Isthmus Abode : Spring 2015

CAROLYN FATH

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CAROLYN FATH

MADE IN THE SHADE The Madison Canopy Project is giving away free trees py cover, and reached out to property owners of parcels with less than 15% tree cover. “We were basically cold-calling people and saying, ‘Hey, do you want a tree?’” Slocum says.

They decided it would be easier and more effective to target entire neighborhoods for the free trees. To select the neighborhoods, they looked at median income, average home value and percent of residents below the poverty line, along with canopy cover.

“There is a close tie between income and canopy cover. More wealthy areas have more trees,” says Patricia Lindquist Chakravorty, associate director with the Alliance.

The funds to provide these free trees come from a matching grant from the DNR, a few local sponsors and the proceeds of the organization’s fee-for-service work.

The Alliance provides a site visit for each tree it plants. Staff will evaluate the parcel and discuss options with the property owner for the best location and which tree would be best for the space. “The goal is to plant a tree that’s going to be there for as long as possible and grow to a large size,” Slocum says.

MANY OF THE NEARLY TWO DOZEN species the group plants are names you probably haven’t heard of: Chinquapin oak, musclewood, American larch, sour gum.

Introducing people to these lesser-known species and to the value of species diversity are goals of the project. “If you look at the urban forest as a whole, there’s a relatively small number of species that are overplanted. For instance, maples make up approximately 30% of Madison’s urban forest,” says Chakravorty. Another heavily planted tree is ash. “Then when you have pests and diseases like the emerald ash borer coming through suddenly, you have thousands upon thousands of trees all dying at once,” Chakravorty says.

The group planted 200 trees last year and hopes to plant more than 300 more this year.

Some of these will be on city or communityowned property.

When residents discovered the program, they also asked if they could plant them in neighborhood parks, so the Alliance began partnering with the parks department, Chakravorty says.

There’s also a “citizen forester” program for neighborhood residents to care for these trees in their vulnerable early years. “Every tree we’re putting in is adopted by a volunteer who’s committed to watering it for two years, which is a really big commitment,” Chakravorty says.

The Alliance also offers classes on pruning and other aspects of tree care for volunteers who want to hone their skills.

Volunteers are welcome to help with park plantings in May; upcoming events including classes are listed at urbantreealliance.org.

Residents of the following eligible neighborhoods in Madison and Fitchburg can request a free tree via the Urban Tree Alliance website or calling 608-556-5331: Allied Dunn’s Marsh, Berkley Oaks, Bram’s Addition, Burr Oaks, Capitol View, Carpenter-Ridgeway, Eken Park, Emerson East, Hawthorne, Jamestown, Leopold, Western Hills, Whitetail Ridge and Worthington Park.

If you’re not one of the lucky residents of those neighborhoods, but still want to get into the spirit of Arbor Day, don’t worry – the Urban Tree Alliance is happy to help you select and plant a tree. You’ll just need to pay for it. n

SPRING 2015 ISTHMUS ABODE

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE EAGER FOR the warmth of the sun, but in a couple of months we’ll be seeking the relief of shade under a mature tree. The Urban Tree Alliance wants to make sure the entire city has the benefit of a healthy urban forest, and if you live in one of 14 Madison neighborhoods, that group is hoping to plant one or two trees in your yard — for free.

The Madison-based nonprofit, which makes money from providing tree care services, started the Madison Canopy Project a year ago. Its goal is to “plant trees in areas that weren’t being served by the tree care industry and to grow the canopy on private property,” says Evan Slocum, founder and executive director of the Urban Tree Alliance. It’s not just about providing shade; it’s about increasing the many benefits that trees provide: air purification, stormwater reduction, reduced heating bills and carbon dioxide absorption, Slocum notes.

Eighty to 90% of trees are located on private property, so urban forestry is shifting its focus there, Slocum says. The Alliance used remote sensing data to measure Madison’s forest cano-

BY J U L I A C EC H VA L A

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ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2015

Lemon Basiltini

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PAULIUS MUSTEIKIS

GARDEN-FRESH SIPPERS Make cocktails from locally grown ingredients W H E N I M OV E D B AC K TO M A D I son seven years ago, the cultural feature that most enchanted me was the locally grown food movement. How could I not have been enchanted? I spent nearly two decades in New York, where my only private green space was a fire escape adorned with a few flower pots. But Madison also rocks a thriving local food scene. And in my desire to go native (in that respect, at least), I rented a plot in our neighborhood community garden.

