At Home Living 031817

Saturday, March 18, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

gardening

Common ground Test soil to ensure it’s suitable for planting page 6 n Jamie Kidd on community gardens, page 2 n Tips for ventilating your attic, page 5 n Give your decor a spring break, page 7 n Beware of poisons in your home, page 8

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Community gardens growing in number What is a community garden? Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service describes it this way: “A community garden is typically one piece of land, which is gardened collectively by a group of people. In addition to providing fresh produce, community gardens beautify neighborhoods and help bring neighbors closer together.

They have been proven as tools to reduce neighborhood crime — particularly when vacant, blighted lots are targeted for garden development. Community gardens also provide safe, recreational green space in urban areas with little or no parkland, and can contribute greatly to keeping urban air clean.”

History

Community gardens first appeared in Detroit in the 1890s. Social groups and reformers used the gardens to teach good work habits to the unemployed. During World War I, community gardens were promoted by the government to increase and expand the nation’s food supplies.

The U.S. School Garden Army was started, and several million children enlisted, along with 50,000 teachers who received curriculum materials. Thousands of volunteers also helped in these gardens.

The Great Depression in the 1930s gave rise to community gardens as a means for the unemployed to grow their own food. Many local, state and private agencies provided land for gardens. More than 23 million households produced garden products, valued at $36 million in 1934 alone, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

World War II encouraged Victory Gardens with a campaign to grow your own food, enjoy recreation and improve

JAMIE KIDD

jamiehan@ksu.edu

mark your calendars

n “Spring Lawn Care” will be presented by Shawnee County Master Gardener Steve Paige at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 30 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. Paige will provide handouts on springtime lawn care and answer questions. n The Master Gardener Plant Sale will be from 9 a.m. to noon May 6 in the Shawnee County Extension Office parking lot.

the morale of the nation. Community gardens had a rebirth in the 1970s with rising inflation, urban abandonment and a desire to know your neighbors.

seeing the need for more fresh food to be made available locally and are donating land and labor for this task.

Benefits

Types of community gardens

Today, young parents are becoming involved in community gardens in greater numbers, because they want to grow more healthful foods for their families, promote family togetherness, take a bite out of crime, and increase recreation and exercise in a nation of growing obesity.

Civic, social and senior organizations are

There are many shapes, sizes and types of community gardens. It depends on the land, the number of people to work the land, the resources available, the purpose of the garden, and someone to organize it into a garden.

Churches often create gardens to grow produce to donate to food kitchens and

missions. Neighborhoods use city or private lots divided into plots. Other gardens have individual plots for personal consumption and a common area that is tended by all members and grows food to give away or sell to support the needs of the garden, such as buying tools, mulch, seeds, tilling, etc.

School gardens are becoming extremely popular to expose young people to nature through practical, hands-on methods. Recently, I listened as a school dietitian expressed her surprise that students recognized the change in the vegetables at lunch when the growing season ended and the cafeteria had to return to vegetables shipped in from other countries. The students had learned that fresher vegetables grown locally had much better flavor. There is a big push to find farmers willing to grow vegetables and fruits locally and to sell them to schools, hospitals and restaurants.

KIDD continues on 6

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Create a lush garden on a modest budget

By Sabrina Paparella Domaine

We dream of a day when every piece of produce we could ever desire is in our very own backyard. Getting there, however, takes time. One other key ingredient: money to invest in the items you need.

Gardening on a tight budget is actually much less of a hurdle than you may think. To help you create the harvest of your dreams, we enlisted the help of Burpee, a familyowned seed company that lent us a few secrets of the trade. Keep reading for some easy tricks experts always use to grow their harvest to its fullest, while keeping within their budget. n Save on soil.

Large containers — which frequently need changing — eat up hefty quantities of soil. But some of the soil you’re emptying into containers is likely unnecessary for growing your harvest to its lushest.

Soil, of course, is a component to gardening that every budget will have to account for, but you can save on the amount you use. The experts at Burpee gave us this ingenious tip: “To save on soil in a large container, fill the bottom of the container with empty water bottles to take up space, and make your container lighter.

