Home & Garden by Iola Register

A special supplement to

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Chimney sweep is as lucky as lucky can be By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Though I spends me time in the ashes and smoke In this ‘ole wide world there’s no ‘appier bloke — “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” from “Mary Poppins” FREDONIA — Shelby Conner, owner of The Chimney Sweep in Fredonia, is ready for the Mary Poppins jokes. “I will not sing and dance for my customers, because I want to keep my customers,” he immediately responded. He does have a top hat, just for the laughs. But no tails. Yet. “With some of my customers, I show up and they say, ‘That was part of the experience I wanted,’” he said. “I do think it would be fun to dress like that, if there were kids there. But in Kansas, you cannot keep a top hat on.” His whole family gets in on the fun. For several years, they’d put together a float for the annual Fredonia Christmas parade. It featured a large faux brick chimney with a smoke machine and old-fashioned chimney sweep brushes. Everyone in his family took part in the fun. Spectators would shout lines from the “Mary Poppins” movie as they passed. When you’re with a sweep, you’re in glad company.

The Chimney Sweep is a family business of three generations. Don Sawyer, left, started the business in Oklahoma. In the 1990s, Deborah Conner and her son, Shelby, started the Fredonia business.

FAMILY has always been important to the enterprise. Shelby’s grandfather, Don Sawyer, started the business in the early 1970s in Ponca City, Okla., where he had been working on construction of a

EDITORS Susan Lynn and Tim Stauffer

STORIES AND PHOTOS Vickie Moss and Susan Lynn

dam. When that project ended, he decided he didn’t want to move on. He worked as a chimney sweep during the fall and winter, and offered lawn care services in the spring and summer.

The Chimney Sweep is now run by Shelby Conner and his wife, Jante.

Shelby was living in Fredonia in the early 1990s when his parents moved to the town. His mother, Deborah Conner, noticed there weren’t any chimney sweeps in the area. Both of Shelby’s parents had helped his grandfather with the business.

Deborah and Shelby decided to go into business together, and The Chimney Sweep legacy continued. Various relatives helped out over the years, but Deborah was instrumental in finding customers, scheduling and handling the administraSee SWEEP | Page 17

ADVERTISING & DESIGN TEAM Megan Hageman Violeta Rodriguez-Stauffer Kristi Kranker On the cover: Patrick Haire of Iola in his Humboldt garden.

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Gardening holds magic for Haire By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register

HUMBOLDT — There’s something about gardening that requires a special disposition. For starters, Mother Nature is in control; not you. Plants grow at their own pace; not yours. Though the soil may look good; it will ask for more, always more. And if for an instant you think you can relax, mayhem will break loose the minute you let your shoulders sigh. Patrick Haire accepts these things. He’s a happy student of horticulture; not to “best” it, but to show his appreciation of its bounteous possibilities. Haire’s garden is directly out the back door of the Neosho Valley Woodshop in downtown Humboldt, where Haire has his woodworking business. As a master craftsman, Haire said his garden is another outlet for his creativity. The garden’s harrowed rows weave a delightful design of curves and bends. “Every year the layout is totally different,” he said of its design. Two geodesic domes will serve as trellises for flowers such as morning glories and the graceful Cardinal climber as well as provide a place of respite from the elements. A city water tower to the west conveniently blocks the late afternoon sun, protecting both gardener and plants from the intense rays. “It automatically lowers the temperature by 10 degrees,” Haire said of the tower’s shade. See HAIRE | Page 21

Iolan Patrick Haire is shown next to one of his geodesic domes in his garden in Humboldt. The domes serve as trellises for flowers and vegetable vines, and inside, the 8-foot span provides a place of respite for a morning cup of coffee.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Welcome to the Humboldt Garden School By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

HUMBOLDT — Step into The Garden School, and it’s like stepping into a storybook. Bright, primary colors everywhere welcome visitors, along with colored rocks that say “hello” in multiple languages. Wide paths wind around boxes that will soon hold fruits, vegetables and flowers. Overhead, fence panel archways are ready to be wound with greenery and growth. Pollinator gardens, one appropriately shaped like a butterfly, will soon be abuzz. Follow along and a yellow brick road leads to the pizza garden, where tomatoes, herbs and onions will grow and eventually be used for pizzas baked in an on-site oven. Not far away, a little wood bridge crosses over a tiny stream to a small pond. In the center of the garden is a small cottage, as it is with all storybooks. Well, it’s actually a garden shed, filled with tiny watering cans, miniature wheelbarrows, and small rakes, shovels and hoes designed for children. An outdoor classroom will See HUMBOLDT | Page 10

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Diana Holmes is the new director for the Humboldt Garden School. She will work with area preschools for hands-on lessons about gardening.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Branch out with wildflowers and grasses By EMILY HALSTEAD K-State Research & Extension

MANHATTAN — Many Kansans are eager to start thinking about what plants and flowers to establish in their home gardens. K-State horticulture expert Ward Upham said it is better to choose a blend of grasses and wildflowers rather than a single species. Upham said there are a few companies that provide regional blends of wildflowers, including Sharp Brothers, Stock Seed and Wildseed Farms. He also mentioned the importance of taking care

of existing vegetation before seeding. “These plants do not take root and grow well in areas that already have established plants,” Upham said. Upham shared the following thoughts for increased chances of success: • Control perennial weeds by using a product containing glyphosate. • The goal is good seed/soil contact. • Glyphosate used in the fall before planting makes for easier soil preparation the following spring. • Adjust pH and fertilize according to results of a soil test

before planting. • Seedbed should be firm, allowing the boot heel to sink no more than ½ inch. • Seed can be mixed with damp sand (4:1 sand/seed) for more uniform coverage with a drop seeder or whirlybird spreader. • Keep seed moist while the seed is germinating. • Seed should be raked in about ¼ inch deep. It is best if the seedbed is firmed up by using a roller or driving over the area with a riding lawn mower. Don’t mulch. Planting dates may vary, but warm-season grasses and most prairie flowers should

be seeded between April 1 and May 15. “Make sure the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees before planting,” Upham said. “Soil thermometers are often available in garden centers, hardware stores and auto stores.” Upham said soil pH should be monitored when establishing wildflowers and native grasses. “Native grasses and many native wildflowers do well within a wide pH range,” Upham said. “Any pH between 5.5 and 8 should work.” Upham recommends hand weeding with care to avoid up-

rooting small prairie flowers and mowing as high as possible to help control fast growing weeds while preserving foliage on the prairie flower. Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week. Interested persons can also send their garden- and yardrelated questions to Upham at wupham@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Looking to redecorate? Start small By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register

