our Solar Lights add decorative glow to any exterior setting, including gardens, decks, paths, walkways, home entrances, landscaping and exterior walls. Each fixture automatically recharges during the day and turns itself on at dusk providing zero maintenance ambient lighting year round. Our advanced solar collector panel converts sunlight into electrical energy and provides a well above industry average of 8 to 10 hours of zero cost light throughout your property. We also use the latest efficient LED Technology, which makes our lights stay lit longer and glow brighter than the industry average. To provide you years of use, all our solar products are made of durable, weather-resistant stainless steel or copper. With no plug-in receptacles or power packs, these high quality, decorative lights cost nothing to operate which makes them the perfect product for your driveway, patio or deck, as well as remote areas of your property where regular power sources are not available. A durable ground spike is also included.

Search through our solar options here: http://www.homeandbackyard.com/prod_cats.cfm?catid=1002

Outdoor Firepits - Get 'em While They're Hot

If you are looking for an outdoor fire pit, you might consider shopping with Home and Backyard Furnishings. There are many different types which provide the heating source you've been looking for. This might mean warmth for you during the cold months or just serve as a great nighttime accent for your backyard. Whichever your purpose you want to be sure you are getting a top quality product. We offer patio heaters and fire pits that burn wood and charcoal, natural gas and heaters that are powered by electricity.
Outdoor fire pits for your backyard can be a lot of fun as well. One of the more value priced options we offer is a wood or charcoal burning copper or stainless steel fire pit. This type provides heat like a traditional fireplace in a home. Our fire pits can be used for ambience, heating as well as grilling food. The best wood burning and charcoal options can be found at www.homeandbackyard.com.

If you are looking for an outdoor fire pit but don't want to deal with the smoke and the mess, then consider electric powered versions. These
units require only electricity to power them to provide the heat. They are a safe method of heat in the colder months and require no clean up.
You must have an electrical source on the back of the house in order to provide power to these versions.

www.homeandbackyard.com also carries a variety of outdoor gas fire pit. All you need is a simple propane tank and you have clean burning, immediate warmth for your outdoor space. Propane tanks are not included with our outdoor gas fire pits. Many people love these heat sources in the colder months because they are very inexpensive to run and they last for a long time. They are also portable.

Home and Backyard is the best place to go for top quality winter heat sources. We also provide ventless gel fuel fireplaces for indoors and outdoors. Our products are made with the finest materials of 100% recycled copper that is capable of sustaining the hottest heat without warping or discoloration. By using 100% copper or 100% stainless steel, our fire pits will last for a long time.

SPECIAL OFFER! OUR NEW CHIMINEA COMBO IS NOW ONLY $299! THIS IS A ONE TIME DISCOUNTED PURCHASE FROM HOMEANDBACKYARD.COM, SO GET 'EM AT THIS PRICE WHILE THEY LAST.
Our fire pits are all handcrafted from 100% recycled, solid copper or 100% solid stainless steel. These professionally designed and hand-crafted fire pits are beautiful patio decorations that will serve all your aesthetic and functional needs. Each fire pit comes with a wrought iron base and chrome-coated steel grill. As a result, our copper fire pits will provide years of immediate and effortless pleasure. Our solid copper fire pits also offer the deepest bowl in the market, allowing for larger and longer lasting fires using any type of wood or charcoal. Our fire pits are perfect for warming up on a cool evening, and are also great for cooking and easy clean up with its included, non-toxic chrome plated steel cooking grate. Our competitors fire pits and copper products are routinely sold as copper but are most commonly only copper plated. Our use of 100% solid, recycled copper means longer-term durability, greater heat conductivity, and the elimination of tons of additional waste and pollution that would have resulted from the use of virgin copper.

Visit our site now to shop for firepits.

Patio Furniture Sets

Summary: HomeandBackyard.com is offering great prices on quality patio furniture sets.

HomeandBackyard.com is offering great prices on quality patio furniture sets. This patio furniture sale includes our collection of FSC certified wood patio furniture, selected recycled plastic furniture, and all weather wicker patio furniture sets. Our website specializes in eco-friendly furniture made from materials that are either reclaimed, recycled or harvested in a way that is environmentally friendly. Many consumers are not aware that teak patio furniture and balau patio furniture are made from wood species that are considered threatened or endangered. Our hope is to educate consumers on the importance of purchasing wood patio furniture that has taken the environment into consideration and employed environmentally responsible practices in the manufacturing process.

HomeandBackyard.com also has a few patio sets under 1000, although you will also find many sets for more. It is important to know that the prices on our website are significantly less than most online retailers, when you consider the quality of the products used to make these chair & table sets. We encourage you to browse through our patio furniture clearance options at HomeandBackyard.com. Our site not only has great selections of wood sets, we also provide great outdoor accessories, patio cushions, covers, and many other accessories. If you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, you can contact our customer support at 888-425-2280 for more information and assistance.

