Gunnison Country Homes and Gardens 2023

HOMES

ADVERTISER INDEX

49..............Alpine Lumber

46..............Altitude Painting

51..............AM Salvage

19..............Anderson Associates

45..............Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Today Realty and Associates

33..............Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Today Realty and Associates - Michelle Burns

55..............Big C Builders

29..............Blind Faith

5................Bluebird Real Estate

35..............Bluebird Real Estate - Bobby Overturf

9................Bluebird Real Estate - Brian Cooper

45..............Butterfield Fireplace Services

3................Clarke Agency

34..............Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties

8,11...........Crested Butte Glass

25..............Custom Home Accents

39..............Darby Design Studio

41..............EC Electric

13..............Edward Jones Financial AdvisorLacy Henry

37..............Electronic Solutions

24..............Fullmer’s Ace Hardware

49..............Greatland Engineering

54..............Greatland Log Homes

57..............Gunnison Bank & Trust

39..............Gunnison County Electric Association

11..............Gunnison County Extension Office

36..............Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals

17..............Gunnison Savings & Loan

59..............Hi-Country Floors To Go

2................Hi-Country Window Coverings

8................Home Together Veterinary Services

15..............Interior Visions

46..............Johnny Apple Tree Care

53..............KD Custom Builders

40..............Kooler Homes

27..............Mario’s

43..............Miller Furniture

33..............Mountain Surfaces

60..............Mountain Windows

26..............Nesbitt & Company

13..............Nunatak Alternative Energy Solutions

26..............NuVista Credit Union

35..............RE/MAX Community Brokers

43..............Saw Contracting

7................Shondeck Insurance

22..............State Farm - Pete Klingsmith

17..............Sundrop Flora

27.............. The Dive

23.............. The Fireplace Company

21.............. The Schossow Group

6................ Thurston Kitchen & Bath

55..............Trout Creek Engineering

46..............Visionary Broadband

19..............Willow Interior Design

Julia Samms

Alan Wartes

If you’ve been a regular reader of this annual special publication, you’ve probably noticed a big change in this year’s edition — it’s now called Gunnison Country Homes and Gardens. Whereas we’ve always included an article or two about things that happen outside your home, we’re excited to make it official with the name change and with a great lineup of yard and garden content.

The reason is simple. Living in our wintery high country climate makes every moment we spend outside in the

warmer months feel like priceless treasure. Let’s make the most of it! In this edition, you’ll learn how to do just that with tips for installing or improving a patio to create outdoor living space and how to care for your lawn.

In addition, many people know that their yard is not just a place to hang out — it can also be a source of delicious, nutritious food. In these pages, Alexis Taylor shares the “lowdown” on having backyard chickens, and local gardener Heidi Zimmerman relates her experience with letting mycelium contribute to healthy soil.

Abby Harrison takes us inside the newly renovated building that used to house Rocky’s Gym — and is now home to the Rickert family. It’s an eyepopping transformation that we tease on the cover.

Working-class cleaning tips, how to include children in home improvement projects, what to watch for to spot electrical problems and more — the magazine covers a lot of ground. Enjoy!

(Alan Wartes can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or publisher@gunnisontimes.com.)

ABOUT THE COVER

Times staff writer and photographer Abby Harrison was invited inside the newly renovated building that used to house Rocky’s Gym — a familiar landmark for many longtime locals. Today it is home to the Rickert family, after a floor to ceiling refurbishment that turned the aging commercial facility into a stunning modern home. Read the story on page 30.

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How to navigate the mortgage market

START BY KNOWING HOW MARKETS CHANGE — AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU

BUYER’S MARKET

BALANCED MARKET

Michelle Phelps

It seems every market offers some type of advantage to a home buyer or seller during a particular time period. It's important to understand the benefits and drawbacks during each market period. (Here are some things to consider.)

SELLER’S MARKET

Over the past few years, the advantage for home buyers was that mortgage rates were at an all-time low. However, the disadvantage was that there was an enormous amount of demand, and not a lot of inventory. There were also a lot of cash offers and even offers that were over the asking price. That made it very difficult for buyers that needed a mortgage loan to even get the sellers to look at their offers.

We would call this a “seller’s market.”

While home appreciation was on the rise, the downside was that there was high competition for homes, homes were priced higher and there was less room for negotiating. You also had to make decisions to move forward and how much to offer very quickly.

In a “buyer’s market,” you are purchasing at a time when you have more time to decide if you want to write an offer on a particular home and how much you will offer. During a buyer’s market, there is less demand for homes and less competition when you are writing an offer. The downside to this market for buyers is that your new home won’t appreciate as quickly, since there isn’t as much demand. The downside for sellers is that they will potentially see fewer cash off ers on their home and will likely need to be willing to take a buyer that will have a contingency for a loan approval.

In a “balanced market,” you are buying a home when there is some steadiness in both the appreciation of a home's value and the negotiations you are able to make in purchasing the home. There is more give and take on both sides of the transaction due to a more balanced supply of homes and less demand. There are favorable upsides for both the seller and the buyer of a property.

What market are we in right now? At this point in time, we are seeing the shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. Buyers are starting to be able to get their offer in on a home with a loan contingency and not get shut out at that point due to the seller receiving multiple cash offers. This is good news for home buyers and can be a great time for buyers to begin their search for a home.

Couple a “buyer’s market” with the many loan options available today (some with no down payment requirement and some with as little as 3% down payment) and that means more buyers may enter the market this year to pursue their dream of homeownership.

ADVANTAGES

OF HOME OWNERSHIP

Homeownership does have its advantages. You receive a mortgage interest credit for the interest you pay on your home mortgage loan, hopefully saving you money on paying taxes.

You also gain security in knowing that your “rent” won’t be going up anytime soon, and that your lease won't be broken due to your landlord selling the house you are renting, thus leaving you looking for another place to live. You will know that your interest rate is locked in and how much your monthly payment will be every month. This allows you to budget monthly for the correct amount.

