Spring Home 2024

A special publication of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal

Inside:

Detroit Lakes vacation rental showcases local designer’s talent

Find your next escape in Verndale — no matter what time of year

Perham couple goes all in on making historic home their own

Whether it’s the BUILDING, REMODEL, or PURCHASE of a home, let us help you achieve your dreams! We’ve been your community bank for over 100 years and all of our decisions are still made locally by lenders who are your friends and neighbors!

& Merchants

BUSINESS HOURS LOBBY: 8:30am – 4:30pm M-F

WALK-UP/DRIVE UP HOURS: 8:00am – 5:00pm M-F

Spring Home Magazine

Vintage charm with bright, colorful decor

Lakes business owner adds second vacation rental to stable of getaway homes

Will planting season start earlier after a mild winter?

Nestled among the pines

The Jelly Twinkels Manor

Publisher: Pete Mohs Pete.Mohs@brainerddispatch.com

Editor: Tris Anderson tanderson@dlnewspapers.com

Contributors: Nathan Bowe nbowe@dlnewspapers.com

Vicki Gerdes vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com

Barbie Porter bporter@dlnewspapers.com

Nicole Stracek nstracek@wadenapj.com

Elizabeth Vierkant evierkant@perhamfocus.com

Layout: Jamie Holte

Photo: The focal point of this home’s living room is “Mystique,” a two-piece, color ful portrait of a Black woman that takes up much of the wall inside the front door.

/ Design 2 Sell at the Lakes

Vintage charm with bright,

COLORFUL DECOR

Detroit Lakes business owner showcases interior design, decorating skills with new vacation rental property

BY VICKI GERDES Spring Home

It’s spring in Detroit Lakes, and that means vacation plans are in the works for the community’s many summer visitors.

Though a lakeside home, condo or hotel room is most often preferred, sometimes vacationers are looking for something just a shade quieter, tucked away in a residential neighborhood that’s still conveniently located about a block and a half away from the mile-long City Beach.

One of the more recent additions to the local vacation rental scene is a prime example of just that: A fivebedroom, three-bath home at 1246 Minnesota Avenue that was purchased last July by local residents Skye and Troy Fingalson.

With three levels — a basement, main floor and master bedroom loft — as well as a backyard patio, the home can accommodate a maximum capacity of 10 people, making it an ideal setting for a large family. It is the second property in

Skye Fingalson, an interior designer and decorator with two successful local businesses, is the owner of a new vacation rental property on Minnesota Avenue in Detroit Lakes. She designed the home to be a “retro retreat,” with bright, colorful decor that reflects the vintage charm of the home, which was built in the 1950s.

Vicki Gerdes / Spring

Home

This house on Minnesota Avenue in Detroit Lakes is available as a short-term vacation rental through Airbnb. It has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and is conveniently located a block and a half away from the mile-long City Beach. Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

Detroit Lakes that the Fingalsons have acquired for use as a vacation rental. The first, located at 1100 North Shore Drive, is listed on Airbnb as “The Riverside Escape on Big Detroit.”

With a flourishing interior design career that includes ownership of not just one, but two successful local businesses — Allure and Design 2 Sell at the Lakes — Skye Fingalson has considerable experience when it comes to bringing out the best in whatever home she’s working on at the moment, whether it’s for a client or a personal project.

As soon as she saw the Minnesota Avenue property, Fingalson realized it would be her next project.

“I wanted it bad,” she laughed. “It’s super charming.”

Because the home’s vintage charm is what attracted her in the first place, she wanted to preserve as much of that as possible with her redesign. Though the home was built in the 1950s, it fortunately needed little in the way of reconstruction.

“Our renovation list was small, due to the fact that the home was so well maintained,” Fingalson said. “For the most part, I wanted to keep as much of its original charm as possible.”

“

Our renovation list was small, due to the fact that the home was so well maintained.

For the most part, I wanted to keep as much of its original charm as possible.

- Skye Fingalson, Allure and Design 2 Sell at the Lakes

The focal point of this home’s living room is “Mystique,” a two-piece, colorful portrait of a Black woman that takes up much of the wall inside the front door. Contributed / Design 2 Sell at the Lakes

Thus, the home’s wood floors were left intact, along with the wood trim and doors. The carpeting and light fixtures throughout the home were replaced, and a fresh coat of paint was applied to all of the rooms. Mini-split air conditioning units were also added to keep the home cool during the summer months.