Seven years later, my urban gardening skills are still, well, a work in progress.

I often forget to weed. I’m lazy about watering. Without organic pest control, much of my summer garden typically ends up being devoured by insects. At the same time, I’m often frustrated by the challenge of using all of my abundant garden produce. One year, I grew so much zucchini that, even after baking a dozen loaves of zucchini bread, I had to give most of it away. I left one rather hefty squash on my neighbor’s car. (She somehow didn’t notice it, and ended up driving around all day with a zucchini on her windshield.)

But one thing I have learned over the years is that not all of my surplus food needs to be eaten. By anyone.

Some of it can instead be sipped, in the form of a locally grown, homemade liqueur, cocktail mixer or tincture.

Don’t let the word tincture fool you: I’m no master mixologist. Some of my neighbors may think I am. But that’s only because I mix them drinks, in exchange for help with things like bike repair and snowplowing. In fact, I’ve just learned a lot from the Internet, and from talking with local bartenders.

And that means anyone interested in making better use of the garden surplus — or extra produce from the farmers’ market or a CSA — can spend the summer making fresh, locally grown ingredients for cocktails.

RHUBARB

Rhubarb is a hardy, tart perennial that is usually started from a small dormant plant called a crown. Most varieties grow edible stalks that will yield several pounds of fruit in late spring and early summer. But you’ll typically wait two years after planting before pulling edible stalks. According to my mom, you harvest the rhubarb by holding each stalk near its base and twisting it cleanly off the roots.

Rhubarb also grows seed stalks which — because it’s a perennial — must be cut down to ground level every year to keep the plant growing.

Rhubarb makes a great cocktail mixer for people who like fruity but slightly tart, drinks. Once you’ve harvested the rhubarb, trim the stalks and chop them into large (1- or 2-inch) pieces.

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Rhubarb syrup n 8

cups rhubarb cups filtered water n 1 1/2 cups agave nectar Put about 8 cups of the chopped rhubarb into a pot, covering it with water until it’s just covering the fruit (about 3 cups). Pour in agave nectar (add more if you prefer a sweeter mix. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let the pot simmer for an hour or two, until the rhubarb has the consistency of chunky applesauce. Cool the mixture fully, then strain it — with a jar strainer lid or mesh colander — into a storage container. Strain it several times, as needed, until all solids are removed. Yields 3-4 cups.

Use immediately, or store in refrigerator. n 3

Cocktail: The Rhubarb Flower

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1/2 ounces dry gin n 1 1/2 ounces rhubarb syrup n 3/4 ounces elderflower liqueur n juice of 1/2 lime n 1/8 teaspoon elderflower tonic n splash of soda water Pour all the ingredients into cocktail shaker (or Mason jar) with ice, and blend vigorously. Strain the frothy blend into a cocktail glass, and serve up.

BASIL

Unlike rhubarb, basil is a fairly tender annual. To grow basil from seed, you can start it indoors about 6-8 weeks before replanting it outside. To start from plants, it’s easy enough to buy them at the farmers’ market or a local greenhouse, and stick them in the ground. You can snip off leaves whenever needed, and cut off entire stems if you cut just above a pair of new leaves.

But the most important thing to know about basil is that whether you are using it or not, its flavor and yield depends on regular pruning of the flowers and seeds. When your basil plants grow flowers, cut them off.

Since basil is best used fresh, its leaves are often muddled into cocktails.

A longer lasting option, however, is to make a strong tincture.

Basil tincture n 4

ounces fresh basil leaves cups vodka Remove the basil leaves from the stems, and rinse well. Use a large spoon or rubber spatula to press the leaves into a jar, then pour in the vodka.

Place the jar in the refrigerator for several days, but agitate it daily. After a few days, remove the leaves and use, or store in the refrigerator. If the flavor is too strong for your personal taste, dilute the tincture with more vodka, or just use less of it in the cocktail. Yields 1-2 cups.

n 1-2

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Cocktail: Lemon Basiltini n 1

1/2 ounces vodka tablespoons honey n 1 teaspoon (or less) basil tincture n juice of 1 lemon n lemon bitters The basil tincture adds a fresh herbal essence to a classic lemony vodka drink.

