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Saturday, August 1, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jaime Hancock Garden Column – Harnessing the power of the wind – Getting on track to purchase a home – Service Directory –

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2 | Saturday, August 1, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

The healing power of gardening Jamie Hancock

poor people worked off their debts to hospitals by working on the grounds. Doctors noticed these patients recovered quicker and to a better health standard than the other patients did. Servicemen returning home after World Wars I and II worked in gardens to improve functioning of wounded limbs and increased mental function as well. Research has demonstrated that people heal faster after surgery jamiehan@ksu.edu when exposed to natural scenery. It has also been found that looking at pictures of plants Do you remember how you felt when you can reduce blood pressure. In 1955 Michigan came upon a really breath taking vista while State University offered the first undergradudriving or hiking? Something you wanted to ate degree in Horticulture Therapy and in drink in and look at forever. It made you pause 1971 Kansas State University offered the first and stop thinking about anything else in the graduate program.

People relate to plants. Plants have aesthetic world; just the beauty of the moment. You took a deep breath and just looked. It’s a feel- and spiritual qualities. The annual dormancy ing of peace and awe you don’t easily forget. and rejuvenation of plants marks time, and provides a sense of connection to the earth Go ahead. Take a moment, I’ll wait.

While very few of us have a sweeping view and other living things. The simple task of in our backyards we can do things in our own planting seeds and tending plants can restore little worlds to give us restored health and a balance and perspective to a life filled with stress or chaos. Plants can’t be rushed. We are sense of peace in a stress filled society.

Reduced stress and improved health by subject to their timeframes and not our own. interaction with nature is not a new concept. The success we feel as the seedlings emerge Ancient kings and emperors had enormous and grow into flowering beauties is heartfelt. gardens they walked in no doubt to calm their We have nurtured life successfully. minds when contemplating war. In the 1600’s HANCOCK continues on 9A

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Harnessing the power of the wind

By Todd Epp Special to The Topeka Capital-Journal

Living in Kansas means living with wind.

Dodge City is one of the windiest cities in the nation, averaging nearly 14 miles per hour, according to Kansas State University. Goodland, Concordia and Wichita are in the top 30 windiest cities, each with winds averaging 12 mph or more, according to KSU. Then there’s the name of the state. Some historians and ethnologists says means “people of the south wind” in the Lakota language for the Kansa people who moved to the area after 1700s from the Ohio Valley.

And of course, there’s the most famous Kansas wind of all—the tornado—made famous (or infamous) by The Wizard of Oz. The crazy wind sends Dorothy and Toto to a magical place but yet they want to return home to Kansas.

But can Kansas’ wind be more then the stuff of history, legend and aggravation?

Yes. With enough money and the right location, the ever-present Kansas wind could power your home.

SRI Wind Solar in Arkansas City, Kansas in south central Kansas installs wind generators for homes.

“Ten thousand kilowatt units are common,” according to Sterling Condit, 52, president and owner of SRI. “That should knock out most of your electric bill.”

Condit says location is important in siting a unit.

First, if you live in a city, it is likely zoning ordinances or neighborhood cov-

enants prohibit construction. Check if your municipality and your property deed allow for wind units.

Thus, Condit says his installations have been outside city limits.

Second, where your house sits geographically is important.

“Hilltops are your friends, valleys are not,” Condit joked.

The other major issue is cost. It is not cheap to go “off the grid.” Condit says it can cost $50,000 to $70,000 to build a unit.

“It depends on a lot of factors,” Condit said. “Which turbine? How tall is the tower? Sometimes the tower can be as expensive as the turbine.”

He also warns against putting up your own tower because of harmonics. The tower and turbine have to be in sync or tuned with each other or the tower can sway, according to the wind power website OtherPower.com.

Another issue is the increasing price of wind generators. Smalley Energy in Topeka, which does solar home energy projects, used to do wind energy installations as well. But according to Bev Smalley, “the manufacturers got greedy and the cost became too high to justify the savings.”

However, Smalley does recommend a smaller, wind powered battery charging system. Think a portable generator powered by the wind rather than gasoline or diesel fuel.

Both Smalley and Condit say installing a home wind system is not a do it yourself project.

“If you had an extensive construction background, yeah, maybe,” Condit said.

WIND continues on 10A

Photos provided by SRI Wind Solar

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Getting on track to purchase a home

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

Christina Pirtle wanted to buy a house.

She had moved back to Topeka with her 12 year-old son after a divorce and secured a job at the Washburn University financial aid office. Even though she was renting a home, her ultimate goal was home ownership.

To make Pritle’s dream a reality, she signed up for help through Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. Founded in 1972, HCCI provides financial counseling, homebuyer services, educational programs, and tenant/landlord counseling to area residents. Chief Operating Officer Marilyn Stanley said, “Most people seek us out because they are looking into buying a house. We work with them to help them pay off credit debt or to establish credit.”

Pirtle contacted HCCI to get her credit in good standing so she could qualify for the Topeka Opportunity to Own (TOTO) program. Designed to help low and middle

income residents become homeowners, the TOTO program provides educational, financial and home rehab assistance.

Those in the TOTO program will receive a mortgage through a participating lender, either Capital City Bank or CoreFirst Bank and Trust, with the Federal Home Loan Bank covering the closing costs. The City of Topeka Housing and Neighborhood Development provides up to $20,000 towards home repairs and purchase costs, or up to $30,000 for a house located in one of four “opportunity areas” in the city.