Then, fill the top half of the pot with soil.”

This simple trick is easy to follow, and you’ll be seeing a difference in your soil use in no time.

dreamstime

Gardening on a tight budget is actually much less of a hurdle than you may think. There are ingenious ways to curtail any challenges that may be limiting your field of vision. n Maximize space.

When it comes to deciding what to plant, the options are endless, and you may be eager to start harvesting a bit of everything.

Why not include more

than one option in your container? Expand on the type of produce you plant, without having to stock up on multiple containers.

Our experts recommend “investing in a hardwork-

ing mixed container for veggies to maximize your space and harvest.” Grow a variety of produce even if your space and budget are limited. n Grow creatively.

Every great garden needs an abundance of planters, right? Think again. Our experts suggest “thinking outside the pot. Grow your plants anywhere, like in crates, buckets, bags and other objects, to save money on purchasing additional items.”

You don’t need to go to a gardening supply chain to pick up each and every item — get creative with where you grow. Not only is this cost-efficient, but it will also give your garden a look that is completely one-of-a-kind.

n Make small purchases.

If you just started exploring the world of gardening, you may be overwhelmed by the seemingly endless amount of products to invest in. Don’t feel like you have to make every purchase at once.

In fact, the fewer trips to the store, the better — it’s much less tempting to grab miscellaneous items that way.

Create a list of exactly what you need and buy in monthly hauls. Burpee says, “Spread out your gardening purchases.

Start at the garden center and buy soil, then head back a month later and get pots, and a few weeks later purchase your seeds and LUSH continues on 5

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Properly installed ridge vents help ventilate attic Lush: Use your garden

By C. Dwight Barnett Tribune News Service

Q: We are having a new roof installed, and they said they would put on a vent at the top of the roof.

The vent would be the full length of the roof, and they said it was part of the price we are paying for the roof replacement. I was doing research and found your article about a ridge vent and how it may not always be a good idea. Is this something I should bring to the attention of the roofing company?

A: Yes, homeowners should always be informed about a company or a product before signing a contract for work to be done on their home. A ridge vent is an excellent form of attic ventilation when installed properly.

Most homes have an overhang for the roof called a soffit. When a ridge vent is installed, there also must be an equal area of venting at the soffits. If you don’t have the correct amount of soffit vents, this could be an extra unplanned cost to correct.

The square feet of free venting at the soffits must be equal in area to that of the ridge vent. Free venting is the area of the vent that isn’t covered with screening or other obstructions to air flow.

A piece of 12-by-12-inch vented soffit material, or 1 square foot, only has around 9 square inches of free venting. Likewise, a foot-long piece of ridge vent has about 9 square inches of free venting. If the soffit and ridge vents

are not balanced, the attic could be hot in the summer and have higher humidity in the winter.

During high winds and rain, an unbalanced ridge vent has been known to draw moisture into the attic space. The soffitto-ridge venting must be balanced, and this means there shouldn’t be other roof vents, gable vents, cupolas or turbine vents open to the attic space.

Ask the roofer for the ridge vent manufacturer’s name and then look for product information on the manufacturer’s website.

While inspecting attics with what appears to be a balanced ventilation system, I have on occasion noticed the roof’s decking wasn’t cut open to allow the ridge vent to function

properly or the soffit vents were blocked by attic insulation. If you aren’t able to inspect the ridge vent opening or to calculate the ridge-to-soffit venting ratio, then it would be wise to hire an unbiased third party, such as a home inspector, to inspect the completed work and issue a written report for your records.

When you are satisfied that the work is fully completed, you can then pay the final installment on the contract you have with the roofer.

C. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 268, Evansville, Ind. 47702 or d.Barnett@insightbb.com.

to help with gift giving Continued from 3

plants. There will be less sticker shock, and you will still have all the items you need.” Plan ahead with exactly what you’ll need, along with a frequency that works for your budget. n Share your harvest.

Have friends and family who share the same passion for gardening?

