Fall 2019 Block Island Times House & Garden Edition

HOUSE & garden FALL 2019

A special publication of The Block Island Times

Planning Happiness

Apple Crisp Photo by K. Curtis

Page 2 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

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Fall Calendar of Events OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

28 Happy Thanksgiving!

29-December 1 Holiday Shopping Stroll weekend.

DECEMBER

3 Tuesday Night Shopping. Around town. 4 to 8 p.m.

10 Tuesday Night Shopping. Around town. 4 to 8 p.m.

17 Tuesday Night Shopping. Around town. 4 to 8 p.m.

Photo by K. Curtis

12 Last B.I. Arts and Crafts Guild Fair and Farmers Market. Historical Society lawn.

13 Block Island Half Marathon. 11:30 a.m. Fred Benson Town Beach Pavilion. Register at active.com 22 Roll Call Dinner. 5 to 7 p.m. Harbor Church.

Our Staff Publisher................................................................................ Michael Schroeder Editor...................................................................................................Kari Curtis

Ocean Avenue, Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807 Phone: (401) 466-2222 Fax: (401) 466-8804 e-mail: mail@blockislandtimes.com webnews: www.blockislandtimes.com

The Block Island Times was founded in 1970 by Dan Rattiner, publisher, and Margaret Cabell Self, editor. It published only summer editions until 1982, when, under the ownership of Shirley and Peter Wood, the Times became Block Island’s first year-round newspaper. In 1988 the Times began weekly publication and became the Island’s “paper of record.” Sold off-island in 1997, the paper returned home in November 1999, and was reinvigorated under the ownership of Peggy and Bruce Montgomery. In 2006, ownership of the paper transferred to Fraser and Betty Lang. Ten years later, in 2016, The Block Island Times was purchased by current publisher Michael Schroeder.

The Block Island Times is a member of the New England Press Association, The National Newspaper Association, The Block Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Westerly Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce. It is printed by The Republican in Springfield, MA.

Production............................................................................................ Chris Izzo Contributors...........................................Renée Meyer, Ross Sinclair Cann,AIA, Kari Curtis, Clair Stover

Correction Policy Advertising: This newspaper does not assume any responsibility for an error in an advertisement.

Editorial: This newspaper will correct errors in reporting.

Opinions expressed in columns or letters to the editor in this paper are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper. The opinions expressed by the cartoonist are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Photographers...................................................................K.Curtis, Renée Meyer, Pam Gelsomini, A4 Architechture Inc., Alicia Leone, Colby Customs

The Block Island Times is published weekly at the newsstand price of $1. Publisher is CCC Media, LLC., PO Box 278, Ocean Avenue, Block Island, RI 02807. Yearly subscription, $77.

Advertising....................................................................... Kimberly Starr Dugan

Periodical postage is paid at Block Island, RI 02807, and additional offices. USPS #003-204.

Advertising Design ....................................................................... Adwitads.com

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The Block Island Times, Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807.

Cover A - photo by Alicia Leone, Cover B - photo by K. Curtis

The Block Island Times House & Garden insert is published twice yearly in April and October.

Page 4 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

In This Issue

B3

6

B7

B8

10

8

5.

Planning for happiness

By Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP

6.

My ten favorite shrubs for Block Island

By Renée Meyer

8.

Rethinking your waste

By Clair Stover

10. Fed from the Farm

By Kari Curtis

13. 7 Ways to bring the scent of autumn into your home.

B3. Temporary spaces work

By Kari Curtis

B6. Fire safety tips from the Fire & Rescue Squad B7. Behold, the bold accent wall

By Kari Curtis

B8. Tasks to tackle before winter arrives

Prep your home for its arrival while it’s still nice outside.

13

B12

Fall Recipes 12. Apple crisp B5. Pork chops and applesauce pot pie B10. Pumpkin bread

What’s Trending 7.

Kitchens Direct, Inc.

B4. Highland Farm B9. Colby Customs

B12. Scenic Block Island’s Preservation Plaque Program

B10. Pat’s Power Equipment

B13. Advertiser Index

B12. Riverhead Building Supply

Find out if your building qualifies for a historic plaque.

B11. Bartlett Tree Experts

House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Page 5

Planning for happiness

By Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP Undertaking a construction or renovation project can be a challenging, anxiety provoking experience, but it can also be one of the most emotionally and financially rewarding as well. Having a house that is beautiful, energy efficient and wellsuited to the way you live pays dividends every single day you live in the house and when you are ready to sell the house, that beauty and quality will make the home that much more valuable to the potential buyers. For many people over the past thirty years, their house has been the investment that rose in value the most and provided the financial cushion needed to retire comfortably. A well-designed home also can provide a lifetime of happy memories and experiences within it.

Getting a well-designed home is not an easy or inexpensive undertaking. At the high end of the market, many buyers will pay a premium to have a builder undertake the design and construction decisions.

In the middle of the market, many home owners take on the challenges of design and construction themselves to get a home that is beautiful and suited to their needs.

These buyers elect to make the investment of time to carefully plan and work out all the details in advance so that the resulting project can be built as quickly and cost efficiently as possible and with a minimum of change orders during construction.

However, this planning period is often much longer than they anticipate.

At the lower end of the market, homeowners frequently accept what they can afford and the issues of beauty and comfort are beyond their reach. Unfortunately, many of these houses have significant repair and operational costs because of their poor design and construction, which can actually make these buildings very expensive to own, preventing the homeowners from saving enough to escape the trap of badly designed and built buildings.