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. I recommend dropping half a teaspoon of the tincture in first, to make sure it isn’t too strong, then adding as you taste. Do the same with the honey, if you wish. Stir the ingredients first to dissolve the honey, then add ice and shake. n 2-4

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T H E M I X E R R EC I P E S B E LOW A R E presented in roughly chronological order, from early rhubarb harvest in June to peak apple season in late September. Although I provide a few gardening tips here, I don’t grow all of these items myself.

My community plot doesn’t allow trees, for example, and I get rhubarb from my mom’s garden.

Nevertheless, all of this produce is available in Madison. Some of it — like the rhubarb and cherries — freezes well for later use. So if you have room in your freezer, don’t worry about buying too much! Finally, a note on measurements: I store most of my syrups and mixers in mason jars. Because of that, the mixers are measured in cups.

The cocktail recipes, however, are measured by jigger — that hourglass-shaped, stainless steel device that typically holds 1.5 ounces in the larger cup and 3/4 ounce in the smaller one.

BY E R I N C LU N E

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COCKTAILS CONTINUED

ê TART CHERRIES

Around the middle of July, I start buying up tart cherries, then pitting and freezing them. Given their abundance here, though, you can also buy them later, frozen or canned, in many stores.

Some sour cherry brandy recipes instruct that the pits are useful for fermentation, and to leave them in. But I find them easier to use without pits, especially when pressing the fruit for the drink we’ll be making.

Tart cherry liqueur n 4

cups Door County cherries cups Everclear or other neutral spirit n 1/2 cup sugar n 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Place fresh or thawed cherries in a large (8 cup) jar or container. Pour in a roughly equal volume of the spirit. Cover jar and let steep, at room temperature, for at least 2 weeks and preferably longer. The flavor only gets better with time. Pour off the cherryflavored spirit into another container, and store it in a refrigerator.

Next, shrub the macerated cherries by placing the fruit into a colander, setting the colander over a bowl, and sprinkling it with sugar. After a few days, press any additional juice out of cherries, then blend a tablespoon or two of vinegar into the juice.

Combine this sweetened cherry vinegar shrub (about a cup) with the refrigerated cherry-flavored spirit. Dilute with water until liquor is about 80 proof. (Do not drink without diluting.)

Yields 3-4 cups. n 4

The Celestial Sphere

PAULIUS MUSTEIKIS

Muddled mint n 10-12

mint leaves tablespoons sugar Muddling is not a hard science, but there are some guidelines. To muddle, take a handful of rinsed mint leaves and place them at the bottom of a short, sturdy glass. Pour in the sugar and gently press with a muddler (it looks like a tiny baseball bat) to release the oils. The key is not to shred the leaves or crush them, because then the flavor gets bitter.

n 2-4

Cocktail: Minty Mule n 1

1/2 ounces whiskey mint n juice of 1/2 lime n 4 ounces ginger ale or ginger beer The mule is a classic cocktail that typically doesn’t use mint. For those who prefer clear spirits, vodka can also be used instead of whiskey.

After muddling the sugar and mint, pour the lime and whiskey into the glass. Stir gently to blend. Fill the rest of the glass with ice and ginger ale.

The mint leaves should stay at the bottom, with the oils suffusing the drink. n muddled

APPLES

At the end of every summer, we always go apple picking. Any sweet local variety that’s good for eating — Empire, Cortland, Honeycrisp — is also good for drinking. The only problem with picking your own apples, of course, is that you often end up with too many. Did I say problem?

Enter the shrub.

Apple shrub

n 1

n 6

1/2 ounces tart cherry liqueur n 3/4 ounce grenadine n 3/4 ounce orange-flavored liqueur, like Cointreau n juice of 1/2 lime n small piece of fresh ginger n splash of soda water Mix the tart cherry liqueur with grenadine, orange liqueur and lime juice. (You can make the grenadine homemade by simmering 1 cup of pure pomegranate juice with 1/4 cup of sugar, then cooling and storing in the refrigerator.) Using a clean garlic press, squeeze some juice (to taste) from a fresh piece of ginger, and stir it into the mixture until fully blended. Add ice, and serve on the rocks with a splash of soda water. Or blend vigorously with ice in a cocktail shaker, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

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Mint is another cold-tolerant perennial that grows heartily here. Several varieties grow so well that if you don’t cut them back periodically, they will take over your garden. To prevent this, some people prefer to grow their mint in pots. In addition to using it in sauces and salads, you can also muddle it into cocktails (or lemonade) all summer long.