Having a choice is good. But it’s helpful if the menu is limited. In today’s world of home décor, that’s not an option when considering new tile or flooring. Just thinking about the thousands of colors and styles can make your pulse quicken and you feel the need to sit down. Perfectly understandable. So, start small, suggests Angie Wray, owner of Decorator Supply. “If you’re starting from scratch, paint all the walls a neutral color and work your way down,” she said. “A light gray is a good neutral color, while browns can be more problematic. If you get a brown with just a hint of yellow or gold tint, it won’t go with anything. A light taupe can also work. People tend to

think gray is too cold of a color, but not if you get the right shade.” “If you’re moving into a finished home, however, start with the flooring while the house is bare of furniture. If you can get an idea of what you want on your floors, you can work your way up.” Wray also suggests living in a house awhile before making any big changes. “Every house is different. Maybe you’re in a colonialstyle house and you want to update it. Or you’re in a modern house and want to go country. It takes time to a make a home your own. “It’ll all work itself out with time,” she assured. “Once you start in one room, then you’ll know how to continue elsewhere.” NOW CELEBRATING its 50th anniversary, Decorator Supply continues to be a full-

Angie Wray of Decorator Supply shows an Italian style of tile that has features a weathered look.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Picking peppers By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

John Richards knows how to pick a pepper. Every year for the past decade — except for times of flood and COVID-19 — he’s grown 12 varieties of sweet peppers and 12 varieties of hot peppers as part of a test program for K-State Research & Extension. The study is to determine what types of peppers grow best in Southeast Kansas. On his part, Richards takes tender care of the plants, and keeps specific notes on how they’re grown. He pays attention to how often and how much water

he gives them. He notes what type of fertilizer he might use and how it’s applied (on the side). He’ll take note of any diseases, how they tolerate heat and drought, how big they get and, of course, how they taste. “There was one, a sweet pepper, and I said, ‘Don’t mess with this.’ It tasted like mowed grass,” he recalled. When the peppers are ready for the picking, he takes several to the Southwind Extension District office where they’re given them away. He doesn’t sell any of the peppers he grows. In fact, he gives them all away. Those that don’t go to the

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Saturday, April 16, 2022

Extension office will mostly end up with senior citizens who may not have access to freshly grown food. He gives the hot peppers to El Charro, a Mexican restaurant. He used to plant his peppers in a row, until an Amish farmer told him, “You don’t know how to plant peppers.” He learned to instead plant them in 24-inch by 24-inch blocks. “That way they shade each other. They support each other,” Richards said. “I’ve done that ever since.” RICHARDS lived in Oregon before moving to Iola See PEPPERS | Page 8

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Rising costs may require more strategic thinking By PAT MELGARES K-State Research & Extension

MANHATTAN — The recent increase in prices for many of Americans’ everyday expenses may motivate a return to simpler living, said Kansas State University family resource management specialist Elizabeth Kiss. “We need to think about all of our (current) expenses,” Kiss said, “and decide whether this is a good opportunity to get back to basics and identify our foundation. What is it that we absolutely have to spend our money on right now?” Kiss said all of us have fixed monthly costs, such as housing; and variable costs – such as food and fuel. “The variable costs are the ones in the short run that we can modify,” she said. “You can decrease your expenses, or you can increase your income — or a combination of both.” For those who choose to increase their income to make ends meet, Kiss said there are jobs available in the current labor market, “so if it’s to the point where you are thinking of taking on a part-time job – even for a short time – you have the opportunity to do that. But you still need to be working toward longer-term goals.” Kiss shared some ideas for decreasing costs: • Groceries With spring and summer approaching, there are greater opportunities to buy from farmer’s markets. “You can get what you want in the quantities you want so that you may have less food

purchases Kiss said anticipating a larger purchase may work in your favor. “If you’re anticipating you’re going to have to replace an appliance within the next 3-6 months, Increased prices may mean tak- now’s a good time to start ing a look at what’s important for doing the shopping part of each of us to spend money on. it,” she said. “Research the waste,” Kiss said. “If you prices, brands and models have any wasted food, that’s as they are today, so that if just money in the garbage I have to do it in a hurry, you can.” know how much you’re likeOther opportunities to ly to spend.” save include: Prices may increase or de• Buy products in bulk, crease in the time you’re doespecially non-perishable ing the research, Kiss said, items. “but the longer you have to • Use only as much laun- plan for that expenses, the dry detergent as required for better off you may be.” a load. Kiss said some homeown• Seek lower-cost substi- ers may also be able to save tutes for products you al- money by asking their inready are buying. surance agent for a review • Do it yourself of coverage. Save costs by taking on • Combine errands some home projects yourKiss suggests saving on self. Some jobs may not be gas by planning ahead to feasible — plumbing can be run several errands on the beyond a simple fix — “but same trip. She also suggests there are some things you driving the speed limit, uscan do,” Kiss said. “Cook ing cruise control and remore from scratch, for ex- ducing the use of air conample. This time of year, ditioning and other vehicle people turn to gardening, accessories. Keep the vehicle which can be an opportunity well-maintained, including to increase your access to keeping tires inflated approfresh vegetables, herbs and priately. fruits.” “We have so much abun• Avoid impulse buying dance in our country, so “Having a list is a very maybe this is a time that we good way to avoid impulse can think about what abunbuying at the grocery store,” dance means to each of us Kiss said. “With prices be- and what satisfies you vering what they are right now, sus going over the top,” Kiss many of us may not have said. much flexibility for impulse More information on purchases. You really do managing family finances have to focus on what your is available online. Several needs are. That’s not to say publications also are availwe can’t have some things able for free from the K-State we want, but plan for those.” Research and Extension Do the research on larger bookstore.

