Marketing Supplement to The Spokesman-Review
Thursday, November 22, 2012
.
Special Holiday Edition
Craving more Down to Earth in your diet? We hope this special Thanksgivingsized issue of Down to Earth Northwest fills you up nicely! Think about Down to Earth as a healthysized portion of the latest sustainable news and opinions. What are some of the local, national and global challenges? Who are some of the voices and what makes them so passionate? What projects hope to make life healthier or more sustainable? What’s holding back the progress? What’s special about the Spokane Coeur d’Alene area green efforts? Please use this Thanksgiving Day section as a tasty appetizer to learn about Down to Earth. You’ll find the environmental news from The Spokesman-Review and other regional media; commentary on state, national and global issues, including places you can share your
thoughts or ask questions; an extensive calendar of sustainable-themed events in Washington and Idaho; ways to win prizes all year long; and local blogs and columns.
Ready to dig in? Here’s how to get started: • Down To Earth – the roots of Down To Earth NW were planted five years ago, when college students and sports bloggers Bart Mihailovich and Paul Dillon began an environmental-themed blog. Though Bart was hired as the Spokane Riverkeeper in 2010, Paul continues to author the blog. Visit www.downtoearthnw.com/blogs/down-earth/ • Owners of Kindle electronic reading devices can sign up for regular posts from the Down to Earth blog. A monthly subscription is 99 cents from the Amazon Kindle Store Library. (Search for “Down to Earth Spokane”). • Twitter users can get headlines, interesting links and projects @DTE_spokane. • Like the official Down to Earth Northwest Facebook page. • KYRS Thin Air Radio presents Bart and Paul’s Down to Earth radio program at 12:30-1:15 p.m. Tuesdays on 92.3 and 88.1 FM in Spokane, or catch an archived podcast on the Down to Earth site at www.downtoearthnw.com/podcast/ or www.kyrs.org. • Email us your thoughts at info@downtoearthnw.com!
Backyard sanctuary offers refuge for all creatures - A true Mother Nature finds solace in her favorite room Story and photos by Courtney Dunham, Down to Earth NW Correspondent From that day on, Dunham said the bird As much as Kimberly Dunham attached herself to her. loves autumn, she hates closing A friend lent her a cage, and Dunham fed her the door to her home’s most every few hours. This went on for a few weeks, beautiful room – her back backyard. which, looking back, may have been too long. From June “She might have been ready, but I wasn’t,” tto September, she said. sshe leaves the One night when she opened Francis’ cage for d door open feeding, she flew out. “I kept saying, ‘How’s she – it’s great going to know what to do?’” she said. ffor her two In the morning heard a familiar squawk d dogs, and an outside. Francis was in the rain gutter, and e easy way to hopped into Dunham’s hand when she climbed e extend the up to retrieve her. living space in Dunham knew the bird needed a better home, her Spokane and found a wildlife rehabilitation center in Otis home. Orchards. “It’s my soft “I knew that I could only do so much, and that place to land this was a creature that deserved a real chance,” a and absolutely she said. “She didn’t deserve to be knocked out d dread when I of the tree. She trusted me to do right by her.” have to shut The experience inspired Dunham to consider tthe door,” she transforming her yard into a wildlife sanctuary. said. “I feel such a lack of space, like the world is closing in.” Dunham spends about three hours a “p “papas and mamas” who visit the porch day in her yard – a Washington State fo for bread. Wildlife Sanctuary – during summer. Her “This is my way of giving back for so much yard was the main reason she bought the jo joy that they’ve given me,” she said. house nearly 15 years ago. If the squirrels aren’t fed by a certain time, “I fell in love with the neighborhood, th they let her know, and race each other down and wanted a big backyard where my tre trees for peanuts. dogs would have plenty of space,” she The tradeoff of nurturing lives sometimes said. “I didn’t even really like the house in includes tragedy. Dunham