It is suitable to house smaller and younger garter snakes in smaller enclosures, while larger garter snakes require larger housing. Garter snakes are very active, so the enclosure needs to be big enough for them to move about.  Ensure that the plastic tub or aquarium has a lid that is tight fitting. This is because garter snakes are known for being escape artists. A screen lid that snaps onto the enclosure is best. If the lid has any areas of mesh or grille, check that the snake won’t be able to climb through past its eyes, as this means that it will be able to fit all the way through the gap.  An enclosure for 2 garter snakes should be approximately 55 US gal (210 L). The material that covers the floor of the enclosure is called the substrate. This needs to be kept dry and wet substrate needs to be removed in order to keep the garter snake healthy. Ideal substrate choices for garter snakes are newspaper, paper towels, aspen shavings, alfalfa meal, and reptile bark.  Substrates that are unsafe for garter snakes include cedar, pine, or juniper tree bark chips, sand, clay cat litter, gravel, and dirt. Only use newspapers and/or paper towels for baby garter snakes. Garter snakes like to burrow into the substrate, so you can always add a little more. Snakes require at least 1 dark space to hide in within their enclosure. You can use plastic bowls, cardboard boxes, toilet paper tubes, or specialty snake hide boxes that can be purchased from pet stores or online. Cage furniture such as fake or real plants, wood, rocks, and decorations can also be good additions to the enclosure as the snake will enjoy exploring the objects. Aim to have the opening to the hide box just slightly bigger than the width of the snake. It needs to be large enough for the snake to fit in, yet small enough so that the snake can feel enclosed and safe. Garter snakes are cold-blooded animals which means that they need their enclosure to be 75–85 °F (24–29 °C) in order to survive. Place a heating pad below 1 side of the enclosure and install a reflector or incandescent bulb above it. Use a thermometer to monitor that the warm part of the enclosure doesn’t rise above 86 °F (30 °C) and that the cool part doesn’t drop below 72 °F (22 °C). This creates a temperature gradient which means that the temperature changes depending on the location inside the enclosure.  The heating pad can be one specifically for reptiles or it can be a regular electric blanket that is set to the lowest temperature. It’s important to create a temperature gradient inside the enclosure. This allows the garter snake to move to a warmer area such as the heating pad if needed. It also lets the snake cool down in the cooler part of the enclosure. This is why the heating pad only warms part of the enclosure. A stick-on thermometer is an ideal way to get a good estimate of the temperature inside the enclosure. Temperatures that are above 91 °F (33 °C) can be dangerous for garter snakes. If the snake is moving quickly around the enclosure with its mouth open, this means that it is overheating. Immerse the snake in cool, running water and adjust the enclosure temperature to the appropriate range.
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One-sentence summary -- Choose a 30–50 US gal (110–190 L) plastic tub or aquarium with a lid. Fill the enclosure with a minimum of 2 in (5.1 cm) of substrate. Add cage furniture to help the garter snake to feel more secure. Use a heating pad and a light bulb to maintain the temperature.


Food items or crafts, such as handmade jewelry, are two great options.  Snacks, such as baked goods or beverages can be fun to make and often only require ingredients that are already in your pantry. If you are an aspiring artist or enjoy making crafts, you can earn money by selling your handmade items. These custom made crafts also make great gifts which add to their appeal. Materials for crafts and jewelry making are often cheap and easy to buy at hobby shops. If you don't have money to spend on your first batch of food ingredients or crafting materials, then ask your parents or someone else to lend you money (but be sure to pay them back). Let your friends and others know about your plans. Generating excitement beforehand is a great way to gather potential customers. If you’re allowed to, you may even want to make signs to hang up at school to let as many people as possible know about your new business. Just be sure to ask a teacher for permission first. You could sell your items at a physical location, for example, at a local farmer’s market or even online.  If you would like to sell your goods at a farmer’s market, search online or ask in person at the market to find more information about how to become an official vendor. Look for websites, such as Etsy, that will allow you to set up an online shop. Etsy and other websites often require parents or legal guardians to manage the account, so enlist the help of your parents if you choose this route. Be sure to clearly label the prices of what you’re selling and have a friendly, approachable manner to attract customers. One simple way to this is by writing down your income and expenses in a notebook. Keeping track of your budget and income is essential to make sure that you are actually making money. For example, if you are making and selling jewelry, figure out how much you are spending on materials and keep that in mind when deciding how much to charge for each piece. You don’t want to end up actually losing money by charging too little!
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One-sentence summary -- Decide what you want to sell. Make the initial investment. Spread the word. Pick a place to sell your items. Start selling your goods. Track the money you make.


You will need a large non-reactive pot, a pound of pork butt or belly cut into 2 inch chunks, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, several bay leaves, 2 cloves of garlic, and enough water to cover the pork. You will most likely want to serve this pork over rice, so that will need to be made beforehand or simultaneously to you cooking the pork. This quick and simple method requires cooking pork in vinegar over heat in order to add flavor to the meat. It is a method of cooking pork that is popular in the Philippines, where it is usually called adobo, in addition to other places around the world. Set the pot on the counter or in the refrigerator to marinate for an hour or so. You simply want the flavors of the spices and the vinegar to infuse into the pork. You will not be able to store this recipe for a long period of time, as with the other methods provided, as the pickling in this recipe is for taste, not for preservation. Simmer the contents for approximately 30 minutes over low heat, until the pork is well cooked and falling apart. Keep an eye on the pork as it simmers. Give the whole thing a stir about halfway through cooking, so that that pork is cooked consistently. The pork should be tender and the flavor of the vinegar should give it a distinctive taste.
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One-sentence summary --
Collect equipment and ingredients. Add all the ingredients to your pot. Move the pot to the stove when the pork is done marinating. Remove the pork from the liquid with a slotted spoon and serve on top of rice.