REAL Magazine, May 2014

MAY, 2014

Five Tips To An Eco-Friendly Garden When To Plant In the Treasure Valley Deck Maintenance To Do This Spring 24-Hour House with a 3D Printer?

Things To Do

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w. b o i s e 336.3393 | d o w n t o w n b o i s e 343.3393 | e a g l e 939.3363 | n a m pa 467.5272

contents Eco-Friendly Gardening Five tips to ensure your gardening endeavors are environmentally friendly..

When to Plant The best time to plant in the Treasure Valley

Ada County Homes A mere sampling of the great homes for sale in Ada County. Price ranges to fit every budget .

Spring Deck Maintenance The perfect to-do list for making your deck summer-ready.

24-Hour House A house built by a 3D printer in 24 hours?

That’s what scientists are saying. A revolutionary idea with big possibilities.

Canyon County Homes Homes of all shapes & sizes are available throughout Canyon County. We’ve included just a few here.

Events A quick-look calendar of some events throughout the Treasure Valley.

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MAY, 2014

Before rushing into a new gardening project this spring, consider keeping your efforts are environmentally friendly.

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Five Tips

to an Eco-Friendly Garden Athena Snow Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

N

ow that spring is finally here, we have started to get our yards and flowerbeds ready for the planting season.

Before rushing into a new gardening project this spring, consider the following tips to ensure your efforts are environmentally friendly: De-lawning the yard.

We all know how much water a lawn requires, so get out those shovels or better yet rent a tiller from your local hardware store to take up that grass.

Go native.

While visiting your nursery, take some time to pick the brain of a professional gardener on plant and flower varieties that are indigenous to your area. These types of plants will require less water and fertilizer.

Add a rain barrel.

Capturing the rain will not only keep the water bill down, but also provide your plants cbboise.com

with nutrient enriched water (fluoride free).

Mulch to your heart’s desire.

Whether you prefer pine straw or shredded bark, mulching will help cut back on watering and reduce those pesky weeds from popping up.

Store your yard garbage.

Adding a compost pile of your yard clippings helps reduce the amount of waste being sent to the landfill. Here is a great source of what to compost and the benefit of each material.

Athena Snow is the Senior Manager of PR & Marketing at Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

MAY, 2014

When to Plant

in the Treasure Valley CBTG Staff

The rule of thumb is to wait until all visible snow is off Shafer Butte before planting most of your vegetables.

S

outhern Idaho, it seems, is one of the few places in the nation to have enjoyed a relatively “normal” winter in 20132014. We had our share of cold and snow, but, overall, we experienced pretty mild weather.

Still, spring fever and the longing to get outside might create the temptation to get the whole garden planted and on its way to your table. Let’s face it, a day or two in the high 60s, and it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of weather-security.

But, if you don’t have a greenhouse or haven’t started your seedlings indoors, you might be in for a heartbreak if you plant too early.

Boise and the Treasure Valley are considered “high desert,” meaning

we not only have four distinct seasons, but also that the region is very dry with hot, arid summers.

With an average of just 12 inches of precipitation yearly, one might think getting a jump on the planting season when days are cool and rainy would be the way to go.

While this seems logical, it’s not the best plan of attack. Ask anyone who’s “been around,” and they will most likely share that the rule of thumb is to wait until all visible snow is off Shafer Butte before planting a good share of your vegetables, and even many annual flowers.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac gives May 10th as the date of the average last spring frost, although it can happen as late as June. The

last frost in 2013 was May 5th, but 1995 saw a record low in June of just 31°.

The Almanac has a great — and printable — planting guide that breaks down the best time to sow a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Visit your local garden store, or do a little research online to get your garden ready and before planting, but, most of all, trust in the local lore, and wait to plant until Shafer Butte tells you it’s OK! Other terrific gardening resources: www.allthingsplants.com www.letsmoveboise.com www.gardeningboise.com

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The average last frost in the Boise area is May 8th.

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MAY, 2014

Ada County

Featured Homes

2681 E. Mesa Verde Ct. NE Boise Welcome to “La Strata Vignette,” a beautiful, custom home that will never be built again.