Most home-owners fall into the middle group: people with limited budgets, but a desire to live as well as possible, given available resources. To this purpose the issues of location, size and style are important starting points. Choosing a place like Block Island where there is natural beauty is a great starting point. It is also useful to find a house that is relatively compact, but also beautiful. A large house means larger operating costs, higher taxes and greater maintenance cost, and in the end, sometimes offers more space than they can actually enjoy. These downstream expenses and burdens are not something buyers always think about in the midst of selecting a home. When it comes to renovation, building an energy efficient building is not only environmentally friendly, but also saves the homeowner substantial money

every month as the house is less expensive to heat and cool. A well-built house will

also have lower maintenance costs so it is worth investing a bit more up front to

reduce longer-term recurring costs.

If you find a house that meets your locational and aesthetic needs, but requires a renovation or additional space, what is the best way to do that? Like the physician’s oath: “First do no harm.” Don’t destroy the character, beauty and authenticity of your house just for the sake of modernization. Start by finding an interior designer or architect you like and can work with to help plan your new construction or renovation so that it meets your needs and budget but in the most beautiful way possible. Often the time period needed for planning can be even longer than the construction period. To design even a small house, or an addition, can sometimes take six to eight months of planning and an equal period of time to build. Shortcuts taken during the planning process will frequently lead to delays and additional costs during construction that are far greater than the “savings” the homeowner thought they were achieving. Lines on paper representing walls are easy and inexpensive to move around. Real walls once built are very difficult and expensive to move if they are not well planned. Today, with the advance of computer technology it is possible for your architect or designer to give you photorealistic views of your new home or renovation, providing you with extra assurance that you are making the right choices. The planning process can also produce a set of detailed drawings and specifications that you can use to competitively bid your project among several capable builders, saving you as much or more than the cost of the design.

Contractors will naturally put a lower price on a process where the problems have already been studied and the details have been worked out in advance. Complete and well-coordinated plans also mean that items can be purchased well in advance at the lowest cost possible, rather than purchased at the last minute as might be necessary to keep a poorly planned project on schedule.

To get the house that you want, that costs you the least to operate and maintain, and that will be a good investment: decide carefully about where you want to be; think about the minimum space you really need to be functional and comfortable; find a capable and knowledgeable designer to help adapt your needs into a beautiful and functional space; make sure you leave enough time to plan your new construction project thoroughly enough that the construction process is as cost and time efficient as possible.

Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP, is an historian, author, educator and founding Principal of A4 Architecture Inc. He holds architectural and history degrees from Yale, Cambridge and Columbia Universities.

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Page 6 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

My ten favorite shrubs for Block Island

By Renée Meyer Block Island certainly has its challenges for the gardener. First and foremost in most people’s minds is the deer population. I long ago concluded that the solution was neither putting up a fence, nor giving up. No, the solution would be to find plants that they simply do not like to eat, whether because of their taste, or because of sharp thorns or needles. The following is a compendium of plants that have done particularly well in my island yard.

There is nothing fancy about them.

Indeed to the sophisticated plantsperson, they may seem quite ordinary, even mundane and perhaps old-fashioned. But old-fashioned is just what gives Block Island its charm.

And, I have taken some liberties with the definition of a shrub.

Russian sage blooming at Lilac Cottage.

Some of these are not true shrubs, but they serve the purpose. Shrubs are a great tool in the garden. They lend matter – an irritant of March and April structure; they are the garden’s bones; along with inflated, dropsical pansies and they provide food and shelter for wild-life. sundaes of hybrid azaleas dripping over I particularly like watching the birds in their mulches of cocoa shells.” An underwinter, perched amongst their branches as planting of grape hyacinth bulbs helps they await their prospective turns at the greatly with this problem: the purple color bird-feeder. of its blossoms provide a welcome and Young deer just learning their way in complimentary note to the yellow. the culinary landscape do seem to have a The next shrub to bloom in the yard tendency to browse and I won’t pretend is the flowering quince, and it happily that none have nibbled on any of the fills in the gap between the flowering of shrubs I have selected. Whenever I write forsythia and lilacs. Texas Scarlet has such an article as this, someone will ineviblooms that are reminiscent of the color of tably come up to me and say: “well they dark red coral. If it sounds familiar, you eat my (insert name of plant here).” But I may have noticed it in various places on don’t mind; it’s always great to compare the island. There is one at the corner of notes.

Old Town Road and Connecticut Avenue, The following are presented simply in and another on the grounds of the Harbor the order that they delight me throughout Baptist Church. As lovely as this shrub the year. looks though, it packs a weapon: sharp Forsythia: We of course must begin thin thorns that can rival those of any rose. with forsythia. Like it or not, it’s the first Lilacs have a way of taking one back horse out of the gate, jumping into spring in time. They seem common, unfashionwith its all too familiar burst of yellow able, some-times frumpy, but their scent blooms. It can quickly become boring is undeniably enduring. They remind me though – just too much yellow, and for of old novels, talcum powder, and linen too long. Robert Dash, in his book “Notes handkerchiefs. These shrubs may attract from Madoo: Making a Garden in the deer occasionally. They don’t seem to pay Hamptons” spares no contempt for it, any attention to the old stands of purple writing: “It is an absolute ass of a color, a ones in the yard, but a young white lilac greeny-yaller braying insult to the obscure planted a few years ago quickly met its triumph of chartreuse, indisputably wrong demise. This may be just a matter of profor spring, or any other season, for that tecting the plant when it’s young.

Weigela is not quite so commonly known, but it seems to do quite well on the island, withstanding both the deer and the environment. If the fading of the lilacs seems like the last act of the spring flowering shrub show, the Weigela surprise us as they come out to perform the encore.

They are native to East Asia and there are many varieties. Normally they grow from one to five meters tall. They have long branches of small flowers, about one inch in size, and are usually a variegated white and shades of pink. These long sprays of flowers can make at substantial contribution to the landscape.

