2017 spring home gardenharrysgarden.org/download/keizertimes_0417.pdfthe trend toward urban farming...

HOME&GARDEN

Spring2017

, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2017

as you grow your plants,” he said. “I don’t see people faithfully following

these ideas in the Salem area, but people are always open to it, and it’s a natural step as you continue to develop your interest.”

The trend toward urban farming and edible landscaping has been growing over the last 25 years, according to James Cassidy, a senior instructor with the department of crop and soil science at Oregon State University. He teaches intro to soil science and is the founder of the OSU organic growers club, which is the student farm.

According to Cassidy, there has been a cultural shift that has taken place bringing a heightened awareness of where the food we eat comes from with an emphasis on its quality.

“This has brought a change in the way people garden as well. Forty years ago your neighbor might not have appreciated that you’d converted your front yard into an urban farm and your flower beds into a raised vegetable garden but today,” Cassidy said, “it’s culturally rewarded.”

“There is a general interest in organic gardening and small scale urban farming,” he said.

Blanchard believes that the urban gardening trend is more than a novelty of the 21st century. There are many benefits to growing your own food and it lends itself to a more sustainable, healthy lifestyle, the food tastes better and it provides a cost effective way of

providing food for the family once the garden is established.

“I think it has all coincided with a greater interest in locally sourced food and drink. I’ve always found food to be the foundation of culture, and people’s minds have been opened to new ways of thinking over the last decade.

“It’s such a better use of your land than having a lawn that you have to mow or water every week throughout the year. I always encourage the idea of ‘edible landscaping’; useful plants that also look attractive to the eye,” he said.

“The deep satisfaction of eating something you grow is hard to describe. I grew up as a penny pincher, and that was definitely a motivation for me getting started.”

But, many people are not aware of some of the logistics involved in starting their own farm to fork endeavor. The best place to start is learning about soil, which is one of the most important aspects of gardening and farming.

“It’s why different things grow where they do. Soils are shaped by climate and other factors,” Cassidy said.

One source of information is the OSU Extension Master Gardeners program.

Blanchard agrees. “I always recommend looking up

material from OSU Extension service online. They have great information and they understand how to garden in our region.

I’ve gardened all my life. My folks gardened. My job was to raise the sunflowers,” Olson said.

“When I retired I looked for a place where I could garden. I wanted a primarily edible landscape,” He said.

When he isn’t gardening, he spends his time giving talks on how to grow container and vertical gardens and conducts tours of his home garden. He also works in the demonstration vertical garden that he and other Marion County Master Gardeners grew in the Oregon Garden.

It has become a way of life for Olson in much the same way as it has become a career for Joshua Blanchard, owner of White Willow Gardening. Blanchard has been working as a horticulturalist and gardener for the past seven years.

“I started out with just a simple interest in growing my own food in a small city lot, and then it expanded into an obsession that overtook my life.

“I became a Master Gardener, did a good amount of college coursework, and plenty of volunteering and reading. I eventually got a job with the OSU Extension service, and then branched out and started working for myself,” he said.

Blanchard suggests that beginning gardeners start off with what they know before plowing into more intensive practices such as permaculture or organic gardening.

“I’d say just start with what you are comfortable with and grow your knowledge

SPRING 2017, HOME & GARDEN, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 3

The 2017 Spring Home & Garden Section was produced by

Lori BeyelerEric A. Howald

Andrew JacksonDee Moore

Paula Moseley Derek WileyLyndon Zaitz

For advertising or subscription information contact the

Keizertimes at 503-390-1051www.keizertimes.com

By DEE MOOREFor the Keizertimes

Walking into Harry Olson’s Northeast Salem backyard is like going on safari, it is a well organized jungle of vegetables and fruits. Olson has devoted almost all the space to container gardening and to make it more efficient he grows his produce vertically.

“There’s nothing fresher,” he said. His garden is 95 percent organic and he

chooses to grow non-GMO grafted plants. His small orchard consists of trees with as many as five or six varieties of fruit on one tree. His grape vines are grafted as are many of the plants and bushes he plants. They are hardy and more likely to be disease and pest resistant. It maximizes his space and each variety has a different harvest time.

While he is an aficionado of vertical and grafted container gardening Olson preaches soil. It is the beginning, middle and end to good gardening.

“I pay a lot of attention to my soil,” he said. This includes testing. “You don’t have to do it every year, you need to do it. If it’s not balanced the plants won’t be able to uptake the nutrients. Most people don’t really pay attention to their soil.”

This, according to Olson, is their biggest mistake.

“Your garden will only do as well as the soil it’s planted in,” he added.

Olson’s love affair with plants began when he was a small child.

“I’ve always had a fondness for gardening.

Edible landscaping and urban farming

See EDIBLE Page 5

Harry Olson stands in his vertical container garden. Olson is a Master Gardener and uses disease and pest resistant grafted plants.

A display of the bounty of Olson’s garden.

When your home decor needs an upgrade, but expensive, ready-made items aren’t in your budget, Do-it-yourself projects can be an easy and affordable solution for revitalizing rooms in your home. One simple way to enhance the character of a room is with lighted elements.

Add a glistening, on-trend look with a lighted canvas, which features twinkling lights that dance on shimmering glitter to lend a glam look to any room. The project, designed by crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, can be adapted to any palette; just change out the color of the glitter to match the hues in your favorite room.

For a charming, subtle accent, this frosted jar and doily not only adds quaint flair – the jar also provides a soft glow of light.

It’s perfect nestled on a shelf or sitting atop a dresser with similarly styled items.

Find more creative ideas to bring a touch of light to your home decor at joann.com.

▼ Glitter and Lights Canvas Crafting time: 3-5 hours Skill level: Intermediate

Supplies and Tools:• Foam brush• 18-by-24-inch canvas• Decoupage medium Ultra-fine to coarse

gold glitter• Craft knife• 3 packages battery-operated warm white LED moon lights• Duct tape• Protected work surface

PAGE 4, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2017

Let there be lightwith DIY decor

Use foam brush to cover entire canvas with layer of decoupage medium.

Working 12 inches from canvas, dust canvas with glitter. Apply glitter so bottom is fully covered, fading into less glitter at top to create an ombre effect. Apply additional layers of glitter to achieve a thick consistency at bottom. Mix types of glitters to create dimension.

Apply thin layer of decoupage medium over entire canvas to seal glitter. Tip: Ensure base layer is completely dry before applying top coat to avoid smearing glitter.

Poke small hole in back of canvas

with craft knife. Push tip of moon light through hole and secure in place with duct tape. Repeat, adding holes and lights over entire canvas. Continue ombre effect by placing more lights at bottom of canvas and less toward top. Apply layers of duct tape to hold lights securely in place on canvas.

Frosted Ball Jar with Doily Crafting time: 1-2 hours Skill level: Intermediate

Supplies and Tools:• Ball jar (1-quart)• Frosted glass spray

• Doily (8- to 10-inch diameter)• Spray adhesive• Hemp twine• 1/8-inch ribbon• Battery-powered tea light

Follow manufacturer’s directions and spray Ball jar completely with frosted glass spray. Allow to dry completely. Spray working side of doily with adhesive. Press doily to jar, smoothing out any wrinkles. Allow to dry thoroughly. Use twine and ribbon to embellish top. Place battery-powered tea light inside.