Set in a highly-desirable neighborhood in the northeast foothills overlooking downtown & the hills. This unique, modern, prairie-style home was designed to blend naturally with the surrounding topography. Fully-loaded chef’s kitchen, studio, amazing rooftop deck.

5163 N. Quail Summit Way NW Boise Gorgeous single-level home on one of the most spectacular view lots in Quail Ridge. NE back yard exposure with golf course, foothill & downtown views. Double door glass entry, arches, custom trimwork, extensive hardwood & granite. Beautiful master wing with large sitting area, 2-sided gas fireplace, all glass & tile walk-in shower, big soaker tub & walk-in closet.

3187 S. Millspur Way NE Boise Premier Harris Ranch location - enjoy the tranquility & splendor of the Boise Foothills outside your door! Comfortable living spaces are ideal for entertaining. Thoughtful design & fabulous outdoor living define this impeccably-kept residence. Delightful chef’s kitchen, luxurious master suite, wonderful guest suite or second master.

3784 W. Rock Garden Lane NW Boise Remarkable, custom property on 12 acres. 7 bedrooms, 9 baths, 18,434 sq.ft. Outbuilding, barn & a guest home or mother-in-law quarters attached to the main home. Views in every direction. Dry Creek in the back of the property.

Excellent horse set-up & indoor/outdoor pool.

Country living close to town.

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Ada County

Featured Homes

7310 W. Mojave Dr. S Boise Beautifully-maintained & professionallylandscaped home near Indian Lakes Golf Course. Pride-of-ownership is obvious with charming touches throughout the home.

Private back yard with new deck extends the access at the back of the home. Shaded pond across the street provides additional space to relax & enjoy the wildlife.

6640 N. Double Eagle Lane Eagle This gorgeous 5 bedroom home backs to the 3rd fairway of Spurwing Golf Course & features a stunning back yard with inviting inground swimming pool & lush landscaping.

The spacious interior has been completely updated & boasts a gourmet island kitchen, a main level master retreat, a large laundry room with plenty of storage, 4.5 baths & 3556 sq.ft.

5958 N. Rio Lomas Ave. NE Meridian Grand single level with circular front door entrance & soaring ceilings. Fabulous chef’s kitchen with dual ovens flows freely into generously-sized great room. Master suite with full tile & walk-in shower. Impressive amenities not often seen in this price range. Exterior landscaping provided by HOA & elegant recreation center for your enjoyment.

591 W. Bogus View Dr. Eagle Breathtaking views are yours in this elegant waterfront home. The stunning double-entry staircase accentuates the soaring ceilings.

This 4156 sq.ft. home features a dramatic seethrough fireplace with floor-to-ceiling granite surround. Grand, gourmet kitchen with slab granite, custom cabinetry , built-in fridge & wine cooler, Thermador cooktop & butler’s desk.

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MAY, 2014

Your deck can be a center of entertainment or relaxation during the warmer weather.

Keep it looking great with some simple maintenance tips.

Deck Maintenance

To Do This Spring From HGTV.com

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Pressure wash to remove any dirt before beginning repairs.

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f your deck is showing some wear and tear after being exposed to the weather for a few years, make it look new again by applying a little first aid. Here’s the to-do list: Wash Before making any repairs to the deck, remove dirt and wood fibers with a pressure washer. When using one, be sure to keep the pressure stream moving. Otherwise, you could gouge the wood. Allow the deck to dry overnight.

Cut the board with a jigsaw, remove the nails or deck screws and remove the damaged wood. Use deck screws to attach a pressuretreated 2-by-4-inch support block to the joist. The support block will hold the replacement board in position. Cut a replacement board to size, pre-drill and fasten it to the support block and joists with deck screws.

Fix nail pops If you encounter a nail that has worked loose from a board, remove the nail with a cat’s paw or a hammer. Use a screw that’s longer than the nail to reattach the board.