If you’ve ever gone out for a hike with Scott Comings of The Nature Conservancy, you are apt to be familiar with the native shrub Arrowwood, or Viburnum dentatum. This native shrub has about 150 cousins though that may happily withstand almost any condition Block Island could throw at them. Viburnums have showy flowers, and even showier berries in early September, that harden to dark purple and provide birds with autumn and winter food (if they last that long). Some varieties are said to be fragrant. Not mine. In fact they stink, which is probably why the deer don’t eat them. I don’t know what variety we have – they were taken as mere babes from a friend’s yard, but I can only describe their “scent” as a mix of diesel

and skunk. I refuse to weed under them when they are blooming.

Russian Sage is technically a perennial plant, not a shrub, but at three to five feet tall, we’ll include it. It blooms for weeks starting in July, and its fragrant lavender colored blooms attract butterflies and all types of bees. Don’t worry though: those bees are for more interested in the plant’s nectar than they are in you. The plant likes full sun, but can tolerate some shade, dry weather and poor soil. The only drawback to this plant is that it may need staking as the long branches have a tendency to flop over, particularly after a heavy rain.

Butterfly Bushes offer far more entertainment than just their flowers, because true to the name, they attract butterflies, particularly monarchs. We’re always looking out for the Monarchs, and make sure to leave some milk weed plants in the beds around the bushes. The monarchs lay their eggs on the milkweed, and when those eggs hatch, their first nourishment will be the leaves they are born unto.

Another insect attracted to this bush is the hummingbird moth. These little guys are about an inch long, not including antennae, and really do look like little humming birds. Fascinating little things.

Rose-of-Sharon seems to usher in the end of summer in a brilliant way. They are all over town in Old Harbor, blooming from August until, as if consulting a calendar they suddenly stop around the first day of fall. They come in many colors, from white to purple and pink. Some of the flowers are “double” or some-what frilly, some are “single.” They reseed quite nicely, and one may either easily weed the babies out or let them be to grow into adulthood. They are a bit slow to start, and the deer may munch them when they are small, but they eventually grow into Continued on next page

Better spruce

Shrub Weigela Freanch Lace.

Holly at sea breeze.

Rose of Sharon

Hummingbird moth on a butterfly bush. Photo by Renee

Pink berries on Viburnum bush.

House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Continued from previous page adulthood. The surprise around here is discovering just what a particular shrub’s flowers will look like. They don’t “grow true to seed” so one never knows what one will get. Our latest has single white blooms with a dark ruby throat and bright yellow stamen.

As fall continues its march towards the winter solstice and the leaves fall from the deciduous shrubs, there can still be bright bits of green in the landscape. Holly, although actually a tree, with its evergreen leaves and bright red berries serves this purpose nicely. Unfortunately, nursery breeders in the past years have busily sought to rid them of the very thing that protects them from the deer: the sharp points along the leaves. The American holly, Ilex opaca, a native to the east coast has dependably sharp points. Not all the trees will have berries though. Hollies

are either male or female, and only the females produce berries, so plant two or three of them.

Another ever-green tree is the Dwarf Alberta Spruce. Since they only grow to about eight feet, I won’t feel guilty about including it here. Plus it’s one of my favorites. For many years I have purchased them, one at a time at the Block Island School Friends greens sale, held annually in December. They usually start out as small table-top Christmas trees before being moved out into the yard. I now have seven of them, and they are like little dwarves in the gardens. Some, where protected grow taller and more slim, some hunker down against the wind, their girths gaining more quickly than their height.

Some say the deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough, but I have yet to see one take a bite of a Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

With quite sharp needles, dwarves have a bite all their own.

Page 7

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Page 8 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Rethinking your waste

Seth Draper turns the pile to aerate and mix the compost. Photos courtesy of the Block Island Conservancy.

By Clair Stover Block Island Conservancy’s Executive Director Every Thursday morning this summer, Jamie Johnston stopped by twenty-two houses on the island to pick up five-gallon buckets of household food scraps and lawn clippings. After filling his McPick truck with one to two hundred pounds of fruit and vegetable peels and cores, coffee grounds, newspaper, and leaves, he brought the load to the 1661 Farm & Gardens, where Seth Draper and the Block Island Conservancy worked to turn the waste into compost. In 16 weeks, over 1,900 pounds of material were composted through the Block Island Conservancy’s 2019 Compost Pilot Program, a small and local, yet meaningful, step towards addressing waste management on the island.

Composting 101 When you throw an apple core, eggshells, or a head of lettuce that’s just a bit too wilted into the trash, do you ever think about where it’s going next? More often than not, our sense of responsibility for our waste ends with putting the bag in the outdoor can at the end of the day. But your apple core, eggshell, or wilted lettuce can take months, or even years, to fully decompose in a traditional landfill.

Many items we regularly bag up and throw away as trash are compostable.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 24 percent of the material that ends up in American landfills could be diverted and used for composting.

Disposing of compostable items in landfills not only prolongs the natural breakdown process, but also produces high concentrations of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is roughly thirty times as

Compostable material collected by McPick for the Block Island Conservancy’s Composting Pilot program.

potent as carbon dioxide. The traditional waste stream also requires lengthy transport of trash loads to the receiving facility.

After your bag of trash gets to the Block Island transfer station, it’s then trucked to the ferry, shipped over to the mainland, and driven 35 miles to the Central Landfill in Johnston, RI, a landfill that is expected

to reach capacity in about 15 years.

In an effort to understand the impact that composting could have on Block Island, the Block Island Conservancy and McPick led three trash-sorting exercises this summer to examine what typical Continued on next page

Jamie Johnston and Seth Draper rake compostable material into the pile at the 1661 Farm & Gardens. Photos courtesy of the Block Island Conservancy.

House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Continued from previous page household waste looks like on the island.

Of particular interest was the trash from rental households after a turnover day when visitors are hurrying to get off the island and often don’t have an alternative to throwing out the food they don’t want.