(Family Features)

Growing Vegetables West of The Cascades by Steve Solomon is also a perfect book to pick up when you’re starting out,” Blanchard added.

Olson, also a Master Gardener, suggests the books Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew and Vertical Vegetables and Fruit by Rhonda Hart.

Another excellent information source, according to Cassidy, is a mobile app called SoilWeb which provides “real-time access to United States Department of Agriculture and National Resource Conservation Service survey data.” The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

The app provides information about “where you are in the U.S. and includes soil data from mapping over the last 100 years.

“It tells you what kind of soil you have, the organic matter content and PH,” he said. It also includes informative education links for those who want to know more.

“Bought soil is usually not as good as the soil you have. Talk to someone who has knowledge,” he said.

A soil analysis is the next step on the path to successful edible gardening. This will help determine if the raised beds and bought soil are needed.

“Then get a load of compost”And don’t skimp on cost, “it is worth the

money,” Cassidy said.“Organic is the answer no matter what

the question is. The soil is a habitat for microorganisms; they eat organic matter and turn it into plant food and nutrients.”

While soil is the answer where to put it can depend on resources, space and cost. Even in situations that appear to be limited, they may not be the case.

“You should always feel free to think outside the box; or outside the bed in this case; when making garden beds. There are


Multiple types of tomato plants grafted one to one shrub Olson planted in his garden last year.

plenty of other options besides traditional wood beds. I’ve made beds out of extra cinder blocks that clients had lying around, or out of large unused stones. Recently I saw some beds made out of large pieces of old concrete, or urbanite as it’s called, and it actually looked pretty charming,” Blanchard said.

“Growing your own fruits and vegetables is the next logical progression once you really start thinking about where your food comes from, and how you can become more adventurous, and take more pleasure in how you cook and eat,” he added.

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EDIBLE, continued from Page 2


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Shampoo bottles, makeup tools, lotions, linens and laundry - the bathroom is one of the most frequented rooms in the home and clutter can collect quickly. Stop the chaos before it gets out of control by implementing some smart storage solutions. With these simple ideas, your bathroom will be the most functional and fashionable room in the house.

STREAMLINE SHOWER SHELVINGIt’s time to say goodbye to hanging

racks from shower heads and precarious corner shelving. The new Store+ shower from Sterling has customizable storage accessories, minimizing clutter and ensuring everything you need is close at hand. Sturdy shelves and accessories are easily snapped into any of eight pre-molded locations within the shower - no tools necessary. A fully accessorized wall includes four rimmed shelf/soap dishes, two 4-inch deep storage bins, and soap dishes with towel bar and two shower hooks. Plus, the back wall has molded foot ledges on either side, providing a safe, handy shaving ledge. To clean up your shower clutter for good, visit www.sterlingplumbing.com.

DARE TO GO VERTICALExpand the storage potential of a small

bathroom by using vertical storage options. Floor space may be limited, but by installing shelving and other smart storage options on walls, you dramatically increase space for

necessities. For example, floating shelves are an elegant and space-saving option that are easy to install over the toilet or between a mirror and a pedestal sink. That small space above the door? Perfect for a shelf to store mason jars full of supplies or those beautiful perfume bottles. Need extra space to store linens and washcloths? Install stacked towel racks on the back of your door or hang baskets on the wall and then place folded linens inside for a tidy look that keeps fluffy towels within easy reach.

VAMP UP THE VANITYFrom shaving and combing to primping

and curling, the vanity is center stage for your daily routines. That means clutter can easily take over the countertops and drawers if you’re not careful. A few thoughtful steps will help you organize and maximize your vanity space. To start, dispose or donate of any products or tools you don’t use. Then purchase some drawer organizers or reuse small plastic containers to get items in order. On the inside of doors, install small pieces of PVC pipe vertically to store hair tools and cords. You can also repurpose spice racks on doors to hold a slew of personal products. For hair accessories or other small metal objects, a magnetic strip on the inside of a door or drawer is amazingly effective.

With these simple storage ideas, you’ll cut clutter, keep spaces clean and never trip over a random bottle or towel on the floor again. (Brandpoint)

Ideas to squeeze extra space in your bathroom

If the idea of doing-it-yourself where plumbing is concerned sounds

intimidating, fear not. There are many simple fixes to common plumbing problems that just about anyone can take care of without professional assistance. More importantly, performing these simple maintenance tasks as they are needed can prevent larger problems from occurring.

Not sure where to start? Try these quick plumbing tips from Jeff Devlin, a licensed contractor who’s appeared on several TV home improvement shows.

• Hair clogs: If you are accustomed to calling the plumber or snaking the drain when your tub is clogged, consider a simpler solution. Hair clog removers, available at your local hardware store or supercenter, are formulated with specific ingredients that work to dissolve hair and clear a drain on contact. For example, Roto-Rooter Hair Clog Remover works up to five times faster than other brands because it has 25 percent more hair dissolving ingredients.

You can also help slow down the forming of new clogs by ensuring all of your drains have strainers to catch hairs and other debris.

• Kitchen clogs: Grease, soap and food can get trapped in kitchen sinks—it happens in every home sooner or later. The easiest way to clear these tough clogs is to use a solution designed specifically to cut through grease and food and open up a drain. Use 16 oz of a solution like Roto-Rooter’s Gel Clog Remover and wait about 10 minutes before flushing with water.

While a great clog remover can do wonders, you should try to dispose of larger amounts of grease in the garbage. Keep this in mind next time you are deep frying dinner!

• Septic backups: If you have a septic system, know that anything poured down any drain in your home will end up in the tank. So it’s very important to keep that system healthy. A septic system is not unlike the human digestive system — it

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contains bacteria and enzymes which help to eliminate waste. However, sometimes the good bacteria and enzymes get destroyed by the things that get dumped into drains.

Just as you can add a probiotic to your personal digestive system to keep things in balance, in a septic system you can maintain balance by adding a septic treatment to your toilet. To avoid costly and messy backups, do this quick task once a month.

“Performing simple routine maintenance can save you time, money and a headache down the line,” says Devlin.

(Statepoint)

From clogs to backups:3 simple plumbing fixes


Adding a composite deck can return up to 65 percent of your investment when you go to sell.

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Report: Exterior improvements yield higher ROI for less

You might assume upgrades to interior spaces like kitchens and bathrooms have the best payoff, but most home improvements don’t return 100 percent of their value at the time of resale. Those that yield the best return on investment for the most modest costs are generally exterior improvements.

OUTSIDE THE BOXInterior projects like a minor kitchen

renovation or bathroom upgrade return a decent percentage of your initial investment when you sell your home—about 80 percent and 65 percent, respectively, according to Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value report. However, they can also cost tens of thousands of dollars.

By contrast, exterior projects like adding a deck or replacing a garage door deliver similar high rates of return, but for far less cost. Adding a composite deck can cost around $17,000 and yield an ROI of more than 65 percent, while a garage door typically costs less than $2,000 and returns nearly 77 percent of your investment when you sell.

