Garden
of today is The newwspaaper o omorrow. the hisstor y of to
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522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378
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Missy Traeger, 320-291-9899 missy@saukherald.com
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House
17 along Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre. The Jestuses moved into their home in October 2024.
to call home
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NEWS STAFF
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Rae Lanzrath
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Jestuses build dwelling to their liking
BY SARAH MIDDENDORF | STAFF WRITER
Writer
PRODUCTION STAFF
Amanda Thooft
Nancy Powell
Maddy Peterson
Cheyenne Middendorf
Karen Knoblach
Annika Gunderson
Nadiia Griepentrog
Creating a space to call home that allows for entertaining guests was top priority for Brandon and Maria Jestus. They recently completed and moved into their new house by Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre.
“We got to build, within reason, what we want for our family to have a place to come,” Maria
said. “We have the space to entertain, and, for us, we got to work together. … It builds memories. It’s something we can say that we did together with our own two hands.”
Although the couple did not build the house entirely, they did do what they could and took on some of
the responsibility themselves. Brandon was the general contractor for the site as well.
The house has an open-concept living space equipped with five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and a three-stall attached garage. This concept allows them to host friends and family for gatherings, which was a factor that went into the
design process. They started planning in September 2022, and, by August 2023, they were starting on the dirt work. In November 2023, they began framing, and, by April 2024, paint was being rolled on the walls. The whole building process took roughly 14 months to finish, as they moved into their house in October 2024.
Jestuses page 3
PHOTO BY SARAH MIDDENDORF
Brandon and Maria Jestus gather in their home Feb.
Jestuses
from page 2
The day they officially moved into the house, some of their family was going to come help but ended up getting sick. So, the five of them — Brandon, Maria, and their three children — moved everything into the house and were able to get settled. The kids saw what it took to get the house completed and moved into, Maria said.
The first step to building their home was design. The couple searched online to find a plan they liked, and off to the lumber yard they went to have an employee draw up the plans.
When looking at different details of the house, Maria thought about practicality.
Jestuses page 5
PHOTO BY SARAH MIDDENDORF The home of Brandon and Maria Jestus is almost finished
Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre.
Jestuses from page 3
“I made a lot of decisions on how it would be to clean it,” Maria said.
For some of the counter tops in the house, they chose a leathered finish. This helps hide dust when there is a lot of natural light. They also chose the baseboard trim by how it would be to clean. Maria said she did not want a bunch of crevasses for dust to collect.
Although they had plans drawn up, the couple made changes throughout the process — even in the framing stages.
“It’s OK to speak up, because, if you don’t speak up right then, you’re stuck with it,” Maria said. “Advocate for your home. If there’s something you want and they are only giving you (certain) options, it’s OK to speak up. Do what you want to do.”
As they were planning the house, it was decided to keep the basement unfinished. They went further than expected and finished part of it but not its entirety. Maria said they wanted to get the messy part — mudding, painting, etc. — of the basement building process complete at the same time as the rest of the house.
Brandon likes the entertaining space. Maria enjoys the wider staircase. And, another feature the family enjoys is the ease of an attached garage.
n likes the space e s the wider staircase. And, ure the is the e o ttached he we are o be able to kids vehicle
- Maria Jestus
Each member of the family has a favorite feature of the house. The Jestuses said the kids’ favorite feature is the slide that brings them from the main floor to the play room in the basement.
“With the weather we are having, … to be able to put kids into a warm vehicle and pull out, you basically never have to be out in the cold,” Brandon said.
As with many things,
arose during the building process, such as a delay in
y never have to be he Brandon with many challenges arose the process, such as a in materials. a process evveen n if know what youu’’re said. “ “TTherere’s s stuff that can go o wroong ng or be Be prrepared e because it all dooessn’ n t go smoothly.” a house e can be a g and rewarding process. For the Jestuses, had with home n, as, hey have done ovations on previouus , their past renonovvat on n ti w does not comppaarre e wiith h the e u gning soommethin unniqque u ly
“It’s a stressful process regardless, even if you know what you’re doing,” Brandon said. “There’s always stuff that can go wrong or be delayed. Be prepared because it all just doesn’t
Building a house can be a challenging
Jestuses, they had prior experience
construction, as, throughout their lives, they have done various renovations on previous houses. Still, their past renovation experience does not compare with the thrill of designing something uniquely their own.
