1 . Libraries. They have that reassuring smell of well-read pages, are peaceful, have free Internet and, of course, abundant books.

But guess what? There’s a new kind of library sweeping the nation — a tool library — and it’s just as cool, but in all sorts of different ways.

It’s often said that the average electric drill is only used for 11 minutes in its entire lifetime. Granted, it doesn’t take that long to drill a hole, but still — that’s crazy. Yet the majority of households have one, even though DIY is actually a really infrequent activity for most people.

What if you could just borrow tools when you need them, and drop them back so that they can be used by someone else all the time you’re not DIY-ing? Well, in some parts of Scotland, you now can. Membership-based tool sharing services are popping up in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Linlithgow and Cumbernauld. They work just like a normal library but instead of books, you can borrow a massive range of tools and equipment when you need them, then drop them back when you’re done.

Zero Waste Scotland’s Andrew Pankhurst recently renovated (翻新) his house using the Stirling Tool Library. He said, “It’s amazing. It had all the tools I was looking for, and some I didn’t even realize I needed.”

And that’s the beauty of a tool library. Borrow a tool, use it for one afternoon at a small amount of cost of buying it and instead of it cluttering up your house gathering dust, it’s back off to a busy life all across town, week in and week out.

The tools available to borrow are mainly received as donations. The tool library will then repair them if needed and PAT test for safety ready to be borrowed and saved from going to landfill.

So next time you have a job to do around the house, why not borrow rather than buy?

The Two Tree Coffee, located in the Liyukou Village of Huyi District in the city of Xi’an, quickly went viral (走红) on social media.

The popularity of the cafe is     1    (large) due to the boom (暴涨) in cultural and ecological tourism in recent years,     2    (combine) with the government’s efforts at environmental preservation.

In recent years, the Chinese government     3    (strengthen) the long-term protection project, and adopted     4    (measure) such as the establishment of the five-level forest chief system. More and more urban residents, especially those     5     Xi’an, are attracted to the mountain villages for slow-paced vacations.

Wang visited many places before     6    (decide) to build the cafe here. “Cafes are among the favorite businesses of young people, and they provide     7     strong sense of uniqueness when they appear in the countryside,” she said. “People come here not only to consume coffee,     8    to ‘pay’ for the green ecology and the pastoral (田园的) environment.”

In front of the cafe is a tourism highway,     9    connects the store with many artistic villages along the mountain range. Art helps the villages to become     10    (fashionable) and livable, while retaining their natural beauty, than before.

In recent years, Ningjiangdu Park, located in Wushan county, Chongqing,     1     (change) from a deserted mudflat to an ecological park along the Yangtze River through ecological restoration (复原) . Its     2     (unique) has attracted many visitors     3     (admire) the beautiful scenery in Ningjiangdu Park.

Ningjiangdu Park     4     (locate) at the intersection (交汇处) of the Yangtze River, China’s     5     (long) waterway, and Daning River. The Ningjiangdu used to be     6     ancient ferry crossing (渡口). In November 2020, Wushan county carried out the Ningjiangdu ecological restoration project,     7     changed the once barren slope     8     six scenes: a village entrance, rural residence, boat crossing, river viewing, reading and overnight lodging. Efforts were made to restore the original mountain range, repair the mountain surface, create a     9     (health) forest vegetation system     10     improve the ecological management of the sinking zone. The ecological restoration area of Ningjiangdu has reached 26 hectares.

Walking along the Great Wall is     1     once-in-a-lifetime dream for many, but Jim Spear has taken it one step     2     (far), spending the last 18 years with his wife     3     (live) in a village in Mutianyu under the ancient wonder.

As an architect, Spear had the     4     (qualify) and expertise to renovate (翻新) his dream house, which comes with multiple views of the Great Wall.

He says that it was fortune     5     led him to settle beneath the Great Wall. Shortly after embracing full-time village life, Spear was approached by village head Li Lianting, who explained that Mutianyu was rapidly losing its population and badly     6     need of local businesses. This motivated the architect to explore ways of supporting rural     7     (resident). He rented an abandoned schoolhouse and turned it into a restaurant and glass art factory     8     (make) it sustainable. He also renovated an old tile factory in Beigou, the village next to Mutianyu, and turned it into the Brickyard hotel.

“The Great Wall inspires me in many ways to this very day,” he says when     9     (ask) if his architectural work draws inspiration from the impressive structure.

In recognition of his contributions, Spear     10     (give) the Great Wall Friendship Award by the Beijing government in 2014.

9 . Strawberry picking is a popular and enjoyable activity in Pennsylvania. The state’s favorable weather and long growing season make it a favorite pastime for both locals and tourists.

Bricker’s Strawberries

It is a family-owned farm in Carlisle, PA, offering pre-picked and pick-your-own berries throughout the year. Prices range from $2/pound for pick-your-own berries to $4.25/quart for pre-picked berries. Opening hours may vary depending on the weather, so it’s best to check their website before heading out to the farm.

Oak Grove Farms

Oak Grove Farms in Mechanicsburg, PA, has been a family-owned farm since the 1960s. They offer a variety of fruits, and delicious baked goods, with strawberries being their specialty. Prices start at $15 for a 4-quart container. The farm store is open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for visitors to make a purchase.

Honey Bear Orchards

Located in Lebanon, PA, it is a family-owned orchard providing fresh fruits to the community since 1980. With their fun and safe atmosphere, you can pick your quality fruit with your friends. U-pick strawberries cost $2/pound. They also offer pre-picked strawberries for a slightly higher cost. You can pay through cash or check only in their shop.

Brecknock Orchard

Brecknock Orchard in Mohnton, PA, is a family-friendly farm where you can pick strawberries and enjoy other activities on the farm. Wagon (马车) ride orchard tours cost $8 per person and include beautiful toys for kids. The cost of strawberry picking starts at $4/pound, and they accept cash and credit cards.