In fact, six of the eight improvements with

the best ROI on Remodeling’s report were exterior projects, and their average payback was nearly 75 percent.

TOP EXTERIOR PROJECTSHere are popular exterior projects that

offer high ROI, according to the Cost vs. Value report:

• Roof replacement: A midrange roof replacement costs approximately $20,000 and returns nearly 69 percent of the investment. What’s more, a new roof helps protect your entire home from weather damage and can improve curb appeal.

• Composite deck addition: Costs vary, but Remodeling bases its evaluation of ROI on a cost of about $17,000. At that price, adding a composite deck delivers ROI of 65.2 percent. Of course, the value of your deck will depend on many factors, including the quality of the building products you choose. Capped board composites, like Envision Decking by TAMKO Building Products, are gaining popularity. Envision Inspiration, the latest in the TAMKO collection, was introduced in

late 2016, and features striking color patterns for a visual effect that’s as appealing as the financial ROI of composite decking.

• Siding replacement: Another exterior feature that protects the whole home and greatly affects its curb appeal, new siding can cost around $14,500. When you sell your home, that new siding will recoup about 76 percent of your initial investment.

• Garage door replacement - Older garage doors may lack modern insulating qualities and a shabby-looking door can drag down the look of your home. Replacing the garage door costs roughly $1,700 and returns nearly 77 percent of that amount at the time of resale.

• Steel entry door: The single exterior home improvement with the greatest ROI is also one of the cheapest and easiest to do. Replacing a wooden door with a steel entry door will run you about $1,400 and you’ll recoup more than 90 percent of that cost when you sell your home.

Exterior home improvements not only enhance your enjoyment of your home and help maintain its security, they’re also the first things potential buyers see when they pull up to the curb. When you want to make cost-effective, high-ROI improvements, making exterior upgrades is money well spent.

(Brandpoint)


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From the Oregon State University Extension Service, which encourages sustainable gardening practices. For more information, visit or contact the local Extension office, 1320 Capitol St. NE, Suite 110 or 503-588-5301.

SUSTAINABLE GARDENINGThe OSU Extension Service

encourages preventive pest management which is emphasized over reactive pest control. Identify and monitor problems before acting and opt for the least toxic approach that will remedy the problem. The conservation of biological control agents (predators, parasitoids) should be favored over chemical controls.

Use chemical controls only when necessary and only after thoroughly reading the pesticide label. First consider cultural, then physical and biological controls. Choose the least-toxic options (insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, and organic and synthetic pesticides — when used judiciously).

PLANNINGWrite in your garden journal throughout

the growing season. Prepare garden soil for spring planting.

Incorporate generous amounts of organic materials and other amendments, using the results of a soil analysis as a guide.

Prepare raised beds in areas where cold soils and poor drainage are a continuing problem. Incorporate generous amounts (at least 2 inches) of organic materials.

Use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant vegetables. When the soil is consistently above 60 degrees Farenheit, some warm season vegetables (beans, sweet corn) can be planted.

MAINTENANCE AND CLEAN UPAllow foliage of spring-flowering bulbs to

brown and die down before removing. Apply commercial fertilizers, manure, or

compost to cane, bush (gooseberries, currants, and blueberries), and trailing berries.

Place compost or well decomposed manure around perennial vegetables, such as asparagus and rhubarb.

Cut back ornamental grasses to a few inches above the ground, in early spring.

Cover transplants to protect against late spring frosts.

Optimum time to fertilize lawns. Apply 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Reduce risks of run-off into local waterways by not fertilizing just prior to rain, and not over-irrigating so that water runs off of lawn and onto sidewalk or street.

Optimum time of year to dethatch and renovate lawns. If moss was a problem, scratch surface prior to seeding with perennial ryegrass.

Prune and shape or thin spring-blooming

shrubs and trees after blossoms fade.

PLANTING/PROPAGATIONPlant gladioli, hardy transplants of alyssum,

phlox, and marigolds, if weather and soil conditions permit.

It’s a great time to start a vegetable garden. Among the vegetables you can plant, consider:

Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, endive, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rutabagas, spinach, and turnips.

PEST MONITORINGAND MANAGEMENT

Clean up hiding places for slugs, sowbugs and millipedes. Least toxic management options for slugs include barriers and traps. Baits are also available for slug control; use caution around pets. Read and follow all label directions prior to using baits or any other chemical control.

Monitor strawberries for spittlebugs and aphids; if present, wash off with water or use insecticidal soap as a contact spray. Follow label directions.

If necessary, spray apples and pears when buds appear for scab.

Cut and remove weeds near the garden to remove potential sources of plant disease.

Use floating row covers to keep insects such as beet leaf miners, cabbage maggot adult flies, and carrot rust flies away from susceptible crops.

Help prevent damping off of seedlings by providing adequate ventilation.

Manage weeds while they are small and actively growing with light cultivation or herbicides. Once the weed has gone to bud, herbicides are less effective.

Spray stone fruits, such as cherries, plums, peaches, and apricots for brown rot blossom blight, if necessary.

Access the Extension Service’s monthly gardening chore calendar at their website, extension.oregonstate.edu.

GARDEN CHORESfo r Apri l


When you fill your bird feeders and put fresh water in the birdbath this season, you’ll definitely be giving your feathered friends a helping hand. But you could also be serving the greater good.

“We enjoy birdwatching and feeding birds because they brighten our backyards and entertain us with their antics, especially during long winters,” says Richard Cole, co-founder of Cole’s Wild Bird Products. “But birds also play an important role in maintaining environmental balance around the world. They pollinate plants, scatter seeds so new plants can grow, help control insect populations and recycle nutrients back into the soil. It’s critical for us to have a greater understanding of how bird species are doing around the world, and to do our part to help take care of them.”

WHAT YOU CAN DOYou can support bird populations year-

round by making your backyard an oasis for birds. A few simple steps can get you started:

• Offer a variety of feeders; different species prefer different styles . Tube feeders are versatile and appeal to a wide range of bird species. They can also handle large (think sunflower) or small seeds (like petite mixes) equally well. Some birds prefer to cling to feeders while dining, rather than perch, so use a versatile Mesh feeder; or try a Bowl feeder, perfect for serving suet in kibble form, dried mealworms and fresh fruit. You

can find a variety of feeders from Cole’s. Be sure to keep all feeders clean and in good condition to help prevent disease and injury.

• Serve a variety of birdfeed. In winter, seeds with a high fat or oil content are best for birds, so offer black oil sunflower seeds, niger, raw peanuts and suet. To attract the greatest variety of birds, try Cole’s Blue Ribbon Blend, which incorporates black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower meats, white proso millet and cracked corn. Special Feeder is a high-energy blend that also attracts large numbers of birds, with the perfect mixture of black oil sunflower, sunflower meats, black stripe, raw peanuts, safflower and pecans. Birds also need (and love) suet, Cole’s offers no-melt suet cakes, specialty suets and a seed and suet mix, Nutberry Suet, to help ensure birds get the fat stores they need to weather winter.

• Be sure to also offer birds plenty of fresh water; it can be very difficult for them to find unfrozen water sources in winter.