‘Retro Retreat on Minnesota’

Like “Riverside Escape,” Fingalson’s new property also has a design theme: “Retro Retreat on Minnesota.”

“I wanted this house to evoke nostalgia in every room — something from someone’s childhood that they could see a

The master bedroom takes up the entire second-story loft of this vacation rental home on Minnesota Avenue in Detroit Lakes. There are four other bedrooms in the home, including two on the main floor and two in the basement.

• sales & service

• geothermal

• furnaces & air conditioners

• clean air systems

• air scrubbers

• in-floor heating

• humidifiers & dehumidifiers

• air exchangers

• mini-split AC & heat pumps

• high velocity systems

• hot water heaters

• redlink/WiFi thermostats

• annual maintenance plans

Bluffton • Deer Creek • Wadena www.wadenastatebank.com

• much much more

Stuart Fleischauer 216 West Main Street

Box 222 Ottertail, MN 56571 218-367-3300

stuart@allseasonsottertail.com www.allseasonsottertial.com

Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

picture of and bring back memories,” she explained.

Fingalson says she approaches design projects from the viewpoint of an interior decorator. “It all comes from my heart,” she said. “I come in and I just feel it, I guess, and then I kind of get a vision in my mind and build off of that.”

One approach is to find an inspirational piece of art and make that the room’s focal point. As an example, she pointed to a large, two-paneled portrait of a Black woman that she has titled “Mystique,” which hangs not far from the home’s front door, in the living room area.

“It’s two pieces of art that form one face,” she explained.

Some of the other unique artwork on the walls depicts characters from vintage cartoons and video games — like “The Pink Panther,” “Q-bert” and “Super Mario” — while others contain an antique typewriter, a disco ball, a vinyl record, an old-fashioned microphone, a trio of multi-colored guitars, or a row of vintage arcade games.

Some playable arcade games were added to the home as well, along with a shadow box containing miniatures of the characters from “The Simpsons,” some board games tucked away on shelves, and even a three-dimensional piece of wall art containing multi-colored popsicles made of plastic.

“

The goal was to make this place feel like a vacation getaway that’s very funky and fun.

- Skye Fingalson, Allure and Design 2 Sell at the Lakes

“

“The goal was to make this place feel like a vacation getaway that’s very funky and fun,” Fingalson said, adding that she thinks her niche is creating vacation rentals that “don’t feel like an everyday home.”

Interested in checking it out? This home is currently listed for rental on the Airbnb website at airbnb.com. SH

This unique portrait of the iconic Pink Panther is the focal point of one of the main-floor bedrooms in the Minnesota Avenue home designed by its owner, Skye Fingalson, as a vacation rental. Contributed / Design 2 Sell at the Lakes

All of the five bedrooms in Skye Fingalson’s Minnesota Avenue vacation rental home contain colorful accents and eclectic artwork, such as the art print above the bed’s headboard that features video game hero Mario. Several of the rooms contain greenery as well. Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

Becker County Master Gardener Nicholas Williams talks about grow lights, hydroponics and aeroponics with another Master Gardener. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Will the planting season start earlier

AFTER A MILD WINTER?

Becker County Master Gardeners share tricks of the trade, what to anticipate this season

TBY BARBIE PORTER

Spring Home

he winter weather has been melting away since it first appeared in late December, but the snowy landscape returned in late March, dampening the hopes of planting an early garden. However, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

Becker County Master Gardener Nicholas Williams said even if the snow hadn’t closed out late March, gardeners should not stray from past practices of planting in the last weeks of May. While warm temperatures may soften the soil, the amount of sunlight has not changed.

“The earth isn’t spinning any faster and the axis hasn’t

Becker County Master Gardener Mary Lewis chatted with Callaway resident Mary Ann Jorgenson about the upcoming planting season. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

“

The earth isn’t spinning any faster and the axis hasn’t changed, I don’t think. The days are just the same as they’ve always been. In my opinion, that is far more important than temperature.