became attached until I saw the yard.” to her first squirrel, Dew, and her baby Her desire to create a backyard C Clarisse. One day she watched Clarisse fall sanctuary began with a baby bird. One 30 feet from the nest. night several years ago, she was working “I was hysterical. It was terrible,” Dunham at a downtown Spokane restaurant and sa said. “Dew came down and picked her up bar when a drunk decided to shake a tree by the neck, and about 20 feet up, dropped Kimberly Dunham’s Spokane backyard has been designated as a where a family of birds was living, spilling att her,” she said. “I’ll never forget her tenacity Washington Wildlife Sanctuary, and provides year-round food and shelter trying to get back to the nest.” least one baby to the sidewalk. for a variety of animals including birds and squirrels. Knowing that Dunham has “a thing” for Since then, several “Dews” and babies have all creatures, one of the employees brought She now knows when birds are mating and come and gone, and although Dunham is the fallen baby bird to her. She couldn’t find when they warn each other that a hawk is always sad to see death, it’s all part of nature. the mother, so the bird, which she nicknamed coming. She can tell the difference between Dunham’s sanctuary also boasts dozens of Francis, went home in a to-go container. songs of a goldfinch, sparrow, robin or trees, and bushes. The bird initially refused food and water. hummingbird. She loves them all. “I’d love a bigger house, but I can’t imagine When it was time to go to work the next day, Her backyard includes a dozen birdhouses leaving all of my creatures now,” she said. “I Dunham wasn’t sure what to do with her, so she and birdbaths strategically placed to keep them appreciate everyone’s role here – even starlings placed Francis in a tree in her backyard, hoping away from predators and direct sunlight. and bugs – everyone has their role…. maybe she might fly out somewhere else. When she The sanctuary approval process required her everyone except the skunks!” returned from work, Francis was still there. to show that she can provide food, water and Talking about her sanctuary brings a little light The next day Francis drank water from her shelter for wildlife. and warmth of summer, and the reminder of fingertips and started scarfing down broccoli Dunham offers daily seeds and fresh water rebirth next spring. heads and earwigs like candy. for birds, peanuts for squirrels, and nectar for “Nothing compares to seeing dormancy come finches and hummingbirds. She knows the alive again. That always makes winter worth it.”
To be considered for an official wildlife sanctuary, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offers these suggestions: • Plant trees and shrubs. Vegetation attracts wildlife. Dead trees, especially snags, are valuable, • Add a birdbath, pond, or other water source, which can be safe places for animals to bathe and drink. • Add bird houses, or leave snags on your property, as homes for cavity-nesting birds. • Cover openings under roof eaves or other places where house sparrows and starlings may nest. Non-native birds are undesirable competitors for food and nesting cavities. Bird houses and feeders should be designed and managed to reduce use by sparrows and starlings. • Control neighborhood cats which can go after birds that feed or nest on
the ground. Get more details from the American Bird Conservancy about “Cats Indoors!” • Get neighbors interested. Adjacent yards with good resources are more effective than one, since most wildlife species need larger areas. • Keep bird feeders clean and safe. • For a $5 fee, WDFW will send you a personalized certificate, a yard sign to educate others about your habitat project, and a subscription to their “Crossing Paths” electronic newsletter. For more information on certifying your backyard for wildlife, visit wdfw.wa.gov/living/backyard/.
– Courtney Dunham
1
2
Thursday, Novembe 22, 2012
Marketing Supplement to The Spokesman-Review
Story t and d photos h t b by MAGGIE BULLOCK, Down to Earth NW Correspondent It’s that time of year! Get out your supplies and start making a list of the projects you want to finish this season. Here are three projects to get your creativity flowing.