If you would like to know more about the differences between teak and balau wood furniture, and our FSC certified wood furniture, just visit our website for more information. The section of our site that relates to outdoor furniture contains a summary of some of the many benefits of buying items made from environmentally friendly materials. A line of furniture that we here at HomeandBackyard.com wished was a more popular seller is our line of recycled plastic furniture. Contrary to what you might think this furniture is actually heavier than wood furniture, and is made from 99% recycled plastic in Canada. We recently sold out of our all weather wicker furniture line from Unique Arts, because we were able to offer it at a considerable discount since we buy direct. However, we do still have other all weather wicker furniture options available for you from other manufacturers.

Another line of products that has been very popular in our online store has been furniture covers. We carry a line of covers from a manufacturer called Classic Accessories. They offer three different lines of furniture covers - an economy line of covers that are at an affordable price point and still carry a reasonably good warrantly. Their middle of the road line of quality furniture covers are made from a more durable nylon and they carry a longer guarantee. All of these furniture covers have drawstrings at the bottom so you can close the bottom of the cover around the furniture legs as well as air vents that will allow for air exchange during wet months so you furniture doesn't get too musty. The top of the line option is our eco-friendly furniture covers are as we like to more simply refer to them as our recycled plastic furniture covers.

HomeandBackyard.com Expanding Its Collection of Blue Rhino & UniFlame Products

Despite what seems to be some pretty extreme weather in the Southern states at the moment, for most of us it is finally time to clean up the yard, get out the patio furniture, and begin the outdoor relaxation and entertainment season. One of the newer trends in outfitting an outdoor patio and dining environment has been fire pits, firebowl tables (or as some people call them fire pit tables) and related outdoor heating products. Which is why the complete collection of fire pits, fire pit tables and outdoor heating products has been expanded in Home & Backyard Furnishing's online store.

So if you want to create a warm and cozy atmosphere in your backyard while nightime temperatures are still a bit low, then Home and Backyard Furnishings is the perfect place to go. We have products that can help you create the best backyard dining and entertaining environment with the most possibilities.

One of the best things you can get for your lounging needs is a firepit table. With a wide variety of style available, our personal favorites have been square and round fire pit tables with inlaid stone and metal accents. We are proud of the products we provide and we believe you will find you absolutely love our selection. Our newest line of fire pit products come from nationally known Blue Rhino / Uniflame and are made with the best quality materials to ensure lthey last you for many years to come.

There are many different types of outdoor fire pits you can choose from when you shop online on our site. You might be imagining one that you can light and leave alone while you comfortably take a nap. In that case there are lp gas fire pits and lp gas fire pit table options that provide a cleaner and easier to leave alone heating option. If you prefer a wood burning fire pit that is more portable, then consider a copper fire pit or stainless steel fire pit which consists of a simple yet beautiful spun bowl with a stand and screen. Able to withstand very high temperatures without warping and scorching, solid copper fire pits and stainless steel fire pits are an excellent choice. We're now offering a variety of firebowls and firepits that will allow you to bring heat and ambience to any setting.

Another option is what is often referred to as a chiminea or outdoor fireplace. This type of product is, in effect, a copper fire pit with a cylindrical screen and a copper top with a vent. People use this type of outdoor fire bowl for larger fires as well as for basic grilling. They can be a beautiful and more majestic focal point for your outdoor patio.

When you are shopping online with Home & Backyard Furnishings you can find many ways to accentuate your backyard. We also offer the finest selection of gel fuel burners and gel fuel fireplaces for you to choose from. We can provide the perfect solutions to lounge by the poolside or any where in your backyard.

With the expansion of our Blue Rhino fire pits and Uniflame Firebowl Tables, Home and Backyard Furnishings anticipates an upsurge in demand. So visit our online store soon to see what our latest deals are and to ensure you will find products still in stock. These are seasonal items, and most of our suppliers do not replenish their stock after the end of the early fall season.

When you shop with Home and Backyard you will be amazed at the different solutions we can provide for you to lounge and enjoy your backyard atmosphere. We are here to help you design the perfect backyard. You might consider a quality made gas fire pit which will allow you to relax or even take a nap if you like. We also have found that our most popular outdoor heating product has been the simple copper fire pit, and each comes with a 1 year warrenty. So if you are shopping for firepits, outdoor heaters, or cleaner gel fuel fire pits, we've got the best selection.

http://www.homeandbackyard.com/prod_gen.cfm?catid=1005&subcatid=1026

As always, thank you for your continued support.