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Š Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 4, 2013
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INDEX Defensible space............................4
Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 4, 2013 Page 3
Dealing with drought
Beds and borders...........................8 Growing in greenhouses.............12 Berthoud Parks...........................14 Renting vs. buying tools.............16 The Dish: Hamburgers...............17 Recycling twine...........................18 Eclectic decorating......................19 Kitchen remodel tips...................19 InsideOut 2013© is published in Berthoud, Colorado by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. The publishers reserve the right to edit, classify or reject any advertising or news copy. Liability for any newspaper error in an advertisement shall not exceed the cost of space occupied by error. The publishers assume no liability for any advertising which is not published for any cause. The publishers assume absolutely no obligation or responsibility for subject matter in copy placed by its advertisers or their agents. It is also understood that the advertiser and the agency placing such advertising jointly and severally agree to indemnify Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, LLC against all expense, loss or damage sustained by reason of printing such copy.
20 easy ways to conserve water Every living thing on the planet requires water to survive. Without water, life as we know it would quickly perish. Despite the importance of water, many do not think ahead to what would happen if water supplies dwindled. To avoid such a fate, it’s best to begin conserving water whenever possible. Though estimates vary, most people use between 80 to 100 gallons of water each day. So many daily necessities require water use. By making a few changes here and there, it’s possible to considerably reduce the amount of water we waste each day. With area water restrictions on the horizon this summer, it’s nice to know we can all do our part even if we don’t have a lawn to tend.
1. When hand-washing dishes, don’t let the tap run. Fill up the sink and wash them that way then rinse afterward. 2. Wash clothing only when the entire machine is full. 3. Adjust sprinklers so that only the lawn and shrubbery are watered — not the driveway or sidewalks. Or invest in a drip hose that waters the roots only and saves water. 4. Invest in rain barrels that can collect water from downspouts on the home. 5. Water in early morning and early evening to avoid evaporation from the hot sun. 6. Spread a layer of mulch in planting beds and around trees to keep roots moist.
7. Check the home indoors and outdoors for any leaks. 8. Shorten showers by a minute or two. This can save up to 150 gallons of water per person, per month. 9. A taller lawn shades roots and reduces the need to water the grass more frequently. 10. Use one glass or bowl all day for food and drink to reduce the number of items that need to be washed. 11. Use a water-efficient showerhead to reduce water consumption by 75 percent. 12. If you haven’t already done so, switch all toilets to low-flow toilets. 13. Don’t wash the car in the driveway. Visit a commercial car wash that uses recycled water. 14. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. 15. Put water-saving aerators on all faucets in the home. 16. Avoid water recreation toys that require a constant flow of water. 17. Use the water conservation cycle on a dishwasher. 18. Bathe young children together. Bathe a small child in the kitchen sink to avoid having to fill up an entire bath tub. 19. Report broken pipes or hydrants quickly. 20. Use leftover water from pet bowls to water plants instead of tossing it down the drain.
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Defensible space
A year long commitment for homeowners By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor As the smoke from the Galena Fire recently billowed into the sky, Mother Nature reminded those in the Northern Colorado area that fires can occur any time of the year. That is the reason the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is reminding home owners that preparing homes against wildfires is a continual year-round process. “The fires last year made us provide a stronger emphasis on the importance of year-round maintenance,” said Lisa Mason, an outreach forester for the CSFS. “Some of the items homeowners need to think about regarding year-round maintenance is mowing grass and raking pine needles around trees. The grass and pine needles dry out and become very flammable. They are surface fuels and, especially the pine needles, can pile up over the years. A fire can smolder in a bed of pine needles and then flare up later.” According to Mason, another factor to consider when it comes to home preparation is the possibility of burning embers. Fires will often
create their own weather patterns and embers can blow for more than a mile away, land on a roof and catch on fire. For that reason, the CSFS has created a guide called “FireWise Construction: Site Design and Building Materials.” This guide contains valuable information for someone building a new home or remodeling an existing home. Another guide called “Protecting Your Home From Wildfire: Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones” was developed by experts to help create defensible space. “A misconception about defensible space is that your home and property will look like a moonscape,” said Mason. “That isn’t true, and landscaping can be done in a way that looks nice and at the same time increase the odds of your home surviving a wildfire. If you break up the fuels and have proper spacing between trees and shrubs, then it is harder for the fire to travel. There is never a guarantee that firefighters will be able to save a home or make it to a property in time, but if the property is prepared then it may make it on its own and proper preparation will help
Photo by William M. Ciesla, courtesy of the Colorado State Forest Service
This aerial view of a house that was spared by the High Park Fire demonstrates a successful defensible zone.
