Spring home improvement supplement 4 10 15

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Your

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April 10, 2015

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2 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 3

Yard birds

Attracting birds to your yard Whether you enjoy birdwatching year round from the comfort of your den or take a steward’s role for threatened bird populations with supplemental feeding, a few simple guidelines will encourage your native species to stay nearby and thrive. Wade Kammin, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, styles of feeders for the small gold finches, mediumsized wrens and nuthatches, and the bigger cardinals?

a

: For viewing purposes,

there are benefits to clustering feeders together. But overall, birds will be happier if they have a bit of space between feeders. Some species are more forgiving than others, and some experimentation may be needed in any given backyard.

q

: Is there anything

else I can do to attract birds to my yard?

a

: Fresh food and water are

just two of the four requirements for long-term bird survival. Shelter and places to raise young can be provided in the way of diverse plantings (trees, shrubs, vines, etc.) and via birdhouses, which double as winter sleeping spots. In addition, part of being a good steward to nature is keeping bird-feeding stations clean. Dirty feeders are not good for birds. We recommend washing feeders at least monthly with dish soap and a good scrub brush, followed by a bleach-water soak to disinfect. Rinse and dry feeders before refilling. For more information from Kammin about bird species, when to feed and how to attract specific birds, visit www. wbu.com/springfieldil.

Bird’s-Eye View Schoolteacher Judy Williams lives in an older residential neighborhood with established trees and teaches in a school where she can keep birdfeeders full throughout the school year. Williams said she enjoys watching cardinals,

blue jays, Carolina wrens, nuthatches, chickadees, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, sparrows, gold finches, juncos (in the winter), and hummingbirds (in the spring, summer and early fall). To encourage a wide variety of birds, Williams provides a variety of foods, including safflower, nyjer (thistle), suet and peanut pieces in a combination of raised-tray and tube feeders attached to trees and poles spread out with enough distance to allow the “shy birds” to feed away from the trays, she said. To provide the most energy for the birds and to get an occasional view of them feeding, Williams refills the feeders at home in the late afternoon for early evening and morning feedings. As for the squirrel population, Williams uses baffles on the poles and provides squirrel houses away from the bird feeders. She also plans to install a squirrel feeder. Williams’ favorite birds? “I love them all, but probably the woodpeckers because their color patterns are so unique,” she said. “And gold finches -- there’s nothing like their bright yellow to say ‘Summer is here!’”

water mixture. Placing red banners and planters with red flowers near your feeding station will attract hummingbirds, as will a red feeder. Foods with red color added are not recommended.

For the Hummingbirds If hummingbirds visit your region, your extra attention to maintain a hummingbird feeder is sure to be rewarded with a happy, healthy hummingbird population and the enjoyment their habits bring. Make a high-energy food by bringing to a boil 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 cups of tap water. Maintain a gently rolling boil for one minute; cool, then fill a clean feeder. This is less expensive than commercial blends and avoids harmful chemical colors. Feeders with a central tube are designed to keep ants and bees out. Keep that central receptacle filled with plain water. During warm weather, check your feeder every week or so to ensure it isn’t cloudy, full of bugs or fermenting. If so, empty the old mixture, clean the feeder thoroughly, and replace with a new sugar-

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4 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

Home security details Securing the sanctuary you call home this burglary, she still shudders when she thinks of it. There are steps we can take to minimize our risk without becoming paranoid and without forsaking our daily routines. Many local police departments caution residents not to “invite� attention by not making your house look empty: Use outside lighting on the same schedule as when you are home; put indoor lights on timers when you are away; stop mail and paper delivery for extended times or have a trusted neighbor make the pickups for you; arrange to have the lawn mowed and the snow shoveled if you will be away for several days; leave a radio on at “conversation level,� and don’t leave helpful notes on the door such as “gone shopping� or “on vacation, deliver packages to...� Don’t leave valuables in places that are visible through your windows. Be careful not to

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Region - Home is the place where we are supposed to be able to close the door on the outside world and shut out noise, commotion and worries. Home should be the place where we can feel safe. Too often, uninvited intruders disrupt that calm. Unwelcome access to our homes makes us fear for our safety. Even more than the financial losses that can occur during a burglary, the emotional loss of violation takes so long to recover from -- if recovery is even possible. One victim of a burglary (who asked not to be identified) said that she felt “violated� knowing that a stranger went through her things, touched items that held precious memories for her, viewed photographs that showed the story of her life and took valuable possessions simply because he could. Although it’s been over a decade since this woman experienced

advertise you are away from home via social media; take all the pictures you want on your trip, but wait until you are back home to post them. If you do plan to be away for an extended period of

time, contact your local police department and fill out a security-check request, which will include the dates you are away, who has authorized access to your home, what cars are in your driveway and con-