Lastly, owning a home allows you to make changes to the home that will benefit you and your family and to gain equity from those home improvements. You also gain equity simply by making the scheduled payments and having a portion of your payment being applied to the principal reduction on the loan. This means that, in the future, your home loan will have a lower balance. If you potentially see home values go up, you will have a larger piece of equity in the home. When you choose to sell, you will hopefully walk away with your equity in the home, helping you come up with a down payment toward your next home purchase.

No matter what market we are in, it seems that for certain borrowers, there can always be a benefit to purchasing a home.

(Michelle Phelps is a senior loan officer, NMLS #794009, with Academy Mortgage in Gunnison, #3113.)

(All mortgage products are subject to credit and property approval. Not all applicants will qualify. Please consult a tax professional about your specific situation and the tax savings benefits of homeownership.)

Pets with benefits

Watering the flock — and some chicken impersonators. Alexis Taylor

Alexis Taylor

Since the avian flu broke out in the spring of 2022, the price of eggs has risen by at least 50%. If you are looking for an alternative to spending $8 for a dozen eggs at City Market, you’re not alone. People with backyard flocks are trending on social media apps like TikTok, showing off their eggs to songs like “P.I.M.P,” and many folks are wanting to join the backyard chicken farmer life. If you’re considering these pets with benefits, make sure to weigh the pros and cons, and check out the advice below.

Which hen is right?

When starting a backyard flock, you can choose what breed of chicken you want to raise based on cold and heat tolerance, egg production, egg color and temperament.

• Rhode Island Reds are one of the best choices for our valley. They are cold-hardy, fairly friendly and lay approximately 300 brown eggs a year. Developed to be a “do-it-all” breed in the 1800s, they have retained an “eggcellent” reputation through the centuries.

• White Leghorns are known to be one of the most productive egg-layers, but their temperament is a bit flighty. The eggs are also white, which some people find unappealing.

• Barred Rock is another great choice for cold winters and egg laying production. At approximately 280 brown eggs per year, they are one of the better choices for egg laying.

• The Delaware breed is both a meat and egg-laying chicken. Although their production is a bit lower at 250 per year, the ability to also use them as meat chickens means you can enjoy eggs throughout the summer and fall and then harvest them in the winter, so you don’t have to feed them year round.

• Buff Orpingtons do well in the

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cold, have a sweet temperament and lay approximately 200 brown eggs per year.

You can order these chickens through Whiting Farms or Tractor Supply, and the cost ranges from $5-10 per chick. Expect to lose about 10-20% of your chicks and purchase a few extra. When pricing your chicken fl ock, remember that for 60-150 days a year your chickens will not produce eggs. Supply swells in the spring and fall. In the intense heat of the summer and cold of the winter, egg production shrinks or drops off completely. Most chickens only lay 4-5 eggs per week. The first few years of life will be the chickens’ best years and, around age three, you may begin to notice a significant decrease in laying.

Choosing the coop

To provide a humane environment for your chickens, they need access to shade, insulation from the cold, predator protection, perches, nesting boxes and at least 8 square feet of coop space per bird. Chickens also love digging through dirt and cooling themselves off with dust baths, so providing outdoor space is best practice.

Considering temperatures is import-

g p p

ant in our climate that has both brutally-cold temperatures, as well as intense sunlight. Providing ac ce ss t o shade is as

esse

ia e

essential as ensuring an insulated or heated coop. If you can’t run a heat lamp or are afraid of re risk, you can insulate

Having a coop that encloses the chickens each night is the surest way to keep your chickens safe. However, it is also important to have some type of fencing that will protect the birds from predators, such as

ri insu la heated run l a m are af the fire ris ca n in s with hay. coo encloses the chicken is surest way to kee chickens safe. However, it is also im ant to have some type of th protect the birds from predators, s

foxes, hawks and raccoons, that will hunt even during the day.

Nesting boxes create a safe environment that chickens feel comfortable laying their eggs, in so you don’t have to embark on an Easter egg hunt everytime you want breakfast. Keep clean hay inside of the boxes so you have less washing to do. Perches are for the birds to sleep on at night. For security, chickens enjoy sleeping on an elevated perch instead of laying on the ground.

Chicken coop prices range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. It all depends on how many birds you are planning to get, as well as if you are choosing a pre-built option or going DIY.

continued on 15

Coops come in all shapes and sizes, depending on your particular needs. Alexis Taylor

Feed and supplements

Chicken feed is a mix of cereal grains, animal byproducts and soybean oil. It is important to buy your chickens pre-mixed feed that includes minerals and nutrients they need to stay healthy and not only feed them produce scraps from your kitchen. Although feeding your

hens food scraps is beneficial, it will not provide a well-balanced diet alone.

Tractor supply sells a variety of chicken feed ranging from $16-$30 a bag. You can also purchase chicken feed in bulk through Western Slope Ag Center out of Olathe. They make monthly deliveries to Gunnison, but you’ll need equipment to transport and unload a 450-lb. barrel of chicken feed. The price ranges depending on if it is organic or non-GMO but ranges from 20-40 cents per pound.

Flock health can be increased by occasionally feeding your chickens

Alexis Taylor

Alexis Taylor

Chickens include daily chores

Each day you have to collect eggs, or they may discover how delicious their eggs are and eat them before you can ever get one. Eggs are often covered in feces and should be washed before consumption. No matter the temperature, you have to provide water, which can be tricky in the winter time. Investing in an insulated water bucket can save you the headache of cracking ice. Along with feeding them corn and vegetable scraps, you will also want to check your chickens for signs of illness or frostbite and ensure their coop stays clean.

Backyard chickens can provide a steady food source. But they also require food, infrastructure, medical interventions and daily time and attention. When considering if backyard chickens are right for you, ask yourself: how much is a dozen eggs worth?

(Alexis Taylor is the owner of Sundrop Flora and the Greenhouse and is the vice president of the Gunnison Valley Producers’ Guild.)

Backyard chickens are personable and curious.

Alexis Taylor

Spiceup OUTDOOR LIVING WITH THESE PATIO PROJECTS

Alan Wartes

When warm weather finally arrives in the Gunnison Valley, spending time outside is irresistible. That’s even more true when you have a comfortable and appealing place to share a meal, read a book or sip a sunset beverage with friends.

