Home in the Country Spring 2018

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home c ou n t r y

A Sullivan County Democrat publication MARCH, 2018

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Real estate inventories dip as sales increase BY KEVIN KEARNEY

“We’re pretty busy. Things are selling.”

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or-sale inventory at various real estate agencies here is much lower than in previous years, mirroring a nationwide trend, though area brokers are optimistic that will change in the coming months. “There is a shortage of listings - low inventory. It’s been like that for several months,” said real estate agent Dawn Curreri of Eagle Valley Realtors in Narrowsburg. The reason for the low inventory, in part, is due to low interest rates, which are hovering at about four percent. Nationwide, the annual percentage change in inventory has been falling at a double-digit pace for the past nine months, according to the real estate website Zillow. One local real estate agency, White Lake-based Malek Properties, has seen its inventory in the recent past

Carol Malek Malek Properties, White Lake, on why inventory has dropped from 160 listings to 100. |

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In 2017, homes sales here increased by 2.2 percent with the end-of-year total accounting for 590 home purchases. Median prices rose from $128,000 to $135,000 accounting for a 5.5 percent increase from 2016.

dip from about 160 listings to about 100, said broker Carol Malek. She added, however, the firm has been averaging four to five closings a week. “We’re pretty busy. Things are selling,” she said, noting the majority of the agency’s clients are second-home buyers. The low-inventory issue stems back to at least 2017, when tight inventory fueled by a tight labor market and low interest rates propelled home values PLEASE SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 4H

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Recent Home Sales 2. MLS 46285 Cochecton Township Farmhouse

1. MLS 47419 Fallsburg Township Bungalow 3 BR / 1 BA Acres: 0.18 Sold For: $44,000 School Tax: $1,372 County Town & Village:

$1,455 Built: 1939 Listed By: Catskill Country Real Estate

5. MLS 47821 Thompson Township Ranch

3 BR / BA Acres: 24.00 Sold For: $61,800 School Tax: $2,110 Town & County: $2,187

3. MLS 46058 Freemont Township Farmhouse Built: 1890 Listed By: Paris Realty Associates

Built: 1965 Listed By: Rieber Realty

4 BR / 1 ½ BA Acres: 0.61 Sold For: $160,000 School Tax: $1,404 Town & County: $1,923

3 BR / 1 BA Acres: 1.05 Sold For: $74,900 School Tax: $ 858 Town & County: $1,506

Built: 1935 Listed By: Catskill Sales Associates

7. MLS 45835 Lumberland Township Contemporary

6. MLS 46870 Rockland Township Two-Story

3 BR / 2 BA Acres: 0.15 Sold For: $132,900 School Tax: $1,672 Town & County: $1,898

4. . MLS 47643 Liberty Township Two-Story American Four Square

Built: 1920 Listed By: Keller Williams Upstate Properties

4 BR / 2 ½ BA Acres: 4.40 Sold For: $261,000 School Tax: $3,402 Town & County: $4,001

3 BR / 1 ½ BA Acres: 0.21 Sold For: $92,500 School Tax: $2,036 Town & County: $1,229

Village Tax: $1,567 Built: 1920 Listed By: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Peters Realty

8. MLS 46064 Bethel Township Contemporary Built: 1988 Listed By: Diane C. Butler RE

4 BR / 3 BA Acres: 5.13 Sold For: $700,000 School Tax: $9,506 Town & County: $8,550

Built: 1990 Listed By: McKean Realty

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REAL ESTATE: Real estate market staying strong thanks to low interest rates, demand CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2H

to near record heights. The recent tax reform will put more money in the pocket of an average buyer, but will limit some housing-specific deductions, experts said. On the supply side, the market is starving for new homes, but it won't be easy for builders struggling with high and rising land, labor and lumber costs. Broker Bill Rieber of Rieber Realty Inc. in Monticello noted there has been very little substantial construction occurring in the area in the recent past. “What’s dried up is the sweet spot of (houses that sold for ) $180,000 to $220,000. There is still low-priced inventory,� he said. But he’s optimistic the market will pick up in part due to the creation of new amenities such as the casino and a water park in Monticello that will draw employees looking to rent or buy. “They are pretty good attractions,�

