At Home Living 051317

Saturday, May 13, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

home.cjonline.com growing season

Tunnel vision

Gardening alternative allows year-round production page 6 n Community garden update, page 2 n A nod to bed innovations, page 5 n Virtual landscaping tools, page 8

submitted

2 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Community gardens keep sprouting Community gardening is increasingly popular in Shawnee County, with 16 established gardens in place and three new gardens in the planning stage.

Successful gardens supported by Topeka Common Ground and currently operating in Topeka are: Crossroads Wesleyan Church, First Congregational Church, Grace Community Church, HiCrest Garden, Historic Old Town Topeka, I-Care Garden, Kansas Neurological Institute, Topeka LULAC Senior Center, NET Reach, TARC, Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center, Vida Ministries, Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School and three gardens associated with the Topeka Housing Authority: Deer Creek Village, Pine Ridge Manor and Echo Ridge.

A map of the gardens is at shawnee.k-state.edu/ lawn-garden/CommunityGardening.html.

New community gardens are planned at the Shawnee County Health Department, Shawnee Heights Methodist Church and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

In addition, the Shawnee County Extension Master

Gardeners has plans to start a new demonstration community garden.

Starting a community garden is about location, location, location. It needs to be easily accessible to the volunteers, have decent soil structure and drainage, good exposure to sunlight, and ready access to potable water.

Only potable water should be used on edible plants. Other sources may be contaminated with bacteria or other pathogens.

Contaminants can be absorbed systemically through or remain on the roots, stems, leaves and other edible parts of the plants and cause foodborne illnesses. It isn’t advisable to use water from rain barrels for edible plants, but it’s great for watering ornamentals and houseplants that aren’t grown for consumption.

There are three types of community gardens: entirely communal, where all members work and harvest from a common plot; neighborhood gardens consisting of individual plots where members tend and harvest from their assigned

individual plots, but there is no communal plot; and a hybrid of communal and individJarboe ual plots.

Every community garden needs to establish what best suits its needs, find an appropriate site and water source, plan the garden layout, get the soil tested, draw up garden operating rules and elect leadership.

Other things to consider are membership requirements, including costs; budget; size and type of plots, such as raised-beds, in-ground plots, etc.; fencing; irrigation; whether to be organic, non-organic or a combination; restrictions on the use of commercial fertilizer, chemical pesticides and herbicides; limitations of certain invasive plants; types of plants allowed, such as ornamental, vegetable, annuals, perennials or herbs; and communal or individual work requirements and disciplinary procedures.

It takes about 10 volunteers and a strong manager for a community

Mark Your calendars n Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners will answer questions about lawns and gardens from 7:30 a.m. to noon May 13 and 27 at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market, S.W.12th Ave. and S.W. Harrison. n Shawnee County Extension Master Gardener Kathy Wade will talk about the Master Gardeners’ demonstration gardens at 7 p.m. May 18 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. Free. n A garden training session will begin at 9 a.m. May 20 at the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners’ demonstration vegetable garden, next to the locomotive at the south end of the Kansas Expocentre grounds. The session is open to the public. garden to succeed.

Shawnee County Extension Office offers a two-part service for new community gardens. After a group of 10 or more volunteers agree to start a community garden, the Extension office offers a presentation and basic overview on starting the garden.

The next step is to offer specific recommendations and basic garden training.

Shawnee County Extension also acts as a clearinghouse for people interested in volunteering in a community garden or looking for a plot to garden.

Coming up on May 20 to facilitate all the new gardens and new gardeners, Shawnee County Extension, in partnership

with Topeka Common Ground, is offering a free garden training from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Master Gardeners’ demonstration vegetable garden south of the Expocentre parking lot.

Topeka Common Ground is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting community gardens.

Topics will include composting and soils, fertilizing, food safety, mulching, pests, planting and transplanting, tool care, watering and weeding. To sign up, email brendajarboe@ksu.edu or call (785) 232-0062.