“This was more fun because you get to build what you want,” Brandon said. “I’ve just always enjoyed the process of it.”
becau was more fun be use e you ou get to Brandon you u want, , ” B saaidid. “II’v ’ve e proces th ss o of it. t ”
BY SARAH MIDDENDORF
PHOTO
A slide stands Feb. 17 in the Brandon and Maria Jestus home along Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre. The slide goes from the main floor to the play room in the basement.
Starting
s e e d s seeds
Marty Claussen stands with garden decor Sept. 22, 2023, at Tree Top Nursery and Landscaping in Sauk Centre. In Claussen’s experience, the ideal soil temperature for starting seeds is around 73 degrees.
Claussen offers indoor planting advice
BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER
Although he owns and operates Tree Top Nursery and Landscaping in Sauk Centre, Marty Claussen considers the fact that he can start seeds as a sign that anyone can do it.
“It’s fun for a lot of people to start their own seeds,” Claussen said.
LUMBER
Local Lumberyard with complete line of building materials.
“Every person is going to have a different experience, depending on what your temperatures are, what your heat sources are and how consistent you can be with the moisture and the heat.”
Tree Top Nursery was founded in spring 1983 but was not starting seeds until about 15 years later. The first
CONCRETE
One of central Minnesota’s largest ready - mix contractors and suppliers. We do specialty projects including colored and stamped concrete!
seeds they started included tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and other vegetables, with heat pads placed under the plants.
“It was mediocre at best,” Claussen said. “The seeds would start to come up, and then they would just shrivel up and wilt over. I’m sure we didn’t have as good of a soil as we should’ve; we didn’t read the manual as such.”
Claussen page 8
CONSTRUCTION
We can complete any job - big or small! We can design, construct and manage your project
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
Claussen from page 7
Soon, though, Tree Top Nursery acquired a seed germination chamber, about 8 feet long and 5 feet high with a heating element in the bottom. In Claussen’s experience, the ideal soil temperature is around 73 degrees, which means the air temperature is around 78 degrees.
“The thing with starting seeds is constant heat,” Claussen said. “If you’re going to start seeds on a table where there’s no bottom heat, it’s in Minnesota and your
temperatures vary 10 degrees from daylight to nighttime, you’re probably going to struggle. It’s going to take a long time and you might be susceptible to more diseases.”
With a heating pad, it took Tree Top Nursery about a week to see any progress, but with the germination chamber, plants like cabbage and marigolds will break ground in a couple of days. Because there is moisture in the chamber, the sprouts hardly need watering.
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
Sauk Centre. Tree Top
Additionally, Claussen strongly recommends seed starters find the proper soil for their seeds. The ideal soil is fine-grained and well-drained, balancing the ability to hold moisture while not staying damp for too long, which could result in rot and disease. The soil, pots and trays should ideally be sterilized in advance; old soil and items that have been sitting around could lead to fungus issues.
times the diameter of the seed,” he said. “Well, some of these seeds are tiny, so you put down a sixteenth or an eighth-inch of soil on top, and that’s plenty for a lot of this stuff, … and you should be careful to get it evenly distributed.”
Most seeds are going to need 12 or more hours of light, which is why Tree Top Nursery usually starts their seeds around mid to late March. In a home, a south-facing window usually makes for a good place to set the plants; otherwise, artificial lighting will help.
“Everybody’s anxious for spring, especially this winter,” Claussen said. “People often start their seeds too early, and then they’re trying to keep them in a house-type setting, and the seedlings get weak because they don’t have as good light as they should.”
Another mistake Claussen wants people to avoid is planting seeds too deep.
While the containers do need to have drain holes, growers need to watch out for roots coming out of them, or those roots will die. Over-fertilizing can also be an issue, making the plants grow too fast and be ready for the outdoors before the outdoors are ready for them. Typically, seed packets will have information for how long it will take a seed to be ready for planting.
