Cris Carl

Cris Carl

Cris Carl is a talented journalist who has written for both newspapers and websites for the past 13 years. She is a member of the Native American Journalists Association and the Society for Environmental Journalists. She has been a presenter and panelist at two Unity Journalists of Color conferences. Cris lives in western MA and loves to garden and make her home better every day. Cris has owned her own landscaping business and has been remodeling a 100-year-old house for over a decade.

She has written over a hundred articles for Networx.com. In addition to her home improvement articles for work such as power washing and cleaning, some of her articles include topics about adapting your home for a person with down’s syndrome (https://www.networx.com/article/adapting-your-house-for-a-person-with-do) and tips for ways to set up your home that can help keep your hyperactive kid calm (https://www.networx.com/article/can-a-house-calm-a-hyperactive-kid). For a person with down’s syndrome, she recommends having the simplest layout possible for your home, so it’s best to avoid a lot of push buttons and modern furniture. There are also certain types of stoves and locks that are easy and safe for a person with down’s syndrome to use, even if they can’t read. Cris also recommends making a private space for a caregiver who lives with them. For a hyperactive kid, Cris encourages parents to set up labeled bins and boxes where specific items are to be placed. She also suggests per expert Dr. Sharon Saline PsyD. to chart activities with your child using a dry erase board, chalkboard, or paper chart, to map out an organizational flow of the day.

Chris has also written articles for ridding your home of ferret odors by altering their diet and having a designated room for your ferret with easy-to-clean flooring (read more here: https://www.networx.com/article/ferret-odors-101-a-guide-for-new-ferret). She has also written articles about caring for rabbits (https://www.networx.com/article/six-facts-about-rabbits) and dogs (https://www.networx.com/article/fostering-dogs-short-term-canine-compan, https://www.networx.com/article/how-to-feed-your-overweight-dog).

Read more of her articles below!

A scythe in a country cottage. (Photo: Czigány Nóra/sxc.hu)

The Art of Scything

Posted by Cris Carl | Jun 08, 2012

Scything may seem like an antiquated method of harvest and weed control, but improved tools and a growing desire in many to be more earth-friendly is reviving the old technique. Although...

A hummingbird visits a flower. (magicmonkey/Flickr)

Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies to Your Garden

Posted by Cris Carl | May 20, 2012

Attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden not only brings a sense of delight, but ties you into something greater as well. “You can enjoy the full circle in your...

Alcatraz is one of America's most infamous prisons. (Photo: aschaeffer/sxc.hu)

Settling Into a Home After Being Released from Prison

Posted by Cris Carl | May 07, 2012

Depending on how long you were in jail and the type of crime you committed, you will need to create varying levels of support for yourself prior to and after release. Chris White, who...

Hire a pro rather than power washing from a ladder.

Tips for Power Washing

Posted by Cris Carl | May 04, 2012

If you are starting to spend more time outside or preparing to sell your home as the weather warms up , you may begin to notice a layer of dirt on your home or decking. To save time...

Six Facts About Rabbits

Posted by Cris Carl | Apr 03, 2012

"Rabbits are very social animals and bond well with their owners," states Candy Lash, Director of Community and Media Relations for the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in western...

Motivation is hard when you're facing a home improvement project. Cris is here to help you get unstuck. (Photo: SweetOnVeg/Flickr)

10 Tips to Help You Focus on Home Improvement Projects

Posted by Cris Carl | Mar 28, 2012

If you have a home, I guarantee that you have home improvement projects to do. Whether maintenance, upgrades, or repairs, there's rarely a time when the list is empty. Some homeowners...

Do you want a cute dog? Provide a foster home for dogs from your local animal shelter. (Photo: Mariana Figueroa/sxc.hu)

Fostering Dogs: Short-term Canine Companionship

Posted by Cris Carl | Mar 27, 2012

If you want to have some canine energy in your life, but can’t or don’t want to permanently adopt a dog, you might consider fostering a dog. The energy and unconditional...

Tactics for cleaning when you're busy. Photo by rosmary/Flickr

How To Clean Your House When You Are Busy

Posted by Cris Carl | Mar 18, 2012

Maybe you are like me, you have way too much on your plate, and you have a strong need for a clean home. While it may seem like a simple solution to hire someone to do the cleaning...

This fat Dachsund is so cute, but might have a thyroid problem. (jennalex/Flickr)

How to Feed Your Overweight Dog

Posted by Cris Carl | Mar 12, 2012

“Most dogs that are chubby, the thing you want to do is cut out one-third of their calorie intake,” said Dr. Dwight Baghdoyn, DVM of Williamsburg Animal Clinic in Massachusetts....

A contra dance at the Guiding Star Grange. Photo via Guidingstargrange.org.

A Green Grange Grows in Greenfield, MA

Posted by Cris Carl | Mar 07, 2012

The Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, Massachusetts has been going through renovations in recent years to “not just make the building energy efficient, but a successful place for...