I added a handful of shaped ornaments and ornaments with sm simple colored stripesm It’s snowing! Vintage Christmas decorations are all the rage. From character candles to placing them around the wreath at equallyy bottlebrush trees and plastic figurines, vintage décor is everywhere. I love her repurposing Christmas decorations and jars, especially when the results are spaced intervals, rather than grouping them unique and fun. all together. You can You will need clean jars with watertight lids, distilled water, glycerin, fill all of the gaps white glitter or mica, epoxy, and vintage holiday knick-knacks. like I did, or leave I used canning jars, but empty condiment jars would also work, as long some of the wreath as the lid still seals tightly—you don’t want these to leak! Before beginning, form showing if you make sure your figurines will fit inside the jar and lid. don’t have enough ornaments. U Using a two-part epoxy, glue the figures to the I varied colors insi inside of the lid. I used around the whole an old Christmas candle wreath, but you sha shaped like a snowman, could certainly stick som some plastic reindeer mbination: red and with your favorite combination: pa package decorations, b ld gold ld and d silver il would ld look l k a bit bi more green could be quite bold, an and a tiny bottle brush elegant, blue and silver would also be a fun pairing for a winter wreath (even tr tree (which may end all shades of pink for a favorite little girl would be fun). u up rusting over time; I Use what you have for this project; it is supposed to be rustic and cheerful. w would avoid objects with m metal elements). Epoxy Spice Ornaments generally needs to set for Years ago in Germany my mom bought some Christmas ornaments that I 24 hours to hold, so plan loved as a child. They were simple shapes (I remember an angel and a tree) for the time. and decorated with dried spices. I’ve tried to replicate the concept, though I kept the shapes very simple—you could be more adventurous and use cookie When the epoxy is cutters as templates. dry, start building a This project is perfect for kids—the glue is non-toxic and the spices are snowstorm. Fill the jar sn awfully fun to play with. nearly to the top with distilled water, checking to make sure the You will need scraps of cardboard, scissors, a round template (I used scene now glued to the lid doesn’t displace so much water that it overflows. the bottom of a small glass and an egg cup—check your cupboards for Add about 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon of glycerin to the water. The glycerin will slow templates), white glue that dries clear, an old paintbrush, string, and a variety the glitter falling in the water so it looks more like snowfall, but too much of dried spices. will make the glitter stick to the bottom of the snow globe. Get your spices ready (old spices Add a few pinches of snow to the water. I used vintage mica that have been in that I had on hand, but large glitter world also work, or you could your cupboard for crush clean white eggshells for a different effect. too long are great Screw the lid on your jar and check the seal. Turn over, for this project, and shake! otherwise, bulk spices are your You might have a favorite kid help choose the scene—a plastic friends). I used a animal or favorite superhero could make a great snow globe. small muffin tin Glass Ornament Wreath to organize larger This wreath is not only bright and festive, but also weatherproof spices (white, for outdoor use. I’ve been collecting simple glass ball ornaments for black, and green peppercorns, pink years, finding them at yard sales and in bags at junk shops. I love the texture pepper berries, hawthorn berries, star anise, and cloves, split peas would of cracked glaze and color that is flaking and faded. Several of the ornaments also be fun). Put poppy seeds, ground cloves or cinnamon, and other seeds I used for this wreath were broken; I just glued the broken side down so no (alfalfa seeds work well) in small saucers. one will ever know. Trace circles of varying sizes on the cardboard (I used corrugated cardboard straight out of the recycle bin) and cut them out. Using an old You will need an 18” grapevine wreath form, glass ornaments in various paintbrush and white glue, brush both surfaces of the circles with glue and sizes (I used ornaments ranging from 3 inches to ½ an inch in diameter), dip them into one of the seeds or a ground spice. Allow to dry. Use the and a hot glue gun. larger spices to decorate the ornament in whatever way you like. I love the Glue the ornaments with hot glue, starting in one area and fitting look of star anise used as petals around the circles. After decorating all sides, ornaments as you go. Begin with a couple of large ornaments and medium allow the glue to dry and wrap string around the ornament to tie to small ornaments to fill the gaps. I recommend starting at one point on for hanging. the wreath and working all the way around filling in as you go. A tip about Repurposed, sustainable, and awfully pretty. gluing: only on place glue on the points the ornament will hit the wreath For more craft décor ideas from Maggie Bullock, visit and su surrounding ornaments to both make them more stable and www.downtoearthnw.com/blogs/dwellwellnw. conserve glue. c
Spot the Turkey
Between now and Wednesday, Dec. 19, Be
visitors to www.downtoearthnw.com may spot the turkey wandering through various pages of the site. IIff you spot him, just click him. You’ll go to a special Contest Page where you’ll be asked to enter your name, address, phone number and e-mail. Then you’ll be automatically entered to win a variety of cool prizes, including a $50 gift card to Huckleberry’s Natural Market for your own organic turkey or some other holiday items. We’ll randomly select six names Wednesday, Dec. 19, from all entries received. One winner will be given the Huckleberry’s card and five others receive a cool selection of Down to Earth prizes, including a shopping tote. The T turkey can be seen on any pages on the site at any time, so it’s a perfect p erfec opportunity to explore areas of the site you may not always frequent. (If you visit and have missed him, try again in about an hour or refresh your browser.) Don’t forget – if you sign up for our free monthly Down to Earth NW D e-newsletter, you’ll receive a sweet DTE tote for your efforts.