To qualify for TOTO, potential homeowners must:  Have $500 to put towards the down payment.  Buy a home in the Topeka city limits.  Choose a house with a sale price less than $65,000.  Own no other real estate at the time of closing.  Have good credit.  Go through a budget evaluation to determine if they can afford to buy the

house.  Attend 12 hours of home buyer and maintenance training.

Pirtle began the program in January, 2014 and reached her goal in April of this year. She qualified for the TOTO program and started the search for her new home.

So far, she hasn’t found the right one yet, but she knows it’s out there somewhere.

Her primary requirement is two bathrooms, so she and her son don’t have to share.

“I worked with Rebecca Atnip [at HCCI] and the experience was awesome,” Pirtle said. “I was pretty frugal already. I had some medical bills and student loans to pay off. The program introduced me to workshops on budgeting and couponing… anything where I could learn to cut costs.

The one-on-one counseling was very encouraging. She was always willing to listen and offer advice.”

Stanley said the typical HCCI client for the TOTO program is a working single parent, but they serve people in all types of family situations. Many are people who

got into credit troubles when they were younger and didn’t know how to budget their money. Some are sent to them by a lender after they failed to qualify for a loan.

“For financial counseling, we get people in all income ranges,” Stanley noted.

“There is a stereotype that people with good incomes wouldn’t need our help.

However, sometimes the more you earn means the more you spend. Student loans are causing a lot of people problems when it comes to buying a house. Some are in default, while sometimes they’ve just got a lot of student loan debt to pay off.”

To learn more about HCCI’s programs, visit their website at hcci-ks.org. Initial counseling sessions are offered in person or via phone, mail or online. You can contact HCCI through their website or by calling 785-234-0217.

“I tell everyone I meet about the program,” Pirtle said. “It’s hard work. It’s not for slackers at all, but if you’re willing to do the work, it will pay off.”

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Service Directory

Service Directory

Boost your brand, product or service with an ad in the service directory! At Home Living is read by home owners, buyers and sellers across the Topeka and surrounding area. To place your ad contact your MultiMedia Sales Consultant or 785.295.1125.

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Hancock: Refreshing your mind and body Continued from 2A Mark Epstein, Seattle Daily Journal, writes, “A garden can restore a sense of order, safety and privacy for those dealing with the chaos induced by illness. The act of gardening produces a peaceful, effortless concentration that increases our capacity to rest. It creates more outward perceptions rather than inward self-consciousness, a valuable balance to the uneasiness of illness.” Substitute the word illness with stress and most of us can see how we can benefit from interaction with nature.

Even a walk through a park can help refresh our minds allowing us a new perspective. God knew what He was doing when He told Adam and Eve to “tend the garden.” He knew life was going to get really stressful really soon.

Exercise is known for raising endorphins and lowering stress. Raking, chopping, digging, planting, and harvesting are great physical activities. They are a constructive outlet for tensions that build up in our bodies. The more you garden the greater endurance you gain as well as flexibility, agility, balance, muscle strength, and aerobics for your heart and lungs. Ultimately, it can be a good weight control method particularly for obese children who are unable to participate in activities at school.

Numerous studies are showing us that regular physical activity reduces your risk of high blood pressure, adult-onset diabetes, heart disease, premature death, obesity, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, and colon cancer. You are never too young or too old to participate in

physical activity. Check with your doctor first to see just how much you should do.

You don’t have to have a plot of land or a yard to create a green space to enjoy and promote healing. Container plantings on a deck or small patio will work. Houseplants will also work. If you have some space outdoor, start small and plant things you enjoy. Annual flowers are usually the easiest to grow. They come up quickly and produce wonderful color with just a little effort. If you already have a garden, add to it, change it, try something new, challenge yourself.

Keep your gardening task list simple and short. Too big a list will add to your stress not relieve it.

Another thought, volunteering in a community vegetable or flower garden, a school,

hospital, or daycare garden are all great ways to meet new people, get exercise, and regain that sense of awe and peace.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: Fall Lawn Care will be presented at the Topeka/ Shawnee County Public Library at 7:00 pm on August 13. Come and learn what to do to improve and enjoy your lawn.

Gardens to Attract Bees and Butterflies will be presented at the Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library at 7:00 pm on August 27th. Learn some simple and interesting ways to make your garden a haven for pollinators.

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Wind: Using clean energy

Continued from 3A “If you’re an accountant? No. Generally, I’d have to say no.”

Condit also says manufacturer warranties require expert installation.

If cost is not a barrier, wind energy does have many benefits. GreenLogic Energy notes wind energy is “clean,” helps make the nation energy independent and may let a homeowner “spin the meter back” and sell electricity to the power company.

They also note that there may be state or federal tax credits and incentives from some power companies.

As far as wind energy goes in Kansas, Kansas City Power and Light has a 100.5 mega watt wind energy facility and buys energy from other wind generating providers. Westar Energy has several wind generating units across Kansas with more on the way. According to a 2014 CapitalJournal article, Kansas ranked eighth in wind energy production, producing nearly 3,000 megawatts of electricity.

For more information on wind energy and home wind energy installation, contact: SRI Wind Solar at sriwindsolar.com; Green Logic Energy at greenlogic.com/ Wind; the Kansas Energy Information Network at kansasenergy.org/wind.htm and the Kansas Department of Commerce at kansascommerce.com. For information on federal tax credits, go to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

at energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy.

Photos provided by SRI Wind Solar

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