Burpee’s got a plan you should consider: “Let your garden help with gift giving. Share plants or your harvest with friends and family for a tasty and inexpensive way to gift.”

This is also a great way to exchange harvests and try out plants to consider for your own garden. Have

Find the career you’re searching for!

‘‘

Let your garden help with gift giving.

Share plants or your harvest with friends and family for a tasty and inexpensive way to gift.” burpee

family-owned seed company

an excess of tomatoes but need lemons? Make a trade with a friend. Plantswap parties are another fun way to proudly show off your green thumb while receiving new treats of your own.

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Before planting your garden, test the soil

By Dustin Lemmon

Special to The Capital-Journal

If your garden didn’t do as well as you wanted last year — your annuals didn’t flower much and you didn’t get many vegetables — it’s probably time to get the soil tested.

Dave Jackson, owner of Jackson Greenhouse and Garden Center Inc., 1933 N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road, said testing the pH of the soil is really important to determine if it’s suitable for planting.

“In my view, that’s the key to everything in terms of being successful,” Jackson said.

With the exception of sweet corn, which likes a higher pH level, most vegetables and flowers are going to need soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8, he noted, adding one point can make all the difference.

“They can bring in their (soil) sample, and we’ll test it,” Jackson said, adding testing takes about 15 minutes and his staff will provide recommendations based on the findings.

If it’s an older garden with soil that hasn’t been tested in a while, he recommends having it tested at the Shawnee County Extension Office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave.

When to test

Jamie Kidd, Shawnee County Extension horticulture agent, said if pH levels are off then food can’t get from the soil to the plant.

If the soil’s pH is too high, you’ll need to add sulfur. If it’s too low, you should add lime.

“People think you should add lime every year,” she said. “You shouldn’t do it unless your soil’s pH is too low and acidic.”

Kidd recommends having the soil tested every three years. She suggests rotating the tests each year — one year, get the garden soil tested; the next year, flower garden soil; the third, turf.

Shawnee County Extension offers one free soil test to Shawnee County residents each year through a grant. If you need more than one test or are a nonresident, the cost is $10. By rotating the tests each year, you can get all of your soil tested for free. To learn more about the Extension’s soil testing program, visit shawnee.k-state.edu/ lawn-garden/soil-testing. html.

Nitrogen and composting

Once you have the pH levels lined out, you’ll need to add fertilizer to help the

plants produce the energy needed to grow. Fertilizer contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphates.

“Everybody is going to need nitrogen,” Kidd advised.

When you get the soil tested, you also can find out how much fertilizer you need to add. Another thing you might be considering — or are already trying — is composting. But be aware: If compost hasn’t broken down all the way, Jackson warned, it will start absorbing nitrogen.

“Anything green will take nitrates from the soil and will compete with plants,” he explained.

Jackson said most experienced gardeners will let compost break down for six months or more before putting it to use. He recommends turning it often to help speed up the process.

Another way to tell if compost is ready to use is to check the smell.

“If it’s balanced correctly, it won’t stink,” Kidd said.

However, if you’re counting on compost to help boost nitrogen levels, it likely won’t help all that much.

“Compost is not high in nitrogen,” Kidd said.

What it can do, she said, is help clay soil drain more effectively and sandy soil hold more water.

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Before you plant seeds or put plants into the ground, have the soil tested to determine if the pH level is suitable for gardening. After that, add fertilizer to help the plants produce the energy needed to grow.

Kidd: Get friends, neighbors involved in starting a community garden Continued from 2

Starting out

Here are some steps to take to get your community garden going: n Get friends and neighbors involved. It takes about 10 families to sustain a community garden. Hold monthly meetings to develop plans and make progress

on the garden. n Forming a garden club is another way to start up a community garden. Hold meetings, assign duties, determine the purpose and expected outcomes of the garden. n All gardens need an administrative structure, which may include establishing rules, reviewing applications, making plot assignments, collect-

ing dues (if any), paying water bills, and resolving conflicts. n Finding land with water is essential. It may be a meter and come with a bill. It may be the landowner is willing to donate the water or reduce the fees for the water. n The land may need to be leased, or it may not. n Liability insurance may be necessary if the

landowner doesn’t have any. n Get the soil tested. It may need to be amended before planting. n Plan the garden layout.