John Richards at the Community Garden.

Peppers

Continued from page 7

more than 10 years ago. He’d always wanted to become a Master Gardener, but didn’t get the chance in Oregon. After moving here, he learned of classes in Chanute in 2010. He’s been a Master Gardener ever since. The first year required 40 hours of community service, and 20 hours each year after that. “Most of that 20 hours is done here,” he said, motioning to the plots he works at the Iola Community Garden. In addition to his field trials, Richards teaches at SAFE BASE two days a week and takes care of the organization’s Children’s Garden. For the field trials, he started with tomatoes. Then, Krista Harding with the Southwind Extension District asked if he would like to try peppers. “I prefer working with peppers,” he said. “They’re easier to take care of. “Tomatoes have a tendency to vine. Peppers, you just get them in their little cubicle and they’re fine.” He doesn’t get to pick what peppers to work with. The Extension Service sends him six plants of each variety; he plants four and sets aside two so he’ll have a backup if things go wrong. And sometimes they do. In 2019, floods wiped out his

plants. In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn’t receive plants for the field trials. Last year, he wasn’t able to plant the peppers because of rain. He’s looking forward to returning to the field trials this year. In addition to peppers, he’s going to try tomatoes again. GARDEN FIELD trials serve an important purpose. They allow seed developers to understand what types of plants grow best in particular areas, in order to raise bountiful crops and provide a healthful food source. And just as Richard can’t control what types of peppers he gets to grow, he also doesn’t know what happens after he files his reports. In fact, the name of the plant probably got changed. “You might raise a specific kind but by the time it gets sold on the market, it has a completely different name,” he said. Sometimes, though, he can tell. For example, he raised a dark yellow hot pepper. Later, he recognized it in a seed catalog. “Oh yeah,” he thought. “That was a good one.” Growing peppers for the field trials is rewarding. “It makes me feel good knowing this is a pepper I tested and it was a good pepper. And now, it’s on the market.”

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

All tomatoes are not created equal By EMILY HALSTEAD K-State Research & Extension

MANHATTAN — Roma, cherry, heirloom…while those may be what come to mind when consumers think of tomatoes, K-State Research and Extension horticulture expert Ward Upham said the scientific classifications actually make them very different. Upham said most varieties available to home gardeners are indeterminate or semideterminate. The third group, determinate, is favored by commercial growers because it produces one large crop. “Indeterminate plants are traditional plants that never stop growing,” Upham said. “They are capable of producing fruit throughout the season un-

less disease stops production or until frost kills the plant.” Semi-determinate tomatoes are more compact than indeterminate but are capable of producing fruit throughout the season. “Gardeners with limited space will likely prefer indeterminate or semi-determinate types to stretch out the harvest season,” Upham said. “If there is space, you may want to grow a combination of all three, with the determinates used to produce a large harvest for canning or tomato juice, and the remainder for fresh eating.” Something for Kansas gardeners to keep in mind is that tomatoes are less likely to set fruit when night temperatures remain above 75 degrees and day temperatures

are above 95 degrees. Planting as soon as the weather is right could help lengthen the fruiting season. “Our hot Kansas summers often cause a dry spell in production in both types,” Upham said.

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Tomatoes can generally be planted in early to mid-May in Kansas or when the daytime temperatures are above 70 degrees and the state has passed the frost-free date.

Tomato Trials

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and the University of Missouri extension service plant and rate a number of tomato varieties each year. Upham said these trials give valuable information on varieties that will perform well in this region. The data from Missouri’s extension service showed that the top 10 varieties based on pounds of fruit harvested per plant are: • Anna Russian • Cherokee Purple • German Johnson • Beef Master • Early Girl • Big Boy • Brandywine Black • Jet Star • Celebrity • Big Beef Upham noted that the results of these trials vary by county.

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Humboldt Continued from page 4

use a blackboard on the north wall, offering lessons about gardening and the fruits and vegetables that will be grown there. It’s perfect for preschoolers, but adults can join in on the fun, too. THE NEW GARDEN School is the vision of Diana Holmes, a native of Ireland and former Californian who moved to Humboldt in June to be closer to family. Alana and Paul Cloutier, her daughter and son-in-law, moved to Humboldt several years ago and have become active in the community’s recent developments with A Bolder Humboldt. The community garden at 13th and Pecan streets began

more than a year ago, funded by a grant. It was originally built with more of a farming approach, and the vegetables grown there were used at the Noon restaurant or given away. When the first garden director moved, A Bolder Humboldt looked for someone to take over. Holmes agreed, but she envisioned something entirely different. HOLMES grew up in Ireland during times of conflict. Food was in short supply, so families needed to grow their own. Communities were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens, as in World War II. She remembers her father going into the fields to collect cow patties. He would put a seed potato in each one. “He grew the best potaSee SCHOOL | Page 11

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The Humboldt Garden School features space for outdoor learning, above. At right, Diana Holmes shows the pizza garden with its yellow brick road. Tomatoes, onions, herbs and other vegetables found on a pizza will grow there.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Bread baking

School

Continued from page 10

toes,” Holmes recalled. She wants to teach children about a more natural type of gardening, without pesticides or chemicals. Barrels will collect rainwater to help nourish the plants. She wants to teach them about the garden’s soil and its different types of nutrients. She’s already made a display box to illustrate the right mix: 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% potting mix. She’s excited to teach how to grow and nurture plants, and how to taste the difference between something fresh from the garden and that purchased in a grocery store. She hopes the pizza garden and eventually the pizza oven will show how easy it is to cook the food they grow. She’ll plant flowers next to the vegetables, as certain flowers are a natural deterrent for some types of pests. Her goal is for the kids to develop an appreciation for all critters, great and small. To be in awe of butterflies, and not be afraid of bees.

The Humboldt Garden School includes an outdoor classroom.