Brenda Jarboe is community garden network coordinator at the Shawnee County Extension Office and a Shawnee County Master Gardener.

TIP OF THE WEEK: COOKED-ON GRIME Here are some tips on how to clean your oven: n Remove the racks and drip pans, and clean them with a damp paper towel. Wipe down all surfaces inside your oven. n Give the oven window a good rubdown with vinegar and water. n If you see a small bit of burned-on gunk, remove with a nonabrasive scrubber. Use a scrub brush to clean the racks, dry and put back in. n If something spills over while baking, pour table salt on it, and when the oven is cool, you will have a much quicker cleanup.

Source: heloise via goodhousekeeping.com

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | 3

Constructing the next generation of builders

By Liz Montano

Special to The Capital-Journal

Since the financial crisis of 2008, the construction industry has faced a serious shortage of workers.

According to the Topeka Home Builders Association, about four of every 10 construction jobs were lost during the economic downfall. By the time the industry gained the confidence to again ramp up hiring, many who’d previously worked in construction had moved on or retired, leaving the sector in short supply of experienced workers.

To make the situation

worse, the THBA reports nearly a third of the people employed in construction today are Weichert within a decade of retirement.

On the local and the national level, the Home Builders Association is taking action to compensate for the years when there wasn’t active recruitment for new industry talent.

Nationally, a Homebuilding Institute was created to train young people across the country.

The Topeka Home

Builders Association, in collaboration with local members, began working with Washburn Technical Institute to attract the next generation of builders, plumbers, electricians and other construction workers through a Construction Academy.

One of the more important things the THBA does to foster future talent is to award scholarships, according to Ivan Weichert, the association’s president and CEO. Q: Last month, we talked about the importance of givBUILDERS continues on 7

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Mirrors can create illusion of larger space

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

Mirrors are often considered to be the hidden secret of design. Often just as powerful as artwork and in some cases a more appealing design option, decorating with mirrors for many homeowners may feel overwhelming.

If you are considering using mirrors in your home, here are some useful tips. n Consider using mirrors in a series. You don’t just have to use a single mirror on a wall. Using two or three in a series will help to elongate a space.

n Try round mirrors instead of square or rectangular shapes. n Use mirrors above sideboards and entertainment units. They will help to reflect other areas of a space. n If you have a room that is small or has no or few windows, consider using one big mirror or a series or mirrors. n Try rimless mirrors to create clean lines. n Consider placing a mirror above a bed. Typically the choice above a bed is artwork or a mirror. n Experiment with finishes. While metallics, such as silver and gold, are most popular, consid-

er mixing in frames that may be made out of wood or even painted. n Experiment with the ornate. Ornate mirrors work in traditional interiors, but can also add a touch of glam into nearly any space. n Experiment with thin mirrors. In some cases, bigger may not always be bigger. Slim, thinner mirrors can look really sleek and attractive, especially in modern spaces. n Consider using a wall of mirrors as artwork. Artwork doesn’t always have to be traditional art. An elaborate display of mirrors may be just as powerful.

Tribune News Service

A series of ebony wood mirrors adds drama in this living room.

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Bed innovations reflect consumers’ interests

By Melissa Kossler Dutton The Associated Press

When Greg Verlander’s father came home from rehab after having a stroke, he was upset to find a hospital bed in his room. The bed’s institutional appearance made him feel unhappy and unhealthy, his son said.

Verlander never forgot that, and when he learned of a family friend who had constructed a headboard and footboard for a hospital bed, he wanted to make them available to others.

Today, TenderCare Beds offers the products online in five finishes.

“I just wanted to change people’s environment,” Verlander said.

Other companies, too, have started selling headboards, bed skirts and

other accessories designed to help hospital beds look less institutional. Interior designer Kelee Katillac of Kansas City, Mo., specializes in remaking rooms for people who need hospital beds or medical equipment.

“As people leave the hospital sooner, there’s a greater need,” she said.