- Nicholas Williams, Becker County Master Gardener

“

Cora Ratcliffe looked through seed packets to bring home during a Master Gardener event in Detroit Lakes. The 8-year-old from Perham is the daughter of Andrew and Angela Ratcliffe. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

changed, I don’t think,” Williams said. “The days are just the same as they’ve always been. In my opinion, that is far more important than temperature.”

Concerns about the impact of the thaw and freeze cycle on shrubs and tree roots have also been voiced. During a typical winter, the snow acts as an insulator for the roots. This past winter, the roots have not had that protection.

Williams said people can still place mulch, be it wood chips or leaves and grass, around trees to provide extra protection. He noted the depth of wood chips would be about three inches and the radius of coverage around the tree would depend on the tree size, with a minimum of 18 inches.

“It is not really too late,” the rural Detroit Lakes resident said. “Any help will help, even at this point. But, it’s unlikely that the freeze-thaw cycles that we experience this winter are going to kill trees. It might damage some superficial roots, just because of the physical process of expansion of the water as it freezes and contracts (when it thaws).”

Growing and learning opportunities ahead

The Becker County Master Gardeners group has a mission to share their knowledge and provide guidance to others looking to grow plants, trees and vegetables.

For the rookie gardeners, Williams suggested the first thing one should do is learn which soil type they have. Soil can play a part in how a plant or tree thrives and survives.

While most think the lakes area would offer sandy soil, Williams said that is

Grow lights mimic the sun and allow plants to grow indoors. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Bronson Pihlaja watches Becker County Master Gardener Beth Hepola write the name of the seed he planted. Pihlaja is the 4-year-old son of Kathryn and Derek Pihlaja of Detroit Lakes. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

not always the case, as there are plenty of locations in the area that have clay soil.

While sandy soil offers a good growing ground for root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, clay soil is better for above-ground crops.

“Root vegetables can struggle to break through the clay soil,” he said, adding in those instances peat moss or other soil nutrients may be utilized to even the playing field with sandy soil.

Becker County Master Gardener Beth Hepola showed people how to create a biodegradable seed starter container at an event in Detroit Lakes. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

A plant’s growth cycle and days to maturation can be found on the back of seed packets, as well as the grow region they flourish in. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Once the soil type is known, gardeners looking for a bountiful harvest may want to understand the nutrients of the soil, and identify any deficiencies.

“Sulfur deficiency is in this area,” he said, adding sulfur aids in plant growth.

There are other options for growing plants that do not require any soil, which may be a viable option for those without an outdoor space for a garden. Williams explained hydroponics replaces water for the soil, and with aeroponics, the air replaces the soil. Both require a hands-on approach when it comes to ensuring the plant gets the proper nutrients and artificial sunlight.

Growing lights mimic the different wavelengths of the sun, and specific lights can stimulate growth for flowering plants and nonflowering plants. He noted the lights can cost anywhere from $5 to $20.

“Understanding the plant’s growth cycle is important,” he added, noting timers help keep the required schedule. “Plants are very sensitive to the duration of darkness. And, if you turn your lights on and off every day manually, you might be right within half an hour or 15 minutes. But, that’s not good enough to plant. You have to be exactly right. And, you need to expand the number of daylight hours as the plant grows. It’s not easy, but you can do it without a timer.”

Williams added there is a drawback for those using the non-soil method — typically below ground plants don’t find success.

“Typically, it works best for above-ground plants, such as lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers,” Williams said.

Master Gardener Lauren Sparrow suggested that when people pick their plants or flowers, to pay mind to the zone on

Wine bottle corks may be used to write the name of the plant and stick it on a toothpick after the seed is planted. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

the package. She said this area is in the 4A zone. Another key when picking a plant or flower is to look for the number of days it has for a grow cycle.

“Stay below a 100-day grow cycle,” she said.

Her husband, Lauren Sparrow, added that plants with a grow cycle that exceeds 100 days can be planted in the 4A zone.

“It

gets a little riskier,” he said. “The last couple of years we’ve gone way over that, but that’s not something you count on though.”

When planting flowers, the couple hinted people may want to pay attention to the bloom season of the plant. Planning for different bloom cycles can provide color throughout the warm months.