And she doesn’t want it to stop at children. She envisions the entire community to get involved. She plans to give away food grown here. She’s hoping to work with the Southwind Extension District to teach classes at the garden school.

Two pollinator gardens are featured at the Humboldt Garden School. It’s important to teach children about the value of bees, butterflies and other insects that are so important to growing food, trees and plants, Diana Holmes said.

She hopes the elderly will come and find peace there. She’s even thought about the disabled, creating enough space for a wheelchair to roll between the raised garden beds. True, it would be difficult to navigate through the mulch, but Holmes hopes someday she could add a more firm surface. The garden is fenced for safety, to keep young children from running into the road. She hopes it will keep some animals, like rabbits, out. But critters are just part of the growing process. “I wanted it to be a fun place to be,” she said. SHE STILL has even bigger plans. Eventually, Holmes wants to install solar panels to provide electricity to the site. The City of Humboldt has agreed to provide water. She envisions growing fruit trees on other parts of the lot. Maybe some bushes. She wants bird houses and

a bat house, as bats will kill the mosquitoes. Picnic tables will encourage families to come and enjoy a meal. “My main goal is to get the children away from the TV and into a connection with nature,” she said. “A lot of them don’t know where their food comes from. I want them to taste something they’ve never tried before. Food from the garden just tastes better.” And, most importantly: “I want them to grow up with great memories of being in the garden.”

The Humboldt Garden School rocks.

MANHATTAN — Nothing beats the smell of fresh baked bread, but what is it that gives different breads distinct tastes and smells? KSU food scientist Karen Blakeslee said though terms such as sponge and starter are used interchangeably, they are not the same. “A starter is a form of yeast,” Blakeslee said. “It is typically a combination of flour and water that is exposed to air to attract wild yeasts such as lactobacilli bacteria, to create fermentation.” “Many bakers have starters that have been active for years and passed on to future bakers,” she said. A sponge, on the other hand, is an extra step inwhich bakers combine yeast, flour and water to create a sponge that ferments from 30 minutes to several hours. After fermentation, the bread making process proceeds as usual. Longer fermentation gives bread stronger flavors. “A yeasty aroma and acidic flavors start to develop, adding more flavor to the finished bread,” Blakeslee said. Some bakers choose to do the extra step of making a sponge in order to add a slight sour and tangy flavor to the bread. “Not all sourdough bread tastes the same,” Blakeslee said. “This is due to the different microorganisms and how the dough is handled.” Time, temperature and other ingredients add to the complex development of flavor in bread.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Save Easter lilies and plant them outdoors

Decorate

Continued from page 6

service business. “We’ve always been able to offer installation, from start to finish,” Wray said. Wray has been with the store for 30 years, joining her parents, Wayne and Norma Jackson. “Mom’s retired, but Dad still comes in every day,” she said. Wayne, age 88, continues to view the store as the center of his world, though he no longer participates in business decisions. That said, Wayne continues to rule the roost during the lunch hour. “He’s eaten his sandwich for lunch every day in this store since it opened,” Wray said with a smile. “And when the weather is acceptable, he walks around the square. The outside of the square. Not the inside.” The well-known challenges posed by the pandemic continue to plague the industry, she said. “It’s still hard to get a carpenter,” she said. “Right now, we’re six months out for jobs requiring installing wood floors.” “But my customers, thank goodness, understand,” she said. The pandemic is also bringing production back stateside, she said. “Ninety percent of our products used to come from overseas. Shaw Flooring, Mannington Mills and National Flooring Products have all returned production to the United States, she said. Window treatments, flooring and tile continue to be the store’s best-sellers. For windows, the most popular treatments are wood blinds, the honeycomb cellular shades and the standard roller shades. “Today’s roller shades have

By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research & Extension

Angie Wray demonstrates how a window shade can be raised from the bottom to provide more coverage.

become a lot dressier with all of the fabric options,” she said. “There are hundreds of fabrics to choose from.” Wray has seen a preference for hardwood floors give way to vinyls and laminates. “Maybe it’s because hardwood floors cost more,” she said. “But they also require a massive amount of maintenance.” “Vinyl and the new wood laminates have taken over the market,” she said, estimating 85% of her orders are for those makes compared to solid woods. The new wood laminate

flooring is thicker, heavier and stronger. “Today, they are a half-inch thick. Before, you were lucky if they were a quarter inch to one-third inch thick.” Some brands are even waterproof. In Wray’s opinion, vinyl flooring is a close second to the wood laminate. “All vinyl is waterproof. And it’s comfortable to stand on. The only drawback is that heavy furniture can leave an imprint.” Of the hardwoods, those with a “rustic edge” are currently very popular, she said. See STYLE | Page 15

MANHATTAN — Wondering what to do with Easter lilies after the holiday? K-State Research and Extension horticulture expert Ward Upham suggests planting them outside. “Though lilies are not reliably hardy in Kansas, many gardeners have success if they follow a few simple rules,” Upham said. Upham’s tips for success include: Remove the flower stalk. The lily will use energy to produce seed from the stalk. To keep the lily flourishing, remove its stalk after the flowers have faded. Take care of the lily inside until frost has passed. Take care of it as usual. “Keep soil moist but never waterlogged,” Upham said. “Don’t allow water to sit in the tray. Continue to fertilize.” Move the pot outside when the weather is warmer. Upham said to sink the pot into the soil until up to its brim. Placing it in dappled shade will reduce the amount of watering required. Continue to water and fertilize the lily. After the top growth has died down, the lily is ready to be fully planted in the ground soil. Transplant the lily to a well-dug hole in a sunny location. After choosing a spot that receives enough sunlight, the key to a healthy lily is good drainage. “Till or dig the soil six inches deep and add three inches of peat moss,” Upham said. “Mix the soil and peat moss

Though lilies are not reliably hardy in Kansas, many gardeners have success if they follow a few simple rules, KState Research & Extension’s Ward Upham said.

together. This will form a berm that should drain very well.” Plant deep enough. Upham recommends planting the lily bulbs six inches deep and 12-18 inches apart. Water well and add mulch to conserve moisture. New growth may not appear until later in the summer, or the plant may stay dormant until the following spring, so remain patient. In the fall, cover the plant for winter. Straw, pine needles, wood chips, or other types of mulch can be spread over the lilies in order to protect it in the cold winter. “Use four inches of straw or three inches of any of the other materials,” Upham said. Once spring comes again, uncover the lily and begin care. Once the mulch has been uncovered from the lilies, new growth can emerge. Upham recommends performing a soil test in order to best fertilize your plants.