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tact information for you and a local neighbor who has a key. They can use this to schedule an occasional police drive-by and to know if something appears amiss. Lock your doors even if you will only be gone for a few minutes; it is a good idea to keep your doors locked even while you are at home and especially if sleeping. Remember to lock your windows, too. Unlocked windows provide easy access: Opening a window is less of an obstruction than breaking the glass would be. If you leave a window “open,� make it less than an inch and use a screw in the frame to prevent it from being opened more. You can also find a variety of window security devices at hardware stores that can lock the windows closed or in place. Replace doorknob button locks with deadbolts; install solid doorframes and metal doors; lock your garage door and the garage door into your home (especially if a garage door opener is used from your vehicle). If you have an enclosed deck or porch, lock the outer access door as well as the entry to your house so that you do not provide privacy for a burglar who’s breaking into your home. Keep hedges and bushes trimmed so that they do not obscure possible broken windows from a break-in. It’s also suggested that you plant thorny bushes in front of ground-floor windows as a deterrent to would-be intruders. Leaving a key with a trusted neighbor is much more secure than hiding a key under the doormat, flowerpot or nearby rock. Replace your locks if your key is ever lost. Call alarm and home security companies for information on services, plans and pricing. Be aware that many municipalities require permits for monitored systems that automatically call 911 as well as monthly fees. You can also install alarms on windows and doors that will sound only in and around your home. There are DIY video surveillance equipment packages, some of which can be monitored by you via Wi-Fi, but make sure your home Internet network is secured.

Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 5

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ideal, so look for the lighter spaces in the room and let a mirror work magic there. 5) Add more light. Wall sconces, skylights and torchieres can open up a room.

9) Choose one big piece of artwork, rather than lots of smaller framed pieces. The Lowe’s team says that one large painting adds visual interest without a cluttered effect. 10) Eliminate clutter. Remove all tchotchkes and small frames from dressers, tables and shelving units, and store them in a collectibles box out of sight. Organize books on bookshelves as well to create orderly stacks, and if possible, display only books in lighter, neutral colors that coordinate with the monochromatic colors of your room. Brighter and darker books can be stored away. And always keep bedrooms neat, with shoes, clothing and toys put away in closets and storage bins.This clean appearance goes a long way in making bedrooms appear larger.

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This clean appearance goes a long way in making bedrooms appear larger.

get in through the windows. 6) Choose light-colored flooring. Lowe’s design experts say that light oak or a light-colored carpet can make a room look bigger and brighter, whereas a dark rug and dark hardwood floors work against your spacecreating efforts. 7) Choose furniture in ideal sizes. A big, heavy dresser will shrink the space and may create an unbalanced feel in a room filled with smaller pieces. A king-size bed still has a place in a bedroom, since all of these steps create the effect of added space. 8) Use round furniture. Saul says that round pieces can “cut the rigidness and allow for more flow in the room.” Bedside and coffee tables should be rounded, as should chair arms and the shape of the headboard.

op over 40 tert un

All of the bedrooms in your home can look and feel larger and airier, without the enormous task of knocking down walls or undertaking a huge construction job. It just takes a few easy and often inexpensive interior design tricks to make it seem like you have higher ceilings and lots of extra space. Here are the top tips for making your bedrooms look and feel bigger: 1) Choose beautiful wall colors. Stephanie Saul, design blogger at the Fab You Bliss website, said, “Light and brightly colored walls are more reflective, so painting your small room with such colors can go miles in making a space feel open and airy.” Saul said that lighter, more neutral colors open up a room, while dark hues tend to make a room feel smaller than it is. Cool colors like champagne, light yellow, light blue and light lavender can make the walls appear to recede and the room looks larger. White can be too stark for walls, but a white or ecru shade on the ceiling creates the illusion that the ceiling is higher up. 2) The design experts at Lowe’s website suggest using a monochromatic color scheme on bed linens, rugs, walls and furniture. “Select different shades and textures of your single color,” they recommended. When there’s less contrast between colors on the larger elements of the room -- walls, bed, furniture -- the eye blurs the dimensions of the room instead of seeing blocky colors that minimize the space. 3) Use lots of glass. Saul suggests a glass coffee table, since glass tables reflect light and “help maintain a sense of airiness in the room.” And decor elements made of glass, including lamps with glass accents on the base, also work toward enlarging the space. 4) Hang mirrors. By reflecting light coming in from windows and from lighting fixtures and lamps, mirrors can create a spacious look, especially when hung across from each other on opposite walls. Saul says that a mirror hung in a dark corner isn’t

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Then, there is all that stuff in the basement…oh, in the garage, too. When was the last time the Buick came in from out of the elements? Oh, no, you’ve got an attic, too? Clean it our now…it’s not the place to be in July! My personal best is helping a couple clean out their ranch home a few years ago …five full dumpsters later we were done – today they can’t recall what they tossed! If you don’t use it – sell it, toss it, give it away to charity (and get a tax write off ) or give it to someone you know – just DON’T move with it! Next – furniture. Do you really need a dining room table