Upgrades to home hospital beds are just part of a new focus on making beds better in general — more stylish and comfortable for a wide range of activities beyond sleeping.

There are beds you can adjust to make it easier to work on a laptop, beds that keep you cool at night and beds that charge your cellphone. Many of the new offerings — including adjustable mattresses and supportive pillows — help

people age in place, says Joe Buckheit, founder of AgingCare.com, a website designed for people caring for loved ones at home.

Innovations in the bedding industry have “exploded,” says Mary Helen Rogers, spokeswoman for the International Sleep Products Association in Alexandria, Va. Manufacturers are responding to consumers’ growing understanding of the value of proper rest, and increased interest in working, gaming or watching TV in bed.

“Surviving on the minimum amount of sleep is no longer cool,” Rogers said.

For people who have difficulty sleeping because they get too warm, Rogers says, manufacturers have BEDS continues on 8

Associated Press

While adjustable beds are not a substitute for hospital beds, they do appeal to people with minor health concerns.

Find the career you’re searching for!

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the highs and lows

of garden tunnels

More Information To learn more about garden tunnels and what you might grow inside them, checkout the Kansas Rural Center’s “Growing Under Cover: A Kansas Grower’s Guide.”

It’s available in print or by clicking on the “Our Publications” tab at its website, kansasruralcenter.org.

Building one isn’t cheap, but it can better protect plants and extend season

By Dustin Lemmon

tions in a smaller structure.

It’s easy to think with summer on the way that there isn’t much need for a high — or low — garden tunnel right now. Aren’t they just used when it’s cold outside?

The reality is people use garden tunnels year round.

They don’t just help you grow crops like tomatoes in colder months. They also reduce the risk of losing plants to disease, pests and wind, said Brett Blackburn, owner of Blackburn Nursery Inc., 4100 S.W. 40th St. Better yet, the tunnels give you better-quality fruits and vegetables, said Tom Buller, horticulture agent for Douglas County Research and Extension and formerly with the Topeka-based Kansas Rural Center.

It’s true high tunnels — which can range up to 12 feet high — and low tunnels — those so short you can’t walk inside them — extend your growing season.

“You can start things earlier, grow them later,” Blackburn noted.

Buller said you can start growing plants about four to six weeks earlier than you would outside a tunnel.

Getting started

Special to The Capital-Journal

Ventilation

If you’ve never tried building or using a high tunnel before, you likely have a few questions, such as: “Won’t it get too hot in-

Submitted Photos

A garden tunnel, which can be used year round, helps reduce the risk of losing plants to disease, pests and wind. side them during the summer?”

In hotter months, it’s very important to provide ventilation to every side of your tunnel, Blackburn said, adding if you can open the top that will help, too.

You may even need to use a fan to keep air circulating.

“You’ll want side and end ventilation all day, all summer,” Buller advised.

In winter months, you’ll also want to open the high tunnel for ventilation, but only during daylight hours.

“If the owners have a job, that can be challenging,” Buller said of opening and closing vents. “That’s one thing people often underestimate.”

Heating

On the coldest nights in winter, the high tunnel won’t stay warm enough on its own to keep plants alive.

You may use some additional cover over plants inside the tunnel, Buller said, but without providing heat, the air in the tunnel won’t stay much warmer than it is outside. That said, the tunnel will prevent the ground from freezing.

The way Buller differentiates high and low tunnels from greenhouses is greenhouses have heat supplemented by a heater of some kind.

In bigger high tunnels, it’s easier to maintain a steady temperature, he added, noting there are more fluctua-

Building a high tunnel won’t necessarily be cheap.

“The initial expense turns a lot of people off,” Blackburn said, adding you have to think of it as a long-term investment that will save you lost time and money when you lose plants to disease or pests.

Blackburn recommends doing your research first, and understanding there will be some trial and error involved.

