THE
BUILDING A GOOD LIFE
For Chris Miller of Millers Professionals, Gratitude is the Secret
Tara Gayle Branches Out
Planting Daffodils for Cut Flowers
How to Get Those Stubborn Stains Out
Photo by Gil Jacobs
Interior Design by Rentschler & Co. Interiors, Photos by Lara Fort’e
VINE THE
14 TAKING ROOT, BRANCHING OUT
For Tara Gayle, adding a nursery to her existing landscape and design business is an opportunity for growth.
By Sara Mason Ader
16 A STAINLESS
LIFE
No need to Google or guess – just ask Monina how to get that stain out of your favorite shirt or skirt.
By Monina von Opel
19
DOUBLE DOWN ON DAFFODILS
They’re deer-proof, they make gorgeous cut flowers and they bring early spring color. Plant them now!
By Susie Middleton
From the Editor SWEET SUCCESS
It takes guts, hard work, ingenuity – and a little fairy dust – to make it as a builder, landscaper, designer or really any kind of business owner on this Island. The challenges are many, which is why the success stories are so inspiring.
That’s why I love that with every home and garden edition of The Vine, we get to highlight some of the people and businesses that make our Island lives more comfortable, more beautiful, and, yes, more delicious. People like Chris Miller (p.10), who arrived on the Island at the age of 17, worked in landscaping and construction, formed his own business and now runs a company with four divisions, has a charitable foundation and cultivates his strong faith with church and family life. People like Tara Gayle (p. 14), who is growing her landscape and garden design business with the addition of a nursery in West Tisbury. Businesses like Scottish Bakehouse (p. 8) that stay open and feed us well – and affordably – through the long winter.
These days it wouldn’t be a home issue without acknowledging the challenges of housing on the Island. (We’ve crunched a few numbers on p. 23.) But we’re leaving you with beauty, too – a primer on planting daffodils for cut flowers. While we prepare for winter, we can always dream of spring!
- Susie Middleton
Departments
4 EDITOR’S NOTE
5 ON THE ROCK/BOOKS
8 VINE & DINE
Five Things to Eat at Scottish Bakehouse
10 Q&A
Building a Life:
An Interview with Chris Miller
23 BY THE NUMBERS Housing Crunch
EDITOR
Susie Middleton
ART DIRECTOR
Jared Maciel
CONTRIBUTORS Sara Mason Ader,
Sissy Biggers, Chris Burrell, Molly Coogan, Ray Ewing, Laura Holmes Haddad, Jeanna Shepard, Monina von Opel
PUBLISHER
Monica Brady-Myerov
GENERAL MANAGER
Sarah Gifford
AD SALES MANAGER
Frederica Carpenter sales@vineyardgazette.com
AD SALES TEAM
Carrie Blair, Isabela Fernandez, Serena Ward
MARKETING CONSULTANT
Kharma Finley-Wallace
AD PRODUCTION
Jane McTeigue, Jared Maciel, McKinley Sanders
Copyright 2024 by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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Cover Photo: Chris Miller, CEO of Millers Professionals.
Photo by Jeanna Shepard.
PINE, BARK, CLAY, LEAF
Nature Comes Home
1. A topiary is a great way to bring the garden inside for the winter. These whimsical, decorative plants are a perfect living decoration for a breakfast nook or sunporch, and they make thoughtful gifts. Middletown Nursery is the place to find topiaries of plants such as myrtle, scented geranium and rosemary, coaxed and shaped over time right in the Middletown greenhouses.
2. They look especially grand in one of Middletown’s shapely Mexican clay pots. Topiaries range from $75 to $95; clay pots range from $30 to $200, depending on size.
3. Double up on garden décor with a colorful wooden birdhouse inside the house – on a bookshelf, a mantelpiece or a bench. Also at Middletown Nursery, these birdhouses from Birdhouse Brokerage in upstate New York are made of reclaimed wood, so no two are the same. Designs include The Cottage, The Woodshed, The Yankee, The Bungalow and The Cape Cod. Prices range from $75 to $140.
4. Handcrafted of pine straw and raffia by Mayan women in Guatemala, handsome baskets (like the one pictured) support Fair Trade and are available at Olive Branch Fair Trade in Vineyard Haven for $18 to $72. Each basket comes with a tag naming the woman who made it. It’s almost hard to imagine putting anything in a basket like this, but some come with lids and handles, and sizes range from just a few inches across to 12 inches wide.
5. While the Polly Hill plant sale is still on – it winds up on Oct. 14 – consider giving yourself a future gift (a very tall one) by purchasing a stewartia sapling. At press time, several remained, alongside other interesting shrubs, perennials and native plants propagated in the Polly Hill greenhouses. Stewartia were one of Polly’s favorite trees, and the arboretum is home to more than 70 stewartia in nine distinct cultivars.