By feeding backyard birds and participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, you can be counted on to help protect the wellbeing of wild bird populations. What’s more, the work you do prepping your yard for the count will benefit you - and your feathered friends - throughout the year. For more information about birdfeed and how to attract birds to your yard, visit coleswildbird.com.

(Brandpoint)

Feed backyard birds for the greater, global good

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For centuries, hardwood planks have been the ultimate material for residential floors. Combining exceptional durability with unrivalled good looks, oak, walnut, cherry or other solid-wood floorboards add value and beauty to any home they grace. But these days, handsome timber planking is not only found underfoot, but also on the ceilings and walls of many stylish houses, whether newly built or freshly renovated.

“Timber beams and wood paneling have always played important roles in historical and contemporary residential design, and continue to do so,” says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center, www.hardwoodinfo.com. “But in addition to these classic applications, we’ve seen a strong trend toward the use of floorboard-style wood planks on ceilings and walls. Homeowners are finding it’s a great way to create interiors that are clean and modern yet still have a traditional warmth.”

New York-based interior designer Laura Bohn agrees. “I’ve installed wood-plank ceilings in many projects, both in the city and the country,” she says. “The ceiling is often a

forgotten surface, but I like to think of it as the fifth wall in a room - a blank canvas that can enhance the architecture of a space.”

A case in point is a vacation home in Aspen, Colorado, where Bohn used tongue-and-groove red oak planks on the floors and living-area ceilings. “It’s a big, sprawling house,” Bohn says. “Using the same materials underfoot and overhead gave the spaces added unity.” In some rooms, the wood ceilings extend past clerestory windows to create covered porches that link the interior of the house to the mountain landscape outside. More drama is provided by the natural light that streams through the clerestories and across the ceilings, changing the look of the red oak boards throughout the day.

Rebecca Ascher, principal at Ascher Davis Architects in New York and Newport, Rhode Island, points out that only large, high-ceiling rooms can accommodate such visually distinctive overhead treatment without being overwhelmed. “This is especially true if you’re using strongly characterful hardwoods like walnut or hickory,” she says. “In smaller, lower spaces, a plank ceiling with too much

personality can feel oppressive. In those situations, I would probably specify something simple like poplar beadboard finished with a light, natural stain. That would look crisp and airy, adding visual interest while remaining pleasingly low-key.”

Home renovators discovered that installing new wood floorboards overhead is not only a surefire way to refresh an interior - even change its character entirely, if so desired - but also an effective method of covering old,

damaged ceilings with relative ease. “Tongue-and-groove can be installed directly over drywall, plaster, and other ceiling materials,” Ascher says. “Just make sure it is securely attached to the joists underneath.”

Similar decorative and architectural transformations can be achieved by covering existing walls with wood planking. A feature wall clad in honey-colored oak or some other distinctive hardwood can give a room focus,

Wood planks warm up ceilings and walls

See PLANKS Page 13

Walnut planks clad a feature wall in the master bedroom of a residence in Austin, Texas, by Cornerstone Architects.


Hosting an elegant Easter brunch is easy when you build a menu around exceptional ingredients. Your dishes don’t have to be overly complicated; simple dishes are perfect for the occasion when you let stand-out flavors steal the show.

Brunch calls for a combination of light and savory fare, and an ingredient like Jarlsberg Brand Cheese lets you go either way. Best

known for its classic wedge, this nutty, mild cheese is also available sliced and shredded — perfect for adding a distinctive taste to nearly any indulgent dish you can imagine.

Quiche is a brunch staple, and no variation of this classic is complete without cheese — in this case, a rich, creamy layering of Jarlsberg’s unmistakable flavor does the trick.

A better Easter brunch menu

Cheesy, Crispy Smashed PotatoesRecipe courtesy of Chef George DuranServings: 4

25 red bliss or fingerling potatoes, bite-si e tablespoons olive oil garlic cloves, finely minced

salt, to taste pepper, to taste1 cup grated arlsberg heese2 tablespoons minced parsley

eat oven to 50 and cook potatoes by steaming, boiling or microwaving. et aside.

n small saute pan or saucepan, add olive oil and garlic. ook on medium-

low heat until garlic browns and turns crispy, about 5 minutes. train garlic, reserving olive oil and crispy garlic.

nce potatoes cool, use back of pan to gently smash them down to about 1/2-inch thickness. ri le olive oil throughout roasting pan then add smashed potatoes. ri le reserved garlic olive oil on top of each potato and season with salt and pepper. Roast 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and evenly divide cheese and parsley on top of each potato. ook another 10 minutes until cheese begins to brown. op each potato with reserved crispy garlic and allow to cool before serving.

Spinach and Sundried Tomato QuicheRecipe courtesy of Jarlsberg CheeseServings: 6

UG / cup butter

1 cup white flour 2 tablespoons water See BRUNCH Page 16

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Controlling pests starts outside where their nests reside. You’ll need to go directly to the source. An ant colony is maintained by the queen producing hundreds of ants. If she is destroyed, the colony soon goes with her. Go to TrueValueProjects.com for the products, tools and instructions to complete your project.

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G: 1 cup fresh spinach 1 red onion, cut into ringsbutter1 cup milk 4 eggs salt and pepper, to taste1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced 1/ cup olives 1 cup shredded arlsberg heese

o make pie dough eat oven to 00 . ix butter and flour in food processor or by hand until mixture has granular consistency. dd water and knead into dough. et chill 0 minutes. Roll dough and fit into 10-inch pie pan.

ith fork, make holes in dough and bake 15 minutes.

o make filling eat oven to 50 .n frying pan, fry onion and spinach

with butter then scoop mixture into quiche base. hisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper, and pour over spinach and onion. op with olives, sundried tomatoes and cheese.

Bake 5- 0 minutes.


From making plans to buying new clothes to filling your time with exhilarating (or relaxing) hobbies, gearing up for summer can be a fun and exciting exercise. With hotter months ahead, don’t forget that your pets need certain preparation in advance of summer also.

With increased dangers like infectious bugs, poisonous plants and more time around water, plus the threat of heat itself,

summer is an important time to make sure your pets are ready. Start with a few simple tips that can help ensure safety throughout the summer months.

Keep them hydrated. Dehydration and heatstroke can be fatal to pets, so access to a clean water bowl both inside and outside is critical during summertime. While you’re on the go, be sure to bring water for your pet in a suitable drinking container.

Prepare your pet for summer

Protect against bugs. Ticks and other pesky bugs can cause headaches when the weather warms and you and your furry friends spend more time outside. Help keep those bugs away with preventative treatments, and be sure to check your pets closely for ticks after you’ve spent time outdoors.

Groom regularly. One of the best ways to keep a dog’s coat healthy and help prevent matting and summertime skin irritation is regular grooming. The right grooming tool can dramatically reduce shedding by removing the undercoat and loose hair without sacrificing the healthy top coat.

Provide skin protection. Just like humans, dogs can experience sunburn and even skin cancer. To prevent sunburn, apply a sunscreen where hair is thin and skin lacks pigment (nose, ears and sensitive areas) every time your dog is outside.

Clean the yard. Before letting dogs, cats or other pets out into the yard to play, check for hazards that can be removed or prevented. Search the yard for poisonous plants, ensure that fences are sturdy and whole, watch the area for possible predators if you own smaller pets and monitor your pet’s outdoor activity.