An attendee looks through seed packets during a Master Gardener event in Detroit Lakes. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Seed packets from last year were donated by Walmart to the Becker County Master Gardeners, who gave them away at an early spring event. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

The Becker County Master Gardeners host events during the year and offer advice

regard

plants, trees and soils. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Nestled among

THE PINES

Spacious Verndale vacation rental features an indoor pool and hot tub

BY NICOLE STRACEK

Spring Home

Situated on 40 acres just outside of Verndale, Northbound Escape is a vacation rental home that is the perfect getaway for family gatherings, weekend retreats or just a place to relax and unwind. The spacious four-bedroom, three-bathroom home is nestled amongst the picturesque backdrop of towering pine trees and features a wide range of amenities and accommodations.

Siblings Paula Rebelein, Kari Gloege, and Chris Bounds, alongside their spouses, have owned the vacation rental property since 2022.

“When we were kids, up until 2020, this property was owned by our aunt and uncle Char and Terry Boyd, so the home holds many great memories for all of us,” Gloege said. Growing up, the siblings lived about 3 miles away and spent a lot of time with their aunt and uncle.

“We loved the time we spent at their house. It was a

The spacious vacation rental home is situated on 40 acres and invokes a unique home-away-from feeling nestled among towering pine trees. Contributed / Kari Gloege

Outside are an array of activities to keep the whole family entertained. From roasting s’mores over the fire pit to a fun evening under the stars, Northbound Escape has something for everyone to enjoy. Contributed / Kari Gloege

“

When we were kids, up until 2020, this property was owned by our aunt and uncle Char and Terry Boyd, so the home holds many great memories for all of us.

- Kari Gloege

The four-bedroom rental vacation home has space for up to 13 guests to sleep comfortably. Contributed / Kari Gloege

Cozy and modern bedrooms provide enough room for guests to relax and unwind.

Contributed / Kari Gloege

The fully furnished home features a spacious living room area with plenty of room for large groups and a fireplace to cozy up to after a long day of swimming in the indoor pool. Contributed / Kari Gloege

The modern kitchen features new appliances, a dishwasher, and plenty

cooked meal. Contributed / Kari Gloege

place we felt welcomed and loved,” said Gloege.

When Terry Boyd passed away in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the property went up for sale and was purchased by a different buyer. Gloege said the siblings regretted not keeping the house and property in the family at the time.

“But 18 months later, it went up for sale again,” Gloege said. “My brother Chris and his wife Rachel had the idea to turn it into a rental property so we could all continue to enjoy everything the property has to offer.”

Together Chris and Rachel Bounds, Kari and Mark Gloege, Paula and Dan Rebelein embarked on a new business venture of becoming rental property owners. “We bought the property in July 2022 and spent six weeks upgrading and getting the property ready to rent,” Gloege said.

The spacious 3,500-square-foot home features an indoor pool and hot tub,

of seating for everyone to gather around the table for a home-

and the open backyard features a children’s play set, room for outdoor games including a volleyball net and basketball hoop, a gas grill for backyard barbecues, and a wood-burning fire pit. The furnished front porch is the perfect way to enjoy a Minnesota summer where family and friends can gather to enjoy the sunset or sunrise.

Northbound Escape provides guests with a wide range of entertainment combined with a home-away-from-home feeling. The fully furnished home has modern appliances and amenities, including free WiFi and a spacious basement that serves as a game room with air hockey, ping pong, a large flatscreen television, a pool table, a dart board and board games.

“Guests comment frequently on what a beautiful home it is and how much space is there,” Rachel Bounds said. Because

the Boundses live closest to the property, Gloege said they handle most of the day-to-day operations.

“Rachel is the key to our day-to-day success. She is our pool and hot tub expert, and she is our chemist, keeping them in tip-top shape. She’s also the contact person for each booking, making sure the guests have everything they need when they arrive,” Gloege said.

The owners also go the extra mile to welcome guests and are available to answer any questions.“We want to make sure that everything you need is there for you. If an issue ever arises, we are three miles away and will do everything we can to resolve it,” Rachel Bounds said.

The rental home’s location offers access to a wide variety of communities including Wadena, Perham, Staples, New York

“

Guests comment frequently on what a beautiful home it is and how much space is there.

