Q: Record when to order seeds and plants throughout the year. Write down when and where you purchased seeds and plants, as well as the quantity purchased. If you order through a mail-order catalog or online, write down the purchase information and evaluate the quality of the product when you receive it. Write down the conditions of the soil, what nutrients are needed to amend the soil, when/if compost or other fertilizers are added, and how the soil is prepared for planting. Write down when to plant seeds, flowers, vegetables, herbs, bushes, trees and other plants. Be sure to include the schedule for seeds that need to be started indoors before transplanting. Include care instructions for plants, as well as watering, weeding, fertilization and pest control schedules. Take note of specific pests or weeds in the garden, including photos as applicable. Also note what fertilizer you used on which plants, and how often you applied it. Include when to transplant or divide existing plants. If you are planting vegetables or fruits, record the amount of produce generated. This will help you determine the plants that produce the greatest yield, which will be helpful in analyzing garden costs.
A: Organize seed and plant purchases. Schedule soil preparations. Schedule plantings. List maintenance plans. Write down transplanting dates. Record harvests.

Q: The Big Dipper is comprised of seven of the sky's brightest stars, and is found either high or low in the northern sky, depending on the season. It also rotates around the North Star, which is why it's important when you're trying to find your direction in the Northern Hemisphere. As long as you're located no lower than about 39 degrees north latitude (the latitude of Washington, DC), the constellation is always above the horizon. (You can see the Big Dipper at a lower latitude if you're on the ocean.)  Four of the stars form the Big Dipper's bowl, while the other three form a handle. The phrase “spring up and fall down” can help you figure out where  to look in the sky for the Big Dipper based on the seasons. In the spring and summer, it's located high in the sky. On fall and winter nights, you'll find it lower in the sky, closer to the horizon. Regardless of the season, the two stars that form the outer edge of the Big Dipper's bowl always point toward the North Star. If you draw an imaginary line from the pointer stars across the sky to the next brightest star, you'll find the North Star. If you're having trouble finding the North Star, stretch your arm out completely and spread your fingers. The distance between the top pointer star and the North Star should be about the same distance as your thumb is from your middle finger. Unlike the stars in the Big Dipper constellation, the North Star is always located at fixed point in the sky, which leaves it never more than 1 degree from true north. That means when you've identified the North Star in the sky, you know that you're facing north. From that position, the opposite direction would be south, while east would be to your right and west would be to the left.  Using the North Star to find your direction works best on a clear night. If the sky is hazy or there are clouds, you may not be able to easily identify the Big Dipper. If you're in an area where mountains, trees, or other objects are blocking the night sky, you may not be able to use the North Star to find your direction either.
A: Identify the Big Dipper. Use the pointer stars to find the North Star. Locate north.

Q: For your first triathlon, you may want to stick with a sprint distance. It's still hard! When you go to sign up, know what you're going in for; the distance varies greatly.   Sprint Triathlons: The shortest (though still arduous) varies in specific length, but many of them have around a 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometer) swim, 15-mile (24-kilometer) bike ride and 3-mile (5-kilometer) run.  The distances are not as concrete as longer triathlons that have set parameters.  The Olympic Triathlon: This is the most common triathlon out there. It's a 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers) swim, a 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) bicycle route and a 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) run.  The Half Ironman: This one is a 1.2 miles (1.93 kilometers) swim, a 56 miles (90 kilometers) bike ride and a 13 mile (21 kilometers) run.  The Ironman Triathlon: This 2.4 mile (3.9 kilometer) swim, 112 mile (180 kilometer) bike ride and 26.2 mile (42.2 kilometer) marathon is probably the most famous. There are several websites and magazines that can use to search for and register for triathlons, including TriFind.com, Active.com, RaceTwitch.com, LAVA Magazine, and Triathlete Magazine (the magazines are great resources for finding out all sorts of interesting things about triathlons in general). Before you sign up for a race, you should look into the race details, which you can usually find on the triathlon’s website. For example, is the race extremely hilly or flat? Is the swim in a choppy ocean or flat lake? If you’re a new swimmer, you might want to choose a body of water that is easier to swim in. Some triathlons are off-road, which may appeal to you if you prefer to mountain bike rather than ride on a paved road To do well in a triathlon, you need decent gear. You could go running, biking and swimming in an old Peter Frampton t-shirt and gym shorts, but 10 minutes in and even your skin is going to start putting up a fight. Do yourself a favor and get the right equipment. You'll need:  Swim suit, goggles, and cap. If you will be swimming in cold water, consider a wetsuit.  A wetsuit will help keep you warm in cold water temperatures. Be aware that the tradeoff of wearing a wetsuit is that it may hinder your range of motion or swimming stroke.  If you’re going to wear a wetsuit in a race, be sure you practice in it ahead of time. A helmet that fits you and bicycle that is reliable. Road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrids all work swell. A special triathlon bike or time trial bike isn't necessary, though if you have one, by all means, use it. Cycling shorts for training. Worn without undies, these will keep your woes from piling up (your legs hurt enough as it is -- why add your butt and skin into the mix?) Cycling shoes and clip-less pedals have their purposes, but you can make do without them just fine.  A water bottle. This will be your best friend. A nice pair of running shoes. Don't spend your entire paycheck on them, but do go to your local running store and get a pair that fit your feet properly.  The folks will insist on helping you and let them. They know what they're doing.
A:
Decide what kind of race you want to participate in. Sign up. Get your gear.