Groups of volunteers spent a few hours at each sorting, picking through a truckload of bags bound for the landfill, and separating out the items that were recyclable, compostable, or would have been perfectly edible had it not been tossed. Each time, the sorting teams found that 30 percent of the waste stream could be diverted from the landfill by composting or properly recycling.

What is composting?

Composting is a natural process that recycles organic material into a nutrientrich soil amendment that is excellent for gardens. Organic material is a wide-ranging term – essentially anything that comes from the ground can be composted. Over time and in the presence of moisture and oxygen, all biodegradable materials will eventually break down to create compost.

To effectively compost, an appropriate ratio of “green” material, or nitrogen (food wastes & animal manure), is added to “brown” material, or carbon (wood chips, paper, leaves, etc.), to build a pile. The pile is then monitored and turned periodically to maintain the correct moisture level, temperature, and oxygen level.

Composting at home for beginners

Composting at home is as simple as setting aside a space for your pile and adding organic material as it is collected.

When selecting a spot for your pile, look for a dry, shady area with access to a water source. Your pile can be made directly on the ground, or you can purchase or build a container or tumbler (there are many types that can be found online or at garden centers). Aim to maintain a ratio of one-third

Page 9

“green” material to two-thirds “brown” material. Mix the pile by turning it over about once a week to add oxygen, which feeds the microorganisms that are working to breakdown the waste. Add water when the pile looks dry or a clump of the compost won’t hold together in your hand.

To kill all weed seeds, your pile needs to reach an internal temperature of 130-150º F. You can check the temperature of your pile using a long-stemmed thermometer, or by reaching your hand deep into the pile – the compost has reached a sufficient temperature if it’s almost too hot for comfort.

The compost is done and ready to be added to your garden when you no longer discern individual items and the pile is a homogenous, dark, brown color. Adding compost to your garden will enrich the soil, help it to retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests, and encourage the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that breakdown organic material to produce humus, a nutrient-rich soil material.

Why composting on Block Island?

The Block Island Conservancy’s mission is to protect the island’s natural and cultural resources. To achieve this, we must look beyond our boundaries and address the impact our actions have on the wider world. In our nearly fifty-year history, the Block Island Conservancy and our island conservation partners have learned that Block Island has an influence beyond our coastline; what conservation has achieved on the island has been a model for communities across the country.

To further inform long-term solutions to our community’s food waste management, the Block Island Conservancy, McPick and the 1661 Farm & Gardens are evaluating this summer’s Compost Pilot Program and planning ways to expand the pilot for the 2020 season. These are new opportunities for us to make a positive change that will have effects here on Block Island and beyond.

BIC seasonal assistant Delia Creveling adds water to the compost pile to maintain the correct moisture level.

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Page 10 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Fed from the Farm

By Kari Curtis This past summer you may have noticed a new farm stand on West Side Road. Fresh farm produce grown locally and organically. This was Alicia Leone’s vision coming to fruition.

For many first-generation farmers, there is an undeniable romance to the notion of stewarding a piece of land and growing food for one’s livelihood.

These romantic conceits can be quickly dispelled, though, once the work is taken up. Beyond meeting the physical challenges of farming as a career, there are the financial realities, as well. Firstgeneration farmers don’t often have access to the knowledge, equipment, and land that established farmers may pass

down from one generation to the next.

In many ways, they are starting with a blank slate — a daunting prospect for even the most committed. Role models for this journey are both valuable and difficult to come by.

Alicia Leone is married to Abel Sprague and together with their sons Axel and Angus, they live year-round on the West Side on Sprague Farm, owned by her father-in-law, Joe Sprague. His multi-generational farmland has been farmed for years, and this past season, Alicia used an acre of the land for vegetable production.

In 2017 Alicia spent two semesters and a full summer attending the Continued on next page

Photos by Alicia Leone

House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Continued from previous page Organic Farming Certificate Program at The Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA. The Rodale Institute pursues a sustainable “Greener Revolution” — defined as meeting universal needs of proper nutrition, famine prevention, and biologically sustainable solutions to climate change.

“In the big picture, I want to be a part in the change we need to see with our food system,” she explains, and believes that industrialized agriculture is a broken system. “People should go back to growing some of their own food — or at least have the option to eat fresh, locally.” Being able to learn about the business of organic agriculture — and turn it into a lifestyle that she can raise her family in — is the ultimate goal.

Challenges presented themselves — the first one was pregnancy, and the arrival of a spring baby! The birth of her second child meant some things would be planted late, such as tomatoes, which ended up being even later because of the weather this summer. That was another challenge — a hot and dry summer.

In the spring Alicia planted all types of brassicas such as cabbage, kale, and broccoli, which she had great success with. Also included was lettuce, beets,

and rainbow chard. Summer crops included cucumbers, zucchini, squash, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, ground cherries, celery, onions, and garlic. Fall produce will include lettuce, beets, kale, cabbage, broccoli, radishes and rainbow chard. Also available from the farm stand is Sprague Farm beef and pork, locally raised, in all cuts and varieties.

“My favorite part is eating my own produce out of the field for nearly every meal. I feel like I have a seasonal grocery store in my backyard — with the freshest quality of food available.”

Alicia’s goal is to produce the best and safest food while giving people a genuine connection to the source of their food — an island based farm. The only truly sustainable farming system is one that harbors trust between those who steward the land and those who eat its bounty.

Next summer swing by Alicia’s farm stand to grab some fresh produce. Choose to support local farmers and sustainable regenerative production systems. Would it not feel good to invest in our local community and farmers instead of in factory farms and faceless corporations?

Sure, it’s more expensive, but isn’t it worth it to become part of something more worthwhile?

The answer here is, yes.