Check screens. When the temperature is just right, many people love to throw open doors and windows to allow fresh air to rush through screen doors. However,

those screens should be checked to ensure that pets can’t push them out or squeeze through a small hole.

Add ID. Whether your pets play outside often or not, it’s a smart investment to add an identification tag to their collars. If they were to ever make a dash for an open gate or find a way outside without attention, an ID can help significantly increase the chances they are returned home safely.

Teach them to swim. Many people increase their time around water during the summer, whether it’s a neighborhood pool, a local pond or a lake. If you plan to bring along a pet, make sure that he or she is comfortable around water and able to swim before partaking in an activity that could potentially frighten your pet.

Make a vacation checklist. Before hitting the road for a fun family get-away, add important pet items to your checklist. Remember that while on a trip, your pet will need food and water, of course, but also may require specific bedding, toys, treats and more.

Summer can provide a great opportunity to spend ample time bonding with pets, but preparing in advance for some of the pitfalls of all of the excitement can ensure that your pet enjoys it just as much as you do. Find more tips and tricks for pet owners at eLivingToday.com.

(Family Features)

bringing a sense of organization and intention to what was previously an amorphous or confused space. It can also add warmth, color and texture to sleek, modernist interiors that can sometimes feel chilly or austere. That is what Texas-based Cornerstone Architects did in a contemporary Austin residence. The decorative temperature of the master bedroom - a coolly elegant arrangement of steel and glass, polished concrete and white plaster - was raised a degree or two by turning the entire wall behind the headboard into a magnificent expanse of burnished walnut boards.

Installing hardwood planking on existing


It may seem like a small detail, but the way you light your home can have a big impact on the environment and your energy bills. Indeed, widespread use of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States, according to government findings.

Using at least 75 percent less energy and lasting 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, residential LEDs, especially ENERGY STAR-rated products, can help you significantly reduce the cost of lighting your home. And this is truer than ever, as

Switching to LED bulbsthe price of this technology has declined and the uses for it have expanded. Even LED decorative holiday lighting can be purchased these days, giving consumers more opportunities to light their homes and lives efficiently.

Community efforts are helping to make sweeping change and brighten lives. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Change the World Tour,” is a national program designed to motivate consumers to purchase

ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulbs that bring energy-efficient lighting to communities in need.

Leading the charge are forward-thinking companies, such as ProVia, a manufacturer of home renovation products, including energy-efficient entry doors, replacement windows, vinyl siding and manufactured stone. They have partnered with Thompson Creek Window and Fairfax County Public Schools to teach students the importance of changing to ENERGY STAR-certified LED light bulbs. ProVia is also donating LED light bulbs to Habitat for Humanity

walls has become even easier in recent years with the development of self-adhesive boards. “All you need is a wall surface that has been primed or painted and is clean, dry, and relatively flat,” says Jack Shannon, III of Rustick Wood Co. in Tennessee, one of a growing number of manufactures producing sustainably grown, stick-on hardwood boards. “Our solid wood boards are available in a variety of finishes, ranging from the refined to the rustic, to fit different styles of home décor.” The 5-inch wide planks come in lengths between 2- and 5-feet and can be applied in many possible patterns - classic end-to-end horizontals and verticals, graphic herringbones and chevrons - the homeowner’s imagination is the only real limit.

Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about residential design trends and other applications and products using American hardwoods. (Brandpoint)

PLANKS, continued from Page 10

and encouraging their employees to get on board personally by making a commitment to purchase ENERGY STAR-certified LED light bulbs.

With these kinds of efforts taking place nationwide, LED adoption in local communities is expected to continue to rise. To learn more about the campaign, visit provia.com/change.

Swapping out traditional bulbs for

energy-efficient alternatives is a simple home project that requires no special skills or tools, just a commitment to lowering one’s carbon footprint. Take an afternoon to make this simple swap that promises to have a long-lasting and major impact.

Actions taken by individuals may feel small, but on a collective scale, greening your home means greening your community and the larger world. (Statepoint)

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By DEE MOOREFor the Keizertimes

Earthworms, red wigglers to be exact, are taking home composting efforts to a whole new earthy level. Vermicomposting is one of the most effective ways to dispose of food waste, such as vegetable food scraps, it’s organic, sustainable and just darn fun as Daisy Santana Hickman found out.

Hickman, a Keizer resident, has been vermicomposting for almost 20 years.

“I was living in Corvallis in an apartment complex and my neighbor was starting a job selling worms,” Hickman said.

Then the unthinkable happened, her neighbor gave her a plastic tub full of worms.

“I had all the preconceptions everyone has; that they are dirty, smelly and gross,” she said. But that was far from the case. It turned out that keeping worms is rather easy and enjoyable.

“I kept them on the patio near the wall to keep the temperature fairly stable,” she said. When she moved to Keizer she brought her worm bin with her.

“Part of it is having something for 20 years and part of it is the cache. There is a part of me that likes to say ‘oh, yeah, my worms,” when talking to people, Hickman said.

She sticks with it, not because of the savings; there isn’t a lot of economic incentive to vermicomposting; but because it’s a sustaining activity, good for her, her garden and the environment.

“To be as self-sufficient as I can be and to be able to provide something; the compost; that I have made with my own two hands” and a little help from her worms, she said. She uses the compost material from the bins in her garden.

“I tend to mix it in my raised beds. It is very rich.”Her bin has grown into bins; she now has a stackable

set which she rotates as the worm bedding becomes filled with castings and decomposes.

Hickman purees her food waste and leftovers in a blender before pouring it into her worm bin. She’s found this helps keep down on the smell.

She has even put weeds in her worm bins. The worms break down the weeds more effectively than a backyard composting bin with no chance of the weed’s seeds surviving her worms, she said.

Hickman has unknowingly ridden a wave of environ-mental awareness and consciousness that includes vermi-composting. The process entered the collective cultural conscience in 1982 with the release of Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof.

Linda Brewer learned about vermicomposting from Appelhof ’s book. She went from an interest in gardening to taking a Master Gardener class in 1988 in Marion County.

From there she earned a master’s degree in soil

science going on to join the OSU facility where she works in the Department of Horticulture as a senior facility research assistant, tech writer and project manager. She takes a special interest in household-scale organic waste. All because of worms.

“Everything I learned I learned from that book 30 years ago. It’s a great resource,” Brewer said

Red wiggler worms used in composting bins are not the same as fishing worms; which are night crawlers; and are not raised to go into a garden bed. They will die because there is not enough food. Red wigglers are surface dwellers and live just under the top layer of decaying compost material or leaf detritus in most people’s yard. They cannot not live in backyard compost piles.

“Earth worms are not native to North American and were brought to the continent by European settlers,” Brewer said.

WORM CARE AND UPKEEPVermicomposting is not an expensive or costly

process. As Hickman demonstrated a simple waterproof plastic tub will do the trick.

To get things started, line the bin with damp shredded newspaper, straw, manure, autumn leaves or office paper that has been squeezed out. Then add a handful of soil to the bin. Add a couple of broken up egg shells for calcium, which the worms need to reproduce, and then add the worms. Feed the worms. Put the lid on.