“What’s dried up is the sweet spot of (houses that sold for ) $180,000 to $220,000.� Bill Rieber Rieber Realty Inc., Monticello | Rieber said. While significant construction may have lagged, there has been an increase in vacant land, giving investors and others the opportunity to build, Curreri said. Curreri noted that in times such as these, when she’s experiencing low inventory, she will contact people who had expressed an earlier interest in selling their homes but then changed their minds. “I will reconnect with them to see if they will reconsider selling,� she said. Broker Karen Rieber of Rieber Realty Inc. added Sullivan County has an array of recreational opportuni-

ties, excellent schools and other attractions that will always bring potential buyers. “We’re always very busy,� she said. “I’ve shown houses on Christmas Eve.� Meanwhile, the lack of inventory, coupled with strong demand from home buyers, is one reason why home values across the country are reaching new peaks. The median U.S. home value rose 6.5 percent over the past year to $206,300, the highest it has ever been. Yet in Sullivan County, properties continue to be sold. In 2017, homes sales here increased by 2.2 percent with the end-of-year total accounting for 590 home purchases. Median prices rose from $128,000 to $135,000 accounting for a 5.5 percent increase from 2016. The median home value in Sullivan County is $124,800, which has increased 4.3 percent in the past year. The median price of homes currently listed is $165,000, while the median rent price is $1,300.

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This Is Your Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Own One Of The Most Beautiful Properties In Sullivan County! Beautiful Countryside Views, Open Pasture, Over 500' Of Road Frontage On Quiet Country Lane. Close To Bethel Woods Center For The Performing Arts And The Majestic Delaware River. Don't Let This One Slip Away!

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Hitting the nail on the ‘Head’

Local contractor saves homes

BY AUTUMN SCHANIL

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AUTUMN SCHANIL | DEMOCRAT

Local builder and contractor Robert 'Bob' Head is behind the repurposing of the Hortonville property and many others throughout Sullivan County.

ocal contractor and builder Robert ‘Bob’ Head of Head Enterprises, Inc. doesn’t consider himself a flipper, but more of a repurposer. A repurposer of homes that is. “Pretty much all the properties I work on, or have worked on, are in foreclosure,” explained Head, “sitting empty for years, if not decades. This home we’re in right now had been empty for 19 years,” he continued to explain as he took a look around the living room area of his latest project, a house situated on State Route 17B in Hortonville. Beginning in the mid 90s, Head has repurposed some 15 homes on his own. As a licensed plumber and electrician, Head completes most of the work in the house, while subbing out work like drywalling and spackling, but Head is behind the ultimate design elements that make the repurposed home what it is. Now with business partner Stephen Haufsk, who has also repurposed five on his own, they’ve renovated two hous-

es together and work alongside Diane Butler of Diane C Butler Real Estate to get the houses on the market while keeping them at an affordable price for new home buyers, families, and hopeful locals who want to stay in the area. “I work with a lot of first time home buyers, and I myself have kids that came back to this area, so I was interviewing contractors that had a similar idea as I had, to keep homes in a price range that is affordable for families and affordable for local people to have a quality home,” stated Butler. “Unfortunately some contractors just want to clean them up, make a lot of money and then go away. But there were a few local guys that were more about fixing them up, and maybe not making a huge profit, but making it so that people could stay in the area. Bob and his business partner were two of those guys that were looking to do just that, and that’s how we came about meeting each other. Both individually and together, they’ve been creating a lot

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here are two barn-style sliding doors in the house that were inspired by the cow who years and years ago was living in what is now the master bathroom.

of really great projects.” So instead of someone coming along and bulldozing these houses down, Head, Haufsk and a few other local contractors that are featured on Butler’s “Repurposed Projects” page on her realty website, are working to repurpose the

AUTUMN SCHANIL | DEMOCRAT

properties while adding volume to the market, and keep them on the town’s tax rolls. “It’s important to me to feel like I’m giving something back instead of just CONTINUED ON PAGE 8H

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The large quartz crystal and feldspar fireplace draws your eye in when walking through the front door of the property located in Hortonville. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY DIANE BUTLER

The quartz crystal and feldspar fireplace was in great shape thanks to the tarp on the roof, but plenty of work still needed to be done to clean it up and let it shine.