“It’s not something you just want to decide, ‘I’m gonna do this right now,’ and plunge into it,” he said.

Buller said there are a lot of options, if you choose to build the tunnel yourself.

You can use PVC for the frame, but he recommends painting it so the PVC won’t degrade the plastic. You also can use the top rail of a chain-link fence to support the top of your structure.

As for the plastic, make sure it’s greenhouse plastic that will be able to withstand the sunlight, often labeled UV-resistant. If it’s not, it will break down quickly under the sun.

When it comes to high tunnels, Blackburn said, you’re better off paying a little more upfront and getting something that’s not going to frustrate you and cause you to give up.

“They key is, if you’re not sure, to start with something small,” Blackburn said. “Decent quality, but small.”

While gardening, don’t forget texture

By Dean Fosdick The Associated Press

The most popular element in landscape design is color, but texture is another important building block. Texture in gardening can be seen as well as felt and is used primarily to provide contrast.

Color lacks dimension without texture, which can soften spaces, provide visual interest, fashion backdrops and set moods.

“It takes a different kind of eye to appreciate texture in the garden,” said Susan Barton, a University of Delaware horticulturist. “We’re all programmed to recognize color, but once you start looking for texture, you can appreciate it.”

Landscape design is comprised of five basic principles: scale, balance, repetition, dominance and unity, said Rebecca Finneran, a horticulturist with the Michigan State University Extension program.

“The tools we use to achieve these are use of line, form, color and texture,” Finneran said.

“Leaves, flowers, stems and bark can add ‘texture’ to the visual. Certain times of year or day will accentuate this. Even a pot or paving materials can add textural differences.”

Plant texture varies from coarse to fine.

Coarse-textured favorites include cannas, elephant ear, coleus, hydrangea and horse chestnut. All are dramatic and bold.

“They draw the eye because of their differences or contrast in shape or appearance,” Finneran said. “They dominate groupings.”

Most plants are said to be medium in texture, and generally are used to link fine and coarse arrangements in large settings. Examples include impatiens, daisies, camellias and viburnum.

Fine-textured plants generally have smaller foliage. Ferns, grass-

DEAN FOSDICK/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hydrangea are coarse-textured plants that draw the eye because of their contrasts in shape or appearance. This hydrangea features red and blue blooms on the same bush. es, vines, shrubs and Japanese maples fit into this category.

The subtle use of texture also can create a sense of scale and distance. Placing coarse-textured plants closest to the observer with medium plants in the middle and fine-textured assortments in the rear makes the setting appear more distant. Reversing that, with coarse-textured plants in the background and fine-textured varieties up front, tends to make gardens look smaller.

Hardscaping — using winding pathways and streams, eye-catching fountains and furniture — also produces a sense of visual texture, along with four-season interest.

The same goes for foliage shape, bark surfaces and the patterns made by branches.

Even kitchen gardens can be accented by emphasizing visual texture. Dill, fennel, thyme, asparagus and lavender are fine-textured

plants that are attractive in edible settings. Tomatoes, basil and peppers serve for medium texture, while lettuce, chard, corn and okra provide the coarse.

“Beets are a great example of adding colorful foliage to an edible garden,” Finneran said. “Pair this plant with a ferny-looking foliage of carrots and you’ve got a lovely design that you will eat later on.

“Purple kohlrabi is another great example — not to mention Swiss chard. All of these add bold coarse texture with fun color that is sure to please.”

Seek out plants based on their physical characteristics. Color is good, but visual texture is more enduring.

“Whether using plants in a container, or annuals and perennials or woody plants in the landscape, making intentional choices relative to texture will ensure an eyepleasing outcome,” Finneran said.

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Builders: Scholarship program 40 years old Continued from 3

ing back. Let’s weigh in this month on paying it forward.

How important are the scholarships in helping shore up the construction work force?