Marketing Supplement to The Spokesman-Review
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Story and photos by RENÉE SANDE, Down to Earth NW Correspondent
The holidays are times when we enjoy the season as much in our stomachs as in our hearts.
In 1976, Doc and Connie Hatfield began searching for ways ranchers could remain economically and Whether it’s a hearty home-cooked meal or finger food at a cocktail party, the urge to indulge is hard to resist, so why not find ways to keep your fare environmentally sustainable while producing naturallyhealthy yet appetizing? raised beef. “We looked Huckleberry’s Natural Market – Spokane’s first natural and organic all over the West to find a full-service grocery store – offers food fans a perfect balance. With more place where people, cattle, than 200 local food vendors, shoppers easily can learn where their food land and dollars could all comes from and that it’s always wholesome, fresh and flavorful. work together in harmony.” “As much as 60 to 70 percent of the food producers we buy from are Where they settled was local,” says Monica Hampton, general manager since the store opened in 1996. “That number has at least doubled since we opened and we’re always Oregon. Today, Country Natural Beef consists of 120 striving to bring on more.” family ranches throughout With this commitment to social and environmental Oregon, Washington, responsibility, Huckleberry’s invites you to celebrate Idaho, and 10 other not only the holidays, but hard-working producers states. all year.
Potatoes: Olsen Farms, Colville
Here are some of the staff’s recommendations:
Olsen Farms is a small family farm which dryland produces 23 varieties of potatoes. Committed to enhancing the rural economy and stewarding farmland for wildlife habitat, sustainability is at the roots of this family farm.
Wine: Chardonnay and Red Table Wine, Townshend Cellars, Greenbluff Don Townshend bottled his first wine – Townshend’s Cabernet – in 1998, and in 2003, it won the Wine Press Northwest’s Fab Cab Award, competing against many, more experienced wineries. Today Townshend Cellars has grown from two barrels to over 10,000 cases of over 20 different varieties.
Bread: Buckwheat Dinner Bread Dough Mix, Fusion Flours, Spokane Tara Wright founded Fusion Flours in 2010 after a 20-year battle with undiagnosed Celiac disease. It wasn’t until a visit to a local chiropractor that she went gluten-free for just four days and saw profound results. From this recovery, Wright’s research into gluten-free baking began and Fusion Flours was born.
Craft Beer: Silent Treatment (Pale Ale), No-Li Brewery, Spokane Mark Irvin and John Bryant opened Northern Lights Brewery in 1993 but recently were made aware of an East Coast brewery with the same name. Although this is common, they said they received “the silent treatment” after multiple calls and letters to try and straighten things out. The business name was eventually shortened to No-Li, and a clever new beer name was born.
Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake, Just American Desserts, Spokane Opened in 1986, Eva Roberts and her family saw a need for high quality, fromscratch cakes and desserts. The company uses the finest, freshest ingredients.