a firefighter defend a property when they do get there. If the property isn’t safe for a firefighter then there is not much they can do.” Safety for firefighters may take more than one homeowner. The CSFS encourages communities to work together to help firefighters and increase their own ability to evacuate. “The CSFS has a brand new tool that will help assess the risk for a
community. The tool is called the COWRAP or Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal,” explained Mason. “This tool is for both the public and professionals and there are portals for both to sign in. This portal gives national data compiled to help assess risk from wildfires. The public portal is meant more for communities to help assess items such as access. It’s important for DEFENSIBLE cont. on page 6
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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 4, 2013 Page 5
Page 6 April 4, 2013 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor fuel. The other common forest type for Larimer County is lodgepole pine. They have a pretty different managefirefighters to have easy access and to have more than one way out of a com- ment strategy because they tend to have shallow roots, making them easy munity. Important information such to uproot with high winds. The trees as this will help both the public and grow together in a patch and this professionals assess wildfire risks.” helps when it comes to windthrow. Another important factor when For this reason, you want to keep it comes to creating the right plan small patches of for your home lodgepoles and includes underput enough room standing the type A misconception about defensible in-between the of forest surspace is that your home and property patches to slow rounding your down a fire. I will look like a moonscape. home. highly recom“Each formend talking to a est has its own CSFS forester for more information. recommendations and how to manage They will come to your property and that forest type,” said Mason. “For help assess your individual situation.” example, most of Larimer County To access the CO-WASP, visit www. will have forests with ponderosa pine coloradowildfi rerisk.com. For the trees. We recommend that there are guides mentioned in this article, visit at least 10 feet between trees, from www.csfs.colostate.edu. The Larimer tree crown to tree crown, for this forCounty contact for the Fort Collins est type. We also recommend pruning District of the CSFS is 970-491-8660 the trees 10 feet up from the ground and Boulder County is 303-823-5774. so that a fire won’t have branches for
DEFENSIBLE
cont. from pg. 4
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Beautiful beds and borders By Sally Weisser Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County
You can have beautiful garden spaces by following the three Ps: planning, preparing and planting. Plan Choose the location of your new bed, keeping in mind the sun requirements of the plants you are putting in the bed. Vegetables require at least six to eight hours of sunshine, and perennials and annuals can be sun or shade loving. It would be helpful to research plants that are suitable for the location that you have chosen in your planning process. Draw out your plan on paper and pencil in where you want your plants to be located. Be sure that the space is the right size for your needs. If you are a beginning gardener, start small and add space in stages as your gardening skills improve. Don’t set yourself up for failure by making multiple beds or beds that are too large to maintain with your time and energy. Mark your utility, sprinkler, and drip-system lines when choosing the bed site and plant location sites to avoid damage. Lay out the shape of your bed, following your plan by laying out a garden hose. Play with the shape until
you are satisfied, taking care not to create angles and curves that are hard to mow around. Mark the outline with powdered chalk, spray paint, or any material that will not damage the soil. The line will be your garden edge and now is the time to decide what type of edging you want around your garden. You can use landscape materials such as rubber or metal edging (careful if you have dogs), rock, mulch, or making a three-to-five-inch vertical cut around the bed. Edging will keep grass and weeds from invading your bed. Prepare If you are removing a large section of lawn, rent a sod cutter to make the work easier. If the space is small, you can do this by hand with a spade. Northern Colorado has high levels of clay in the soil. In our area the heavy clay soil needs amending to improve the physical properties. Soil amendments improve water retention and filtration, drainage, structure, and permeability to provide a better environment for plant roots. Many organic materials contain plant nutrients that can act as a natural fertilizer. If you do not compost, various soil amendments are available for purchase at retail stores. Never use sand, as it can