Ultimately, Claussen advises people to be conservative about when they plant their seeds because it is easier to speed up a plant’s growth than slow it down.
“A general rule is (to plant) one and a half to two
“If you have cooler nights once the seeds are growing well, that will sometimes cause that plant to become a little sturdier and denser,” he said. “That can help some, but if you have 8-inch-high tomato plants, and it’s going to be weeks before you can plant them, you’re going to really be struggling to keep those things healthy.”
BY RAE LANZRATH STAFF WRITER
Neal Vos has
a contractor in Central Minnesota for nearly 40 years. His business, NV Remodeling, works
“Additions
we do,” Vos said.
Overall, customers want more space in their rooms, Vos said, whether it be adding
Neil Vos, owner of NV Remodeling, installs trim during the winter months. Vos said homes used to have wallpaper or vibrant colors, and, now, most of the work he does is with lighter shades of gray or white paint.
from page 12
“The most common addition we do is adding a great room,” Vos said.
Families who want more space to gather will commonly add a great room off their living room or kitchen, Vos said.
While additions are common, creating more space can sometimes be done by a remodel. For example, many of Vos’ customers have strayed away from having a formal dining room and converted their living room and kitchen into a larger, open-concept room.
“I see a lot of people with island countertops that they eat at,” Vos said. “Not many people have a traditional dining room anymore.”
Bathrooms are another room Vos has seen get larger over the years. He said people are adding features such as larger vanities or linen closets to bathrooms to make them more user-friendly. Walk-in tile showers are another feature Vos has added to many people’s bathrooms. The showers tend to be larger than the traditional tub and shower combination.
Another trend Vos has seen recently is the change in color schemes and decor throughout homes. Vos said homes used to have wallpaper or vibrant colors, and, now, most of the work he
does is with lighter shades of gray or white paint. He said countertops are typically darker colors, but walls and cabinets are lighter.
“People like that it’s more neutral and clean looking,” Vos said.
Stainless steel appliances are another design choice that has become more prominent in recent years. Vos said as people upgrade their appliances, he sees a lot of stainless-steel refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers.
“Another new thing we do a lot of is tile backsplash in kitchens,” Vos said. “That’s a fairly new thing, but it’s very common.”
Technology also is growing in homes. It allows homeowners to control nearly everything from their phone, Vos said.
From the lights to the thermostat, Wi-Fi enabled controls are becoming more popular in homes. Apps on people’s cell phones allow them to adjust the temperature of their house or make sure the lights are turned off from essentially anywhere.
Most of the time, when Vos does a remodel, he removes everything from the room down to the studs. He replaces the walls, flooring and cabinets on his own. If plumbing or electrical work needs to be done, he hires a subcontractor to do so.
Vos page 16
bloom business
The
Rudolph grows, sells fl
BY RAE LANZRATH | STAFF WRITER
At just 19 years old, Jadielyn Rudolph owns and operates her Holdingford business, Backyard Blooms by Jadielyn. Rudolph grows nearly 30 varieties of flowers in her 4,000-square-foot garden.
During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Rudolph’s National Honor Society chapter at Holdingford High School began delivering flowers to local people.
“It was such a hard time for everyone, and it was something we could do within the community that made people smile,” Rudolph said.
At that time, Rudolph began growing a few kinds of flowers, and, with her classmates’ help, would put together bouquets for deliveries.
udolph ndemic, ivering ryone, and n the aid. owing kinds of elp, would put d out, and I learned d.
“Everyone would come over and help out, and I learned I really loved doing it,” Rudolph said.
Rudolph page 20
Jadielyn Rudolph holds a bouquet of tulips May 13, 2024, at her home in rural Holdingford. Rudolph owns and operates Backyard Blooms by Jadielyn, a floral arrangement business.
Rudolph
from page 17
As she finished high school, Rudolph continued growing flowers. She graduated in 2024 and is now a student at St. Cloud State University with plans to become a physical therapist.
“This is just a fun hobby that I was able to turn into something more,” Rudolph said.