Coffee: Certified Organic Earth Sky Blend (dark, Italian roast), Craven’s Coffee, Spokane
Cheese: Beechers Cheese, Seattle Kurt Beecher Dammeier fulfilled his ambition of making great cheese at Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 2003, becoming the city’s only artisan cheesemaker. Beecher Dammeier has a passion about eating food free of harmful additives and preservatives, and believes people should know more about where their food comes from, what goes into it and how it is made.
Prime Rib: Country Natural Beef Cooperative, Washington, Idaho and Oregon
Craven’s Coffee is a family-owned roaster founded in 1993 with the mission to not only create distinguished coffee, but to deliver unparalleled customer service. Craven’s purchases only the most carefully graded coffee beans and uses their own unique lowertemperature, clean-extraction roasting process to protect the coffee’s natural characteristics and avoid imparting a “bite” in the final cup. Huckleberry’s main store is at 926 S. Monroe on Spokane’s South Hill, plus several ‘store-within-a-store’ satellite locations at some Rosauers and Super 1 Foods in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. For more information call (509) 624-1349 or visit www.huckleberrysnaturalmarket.com
Looking for some kind of
sustainable activities for the holidays? Here are some highlights from the Down to Earth NW calendar, which is always being updated at www.downtoearthnw.com/calendar. If you are part of an organization planning interesting Green or sustainable programs, you can get a free listing at www.downtoearthnw.com/calendar/events/submit/ Extra details about all these events and other months can be found at www.downtoearthnw.com/calendar/. Nov. 23-25 Festival of Fair Trade, Community Building. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free Come support Spokane’s economy while helping communities around the globe. The 28th annual festival features sweatshop-free handicrafts, clothing, jewelry and pottery from around the world, including Nepal, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Vietnam and more. Also learn about the Power of 5 campaign, which helps children of Ganesh Himal’s artisan partners stay in school. (509) 448-6561 or ganeshhimaltrading.com/ festivaloffairtrade.
Nov. 29 “Words, Woods and Wine: An Evening with Jess Walter,” presented by Inland Northwest Land Trust, 7 p.m., Barrister Winery. Meet the prominent local author, buy raffle tickets, sample local wines, and hear the top winners of a nature poem contest. $15. Must be 21 or older. brownpapertickets. com/event/268884
Dec. 1 Fall Craft Show, Spokane Community College, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (208) 304-9264
Dec. 4 Public meeting about environmental impact of Pacific International Terminals’ plan to build a terminal between Ferndale and Blaine, Wash. for storage of exported commodities like coal. Meeting 4-7 p.m., Spokane County Fairgrounds. eisgateway pacificwa.gov/
Dec. 6 Cross Country Skiing Basics, 7-8:30 p.m. Spokane REI. Get info and tips on the upcoming winter season. Free. rei.com/ event/35888/session/59624
Nov. 23-25 Homemade Ornament Show, Tinman Gallery Eighth annual benefit for Spokane Art School features handmade Christmas ornaments from local artists. Materials include paper, beads, wire, glass, feathers and found objects. tinmanartworks.com/
Nov. 26 Basic bellydancing, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Colfax Library Free program is designed to teach basic skills and be an active venue for all ages and body sizes. (509) 397-4366 or kirkpatr@colfax.com.
Dec. 8 Bloom Spokane Birth Options Class, 2-4 p.m., Sun People Dry Goods. Dec. 1 Wine and Cheese Extravaganza, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Huckleberry’s Natural Market. Cheese experts will tell you all about cheese and wine, and how to pair the two, and share samples from around the world. Shoppers get a 20 percent discount on all beer, wine and spirits, and 30 percent off all cheese and olive bar items. www.huckleberrysnaturalmarket.com
Learn about local resources and birth providers. bloomspokane.com/programs/classes/
Dec. 15 Natural Living Gift Sale, Huckleberry’s Natural Market. Save 25 percent on specially chosen gift ideas. www.huckleberrysnaturalmarket.com
3
4
Thursday, Novembe 22, 2012
Marketing Supplement to The Spokesman-Review
1993, because my mother was here, and I figured it would be a good place to find my footing before moving on to a bigger city. But I’ve been here ever since. Have you always been interested in nature and protecting our environment?