Page 11

Page 12 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Photo by Dish Off the Block

Apple Crisp

By Pam Gelsomini, Dish off the Block

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The Apples: 10 cups peeled and sliced apples (about ½” wedges) ½ cup flour 1 cup sugar ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. lemon juice ¼ cup apple cider

The Topping: 1 cup quick oats 1 cup flour ¾ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1 stick plus 3 Tbsp. cold butter cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Prepare a 9” x 13” baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. Combine all of the apple ingredients in a large bowl and toss apples to coat well.

Place the coated apples in the baking dish, scraping out any of the leftover sauce.

3, Combine the topping ingredients in the same bowl and, using your fingers, massage the butter chunks into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Spread the topping over the apples and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour until browned, bubbly and the apples are very tender when pierced with a fork.

4. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve topped with vanilla ice cream.

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Page 13

7 ways to bring the scent of autumn into your home

By Kari Curtis Breezes are cooling. Leaves are coloring. Apples are ripe for the picking. There is just a feeling in the air that makes you want to put pumpkin into every single recipe you make. That means it’s time to put away the citrus scented candles and lavender room spray. Fall has arrived and it’s time to make your house smell like it! Here are 7 different ways to bring Autumn’s scent into your home.

3. Bake Some Pumpkin Bread Bread baking always fills the house with a warm smell, but baking pumpkin bread adds the sugar, spice and all things nice about fall. And you get to eat that delicious smell! See recipe on p. B10

5. Make a Pie While you can buy apple pie scented candles, why make your home smell like apple pie if you can’t eat it?

Cinnamon plus apple is a classic for Fall.

1. Autumn Simmer Pot Simmer pots are super easy, smell great and are full of variations. Choose your scents and just keep adding water to keep that autumn smell coming.

6. Candles and Coffee Beans Pumpkin or vanilla candles are a must for Fall. Surround them with coffee beans to add that coffee scent to the air.

It’s like a pumpkin latte without the calories!

2. Autumn Scented Candles Candles are an easy way to make your home smell like fall. With just about every scent you can imagine, strike a match and fill your home with pumpkin or apple or whatever scent you choose.

4. Palo Santo Incense Sticks Bonfires are one scent of Autumn that can be hard to get, but not impossible. Burn these Palo Santo Incense sticks to get that woody scent indoors.

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7. Pomanders While pomanders may be known as a medieval solution for getting rid of bad smells, they still work just as well today. Stick whole cloves into an orange or apple to create a natural spicy scent that lasts for days.

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Page 14 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

FALL 2019

HOUSE & garden

A special publication of The Block Island Times

Temporary Spaces Work Pumpkin Bread

Accent Walls Photo by K. Curtis

Page B2 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Temporary spaces work

By Kari Curtis When Amy and Doug MacDougall bought the Hamilton Ball House on West Side Road three years ago, they did so knowing they had limited flexibility in making any changes to the site plan of the house and the barns on the property.

Buying a property with a history, and then renovating it — from building an addition, to simply changing the color of the front door — entails having plans approved by not only the town’s zoning board but also by the Historic District Commission.

Anything to do with the exterior of the house is governed by the HDC. The goal of all historic districts is to preserve the character of the neighborhood, either through codes, covenants and restrictions; homeowner or preservation association guidelines; or both.

So when it came time to rethink the tiny gallysized kitchen in the old farmhouse, the MacDougalls decided to turn the old living room into a new kitchen space. Amy needed to expand her prep area for her soup business that she started last year— ‘What.Soup’ at the island Farmers Market. They also wanted to create a new, larger great room to replace the old living room they had turned into the new kitchen.

“We re-envisioned the interior of the house, and hired an architect to help us rethink a new plan that included a larger kitchen space,” explained Amy. Work started to create the new kitchen space, though somewhat temporary to get through the summer months, so that Amy could utilize it for her business.

With plans for a new great room addition off the new kitchen, the MacDougall’s goal was to keep the footprint small. Another goal was to use repurposed items, rather than brand new. So when it came time to create the new kitchen space, the couple decided that less is more. The lighting was salvaged from old ships, and the wooden kitchen island and shelving was repurposed, as well. Glasses, bowls and

plates were purchased locally, and handmade items decorate the space. The room already holds a comfortable, at-home feel — even without being complete. There is no need to rush, and there is no need to have a completed project before it gets any use.

Fresh soups were made weekly for the Farmers Market in the not-completely-finished kitchen.

When the new addition is framed up, and the wall in the kitchen opens up to the new great room, countertops will be installed. The fireplace will be useful on chilly days or nights in this three season farmhouse, and the windows will frame the bucolic backyard views.

So, if you fall in love with a vintage charmer in a historic district, your plans to remodel or expand your new old home will need to be flexible.

Photos by K. Curtis

Page B3

Page B4 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Page B5

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Photo by Dish Off the Block

‘Pork chops and applesauce’ Pot Pie

By Pam Gelsomini, Dish off the Block Fall's here. There's no denying it. It's October. You may be still missing hot summer days — but maybe, just maybe, you start to realize that the cool breeze is a relief from the scorching sun. Comfort

food is a staple for anyone wanting a hearty meal, and a little taste of home. And really, is there anything better than staying in on a cold, windy night with a glass of red wine and a plate full of warm, hearty, comforting food? Didn't think so.

PORK CHOP & APPLESAUCE POT PIE 1 stick butter 1 small onion, chopped 3 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced 5 large carrots, chopped into ½” dice (about 2 cups) 2 large potatoes, chopped into ½” dice (about 2 ½ cups) ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper ½ cup flour 2 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 cup milk 2 cups pork loin, cooked and chopped into ½” dice (great use for leftover pork roast) 1, 21 oz. can Lucky Leaf Apple Pie Filling 14.1 oz. package refrigerated pie crusts 1 egg yolk plus 1 tsp. water, beaten

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. In a large skillet with sides, melt the butter and add onion and ginger. Sauté over medium heat until onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, salt, and pepper to the pan. Cover the pan but continue to sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until potatoes and carrots are just fork tender.