turn the soil into concrete. Manure is a ready source of organic material in Northern Colorado, but precautions must be taken when using manure. Farm manure composition can vary depending on bedding material, animal source, exposure and aging. Manure can add important nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients such as zinc. Only manure aged six months to a year should be applied to garden beds. Fresh manure has a high salt content and can damage plants. Horse manure can carry weed seeds and cause weed problems. Feedlot manure can be high in salt if a salt additive is used in the feed. Poultry manure can be high in ammonia and needs aging to prevent burning. Composting manure before application can reduce odor, kill some seeds and pathogens, but elevated salts can appear in this process. The compost pile needs to be heated to 145 degrees and be completely turned. Fresh manure is hard to compost, and only aged manure should be used in this process. Fresh manure should never be applied to fruit or vegetable beds due to the transmitting of human pathogens, such as E. coli. If hauling and preparing manure seems too much for you,
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plan prepare plant
bagged manure can be purchased at retail outlets. Be sure to read the labels and watch for salt content. You can have any manure tested at a soiltesting lab for specific content. Once grass and debris is removed from the soil, spread four to five inches of compost over the soil. Compost must be thoroughly worked into PLANTING cont. on page 10
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PLANTING
cont. from pg. 8
the soil eight to 10 inches. A power tiller does the best job, but small beds can be turned by hand. Do not over till. Compost can be added to beds in following years to replenish nutrients as a one-to-two-inch top dressing, or it can be worked into the soil. Plant Planting techniques vary. Seeds should be fresh and packets should be dated with the current year’s date. Seeds are easily planted into the ground following the seed packet’s instructions. Cover the seeds with the recommended amount of soil and gently water. All plants should be planted keeping the mature size of the plant in mind. Over-crowding can cause plants not to thrive. Transplants should be removed from the container, separating the root ball gently with your fingers. Place the root ball in a hole slightly bigger than the plant and the top of the root ball even with the soil surface. Water each plant gently, not disturbing the root ball. All transplants should be hardened off about 10 days before planting by setting them outside for a few hours each day to acclimate. Mulch can be used around (not touching) the plant to keep in moisture and prevent weeds. Most garden plants will be pur-
chased in nursery containers. Look for healthy foliage and strong roots. Avoid leggy and root-bound plants whose roots are growing out of the top or bottom of the container. It is helpful to set out the containers in the locations where you want them planted, to see the impact of your plants. It is easier to change plant locations before you plant. Tap the sides and bottom of the container to loosen the soil and slide the plant gently out of the container. Never pull the plant out by the stem or leaves. Make the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball and slightly shallower than the root ball. Back fill with site soil and gently water. All new plants will need extra water the first year. It is helpful to fill your beds and borders with plants of the same watering. Don’t be fooled by the warm weather, the last date for a hard frost is around Mother’s day. Cool weather vegetables such as artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, onion, peas, potatoes, radishes and spinach can be planted in April. Warm-season vegetables should be planted after the last danger of frost. Looking for additional gardening information? Check out the CSU Extension Horticulture Agent blog at www. csuhort.blogspot.com for timely updates about gardening around the state.
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Let’s get growing
By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor Berthoud is called the Garden Spot and has the tagline “Where good things grow.” During the spring and summer many things grow in Berthoud; including flowers, vegetables and fruit. To extend the growing season, some people use a greenhouse. This can be a freestanding structure in the yard, an attachment to the house or, on a smaller scale, a mini-greenhouse in a window or on a windowsill. The concept and idea of a greenhouse is not new. The first recorded use of a greenhouse was in ancient Rome. Emperor Tiberius requested that one be built around 30 A.D. so he could have cucumbers out of season. Larger greenhouses are constructed with wood or PVC pipes. The sun shines in through old windows, glass panes or clear plastic. Smaller ones can be purchased as a kit, and have all the materials that are needed. Depending on how much effort you want to put into a greenhouse and how many vegetables or flowers you want to produce, the size of
the greenhouse can be customized to your wishes. The greenhouse works in the same way the inside of your vehicle gets warm on a sunny day. The sunlight (energy) enters through the windows and the heat is trapped in the car. This heat stays in the enclosed area at night, even when outside temperatures drop. As with your car, the temperature can be a bit much. Most greenhouses have vents, windows and/or fans to control the temperature. Some structures have shades to block some of the incoming sun’s rays. Another element that can be controlled in a greenhouse is the amount of water the plants receive. Unlike being out in the elements, the “rainfall” is determined by the owner of the greenhouse. In effect, you have your own little microenvironment. The sheltered greenhouse is also a good protection from heavy rains, hailstorms and high winds that are not uncommon to our area. A greenhouse also can eliminate garden pests. This includes bugs and rabbits (and weeds).