Weichert: They’re important. Some of those bright, young kids have gone through college and come back to the construction industry. One student was awarded a scholarship in 2015 and is attending Kansas State (University) where he’s majoring in construction science. He spent last summer working for Bettis Asphalt on their survey crew, where he was able to apply classroom work to real-world application. But, whether they choose a career in construction or another field, everybody benefits from those smart kids.

Another student received a THBA scholarship and graduated from Washburn University with a double major in marketing and management in 2015. He went to work at the Union State Bank of Everest holding company in their McLouth branch as a mortgage loan officer and marketing officer. (He) has since been promoted to operations manager for the holding company, which is comprised of seven locations in northeast Kansas.

Another student was a three-time scholarship winner in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

She graduated with a master’s degree in accounting and has earned her CPA certification. She currently works at a Topeka company as a staff accountant.

Another student received a scholarship in 2016 and is attending UCLA, where she’s majoring in neurosciences.

She’s won some prestigious awards, such as the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Society and Honors Collegium, and she volunteers for such charities as the Ronald McDonald House and OPICA (an organization that provides day care for adults with dementia), and she’s a member of the Bruins Fighting Pediatric Cancer Club.

The list goes on and on.

Q: Very impressive. How long has the THBA had a scholarship program?

Weichert: Forty years now.

Q: Four decades is a long time. How much is the average scholarship awarded by THBA? Weichert: They are $500 scholarships, and we award up to $5,000 in scholarships per year.

Q: These scholarships are for children of members of the association, is that right?

Weichert: For members’ children and also for the children of employees working for members, or for students pursuing a construction trade certification or a degree in a constructionrelated field. We’ll be awarding this year’s scholarships in June.

As I’ve said before, the THBA is involved with more than the construction of brick-and-mortar homes.

We’re also concerned about the building and strength of the overall community.

Q: And children are our future.

Weichert: That’s exactly right.

Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.

TOPEKA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION Address: 1505 S.W. Fairlawn Road Information about membership or upcoming events: Visit thba.com; email thba@thba.com; or call (785) 273-1260.

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Virtual technology eases landscaping

By Katherine Roth

Beds: Adjustable models growing in popularity

The Associated Press

Continued from 5

Just as virtual technology has become a common tool for anyone planning to repaint or redecorate a home, a growing array of apps can make landscaping easier, too.

But know when to use them, and when it would be easier to pull out an old-fashioned pencil and a sheet of graph paper — or to seek out a professional.

“We’ve seen an increase in virtual interior design services within the last two years, so it’s only natural that this functionality would make its way to the exterior of the home as well,” said Stephanie Sisco, Real Simple magazine’s home editor.

begun using new fabrics, foams and gels designed to keep the mattress from absorbing heat.

Those improvements address some of the concerns generated by memory foam mattresses, which initially were denser — and therefore warmer — than traditional mattresses, says Derek Hale, editor of Sleepopolis.com.

“Foams are always improving,” he said. “They’re not as warm as they used to be.”

There also are products that will blow cool or hot air under the bed or between specialized sheets.

Adjustable beds have become more appealing and affordable, Hale says. The motors are quieter, faster,

VIRTUAL continues on 10

Associated Press

A screen shot of iScape’s website showcases before and after views of landscaping changes using their mobile garden and landscape design application.

and can be operated by remote control or phone app. Some beds have massage features, USB ports or built-in lighting.

In many cases, the bases and mattresses are compatible with traditional bedroom furniture, so buyers don’t have to change their decor.

An adjustable bed that allows for additional supportive positions can help ease minor discomforts such as back and joint pain, snoring, acid reflux and swelling in the feet, says AgingCare.com’s Buckheit.

While adjustable beds are not a substitute for hospital beds, they do appeal to people with minor health concerns, says Ann Mowrey, spokeswoman for Easy Rest Adjustable Sleep Systems in Baltimore.

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For efficiency, choose air pressure-assisted toilets

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Q: Hi, Ed: I follow your column and hope you can help. We just purchased a small lake cabin, and we want to replace the old toilet with a new toilet to help save water.