Cocktail: The Celestial Sphere

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MINT

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red apples cup sugar n 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar To shrub the apples, quarter them, remove cores, and grate into a colander. Place the colander over a bowl, sprinkle the sugar over the fruit, mix lightly, and cover. Leave the fruit overnight, then press the grated apples with a ladle or rubber spatula to extract any remaining juice.

When you have about 1 cup of liquid, mix in 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, then pour the shrub into a mason jar or another container.

Use immediately or store in refrigerator. n 2/3

Cocktail: El Castillo n 1

1/2 ounces tequila 1/2 ounces apple shrub n 3/4 ounce mescal (optional) n juice of 1 lime n 2 tablespoons agave nectar, or to taste n celery bitters Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and blend vigorously. If your cocktail isn’t sweet enough, add more agave nectar and shake again.

Strain into cocktail glass and serve.n n 1

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Getting a mortgage in the current Madison housing market I F YO U ’ V E B E E N T H I N K I N G O F B U Ying a home, you may want to act sooner rather than later. The cost of mortgages is expected to rise. The Madison-area housing market is also seeing some change — in some neighborhoods properties are going fast. But it’s a misconception that a hot housing market, such as the Madison area, makes it easier to get a mortgage. That has nothing to do with it. Your financing instead depends on the relationship with your lender, and doing your homework together before househunting.

“Interest rates really have been at historical lows now for several years,” says Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Madison-based Wisconsin Bankers Association. “I think that window is going to start to close now.”

Oswald Poels says the Federal Reserve is giving signs that it might raise rates in the second half of this year. “Now, that’s not going to be an immediate increase overnight, but if you are close to deciding or have just decided to buy that first house, I’d strongly encourage you to make your move now, meaning in the next six- or seven-month window of time.”

Already, the National Association of Realtors reports that, according to Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), the average commitment rate for a 30year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose from 3.67% to 3.71% in February, the first monthly increase since September 2014.

Buyers may find that getting a mortgage is a little different these days. “It’s relative.

It depends,” says Jamie Hoppe, mortgage

lending sales manager at UW Credit Union. “I don’t know if I want to use the word ‘harder,’ but the regulations and the qualifications are a little bit more stringent now than they were back in the early- to mid-2000s, when there was very little regulation and few rules at all,” he says.

Even today, “You really want to be careful who you talk to,” notes Oswald Poels. “Be sure you’re doing business with a reputable institution that’s been around a while, and you know has a physical presence here in the area. I always encourage people to shop around to more than one institution. In Dane County there are many good institutions to choose from.”

ME ANWHILE , THE HOUSING MARKE T in Madison “looks good — if you can find a property,” says Hoppe. ‘It’s really an inventory thing. We’ve seen [instances] where there have been 10 offers or more for a particular property that’s been on the market just a relatively short period of time.”

According to the Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes in the Midwest were up 4.9% compared to a year ago during February, the most recent month for which figures are available. Figures for January were the same as in 2014. Meanwhile, housing prices in the region were up 8.8% from a year ago.

The overall economy complicates matters.

The association released a study in March that showed a widening disparity between rent and income growth in metro areas throughout the country. In short, it’s getting harder for renters to become homeowners.

BY JAY R AT H

“I think in Wisconsin, and locally as well, we’re seeing that property values have stabilized,” says Hoppe. “I know at least in Madison, we’ve seen properties that took quite a hit — like condominiums — come back pretty strongly. It’s pretty competitive out there when you’re looking for a home now.”

So Hoppe recommends that buyers entering the market be prepared by speaking to a lender, figuring out how much they can afford to borrow for a home and know what mortgage amount they qualify for.

Too often, people leave financing until last, Hoppe says. “That’s very common, actually. There are many people who do just get excited. Of course! It’s your first home. So they go out to all the home shows and open houses and all of that, and forget about talking to a lender. And sometimes they then get disappointed if they are looking at homes that are outside of their price range.”