For centuries, the patio has been just the thing. Now is the time — before the snow melts — to start projects to create or enhance these gathering spots.

A patio can be considered a transitional area that links the out-

doors to the inside of a home. A patio is often an oasis for lounging and entertaining. And depending on homeowners’ budgets and preferences, a patio can be just as comfortable and stylish as interior spaces.

“Patios should be extended rooms, basically, extensions of your living area to the outside,” said Steve Curtiss, owner of Rocky Mountain Trees and Landscaping in Crested Butte. “So the design is just as important as designing rooms in the house.”

Before getting to the “fun part,” Curtiss said — like imagining the aesthetic of the outdoor space —

there are three more fundamental things to consider.

The first is, how do you intend to use the space? Will you prepare food there? Is it an adjunct to a backyard garden? Will it include a fire pit or gas fire installation?

Answering those questions leads to the next consideration: location. For example, does your preferred spot get the right amount of sun? Is it in an area where snow shed from the house roof accumulates? Is it easily accessible from the rest of the house?

“If you put it in a super sunny

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continued from 18

spot in Gunnison, it's probably going to be too hot,” Curtiss said. “In Crested Butte, if it's on the north side of a building, people are not going to use it because it's going to be cold.”

The final question is perhaps the most important of all: Do local building codes and covenants allow you to do the things you want? Better to find out before you spend a lot of money and effort, he said.

Courtesy continued on 20 HOMES & GARDENS | 2023 19

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PUT UP A PERGOLA FOR SHADE

A pergola is an open-air structure that adds a measure of shade and privacy without completely blocking views of Mother Nature. Though traditionally made of wood, modern pergolas come in a wide variety of styles and building materials. You can purchase a prefabricated kit and assemble it yourself, or consult a contractor to create a unique design of your own.

Installing a pergola over the patio helps define the seating area. Hanging plants can add to the ambiance and string lights can make this a great spot to gather when the sun sets.

WARM IT UP WITH A FIRE PIT

Enjoying the light and warmth of a campfire is as old as humanity itself. Patios offer an opportunity to bring the experience out of the woods and into the backyard. Build a fi re pit right into the design with the same paving materials used to create the patio — or place a moveable one, such as a chiminea, wherever you like. Fire pits not only look good, they also expand the time frame that the patio can be enjoyed, offering cozy spots to sit even when the weather chills.

ADD A TOUCH OF AMBIENCE

Vintage bistro tables and chairs can turn a drab patio into one that calls to mind a Parisian courtyard. Whimsical lighting and accents that you

continued on 22

Patio projects need not be expensive to turn an ordinary spot into an appealing outdoor space.

Libby Marsden

continued from 20

would normally think to see indoors, like a gilded mirror, can add extra appeal. Soften wrought iron and other metals on the furniture by including plenty of flowers and greenery. Don’t forget the candles and a place to stash a bottle of chilling wine. Choose any decor you like and make it yours. The only limit is your imagination.

PLANT A GARDEN WITHIN REACH

Place your patio and your garden together to combine work with leisure, and cut the distance between your food and your table to a few feet! Nothing beats the pleasure and sense of accomplishment of serving produce you have nourished yourself.

BRING THE KITCHEN OUTSIDE

With a few key outdoor appliances, you can free the cooks from being stuck indoors. Many grills come with burners on the side for sautés and other cooking. A small refrigerator tucked under an all-weather countertop will save a lot of steps between the patio and the house.

With some creative attention to detail, being outside will be your first choice all summer.

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For DIY projects, Curtiss recommends laying a proper foundation under your patio. It will look better and last longer, he said.

For those on a budget, patios can be surfaced with lots of different materials.

Courtesy Rocky Mountain Trees and Landscaping

Peter Klingsmith

lmost certainly, your home is one of the most valuable assets you own. When it is damaged or destroyed you don’t want to be left wondering if you have enough coverage. On the other hand, no one wants to overpay for coverage you don’t need or use, especially in a high-cost environment like the one we currently find ourselves in.

Here are some tips for how to get the most out of your homeowner’s insurance without breaking the bank.

Understand your deductible. Know what your deductible is and how it works in relation to a claim and the premiums you pay. When a claim is filed on your home, the deductible is what you are responsible for paying. Often (but not always) this amount will just be taken off the top of the amount owed to you by the insurance company, so you may not even have to

come out of pocket to pay it. That means, if you’re comfortable getting a little less back in the event of a claim, there is savings to be had by increasing your deductible — and paying a little less every month. The general rule of thumb is, the higher the deductible the lower the premium.

Know the difference between market value and replacement value. When it comes to homeowners’ insurance, the important number is not how much a buyer will pay you for your home at any given time; it’s how much it will cost to rebuild or repair your home if there is a loss. Remember, the land your home sits

on has its own value (especially in the Gunnison Valley) and the land won’t need to be replaced by the insurance company, so you don’t need to include this in the amount of coverage you carry.

Don’t take the insurance company’s word for what that replacement value is. Go speak with one of the excellent local builders who are immersed daily in the business of building homes. Ask them what it would cost per square foot to rebuild your home. Take that number and multiply times the square footage of your home and that is the size policy you need. The current going rate is $350-750 per foot in Gunnison County, depending on where the home is located. One more thing … replacement value is the cost to rebuild your home today. Actual cash value is replacement cost minus depreciation. Always spring for the replacement cost.

continued on 26

CUSTOM HOME ACCENTS

Include liability coverage in case you are sued. If someone gets hurt on your property, and you’re to blame, your liability coverage protects you and your assets. A simple trick is to match the amount of liability coverage you have to your net worth. You can get a lot of liability for very little premium. Adding a personal liability umbrella policy can add additional liability coverage to your home and cars.

Opt for sewer endorsements. They cover damage from the backup of sewer, drain and service lines. Most homeowners’ policies don’t cover losses from a sewer backup unless you add the endorsement. These types of losses happen all the time and they are expensive — so the endorsement is totally worth the cost. The other endorsement, service line coverage, provides protection for the utility lines that run from your home to the main hook-ups in the street. The city or utility company only covers from the hook up to your property line. These are very expensive losses, so make sure you have both endorsements.