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Style

Continued from page 14

As for carpet, “it will always be in demand,” Wray said. Its production has remained stateside, where “Georgia is king,” Wray said. Because carpet “is too comfortable to pass up,” Wray said many are opting for area rugs. “They add a nice touch to a grouping of furniture pieces on a hardwood or tile floor,” she said. “Put one under a couch and it changes the whole feel to the room.” Solid colors are a thing of the past when it comes to wall-to-wall carpet. Homeowners appreciate how the flecks of complimenting colors help serve as camouflage to bits of food or dirt left behind.

Regarding kitchen and bathroom tile designs, the mosaics continue to be popular, Wray said. Glass tile also has had a strong resurgence, “especially in the satins,” which include softer color tints. “The retro colors are also coming back,” she said of the earth tone palette. “Even the ‘basics’ aren’t basic anymore,” she said Because tile lasts a lifetime, it’s a big decision. “You get it, you gotta live with it,” she said. “With tile, you can’t decide on a whim.” Wray’s expertise is invaluable in helping with decisions. “Tile makes all the difference to a kitchen or bathroom,” she said. “It sets the tone. I’ve got glass and slate tile on the backsplash in my kitchen. I never get tired of looking at it.

“When you’ve decided on your color palette, then the fun begins. “Tile is also nice in unexpected places, such as surrounding a fireplace or a front door.” While some new looks are tending to a more rustic style, “the marble tiles are getting a real designer look,” she said. “They are knock-out gorgeous.” For the do-it-yourselfers, Wray says “go for it. Tile is not hard to lay. It just takes a lot of time.” A bonus is that the newer styles of porcelain and ceramic tiles now come in larger sizes, making the work less laborious. “The 3-inch by 12inch and the 4-inch by 16-inch sizes are popular,” she said. As for cleaning glass tile, “Windex is your best friend,” affirms Wray.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Old furniture given new purpose

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Traci Plumlee looks for broken things. Old, worn, outdated and unwanted things. “I try not to paint things that are beautiful,” she said. She takes old pieces of furniture and turns them into something fresh and new. That might mean a simple coat of paint. It might mean tearing things apart and putting them back together in new ways. “I let it tell me what it wants to be.” Plumlee has always enjoyed antique furniture. She appreciates the care and craftsmanship from a past era. She likes to imagine the history, who might have owned a piece and how they used it. “Everything has a story.” She saw how others would refurbish old furniture. She admired the work featured in magazines, on television shows and on the internet. “It’s fun to think about reinventing something, making something new and giving it new life,” she said. “You’re taking a piece that’s kind of broken down and forgotten, and making it into something that’s

Traci Plumlee shows off two old oak office chairs she painted a robin’s egg blue, and a dresser she plans to paint to match. The veneer of the dresser is heavily scratched and peeling in places, so she’ll need to do some repair work on it first.

See FURNITURE | Page 18

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Sweep

Continued from page 2

tive side of things. She would often accompany Shelby to jobs as an assistant. Later, when she fell ill, Shelby’s wife, Jante, took over much of that work.

Deadheading gives plants new life MANHATTAN — It may feel a bit gloomy to pick off fading flowers from the yard’s plants. But Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said you’re actually setting plants up for success by pinching off spent flowers, a process called deadheading. “Some plants will bloom more profusely if the old, spent flowers are removed,” Upham said. “Annuals, especially, focus their energy on seed production to insure that the species survives. If you remove the old flowers, the energy normally used to produce seed is now available to produce more flowers.” Normally, gardeners can deadhead flowers by simply pinching them off with a thumb and finger, but some tougher stems may require scissors or pruning shears. Upham said some perennials also benefit from deadheading, which essentially extends the blooming season by encouraging an additional burst of flowers. But in the case of peren-

nials, he said, “some gardeners actually enjoy the look of spent flowers, such as sedum or purple coneflower. And the seed produced can be a good food source for birds.” Some of the plants that increase blooms in response to deadheading include: Hard geraniums Coreopsis Petunias Marigolds Snapdragons Begonias Roses Campanulas Blanket flowers Delphiniums Zinnias Sweet peas Salvia Scabiosa Annual heliotrope Geraniums (Pelargonium) Yarrow Other plants that do not need to be deadheaded include sedum (Autumn Joy), melampodium, impatiens, most flowering vines, Lythrum, periwinkle (Catharanthus) and wishbone flower (Torenia).

HOW OFTEN you need to have your chimney swept depends on how often you use it, Shelby said. “I often tell my customers they need to burn at least three ricks of firewood before it needs cleaned,” he said. Some customers use their fireplaces only on weekends or special occasions. In those cases, a chimney may need to be inspected or cleaned every three or four years. Others, especially those who use a wood furnace as a heat source, should have their system inspected and cleaned annually. “When you burn wood, the smoke includes unburnt wood particulars that build up and create soot in the chimney and the flue. If you don’t get that brushed out, it leaves combustible material and that is what causes flue fires,” Shelby said. “That’s why it’s so important.” Shelby begins with an inspection. He looks inside the fire box to make sure the damper is open. If the chimney needs to be cleaned, he will tape a tarp around the fire box, from the inside of the house. Often, a resident will cover up their furniture and collectibles. That’s not necessary, he and Jante tell them. “Our goal is that you shouldn’t be able to tell we’ve been there other than your fireplace is clean,” Jante said. “It’s a clean sweep.” It’s better for business that way, Shelby noted. “If I make things dirty inside, I’m going to be there lon-

ger.” IT IS a dirty business, though. Shelby prefers to use modern sweeping tools, not the old-fashioned kind you see in the movies. One tool uses strands that resemble heavy-duty weedeater twine. He’ll hook that to a long rod that runs from the rooftop to the bottom of the flue. It spins and scrapes the soot and material along the clay tile, brick or pipe, knocking material onto the tarp at the bottom. “I’ll run that up and down several times.” He’ll also inspect the cap, crown and flue itself. Inside, he’ll pull out the tarps, vacuum the soot and ash, and clean the inside of the box behind the damper assembly — “that’s where most of the material falls.”