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They are about to make a lifestyle choice. Downsizing buyers invariably go through an exercise whereby they visualize themselves in this new lifestyle yet envision bringing all their worldly possessions to this new lifestyle location. They consistently verbalize how small townhomes look to them but they are picturing all their current belongings and furniture crammed into a smaller space! People underestimate how long the process is to truly downsize effectively. Do you really need grandmother’s silver service? Do you have three others as well?

that seats 12? To downsize means to simplify in every sense of the word. Perhaps buying a smaller dining table more in scale when you get to your new place would be a great idea. Once you can get past the step of parting with items that are truly no longer needed and plan to bring only what is really needed you will arrive at the other side with a newfound sense of freedom. Gone is the excess that has been weighing you down for (in some cases) many years. Now that you embrace the “less is more” concept you are ready to get your home on the market and preview your housing options for your next move. In our area there are free standing homes deeded as condominiums, ranch style condominiums, floor plans

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 7

Replace your furnace filter Conserve home energy costs this season Are you seeing a preponderance of dust bunnies in your home? Is dog hair blowing across your hardwood floors and piling up in corners? Do you notice yourself sneezing more than usual while in your home this season? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then most likely you need to replace your furnace air filter if your home has an HVAC heating system. Furnace filters are specifically designed to trap dust, dirt and other airborne particles in your home. Besides making the air you breathe in your home cleaner, furnace filters also help to increase the longevity of your furnace system by preventing dust and dirt particles from damaging your furnace’s fan and heating coils. Replacing your furnace fil-

Furnace filters are specifically designed to trap dust, dirt and other airborne particles in your home. ter three or four times a year is a smart idea. Besides keeping your home warmer during the winter months, it also will help to reduce your home’s heating bills by maximizing the efficiency of your HVAC furnace system. Moreover, replacing your furnace filter will help reduce airborne dust particles in the home. And if you have allergies, particularly ones caused by airborne dust mites floating around your home, you can purchase air filters specifically

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designed to capture them. Other higher-end furnace air filters are also designed to trap bacteria, pollen, mildew, and mold spores. Furnace filter replacement is a very simple and inexpensive task. All you have to do is swap out the old one with a new one. Prior to buying a new furnace filter, inspect your furnace and pull out the existing furnace filter to record its dimensions. In most cases, the filter dimensions are listed right on the filter.

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8 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

The perks of permaculture

Reduce maintenance, preserve resources and boost curb appeal and resale value Region - If you’re looking to start a garden in the near future, why not create one that will require very little maintenance and resources, including time? It may sound too good to be true, but the explanation is simple. Permaculture is a practice of agriculture that takes advantage of the natural ecosystems and habits of nature. Because using this method allows plants to use resources more efficiently, you can save precious resources while creating a garden or landscape that is long-lasting and abundant. One of the best approaches to take when establishing a system of permaculture in your home is to choose to grow perennial flowers and other perennial plants. Perennial plants return year after year with little to no maintenance. This means that you only have to plant them once to reap the ben-

Perennial plantings reap the maximum amount of benefit with the minimum amount of work.

efits for a lifetime. There are lots of perennial flowers available to choose from. Hydrangeas, lavender and peonies are all examples of flowers that will continue to bloom each year. For home-

owners, perennial flowers can prove especially enticing, as they help to establish a beautiful landscape that will accentuate a home for many years to come. Many potential buyers see landscaping as

a large expense, so having a garden full of perennial flowers would be a great added feature to calculate into the value of any home. For those who choose to utilize their outdoor space as a vegetable garden instead, there are many vegetable perennials to take advantage of, as well. Artichokes and asparagus are two common perennial favorites. Although they make take a few years to get established, they will indeed produce every year once they are mature enough. There are several hardy herbs such as rosemary and sage that also require very little maintenance. They can be easily harvested and used to add variety and flavor to many different dishes. The moringa is a tree popular among health-nuts and is another example of a perennial plant. It is praised for its nutritional content, as

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it produces highly nutritious leaves that are packed with protein. The blog How to Grow Perennial Vegetables, which focuses on teaching readers about perennial vegetables, explains that most perennial vegetables are very nutritionally dense, considering that they “have some of the highest protein content, lowest sugar, and tons of minerals. Tuber crops from Groundnuts have over 17 percent protein.” Jerusalem artichokes “produce inulin which is a prebiotic that maintains healthy gut flora, and the spinach/kale crops are high in iron and calcium.” So if you’re looking for plants that are both healthful and easy to maintain, perennials are the answer. W hen it comes to preparing the gardening space for your perennial plants, sheet mulching is a useful permacultural practice

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 9

The perks of permaculture Permaculture Continued from page 8

to consider. Sami Grover, a writer for TreeHugger, explains the usefulness of mulch: “Mulch is a central tool for keeping weeds down, keeping water where it ’s needed, and keeping work to a minimum.” This environment is similar to the natural ecosystem of many forests. Sheet mulching (also called lasagna composting) consists of several layers of organic materials. It’s a process that is best done in advance of any planting so that the materials have time to adequately break down. You want to begin with a layer of cardboard or newspaper, which helps to keep weeds from penetrating into your garden. Then you will need to cover this layer with about an inch of nitrogen material. This can include vegetable scraps, used coffee grounds and fresh grass clippings. Next, add an inch of carbon material, which could be leaves, wood

Reused and biodegradable materials used in the garden as mulch.