2, Add flour to the pan and stir to coat, cooking for one minute over medium-low heat. Gradually add the chicken broth and milk. Stir gently as sauce thickens.

Add pork to the pan.

3. Add Lucky Leaf Apple pie filling to the pan and stir to combine. Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare the crust.

4, Remove one crust from the package. Lightly flour the counter top and roll to 13” width. Fold in half and place in the bottom of a 10” pie plate. Put the slightly cooled filling in the bottom crust. Roll out the second crust to 12”and place on top of filling. Roll in the edges and crimp to form a crust. Brush with egg wash and bake for 35-45 minutes until crust is browned and filling is bubbling. Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Note – this is a great use for leftover pork! By all means make homemade crust but this is meant to be a quick weeknight dish and the Pillsbury crusts are a very good substitute in a pinch.

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Page B6 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Fire safety tips from the Fire & Rescue Squad The Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad offers the following tips to homeowners. The fall is a perfect time to review fire prevention systems after the busy summer has ended.

Fire extinguishers: It is best to have an extinguisher on each floor. At a minimum, have one in your kitchen and one near your furnace or boiler. It is wise to have one in each of your major outbuildings, one convenient to your barbecue area and one in your garage.

Fire extinguishers must be in good working order. If the chemicals inside stand for years, they may settle to the point they will not work. To see if an extinguisher is in working order, turn it upside down and put your ear directly on the extinguisher. If you hear the chemicals moving inside, the extinguisher works.

Throw out an extinguisher if: 1. You have used it.

2. The indicator shows “recharge.”

3. You cannot hear the chemicals flowing inside when you turn the extinguisher upside down. Extinguishers are inexpensive and it does not pay to recharge old ones.

Using extinguishers: Most fire extinguishers have instructions and sketches as to proper use. Each family member should be familiar with their use. Make sure all family members know where extinguishers are located.

Renters: If you rent your house, post these tips in plain view and make sure renters know the locations of fire extinguishers.

If you use a realtor, insist that she show

Make sure your driveway is wide enough for emergency access. Photo courtesy of the B.I.V.F.D. these tips to renters. Put a sticker on your phones with the house’s fire number. The fire number will be the first thing the dispatcher asks someone who reports a fire or calls for medical help.

Smoke detectors: There should be a minimum of one smoke detector on each floor. They should be located on the ceilings of hallways adjacent to the bedrooms.

Check your smoke detectors in the spring and fall.

Detectors in the basement should be located at the top of the stairwell. If you have questions concerning the placement of smoke detectors, contact the fire department at (401)466-2211.

Testing alarms: Test alarms on the first day of each month. Post a reminder on your calendar. The test takes a few minutes. Have a supply of batteries on hand in the event of

Clear out brush piles in your yard.

battery failure.

Fire number: Make sure your fire number is plainly visible from the street, including during the night. You may need to display it near the street where fire vehicles will arrive. If your road forks again off the main street, post another sign.

Brush piles and grass: Take brush to the Transfer Station. Do not let it accumulate. Mow untended fields at the end of each summer to prevent brush buildup.

Fire truck access: Make sure brush on either side of your drive is cut back enough to permit a long, wide fire truck to enter your yard. At a minimum, fire trucks need 12-foot-wide roads and 13-feet height clearance.

If a fire occurs: • Call 911. If there is time, alert all people in the building and call 911. If no time, leave the building and call from a neighbor’s house or a cell phone.

• Make sure all people in the house are accounted for.

• Know where the furnace/boiler switch is and, if time, turn it off.

• Close windows and doors if you can.

• Stand by the road to direct fire vehicles.

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Page B7

Behold, the bold accent wall

By Kari Curtis

Choose a color

Choosing the right accent wall color is no small task. Whether your goal is to brighten up a space, add an element of surprise, or showcase your favorite piece of furniture or artwork, accent walls are a powerful tool that should be wielded with caution.

Nature-based colors, particularly those that are representative of water, have long been sought out as colors that tie to tranquility and relaxation. If blue energizes you and orange makes you calm, for example, incorporate them into your color scheme accordingly. Ultimately, you should decorate with colors that best suit your personality.

As far as I’m concerned, a dark accent wall is the interior design equivalent of a little black dress. It’s an easy way to add dimension to a space in a classic and understated way.

I love blue. Ever notice that brightly colored buildings look particularly stunning at dusk, against the backdrop of overcast midnight-blue skies? Such is the phenomenon you will encounter upon introducing this shade into your home. Add a pop of color with a piece of furniture, artwork or accessory — pick a color, any color — and voila! Stunning.

Get what you need • After you pick a color, get your paint, and....

• Painter’s tape • Drop cloth • Roller brush and tray • Paint mixing stick (usually comes with paint) • Screwdriver (to open lid) • Small edging brush Start by moving everything away from the wall, and taping it all off. If you have ever been down the painter’s tape aisle at the Island Hardware store, you have probably seen the endless tape options offered to help you achieve those straight lines.

Just ask which one is best, they will show you. Remove outlet covers, and tape off radiators.

Next, stir your paint really well. I know that sounds obvious, but do it! Begin putting paint on the wall by rolling it on. Be sure not to put too much paint on the roller so you don’t have drips or splatters going everywhere. Roll as close as possible to the edge. This makes it so that you have to paint less with the paint brush (which saves a ton of time). Paint edging with a paint brush.

After the first coat is applied, let dry and repeat the process for the second coat. No need to clean roller or brushes in between — put these in a small plastic baggy and put them in the freezer after you are done

Photos by K. Curtis

painting. This makes it easy to go back and do small touch ups once you get the room put back together. The freezer keeps the paint from drying out. The fridge works too, but you can keep them longer in the freezer.