Challenges

There are challenges with anything we do.

Community gardens aren’t an exception. Management, maintenance,

skills, supplies, water and participation are just a few of the challenges, but with good people and determination most challenges can be met.

Help available

The Shawnee County Extension Office will have a hands-on community garden training at 9 a.m. May 20 in the Master Gardener vegeta-

ble garden at the southeast corner of the Kansas Expocentre parking lot, near the locomotive at S.W. 21st St. and S.W. Topeka Blvd. Subjects include seeding/planting, weeding techniques, watering, mulching, harvesting and food safety.

For more information, contact brendajarbo@ ksu.edu at (785) 2320062.

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Give your home a spring break A few design tricks can freshen up your home

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service

The official start of spring is only days away.

And if you’re like me, you can’t wait.

As you welcome this season of new life into your heart, do the same in your home.

I asked Molly, one of our talented young designers, to share some simple, but powerful, ways to add a touch of spring to your decor. Here are five spots in your home she said are just waiting for a spring break.

Dining table

This spring, Molly’s color crushes are blue, green and white.

Favorite spring accents?

Flowers. “They add a finishing touch to a space,” she said.

Once you have used linens and dishes to create a base for your seasonal table, you can easily trick it up for spring holidays.

For Easter, all it took was topping each place setting with an adorable egg cup holding a faux egg and a spring chick salt-and-pepper set.

One way to make your spring table pop is adding flowers as an accent. To get your guests in the holiday spirit, you can add some Easter decorations, such as a bunny or faux eggs.

Mantel

Blush pink is hot this year. “It’s very romantic and adds a feminine aspect to your decor, without going overboard,” Molly pointed out.

Our design team featured the color in a simple mantel treatment at Nell Hill’s. An oversized abstract painting with complementary tones and glass accents were the perfect picks to make the mantel light and bright.

Bed

Molly is a master at pattern play, pulling together a mix of textiles to create a work of art on a bed or piece of furniture. One of her favorite places to welcome spring is through bedding. When she creates a bed design, she often starts with a neutral base so you can easily change the look of the ensemble just by swapping out the pillows.

This spring, it’s all about soft pastels and romantic touches. One of her favorite beds at Nell Hill’s has a gold trellis headboard, which sets the scene for the interesting mix of patterns, all in soft, subtle tones.

Navy is one of Molly’s favorite neutrals, because it looks great with just about every color you pair it with.

For one inspiration bed at Nell Hill’s, Molly wanted a design that told its story in pattern and texture, keeping the color palette tight. For spring, store your duvet away and instead use a romantic bedspread that sweeps the floor. For a bit of color, Molly used a navy matelasse quilt at the foot of

photographs by tribune news service

Navy is a favorite neutral because it looks great with just about every color you pair it with. The design for this bed tells a story in pattern and texture. the bed. If floral isn’t your thing, try adding paisley to your bedding.

“Pillows are a way to bring your personality in,” Molly shared. “A lot of people are afraid to mix styles, but even adding little touches like a Greek key tape is unexpected and makes your bedding less cookie-cutter.”

Furnishings

“I think every room needs a little green,” Molly said. Jewel tones and patterns that mimic natural elements are showing strong, so Molly added an arresting malachite pillow to a trio jazzing up a blue-striped Chesterfield sofa. The sofa is a classic style, but it looks new and fresh when upholstered in a bolder stripe and amped up with a mix of pillows that reinterpret classic

‘‘

To me, the best spaces combine traditional elements with modern accents.”

Molly

designer at Nell Hill’s

patterns, like an oversized botanical.

“To me, the best spaces combine traditional elements with modern accents,” Molly said. “Bringing in a few bold pillows is a fun way to add a touch of modern to a space. I like that it is unexpected and mixes things up, making you think outside the box.”