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chips or more newspaper or cardboard. Continue to layer an inch of the nitrogen and carbon material one on top of another until the desired height is reached. Chop ‘n’ drop is another form of permacultural mulching. Similar to sheet mulching, chop ‘n’ drop helps to keep soil healthy by conserving water, preventing weeds and providing it with beneficial nutrients. Fortunately, it is a very easy process, consisting of simply letting the pruned leaves of plants fall to the ground. This creates the layer of natural mulch. It ’s important to choose only specific plants when using this method. Some of the best choices include species that will regrow several times during the year. Nitrogen-

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fixing legumes, such as alfalfa and soybeans, are another good choice, as they help to fertilize soil especially well. Th e only important consideration is to keep the droppings away from the roots of trees so that they don’t attempt to compete with each other. Beyond this, chop ‘n’ drop is a simple and effective way of reusing resources to create healthy soil that requires very little maintenance. Deciding to plant lowmaintenance vegetables and flowers in a natural environment is one of the wisest decisions that any gardener can make. Less time and money spent on watering, planting and pulling weeds means more time spent on enjoying homegrown vegetables and beautiful flowers that can easily last for decades in your garden.

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10 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

Storage Solutions

How to maximize storage and countertop space in a small kitchen If you have a small kitchen, you might be fighting the all-toocommon problem of clutter: crowded countertops that leave little room for food prep and the dreaded avalanche of cooking pot lids and storage containers every time you open a cabinet door. But with a few easy improvements and just a few purchases, you can transform your small kitchen into an organized, airy space that still gives you access to all of the cooking pots, cookie sheets, spices and coffee mugs you need. And never deal with the mess and racket of cabinet avalanches ever again. Here are some of the top ways to maximize your small kitchen’s storage space and open up your countertops for a nicer look and better function: • Get rid of your upper cabinet doors. Sounds crazy, but according to Taniya Nayak, host of HGTV’s “$100 Half-

Use clear, plastic containers to help organize commonly used items.

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cabinets, maximizing the entire cabinet height for better storage and easy access. • If you have an L-shaped cabinet system with a corner cabinet, install an oversized Lazy Susan to put pots, pans and smaller cooking items on a rotation for maximized tall storage space and, again, easy access. • Redesign your under-sink cabinet with pullout drawers, tilting drawers, stacking shelves and plastic buckets to gather all of those cleaning supplies into a smaller storage space. Again, you’ll use the full height of that tricky under-sink space, such as with pullout wire racks in a three-tier system that lets you store those sponges and other smaller items more readily. • Hang mugs on hooks under your upper kitchen cabinets. Getting them out of your upper cabinets frees up a lot of storage space, perhaps allowing you to move some of those items from your kitchen countertop into the upper shelving area, and your display of allwhite or colorful mugs adds to the decor of your kitchen while being reachable. • Get larger cooking utensils out of your utensil drawer. Serving spoons, soup ladles, spatulas and all longer utensils can be stored in a tall metal canister on your kitchen countertop, freeing up a third or more of your utensil drawer. And indrawer utensil caddies can fit and be used better with those larger tools and tongs gone. • Do a little DIY. Those non-opening drawer fronts at waist level by your sink can be removed and fitted with hinges so that they do tilt open to reveal smaller stored items such as cork screws and bottle openers. • Install an organized shelf system on a kitchen wall. Using modular, customizable shelving units can expand your storage and display space and make better use of a wall you haven’t optimized for use.

• Use that space above the fridge. Don’t overload it because it will get warm up there, but a pair of pretty rattan baskets can hold extra kitchen items. • Get creative with the sides of your kitchen cabinets. Shelving affixed to the sides of upper and lower kitchen cabinets lets you store kitchen items such as bud vases, cookbooks and other smaller items, and small shelves in a kitchen window are perfect for growing kitchen herbs or displaying small plants. • Use magnetic storage on the sides of your refrigerator. Without cluttering up the sides of your refrigerator, you can affix magnetic spice tins and other magnetic storage items high up on your refrigerator to keep them out of kids’ and pets’ reach. And of course, a wise way to maximize your small kitchen’s storage space and countertop availability is to go section by section through each of your cabinets, pantry and countertops to discard or recycle anything that’s outdated, such as stained storage bowls (with or without lids) and other items that you no longer use. You’ll be surprised and delighted at how much space you free up with years’ worth of belongings cleared out, and you might just wind up with some choice items for a garage sale, using some of your profits to invest in additional smart storage racks, bins and canisters for your kitchen and for other rooms in your home.

Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 11

Head Space

Maximize storage with loft beds, creative storage solutions Buying furniture is an expensive endeavor, but living on a tight budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style. It can be an opportunity to be creative. For those with small bedrooms, having too much furniture can make the room appear cluttered and even smaller. Fortunately, you can do without bulky items, such as a nightstand, dresser or armoire, and replace them with organizers to make the ro om appear more spacious. There are beds that you can purchase with built-in drawers; however, that can get a little pricey. Additionally, many of these beds are not raised, which can be problematic if you like underneath bed storage. So now it’s time to get creative. First, purchase an organizer cubby to place at the edge of your bed. You can choose to store extra pillows, blankets, shoes or anything you please in the compartments. For smaller items or clothing, purchase storage bins. You can buy fabric, wood or plastic storage bins in any shape, size and color. For more hidden storage options, consider hanging closet organizers, doublehanging closet organizers, or even sterile drawers from Target, Ikea or Big Lots, to utilize as much closet space as possible. Whatever you choose, these new storage ideas will help expand your space. And with more room, there’s more to love. Can’t live without work? Make your bed into a hybrid desk space with a loft bed. Loft beds are a great spacesaver. Loft beds typically get associated with young kids, but they work for adults, too. Dornob’s article titled “Not Just for Kids: 7 Space-Saving (& Adult-Sized) Loft Beds” has many inspirational bedroom ideas for combining bed and desk space.

If you like the idea of being surrounded by books, but do not necessarily love the height of a loft bed, there is an alternative. Create your own bookshelf headboard. First, purchase a bed without a headboard. Second, purchase two medium- or tall-sized bookshelves that will serve

as the pillars to your headboard. Lastly, buy a long shelf (or a flat piece of wood); I would suggest Home Depot or Lowes to get the exact proportions and dimensions, to bridge across the two bookshelf pillars. For your safety, secure your bookshelves by nailing them to the wall. Once this has been done, you should also nail the overarching shelf to the bookshelves to keep everything connected as one unit. Lastly, do not place heavy items on the shelf atop of the two bookshelves, to avoid any accidents from happening. Now your new headboard is complete! Feel free to add books, decor, storage bins -you want it to fit your style. With these alternatives you can stay close to your studies

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o r wo rk from the comfort of your own bed. Although the previous examples can be bought from a store, for a repurp o s e d DIY feel, use cinder blocks as a bed base. If you’re not too fond of the industrial look, bust out your paintbrush and add some color to the blocks before setting them up. However, be extremely careful that there is not a lot of open space between the cinder block foundation and the mattress; you do not want to fall off your bed.

Wooden pallets are another great option as they are easy to paint, and you can add more to create your desired height. For more inspiration, check out the many boards dedicated to bedroom DIY on Pinterest. So whether you’re moving into a new place or you want to revamp your current look, these ideas will inspire you.

12 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

Wildflower wonder Flowers that thrive in challenging circumstances

Lovely wildflowers grow in the most challenging of places. They often live in garden beds without high-quality soil, highway roads and even in pavement cracks. Garden experts say these blooms thrive on neglect. If you love the look of flowers, but don’t want to invest a lot of time on their care, you might wish to add a variety of wildflowers to your garden and grounds. Understand, though, that it’s not as easy as scattering wildflower seeds onto a dirt patch and watching them magically grow. There is a small level of effort involved: choosing a site with full to partial sun, removing from your garden bed any existing grass or weeds, keeping the seeds moist until growth is a few inches tall, and adding a light mulch layer of straw, peat or compost to keep birds from eating your seeds, according to

Marie Iannotti, About.com gardening guide. You must give your seeds some kind of nurturing for them to grow to their full potential. In addition to the burst of color soon to fill your garden, there are a few additional advantages to planting wildflowers native to your area. The U.S. Forest Service says that native plants: -Do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns. -Reduce air pollution. They remove carbon from the air. -They give shelter and food for wildlife providing nectar, pollen and seeds that native butterflies enjoy and will be drawn to. -Help prevent erosion. Wildflowers have deep root systems and increase the soil’s

Wildflowers aren’t just beautiful – they are also beneficial to the environment and to other living creatures.