6. When mature, stewartia showcase beautifully mottled bark, exquisite white blooms in early summer, an elegant structure and outstanding fall color. Even if you don’t have room for a tree that might grow 25 feet tall, you can stop by the arboretum to see the stewartia show off their rosy fall costumes. Polly Hill is open every day until sunset. The plant sale is open from 9:30 a.m to 4 p.m. 1 2 3 4 5
Susie Middleton photos
BOOK IT
At Home
BY MOLLY COOGAN
However you think of home – what it means, how it feels, what it looks like – no doubt you also enjoy a glimpse into what it looks like for others. If you dream of decor worthy of AD, then Ashe Leandro (Rizzoli, $65) deserves a place on your coffee table. With an introduction by Seth Meyers (seasonal Chilmarker) and lush photos of the design team’s projects, including designer Ariel Ashe’s own home in Chilmark, this book is a must-have for your design library. Meanwhile, photography fans may prefer photographer Claudio Edinger’s classic Chelsea Hotel (Abbeville Press, $35), recently reissued after being long out of print. Black and white photos of the infamous hotel’s eccentric and gritty guests and their equally eclectic dwellings is a fun book for anyone curious about the storied New York City landmark. (Editor’s note: We know of at least one Vineyarder who lived at the Chelsea Hotel!)
A departure from both of these books in every way imaginable is the new gothic novel The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister (Counterpoint LLC, $28). A dilapidated manor situated on a cranberry bog has been home to generations of a once great but now isolated and tragic family whose unbreakable ties to their home and their land obscure a history that is not all that it seems. It’s a creepy and surprising story perfect for cozy fall reading.
These new books, each as different as the idea of home itself, allow the reader to step into homes beautiful, fascinating, frightening, and above all, unique.
Molly Coogan is co-owner of Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven.
Laughing Bear!
Irresistible clothing, jewelry and accessories for women
After 38 years of business we will have our final closing on Oct 31st
Storewide 40%-50% off (some exceptions are 30% off, including jewelry)
We are deeply grateful for the love, your support, and enthusiasm over all these years
FIVE THINGS TO EAT At Scottish Bakehouse
BY LAURA HOLMES HADDAD • PHOTOS BY RAY EWING
Finding a fresh, from-scratch meal on the go isn’t always easy in the off-season. But chef/owner Daniele Barrick’s Scottish Bakehouse continues to create hearty, delicious food that can satisfy any Islander, from a meat lover to a vegan. While many people know the Bakehouse for their famous egg sandwiches and sausage rolls (breakfast is served all day), the blackboard menu offers so much more. And the generous portions are large enough to feed two people – or one ravenous teenager.
At Scottish Bakehouse, the sandwiches (including classics such as BLTs), the smash burgers, or the specials, like the meatball sub marinara, are hard to resist. The shop offers daily and weekly specials (posted online at scottishbakehousemv.com), and they also participate in the Island
Eats program (islandeatsmv.com).
Besides savory dishes, the Bakehouse always has a large selection of delicious pastries and baked goods on hand. Freshly baked breads include gluten-free options, and you’ve got your choice of croissants, scones, Danish, muffins and at least six types of cookies. You can also find locally sourced grocery items, such as eggs, prepared “grab and go” salads, and seasonal fruit.
Order ahead by phone or online to save time – unless it’s a lovely day to sit on the porch or a picnic table and watch the world go by while you wait for your order.
Laura Holmes Haddad is a former cookbook editor and a regular contributor to the Vine.
Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Vineyard Haven (508) 693-6633 scottishbakehousemv.com
Open Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Online ordering & phone orders available Coffee and cold brew; no espresso drinks @scottishbakehouse
1) MEXICAN RICE & BEANS ($14)
My family’s favorite, this meal is a real deal. It features a generous portion of fluffy Mexican rice and black beans, topped with fresh salsa, fresh guacamole and one egg. It will fill you up, whether you eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
2) KEY LIME PIE ($25)
I’ve done the research for you, and Scottish Bakehouse’s Key lime pie is the best on the Island. It’s sublime: a slightly crunchy graham cracker base is filled with perfectly tart Key lime filling and topped with a fat layer of whipped cream. (If they’re sold out, try the Key lime tarts; $3 each. The two-bite portion is just as delicious.)
3) BREAKFAST BURRITO ($10)
This is my favorite breakfast on the go. A warm tortilla stuffed with two eggs, refried beans, shredded potatoes, fresh salsa and guacamole, this burrito will satisfy you until dinner – and won’t fall apart while you’re eating it.