Drilling holes into the top of the bin is unnecessary, she said, because the worms will escape through them. Removing the lid for frequent feeding will provide an adequate air supply.

See WORMS on Page 18

Worming around with compost

Above: A handful of worms (Photo by Liz Olsen, OSU Extension Service). Right:

Daisy Santana Hickman with her stackable worm bins.

She has been vermin- composting since 1997


A better Easter brunch — Continued from Page 11

Spicy Tater Tot Breakfast MuffinsRecipe courtesy ofChef George DuranServings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray36 frozen tater tots2 cups grated Jarlsberg Cheese, divided8 large eggs1/2 red pepper, finely chopped2 jalapeno peppers (seeds & veins

removed & finely chopped)

2 tablespoons heavy cream1/2 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon ground pepperfinely chopped parsley, for garnish

Heat oven to 425 F. Spray 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.

Place three tater tots into each muffin cup and bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and use small spoon or fork to gently press down on tater tots to form base and sides of each

muffin. Sprinkle 2 cups Jarlsberg cheese

equally over tater tots and bake 10 minutes.

Beat eggs in large bowl and add jalapeno, red pepper, heavy cream, salt and pepper.

Remove tater tots from oven and pour egg mixture into cups. Top evenly with remaining grated cheese and bake 10 minutes.

Remove each muffin and allow to cool 5 minutes on cooling rack before garnishing with parsley and serving.

Tip: For a non-spicy alternative, replace jalapeno with same amount of green bell peppers.

Brown Sugar Ham and Cheese Sticky BunsRecipe courtesy ofChef George DuranServings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll doughflour, for dusting4 tablespoons brown sugar, divided12 slices thin-cut ham12 slices Jarlsberg Cheese1/2 cup grated Jarlsberg Cheesechives or green onions, for garnish

Heat oven to 375 F. Spray nonstick spray in 8-by-8-inch pan or similar.

Unroll dough on floured surface and gently stretch until dough is about 8 by 12 inches. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brown sugar over dough then evenly space six slices of ham and six slices of cheese on top. Starting on short side, begin rolling dough jelly roll style. Cut into six pieces. Repeat with second piece of dough.

Place all 12 buns inside pan. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Bake 20-25 minutes until buns are fully cooked and browned. Garnish with chives or green onions and serve. (Family Features)

By DEREK WILEYOf the Keizertimes

Sarah Riecke, office manager for Bark Boys Inc., loves this time of year as more and more people come in looking for ways to landscape their homes.

“It’s a fun job,” she said. “I absolutely love it, especially when it’s busy. Our customers are great.”

Bark Boys, located at 2840 Cherry Ave NE, Salem since 1978, not only offers bark but also soil mix, organic

compost, rock and many other landscaping supplies. Woodchips and hog fuel, a soft, fibrous material used

for mud control for walking paths, at Salem-Keizer schools comes from Bark Boys.

Two types of bark are available — red (fresh from the saw mill) or dark (aged) hemlock and red or dark fir. While both products supply a decorative ground cover to add a finished look to a landscape as well as help retain moisture in the hot months, protect plants from the cold winter and keep weeds down, fir is a little cheaper while hemlock contains little to no silvers making it perfect for the avid gardner and families with small children or pets. Bark rock, which makes for an excellent long lasting ground cover, is another option.

To figure out how much bark you need for a job, Bark Boys has a calculator on its website — barkboys.net. Just enter square feet and the depth in inches.

In most cases, Bark Boys has same-day delivery and for larger jobs offers a blower truck service.

Compost is also an important product in the Willamette Valley.

“We have really bad soil here,” Riecke said. “The ground is all clay so people can take compost and put it into the soil they already have and that helps. It’s so fine that it soaks into the ground.”

Due to an even wetter than usual winter, rock has been a popular item as people repair their driveways from mud holes.

For more information, contact Bark Boys at 503-378-7379 or [email protected].

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Interior upgrades should make a big impact — adding style and comfort to your home. They should also last a long time, even if you have a busy household, with lots of foot traffic.

To add both form and function to your living spaces, consider the following ideas.

PAINT AND DECORATESometimes going from drab to fab is as

simple as a paint job. Even if you’d like to keep your white walls, a fresh coat can make a room feel brighter, cleaner and more comfortable -- however, you may want to consider the addition of an accent wall or textured design for some pop.

Don’t forget your prep work. Sanding and cleaning the walls helps ensure the paint applies nicely and looks great for a long time.

REDO YOUR CARPETINGSoft carpeting provides luxury and comfort

at once. However, homeowners who have children or pets, or whose rooms otherwise see a lot of foot traffic may wonder if there is long-term value in installing soft carpeting? The answer is yes, as these days, there are

options that are durable, soft and easy to clean.Such carpet features as permanent

built-in stain and soil protection, found in options like SmartStrand Silk Reserve by Mohawk Flooring, help to maintain a carpet’s beauty. Indeed, in an independent walk test, the carpeting endured 60,000 steps—the equivalent of seven years of foot traffic—and still remained beautiful. The carpet also comes with Mohawk’s All Pet Protection and Warranty, so pet owners have long-term protection. To learn more, visit MohawkFlooring.com.

REUPHOLSTER FURNITUREAdd beauty to your living spaces with a

furniture facelift. New upholstery can add luxury and style to items that look worn out but are actually in great structural shape. Whether you are a DIY-er or you have this task done professionally, opt for scratch-resistant, hair-repelling leathers and fabrics, especially if you have children and pets or just prefer low maintenance furniture.

Give your home a touch of comfort and style with durable floor to ceiling updates.

(Statepoint)

Durable decor upgradesthat add comfort, style

According to Brewer worms should be fed no more than a quart of food at a time. They don’t like onions, garlic or citrus peel. They should not be fed cheese, but they can eat meat and will even remove it from the bone.

They love fruit and vegetable waste, leftover cooked veggies, bread, cornmeal and other grains, she said.

They depend on fungi to rot the food so that they can eat it. The smell of almost rotting food will stimulate them into an egg laying cycle.

Worms do not need much care. They breathe through their skin and must stay moist or they will dry out and die. They are temperature sensitive like all animals; if the temps go above 80 degrees, they will consume less food. If the temperature goes below 30 degrees they will freeze and die.

For these reasons, it is a good idea to keep the bins inside a garage, tool shed, near the house or near a building to help maintain a constant temperature.

Brewer also suggests keeping worm bins in a garage or shed to prevent unwanted gnats and flies from gathering near the house.

HARVESTING THE COMPOST

Harvesting the compost material from a worm bin is as simple as keeping the bins. As the worms consume their food the bedding it will become full of castings and become damp.

The casings are full of nitrogen and make excellent plant food. They are also able to reduce contaminants that normal backyard composting can’t.

“Once the bedding becomes wet it will decrease,” Brewer said.

Worm bin owners should check the bins once a month to determine if the bedding has become damp and over saturated. If this is the case, they should push the bedding to one side and add fresh bedding to the bin and then feed the worms on

top of the new bedding. Excess fluid can also be

drained from the bin. This compost tea, when mixed in a 1:10 ratio with water, can be used as plant food

After another month bin owners should take the old bedding out of the container and let it dry. It can then be used in the garden. While the compost yield may not be high, it is densely packed with nutrients. Brewer suggests that gardeners make sure they are mixing it with soil or other compost material.