Wildflowers page 13

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Wildflower wonder Wildflowers Continued from page 12

Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 13

If you love the look of flowers, but don’t want to invest a lot of time on their care, you might wish to add a variety of wildflowers to your garden and grounds.

capacity to store water. They can reduce water runoff and help prevent flooding. -They can increase the value and sale possibilities of your home, if your house is on the market and your lovely wildflower garden impresses potential buyers. What the U.S. Forest Service didn’t mention is that growing wildflowers is an easy project that children can get involved with, from the growing to the harvesting stages. Seeds are inexpensive, so if your wildflower plantings for some reason do not thrive, you haven’t lost a fortune in purchases from your local nursery. Speaking of your local nursery, they are an excellent source of information on which wildflowers are native to your area, and which specific wildflowers will grow best in the particular conditions of your garden. You might also check the websites of top flower seed companies,

or visit Wildflower.org, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, dedicated to the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. Here are some of the top wild-

flowers to grow in your garden: If you wish to attract butterflies, plant black-eyed Susans, cleome, cornflower, cosmos, yarrow or zinnia. If you wish to attract hummingbirds, plant cleome, gar-

den columbine, nasturtium and zinnia. To attract beneficial insects to your garden, plant bishop’s weed, caraway, dill, fennel, globe candytuft, white Dutch clover and yarrow (attracts

ladybugs). Additional wildflowers to consider, according to your region’s hardiness zone and your garden center expert’s advice are bachelor’s button, bergamot, Canada milk vetch, chicory, common milkweed, coreopsis, dotted mint, evening primrose, fawn lily, lobelia, marigold, morning glory, mountain mint, phlox, Queen Anne’s lace, red clover, rhododendron, smooth aster, sunflower, viburnum, wild iris, wild petunia and wild sienna. How much seed should you spread to grow a full, lush wildflower garden? Iannotti suggests a quarter pound per 1,000 square feet, or about a half-ounce per 100 square feet. She advises you sow seeds after all danger of frost has passed and remove weeds as you see them. Soon, you’ll have a colorful wildflower garden and perhaps also enjoy the butterflies, hummingbirds and ladybugs they attract.

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14 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

The ants go marching Ants may look cute in cartoons when they’re snacking on food at a picnic in the park, but when those bugs are in your home, they’re not so cute anymore. Though you don’t want to spend all your time squishing ants, you also don’t want to spray harsh chemicals all over your house. That’s why I asked pest control professionals for eco-friendly and familyfriendly tips on the best ways to get rid of ants in your home. Keep Things Clean Ants come into your home searching for food, water and shelter. “It is imperative to keep crumbs and food debris to a minimum, and frequent vacuuming is a must,� says healthy home expert Caroline Blazovsky of My Healthy Home, a website dedicated to

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Ants come into your home searching for food, water and shelter. improving the indoor air quality of homes across America. “Cleanliness is the key to keeping pests at bay. The littlest food particle, and they may be in for the taking,� she says. “Make sure foods with odors are stored in the refrigerator or in air-tight sealed containers.� Clean counters, floors and other surfaces with vinegar and water, which are good cleansers and natural bug deterrents. Don’t worry about the odor -- you won’t smell the vinegar once it’s dry. “Do not use cleaners that have fragrance-based smells that may attract pests,� says Blazovsky. “Natural or unnatural scents may encourage bugs to come in if they leave behind a sweet odor.� Natural Pesticides Before you reach for a can of bug spray, consider natural pesticides. But keep in mind, “just because something is natural, does not mean it does not contaminate air quality or isn’t harmful,� says Blazovsky,

noting that although citrus naturally deters ants, it emits VOC’s, which end up contaminating your air. Ant Deterrents Raid your cupboard and your fridge for some pest-fighting tools. Brightnest, a website dedicated to home maintenance and cleaning, suggests sprinkling cinnamon and leaving cucumber shavings at entryways where ants are present. Both foods are a deterrent for ants. They also suggest cornmeal. When the ants eat the cornmeal and then drink water, the cornmeal will swell up inside the ants, causing the pests to die. Trigger-Happy Mix a simple household solution to spray away the ants. “I kill ants with a simple solution of dish detergent in a spray bottle of water,� says

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Make Your Home’s Exterior Anti-Ant Make sure your home’s exterior isn’t welcoming for ants and other pests. “Plant life, trees and rotten wood near the home or foundation can create living conditions close to the house where pests can live and gain easy access into your home,� says Blazovsky. She recommends clearing debris and planting trees and bushes away from the house. “If you are storing firewood, make sure to store it at least 18 inches off the ground and away from the home,� she says. Getting rid of pesky ants can be annoying, but cleanliness, natural deterrents and homemade solutions -- that are easy to make and environmentally friendly -- will be a great help this season.

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 15

No AC, no problem

How to make your home cooler without an air conditioner --Install patio and window awnings outdoors.