Side tables

Imagine what a great

day you’ll have if you start every morning by drinking in a cheerful spring display on your bedside table. To give your night stand a recharge, start by taking a long look at your bedside lamp. Is it time to update and refresh? I really like the clean lines of contemporary lamps, which come in a variety of colors.

To create a sweet and simple scene, use books as risers, a stage for an oldfashioned clock. A crystal decanter filled with cool water paired with a pretty drinking glass are ideal bed companions for the warmer months. Tie up the display with a loose bouquet of sweetheart roses.

This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www. nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@nellhills.com.

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Take steps to free home of poisons Install carbon monoxide alarms, test for radon

By C. Dwight Barnett Tribune News Service

National Poison Prevention Week is March 19-25. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration website, hrsa.gov, the nation’s poison centers answer more than 4 million calls each year. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home.

First Alert has suggested some tips to keep your home and family safe from some of the more common poisons. n Carbon monoxide: “This colorless, odorless gas is the No. 1 cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S. — it is notoriously known as the ‘silent killer.’ The only way to be prepared for a

carbon monoxide emergency is by having a working alarm.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a carbon monoxide alarm should be installed on each level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. n Radon: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

“The majority of radon comes from the soil, so this poisonous gas can seep through cracks or openings in a home’s foundation, causing unhealthy amounts to accumulate in the air.”

The EPA and U.S. surgeon general recommend radon testing for all homes or living spaces below the third floor. The

EPA also recommends testing in schools. More information can be found at epa.gov/radon. n Cleaning products: Never mix household or chemical products together. Doing so can create a dangerous gas. “Everyday household items, such as laundry detergent, bleach and furniture polish, all contain toxic chemicals. When swallowed, these products can lead to burning and irritation in the lungs and can also cause vomiting and severe respiratory distress.”

Chemicals, household cleaners, medicines and other poisonous substances should be kept in locked cabinets and out of the reach of children. If someone ingests a cleaner, detergent or other potential poison, immedi-

‘‘

The majority of radon comes from the soil, so this poisonous gas can seep through cracks or openings in a home’s foundation, causing unhealthy amounts to accumulate in the air.”

First alert

ately call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.

As new homes are being built tighter and becoming more efficient, we’re increasing our potential for hazardous indoor air quality. Even the byproducts or off-gassing of some of the construction materials used can be hazardous. Indoor air quality is a growing area of concern that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Many new construction codes are requiring proper ventilation for our homes; however, many states haven’t yet adopted the latest building codes. There are professionals that can test

your home’s indoor air quality, including the home’s radon levels. If elevated levels of radon are present, they can be easily mitigated. If there are indoor air quality issues, they can usually be improved with mechanical ventilation.

There are also construction techniques that can be used to lower the potential for radon and indoor air quality issues, but they are often not installed. Always make sure any professional you hire to do testing and/or repairs to your home is licensed or certified by a national program and is insured.

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TV company looking for structures The Capital-Journal A TV production company is looking for people in Kansas City and its surrounding area who have unique structures, vehicles or containers they can turn into livable retreats. Think boat, old barn, abandoned train car, dumpster, grain silo — anything on your

property in which people could sleep, eat or play.

Red Arrow Industries, the production company behind History Channel’s “Lone Star Restoration,” is casting for its new show, “You Can’t Turn That Into a House.”

The company is looking for people to appear on camera and have their could-be dwellings transformed.

Those wishing to be considered should send the following information to youcant@redarrowindustries. com: name; home address; phone number; photos of the unique structure; and the story behind the structure/vehicle/container, such as how you came to own it and how it’s currently being used.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Sticky bumper stickers

To remove sticker residue from a car window: n Use petroleum-based prewash laundry spray to soften the gummy residue, then remove it with a plastic pot scrubber. n Or, try some duct tape: Put it over the sticky spot, rub back and forth with your hand, then peel it off — it may take a few tries. n To finish, clean the area with vinegar or window cleaner. Don’t use an abrasive cleanser or steel wool, which can scratch the glass.

Source: Heloise via goodhousekeeping.com

Service Directory

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