- Rachel Bounds

“

Mills and Detroit Lakes.

It’s a short drive to Wadena to catch a movie at the Cozy Theatre, enjoy a freshly brewed coffee or beer, or grab a meal at The Uptown or the Pirates Den restaurant in Verndale. From nature trails to bike paths that wind throughout the area, Northbound Escape is a great option for guests who want to enjoy a relaxing fun getaway with friends and family.

From reunions, holidays, anniversaries or just a relaxing to get away, Northbound Escape, which can sleep up to 13 guests, is open year-round.

Prices, availability and reservations can be found on Evolve.com https://evolve.com/vacationrentals/476018?fbclid=IwAR2Wz-dfspdEEbysSTuhi2PZaC lJ6TZDswYlbKlY3DNW77Do9MnOsoGXGAQ or email at northboundescape@gmail.com. SH

Guests can enjoy lounging in the pool room or enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot tub.

Contributed / Kari Gloege

Starting a compost bin

IS EASY

These tips will make you a master of composting in no time

BY NATHAN BOWE

Spring Home

Backyard composting can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. At its most basic, all you need is a mixture of organic waste from your yard and kitchen, enough water to keep it moist, and enough air to aid the composting process, which means turning the pile once in a while.

“A lot of people are scared of composting,” said Sandy Gunderson, recycling coordinator and waste educator for Becker County Environmental Services. “They think ‘I don’t know how to do it and it’s too hard.’ It’s not too hard.”

And the resulting compost material is great for plants and for your yard. “It’s black gold, it really is black gold,” Gunderson said. She spoke at a learning session at the Home & Sport Show in Detroit Lakes March 24.

Getting started

The simplest way to start composting is to make or buy a

“

A lot of people are scared of composting. They think ‘I don’t know how to do it and it’s too hard.’ It’s not too hard.

- Sandy Gunderson, Becker County Environmental Services recycling coordinator and waste educator

“

Composting is an easy way to recycle kitchen waste. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

compost bin. It should be at least 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot because you need enough space to create a critical mass for the microorganisms that are the real stars of the composting show.

“The little microorganisms are what really break down the organics,” she said. A lot of people don’t love centipedes and similar insects, but they are key to the composting process.

“Fungus, worms, invertebrates – a lot of little creepy-crawly things we don’t like –are really what’s great for your compost,” she said.

The recommendation is to stir and mix the contents of your compost bin with a

Todd Rodeman Frazee,

Putting leaves in a home-made compost bin. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

Sandy Gunderson amazes kids in the audience at a home composting demonstration involving red wriggler worms. Contributed / Becker County Environmental Services

shovel, pitchfork or other tool once a week, but Gunderson said she isn’t religious about keeping a timetable and often waits two weeks before mixing her bin.

“It’s not hocus-pocus, it’s not magic, there’s no exact recipe,” Gunderson said. The natural process of decomposition “will just happen slower if you don’t mix it as often.”

Unless you have some equipment to help with the heavy lifting, she recommends not using a bin larger than 6-foot by 6-foot by 6-foot – because a bin larger than that can be heavy and unwieldy, making it difficult to turn and mix the organics as needed.

“The size of your bin really does matter,” Gunderson said.

Find a good location

After your bin is ready, choose a spot in your yard that is at least partially shaded, and place the bin at least two feet away from any structure, like the house and garage, or a fence.

Ideally, the spot will be convenient for you to add materials, will have access to water, and have good drainage.

It is easiest to start with a single-bin system. As materials are added and mixed together, the finished compost settles into the bottom of the bin.

You can also use a two- or three-bin system, which

It’s not hocus-pocus, it’s not magic, there’s no exact recipe.

- Sandy Gunderson, Becker County Environmental Services recycling coordinator and waste educator

“ “

separates the organic material depending on whether it’s “raw, partially cooked, or fully cooked,” Gunderson said.

Bins can be built from things like scrap lumber, chicken wire or concrete blocks, or purchased ready-to-go from hardware or yard-and-garden stores.

Once you have your bin in a good spot, it’s time to layer in the organic material.