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MEGHAN MICHELLE CARACCI

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being in business and working for people, which you know I enjoyed that as well, but when I can take a house that’s going to be demolished and turn it around and put it back on the market, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling,� Head said with a chuckle, “and this is my community. I grew up on a farm just up the road from here, so I want to help make it a great place for people to be.� Head and his partner strive to keep everything local and costefficient, in this way they can keep an affordable selling cost. If they aren’t repurposing what’s found in the home or on the property, they source their supplies locally, from the local sawmills to the local lumbar yards. “In all the houses, there are pieces of what it once was. In one, Bob repurposed and re-installed an old, beautiful desk that was found in the hallway in the

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY DIANE BUTLER

This home that was in foreclosure in Yulan was acquired and repurposed recently as well.

home. In that same property, the original owner had said there was a baseball card in the house that was special to her son who had cancer,� Butler said with a smile, “and asked us to keep an eye out for it. Bob looked for and found that baseball card behind a mirror and he returned it before her son passed away. Most builders don’t do that.� “Every house that I go into, I try to listen to what the house is telling me,� Head added, “I try to get a read of it.� At the property in Hortonville, Head found some lumber underneath the porch outside that was in good enough condition that he revitalized it, stained it and used it for wood trimming throughout the house that is sleek yet reminiscent of barn wood. He also created closet and bathroom doors that resemble sliding barn doors. The inspiration? “The owner had a cow and it lived inside what is now the master bathroom,� said Head, as he and Butler began to laugh, “so the barn wood theme seemed like a neat way to go.� But the true shining star of the home is the fireplace which can be seen as soon as you walk in the front door. “When we finally climbed over the

Yoou’ll fall in love with this meticulously-rennovated streamfront farmhouse in a lovely setting overlooking Callicoon Creek. Classic Catskkills farmhouse, complete with the white picket fence and rocking chair front porch! 4 bedrrooms, 2 baths, a living room and a family room for nice separation of space and entertainingg. The updated kitchen has new gleaming oak floors, solid cherry cabinets, quartz countertops, and newer appliances. An open back deck overloooks the creek AND a covered back porch with water view is wonderful for al fresco dining in any weathher! Garden/woodshed. MLS #476 #47684 258’ of Delaware River frontage! This 3 BR, 2 bath P.O. Box 335 cedar-sided contemporary home sits on 2 level acres inn a 21 Lower Main St., Callicoon, NY 845-887-5640 park-like setting. Set high above the riverr, you’ll get www.fredarealty fredarealty.com com beautiful b tif l vie i ws off th the water t r and nd th the m mountains nt in from the large wraparound deck and covered porch. Inside, find a bluestone fireplace, a great room with high wooden ceilings, oak floors, and an open floor plan. Upstairs is a loft and a master bedroom suite. Located on a quiet paved country road, just a mile north of the picturesque and happening hamlet of Callicoon, NYY. Swim, fish, kayak, and bike to your heart’s content here---this is the epicenter of river living!

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AUTUMN SCHANIL | DEMOCRAT

The master bathroom has a walk-in closet, a double sink, and a beautiful glass shower.

Repurposed Projects is saving houses in Sullivan County which at one time had a life of their own, filled with families and memories, arguments and laughter, and ensuring that more memories can and will be made in the future. For listings of available houses such as the Kenoza Lake or Yulan properties, or more about the “Repurposed Projects” you can visit www.DianeButlerRealEstate.com. You can also contact Bob Head at headenterprises60@yahoo.com

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mounds of clothes and hoarder things that were in this place, we walked around the corner and said, wow, this is it,” Head explained. “I never expected to find a fireplace with quartz crystal and feldspar that covered nearly the whole wall. It was a shock but it’s that fireplace that inspired the design of the house.” According to Butler, the repurposed homes are usually priced anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000, meaning sometimes builders like Head and Haufsk don’t make a huge profit, but that’s why they do what they do.

AUTUMN SCHANIL | DEMOCRAT

Although this house is located on State Route 17B in Hortonville, you can barely notice as much of what you hear is the bubbling brook running behind it and the birds singing in the trees that surround it.

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space or write that novel you always wanted too. Equally important are the two bedrooms this home has, each with a full bathroom. The master bedroom features a stand up shower with glass doors and offers a nice view of the scenic outdoors. The bedroom is not only heated by the baseboard but it also has a gas-fed wood stove. Plenty of sunlight will act as a natural alarm clock to refresh the senses. The guest bedroom will be a home away from home for your guest as they come out to relax and enjoy what Cochecton has to offer. The home is only a few minutes drive from local galleries, museums and casual and fine dining. In the spring and summer months, one can enjoy the many fresh goods from local farmers markets or if one has a green thumb, can create their own vegetables outside in their garden for a true farm to table experience. Sit and view the pond, located in the back of the house, from the sofa or relax by benches surrounding it. Outside on the 15-acre property is a detached one car garage with plenty of storage space for all the outside tools or to start rebuilding that dream car you always wanted. This is truly a hidden gem in the Catskills that will refresh your being and make you fall in love with the outdoors.