If you grow your own vegetables in your greenhouse, it can save you money at the grocery store. And you can have fresh veggies all year round. Growing plants at home can also be a moneysaving tool if you buy seeds or small, young plants instead of full-grown ones. Taking a cutting from an existing plant is another inexpensive way to start new growth. With care, these less expensive plants will grow and thrive.
If you are not into growing your own food, maybe you can use a greenhouse to grow exotic plants and flowers. With the controlled environment, a lot of greenery not seen in Northern Colorado could thrive in your greenhouse. If you have a green thumb and want to control the sunlight, temperature, moisture and humidity your garden gets, maybe a greenhouse is for you.
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Fickel Park
Located at 620 Mountain Ave. Fickel Park is the centerpiece of Berthoud. Featuring several sculptures from local artists, Fickel Park’s beauty has been an attraction to tourists from all over the state. With an abundance of shade and picnic tables, Fickel Park is a great venue for a quiet lunch. It also features newly refurbished tennis courts with lights.
Town Park
Located at 200 Seventh St. Town Park is a great venue for family gettogethers. Town Park offers two pavilions equipped with outdoor grills, picnic tables, and nearby restrooms. Town Park has something for everyone. Featuring a playground for the kids, the park also offers horseshoe pits, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. Conveniently located next to the Berthoud Pool, Town Park is an excellent venue for recreation in Berthoud. Town Park’s pavilions are available for reservation, starting at $25.
Roberts Lake
Roberts Lake is located at 920 10th St. Roberts Lake offers a walking trail, open grass, and a dock that overlooks
the lake. This peaceful park is a great place to exercise, fish, relax, or just enjoy nature.
Bein Park
Bein Park, located at the corner of Spartan Avenue and 10th Street. Bein Park offers the best sports field in the area. This multi-use field is surrounded by a fitness trail and a playground on the northwest corner. Bein Park’s highly maintained field, equipped with soccer goals, offers great recreational opportunities for anyone interested in soccer.
Bein Park Baseball Complex
Arguably the best baseball parks in the area, Bein Parks Baseball Complex offers two fields equipped with lights, restrooms, concessions and covered dugouts.
Hillsdale Park
Located just south of Kansas Avenue. Hillsdale Park is an 11 acre park located within the Dry Creek flood plain. This beautiful park was completed in June 2006. Hillsdale has a walking trail that offers a close up view of nature that is unlike any other in the area.
Skate Park
Skate Park can be found on the corner of Mountain Avenue and Second Street. The Berthoud Skate Park has just added two 1/4 pipes along with numerous rails and boxes. Still open to the public, the skate park offers an opportunity for skate boarders and bikers to hone their skills.
Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is located on the corner of Indiana Avenue and E. Second St. Pioneer Park, while still in the developmental phase, offers a lush open grass area. Plans for Pioneer Park include a playground and basketball courts.
Railroad Park
Located on the corner of Mountain Avenue and Third Street, Railroad Park is the smallest park in town. Railroad Park offers an abundance of trees and shade that provide a great spot to eat a quiet lunch or just relax.
Collins Park
Acquired in September 2007, Collins Park is the newest addition to the Town of Berthoud. Located at the intersection of Meadowlark Drive and Chokeberry
Street, Collins Park sits on two acres of lush grass. Outfitted with a new playground, Collins Park is an exciting new addition to Berthoud parks.
Facilities available for reservation:
Town Park – North Pavilion Town Park – South Pavilion Town Park – West area Fickel Park Roberts Lake Bein Park Soccer field Baseball field Pioneer Park Railroad Park Collins Park
Fees:
Half-day: five hours or less Resident - $25 Non-resident - $35 Full day: 8 a.m. to dusk Resident - $50 Non-resident - $60 Event fee: Over 100 people - $200 *Liquor license available, apply at Berthoud Town Hall, 328 Massachusetts Ave.
