Q: The subject may be something that has recently happened, something that has happened in the past, an issue you are thinking about, etc. It may be a dance-type song, a song where you talk about yourself, or it may be something that happened in a dream. There are no wrong themes, as long as they come from personal experience somehow. The title of the song is a good indicator of its theme. However, you can always come up with the title later. You don't have to tell an actual story, though story-raps have been popular since the birth of hip-hop (Immortal Technique's "Dance with the Devil," most Ghostface Killah songs). Telling a story just means your song or verse has a beginning, middle, and end. You want to take the listener on a journey, even if it is just a journey about how great and steezy you are.  Some rappers write out their songs as paragraphs first, then write the songs and rhymes to follow the general structure. Having a structure to your song helps you build a coherent idea out. For example, your best point of biggest rhyme wouldn't come at the very beginning of a song, it would come near the end, like the climax of a good movie. This will help you engage and hold listeners.  At the very least, try and end your song on a different place than where you started. This is why even "material rap" about gold and girls often starts by mentioning how little the rapper had when they first started working. Make sure that the beat you choose is one you're comfortable with. For example, if you can't rap very fast, you may not want to choose a fast beat, as you won't be able to rap over it without losing your breath or stuttering. Listen to the beat 4-5 times to get comfortable with the rhythm and the mood of the song. Get a feel for the speed and energy of the song as well as the mood.  Uptempo songs (Das Racist, "People are Strange") usually require fast verses with lots of words, while slower beats (50 Cent, "P.I.M.P.") usually have laid back verses. This rule is not hard and fast, however (see Twista on "Slow Jamz," for example). When lyrics matches the beat, great songs are born. Think about how the beat makes you feel-- is it tense and atmospheric, like Jay-Z's "Renegade," or is it upbeat and celebratory, like Kanye's "The Glory?" Notice how the lyrics in these songs match the beat. Listen again to A$AP Rocky's "One Train," where five unique rappers have verses over the same beat. Note how each one approaches the song differently: some urgent (Kendrick), some joyful (Danny Brown), some angry (Yelawolf), some contemplative (Big K.R.I.T.). All of them, however, fit into the beat. You do not need to have a beat to start writing raps. It can help to write your lyrics without a beat in mind, then save them until the right beat comes along. This is the repeated phrase in the middle of the song, separating each verse. They are not strictly necessary (see A$AP Rocky's "One Train"), but almost any rap song that wants to gain radio play or traction needs a good catchy hook. It can range from something very deep to something that's just catchy, and it almost always reinforces the theme of the song. Many hooks are sung, not rapped.  50 Cent is a master hook writer, and songs like "P.I.M.P." and "In Da Club" have hooks that are still sung over 10 years later. For an easy, classic hook, try coming up with 1-2 separate, simple, rhyming phrases. Repeat them each twice, back to back, for the "classic" chorus. Like this catchy hook, repeated in its entirety twice:  Cigarettes on cigarettes my momma think I stank I got burn holes in my hoodies all my homies think it's dank  I miss my cocoa butter kisses... cocoa butter kisses.-- Chance the Rapper, "Cocoa Butter Kisses"
A: Come up with the theme for the song. Come up with the "story" of your lyrics. Get to know your beat. Write a catchy hook or chorus.

Q: A particular time of danger is when gardeners go out to plant in the spring. You will be eager to go out and work, but immediately after rain, the soil is too wet. Working with soil when it is too wet causes it to lose structure and collapse in on itself. Instead, wait until the soil is dry and crumbly. To test for soil ready to be worked, form a ball of soil in your hand. The soil should break apart when worked and when dropped. Aerating is beneficial for soil, but tilling it too often keeps the soil from settling. Good soil forms small clumps after being tilled once. These clumps are the pockets that give the soil the structure that permits air and water to penetrate it. It can be tempting to till the soil again and again, but this collapses the soil. Till the soil only before planting and during occasional aeration. Even consider trying no-till gardening or farming. Some studies have shown no-till farming reduces compaction and increases soil productivity as compared to tilling. While you aerate the soil, add compost or mulch. Yard waste, wood chips, or even food scraps are a cheap option that can be added to lawns, gardens, and even around trees to refresh the soil. Make compost or buy it at a lawn and garden store. The organics are broken down by organisms such as earthworms that aerate the soil.  For badly compacted soil, add a 50% compost blend to regular soil and 25% in sandier soils.  Avoid amending soil with inorganic material such as sand if possible. Too little sand worsens the compaction. Pressure against the soil is a common way to compress it. Avoid riding lawn mowers and use vehicles with wider tires, adjusted air pressure in tires, and less weight on axles. During construction, limit vehicles to areas where the soil will be covered such as by paths or patios. Also, covering the soil with mulch and ¾-inch thick plywood or synthetic substitutes help reduce the pressure on the soil when traffic cannot be avoided.
A: Let soil dry before use. Avoid overworking the soil. Work in organic material. Limit traffic pressure.

Q: Place the potpourri inside a sachet. Leave it there for at least one week. Do not leave it in a dark cupboard; instead find somewhere with fresh air and indirect, cool light. It's a good idea to leave the sachet in the bag when using as well, as the scent will continue to improve the bag's own scent.
A:
Make or purchase some potpourri. Place the sachet inside the smelly bag. Place the bag in an airy place. Check a week later.