I have tried research, but frankly I’m confused.

What suggestions do you have to assist us in finding a very efficient toilet?

— Kay, Florida

A: Believe it or not, a good part of the answer is in your question. The two key words are “efficiency” and “assist,” and I’ll explain both as they relate to toilets.

If you’re looking to save water, I recommend getting a high-efficiency toilet, or what we in the trades call a HET. In most cases, to qualify as a HET, the fixture flushes with less than 1.3 gallons

of water per flush.

For water savings and flushing power, I like air pressure-assisted HETs. Air-assisted or pressurelite toilets use pressure vessel technology to deliver strong and efficient flushes.

Because some pressure-assisted toilets use only 1 gallon of water per flush, this should really help clear the air on how you can save a lot of water.

Service Directory

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Virtual: ‘Many more people find them far too confusing,’ expert says Continued from 8

A few of the more popular DIY gardening apps include Garden Designer ($9.99, from Artifact Interactive), Design your New Surroundings ($9.99, from Home Revivals), Garden Plan Pro ($9.99, from Growing Interactive), and Perennial Match ($4.99, from Harmony Systems Inc.).

“We have seen several hundred thousand downloads,” said Patrick Pozzuto, founder of the iScape app ($9.99, from Home Revivals LLC), aimed at both professional and home landscapers. Based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Pozzuto worked as a contractor before launching his app.

“Arranging plants using a touch screen is way eas-

ier than using your lower back to do it,” he said.

“But while the pros have been using apps for a long time now, home gardeners do encounter some hiccups sometimes,” he added. “They don’t necessarily know what plant goes with what, and what areas it’ll grow in. And some people don’t have an artistic mind, and get into trouble.”

Dave Whitinger, executive director of the National Gardening Association, based in Jacksonville, Texas, warns that while some tech-savvy gardeners quickly get the hang of landscaping apps, the learning curve is steep, and they may be impractical for most home gardeners.

The association, founded in 1971, helps put out the

‘‘

Three-D software is still not very common, and it gives us an amazing competitive edge.”

Richard Heller Greener By Design

“Gardening for Dummies” book series (published by For Dummies) and hosts the website garden.org.

“The reality is that while the virtual tools are great for a minority of gardeners, many more people find them far too confusing, and they get really frustrated,” he said.

Many home gardeners, he says, would be better off using a pencil and

graph paper, with each square representing 6 inches, or whatever scale is appropriate for the particular garden.

Yet even for amateurs, he notes, the information on some online sites can mean the difference between failure and success with gardening and landscaping projects. Garden. org, for example, features a database for the entire country, searchable by zip code, to tell home gardeners what the frost dates are for their area, when to plant which vegetables and flowers, and what kinds of plants will encourage, say, certain varieties of butterflies or bees.

“Knowledge like that is crucial to whether a person’s gardening project succeeds,” he said. “Lettuce and spinach and to-

matoes all have different dates when they should be planted for best results, and planting dates vary depending on where you live. Just because you see the plants for sale in the nursery doesn’t mean it’s the right time to plant.”

And even if you haven’t figured out all the features of the gardening apps, they can be a good way to show professional landscapers what you have in mind, Pozzuto says.

Richard Heller, of Greener By Design, a firm in the New York area that uses 3-D software to help with both landscape design and communication with clients, says the software makes a huge difference.

“Three-D software is still not very common, and it gives us an amazing

competitive edge. It allows people to see what’s not planted, so they start expanding on projects they have in mind,” he said.

“The software is accessible to anyone, but there’s a steep learning curve involved. And you need a high-end gaming computer to use it.”

Heller says home gardeners might want to check his company’s website EZgardendesign.com, which, for a small fee, allows you to create a landscaping “design book.”

It’s a good starting point, but most home gardeners would still want to work with a professional who knows plants well, he says.

And there’s always graph paper and a pencil if the learning curve proves too steep.

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