Top Left: This cottage style home sits on 15 acres of mostly wooded property that features a perennial garden and a pond. Opposite top right: The spa like bathroom with clear shower walls is connected to the master bedroom with plenty of space for storage.

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Building a better community Local construction company has reputation for quality BY MATT SHORTALL

hen Vanessa and Will Reeves founded Reeves Mountain Construction back in 2016, they did not anticipate how much success they’d find in just two short years. They had already been working together since 2011 as independent contractors when they decided to start something bigger and build it from the ground up. Reeves Mountain Construction handles a wide variety of projects from floors, roofs, countertops, window installation, renovation, restoration, and much more. Ask anyone who has worked with the Reeves and you’ll hear the same thing: trustworthy professionals and quality workmanship. Whether you’re replacing a deck on the side of your house, installing a woodburning stove, or renovating your kitchen, satisfaction is assured. These two Narrowsburg natives met in high school. Will was in 10th grade and Vanessa was in 11th. All these years later they’re raising a family and are co-owners of a small business that employs seven others. Working mainly around Narrowsburg, Jeffersonville, Cochecton and Lake Huntington, the Reeves take pride in improving

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Reeves Construction helped renovate the exterior of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance building last year. Built in 1894, the Arlington Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

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They say not to mix family and business, but Vanessa (top) and Will Reeves (bottom) are two high school sweethearts who made it work. Over the past two years they’ve found great success in helping their community while being their own bosses. Providing the Best Quality & Service and Prices in the Area Since 1973 for 38 Years Commercial & Residential

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properties around their community. “These are not just clients for us, they are our neighbors,” said Vanessa “We just kind of jumped into it. People thought we were crazy,” she joked. “I thought I’d just work as a handyman,” says Will. “I like repairs, because it’s a challenge and everything is unique,” said Will. Vanessa said they started out by hanging advertisements on community bulletin boards in local shops and supermarkets. Yet their skill and professionalism spread by word of mouth, and business picked up quickly. “We joke that we don’t know where the billboard is,” said Vanessa. “We’ve been really fortunate.” Reeves Mountain Construction has taken on some unique projects in the past few years. They recently refaced the Tusten branch of the Western Sullivan Library, giving the building a beautiful facelift with new doors and other renovations. Last summer they were hired to CONTINUED ON PAGE 16H

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reside the Narrowsburg Inn. The summer before that they renovated the balcony porch on the Delaware Arts Alliance Building, which used to be the historic Arlington Hotel. They restored the handrailing and ceiling. “We take a lot of pride in being entrusted with these historic buildings and helping to restore them,” Vanessa said. Another great moment for them was restoring the historic Methodist Episcopal Church in Cochecton. Originally built in 1892, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This church was at the bottom of the hill where Vanessa lived in high school and less than 2 miles from both

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

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The Methodist Episcopal Church in Cochecton is less than a few miles from where Vanessa and WIll grew up. They were able to restore much of the building and even painted the steeple for free.

their homes growing up. Vanessa played softball on the field below it where she now coaches her twin daughters’ softball team. “The church is something I pass daily in my travels and it always makes me smile that it looks so beautiful and we were able to restore it.” Reeves donated the painting of the Church steeple while working on the roof because they had a lift that was generously donated by another local contractor, Chris Rodriguez of STJ Construction. “I also climbed up it to paint alongside the guys,” Vanessa said. “It was one of my first times working off scaffolding so high in the air and gave me a renewed respect for my husband and my crew.” They also worked with the church on the other projects through grants they obtained and matching money they raised. Reeves is in the process of fixing the bell tower structure to insure its safety in coming years. In addition to construction and building side of the business, Vanessa also does home management and housecleaning for second homeowners who aren’t always in the area. “One of our first clients was a pretty private person and she was looking for someone to look after her house,” Vanessa said. “The

next year some of her friends called us and were interested in the same service, so it just kind of grew from there.” Vanessa said the home-management service extends to those who travel or are away for longer periods of time, and need someone to maintain their properties. The home maintenance was particularly important this year after several nor’easters rolled through the area. “We ended up removing a lot of trees that were leaning against homes and sheds,”

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of their job is interacting with people and seeing the look on their faces when a project is complete. “That look of satisfaction when you know a client is happy - that definitely means something to us,� Vanessa said.