“I put one cup under each plant that I plant,” she said.

According to Brewer, using worm bin compost as fertilizer on house plants might not be the best idea. While the plants may love the nutrients, the compost often has a malodorous smell.

She cautions that this is not an activity for people who have mold and mildew allergies.

“It will definitely make them sick,” Brewer said.

For more information, visit OSU’s Extension’s Ask An Expert page, extension.

oregonstate.edu/extension-ask-an-expert. Questions regarding composting go to Brewer.

LOCAL CLASSES AND RESOURCES

For beginners who’d rather not venture into vermicomposting alone there are classes available locally, according to Bailey Payne, Waste Reduction Coordinator for Marion County Public Works Environmental Services.

“This is taught as part of the Master Recyclers class given by Marion County Environmental Services. It’s fun and neat to see all the worms doing their thing. You physically see all the worms doing their work in the bin. They are beneficial organisms,” Payne said.

The Master Recyclers program started in 1994 and since then more than 700 participants take the class and they have donated 10,300 volunteer hours to community service. Volunteering is part of the class, according to Payne. The class is $25 per person and requires that participants commit to 30 volunteers hours.

“For a lot of years we’ve

promoted backyard composting. Vermicomposting is one way to do that. The worms can eat some food products that aren’t usually recommended for backyard composting. Even people who don’t have yard debris, who live in small spaces, can keep a vermicomposting bin for their food waste,” he said.

“Keeping a worm bin is a great way to teach children about the cycle of life; soil nutrition – how growing and dying plants turn back into nutritious soil; and biology, worms have five hearts and breath through their skin,” Payne added.

Marion County Public Works Environmental Services have many resources for those interested in learning more about vermicomposting, Payne said.

For more information about recycling, composting and vermicomposting, visit MCRecycles.net. For more information about the Master Recycling classes, visit masterrecycler.net. The site allows visitors to sign-up for online notifications about upcoming classes.

PAGE 18, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2017

WORMS,Continued from Page 15

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Warm weather welcomes flowerbeds, gardens burst with color and fragrance, and in many yards, roses are the stars of the show. They’re the most popular and prized flower in American gardens, one of the most-beloved flowers for weddings, and staples of Valentine’s and Mother’s Day bouquets. Americans love their roses—and so do a host of harmful pests, including Japanese beetles, aphids, mites among other insects, and let’s not forget about deer.

Pests can cause a great deal of damage to roses, especially considering many varieties have a reputation for being tenderly delicate. While some types of roses are hardier against disease, no rose alive can fight off an aphid infestation or fight foraging deer without some help from the gardener. However, growing awareness of the environmental impact of some common pesticides may have many rose gardeners looking for more natural ways to protect their blooms this season.

Brand-name neonicotinoid pesticides, commonly used to keep pests off plants, are being banned in states across the country, including Maryland, Connecticut and Minnesota. North Carolina is currently considering a similar ban. This class of insecticides is believed to contribute to the devastation and decline of honeybee populations across the country. As more states prohibit the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and some garden retailers remove neonics from store shelves, many gardeners may have to start looking for alternative, more environmentally friendly solutions to protect their prized roses.

Natural solutionsFortunately, rose aficionados have several

Natural ways to keep roses radiant this season

While your flower garden is likely a beautiful work of art in and of itself, you can spread the joy by harvesting your flora and bringing the beauty indoors. Floral arrangements add vitality to any interior space. When selecting flowers for your arrangement, pay attention to shapes, textures and colors to achieve good balance. Start with a primary focal flower and build out with a couple of secondary focals, a final flourish, and foliage.

————————Lime will not remove moss from your

lawn. Moss prefers to grow in wet, shady conditions. Lawns with moss need more sunlight, i.e. trimming, pruning and thin-ning trees. If you like the trees the way they are you will continue to have moss and you should think about shade-tolerant alternatives to grass. Moss also grows well in infertile soils, which includes acidic (low pH) soils, but more importantly it also in-cludes nitrogen-deficient soils. Lawns, like a lot of cultivated plants prefer nitrogen-rich soils. Regular fertilizer applications (four applications per year, two in the fall and two in the spring) with products con-

Protect your roses and other garden plants with Bobbex Rose Deer and Insect Repellent.

tidbitsnatural ways to defend their gardens from pests. These measures can help protect rose gardens and the environment:

1. Choosing a good location for your roses is the first step. If you’ll be planting new rose bushes this season, look for a location that will help the roses thrive. The healthier the plant, the hardier it will be in resisting disease and pests. Roses should get six to eight hours of sun per day, and need at least three feet of space on all sides to flourish. Be sure to properly prepare the soil, mulch around the base of the plant, and regularly fertilize and water.

2. Next, keep a careful eye on your roses. Regularly inspect blooms, branches, stems, undersides of leaves and vines for signs of insect infestation, including the presence of eggs, grubs and adult insects. Watch for evidence of deer damage too; such as ragged bites a foot or more above the ground.

3. Keep pests and deer away with a natural, environmentally friendly, dual purpose repellent like Bobbex Rose Deer and Insect Repellent. The easy-to-apply, ready-to-use foliar spray discourages deer foraging through taste and smell aversion, while simultaneously repelling insects such as aphids, mites, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, greenflies and sawflies. The product is compatible with nature, not classified as an insecticide and is harmless to all wildlife, pets, birds and people.

Bobbex Rose also provides needed moisture retention for the plant and can reduce the severity of black spot and powdery mildew, common problems for rose gardeners. Continued use will disrupt browsing habits of deer while protecting against an assault of insects in any weather. The product is actually good for plants since it contains elements high in nitrogen and phosphorus; it dries clear and won’t burn plants. Bobbex Rose will not wash off in rain, or irrigation. Visit www.bobbex.com to learn more.

4. Use nature to defend your roses; hang bird feeders to attract backyard birds that regularly dine on insects harmful to roses. You can also purchase lady bugs, which eat aphids, to release in your rose garden. Just be sure to research the best time and conditions for releasing lady bugs, or they will fly away before making any impact.

The fragrance and colors of roses are among the most delightful indulgences of the warm weather season. With a bit of attention, planning and effective natural assistance, it’s possible, even easy, to keep your roses radiantly resplendent while naturally protecting them and the environment.

(Brandpoint)

taining nitrogen, combined with improved sunlight will result in a green, dense lawn that can out compete moss.

————————Turn a long-handled tool into a

measuring stick. Lay a long-handled garden tool on the ground, and next to it place a tape measure. Using a permanent marker, write inch and foot marks on the handle. When you need to space plants a certain distance apart (from just an inch to several feet) you’ll already have a measuring device in your hand.

————————Use leftover tea and coffee grounds to acidify the soil of acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, gardenias and even blueberries. A light sprinkling of about one-quarter of an inch applied once a month will keep the pH of the soil on the acidic side.

————————The quickest way in the world to dry

herbs: just lay a sheet of newspaper on the seat of your car, arrange the herbs in a single layer, then roll up the windows and close the doors. Your herbs will be quickly dried to perfection. What’s more, your car will smell great.