IF YOU buy a home that has a fireplace, it’s a good idea to have it inspected by a chimney sweep, Shelby said. Not all home inspectors are the same when it comes to chimneys, he said, and there aren’t as many building codes regarding fireplaces as you might assume, he said. Also, some inspectors may request the services of a chimney sweep. But there’s also no reason to be scared of having a woodburning fireplace, he said. A chimney sweep can identify problems and suggest possible solutions, or answer questions that ease a homeowner’s mind. For example, he’s encountered many new homeowners who were intimidated by a gas line running into the fireplace. “Once you assess how that line is coming in there and educate them how to use it, that gas line is a very good friend.” TECHNOLOGY has made

a lot of useful changes in the chimney sweep industry, Shelby and Jante noted. Shelby attends seminars and educational classes to stay up on the latest advancements. Even if a fireplace has some cracks or damage, often a liner can be installed that allows for safe, continued use. Wood-burning furnaces have become much more efficient. Some can be installed into a fireplace. Some will burn the material left in the smoke, a “secondary burn,” so that material is not emitted into the atmosphere. “The technology is amazing. You get a lot more hours of heat while burning a lot less wood,” Shelby said. Some units are so efficient, they don’t need to be cleaned as often. But maintenance is still important. “You cannot burn wood without producing smoke,” Shelby said. Another use for new technology surprised Shelby: drones. Yes, a drone has become a useful tool for the chimney sweep. “I never dreamed I’d have to take classes by the Federal Aviation Administration,” Shelby said with a laugh. Particularly for two-story houses, a drone can allow Shelby to do much of his inspection from the ground. The weather doesn’t always cooperate, but it’s nice to sometimes avoid making so many trips up and down a ladder.

SO MAYBE the top hat and tails aren’t very practical for the modern chimney sweep, but does Shelby still use those old-fashioned brushes like the ones Dick Van Dyke’s character carried? “I still have them,” he acknowledged. “But it’s on a rare occasion that I pull out. They’re just not very effective.”

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Furniture Continued from page 16

loved again. There’s joy in that.” About two years ago, she took a beginning furniture painting class by Angie Rourk at Clock Tower Mercantile on the square. “I was kind of overwhelmed by all of the products and the brushes, and not knowing where to start,” Plumlee said. “It was a basic class that taught basic techniques. She explained the different paints and techniques, and it made me less scared to try.” She soon discovered a new hobby that fulfilled her creative side. “I don’t draw or paint or create in that way, but I like to look at a piece of furniture and envision what color might be pretty on it.” One of her favorite projects is to take an old bed frame — especially one with pretty spindles — and build it into a bench. She also does the same for old doors. She likes to turn them into an entryway bench with hooks to hang

your hat or coat. She’s not much of a builder, so she leaves the construction aspects to her husband, Brian. She comes up with the ideas, gets a little help from Brian, and then paints and finishes the project herself. “It’s something we can do together,” she said. ONCE PLUMLEE started to create these unique pieces, she had to figure out what to do with them. She opened a booth at Clock Tower Mercantile, where she sells her refurbished furniture along with other items she finds. Sometimes, she’ll use a piece in her house for awhile. When she gets bored with it or finds something she likes better, she’ll take it to the Mercantile. It’s a way to make her own 115-year-old house feel fresh and new. “That’s what makes it cool, because you’re constantly changing things,” she said. She and Brian enjoy working on home-improvement projects together, See RENEWED | Page 19

Traci Plumlee rubs the scratched veneer of the dresser she plans to paint blue and white.

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Renewed

Continued from page 18

and taught themselves how to do things such as lay tile or refinish hardwood floors. Refurbishing furniture fits right in. “It was a way to do things on a budget. There’s a sense of pride in figuring out how to do it yourself, and then stepping back and looking at the finished product.” She also finds a sense of peace when working on her projects. “I tell people it’s my therapy,” she said with a laugh. “It’s fun to create something. And then to see someone else get so excited to put it in their home and make it part of their life.” THERE’S ALWAYS a cost.

Paint and supplies can be expensive, and sometimes even old, broken antiques can

cost quite a bit. Plumlee tries to break even or make a small profit on her pieces. So far, she’s been able to afford her hobby. It helps friends and family are always giving her things. Her garage is filled to the brim with various bits and pieces of furniture. A garden shed in the backyard has more old furniture than gardening supplies. Her wrap-around front porch is filled with pieces, including three church pews. In fact, she’s kind of reached the limit on what she can add. She has so many projects to work on, but she can’t resist when a particular piece catches her eye. “It’s kind of a sickness, but it’s a fun sickness,” she said, laughing. She can’t count the number of projects she’s finished. She has a special affinity for clawfoot bathtubs and church pews. She has three clawfoot

Saturday, April 16, 2022 tubs in her yard: one was cut in half to use as a bench, one is a fountain and one is a planter. She has brought home nine church pews in the past year. Most were repainted and sold, but she still has a few. “Sometimes I’ll go and visit a piece,” she said, like the church pew she sold to a pizza shop in Ottawa. She recently went there to eat, just so she could see the pew. One of her favorite projects — which was also a learning experience — involved a very large 1970s dresser with 14 drawers, side shelves, brass pull knobs and a large mirror. She painted it black. When she took it to the Mercantile to sell, she displayed it as a bar with empty liquor bottles and glasses. But the person who bought it decided instead to use it as a dressing table in a bathroom. She recently sold an old liSee HOBBY | Page 20

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

The science behind charcuterie

Tips, tricks and science behind everyone’s favorite party tray By EMILY HALSTEAD KSU Research & Extension