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Getting the right tools for the job — economically By Eli Hopkins The Surveyor The cliché term used in many conversations nowadays is “… in this economy.” It’s a reflection of how many of us are pinching pennies and how fiscal patterns are unpredictable. We are more worried about what tomorrow will bring. So how does this economic view affect us in our pursuits to better our homes and gardens? When remodeling, finishing a basement, landscaping, or any other slew of do-it-yourself projects, equipment is often needed; and most of the time it’s not just a shovel or hammer, but can be large expensive, and sometimes mechanized, tools. The question quickly becomes, “In this economy, do I rent or buy equipment to help in these projects?” There are advantages to both, but the benefits of renting are starting to shine. A Berthoud business reaping the benefits of those preferring to rent instead of buy is Grand Rental Station, located off I-25 and County Road 48, which opened in 2007. Their other location in west Loveland is on West Highway 34 and started in 2002. Ray Hoekstra Jr., along with his
brother Don, is the owner of the business. Hoekstra recently gained notoriety when his before-and-after pictures were used as examples for Ryan Ehmann’s fitness program. Ehmann, a Loveland business owner, appeared on the ABC Network show Shark Tank, pitching his exercise course to potential investors. When counseling customers about the pros and cons of renting, Hoekstra recommends “If you don’t need to use the equipment more than six times a year, it’s smarter to rent. When you add up maintenance, storage, insurance and sometimes gas, it gets expensive. This comes down to whether or not it pays for itself.” Enterprises such as Grand Rental are generally focused toward small business owners and individuals by offering everything from large excavators and lifts, to wood chippers, chairs, inflatable bouncy houses, ladders, sprayers, and about anything else you might need for yard and home projects, parties or weddings. When weighing the decision to purchase or not, the quality of the equipment should also be a major factor. “Rented equipment is usually the highest quality, more so than what you can purchase. We keep them in
top condition for multiple uses. Plus, if it breaks it’s my problem, not the customers, but if you buy it and it breaks, it’s more hassle for you,” says Hoekstra. Business owners renting should also consider the investment. Do they want new equipment on the books? “Another advantage of renting” says Hoekstra, “is the free advice,” something not to be scoffed at. “Those of us renting often know the tools, have the experience and can give helpful hints and suggestions on projects.” A garage filled with unused mowers, hedge trimmers, tillers, concrete mixers, etc. might not be smart in any economy so renting can be a wise choice. To recap: When deciding to purchase or rent, ask yourself … • How much will I actually use this? • Does it justify a purchase? • Can I fix it if it breaks or afford the repairs? • Do I even know what I need and how to use it? Renovations, remodels, gardens, a fence, or even simpler chores like cleaning the outside windows are opportunities when you’ll consider helpful equipment to make the job simpler. Shop, compare and take a
Don’t dig yourself into a financial hole by purchasing home improvement equipment you’ll only use once or twice.
few moments to think before making impulsive choices. Perhaps borrowing the tools for a small fee is in your best interest.
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The hamburger — prince of the grill By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor I think we can all agree that a tender, juicy beefsteak is king of the grill. There is not a cut of meat any finer than a steak grilled to perfection over either hot coals or a burner. I will leave it to you to choose your favorite from among rib eye, T-bone, sirloin, tri-tip, or the many other steak varieties that are available. However, calling the lowly hamburger “prince of the grill” must be an error. Rudy must be dreaming. I happen to agree with Chef John Uldrich, who authored “Blue Ribbon Burgers,” in which he writes: “What is it about the hamburger that makes it one of the most appealing of foods? A personal opinion; stripped of all its veneer, the hamburger enjoys its high station because of low origin. My sense of things is that the hamburger, served hot after coming off the grill, is nothing more or less than a subconscious return to primal origins. Hot, tasty, textured and eaten with ones hands, it gives instant gratification …” Uldrich maintains, and I agree, hamburger meat, or other cuts of meat, which
have had most of the fat removed are less flavorful. For many, calorie considerations determine the fat content of the hamburger meat they will purchase for their families. However, Uldrich points out, and is backed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data; there is little difference in the fat content of properly cooked hamburgers made with 70 percent lean burger meat and burgers made with 85 to 90 percent lean meat. He does suggest that pan-fried burgers made with meat with a higher fat content be drained during or immediately after the cooking process. See the chart below for comparisons of the fat content of burgers made with various meat grades. Which grade of meat represents the best buy for your family? Uldrich indi-