Turning and mixing the contents of the compost bin with a pitchfork or shovel brings essential air into the decomposition process. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

Trustyourlocalcreditunionforallyourhome financingneeds.Whetherit’snewconstruction, renovations,orpurchasinganewhome,our top-ratedmortgageteamwillguideyou througheachstep.

Build your pile

“The first layer should be brush and twigs,” Gunderson said. “Like a chimney, air comes up from the bottom and through the compost bin,” she said, so the bottom layer is important for airflow.

Next comes a layer of carbon-rich “browns,” like straw, sawdust, twigs, dried grass, brown leaves and shredded newspaper (without colored ink).

Then add a layer of nitrogen-rich “greens,” like green leaves, coffee grounds, tea bags, plant trimmings, raw fruit and grass clippings.

Alternate those layers of greens and browns, making each layer 3-4 inches thick. “Add water with each layer when you first start,” Gunderson said.

The water should make your compost pile moist, “like a damp sponge,” she added. It can be helpful to add a 5-gallon pail of material from an active compost

Adding kitchen waste to a compost bin. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

At a learning session, Sandy Gunderson shows off “worm juice,” a strong fertilizer that comes from composting kitchen waste with earthworms. Contributed / Becker County Environmental Services

pile as a sort of starter kit, Gunderson said.

Remember, your pile will also get moisture from rainwater, and from the greens. If it becomes too wet, turn the pile more often to dry it, or add more dry brown material to soak up the moisture.

But even without that, build your pile and they will come – they being the bacteria, fungi and insects that help break down the materials in your compost bin.

As those mighty composters get to work, materials will decompose and your pile will get hot on the inside. You might even see some steam. In about a week, it will be time to turn

A

handful of finished compost. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

the material.

Use a pitchfork, shovel or other gardening tool to mix up the green and brown layers and move materials toward the center of the pile.

Either empty the bin and re-layer, or just work materials around inside the bin. Break up clumps and wet the pile as needed.

Things to avoid

Gunderson recommends not composting meat, oils and dairy products because they can attract nuisance animals. She also says to never compost dog or cat waste, since they contain pathogens that can make people sick.

“Just remember,” Gunderson said, “what you put into your compost pile is what you get out.” Avoid adding things like dog and cat waste, plants treated with pesticides or herbicides, and paper with colored ink.

But other kinds of animal waste are okay to compost – “cow and pig manure is No. 1,” she says, because they have two digestive systems and don’t produce any weed seeds. Horse manure is okay, but can contain weed seeds, which can grow into a weed problem. Chicken and rabbit manure is also good compost material, she said.

Wood ash is good for composting, but not coal or charcoal ash, which should be avoided.

Spreading compost mixed with soil on a garden plot. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

Sandy Gunderson demonstrates what “cooked” compost looks like at a March 24 seminar in Detroit Lakes. Nathan Bowe / Spring Home

Other tips

The ideal temperature range for making compost is 70-100 degrees. “It needs water, air – that’s why you mix it – and it needs to be hot enough so it will ‘cook,’” Gunderson said. “If you don’t have enough water, it can get too hot.” She checks her pile regularly to ensure it keeps that “damp sponge” consistency.

Things like green grasses and fruit rinds have a lot of moisture to them and can supplement the water, she said. Squeeze a handful of partially composted material – if small beads of water appear between your fingers, you have enough moisture.

You can tell when you have finished compost when the material is dark and crumbly, fresh-smelling, and no longer looks like what you originally put into the bin.

In the summertime, if you turn the pile weekly and keep it cooking, it takes about three months to produce finished compost. That slows down considerably in the coldtemperature months, of course.

In a one-bin system, as the decomposition process goes on, “the cooked stuff goes to the bottom of the pile,” Gunderson said.

How to use your ‘black gold’

Use your finished compost as mulch for landscaping and garden plants – it protects the soil from erosion and the drying effects of wind and sun – or mix it into pots for potted plants.

“Compost holds twice its weight in water – that’s amazing to me,” Gunderson said.

That’s why compost is also great for soils. In sandy soil, compost acts almost like a sponge, holding water and nutrients for plants to use.

In clay soils, compost makes the ground more porous, creating the tiny holes and passageways necessary for water to drain more quickly. Compost is also a great tool for filling in low spots on lawns.