“Take your time,” adds Hoppe. “Do it methodically. A lot of people look at rates and think they have to run out and buy something now, without really spending the time and energy to research longer-term things: Where you want to live, and what are the property values, and are you buying for investment or are you going to actually live there?”

Take time choosing a lender as well, says Oswald Poels. Financial institutions “are advisers to consumers. And so you really want to develop a close relationship with a lender, so that they get to know you better and you get more comfortable with them as well.” n

IT’S NOT JUST FOR RENTERS Landlords seek help at the Tenant Resource Center too ing regulations. The confusion comes from changes to state statutes in recent years.

“I think landlords aren’t educated about the new laws, [just] as much as tenants aren’t educated about the new laws,” says Brenda Konkel, the center’s longtime executive director. “So the most important thing if people have a problem — landlord or tenant, really — is to call us and find out what the new laws are.”

And she means it when she says that the center is meant to be as much a resource for

landlords as well as their lease-holders.

“It’s funny, because in Madison everyone thinks we’re more tenant-oriented, but in the rest of the state we teach sometimes hundreds of owners a year tenant-landlord law.”

T H E RO OT S O F T H E T E N A N T R Esource Center go back to 1969. “There was a Madison tenant union and a student tenant union,” says Konkel, a former Dist. 2 alder.

“They did strikes and tenant organizing and

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ACCO R D I N G TO T H E C I T Y O F M A D I son, more than half of us in the capital rent our housing. And sometimes we run into problems.

That’s when we turn to the Tenant Resource Center, a local nonprofit that offers a wealth of information, programs and services to both renters and landlords.

These days, more than ever, the center is finding that people just don’t know what’s allowed or required when it comes to hous-

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Home Cooking

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TENANT RESOURCE CENTER CONTINUED things like that. Their missions grew and changed, and they began to do different things.”

In 1980 the two unions merged to become the Tenant Resource Center, with an emphasis on “resource.” It operates in three locations: the Dane County Job Center, 1819 Aberg Ave., on the University of WisconsinMadison campus at 333 East Campus Mall, and at its headquarters, 1202 Williamson St. And then there’s its website, which offers information on rights and laws; housing availability, including subsidized housing; and dozens of digital brochures.

“These days we do a whole bunch of programs,” says Konkel. “Probably the primary thing we do is a whole lot of housing counseling. We answer questions for tenants or landlords.” Landlords account for about 10% of the center’s counseling annually. “We

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answer questions about anything they have a question about,” Konkel continues. “Evictions, security deposits, breaking a lease, repairs. Those are our top issues. But then we answer everything else, too, such as questions about bedbugs or whatever kinds of problems a person might have.”

The group’s Housing Help Desk, sited at the job center on Aberg, helps people find housing or figure out what kind of programs they might be eligible for. “We have been spending more and more time on helping people find housing, because there’s such a low vacancy rate here in Madison,” says Konkel.

On Tuesdays the center offers mediation at small claims court, to help tenants and landlords either work out payment plans or determine workable move-out dates.

And the center teaches seminars all over

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the state. “Our theory is if you teach a landlord how to do things right, we’ll have fewer tenants complaining,” says Konkel, laughing.

“That’s been our philosophy for a long time.

That’s why we do the mediations, too, so that we try and work out something that’s a mutual agreement between the two parties instead of having animosity and conflict.”

There have been many changes to state rental law the last few years, some of which preempt city law. Not only did that make it harder for tenants trying to find housing, it made it easier for them to be evicted, says Konkel. Landlords also are not required to return as much of a security deposit.

This has contributed to a climate where “landlords tend to think they can do anything,” says Konkel.

The center outlines these changes on its website.

But, Konkel advises, “tenants should know they still have protections in lots of different areas. They’re just not as strong as they used to be.”

The center helps around 15,000 people a year. It has a toll-free number for those living outside of Dane County, and receives calls from all over the state.

If you encounter a problem, visit its extensive website first; but anyone with a housing question may walk in, email or leave a phone message with the center’s call-back service. (The volume of calls makes this system easiest for both clients and staff.)

The Tenant Resource Center is funded by the city of Madison and Dane County.