cates it depends on your cooking needs and your family’s preferences. Your general health, and that of your family, may also play a part. He notes that leaner hamburger loses more water than fat as it cooks, while regular (70 percent lean) hamburger loses more fat and less water. He suggests the key to using lean hamburger is not to overcook it and to handle it as little as possible. The more the patty is packed together the tougher it will be. Extra-lean hamburger patties should also be prepared thick. For the juiciest, most flavorful hamburgers Uldrich recommends coarsely ground meat, which is 30 percent fat (70 percent lean), and lightly mixing the desired ingredients with the meat. (He suggests using two large forks, rather
than the hands, to do the mixing. According to him, this method will ensure the meat stays light and is not overworked, i.e. excessively compacted. (I have never tried this method of mixing.) Uldrich’s book contains nearly 140 pages of ground meat recipes, tips and tricks to try. Included in the pages, besides an impressive array of hamburgers, are recipes for turkey burgers, ground veal, venison burgers, veggie burgers, meatball and meatloaf recipes, relishes and several varieties of sauces. Here is Uldrich’s basic recipe for burgers, along with a sauce to try. Blue Ribbon Burgers™ 2 lbs. lean ground round 4 Tblsp. sour cream 1/8 tsp. thyme 1/3 cup bread crumbs, Italian flavored 1 ½ Tblsp. onion, grated Salt and ground black pepper to taste ½ Tblsp. Thai chili sauce Cayenne to taste Mix sour cream with chili sauce, thyme, onion, salt and pepper. Add to meat and mix well. Add bread crumbs and continue mixing until well combined. Make into patties approximately 1/3 to ½ lb. each, depending on the number required. Place on grill and cook to desired doneness. Sliced tomatoes and sliced red onions may be coated with a mixture of crushed parsley and crushed rosemary and grilled with burgers, or simply served plain with burgers when done. Blackship Trading Company Sauce™ ½ cup ketchup 1 Tblsp. ginger, fresh, finely grated 1/3 cup brandy (optional) 1 Tblsp. Worcestershire sauce ¼ cup brown sugar 2 Tblsp. lemon juice or white wine vinegar 2-3 drops of smoke flavoring Use this sauce as a glaze during the last few minutes of grilling. Serve burgers on fresh buns with mayonnaise, the tomatoes and onions and fresh lettuce. Enjoy.
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Going green with baling twine
usually from an animal ingesting the twine. University of Montana research has shown 10 percent of osprey chicks Anyone who owns livestock knows will die from ingesting twine. Some about the piles, stacks or bunches landowners burn the twine, but due of baling twine taking up space. No to the content of polypropylene, the matter the size of the operation, most fumes are toxic. baling twine ends up in the garbage Laura Tyler, a district conservaand makes its way into the landfills. tion technician for the Fort Collins Eventually the twine creates probConservation District, learned about lems with domestic and wild animals, a solution to the problem — recycling the baling twine. Thanks to a company called Bridon Cordage, baling twine that is 92 percent clean can be recycled into fresh rolls ready for use during hay season. Tyler has enlisted the help of her co-worker Clint Hinebaugh and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Earth Team Volunteer Logan Tweardy to help create a twine recycling program. “We are currently applying for some grant Photo by Laura Tyler, Fort Collins Conservation District funding to help us Clint Hinebaugh sorts the twine and sorts it into totes. expand this program to
By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor
many businesses and dairies, livestock feedlots and auctions,” said Tyler. “We want to make it easy for landowners to recycle their twine. Our biggest need or problem right now is where to store the twine and the transportation of the twine to Bridon Cordage in Minnesota. Down the road I would love to see this program expand to the point that all feed stores have drop-off bins so when you pick up your feed, you can recycle your baling twine.” Tyler has started some trial drop-off points with the help of local Northern Colorado businesses. Currently, the Ace Hardware in Wellington is one drop-off point. Jax Farm and Ranch in Fort Collins is the other spot accepting baling twine. The twine can be in bales or loose, but should not be tangled, braided or knotted. “The Ace in Wellington worked well because we had the storage to keep the twine until we could have a full semitruck load,” said Tyler. “They were great to help us get started and figure out what we needed. Jax called not long after, but they may not have the storage ,which is true for so many businesses, so I’ve been waiting to expand the program until we see if our grant comes through. Then we will have the
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funding to look for containers to store the twine and a collection sight with storage. This is really exciting because everyone involved is enthusiastic about helping with this program.” Tyler is working hard to help the program grow and develop. She has been in touch with a trucker in Fort Morgan who has a storage yard and can transport the twine to Bridon Cordage. Bridon Cordage is also willing to send a semi-truck to pick up twine. “We have some details to work out, but there are so many possibilities with this program and the company,” said Tyler. “For example, I found out that a 4-H club in Durango raised around $4,000 for their club gathering twine. Bridon Cordage sent a truck and paid for the twine, so this could be a great fundraiser for clubs. There are many possibilities and routes to go, so I’m looking forward to seeing this program progress.” For more information, contact Tyler at laura@ftcollinscd.org or Clint Hinebaugh at clint@ftcollinscd.org. Both Tyler and Hinebaugh may be contacted via phone at 970-221-0611. For more information on Bridon Cordage visit www.bridoncordage.com.
