3 minute read
Spring Planting
You want to get those veggies planted and on the way to your table! If you don’t have a greenhouse or haven’t started your seedlings indoors, though, 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 13 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 7th 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!
spring cleaning hacks That Will Last All Season
Laura McHolm Co-Founder, NorthStar Moving
So, it’s that time of year again when we get down on our hands and knees to scrub our home top to bottom. Sponge? Check. Eco-friendly cleaning solutions? Check. Rubber gloves? Check. Ready, set, clean. You step back to admire your hard work only to realize your home doesn’t look any different after hours of scouring.
Avoid the spring-cleaning blues. Put the duster down and actually make a visual difference to your home. Remember that feeling when you just moved in? It’s like a new car smell. Everything had its place, décor was new and you had just what you needed. Find that home again! It’s simply a change of mindset, look beyond the mop to the tasks that will actually transform your home for the entire season. Follow these spring cleaning hacks to a cleaner, brighter home:
Out With the Poinsettias Replace houseplants with fresh spring plants from a local farmer’s market. Fresh plants help improve the flow of oxygen in your home, bringing in that clean spring-like air.
Toss the Pillows In the spring, it’s time to put heavy fabrics, throw blankets and extra toss pillows in storage. Less stuff and textures will make you feel cool and clean.
Raise Your Kids Beds, that is. Purchase bed raisers for your kids’ rooms to create under-the-bed storage. You can store everything from shoes, the laundry basket, and books to any bulky items that might otherwise clutter their room.
Sort the Soups Done with winter’s comfort foods? Sort through your kitchen cabinets and box up canned foods you have not used in three months. Donate them to your local food bank. An organized pantry creates space for fresh spring meals and perhaps a cleaner diet.
Seasonal Style Assessment Take a look at your winter shoes, coats and purses. Will they make it another season? If so, remove them from your closet and put them in storage. If they