Contributions are also accepted. Volunteers are welcome. For more information visit tenantresourcecenter.org or call 608-257-0006 within Dane County. n

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PLAYING WITH FIRE

ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2015

Outdoor hearths are four-season improvements to your yard BY M I C H A E L P O P K E

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WHEN REMINGTON LANE AND HER friends graduated from Sun Prairie High School last spring, they had a homework-burning party in the Lanes’ backyard — one of many celebrations that have taken place around the permanent fire pit Denise Lane had professionally installed two summers ago.

As part of a $7,000 project, which included a new stone deck and a retaining wall that provides additional seating, the fire pit is a welcome addition to the family’s backyard and is used on a weekly basis.

“A friend of mine had a get-together after work, and everybody there loved her patio and fire pit. That’s where I got the idea,” Lane says, admitting that she initially experienced sticker shock regarding the cost. “It took me a year to talk myself into it, but now I’m so glad I did.”

Many Madison-area residents are talking themselves into fire pits these days, despite design and installation prices that typically begin at a few thousand dollars and — with the inclusion of a patio and a retaining wall — can approach $10,000, $15,000 or even more. “The economy has improved, and people have a little more discretionary income now,” says Dave Loecher, landscape supply manager at Circle B in DeForest. “You can get up to $20,000 very quickly.”

Landscape contractor Karl Norland went on 15 residential appointments one recent week in April, and 10 of them included conversations about fire pits. “In the past, people wanted water features, such as ponds or waterfalls,” says the owner of Norland Landscape in Waunakee.

“But those involve a lot of maintenance. Fire pits are all about nostalgia — going camping and being around a campfire, sharing conversations with family and friends.”

This trend has been building for years, says Darrin Braun, a landscape specialist at County Materials Corporation, a landscape and construction products supplier with locations throughout Wisconsin, including two in Madison. “During the recession, people stayed home more and enhanced their homes to give them more value,” he says.

Options abound for homeowners wanting to add some literal spark to their outdoor living experience. From DIY kits to elaborate landscape packages, and from wood-burning styles to gasburning options, fire pits represent one of the latest developments in the backyard evolution.

“It’s all about backyard enhancement these days,” says Jeremy Goodwin, manager of United Brick & Fireplace’s retail store on Madison’s west side. “When I was growing up, we had a rusty 55-gallon barrel. That was our fire pit.”

Looking to upgrade from a rusty barrel or that portable four-legged fire pit from a big box store? Here’s a checklist.

Where to begin?

Because a fire pit is not as traditional an amenity as a deck or a patio, it’s not surprising that some homeowners don’t know where to turn for initial guidance about installing one. Do you call a fireplace company? A materials supply firm? A landscape and design specialist?

Turns out any of those professionals can help, but depending on the type and extent of the project, you may end up being referred to someone else.

The most common fire pit involves the placement of a steel fire ring or a circle of fire bricks (5 feet in diameter is typical) on a flat surface and then reinforced with glued stones or bricks. Concrete is not fire-resistant, so that ring is a critical element of any circular fire pit.

A concrete cap around the pit’s perimeter adds decorative value and enhances safety.

Such fire pits can be designed and built from scratch by professionals, but they also are available as less expensive user-friendly kits intended for installation by homeowners.

Materials come stacked on pallets in the order they’re to be installed, says Jim Collar, a landscape architect with Barnes Inc. in Madison. “As long as you have the time and the patience — and the back strength — to do it, you can,” he says.

Be careful, though. This is fire you’re talking about, and sometimes it’s better to have a professional involved from the beginning, even if that adds to the cost. “I never say the homeowner can’t do something on his own,” Braun says. “But as a company, we suggest hiring a professional who follows industry standards.”

Preparation can be tricky and involves ensuring proper compaction, drainage and space allocation. Even a professional mason like Pete Fass, who never built a fire pit until he installed one in his own backyard for his daughter’s 16th

NORLAND LANDSCAPE

birthday party three years ago, cautions against the DIY approach. “I just did it by the seat of my pants,” Fass laughs, adding that even though he enjoys the fire pit on a nearly year-round basis, he doesn’t want to build another one.

Although wood-burning fire pits are far more popular in Dane County, gas-powered fire pits and fire tables provide alternative design options that hide the propane tank and extinguish easily with the turn of a knob. They often feature lava rocks or fire glass and can create an entirely different and more decorative backyard environment.

What about local fire codes?