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Make an eclectic statement in your home
Special to the Surveyor
Did you know? Kitchen renovations are the most popular home improvement projects. It is a great way to increase the value and also the functionality of a home. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s latest market report says that, in the first three months of 2012, the number of homeowners who started a kitchen renovation was up more than 50 percent from the previous quarter. A kitchen is a central gathering place and is one of the most popular family gathering spots in the house. With traditional dining rooms being eliminated in favor of open, eat-in kitchens and entertaining spaces, more attention than ever is now placed on a well-designed kitchen. The average remodeling budget for a kitchen renovation exceeds $30,000. But there are ways to keep budgets in check. • Do some of the work yourself to reduce money spent on labor costs. • Consider laminate flooring and counters, which will look like real stone but at a fraction of the cost. • Skip custom cabinetry in lieu of stock units. They’re more attractive than ever before and don’t require the wait time of custom-ordered cabinets. • Choose less expensive, mid-range appliances that may function better than or equal to high-end models. • Plan layout accurately and spend time reviewing your designs. Late changes in a remodel can quickly eat up a budget.
How do guests react when they enter your home? Do they notice that bold piece of furniture, the elaborately carved statue, a brilliant centerpiece, an extraordinary painting, or another decorative item that reflects your unique taste? Whether it is a statement piece or not, it is almost always the first thing a person considers when decorating a room. Where should we put the sofa? Furniture placement not only calls to its functionality in a room, but also to the overall style of the room. Be it indoors or out, it is important to incorporate furniture and other accessories around your home that fit your own style. The way you decorate your home is a direct reflection of your personality. Everyone seeks their decorating treasures in various places: second-hand stores, other countries, specialty stores, and even rummage sales. There are many home décor shops along the Front Range that specialize in different decorating styles, guaranteed to appease any taste. Among these resources is the eclectic home décor shop in downtown Berthoud, Wishful Living. Directly sourcing all of their merchandise from the U.S.A. and around the world, store owners Dan and Rudi Taylor have a lifetime of travel and import experience that has guided them to many small villages and given them the opportunity to discover the most unique items available.
The Taylors seek out unique items that have their own story. If the furniture could speak, what would it say? The bench crafted in Java, Indonesia would think back to its days as a fishing boat afloat in the ocean. The plow handles that have been incorporated in various pieces of furniture would recall their days being pulled by water buffalo on the rice paddies in Southeast Asia. These are the stories that will bring richness to your home décor decisions and a sense of uniqueness to a room which is sure to inspire conversation amongst your guests. An eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories can easily be combined with other styles to set the overall mood of a room. Why not put that hand-carved bench from Indonesia next to the antique white Amish cabinet? They look great together! Oh, and throw down that Zapotec rug from Mexico or a kilim from Turkey. And somehow a large shell necklace from Borneo seems to hang nicely above that distressed primitive cabinet from the American Midwest. Shopping in stores like Wishful Living can evoke the imagination and creativity and you’ll be inspired to create your own eclectic mix at home. What inspires you? An unusual shelf perfectly showcases your favorite eclectic items.