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Dawes. Fans help cool the home, and Future Energy Savers say ventilation is one of the least expensive and most energy-efficient ways to cool your home. --Avoid using your oven. Your home will stay cooler if you cook more often outdoors on your grill, or if you use a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice maker or other small kitchen appliance. --Operate your ceiling fans in the right direction: counterclockwise. This circulates air downward, creating that cooling breeze. But these, too, should be turned off when you’re not in the room, because that breeze is more efficiently cooling your skin, not cooling the room. --Be mindful of your attic fans. Turn them on to help cool your home, and be sure to turn them off at night when not needed to avoid energy overuse. --Close windows. You may be tempted on a hot day to open your windows, hoping for a cool breeze to waft in, but open windows on a hot day just bring more heat into your home. At night, open your windows wide to let that cooler air in, but close windows, blinds and curtains before sunrise to prevent the morning sun from warming your home. --Close blinds, even on a sunny day, to help keep your home cool. --Place houseplants on your windowsill or by your windows. They will absorb some of the sun’s rays. --Improve your home’s insulation. Refresh or install insulation in your attic, as well as in your walls, to help prevent your home’s cool air from escaping. Also, seal any ducts. The folks at Future Energy say doing so can save you 30 percent on your cooling costs, and good seals throughout your home will keep your home cooler.

and const y ru r n c o

on ti

Don’t have an air conditioner in your home? You’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one-third of all U.S. homes do not have central air conditioning. And in homes that do have central air, the U.S. Department of Energy says that air conditioners use 5 percent of all energy in the U.S., costing $11 billion to households. So whether you do or don’t have central air conditioning, you certainly will want to find easy ways to cool your home without the need for an air conditioner -- or without yours running all the time at great expense. Here are some of the top ways to cool your home without air conditioner usage: --Shut off lights. Every time you leave a room, even for a few moments, shut off those lights. Compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED lights may be energyefficient, but they will best serve you by being turned off. Incandescent light bulbs create a large amount of heat in a room, and so if you have those types of bulbs, keep them off as often as possible. --Hang energy-efficient window coverings, say the experts at Future Energy Corporation (energysavers. com). Curtains, shades and blinds created from energyefficient materials and those with ‘blackout liners’ behind them will block the sun’s rays, keeping it cooler in your home and guarding your hardwood floors, carpets, art and furniture from the harmful UV rays that cause fading. --Improve your home’s ventilation. When you shower or take a bath, and for a while afterward, have your bathroom ventilation fan running to remove the heat and humidity that warms your home. The same goes for your oven range vent, which can pull stovetop cooking heat and steam out of your home. “An energy audit showed me that my stovetop vent fan wasn’t just for when I burned something in the oven or on the range,” says retiree Philip

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16 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015

Mr. Sandless The quick solution to beautiful floors By Bonnie Adams Managing Editor

your choice of matte, satin, or gloss finish. The finish dries in less than an hour, allowing you to walk on the floor and move furniture back as soon as the crew is done. Pupillo’s team can give you your desired shade by blending different shades. They are also skilled at refinishing floors that have been waxed,

laminated or engineered. Mr. Sandless does not just refinish floors however; they can refinish any other type of wood, including cabinets, tables, doors, benches, and many other items. All products used by Mr. Sandless are certified green and certified lead safe. As a result, your family does not

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have to worry about breathing in potentially harmful chemicals. Pupillo has owned the central Mass. franchise since 2011. His background includes over 20 years of Sales and Marketing, and he is also a veteran of the United States Navy. “I was lucky to hear about the Mr. Sandless opportunity

from a relative who had his floors refinished by Mr. Sandless in New York,” Pupillo said. “After a short period of due diligence, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business. It has been a great, rewarding experience.” On the website, www. m r s a n d l e s s . c o m / Wo o d FloorRefinishing/centralma.php customers’ testimonies tell of their delight with his franchise’s work. There are also samples of before and after photos. Pupillo’s crew has done work for a variety of businesses including Rotmans Furniture and Carpet, Miles Funeral Homes, First Unitarian Universalist Church in Milford and many private residences. To contact Pupillo for a free estimate call 508-853-0600 or toll free, 877-WOOD360 (877-966-3360) or email centralmass@mrsandless.com.

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 10, 2015 • 17

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Michelle Gillespie, Realtor Direct Line: 508-934-9818 michelle@michellegillespie.com

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By Bonnie Adams Managing Editor Northborough – As a resident of Northborough for the past 21 years, Michelle Gillespie, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices N.E. Prime Properties, knows how to market her town. But thanks to her extremely varied and committed volunteer efforts over the past two decades, Gillespie is well qualified to sell not just in Northborough but in communities throughout the region. For the past 12 years she has served on Northborough’s Planning Board, has chaired the Applefest Committee for the past seven years, and is a member of the Community Preservation and Design Review committees. As she was raising her family, she served on her children’s schools’ parent-teacher organizations and volunteered with their sports associations and booster clubs. That expertise and knowledge, she said, is a valuable asset when she works with her clients as they navigate what can often be a challenging process of buying or selling a home. She also believes in using a multi-pronged approached in her marketing efforts. “I use traditional methods such as print but also use social media,” she said. “I also use direct mail. I try to have as many touches to the public as

possible.” Each month she also writes a column for the “Community Advocate,” offering advice on such timely topics and trends as preparing your home for the spring market, the value of hardwood floors and seasonal maintenance tips. On her website there is a wealth of information and tools including a free market analysis, mortgage calendar and a way to sign up for free daily emails that have new and updated listings from the towns and in the price range that you choose. There is also a section with helpful advice such as “Mistakes sellers make,” “Home buying tips,” and “Moving tips.” Gillespie believes in using associated professionals to help market your house. “I invest in my clients by using a professional photographer to take pictures of their home,” she said. “I will also use at times a professional stager.” On her website, her clients’