And a little goes a long way – it’s best to mix your compost with garden soil.

Common problems

If your new pile doesn’t heat up, you may need to add more “green” materials. No heat could also mean the pile is too dry and needs some water. If your old pile doesn’t heat up, and

you’ve already turned it a few times, you may already have finished compost.

If it smells like ammonia, the pile could be too wet – turn it with a shovel or pitchfork to let in air and mix it up.

“If it’s too liquidy, it can turn into black, smelly mush,” Gunderson said.

An ammonia smell can also indicate too much “green,” so add some “browns” to your compost pile. Add dry leaves or even cut-up paper to soak up the excess moisture. “You want drainage in your compost bin, so liquid can get out,” she said.

If your pile is attracting scavengers like raccoons, skunks and mice, quit adding food waste that includes oils, meats or dairy products. That stuff composts just fine, but may not be worth it. “It’s just going to draw unwanted guests you don’t want there,” Gunderson said.

Keep other food waste covered and in the middle of the pile. Covering the bin could also help.

Up to 50% of recyclables in a household can be in the form of yard and kitchen waste. It has been illegal to throw yard waste in the garbage in Minnesota since 1992.

“Backyard composting is easy and it’s free,” Gunderson said. “It saves you money, and it’s a great way to use items (that are now going in the garbage).”

This photo shows the layering that goes into a compost pile. The finished compost ends up at the bottom. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency / Flickr

The Jelly Twinkels Manor:

A 120-YEAR-OLD PERHAM TREASURE

Kelly Winkels and James Tuman originally bought a 120-year-old Perham home together in 2022, and since then, they’ve been renovating it and making it their own

BY ELIZABETH VIERKANT

Spring Home

If you’ve ever driven through the residential neighborhoods of Perham, you may have gone past a sign that reads: “Jelly Twinkels Manor.” Many have asked the family inside if they’re turning the building into a nursing home, but that couldn’t be further from the case. It’s their family house — named after its two owners: James Tuman and Kelly Winkels. Just put their two names together, and you get “Jelly Twinkels.”

“About two weeks ago, I locked my keys in my car right before work, of course,” Tuman said. “So I called the tow guy and was like, ‘Hey, I’m over at (this address).’ And he goes, ‘Oh? The Jelly Twinkels Manor?’”

Tuman and Winkels — who will be married this June — originally purchased the home in February 2022, and since then, they’ve been making it entirely their own. Originally built in 1904, the home has quite the history behind it. Frank Brabec, a medical professional, was taking a train to Montana

Kelly Winkels combined her and James Tuman’s names to give their house a name: The Jelly Twinkels Manor. Contributed / James Tuman

James Tuman (left) and Kelly Winkels (right) live in the home together along with their six kids. Perham Focus file photo

The dining room of the home features a lot of dark wood, most of

Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

to become a senator’s doctor. That train, however, broke down in Perham.

Instead of finding a different way to get to Montana, Brabec decided to build a home in Perham and start his practice there, which is the home where Tuman and Winkels live today. Down in their basement, you can still see remnants of his medical practice. Tiles on the floor depict children’s games from the 1930s, and old medicine cabinets are still built into the walls.

Though many historical details still remain throughout the home, Winkels and Tuman have gone through the effort of making it their own. In the basement — what used to be Brabec’s office lobby — is now an eclectically decorated speak-easy, complete with an original exposed brick wall. This renovation alone took them several months to complete, and you can tell by how meticulously everything is decorated.

Tuman and Winkels aren’t the type

The living room features two yellow vintage couches, likely from the 1950s, that Kelly Winkels found at a thrift store in Wadena for just a bit over $100. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

The bright colors Winkels loves so much can be found all throughout the home, even in the kitchen which features a green wall and fun pink wallpaper. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

to go with the typical modern style of blacks and whites and sleek, sharp lines. Winkels in particular has a very distinct style, loving to incorporate different colors and patterns and many different decorations to create a cozy, maximalist environment. The downstairs speak-easy — named “Frank’s Lobby” after the doctor who built their beloved home — features different rugs and chairs, deep dark woods, warm colors and fairy lights hung around the walls to add to a mysterious and dark environment.