Don’t forget loss-of-use coverage. If you do have a loss and you’re unable to live in your home until it is repaired or rebuilt, this coverage takes care of your room and board while you can’t stay at home. Some insurance companies provide up to 24 months of coverage. Given current supply chain issues in the construction industry, it may take that long to rebuild. This is typically added at no extra charge. You may also be able to increase the duration, or the amount covered.

Remember: Prioritize coverage first, premium second. Pay a little more to have the peace of mind that, if your home is damaged or destroyed, you have enough coverage to put you back where you were before. You can always bundle home, car, life and health insurance to get more discounts.

Here’s hoping that you never face the tragedy of a damaged or lost home — but that you’re covered if you do.

(Peter Klingsmith is a Gunnison native and local State Farm Insurance agent.)

Keep your grass green with attention to basics

Kimberly Ann Brown Hinsdale County Master Gardener

Living in a high desert environment, some might consider a lawn an unnecessary luxury, even a sign of over-indulgence. And yet, anyone who walks barefoot across a thoughtfully-cultivated lawn would most likely delight in such a comforting feeling on the feet.

Maybe, for you, a lawn is less about foot pleasure and more about establishing meadows of wheat and junegrass parks for when you want a nice convenient spot in autumn to hunt deer on your property. Perhaps you grow hay as a resource for livestock in the wintertime. Or maybe your grass grows taller, wilder and with specks of vibrant colors because you like to support our native pollinators.

Whatever your reasons for wanting grassy plants in your yard, here are a few things you need to be successful in the Gunnison Country.

Choose the right type of grass seed. If you have an interest in Colorado native grasses that are drought tolerant, cold-hardy and perform well in warmer conditions from May to September,

check out the Colorado State University Extension article, Native Lawn Establishment in Colorado (scan the QR code at the end of the story).

Sideoat grama and blue grama , also native warm season varieties, are expressive and eye-catching bunch grasses and are great garden additions for bird watching and wintertime landscapes. Blue and Kentucky fescue s are popular for backyard lawns, and this seed is commonly found at local hardware stores. Extra care is helpful with fescues, because they are not drought tolerant, prefer shady spots and need more frequent watering.

Pay attention to soil compaction. This is a common problem, especially for yards with dogs and children who do their part to compress the soil. Pore space is necessary in the soil for gas exchange and nutrient absorption at the root level for any given plant. Aeration or core cultivation is key to improving areas of compacted soil and can be achieved by a professional with heavy duty equipment or with specialized shoes with spikes that serve

seedlings.

Don’t hesitate to apply seed heavily. Alpine weather conditions, drought, hungry animals, foot traffic and competition from existing weed-seed bases in the soil make it a challenge for grass plants to establish. Sowing ample grass seed in our shoulder seasons is a strategy that works to combat these elements. For larger areas of grass cultivation, such as with pastures or post-wildfire restoration, or in areas where drought or irrigation is of concern, consider grass plugs, which are specifically grown in narrow tubes so that root structures are long and extensive prior

plants, which inhabit the topsoil layer. An automatic irrigation system that monitors weather conditions and judicially allocates water is a convenient and efficient way to water a lawn.

Hit the mowing sweet spot. Achieving the perfect bocce ball lawn comes down to two important factors: grass height and mowing frequency.

First, keep tips of grass to 2 inches or more, but not less. Going shorter makes the plant less adaptable to drought and hot weather, both of which are common in the high country. Opportunistic seeds in the soil also gain more potential for

(As a Colorado master gardener, Kimberly Ann Brown is all green thumbs. She enjoys cultivating skills to confidently grow food and flowers in high country environments, as well as safeguarding our local and wild spaces.)

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ROCKY’S GYM

gets a makeover gets a makeover

Locals turn commercial space into a modern residence

The old building just off Frontage Road, most known to Gunnison residents as the former home of Rocky’s Gym, has been given a second lease on life by a local couple, Jesse and Holly Rickert. The pair spent nearly two years renovating the place for their family, reintroducing life and function to a building that hadn’t been used in nearly 15 years.

The Rickert’s bought the house four years ago, after the pair renovated two homes in town and were looking for a fresh start. Holly initially thought it would be a demoli-

tion project due to the rough shape of the place, but after a few walkthroughs and visions of a space transformed into something beautiful, light and open — the deal was made.

Th e pair is no stranger to the old gym. Jesse, a 30-year Gunnison resident and Holly, who grew up in the valley, both had Rocky’s memberships while they studied outdoor recreation at Western State College. Holly recalls spending a good amount of time at Rocky’s. While she swam, her parents played racquetball in the old courts and danced around to Jazzercise classes in the old exercise studio.

“Everywhere I look, I have memories of it,” she said.

Abby Harrison

Abby Harrison

Holly Rickert

The Rickert’s newly-renovated upstairs living room and kitchen area — formerly Rocky’s entryway — used to house a jazzercise and cardio area. The pair demolished the existing walls and redid the south-facing windows, each sill made of old racquetball court wood. The floor was ripped out and replaced with three inches of concrete, which now contains in-floor heat.

Holly Rickert

Abby Harrison HOMES & GARDENS | 2023

The project presented the challenge of turning a former commercial gym, beloved by many in the community, into a residential home that could serve their family for years to come.

“I think it's pretty cool to take something that was pretty much dilapidated and uninhabitable and, especially of this size, and bring it to something that’s a property we'll have for a while,” she said.

Renovating the 8,000 square-foot space took nearly two years and was a big lift. Unlike what they did with their former house on South Main Street, the Rickert’s were looking for a more laid-back, less-Victorian design. The process started with cleaning, demolishing and discarding what wasn't going to be useful — all before installing anything new. With the help of an architect, the pair made a plan for the home and started to work on the house on days off, but it quickly became a full-time job. Holly’s dad, an electrician, wired the entire place on his own.

“One guy, 70 something years old, and he wouldn't let me touch a single wire,” Jesse said. “And you know, it's huge. For him to do that by himself was a huge gift.”

Jesse spent a lot of time cutting through concrete, a messy and exhausting process that never seemed to end; one concrete wall would end and another would begin. The pair found concrete and cinder blocks even on interior walls.