Over the last few years, Rudolph has learned a lot about how to grow, arrange and manage a floral business. Rudolph receives help from several of her family members, but most of what she has learned has been self-taught through online research.
The logistics of growing flowers is different from other businesses, Rudolph said. Each flower has a different growing season, so she has to know how long each flower will be available for use.
“Some flowers you can get for almost two months, but then some have a really short season,” Rudolph said.
“Tulips are a good example, because you only get about three weeks of tulips around the end of May.”
Rudolph starts her flowers as seeds in her house, but because each flower grows at a different rate, she has several different days of planting.
Jadielyn Rudolph plants seeds Feb. 28 at her home in rural
throughout spring, so flowers are ready for summer.
It was such a hard time for everyone, and it was something we could do within the community that made people smile. Everyone would come over and help out,
and I learned I really loved doing it.
- Jadielyn Rudolph
“You definitely can’t plant them all in one day; some take six weeks to
grow, and some take 12,” Rudolph said. As the seeds are beginning to grow, they are placed under grow lights until the weather is appropriate for them to be moved outside. Some flowers grow better when it is cooler, and some need warmer weather, Rudolph said. Once they are ready, the flowers are moved to the garden. During summer months, Rudolph spends countless hours maintaining the garden, picking flowers and making floral arrangements.
Rudolph page 23
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH
Holdingford. Rudolph starts seeds
PHOTO SUBMITTED Flowers grow April 26, 2024, at the Rudolph home in rural Holdingford. Jadielyn Rudolph began growing flowers in 2020.
BY SHALON WILBER STAFF WRITER
With a wheelbarrow, a shovel and a sense of determination, Charles Warga founded the Holdingford business Rocks to Roses Landscaping LLC after obtaining an architecture degree in 2009.
“2009 was a pretty rough time to get into the building sector,” Warga said. “I started putting my design training to use as a landscaper.”
Over the past decade and a half, Warga has seen trends change, and he has accumulated a wealth of advice he can pass on to
others.
Nothing surprises Warga anymore when it comes to landscaping.
“Everyone’s busy and overbooked, whether it’s chasing sports, fishing or just too much work,” Warga said. “People don’t want to come home or go to the lake and spend (time working). They just want it to look presentable.”
Transforming yards
Charles Warga, owner of Rocks to Roses Landscaping LLC, stands outside his place of business March 3 in rural Holdingford. He founded the business after obtaining an architecture degree in 2009.
Working on a project is like a treasure hunt, Warga said.
“Every treasure is not positive when we come to landscaping,” he said. “You don’t know where those sprinkler lines are. You don’t
know where that private ethernet cable is between the house and shed.”
Preplanning can help deliver the best results for the homeowner. Warga has never encountered a surprise that has needed to cancel the project; it just takes more creativity at times, he said.
When planning out a yard project, Warga said there is no such thing as zero maintenance.
“There’s nothing that, if you want it to look good, just happens naturally,” Warga said.
He advises taking steps to plan the project prior to getting started; it could save money or cost extra, but the result will be exactly what the homeowner wants while getting the most benefit from the project.
Warga page 27
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Fertilizing
Weed Control
Mosquito Control
Lawn Mowing
Edging
Seasonal Clean-Up
Dethatching
Aeration
Overseeding
Parking Lot Sweeping
Clients enjoy a pergola installed at their Sauk Centre home by Charles Warga’s Holdingford business, Rocks to Roses Landscaping LLC. Warga said preplanning can help determine elements that will give the most benefit to each client.
Warga said. “If you’re in the shade, if there’s a little bit of a breeze, if you implement a pergola, you can turn some of those 90-degree days into a nice, comfortable, hanging-outside days.”
Warga said possible projects should be given time prior to
starting. While on the schedule with a landscaper, homeowners can think about how the space will be used.
“It might seem really corny and cheesy, but put a hose around so you know what size your fire pit is and where the patio would be,” Warga said. “Set the chairs there, see how comfortable it is.”
Warga page 30
Warga
Warga said it is important to know where the shade is coming from at certain times of the day.