Anyone adding a fire pit must ensure it complies with local burning ordinances, which vary from municipality to municipality. Those regulations can be obtained by placing a quick call to the fire department or city, village or town hall.

Despite the differences in ordinances, common requirements include installing the fire pit a designated number of feet away from homes, decks, tree branches and other foliage. In some cases, municipalities also mandate that a removable screen be used to cover the pit at all times.

Additionally, be aware that some neighborhood covenants include burning restrictions that might be stricter than local government regulations. “If people want a fire feature in their backyards, they will look at the rules and work within those rules,” Braun says. “If they have to, they will compromise. There are adjustments that need to be made, and that’s typical of any project — not just a fire pit.”

Spring 2015

HOME & GARDEN CALENDAR Time to tidy the yard, mulch, plant trees.

Evan Slocum (left) of the Urban Tree Alliance and Adityarup Chakravorty, a volunteer, plant a Kentucky coffee tree in the Bram’s Addition neighborhood as part of the Madison Canopy Project.

STUNNING AND SUSTAINABLE GARDENS WALK: Lower-maintenance garden alternatives for sun and shade. July 13, 6:30-8 p.m. $15/$12.

PERENNIAL COMBINATIONS FOR SUNNY PLACES WALK: Best perennial plant combinations for sunny places. Sept. 3, 6-7:30 p.m. $15/$12.

A GARDEN STROLL WITH DR. DEATH: Brian Hudelson (aka Dr. Death) will discuss common plant diseases. July 15, 6:30-8 p.m. $15/$12.

A HEALTHY LAWN FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY: Risks of lawn care pesticides and natural and organic ways to maintain a lawn. Sept. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $15/$12.

FLOWER ARRANGING WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND HOW TO GROW THEM: Native plants to include in your landscape for cut flowers and foliage. July 19, 1:30-3 p.m. $15/$12.

Other classes, workshops, and sales

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES: Grasses and grass relatives that offer dynamic texture, color and interest in the garden, taught by Mark Dwyer of Rotary Gardens. July 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $15/$12.

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Won’t a fire pit get boring?

Olbrich Garden classes require pre-registration, usually by a week before the class starts.

Call 608-246-4550 to register. Costs are nonmember/member.

HYDRANGEAS AND SUMMER FLOWERING SHRUBS WALK: Learn to use these beauties in your home landscape. July 30, 6:30-8 p.m. $15/$12.

ORNAMENTAL CONTAINER GARDENS WORKSHOP: Jeff Epping on how to plant containers. May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $82/$66.

SUPER EASY FOOD PRESERVING: Preserve high-quality produce throughout the harvest season. Megan Cain will discuss the easiest and quickest ways to put food away using your basement, refrigerator, and freezer — no canning involved. Aug. 20, 6:308:30 p.m. $40/$32.

ROSE GARDEN FOR EVERY SEASON: Learn about hardy, disease-resistant shrub and climbing rose varieties. June 2, 6:30-8 p.m. $15/$12.

DESIGNING A CULINARY HERB GARDEN: Inspiration, guidelines and information needed to transform a random collection of herb plants into a well-designed garden. June 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $38/$30.

HERBAL TEA SCOOP, FROM THE GARDEN TO THE TEACUP: Growing an herbal tea garden.

June 11, 6-8:30 p.m., $47/$38.

FROM THE HERB GARDEN TO THE DINNER PLATE: Comprehensive herb-by-herb overview of how to choose, plant, grow and use the top 40 culinary herbs. June 14, 1:30-4:30 p.m. $47/$38.

ATWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD TREE WALK: Tips on tree identification, expanding your appreciation for trees. June 15, 6-8 p.m. $15/$12.

GARDEN DESIGN WALK: Walk through the outdoor gardens and learn how you can borrow design ideas from any garden space. June 22, 5-6:30 p.m. $15/$12.

AQUAPONICS FOR COLD WEATHER: Basics of aquaponics design, greenhouse design, fish selection and care, water quality, heating and where to find materials on the cheap. June 28, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $110.

DO-IT-YOURSELF PHOTOVOLTAICS (SOLAR ELECTRIC): Practical background information about solar panels, solar electricity and various photovoltaic systems. July 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $81/$65.