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Vanessa said. “We’ve got a larger client with several properties, so we had to go up there and survey what happened. While every day is different, Will and Vanessa both admit the best part

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HOME IN THE COUNTRY

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

MARCH, 2018

Preparing garden beds for spring and beyond

ardening enthusiasts may have been thinking about their landscape plans throughout the winter, eager to once again get their hands dirty with soil. Whether a home gardener is making preparations for edible crops or beautiful flowers, he or she must take time to make the soil amenable to planting. To establish hearty, durable plants, gardeners can focus on three main areas: addressing soil composition, cultivating and adding nutrients.

G

plant company Proven Winners, the most important step to developing good roots is preparing the soil. Take a sample of the soil and examine it to see what is present. If the soil is too full of clay, too sandy, too dense, or too loose, that can lead to problems where plants cannot grow in strong. Work with a garden center to add the right soil amendments to make a rich soil. This may include organic compost or manure, which will also add nutrients to the soil.

Soil composition

Cultivation

Many gardeners prefer growing a variety of plants in their gardens. Such an approach requires taking inventory of the type of soil in one’s garden and making the necessary modifications so that the types of vegetables, herbs, shrubs, or flowers that will be planted can grow in strongly. In fact, according to the

Cultivating the soil can involve different steps. Removal of weeds, errant rocks, roots, and other items will help prepare the soil. Mother Earth News suggests working on garden soil when the soil is damp but never wet; otherwise, garden soil can become messy and clumpy. Use a digging fork or shovel to lightly turn the soil when it’s

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Begin preparing garden bed soil early for new plants.

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mostly dry. Gentle tillings also can open up the soil to incorporate the nutritional amendments and relieve compaction that likely occurred from freezing temps and snow pressure. Tilling also helps with drainage and oxygen delivery to roots. The DIY Network suggests turning over soil at a depth of 12 inches to work the soil — about the length of a shovel spade. However, the resource Earth Easy says that existing garden beds have a complex soil ecosystem and simply topdressing with compost or manure can be enough preparation for planting. Gardeners can experiment with the methods that work best for their gardens.

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Nutrition Testing the pH and the levels of certain nutrients in the soil, namely nitrogen, phosphorous and potassi-

um, will give gardeners an idea of other soil additions that may be needed. Soils with a pH below 6.2 often can benefit from the addition of lime several weeks before planting. Soil tests will determine just how much fertilizer to add to the soil. Complete fertilizers will have equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Individual fertilizers can amend the soil with only these nutritional elements that are needed. Top-dressing empty beds with a layer of mulch or compost can prevent weed growth and preserve moisture until it is time to plant. If existing shrubs or plants are in garden beds, use more care so as not to disturb roots or dig too deeply. Preparing garden beds takes some effort initially, but can be well worth the work when plants flourish throughout the growing season.

HOME IN THE COUNTRY

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

MARCH, 2018

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SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

MARCH, 2018

Simple ways to avoid injury while gardening

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• Plant gardens in raised garden beds and containers to reduce the need to stoop down to tend to plants. Raised beds are easier on gardeners' backs and knees.

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• Wear long-sleeved shirts and durable pants to protect arms and legs from branches, thorns and insects.

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• Remove tripping hazards, such as roots, lumber, rocks, and loose gravel, from the yard at the start of gardening season.

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• Wear gloves to prevent blisters from forming and to protect hands from any chemical products used in the garden. Gloves also can keep hands clean, ensuring bacteria and fungi do not find their way into open cuts or scrapes.

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• Vary activities and take periodic breaks so prolonged repetitive motions do not contribute to soreness or injury.

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D

uring the winter, many people anxiously await the arrival of warm weather so they can get back outdoors. Gardening is one outdoor activity that attracts many a devotee. Although gardening can be a worthwhile and enjoyable hobby for people of all ages, like other activities, gardening carries certain safety risks, even though few people may give much thought to the risk of getting hurt when gardening. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that gardeners suffer thousands of injuries every year. Many of these injuries involve lawn and garden equipment or accessories used while tending to plants. From lawn mowers to pruners to manual garden tools, gardeners may handle various pieces of equipment that can make them susceptible to injury if they're not careful. To reduce their risk for injury, gardeners can follow these important safety precautions.

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American Electric, LLC QUALITY & PRIDE BACK IN AMERICA

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