When the painting is complete, carefully remove the painter’s tape from the edging.

Replace the paint can cover securely, and clean (or wrap) your roller and brush. Move your furniture back, or rearrange the room since it already has a fresh new look.

When it comes to accent walls, the key to being happy with your selection is flexibility. No matter how your tastes evolve or how interior trends change, color can pack a punch when it comes to style and adaptability.

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Do you have a room in your home that could use a splash of color? Perhaps you are not sure about painting a whole room a bold color — but why does it have to be the whole room? Accent walls with a pop of color are extremely popular these days, so when I moved recently, I decided to try it. I wanted to add some depth to the space, and to the boring and plain light color on all the walls.

I know that painting a wall sounds like a super basic DIY project. And it is! But, like anything, it takes some prep time and a plan.

Page B8 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Tasks to tackle before winter arrives Prep your home for its arrival while it's still nice outside.

The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. Yep, it’s official: fall is here. Now’s the time to finish up any last-minute maintenance projects and get your home and yard ready for the months to come.

Exterior preparations 1. Clean out the gutters No one loves this job, but it needs to be done annually. A few hours of work can prevent big problems later on. While you’re up on that ladder, visually inspect your roof for damaged shingles, flashing or vents. You can also inspect the chimney for any missing mortar and repair it by tuck-pointing, if needed.

2. Turn off outdoor plumbing Drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems, and cover them to protect them from the freezing weather to come.

3. Start composting.

If you don’t already have compost bins, now’s the time to make or get some. All those accumulated autumn leaves will bring you gardening gold next summer!

4. Clean outdoor furniture and gardening tools.

It may not yet be time to put them away, but go ahead and clean your outdoor furniture and gardening tools so they’re ready for storage over the winter.

5. Plant bulbs for spring-blooming flowers.

Plant bulbs in October, as soon as the soil has cooled down, to reap big rewards next spring. If you’ve never planted bulbs before, select a spot in your yard that gets full sun during the day.

Interior preparations 1. Prepare your furnace for winter duty.

Consider getting your furnace professionally serviced in time for the cold season.

At the minimum, though, visually inspect your furnace and replace the furnace filter before turning it on for the first time.

2. Clean the fireplace and chimney.

Clean out the fireplace, inspect the flue, and ensure the doors and shields are sound.

Have the chimney professionally swept if needed. Now’s also the time to stock up on firewood!

3. Keep the warm air inside and the cold

air outside.

Inspect your windows and doors. Check weather-stripping by opening a door, placing a piece of paper in the entryway and closing the door. The paper should not slide back and forth easily. If it does, the weather stripping isn’t doing its job. Also, now’s the time to re-caulk around windows and door casings, if needed.

4. Light the way.

Bring as much light into your home as you can for the colder, darker months. To accentuate natural light, clean your windows and blinds, especially in rooms that get a lot

of sunlight. Add lighting to darker spaces with new lamps. And consider replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.

5. Create a mudroom.

Even if you don’t have a dedicated mudroom in your home, now’s a good time to think about organizing and stocking an entryway that will serve as a “mudroom” area for cold and wet weather. Put down an indoor-outdoor rug to protect the floor.

A fun and rewarding weekend project is to Continued on next page

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

Continued from previous page build a wooden shoe rack, coat rack or storage bench for your entryway.

6. Home safety check: Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

A good way to remember to do this is to always replace the batteries when you change the clock for daylight saving time.

The BIVFD is a good resource for help with

this, if needed. Create a family fire escape plan, or review the one you already have.

Put together an emergency preparedness kit so that you are ready for winter power outages. Make sure your storm and flood insurance is up to date on your property, and keep records of valuables in the home with photographs of belongings, furniture, and anything of value.

Once you finish with your home checklist, you will be ready to enjoy the season.

Page B9

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Page B10 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

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Photo by Dish Off the Block

Pumpkin Bread

By Pam Gelsomini, Dish off the Block Fall is here, and what better way to change seasons than by turning on the oven and baking fall desserts.

After all, is there anything better than walking into a home that smells like freshly-baked pumpkin bread?

PUMPKIN BREAD

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4 eggs 1 can pumpkin puree 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 3 cups sugar

3 ¼ cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 heaping tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg ½ tsp cloves Optional – 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix 4 eggs, pumpkin puree, cooking oil, and water with a whisk.

Stir in sugar. In a separate medium size bowl, mix dry ingredients. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir until smooth. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Divide the batter between them and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until tester comes out clean.

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

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Page B11

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Tree and shrub care: Management of tick populations can be a formidable task, but reducing exposure to ticks is critical in avoiding Lyme disease and other tickborne infections. Treatments targeting tick habitat, including wooded areas around the home and the borders along woodland edges, ornamental plantings, and stone walls can suppress tick populations. It is important to know the best time to treat for ticks in the area in which you live. Call Bartlett Tree Experts at (860) 572-6070 or visit bartlett.com for more information.

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HOUSE

garden

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Call Kimberly at 466-2222 or email: kdugan@blockislandtimes.com

Page B12 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Scenic Block Island’s Preservation Plaque Program Find out if your building qualifies for a historic plaque Block Island’s undeniable charm lies within its historic homes, hotels, outbuildings, and lighthouses. These buildings are what make this island so uniquely special. Scenic Block Island is launching the Preservation Plaque Program. The aim is to highlight historic structures within the community and therefore increase public awareness by placing historic plaques on them.

The Preservation Plaque Program is a two-fold project, first is to identify our historic structures and create awareness and the second is to supply owners with up to date information on how to best take care of their historic buildings. All purchasers of preservation plaques are now eligible to receive ongoing online information that would be useful in preserving their homes and buildings.