GARDEN DESIGN FOR PLANTAHOLICS WALK: Remodel your garden into a beautiful, functional space that will reflect your personality while showcasing all of your treasured plants. Aug. 25, 5-6:30 p.m. $15/$12.

MAXIMIZING FALL COLOR IN THE GARDEN: Colorful woody plants, perennials, grasses and other plants that will ensure a dynamic, colorful succession throughout the fall season. Aug. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $15/$12.

TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING WORKSHOP: Many trees and shrubs do not thrive, or even survive, due to poor planting techniques.

Tips on selecting the best plants to buy, how to prepare the root ball for planting, the correct way to dig and prepare the planting hole, and post-planting care procedures.

Sept. 1 (rain date Sept. 8), 6-7:30 p.m. $22/$18.

PLANTINGS FOR EXTENDED AUTUMN INTEREST: Mark Dwyer of Rotary Botanical Gardens will focus on a combination of the season’s latest blooming plants, superior fall color selections, and the incorporation of woody plants that offer significant interest late in the season. Sept. 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $15/$12.

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER’S SERIES: Project Home, 1922 S. Stoughton Rd., two-class sessions take place each month, and September’s class is a longer Saturday session.

May 12 & 19, 6 p.m.; June 9 & 16, 6 p.m.; June 9 & 16, 6 p.m.; July 14 & 21, 6 p.m.; Aug. 11 & 18, 6 p.m.; Sept. 8 & 15, 6 p.m.; Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m. Free. Register by calling 608-246-3737.

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER: UW Credit Union, 3500 University Ave., May 12, 6:30 p.m. Free.

HOMEBUYER WORKSHOP: Anchor Bank, 6501 Monona Dr., Monona. May 12, 6-8 p.m.

608-829-2270.

LEAF MULCH SALE (BAGGED): Olbrich Gardens, Fridays and Saturdays in May, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $6.50/bag.

COMPOST BIN AND RAIN BARREL SALE: From the city of Madison at Alliant Energy Center (Olin Avenue lot), May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

MADISON ANTIQUE SHOWCASE & SALE: Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, May 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and May 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7 + parking, admission good for both days. madisonantiqueshow.com.

PLANT SALE WITH THE PROS: Experts are on hand to give advice on plant selection and more. Olbrich Gardens, May 8, 11 am-5 p.m., and May 9, 9 am-3 p.m.

NATIVE PLANT SALE: UW-Arboretum Visitor Center, May 9, 9 am–2 p.m.

MADISON AREA BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION PARADE OF HOMES: Feastures homes at the Community of Bishops Bay, Kilkenny Farms, Westbridge, the Legend at Bergamont, Fox Point, and Windsor Gardens. June 3-28, Mon.-Fri. 4-8 p.m. and Sat-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $12/$6 (seniors and kids). maba.org/parade.

SPRING 2015 ISTHMUS ABODE

Denise Lane estimates she and her teenage children use their fire pit at least twice a week, especially in the spring, summer and fall.

With ample room for chairs and 10 outdoor lights surrounding the patio, the welcoming environment encourages social gatherings and chilling out in front of a warm fire. Sometimes, her son even pulls out his guitar and starts to strum.

Pete Fass finds himself using the fire pit and the 360 degrees of warmth it emits well into the winter months, as long as temperatures aren’t too cold. “It doesn’t throw off as much heat as you think,” he says. “But it’s like a magnet for the neighbors.”

The next step up from a fire pit is an outdoor fireplace, or even a complete outdoor kitchen with a grill, a pizza oven and other cooking amenities. Those are much more expensive options that nevertheless are becoming more popular with homeowners who have the available space and means.

“They’re literally bringing the inside out,” Braun says. “It’s an extension of the house.”

Like fire pits, outdoor fireplaces can be custom built, and they also come in kits. They’re assembled much the same way, too: stacked and glued, without the use of mortar.

Regardless of which fire feature you choose, this much is certain: You will be spending a lot more time relaxing in your own backyard. n

Olbrich Gardens Classes

GORGEOUS GRAVEL GARDENS WALK: How gravel gardens can easily be incorporated into home landscapes. July 29, 6:30-8 p.m. $15/$12.

COMPOSTING WORKSHOP: George Dreckmann on home composting tasks. Hawthorne Branch Library, 2707 E. Washington Ave., May 1, 10:30 a.m.

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