I went to high school next to nuclear missiles during the Cold War, and we didn’t question that. I think that’s weird. My grandfather died from leukemia, probably because of the DDT he used liberally around his farm when they said it was safe. Same with my mom who died prematurely—she became addicted to smoking while the tobacco companies were making sure Americans continued to assume their product was safe. I think it’s important to pay attention and root out the truth when one’s health and powerful interests are involved. What is it about this coal issue that drives you? Photos by SHALLAN KNOWLES, Photo Correspondent
Combating
C OA L Story by DERRICK KNOWLES, Down to Earth NW Correspondent
For the past 20 years, Crystal Gartner has lived in Spokane and has worked for several environmental organizations before taking a job with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. Her current work focuses on organizing community opposition to proposals to transport coal by rail from Wyoming and Montana through the Inland Northwest. Her local efforts to keep more coal trains from coming through Spokane are part of a larger campaign to stop the coal industry from transforming the Northwest into a major export center for one of the planet’s most polluting and toxic fossil fuels. Massive new coal export terminals, where coal would be dumped in huge piles before being shipped to China, are being proposed in Coos Bay, Ore., Bellingham, Wash., and along the Columbia River. Coal dust from these is expected to pollute air, water, fisheries, and farmland and threaten human health along the way. When not working to protect the Inland Northwest’s wild places, she likes enjoying the quality of life that’s kept her here for so long. Whether it’s exploring a new restaurant, or heading out for a hike or skiing in the mountains, Crystal is dedicated to living a full and meaningful life and helping to make that dream possible for others.
Coal is the most polluting, carbon-intensive fossil fuel there is, and we don’t need to let this dirty industry damage our image, quality of life, and health the way they have in other parts of the country. This issue is also very personal to me. I run on the “Bluff ” trails off High Drive, bicycle the Centennial Trail, work downtown, live near the rail line—the last thing I want is to be breathing this stuff 24/7. What’s the biggest concern people here have with the proposed coal train shipments?
The health of our families. There are hundreds of physicians stating numerous serious health risks related to the transportation and shipment of coal. These doctors agree; diesel particulate and coal dust can kill. So can a delay of seconds or minutes when the ambulance or fire truck has to wait or re-route around a crossing because another mile-long coal train is rolling through. Diesel emissions and dust from the dozens of coal trains these terminals would bring each day are linked to cancer, asthma, heart attack, infant death, and lung disease in children. What can we do to get involved?
Go to CoalFreeWashington.org to send a letter to the U.S. Army Corps or sign up to volunteer. Plan to attend the public hearing on Dec. 4 at the Spokane County Fairgrounds Plaza (404 N Havana St) from 4-7 p.m. We’ll also have a pre-hearing workshop on Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m. at the Community Building (35 W. Main). People Volunteers involved in the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign include, can e-mail me to RSVP: crystal. gartner@sierraclub.org from left, Dave Braun, Marian Hennings, Suzi Hokonson, Marc Gauthier, Alyssa Krafft, Pete Albrecht, Laura Ackerman and Crystal Gartner. Gartner, top, is heading the effort to build community opposition to plans to send more coal trains through Spokane.
Where did you grow up and how did you make it to Spokane?