“Is that big maple tree over there casting a shadow here or there?” Warga said.
Typically, fire pits are used in the evening. Warga said homeowners should consider where the wind or mosquitoes come from during the time of anticipated use.
The life of most landscaping is around 20 years, Warga said. He can guess the age of the landscaping by observing popular trends.
“The arborvitaes, bridal wreath (spirea) and the potentilla were all popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Warga said. “Now, it’s heavy on the hydrangeas. It goes in phases.”
A fire pit installed by Charles Warga’s Holdingford business, Rocks to Roses Landscaping
surrounded by mulch on a client’s property. Taking time to think about the future use of the space is a crucial step homeowners can take to get the most out of their investment.
Making appropriate and timely changes could cut down on the maintenance and increase enjoyment for
the homeowner.
“Plants can get too old and bushy or stumpy inside,” Warga said. “Maybe there is a little bit of die back, or there’s just a lot of debris that’s gotten into the rocks or mulch, and, now, weeds are coming up.”
When undertaking a new project, Warga said it is important for the homeowner and the landscaper to know specific local ordinances.
knowledge of what is going to require a permit. As far as the local township, it is helpful if clients are familiar with specific rules.”
“It takes two to tango,” Warga said. “From a landscape installation company perspective, we have a little bit more
Warga said each township or lake association likely has its own set of rules. Each yard, landscape and project presents its own set of unique challenges and design elements.
“What you see at the home show or at your neighbor’s place is just scratching the surface of the possibilities,” Warga said.
MAKING
Avon site capitalizes on community waste
BY HANS LAMMEMAN | STAFF WRITER
Time, moisture and a bit of effort are among the few ingredients needed to transform what would otherwise be deemed waste into a gardener’s dream soil.
That process of composting occurs on scales both small and large, ranging from backyard compost bins to staggering commercial operations.
foreman in Avon, said the city offers Avon and Avon Township residents a location to unload leaves, branches, grass clippings and other organic matter for free at a site along Angelfish Avenue. Once microbes and fungi complete their decomposition efforts, community members can return to the complimentary composition area to reap the initiative’s benefits.
In Avon, the undertaking occurs on a community level through a cityoperated composting site.
Chuck Pelkey, public works
“Once the material decomposes and we get a good layer of real good organic soil there, we push it up into a big mound of available soil that people can come and take and put in their gardens,”
compost the most of
Pelkey said. “They can use it as a black dirt for leveling in their yards. They can take as much as they want, whatever is available there.”
According to Pelkey, the site opens its gates for visitors when the ground starts to thaw in spring and closes each fall when it starts to snow. Throughout the year, though, public works crews tend to the rows of compost piles — which can reach over 130 degrees — rotating material from the middle of the pile to the outside.
Compost page 35
PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN
Chuck Pelkey, Avon Public Works foreman, displays organic soil ready for visitors Feb. 24 at the city-owned compost site in Avon. The site opens its gates for visitors when the ground starts to thaw in spring and closes each fall when it starts to snow.
In Avon, residents have no limit regarding the amount they are allowed to drop off at the compost site, but commercial dumping is prohibited. Pelkey said most visitors bring yard waste like leaves and twigs, but they do get some vegetables like a rush of pumpkins in fall.
According to information from the UMN Extension, compost piles will heat to somewhere between 130 and 160 degrees and should be turned once or twice per month. Many materials, though organic, are not recommended for composting, like pet waste, which can transmit diseases, as well as meat, bones, whole eggs and dairy products, which can attract animals.
“The food material, you don’t necessarily want to start with that,” Sadowski said. “You can certainly add that in, but you’re really wanting to get a lot of that carbon going, meaning the leaves and your cleanup from fall. Reminder to not compost diseased plant materials because, especially if we’re not getting it up to that temperature, those diseases can be transferred.”
Pelkey said Avon’s site is frequented by gardeners seeking nutrient-rich soil, but the public works department also gets use from the compost operation’s output.
“We use it when we’re trying to fill in holes between curb lines and boulevards around sidewalks,” Pelkey said. “It’s easy to seed, and it’s fluffy enough that it doesn’t pack like a compacted concrete.”
PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN
Chuck Pelkey gestures toward rows of compost piles Feb. 24 in Avon. Pelkey said most visitors bring yard waste like leaves and twigs, but they do get some vegetables like a rush of pumpkins in fall.
Built
Wensmann Contractors
marks 20 years of making homes
BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER
Greg Wensmann built his house for his wife, Karla, and himself on the shores of Lake Sylvia in Melrose Township, but it is far from the only home he has had a hand in building.
Through Wensmann Contractors, he has built and renovated buildings for 20 years, helping customers make their ideal home a reality.
“I like the building process — creating things and the satisfaction of seeing the completed project,” Greg said. “I love driving around and seeing the projects we’ve built for people.”
Greg and Karla founded Wensmann Contractors in 2005. Their daughter, Courtney Schleppenbach, is now the vice president of sales and marketing.
In 2021, Greg was named Builder of the Year
Greg Wensmann and his daughter, Courtney Schleppenbach, take a
Wensmann home Feb. 27 in Melrose Township. Greg and his wife, Karla, own Wensmann Contractors, and Schleppenbach is their vice president of sales and marketing.
by the Central Minnesota Builders Association, a nonprofit made up of members who support the building industry. He currently serves on the association’s board of directors.
Wensmann Contractors offers services such as new construction, interior and
exterior remodeling, and additions such as decks and patios. The company’s main focus is lake homes, especially taking ones from the 1960s and 1970s and updating them for better accessibility, comfort and appearance.
“We like the challenge of taking an existing footprint
and figuring out how we can modify it to meet the client’s needs,” Greg said. “We sometimes take houses apart pretty far. … We try to be very aware of the aging in place that happens in these homes; we try to get them all one level.”
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
seat in the kitchen of the
Wensmann
from page 39
In Greg’s experience, houses from the 1960s and 1970s have more hallways and smaller spaces, and he is often asked to convert them into the open floor plans that are more popular today. The addition or expansion of windows and a viewing area that faces the nearby lake helps open the space up and let in more natural light.
Technology integration is another factor in construction and renovation, especially with more appliances and environmental systems running on electricity and connected to Wi-Fi.
With the buildings themselves, Minnesota’s array of seasonal temperatures and humidity makes it tough to control moisture in living spaces and around structures. However, environmental systems are always improving.
“The efficiency of the equipment has gotten way better — to the point where we can control each space to within a degree,” Greg said.
Wensmann Contractors operates
A house completed by
with a minimal, in-house staff, doing in-house work as needed and relying on their subcontractor partners.
“A new home takes an average of 40 different people working on it, whether they’re in sales, delivering or the actual construction,” Greg said. “We have to work really hard to keep the relationship with those 40 people strong.”
When undertaking a project, Wensmann Contractors first meets with the clients to discuss what they need;
for
then, once a budget is agreed upon, they enter the design contract, working with all the subcontractors to ensure everything can be done. Environmental services must also be consulted for lake houses. Schleppenbach plays a large role in guiding customers toward how they want their house to look, from its shingle colors to cabinet door handles.
Wensmann page 42
Wensmann Contractors is ready
its owners in spring 2021 in Annandale. Wensmann Contractors was founded in 2005.
•
•
•
•
•
Hennen
from page 45
Nowadays, a two-pane window with a layer of argon gas in the middle is a common choice that holds up well in the Minnesota climate, but one option Renneker has seen gaining popularity in the area is the three-pane window.
The showroom at Hennen Lumber Co. Inc. has a wide range of windows on display Feb. 11 in Freeport. Hennen Lumber Co. supplies materials for residential and agricultural buildings, including windows, siding, lumber, decking, doors, gutters, drafts and blueprints.
“One thing it does really well is … keep sound from penetrating into the house,” Renneker said. “Now, after a couple of winters, that third pane has really kept the moisture off the inside of those windows. It’s pretty impressive to see, with that extra pane in between there, how much more efficient that actually is. … The homeowners who put them in feel it’s a much warmer home.”
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