The two large garages, converted from racquetball courts, and the open-floor-plan living room are Jesse’s favorite parts of the renovation. The Rickert’s daughter lives in an apartment space downstairs, which used to house locker rooms, a steam room and a sauna. The swimming pool didn’t survive the renovations, at the dismay of the Rickert’s children who imagined cannonballing off the second-story

Traces of the past are visible to a trained eye. Racquetball marks adorn the sides of the garage walls, window sills are made of salvaged court floor and a foosball and ping pong table from the old rec room remain.

Mike Zamora, former owner of Rocky’s Gym, moved to the valley in 1977 to attend Western and recalls

continued on 35

The Rickert’s filled in the old pool, which used to be located behind the building, to create a lush backyard space. The pair’s two dogs, Ginger and Mac, enjoy lounging in the yard on warmer days.

Mike Zamora

Abby Harrison

Abby Harrison

Mike Zamora

When the Rickert’s bought the building, two of the three original racquetball courts had been converted for other uses. The pair raised the floor of the remaining court about five feet to bring it to street grade. The racquetball marks were always going to stay, Holly said.

Abby Harrison

WE Love this Town too.

We’re lucky to call the Gunnison Valley our home, our brokers live, work, and play here. And when we combine our local knowledge with the global resources of Coldwell Banker, we ensure the best real estate experience for our clients. So whether you’re buying or selling, upgrading or downsizing, the real estate experts at Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties can help.

The family used space in the basement for their outdoor gear. The racks house Nordic and downhill skis for their snowy adventures up near White Pine and around Hartman Rocks.

Abby Harrison

the 80s era of the building as “Super Courts,” a nod to the three racquetball courts that would serve the community for the next two decades. But when he bought the place in 1994, it had changed hands to become “Gunnison Sports and Fitness.” Zamora decided “Rocky’s” was a better fit, a nod to the iconic western mountain chain and the Stallone- boxer Rocky Balboa.

For Zamora, Rocky’s was all about bringing wellness to the Gunnison Valley.

“I think we succeed in introducing people to wellness and helping people's lives,” he said. “My two kids are famously into fitness and wellness, plus I got to mentor a strength coach who now works in the NBA.”

During his 14-year tenure as owner, he added a free weight room, a large cardio room, a babysitting room and yoga room — attempts to maximize the square footage of the space and add more programs. He gave complementary memberships to local high school students, and said he loved watching young people interact with

older members.

“There were some great interactions and intergenerational actions between his kids and some of the older members who came in the early morning,” he said. “That’s what I was most proud of, getting people mixed up together and participating in wellness.”

Zamora would own the building for 14 years, eventually losing the place to foreclosure in 2008. He left the valley after that, but memories of his college years and raising a family in Gunnison eventually brought him back. Upon his return, he encountered people who remembered him from Rocky’s and shared positive memories.

The Rickert’s still have similar interactions in town. Jesse meets people

who used to do Jazzercise and spin classes in what is now his kitchen and living room. During the renovations, curious neighbors and passersby would stop by to ask about the place.

“It's changed so much,” he said. “I still visualize what it was like when you walked in, you know?”

Just last week, Zamora, who now lives in Grand Junction with his family, was in the valley to visit Cranor Hill, but out of muscle memory, he made the familiar right turn off the frontage road onto CR51, where he saw the renovated space for the first time.

He took a few photos of the exterior to send to his wife and kids, noting how much had changed, feeling grateful the old building had new life.

“I think that building is a fine building, and I am so glad that somebody has taken it over and made a big old place out of it,” he said. “It’s always in my heart, in my mind and in my vision and in my memories.”

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes. com.)

still visualize what it

SIGNS OF HOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

Prompt attention can keep the household safe

Alan Wartes

Homeowners know that all sorts of issues can affect a home, running gamut from the merely annoying to the unsafe. Electrical issues fall into the latter category, posing a significant safety hazard if left unchecked.

According to the home safety experts at UL (formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories), learning to recognize warning signs of electrical wiring issues can greatly lower the risk of house fires. House fires pose a significant threat, as the Electrical Safety Foundation International notes that electrical malfunctions cause

more than 50,000 house fires each year. UL indicates that the majority of those house fires can be prevented, and learning to recognize signs of electrical problems in a home is a key component of home fire prevention.

According to Jesse Duft, an electrician at family-owned Duft Electrical in Gunnison, the stakes are

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high when it comes to safeguarding your home’s electrical systems. Getting it right from the beginning — and keeping it that way — will protect the health and safety of inhabitants as well as extend the “longevity of the electrical installation.”

Here are a few signs that something needs immediate attention:

Dimming or flickering lights

The UL notes that light fixtures do not typically draw a substantial amount of power, so dimming or flickering lights is not often indicative of an issue with a fixture. Dimming or flickering lights could indicate that the circuit the lights are on is overburdened, most likely by large appliances sharing the circuit with the lights. If dimming and flickering lights are a problem, homeowners can speak to an electrician about moving the fixtures to another circuit or installing a new line specifically for major appliances.

Odors

Odor emanating from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel should be reported to an electrician

immediately. The odor, which some homeowners indicate smells like fish, could be a result of an overheated circuit. Odor coming from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel could indicate a signifi cant electrical issue, so homeowners should not hesitate to report this problem to an electrician. Odors can sometimes travel through HVAC systems as well, so homeowners should take note and call an electrician even if their outlets do not smell.

Hot outlets and switch plates

Outlets and/or switch plates that are hot to the touch are another indicator of an electrical issue. UL notes that outlets that become hot even when nothing is plugged into them could be wired incorrectly. In such instances, an electrician will need to fix the issue, and in the meantime it may be best for homeowners to flip the breaker or remove the fuse for the outlet.

Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers

According to UL, circuit breakers and fuses have a built-in fail-safe that is designed to prevent overloading.

Sometimes a tripped breaker is a result of an aging appliance. One way to detect that is to plug in the product to more than one outlet in the house. If each breaker trips, then the appliance is likely to blame. However, if using the same outlet continues to trip the breaker regardless of what’s plugged into it, then the circuit requires the attention of an electrician.