testimonies highlight not only her professionalism but also her care for those who trust her with selling their homes. “Working with Michelle was the best decision we made in selling our house. She is smart, tough, and incredibly hardworking, and most importantly, she cares about the unique circumstances and goals of her clients,” one client wrote. “Michelle Gillespie was nothing short of a miracle for us! We had our house on the market almost a year at that point with no activity. Michelle immediately suggested everything we could do to sell our house. Within a very short time, the house had multiple offers. Equally important to us was the amount of involvement, professionalism, knowledge and attention to detail that Michelle showed. She made this very difficult task a pleasure,” another said. “From the first meeting to discuss putting our house on the market, we knew we had made

the right choice. Michelle is a true professional – she was on top of all the details, kept us prepared and informed throughout the process, set realistic expectations and timelines and was always available to answer our questions. We wouldn’t hesitate to list with her again. She knows the market and gets the job

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done!” yet another client said. Recently she was named a “Top Producer” from both Berkshire Hathaway and the Worcester Realtors Association. For more information call Gillespie at 508-934-9818, or email michelle@michellegillespie.com. Visit her Facebook page, Michelle Gillespie - Your Northborough Realtor.

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Feed your plants

Fertilizer and mulch provide better growing conditions Spring is a good time to make sure your lawn and plants contain the proper nutrients to thrive through the hot summer months. LawnCare.net recommends not fertilizing in the early spring. Fertilizing too soon could promote top growth and weaken the root system, which may not be able to handle the hot and dry summer weather. When it comes to fertilizing your lawn, the amount of fertilizer depends on the type of grass and the region’s conditions. Although each grass species may need a different fertilizing schedule, the necessary amount is “one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application,” according to Jeff Rugg, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Exten-

sion and writer of the syndicated column “A Greener View.”

Be careful not to go overboard when using fertilizer; too much can harm plants and the environment.

By providing the needed nutrients, fertilizer acts as a tool to sustain plant health,

according to Scott Aker, the gardens unit leader at the U.S. National Arboretum, in Washington, D.C. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are fertilizer’s main components. A soil test can help determine whether there are insufficient amounts of these three elements. Rugg suggests contacting your local

soil testing company for an examination. The type of fertilizer depends on what plant needs to be treated. Both liquid and dry fertilizers can supply fast or controlled releases of nutrients. Chemical fertilizers provide fast releases of balanced levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, whereas organic fertilizers usually put the nutrients into the soil at slower rates. Be careful not to overuse chemical fertilizers on your lawn; the chemicals can cause groundwater pollution, and their high salt levels can burn the grass, according to LawnCare.net. Some organic types contain lower amounts of nitrogen, so if you use them, you need more fertilizer to spread across the lawn, according to a lawn care article from the University of Illinois Extension. Although organic fertilizer works at a slower pace, Aker said it could offer a more balanced nutrient release over a longer time period. “The best type (of fertilizer) feeds the lawn without feeding anything else by washing into ponds and streams,” Rugg said. “It should never contain weed killers or insect killers, unless that specific problem has been diagnosed at that particular time.” Certain plants or shrubs could require greater amounts of fertilizer. For example, Aker says flowers need more fertilizer than ground cover. And planting areas with shortages of soil, such as container gardens, usually require more fertilizer to make up for the lack of nutrients. Liquid fertilizers are easier to use when treating container gardens. If the soil contains enough organic

material, nutrients and water, plants don’t require additional fertilizer. Mulch protects the soil and roots, whereas fertilizer’s main duty is to provide nutrients for plants. Mulch stops weed development and aids in preserving soil moisture and maintaining moderate soil temperatures, according to Aker. And Aker says that mulch “serves an aesthetic function by eliminating the splash of dirt onto plants and giving beds a neat, finished appearance.” There are organic and inorganic mulch products. Rugg recommends organic mulch for most plants; it delays putting nutrients back into the soil, similar to a slow-release fertilizer. Inorganic mulch contains gravel or shredded rubber material. “Mulch is a bunch of material sitting on the soil surface that insulates the surface from quickly freezing and thawing,” Rugg said. “And it helps prevent the soil underneath from drying out too fast.” Be careful not to go overboard when using fertilizer; too much can harm plants and the environment. Only use fertilizer if you know it is needed in your yard. Mulch that’s deeper than two inches will damage plants, as well, according to Aker. Usually, warmer and wetter weather means a greater loss of nutrients; rain may filter out nutrients, and hot soil temperatures can reduce nutrients through volatilization. “Plants need nutrients when they are actively growing,” Rugg said. “A longer growing season means plants need more nutrients.”

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