The most impressive part of this basement bar, however, is the bar itself. After they bought the home, Winkels and Tuman found what appeared to be an old headrest or some other type of wooden furniture in the attic. Winkels took this item herself and combined it with the house’s original front door to build a fun table where anyone can sit and enjoy a drink.

Creating this impressive space, however, wasn’t without its dangers. The basement’s old ceiling likely hadn’t been replaced since the 1960s or ‘70s, meaning it was very waterdamaged and likely had asbestos. So, Winkels decided to refurbish it.

“Kelly had a vision, and she ripped down all of the ceiling by hand,” Tuman remembered. “She actually got kind of

Winkels hand painted all of the golden stars found on the wall surrounding the staircase. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

This stairway was one of the first big projects Winkels tackled when they moved into the home, each step is decorated and the walls painted with gold stars. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

injured doing it. She was standing on that chair, and she was pulling out pieces of the ceiling. And she ended up tripping over. She fell over, and she hit her leg on the backrest of the chair. She thought that she broke her leg. She called me; she couldn’t move. We brought her in, and still to this day — she didn’t break her leg — if you look at her leg, you can actually see a dent.”

An injury like that never stops Winkels though; she’s quite the DIYer. Though Brabec’s medical practice was located downstairs, he lived on the upper floors, which is where the rest of the family home is found.

First is the kitchen, decorated with bright green colors and a quirky pink wallpaper — very much Winkels’s eclectic style

Light from the outside streams into the dark-wood upstairs bathroom, decorated with a hanging plant and nature-themed curtains. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

Winkels pays attention to the small details and even decorated the inside of her closet with fun vintage-designed wallpaper. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

— the space feels vintage and fun. The cabinets each have a splash of color, with floral knobs she found at a thrift store in Twin Harbors.

She even decorated the attached staircase, styling the steps with vintage paper and painting the walls a bright pink with shiny, golden stars.

To the side, the dining and living room feature dark wooden panels original to the home. The original doorbell and some light fixtures remain on display, paying homage to the original house design.

“My mom would probably rather die than replace the original stuff,” Winkels’s daughter, Amelia Hill, joked.

The living room is decorated with yellow vintage couches — likely from the 1950s or 1960s — that Tuman and Winkels found for about $150 in a Wadena thrift store. Up another set of stairs — once again painted by Winkels herself — the surrounding windows are covered in a colorful design, giving them the appearance of stained glass without the extra price tag. Walk past a cozy reading nook nestled in one of the corners, and once you reach the upper level, the bedrooms are proudly on display.

I hope that someday, somehow, that houses like this become popular and trendy again.

- James Tuman

“

While each of the six kids who live with Tuman and Winkels have their own distinct style, Winkels and her DIY spirit can be found in each space with unique light fixtures — such as one featuring a sailboat.

Winkels’s own bedroom is where her personal style really shines. Floral and nature patterns can be found on the large area rug and billowy curtains. The same star motifs painted

Winkels has a very distinct style, as shown through the bright colors and floral but vintage designs found throughout her home. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

Winkels created the bar in their basement, built out of an old piece of furniture in the attic and the home’s original front door. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

in the stairwell are featured on the bedspread and framed painting. She even decorated her closet with vintage-themed wallpaper, loving a mix of patterns and all things fun.

“I hope that someday, somehow, that houses like this become popular and trendy again,” Tuman said. “Because the modern gray and black is popular now … (Winkels) just loves it. It’s something that she likes to put her time and her money and her resources and creativity into, and she likes to express herself. (It’s nice to) live in it every day and walk around and appreciate it. It makes her happy.”

So, next time you drive past the Jelly Twinkels Manor, know that it’s not just any regular old house. Every corner is filled with personality, all DIYed by the owners themselves. SH

The biggest project of their home has likely been the basement, which they revamped and turned into a speak-easy bar, complete with an exposed brick wall. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

Even the handles found on the kitchen cabinets are vintage — purchased by the family when they were at a thrift store in Twin Harbors. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

WHAT’SFORSALEINLAKESREGION?

WHAT’SFORSALEINLAKESREGION?

TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

TWOLOCATIONSTOSERVEYOU

TWOLOCATIONSTOSERVEYOU DETROITLAKES,MNVERGAS,MN