Electrical issues increase the risk for home fires. Fortunately, such issues are generally preventable and often easily remedied by a qualified electrician.

Should you observe any of these signs, seek professional help immediately, Duft said. Doing the work on your own can be dangerous and illegal.

“The most cost effective thing to do is to call a local electrician,” he said. “Most electricians work on an hourly rate, so it’s worth the cost of maintenance, just the same as when you maintain your car.”

Business is blooming

Julia Samms

For Alexis Taylor, most of the year is busy, but the summer is particularly intense. Between the Greenhouse on Tomichi and Sundrop Flora, her life consists of green and brown from sun up to sun down, while providing colorful plants for the Gunnison Valley community.

The Greenhouse is the most recent addition to Taylor’s life and business. Located on Tomichi Avenue, next to the Gunnison Arts Center, she plans to keep the business open from May 26 through July 5. The business and building themselves aren’t new, both of which

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Jacob Spetzler

Julia Samms

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have been functioning since 1987. Taylor bought it from original owner Paula Swenson in 2021. Swenson still helps out once or twice a week, Taylor said.

The Greenhouse offers a variety of hanging baskets, window boxes, predone planters, perennials, annuals, vegetables and herbs. All the plants are grown in Colorado, primarily in Paonia and Hotchkiss. While Taylor is happy to provide advice on how to grow a garden or where vegetation will be most happy, she doesn’t plan to actually build out the gardens. But there are a few new additions this upcoming season, like organic

vegetables and herbs grown in Gunnison by Sol Food Gardens or organic strawberry hanging baskets by Gunnison Garden’s own Sue Wyman.

"I'm excited to offer that at the Greenhouse,” Taylor said. “Both vendors are small, Colorado familyowned businesses, so it's just a very local operation, which I enjoy."

Sundrop Flora is a non-certified organic flower farm specializing in cut flowers for weddings, bouquets and CSA shares, as well as edible and medicinal flowers. The flowers are grown at Iola Valley Farms where Taylor was the manager before branching off on her own.

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Full service electrical contractor serving the Commercial, Industrial & Residential needs of the Gunnison, Crested Butte and Lake City communities.

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Julia Samms

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Taylor grows over 40 varieties of flowers and foliage for the farm and starts everything from seed or bulb. All the flowers are regenerative and organic. She focuses on edible and medicinal flowers and those that dry well, so she can make dried bouquets that keep their color all throughout the winter, she said.

Local restaurants like Sunflower and Crested Butte Personal Chefs purchase Taylor’s edible flowers. You can also find the fresh cut flowers on the tables of Garlic Mike’s, 1880 Tapas and CSA shareholder’s tables around

owers. You can cut town.

Sundrop Flora offers a flower CSA where peo-

ple purchase a “share” ahead of time, usually in January or February, and then receive their bouquets throughout the summer. The weekly or bi-monthly fresh cut bouquets, and members receive a dried bouquet at the end of the season and a bag of edible flowers.

This year, Sundrop will partner with Buckel Family Wine to provide freshly-cut flowers to their monthly wine club. There will also be an opportunity to opt in to receive flowers through the Mountain RootsFood Project CSA.

to opt in to receive owers thro the Mountain RootsFood CSA. that she does “a lo it 's worth i have a communit y-cen and work for

Taylor acknowledges that she does “a lot for one person,” but said it's worth it to have a community-centric job and work for her-

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self. But, she’s not alone all of the time. Paula Swenson, the original Greenhouse owner, and Michiko Jo Arai help out a day or two each week. Taylor holds “womxn farm work days,” where friends join her on the farm to help.

"The thing I love most about this business is the people," Taylor said.

Between the two businesses, the community support and variety of ways that Sundrop and Greenhouse plants are used, Taylor is seeing exponential growth.

"I think just kind of going with the flow and not trying to force things too much has helped me a lot," she said.

(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes. com.)

Julia Samms

The thing I love most about this business is the people.

Planting pollinators FOR

IT TAKES MORE THAN A SPLASH OF COLOR TO PLEASE THE BEES

Kimberly Ann Brown

Pollination is important! About 70% of plants worldwide depend on pollination, and without pollinators, plants can go extinct. Extinct plants are a big deal because plants produce food for not only humans, but also for a long list

Libby Marsden

of life forms on which our ecosystems depend.

News accounts of wildfires, monocropping, deforestation and drastic climate patterns are challenging our traditional ways of farming and altering our natural habitats in unknown ways. Habitat destruction for native pollinators is at the forefront of these changes. By building a pollinator garden, you have the power to create positive conditions for our food supply, environment and ecosystems.

Pollination is the result of the coevolution of plants and animal species, where each depends on the other for survival. Plants offer pollinators nectar and pollen (rich carbohydrate and protein resources) in exchange for pollen from plants of the same species for its own lifecycle and propagation.

Cross-pollination is the process of pollen exchange between same-plant species; some plants rely more upon wind pollination, namely those of the grass-like family (examples include: corn, rice, oats and wheat). In some parts of China, apple and pear trees are now hand-pollinated by farmers because the wild bees have disappeared.

The usual line up of native pollinators include bees, beetles, flies, moths, hummingbirds and bats. By creating a habitat that includes essentials like food, shelter and water, you create more favorable conditions for pollinators so they can more comfortably and efficiently pollinate. More pollination means more plant propagation, which is what innately drives plants year after year to produce more creating more swollen seed pods for foraging animals to consume for wintertime sustenance.

Garden location is key, and a southfacing sunny spot is best. Keep the pollinator habitat as one large area, rather than break up into smaller isolated areas. If possible, connect front and backyard gardens for one continuous corridor of pollinating rich habitat. It is better to use clumps of the same flower type, rather than single plant specimens, so that pollinators can be thorough and efficient with pollen and nectar collection.

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Plant with the intent to feed pollinators for as many warm months as possible and plant flowers with early, midand late-season bloom times. Water collection bowls with small sticks for pollinator access can add an artistic accent or can be discrete, side-lying Mason jars along garden grounds. Deliberate small piles of wood and yard debris encourage ladybug and praying mantis habitat. If you already grow a vegetable garden, consider interplanting with herbs like cilantro, dill and calendula, and let them go to flower. This will attract pollinators to your garden and enhance produce production.