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For one reason or another, you’ve determined the house you’re living in has become too much to handle. Seniors, empty nesters or those moving from a suburban home into a loft or apartment in the city all face similar challenges when it comes to downsizing.

For example, after Judy Raphael’s husband was diagnosed with dementia and moved to a nursing home, it became difficult for her to take care of her large house the couple had lived in for 23 years. At first, Raphael tried to maintain the house by herself, but things started to pile up and soon the house was in need of serious repairs.

“There were a lot of unknowns on what was wrong in the house – from mildew and mold to the driveway that needed to be replaced, the list goes on,” Raphael said.

When it comes to downsizing your living space, you can start preparing with these steps.

Determine what’s next. Think about what

type of lifestyle you want to live moving forward, but take into account how much space you’ll actually need to accommodate that life. Whether it’s a smaller house or alternate option like an apartment or townhome, the first step is to decide what you’re looking for in your next living space. This can also help you figure out what items will move with you and what will need to be sold, donated, thrown away or left behind.

Assess what you actually need. Now that you’ve determined that downsizing is your best option, you’ll need to figure out what size, space and things you need. Maybe there’s a pile of stuff collecting dust in your attic or basement that can be sold or donated, or maybe you believe you can move all of your belongings into a more compact area. Either way, a downsize means going through storage spaces, closets and room in your home to determine what stays

steps to downsizing

Getty Images

4behind and what goes with you.

Sell your home. Raphael knew she needed to fix the house before it would be considered sellable, but knew she could not manage it alone. After seeing a television commercial for HomeVestors, she decided to give them a call to schedule a free consultation with a local independently owned and operated franchise.

Over the course of the seven-month sales process, Raphael not only accepted an offer on her home from Aaron Katz of WinWin Properties, but the unexpected happened: Raphael’s mother passed away. Katz not only promised to let Raphael and her daughter tour the home after it was renovated, but he was also the first to stop by with flowers after her mother’s passing.

An option such as HomeVestors, the

largest professional house buying franchise in the nation with more than 65,000 houses bought since 1996, offers cash payments and quick closing, which can be helpful in the downsizing process. In many cases, homes can also be sold as-is with no repairs and with unwanted contents still inside.

Stay organized during the move. You’ve now spent a ton of time and energy going through old things and boxing up possessions for the big move – don’t let that time go to waste by allowing your organization to fall apart on move-in day. Make sure you store items in places that make sense, going room-by-room in an organized fashion.

Learn more about the resources available when downsizing at homevestors.com.

(Family Features)


The average residential property can be hazardous to local wildlife without proper precautions taken.

An estimated 98 million birds are killed annually in the U.S. when colliding with windows, according to Western Ecosystems Technology. However, there are steps you can take to not only protect the birds whose flight path traverses your yard and garden, but also offer them a safe place to rest and feed—adding natural beauty for your garden.

Start by making glass visible to birds by applying safety decals to window exteriors every few feet. Remember sliding glass doors as well.

To maintain the look of your home and your own view out the window, use decals that are unobtrusive to the human eye, but contain a component that reflects ultraviolet sunlight. Those from WindowAlert have proven in studies to be an effective visual barrier that only birds can see, particularly when combined with WindowAlert UV Liquid, a gel which can be applied between decals for greater protection.

“Everyone can help contribute toward making migration safer for birds,” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert.

Because the UV reflectivity may fade over time based on exposure, replace the decals every four months and reapply the liquid every three months.

Schock also points out that if you want migratory birds to stay awhile, you may want to consider avoiding the use of pesticides that kill insects which are their natural food source. A strategically placed bird feeder — either within three feet of a window or over 30 feet away in order to prevent bird strikes — can provide nourishment and energy to hungry birds. Ideally, bird feeders will be placed well away from where prey may be lurking, such as bushes and trees.

If you own cats, you should also be mindful of their danger to birds and monitor your cats’ time spent outdoors to ensure they are not hunting feathered friends.

More tips for turning your yard into a safe haven for birds can be found at windowalert.com.

“Birds play a valuable role in our ecosystem,” says Schock. “Protecting them from the hazards humans have created will not only save lives, but will improve your local environment, too.”

(Statepoint)

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The saying, “what’s old is new again” has been around for years, but most recently represents a popular trend in interior design—upcycling old items with a new purpose. Everyone from high-end designers to DIYers are enjoying and incorporating this trend into their everyday life. From five-star restaurants to suburban living rooms, people are seeking out weathered pieces of wood, discarded metal and unlikely antiques to create a unique, down to earth, and comfortable design aesthetic in their living spaces.

An unusual hero of this new design trend is the wooden pallet, which can easily be purchased at any hardware store. With some creativity and know how, these inexpensive items can be re-purposed to create a personalized statement in your home that you’ll love.

RE-IMAGINE YOUR WALLToday, walls are for paint and pictures,

but even if you’ve fallen in love with a certain color for your living room, don’t you think your walls can have more personality? They absolutely can, and one way people are adding new life to their walls is by paneling them with reclaimed wood. To achieve this look, purchase a number of pallets, cut them into various sizes and arrange them on your wall.

To enhance the natural beauty of the wood and to show off your own personal style, pick a few of your favorite stain colors and apply them to the wood. If you are looking for bright and bold colors or subtle cottage inspired tones, check out Minwax Water Based Wood Stains. For traditional, rich wood tones, try Minwax Wood Finish. It’s a deep penetrating stain

to turn discarded wood into beautiful decor

that offers an array of colors, so you can create a display of contrast and patterns on your walls that can be truly stunning. After staining your wood pallet, don’t forget to protect it with a clear protective finish.

CREATE A FUN & FUNCTIONAL PIECE

To free up cabinet or counter space, use a wooden pallet to create a rustic mug holder. For this project, all you need to do is add hooks to a few of the wood slats for the mugs to hang from. Get creative with this pallet by painting a design or phrase such as “But First, Coffee” on the top wooden slat.

You can add some dimension to wood by staining it with Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths. These convenient one-step cloths are pre-moistened with stain and finish allowing for easy application and clean up. They’re available in five beautiful colors from Natural Oak to Dark Mahogany, allowing you to achieve that rustic feel.

UPDATE YOUR HEADBOARDIf you are looking to give your bedroom

a makeover, consider building a headboard for your bed out of pallet wood.

The idea here isn’t to make an even, straight-edged piece; rather it’s to embrace a more rustic style.

Start by gathering your wood pallets and applying Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to prepare the bare wood surface for staining. It will help to prevent streaks and blotches by allowing for even stain absorption. Once the wood has been prepared, apply your favorite stain color. With over 100 colors to choose from, you are sure to find a color that will showcase your personal style.

Using different lengths and widths, arrange the boards so they span the width of your bed. Attach a few long pieces across the back to serve as crossbeams that hold it together. The variation in sizes will create a jagged top and make a big statement.

These are just a few of the many possibilities you can create with pallet wood. From wall décor to nightstands and tables, all you need is some wooden pallets, stain, clear protective finish and a little creativity, and you’ll be able to integrate this design trend into your home.

(Brandpoint)

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