My parents were educators who moved overseas to work for the American school system, and I grew up in Germany. I went to elementary school with kids from all over the world. I moved to Spokane in
Even when outdoor water is turned off, Gaunt said it’s critical to detach the hose; failure will result in a frozen pipe. If your home has a crawl space, make sure it’s closed and insulated to keep drafts from Gearing up for cold climes with “The Weather Man” coming in under the house. Story and photos by CRAIG HOWARD/SNAP Communications Crawl spaces with loose dirt Ron Gaunt’s official title is “Technical Services floors need to have a vapor Coordinator,” although he might as well be known as barrier installed to keep moisture “The Weather Man.” “ low. If you have vents that open Gaunt has worked with the agency’s Housing G to the outside, close them before Improvements program for 20 years, helping residents Im the really cold weather sets in. barricade and insulate themselves against rain, snow, b The onset of cold weather ssleet and other typically means Gaunt and SNAP weather patterns. w crews will be called to fix frozen As the temperature A water pipes. The good news is dips this autumn, d that residents seem to be catching on to the importance of insulating pipes Gaunt is promoting G with foam wrap. If you have pipes in unconditioned spaces (a crawl space, for wise practices w example) you’ll save yourself trouble by taking care of this. tthroughout When Gaunt started working at SNAP two decades ago, it was common Spokane County. S to receive 100 calls a day after the His work is as temperatures dipped to freezing. These “weatherization,” “ days, that number is lower. also known as the a “We’ll get three or four calls, maybe,” a art of defending Gaunt said. “It’s encouraging. I think homes against the elements. Proper h people are starting to get it.” w weatherization translate into cost and Gaunt’s autumn checklist also includes e energy savings. In a typical month, making sure your furnace starts and SNAP crews weatherize around two S works, changing your furnace filter and d dozen homes, helping residents enjoy checking that heat tapes are plugged in ssafer, warmer and more economical and working. Check for – and seal – holes liliving spaces. in heat ducts. SNAP weatherization projects Residents should caulk and weather strip in include furnace tune-ups, reducing air doors and windows, and apply plastic to infiltration, sealing heating ducts, door in those windows without storms. Window Ron Gaunt, has worked for the Housing Improvements a and window repairs and installing new air conditioning units should go somewhere branch of SNAP for the past 20 years. The site features in insulation. Homeowners must meet other than the window. a storehouse of weatherization implements, including in income guidelines and priority is given Another easy way to keep drafts to a plenty of items for insulation, such as storm windows. tto the elderly, disabled, families with minimum is to apply foam gaskets behind all cchildren and residents with communication barriers. light switches and electrical outlets. Attic access panels are another common But just about every home can benefit from source of heat loss, cut a square of foam insulation to fit over the panel and weatherization. He recommends taking a tour of the adhere it to the inside; weatherstrip the perimeter of the hole before sliding exterior grounds around your home. the panel back into place. “People could take care of 90 percent of their problems If you don’t use your fireplace, make sure the flue is closed and then by just walking around their house,” Gaunt said. stuff a square of insulation up the chimney. Gaunt recommends hanging From cracks in a foundation or wall, to a hose that has yet to be something from the chimney – a tree ornament, perhaps – that will help disconnected and shut off, a simple inspection can pay dividends. Areas you remember to unblock the flue before lighting a fire. around a foundation that hemorrhage heat can be closed up quickly and Take it from “The Weather Man” – the cold is going to stick around for easily with a multipurpose sealant. Available at a home improvement store. a while. But if you take advantage of some of these tips, you’ll be warmer Often overlooked by homeowners is insulating the outdoor water meter. and more comfortable, and might even have a few extra bucks at the end If left uncovered, a meter could freeze and inhibit water flow. Open the of the season. cover and stuff a layer of insulation around the meter. For more info about SNAP or SNAP programs, call (509) 456-7111.
Talkin’ Eco-Sense
f r e e Admission
w i t h S NAP
2012 Fair Trade THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
FRI. SAT. SUN. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Nov Community Bldg 35 W. Main www.festivaloffairtrade.com
23-25
Festival of
Let your holiday shopping make a positive difference in the world!
Sweatshop-free handcrafts, clothing, jewelry and pottery from Nepal, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, Pakistan and other far corners of the world. Your purchases of Fairly Traded products support artisan cooperatives, small farmers and sustainable economic development in some of the world’s lowest income regions.
Event info: 509.464.7677