Also note: our seasonal hanging baskets can be deceiving! Super fancy, cultivated flower varieties are bred for color and texture and not for nectar and pollen attributes. As a result, these colorful globes dangling from our porches

may do little in the way of providing food resources for our pollinators. Poor nutritional substitutes make pollinators more susceptible to diseases and pests, so consider choosing heirloom, time-honored flowers or wildflower mixes designated as “southwest native” to ensure that your flowers are feeding pollinators.

A Colorado State University Extension guide called “Creating Pollinator Habitat” drives home the small, yet powerful significance of protecting our pollinator habitats.

“The important thing to remember is that any habitat is better than no habitat. If done correctly, creating a beautiful garden for yourself can have far reaching benefits that positively impact the greater ecosystem that surrounds you.”

The publication is chocked full of links to comprehensive databases of preferred foraging plants and respective blooming times that are better suited for Colorado’s growing con-

Kimberly Ann Brown

ditions. You can also read about challenges to native pollinators and nationally recognized organizations that promote and outline good practices for pollinator gardens and migratory maps for butterflies.

Educate yourself and grow forward!

(As a Colorado master gardener, Kimberly Ann Brown is all green thumbs. She enjoys cultivating skills to confidently grow food and flowers in high country environments, as well as safeguarding our local and wild spaces.)

Many

home

Mara Taylor-Heine

Home improvement projects can be costly. One popular way homeowners look to cut costs is to do some, if not all, of the work themselves. Indeed, do-it-yourselfers can save a considerable amount of money. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey indicate that homeowners can save anywhere from 50 to 80% on DIY projects compared to what they might pay for comparable work performed by a contractor.

For families with children, home improvement projects can also serve as powerful learning opportunities, affording children the chance to apply their math knowledge, giving them experience with DIY tools and instilling responsibility. In addition, a family may bond while working together toward a common goal. The project itself may benefit, expedited by more helpers and, in the continued on 50

HOMES & GARDENS | 2023

end, marked by the personal stamp of everyone in the family.

The following are tips for parents and guardians considering enlisting the help of children or young adults in an upcoming home improvement project:

Start small and keep it fun!

Choose a project that requires limited clean-up and can be completed over the course of a few days, so young people feel the benefits sooner rather than later and finish the job inspired to do more.

“A couple small things around the house would be changing faceplates on your light switches,” wrote Fullmer’s Ace Hardware General Manager Kevin Walter. “How to use a plunger and where and what is the shut-off valve.”

The dramatic effect of a fresh coat of paint can be especially rewarding. Choose a bright hue of low-VOC paint

to customize a piece of furniture or create an accent wall. Here, larger walls may be the better choice, as there is more room for error.

“For older children, the most exciting project they can do is repaint their rooms,” Walter wrote. “This one will teach them preparation like taping off areas, using drop cloths and how to clean a paintbrush.”

Consider outdoor projects.

“Flower and vegetable gardens are ideal,” Walter wrote. “They are very safe, and your kids can watch them grow! Building a birdhouse is also a great project. You can purchase a kit or customize them in your garage … Older children can learn how to start and operate lawn mowers and leaf blowers.”

Involve kids all along the way.

Life skills can be learned here, such as the layout of a hardware store and

how to courteously ask for help.

“Taking your child shopping for the supplies is a must,” Walter wrote. “This will excite them and let them have some buy-in on the decisions being made such as color, style and what tools will be needed. Kids love to look the part!”

If involving young children in decision-making, limit their choices — such as three colors to choose from — so they are not overwhelmed.

Safety first!

For families with children, renovation projects require particular attention to safety.

To start, make sure you choose the right ladder. Insurance industry estimates indicate that roughly 90,000 people visit the emergency room due to ladder accidents each year. Never use a broken ladder, an aging ladder that’s uneven or a ladder that forces you to reach far away.

If you’re leaning while using a ladder, the ladder is either too short for your project or positioned too far away from the wall. The National Home Security Alliance advises placing the ladder one foot from the wall for every four feet it rises above the ground. Test your ladders for their sturdiness prior to beginning work so you aren’t tempted to use a subpar ladder.

Be especially careful with power tools. The Power Tool Institute urges power tool users to wear personal protective equipment, including eye and hearing protection and a dust mask, whenever using power tools. The PTI also advises users to make sure tools are powered down before plugging them in and to inspect the tool before using it. Inspections can confirm that all guards are in place. Much like it’s unsafe to overreach on a ladder, overreaching when using power tools increases the risk for mistakes, accidents and injuries.

Next time a home renovation project arises, make it a family affair.

(Mara Taylor-Heine can be contacted at mara@gunnisontimes.com.)

|

How to clean in the flow of life

Anna Coburn

It’s hard to keep a living space clean in a valley where people sport muck boots year round. As a community, we embody the cliché “work hard, play hard,” and for many of us, our homes can become neglected.

This is not an article about how to make your spot perfect or dinner party-ready. As a former housekeeper and seasonal grunt worker donning muck boots 12 months out of the year, I’m going to provide you tips on how to help yourself accomplish the bare minimum and reassure you that “just getting by” is indeed okay. Let’s get into the nitty gritty.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD, CLEAN JUST A LITTL E

MAINTAIN THE ENTRYWAY

Whether it’s April mud, July dirt or January snow, we are tracking each season’s weather through our front door, and pulling off shoes immediately doesn’t spare that one little section of floor that builds up a crust. Here is a wise rule from a local mother: if it takes less than seven seconds, just do it. Once you’re in for the night, take a microfiber cloth, a towel, broom or mop and swipe it.

If it’s carpet, have a vacuum at the ready for a quick go-over. It seems small and probably annoying, but if it becomes a habit, then you no longer run the risk of standing on an inch of who-knows-what every time you walk inside. Then, allot a time once a week to focus on the rest of that

STOP THE ROT

As I’m writing this, I have the gory remains of lentil soup stuck like concrete to a bowl on my counter. If you don’t have time to do the dishes, at least put them in your sink. With clear surfaces around you, you will likely be less overwhelmed. Once you can carve out five minutes, prioritize things that rot like dirty dishes and trash.

