JANUARY 2022
@HOME N E W S L E T T E R
ISSUE 123
Care For The Coop CARING FOR CHICKENS DURING INLAND NORTHWEST WINTERS BY MELISSA BLAINE
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any of us have endeavored to become urban farmers. From lovely garden beds to backyard chickens, ducks and goats. This month we are bringing you some tips on how to care for chickens during an Inland Northwest winter and other helpful flock tending tips.
Baby Its Cold Outside The first thing we all think of as the weather turns is how to keep our hens warm. Chickens are very hardy and have ample feathers to help keep them warm well below zero degrees. If your hens have a dry and minimally drafty place to roost, they will manage the winter weather without any need for an additional heat source. If you are still tempted to install a heat source, consider the fire danger; birds are notorious for flying into heat lamps and causing them to break. Either make certain your heat lamp is elevated and properly secured, preferably with a cage around it, or opt for a radiant heat source. Once you have started the winter with a heat source, keep it in place through the season as the birds will become reliant on the artificial heat.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes The most cold-sensitive parts of the chicken are their comb, waddle and feet. It is important to minimize humidity and moisture in your coop during the winter to help reduce frostbite risk. Adding pine shavings to your bedding material is helpful for absorbing excess moisture. Typical roosting designs use a round rod much like a closet rod for chickens to grab with their feet. Consider also having an area with a flat roost so that the birds can nestle their feet into their feathers for natural warmth. Food & Water Make sure there is ample food available and maybe provide an extra treat such as cracked corn in the evening on extreme cold days. Chickens eat about 1.5 times more in the winter months than they do in the summer. Dried mealworms are another great snack for extra protein, since the ground is often frozen and snow-covered, which makes it difficult for them the scratch around for insects. Water… the plugin poultry font is the easiest way to keep the water from freezing if you have power close by.
Otherwise, opt for a black rubber water bin as it won’t become brittle like plastic. Apple Cider Vinegar should be used year-round in the water (1/8 to 1/4 cup per gal.) to help with the overall health of your flock by aiding in digestion and reducing disease. Eggs Eggs should be left “nest clean,” which means you can brush off any debris, but do not wash until you are ready to use them. Eggs have a protective “bloom” that protects the insides from bacteria. Used dry eggshells can be broken up in small pieces and fed back to your hens for extra nutrients. For winter egg production, supplemental light is needed as hens require around 14 hours of daylight. You can use a light on a timer but please note the fire precautions above. One last thing to note is be mindful of predators! Even city chickens are constantly attacked by skunks and raccoons. Keep their coop secure and enjoy your feathery pets for years to come! Melissa Blaine, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson, has been raising chickens & farm critters for over 12 years.
Doers of Good: Featuring Abbey Parsons of Coldwell Banker Tomlinson IT GIVES US GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ABBEY PARSONS, REALTOR® AND SUPPORTER OF JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SPOKANE. bbey Parsons, attended her first Junior League of Spokane (JLS) social meet in her first year of real estate in 2013. It was recommended to her from her “office mom” at the time, who had been previously involved with JLS for years. She thought it might be something Abbey would be interested in, and after one meeting, she’s been involved with the non-profit organization ever since. The Junior League of Spokane is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Since their founding in 1925, JLS has been at the forefront of social reform, identifying problems and finding solutions in the surrounding area – whose purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Over the years, their community involvement has included dozens of projects, ranging from the creation of a public radio station to the prevention of child abuse. Their current focus is on promoting childhood literacy skills in the Spokane community, particularly among low-income kids. JLS welcomes all women who are committed to voluntarism and who hope to develop their potential to change their communities through volunteer training. While there are structured member expectations,
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involvement can vary from year to year. “That is what I love about the JLS, you can be REALLY involved one year and then when things change (like having a baby) you can step back and just be on a small committee,” Abbey said. “I know that when I want to get more engaged they will have a space for me!” This year, Abbey is currently on the committee that is planning a statewide event called Northwest Exchange, an event for Junior Leagues across the region to come together to network and share knowledge. The theme for this year’s conference is Creating Connections: Bridging Our Past to Our Future. The Junior League of Spokane is part of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), which is comprised of 293 leagues across the US, Canada, the UK and Mexico. Membership in AJLI grants access to resources and training opportunities, as well as the ability for members to transfer between leagues if they move. For more information about Junior League of Spokane, visit jlspokane.org.
Junior League of Spokane jlspokane.org
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doers of good #doersofgood Coldwell Banker agents, staff, and managers are a special breed, working hard to assist our clients fulfill their real estate goals while keeping our focus on community and on making our cities and towns better places for all of us. Because of our firm belief that we have an obligation to the people and places that keep our communities strong, we’ve set an ambitious goal for the next ten years: to give a minimum of $10 million to the organizations that work to help our neighbors in need. We call this our “Doers of Good.” We believe this focus needs to be shared and celebrated – and in a big way – so we are shining a light on those who are bright spots in the lives of others. We know the kind of people we have in our family, and we want you to know, too. Doers of Good will do just that. Join us in celebrating our Doers of Good by getting involved in one of the programs we will spotlight over the next several months.