If your home or building is listed in one or two of the resources below and you would like a plaque for your historic home or building, please complete the form at scenicblockisland.org.

1. Historic and Architectural Resources of Block Island, Rhode Island can be found in the Island Free Library and online.

2. Historic House Survey can be found online only.

If you believe your home/business should be designated historic and your home/building is not listed in the above two locations, please contact SBI. Your home or building must meet two criteria; 1. Your home or building survived the Hurricane of 1938.

2. Your home or building must be over 50 percent original.

All potential buildings to be given a plaque will be researched with the help of island Historian Bob Downie. The sign

This is what the preservation plaques look like. Photo courtesy of Scenic Block Island.

painter, Bob Leonard, is very knowledgeable about period handwriting, and each plaque will be hand-drawn with the popu-

lar lettering for the time period. The oval plaque measures 16 inches by 11½ inches, and the cost for a historic plaque is

$125. For more information on the Plaque Preservation Program, please visit scenicblockisland.org.

SOUTH COUNTY CABINETS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN

Block Island’s Hometown Recycling Center Ready to help you with the transfer of your island home

Dumpster Rentals

Hazardous Waste Disposal

COUNTERTOP REPLACEMENTS ONE DAY INSTALLATION PLUMBING TOO!

(all house transfers come with left over paint cans, etc.)

Visit Rhode Island Resource Recovery’s guide to hazardous waste disposal at rirrc.org/ecodepot

Hauling of materials from the mainland, Sand, Gravel, etc.

blockislandrecycling.com 401-466-2864 14 West Beach Road, Block Island, RI 02807

137 Franklin St. Westerly 401-596-7070

SouthCountyCabinets.com FULL SERVICE RENOVATIONS

advertiser index A

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House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019 • BLOCK ISLAND TIMES

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A4 Architecture 320 Thames St. Suite 353 Newport, RI 02480 (401) 849-5100 | rcann@a4arch.com

Classic Chimney PO Box 9190 Warwick, RI 02889 (401) 739-0284 | classic-chimneyri.com

Highland Farm 4235 Tower Hill Rd./Rte. 1 Wakefield, RI 02879 (401) 792-8188 | highlandfarmri.com

Pat’s Power Equipment 3992 Old Post Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813 (401) 364-6114 | patspower.com

The Preserve Club & Residences 87 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI 02898 (401) 539-4635 | thepreserve.com

A. Transue Corp.

P.O. Box 1558 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-5907

Colby Customs P.O. Box 1854 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 280-0302 | colbylyn33@gmail.com

Pennington Sprague Company, Inc. P.O. Box 370 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-2378

Antonio’s Home Services P.O. Box 1554 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 480-5270

Connelli Land Improvement P.O. Box 205 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-2549

Howard Johnson Inc. 1978 Kingstown Rd. Peacedale, RI 02883 (401) 789-9375 howardjohnsoninc.com

Tile Craft Design Center 1305 Kingstown Rd. Peace Dale, RI 02879 (401) 783-7770 tilecraftdesigncenter.com

B Ballard’s Oil Company P.O. Box 689 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-2977 Bartlett Tree Experts 240 Highland Ave. Seekonk, MA 02771 (401) 466-2818 | bartlett.com Block Island Plumbing & Heating P.O. Box 1787 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-5930 Block Island Recycling Management P.O. Box 125 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-2864 | birm02807@aol.com Butler & Messier, Inc. 1401 Newport Ave. Pawtucket, RI 02861 (401) 728-3200 | bmessier@butlerandmessier.com

Coutu Bros. Movers 2 Greco Lane Warwick, RI 02886

D D. Brown Appliance Repair P.O. Box 386 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 497-2628 Debbie’s Eco Friendly House Cleaning P.O. Box 104 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 218-8713 | (401) 466-8827 DVL Landscaping P.O. Box 1208 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466- 2081

G Geoffrey Rigby-Leather P.O. Box 897 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-2391 | islandresdesign.com

All Island, All the Time

Priscilla Anderson Design P.O. Box 363 Block Island, RI 02807 (617) 947-4044 priscillaandersondesign.com

I Interstate Navigation P.O. Box 3333 Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 783-4613 | blockislandferry.com

W Washington Trust Company Ocean Ave. Block Island RI 02891 (800) 475-2265 | washtrust.com

Q Quality Tile 69 Aster St. West Warwick, RI 02893 (401) 826-9700 | qtci@aol.com

K Karen Beckwith Creative PO Box 737 Lenox, MA 01240 (413) 637-4479 | karenbeckwith.com

Westerly Glass 2 Industrial Highway Westerly, RI 02891 (401) 596-4733 | westerlyglassco.com

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Karin Sprague Stone Carvers Inc. 904 Tourtellot Hill Rd. Scituate. RI 02857 (401) 934-3105 | karinsprague.com

Rhode Island Design Center/ Cardi’s 6 James P. Murphy Highway West Warwick, RI 02893 (401) 826-5650 | ridesigncenter.com

Kitchens Direct, Inc. 1 Pier Marketplace Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 783-3100 | kitchensdirectne.com

Riverhead Supply 6000 Post Rd. North Kingstown, RI 02852 (401) 541-7480 | rbscorp.com

N New England Airlines P.O. Box A2 Block Island, RI 02807 (401) 466-5882 | (401) 596-2460 block-island.com/nea

S South County Cabinets 137 Franklin St. Westerly, RI 02891 (401) 596-7070 southcountycabinets.com

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Page B14 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES • House & Garden Edition • Fall 2019

Unilock was founded on the principle of providing a quality product. These products rival the beauty of natural stone while maintaining the instalation and durability advantages inherent to cutting edge manufactured product available exclusively from Unilock for the North American market.

rbscorp.com  1-800-874-9500