Is there lentil soup stuck in a bowl? Scrape it out. Does the trash smell? Take it out. Don’t gain more roommates via bacterial growth. A good-smelling habitat invites you to stay and enjoy. Light a candle or incense to improve your mood and get more done if you have time.

CLEAN YOUR BATHROOM

It’s easy to abandon cleaning duties for the bathroom, because it seems like such a daunting feat with the harsh smell of bleach, that scary toilet brush, your bargain mop, etc … It’s a whole project!

But it doesn’t have to be. Clean as you go, targeting one section at a time. Give the sink a good wipe down after brushing your teeth. Clean the surface of your toilet one morning, then the bowl the next evening. Build sanitizing the bathroom in your busy schedule. Have a little caddy stocked with paper towels (or reusable ones), the bowl cleaner and spray bottles in the corner. It doesn’t have to look pretty. It just has to be functional for the sake of your health.

TAME THE PILE

We all have a pile where the junk falls. Before you know it, you have a tower of mittens, mail, tickets, receipts, keys and dog leashes. A simple solution? Put a basket in that spot to catch all the everyday life stuff leaking out of your pockets. That way when the basket is full, you can clean it out and start all over.

FILM YOURSELF

Yes, I’m serious. Be part of “kids these days” and use your smartphone as a tool. If you have a very messy room and a good rhythm, film tidying up using your time lapse feature. It can hold you accountable. You can even post it to social media after adding cute music to it. Send it to a family member, partner or friend. Keep it for yourself. Performing a task, then watching your progress and ultimately seeing a result can fill your brain with a cocktail of feel-good chemicals.

Life is life, and sometimes it’s hard to find a balance between all the hats we wear and a spotless place to live. Guess what? That’s okay, little primate. Your cave needs to work for you as a kindness to yourself and those who live with you. There is nothing to prove — only peace of mind to gain.

I have drawn inspiration from a book called “How to Keep House While Drowning” by KC Davis. In it, there are many more homecare strategies like this. You can also visit strugglecare.com for more resources. Continue to embrace the wonderful chaos you’ve created and clean as you go.

With small habits formed over time, you’ll feel comfortable enough to rest and restore in the place you call home, instead of seeing more tasks you need to complete. Don’t forget to scrub your range hoods and wipe those boots, Gunnison Valley!

(Anna Coburn has been a reporter, podcast producer, farmhand, ranchhand, landscaper, park ranger, housekeeper and more all in the Gunnison Valley. She currently works as a range technician in the Gunnison Ranger District for the U.S. Forest Service.)

Make way for MYCELIUM

Korean Natural Farming provides a balanced diet — for soil

Heidi Zimmerman

Mushrooms and mycelium are all the rage right now. They’re making their way into legislation, coffee,

documentaries, alcohol-free wines, horror movies and our everyday lives. But they have always been around, long before they were in vogue. Th ey have been influencing our ecosystems and silently linking massive trees, forests, flora and fauna in a delicate, underground web of communication

and integration. They have kept systems balanced, with all life existing in harmony.

How can these powerhouses (that are more closely related to humans than to plants) help our gardening and farming endeavors? We live in an age of convenience, even with our plants.

You can go to the store and grab a bag of fertilizer and pesticide or fungicide to tackle the issues in the garden beds. Every year multi-billion dollar companies sell these products to farmers who mass produce foods that line our grocery store shelves.

But with convenience comes consequences, and those consequences are sobering. These practices have

Mycelium growing on wood chips.

Heidi Zimmerman

the nutrition of the foods grown, soil erosion, dead dirt instead of living soil, poisons on our food and, ultimately, an end to food production.

Enter Korean Natural Farming (KNF) — an elegant system to establish and support soil diversity through cultivation of indigenous microorganisms. All you need are everyday kitchen ingredients. With your local microorganisms and a thick layer of mulch, you can revolutionize the soil in your yard, gardens and farmland. You can bring back soil diversity and use the power of microbes to eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizers and pest management. The mycelium network and balance of microbes link the plants with microbes in the soil.

The basic idea is that fungal bodies and microbes break down and ferment nutrients in the soil so they can then be taken up by plants more easily. We are just beginning to understand the ancient practice of fermenting foods and their importance for our bodies’ microbiome. That growing knowledge is the same for soil systems. Fungi ferment and plants love fermented foods as much as our bellies do!

studied the old practices of farmers around him (where winters can be as harsh as in the Gunnison Valley) and decided to teach those practices around the world. He recognized the need to free the farmer from the grip of corporate agriculture.

Cho’s student, Chris Trump, revolutionized his family’s macadamia nut farm, bringing it back from the edge of bankruptcy. Island Harvest Hawaii is now a thriving company that ships macadamia nuts internationally. Trump recognized the power of KNF and has made it his life’s work to teach others the techniques.

I’ve been practicing KNF for over two years. I started the difficult task of gardening in our harsh mountain climate in 2020. I quickly recognized my compact dirt needed help and started searching for an answer. I was introduced to the concept of KNF through Trump and his YouTube videos. Eventually, I attended a fi ve-day intensive class. With the knowledge I gained, I quickly started growing veggies in soil that previously hadn’t supported life.

Last year, while my neighbors and friends were struggling with aphids, I

grew tomatoes, cucumbers, cannabis, house and never had an aphid problem. What I noticed was a biodiversity of insects, particularly carnivorous wasps and the like, who prey on common garden pests. Seeing larger predatory insects living with and helping control smaller common garden pests in a balanced ecosystem is a result of stable soil (as above, so below).

Well-aerated soil, better water retention and more food production are all benefits of KNF. When we focus on the care of the soil and let Mother Nature do what she does best, everything falls into place.

To learn more, scan the QR code below.

(Gunnison resident Heidi Zimmerman can be found on Instagram @growingat7700ft.)

Korean Natural Farming techniques balance a garden’s whole ecosystem.

Heidi Zimmerman

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