MANHATTAN — A party tray with a funny name has gained popularity recently, leaving many wondering what exactly they are, and how in the world do you pronounce it? Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says the foods commonly included on charcuterie boards are safe to eat, as long as you stick to the true meaning of the word. “The word charcuterie is French for cured meat,” Blakeslee said. “These flavorful meats are dry cured, so they are safe without refrigeration or freezing.” And by the way, the pronunciation: Webster’s dictionary lists it as “shar-coo-tree.” Chefs today have many cured meats to choose from

Hobby

Continued from page 19

brary card catalog to a college professor. During this interview, she was in the process of painting two heavy oak office chairs a robin’s egg blue color. The bottom legs of the chairs had water damage, so they weren’t quite as valuable or interesting in their current condition. But with a little bit of repair work and a few coats of paint, they became beautiful again. She’s going to pair the chairs with a dresser she

to pair with cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruits for the full charcuterie board experience. While the cured meats need not be refrigerated or frozen, food safety is still important when crafting a charcuterie board. “Since these foods are ready-to-eat and not heated, handwashing is especially important,” Blakeslee said. “Rinse fresh fruit in cold running water, and if preparing the board ahead of serving time keep the fruit and cheese refrigerated.” Dry cured meats are a mix of science and art, where salt, meat chemistry, temperature and environment are combined to create unique flavors. Blakeslee said water activity is crucial to creating shelf stable meat. “The water activity — or the amount of water available within the food that can

found in Bonner Springs. She’ll paint most of it white, with highlights of that same robin’s egg blue. The veneer is quite scratched and peeling in some places. She’ll ask Brian to replace part of the veneer, then sand what she can. It’s better to keep the veneer, because the wood underneath is usually a lower quality. Most everything she works on has some sort of damage. If a piece isn’t damaged, she’ll keep or resell it without painting it. Yes, she realizes painting antique furniture can decrease its value. Some people

Foods associated with charcuterie boards are safe to eat if you follow common food safety steps, says K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee.

allow the growth of microorganisms — is affected by the moisture content, salt content and environmental temperature,” she said. By reducing the water activity, microorganism growth is inhibited. Another way flavor is added to cured meats is by adding

starter cultures to dried sausages. This decreases the pH, or acidity, and adds a tangy flavor. Blakeslee said a few popular meat choices for a delicious charcuterie board are dry-cured ham, country ham, and prosciutto. Local meat business own-

ers interested in learning how to cure meats can contact K-State’s Value Added Services and Programs, located in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, for information on how to comply with USDA regulations and other consulting and technical services.

get very upset when antiques are painted. That’s why she’s very selective in what she paints. She doesn’t paint things that don’t need it. But since most are damaged, they aren’t very valuable or useful to begin with. Her favorite projects are the ones that require minimal paint. For example, she pointed to a buffet in her home that featured tiger oak drawers but the top was heavily damaged. She repaired and painted the damaged frame, but kept the drawers in their original condition. “I really like that sort of

two-tone effect,” she said. “They’re easy and fast, and you get to keep more of the original.” She looks online for ideas, especially Pinterest. That’s where she found a great use for an old Singer sewing machine cabinet she recently picked up. She saw a Pinterest post where someone had built a new frame as a cabinet to hold three small drawers with an intricate design. Each drawer was painted a different color: white, blue and green. All three colors are very trendy, but Plumlee said she never would have thought to com-

bine them in that way. The sewing machine cabinet by itself isn’t very valuable, she said. And there are a lot of them on the market. So she’ll piece it out, finding several new uses. In addition to the drawer project, she expects she’ll take the original cast-iron frame and put a new top on it to create a side table. “It’s very fulfilling to take a piece that could have been thrown in the landfill, and I saved it and made it beautiful. And now it’s going to be in someone’s home and they’re going to love it. It’s really satisfying.”

Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Haire

Continued from page 3

shade. Haire is a dutiful gardener, knowing his plants and flowers respond to every weed pulled or drink they receive from a garden hose. His garden is also a jealous mistress. “If you ignore your garden for two weeks, forget it. The grass and weeds will have taken over.” Haire regards gardening as “an enjoyable addiction.” Because his garden is only steps away from his woodshop, he frequently breaks away to tend to it. “It’s hard to keep away,” he admitted. Weeding, or “cultivating” as Haire prefers to say, is a

necessary chore. “Even in the most creative endeavors, there are necessary tasks,” he said. “There’s no getting out of it.” Even so, it’s Haire’s perspective of gardening that makes such chores appear less burdensome. “I don’t necessarily grow things because I need to fill a larder over the winter. I grow just enough to have a cornucopia of food for as long as possible.” “This isn’t a production garden. It’s a kitchen garden, where there’s a little bit of everything. There’s always something coming up,” he said. Haire is not only generous with his time and labor but also with ensuring the garden is amply fed — as in watered. “You must remember your

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Patrick Haire shows an ear of corn from last year’s garden. He grinds the corn for cornmeal.

basic botany. A tomato is 97% water. You can’t skimp. You just can’t wait for it to rain. “This is my hobby. How much do some people pay for their hobbies? I figure a higher water bill in July and August is a small price to pay for something that brings me such joy. “How do you quantify this kind of satisfaction?” HAIRE began his garden in earnest in early March when it was first plowed, then tilled and then fertilized. By mid-March, onions and new potatoes were in the ground. “March 15 is the magic day for planting early crops,”

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he said. “Any later, and the weather will get too hot for them.” A week or two later, greens such as spinach, broccoli, kale and lettuce were planted. “I have a Tuscany mix of lettuce,” that are strong of structure, yet sweet tasting. “If everything goes well, for about five weeks I’ll have the most nutritious salads on the planet.” To the north he plans to have three rows heirloom corn. An 8-foot-tall trellis will be for beans, peas and climbing cucumbers. Armenian cucumbers are also on the list. Two rows of Romanian sunflowers will dance around a geodesic dome. Elsewhere

will be watermelon radishes, another mix of lettuce, arugula, Swiss chard, cauliflower and tomatoes. “I limit myself to 10 tomato plants because they produce so much,” he said. Ornamental gourds for birdhouses will be a new addition this year. As always, there will be flowers. Lots of flowers. The only vegetable Haire “preserves” is corn. By that, he keeps the ears in a basket and grinds it into cornmeal for baking. “I’ll get a year’s worth of cornmeal from this garden.” To grind the corn he affixes the grinder to the line shaft See DOMES | Page 22