Your replacement board may appear to be higher and wider than the existing wood, but it should shrink as it loses moisture. If the board still appears to be higher than the surrounding boards after being in place for a few weeks, you can smooth it down with a belt sander. Be sure that all nail or screw heads are recessed into the wood before you begin sanding.

Repair split wood If you have a board that’s split down the middle, mark the damaged board next to the leading edge of the first support joist that’s completely past the split. Be sure not to mark an area that’s directly over a joist or you could damage your saw when you begin cutting.

Stain and seal Even though pressure-treated lumber resists insects and decay, it’s still vulnerable to moisture and the sun’s rays. To preserve it without changing the color, use a clear wood preservative that contains a UV protector, which will bring new life to the surface while protecting

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it from the elements. If you want to add color, use an exterior stain first. Exterior stains come in both solid and semi-transparent finishes. Always use the semitransparent for the decking area, but try a solid color if you want to highlight railings or banisters; it ends up looking like a painted finish. Exterior stains are available in oil or latex, and both provide fade and mildew resistance.

Wearing protective eyewear and gloves, apply preservative or stain with a roller or a brush. Let the product sit on the wood decking for about 20 minutes so that it has time to penetrate, and then go back over the surface with a brush to give the deck a more consistent finish (this also helps get rid of any puddles that will dry as shiny patches). Apply a second coat for good coverage and protection.

Allow the deck to dry for 48 hours, and then apply a sealant.

MAY, 2014

24-Hour House

with New 3D Printer The Times of India | MSN.com

The 3D printer could be used to build a whole house, layer by layer, in a single day.

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cientists claim to have developed a revolutionary new giant 3D concrete printer that can build a 2,500-square-foot house in just 24 hours.

The 3D printer developed by Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California could be used to build a whole house, layer by layer, in a single day.

The giant robot replaces construction workers with a nozzle on a gantry, which squirts out concrete and can quickly build a home based on a computer pattern, ‘MSN News’ reported.

or a colony of houses, each with possibly a different design, may be automatically constructed in a single run, embedded in each house all the conduits for electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning.

The potential applications of this technology are far reaching including in emergency, lowincome, and commercial housing.

The technology may potentially reduce energy use and emissions by using a rapid-prototype or 3-D printing process to fabricate large components, according to the project website.

It is “basically scaling up 3D printing to the scale of building,” said Khoshnevis.

Comprised of robotic arms and extrusion nozzles, a computercontrolled gantry system moves the nozzle back and forth.

Contour Crafting is a layered fabrication technology and has great potential for automating the construction of whole structures as well as sub-components, according to the project website.

Using this process, a single house

“Our research also addresses the application of Contour Crafting in building habitats on other planets. Contour Crafting will most probably be one of the very few feasible approaches for building structures on other planets, such

as the Moon and Mars, which are being targeted for human colonisation before the end of the new century,” researchers said on the project website.

With the process, large-scale parts can be fabricated quickly in a layerby-layer fashion.

The chief advantages of the Contour Crafting process over existing technologies are the superior surface finish that is realised and the greatly enhanced speed of fabrication, according to the project website. www.timesofindia.com www.msn.com

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The potential applications of this technology are far reaching including in emergency, lowincome, and commercial housing. cbboise.com

MAY, 2014

Canyon County

Featured Homes

9568 Hwy 20-26 NE Nampa Welcome to Idaho Country Paradise with a horse set up on 4 acres! This custom home boasts stained rustic cherry trim & woodwork finishes, 10’&11’ ceilings throughout, 8” interior doors, Viking oven, Sub Zero built-in fridge, granite, tile, surround sound, all bedrooms w/ baths & walk-in closets, formal office & dining rooms, huge 4 car garage, covered patio.

10442 Sumpter St. NE Nampa Open & spacious floor plan by Hobbs Homes.

Amazing kitchen with granite counter tops, over sized walk in kitchen pantry, computer/ tech center & all the storage Hobbs Homes are known for. North-facing back yard with large covered patio. Close to the community pool. All bedrooms are on the same level. 4-car garage with added parking.