Home Recipes with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson
Courtesy of paleorunningmomma.com
Sausage Potato Soup with Spinach Serves 6 INGREDIENTS • • • • • •
Avocado oil or olive oil 1 12 oz package no sugar pork sausages Yellow onion Dried oregano Dried basil Red pepper flakes (optional)
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Garlic Sea salt and black pepper Chicken bone broth, or broth of choice Small red potatoes Baby spinach Coconut cream
INSTRUCTIONS 1. 2.
NOTES This savory and hearty Sausage Potato Soup with Spinach is a quick and easy comforting meal that’s packed with flavor and nutrients. It’s Paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, Whole30 compliant and perfect for healthy weeknight dinners.
3. 4.
For the sausage, you can either cut it into bite size pieces with the casing on to brown, or remove the casings and crumble the sausage into the pot to brown it. Both ways will work! After browning the sausage, drain most of the fat, leaving about one tablespoon in the pot. Cook the onions and spices, stirring until fragrant, then add the garlic and potatoes and season with sea salt and pepper. Add the broth and bring to a boil, then cook until the potatoes are tender (5-8 minutes). Stir in the spinach to wilt, then the coconut cream and heat through. Taste the soup and add any additional seasonings, then remove from heat and serve.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Scenic Hot Cocoa Cruises
Cross-Country Skiing Lessons Select dates from January - March spokanerec.org • 509-755-2489
January - March • Every Friday-Sunday cdacruises.com • 208-292-5670
Learn the basics of cross-country skiing at Mt. Spokane! Cross-country skiing is a great way to spend time with family and friends during the winter. Lessons are taught by the experienced & friendly Spokane Nordic Ski Association instructors. Ski gear is included in the 2-hour lesson fee.
Warm up this Winter on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Hand-craft your own hot beverage with a delicious hot-cocoa bar available on-board for purchase. Classic cocoa for the kiddos, spiked cocoa for the adults. Boarding at The Floating Boardwalk, east of The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
Cheap Skate Tuesday Now - Feb. 22 • 10am-9pm riverfrontspokane.com • 509-625-6600 Head down to the Skate Ribbon in Riverfront Park during regular hours and receive free ice skate rental included with the price of your admission.
Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection Now - Feb. 13 • Tuesdays-Sundays 10am-5pm northwestmuseum.org • 509-456-3931 A celebration of beauty, Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection at the MAC’s newest marquee exhibit features more than 60 objects, spanning over 30 years of Tiffany’s prolific career. One of America’s most renowned artists, and the artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements, Louis Comfort Tiffany worked in nearly all the media available to artists and designers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries—glass, ceramic, metalwork, jewelry, and painting. His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today due to its unparalleled quality and beauty.
7th Annual Seed Swap Jan. 29 • 1-3 pm • Coeur d'Alene Library truetoseedcda.org • 208-769-2315 Take extra garden/flower seeds (home-saved or purchased) to share with others. Learn about seed saving from experts & take home varieties well-adapted to North Idaho growing conditions.
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson 4102 S Regal St, Suite 201 Spokane, WA 99223
@HOME WITH
ISSUE 123 | JANUARY 2022
©2022 Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. All rights reserved. Each office is independently owned and operated. If you currently have an Agent assisting you with the purchase or sale of property, this is not a solicitation for business.
Spokane & Kootenai County Market Snapshots - December 2021 SPOKANE COUNTY Average Sales Price
Current Listing Inventory
Average Days On Market
$417,171
197
16
Up 23.4%
Down 9.6%
Even 0.0%
Median Sales Price
Residential Closed Sales
Annual Residential Sales
$390,000
673
8,222
Up 23.8%
Down 7.4%
Up 0.6%
Average Sales Price
Current Listing Inventory
Average Days On Market
$641,905
415
80
Up 8.4%
Down 6.7%
Down 34.4%
Median Sales Price
Residential Closed Sales
Annual Residential Sales
$515,000
339
5,626
Up 34.5%
Down 9.1%
Up 10.2%
KOOTENAI COUNTY
December 2021, as compared to December 2020. The information in these reports are compiled from reports given by the Spokane Association of REALTORS® and the Coeur d'Alene Association of REALTORS® and to the best of our knowledge is accurate and current.
Market Insights BY LARRY LAPIDUS The books are closed on the Spokane real estate market for 2021, so we can stop speculating on how it will turn out, and re-set our crystal balls to 2022. Looking over the past year, the number that jumps out at us is 23.5%. That’s the percentage by which both our average and median sale prices increased in only twelve months. That’s a lot, considering that, historically, prices increase at a rate of about 5% annually. It has brought enhanced revenues to property sellers and big gains in equity to property owners, but for many hopeful home buyers, it has meant a trip to the sidelines. The true impact on buyers is more visible when you break down listings and sales by price. In December 2020, there were 182 listings over $350,000. In December, 2021, that number grew to 241 listings – an increase of nearly 25%. Meanwhile, the number of December sales over $400,000 jumped from 262 in 2020 to 404 last month – an increase of over 35%. The greatest challenge ahead is to find a way to renew the promise of affordable home ownership to the citizens of the Inland Empire.