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Home + Garden | Spring 2022

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Domes

Continued from page 21

system in his woodshop. “I can grind 2 gallons of cornmeal in about 10 minutes,” he boasts of its efficacy. “Six ears of corn make 1 gallon of cornmeal.” Raising vegetables is a satisfying pastime. “I get a lot of pleasure out of eating what I grow,” he said. “And I’m a maker of things, so this is also just a process of creative making.” As for the geodesic domes, Haire, age 70, said he’s been building one size or another “for about 50 years.” The domes are complicated structures, Haire said, “consisting of 95 struts, nine different angles, and seven of them have a different angle on each end which has to go in a certain direction.” What makes his garden

domes even more challenging to build is that they are elliptical. “You take a sphere and then you stretch so that it makes less of a footprint.” This way, the domes expand a small garden’s reach, Haire explains. A row of peas grown on the dome, for example, amounts to a 25-foot row. The structures are 8 feet across. In the center of one dome, he has mustard greens growing. In the other, he’s left last year’s vines intact over which he will grow more flowers. “It’s my hideaway,” he says with a wink. Haire refers to the spot as an “urban garden” by the fact that it’s surrounded by commercial buildings in what otherwise would be wasted space. Haire credits the garden’s downtown location for its fertile soil. The massive two-story

building built in 1866 has housed various enterprises. On the top floor was the Odd Fellows Hall that frequently held communal dinners. Downstairs was a mercantile and butcher shop. The discovery of horseshoes leads him to believe a blacksmith was once on site. An outhouse, naturally, was positioned on the grounds. “History has provided a lot of micronutrients for this plot, he said. “I have tubs of artifacts from digging out here.” “This is the most fertile piece of ground I’ve ever worked,” he said. Rummaging around in the dirt, he pulls out a 3-inch square nail, fashioned by hand. Haire regards gardening as “magic.” “I still feel that childlike wonder by seeing things grow. It’s always a miracle.”

Patrick Haire trimmed the stalks of his towering sunflowers so that other flowers and plants could grow in their shade. “I’m somewhat of an unorthodox gardener,” he said. “I read and study and learn about plants all year round, but when it comes to designing a garden, I throw the book out. That’s my time to get creative.”

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Saturday, April 16, 2022

New report aims to guide community health efforts By PAT MELGARES K-State Research & Extension

10 tips for planting trees By PAT MELGARES tered and in the shade until K-State Research & Extension planting. When moving the

MANHATTAN — Home gardeners wanting to add shade to their landscape should plan to do a little research in order to pick the right tree for their particular yard, said Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham. “Choose trees that are adapted to your location,” he said. “Consider whether the tree produces nuisance fruit, or if there are diseaseresistant varieties available. And consider the mature size of the tree to make sure you have enough room.” Upham shared 10 rules for planting trees in a home landscape, including: • Select the right tree for the site. K-State has a list of trees recommended for Kansas available online. • Keep the tree well wa-

tree, lift it by the root ball or pot — not by the trunk. • Before planting, remove all wires, labels, cords or anything else tied to the plant. Plant the tree on solid ground, not in fill dirt. • Dig a hole deep enough so that the tree sits slightly above nursery level. The width should be three times the width of the root ball. • Remove all containers from the root ball, including plastic and peat pots. Roll burlap and wire baskets back into the hole, cutting as much of the excess as possible. • Backfill the hole with soil that was removed. Make sure the soil is loosened, without clods or clumps. • Don’t cut back branches of the tree after planting except those that are rubbing or damaged.

• Water the tree thoroughly, then once a week for the first season if there is insufficient rainfall. • Place mulch 2-4 inches deep around the tree, and cover an area 2-3 times the diameter of the root ball. • Stake only when necessary; trees will establish more quickly and grow faster if they are not staked. Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week. Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at wupham@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

MANHATTAN — The nationwide Cooperative Extension System is taking a long view of health in America’s communities. Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist in Kansas State University’s Department of Applied Human Sciences, said many of her colleagues from land-grant universities across the United States and several national health experts recently formed a task force to develop a framework for improving health and achieving health equity. Their report, Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well Being, is now available to view online. The project was supported by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, or ECOP. “One of the things we discovered is that not everything fits every community,” said Johannes, who noted extension has a long history of improving health and well being in communities across the country. “(Differences in communities) make up the health equity piece of the new national approach to extension’s role in health.” Johannes said many associate their community’s health only with the availability of health care agencies, medical providers, doctors, hospitals, clinics and similar services. “But when you consider the whole of our health — and the health and well being of our neighbors — health care comprises only about 20% of our overall health,” Johannes said.

“There’s a lot more that makes up our well being. Does the community have safe streets for walking? Does the community have water than we can drink? What’s the overall community air quality? And do we have access to grocery stores, and good jobs to make sure our family has access to food? Those are some of the indicators that make up at least half of our overall health and well being.” According to Johannes, the task force’s recommendations focus on three themes: Health equity, or a condition that exists when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as health as possible. Social determinants of health, or societal factors that influence the health of an individual. Coalitions and community health assets, or developing partnerships to expand the reach of existing programs. While the nation’s extension service has traditionally supported community health with local programs, Johannes said the task force’s work provides a foundation for Kansas State University and other land-grant universities to strategically fill its role in community health. In Kansas, she added, a “cookie cutter” approach to health likely won’t work. “But stories of innovations that improve everyone’s health, from Gove County to Crawford County or Riley County, may give people an idea that they can try in their own community,” Johannes said. She said those stories will be shared each month through a regular community health feature on the weekly radio program, Sound Living, which is produced by K-State Research and Extension.

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