17130 Stiehl Creek Dr. NE Nampa This home positively stuns! Spectacular Stiehl Falls neighborhood on .65 acre homesite.

Fantastic 3 bedroom, 3 bath home packed with amenities & overflowing with quality craftsmanship. Open & easy-flowing design with an upper entertainment area with full wet bar & theater room with stadium seating & state-of-the-art technology.

11824 W. Huckleberry Dr. NW Nampa Beautiful single-level home with open kitchen & great room perfect for entertaining. Kitchen has loads of counter space, a breakfast bar & a pantry. Master with dual sinks & walk-in shower.

Vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, ceiling fans & lots of windows. Oversized garage with plenty of work space. Fenced yard & large covered patio.

COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP

Featured Homes

25915 Weeping Willow St. Middleton This is the American dream! 2.47 acres of pure perfection. Incredible 4745 sq.ft. custom home, 2000 sq.ft. shop. 9-car garage & covered RV parking. Giant bonus room with additional exercise area. Spacious, mainlevel master suite with sitting area, dual vanities, walk-in, travertine shower with dual heads, soaker tub & fabulous walk-in closet.

11935 Sanderling Ct. NW Caldwell Brand new 3 bedroom with exceptional upgrades. .18-acre lot with room for possible RV parking. Comfortable design with tech room or office. Cook’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters & undercabinet lighting. Plumbed for central vac & water softener. Covered patio with stamped concrete. Community pool closeby.

4715 Ann Marie Ave. SW Caldwell Classy Curb Appeal! Terrific 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with luscious back yard & covered patio.

Great room with vaulted ceilings & plant/ decorative shelves. Large, open kitchen with custom cabinets & pantry. Spacious master retreat with soaker tub & separate shower, dual vanities & walk-in closet. Gorgeous, insulated sunroom, professional landscaping.

26885 Bird Haven Ct. Wilder Breathtaking! 8,412 sq.ft. dream home on 2.5 acres with gourmet kitchen, granite counters, tile, hardwood, crown molding, wainscoting, high ceilings & wide halls. Office, formal dining & living rooms & rec room. Over sized master suite with walk-in closet, dual vanities & jetted tub. Covered patio, incredible landscaping, fully fenced yard, garden area, fruit trees.

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Canyon County

MAY, 2014

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Events So much to see & do in our valley! Here’s a very small sampling: FARMERS’ MARKETS Capital City Public Market

Saturdays; 9:30a.m.-1:30p.m.

8th & Idaho, downtown Boise www.capitalcitypublicmarket.com

Boise Farmers’ Market

Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

1080 Front St., downtown Boise www.theboisefarmersmarket.com

East End Market

Sundays; 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

Bown Way, SE Boise

www.facebook.com/eastendmarketatbowncrossing

Eagle Saturday Market

Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

185 E. State St., Eagle www.facebook.comeaglesaturdaymarket

Kuna Farmers’ Market

Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-noon

Kuna City Park, Main St., Kuna www.kunafarmersmarket.com

Nampa Farmers’ Market

Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

1350 Front St., Lloyd Square, Nampa www.nampafarmersmarket.com

Caldwell Farmers’ Market

Wednesdays; 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Blaine & 7th, Caldwell www.caldwellidfarmersmarket.com

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Race for the Cure

May 10; 9:00a.m.

Albertson’s HQ, 250 E. Parkcenter Blvd. www.komenidaho.org

SNIP’s FREE Mum’s Day Black Dog Walk

May 11; noon

709 E. Park Blvd. www.snipidaho.org/events

Paint the Town Boise

June 7; all day

www.nhsid.org

Idaho Shakespeare Festival

“Deathtrap” - May 30-July 25

“As You Like It” - June 6-27 5657 Warm Springs Ave., Boise www.idahoshakespeare.org

Brush Up Nampa

June 7; all day

www.nampafamilyjusticecenter.org

Kids’ Fishing Day

June 14; 10:00a.m.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge 13751 Upper Embankment Rd., Nampa www.fws.gov/deerflat

Meridian Dairy Days

June 17-21; parade, June 20, 7:00 p.m.

Main St., Meridian www.dairydays.org

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