4) BRAZILIAN PLATE ($18)
This is a dish that will feed one person for dinner and still yield enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Your choice of protein (chicken, beef, pork cutlets or tofu), comes with pinto beans, Jasmine white rice and chef’s choice of two cold salads.
5) COCONUT LENTIL CURRY ($17)
One of the many delicious vegetarian options at the Bakehouse, this has a mild curry sauce with lentils, potatoes, carrots and peas served with fluffy white rice. This is vegetarian comfort food at its best.
Building A Life
An Interview with Chris Miller
BY SISSY BIGGERS • PHOTOS BY JEANNA SHEPARD
Take a trip around Martha’s Vineyard, and you’re sure to spot the iconic big green trucks with the fish logo –hallmarks of Millers Professionals, a family-run business serving the Island in countless ways. Whether it’s a roofing crew, a lawn care team, gardeners tending pristine landscapes, pool service workers or construction framers, Chris Miller’s team is everywhere, tackling it all with precision and care.
After a stint in Boston, Ubaldo Christian Miller arrived alone on Martha’s Vineyard at just seventeen years old. With the support of friends and a keen eye for opportunity, he began working on a landscaping team where his talents and strong work ethic quickly stood out. His personal and professional journey is deeply rooted
in his faith, family and the profound gratitude for the life he’s built on the Vineyard.
Q. You first worked in restaurants in Boston before your move to the Island. How did you make the leap to landscaping and construction here?
A. I was raised in Brazil in an environment where construction was a big thing. My whole family was involved in construction – my father, my grandfather and my three older brothers. We owned a construction business and everybody worked there. And we owned a farm. So that was in me. When I left the restaurant world and I started doing landscaping, the first day – when I was doing some
planting – I was like, oh, this is it, I feel at home here.
Q. How did the move to construction happen?
A. Landscape companies lay people off in the winter, so I went to work in the construction world doing framing, which is another thing that I felt so comfortable with. In Brazil we did everything by hand. When we built a wall it was with hand nails – and now I had a nail gun. For me, it was all about learning to use the new tools. That was the change I had to adapt to.
Q. Clearly you were a quick study!
A. I was, because of the environment and my parents back home. When I got into landscaping I felt great. Then I jumped into construction, and after six months I was running a team for Steve Doyle and Kirby Doyle. I connected with them that first winter when I was first laid off from landscaping. I stayed there for three or four more years and in 2005 they approached me to be their
partner. They said, "Chris, we love you, you’re a smart kid, you’ve got so much potential."
Q. They gave you your big break!
A. They gave me the option to either pay my salary with 25 per cent of the profits or start my own company. I went home, thought about it, and the next day I went back to Steve and I started my DBA (Doing Business As) UCM: Ubaldo Christian Miller. Nobody could pronounce Ubaldo; everyone asked me if they could call me Chris. Chris Miller – it picked up just like that.
Q. When did your fish logo come in?
A. My wife Lauriete came up with the idea. We drew a fish and then we saw the Christian logo of a fish and we thought that’s great – we’re Christian and we live on Martha’s Vineyard. We put little waves and our name on it. That became our brand and things started happening so fast. We had kids coming and work was picking up. We
had all these things going on and also got really involved in our church.
Q. Your early clients saw something not just in your work, but they also saw something in you.
A. That’s why our business just kept growing because everywhere we went, we had the mentality of serving with the best heart. And then the business just expanded so fast!
Q. Does that mission of “heart” continue today?
A. It is true today, and also with the employees as well as the people who have been with us since we started. I still have my first client from 2001 and my second client who challenges us all the time. If he calls the office and it takes two hours to get back, he reminds us that he is Chris’s second client!
Q. A familiar refrain on the Island is about the cost of landscaping services. What is your response when your clients complain about the cost?
A. People ask why it costs $100 to mow their lawn. There’s a lot behind it. People don’t see it. The guy mowing the lawn has a family and kids and a mortgage and a normal lifestyle. If he moves to Boston we won’t have him next year. There’s added value in that.
We need to keep these people here to mow your lawn, clean your pool, repair your roofing, fix your HVAC in the middle of the summer. We can’t just rotate everyone out.
Q. Let’s talk about this past summer. Some people thought it was beautiful, others thought it was too wet or too dry. What’s your professional view?
A. I never complain about anything. As a child, I was taught not to complain. My mentality is that life is great, so my answer to the question is simple: It was a great summer, and it’s going to be a great winter. If you live on the Island, you don’t have to be smart to figure out this is such a special, unique place. I love the Island. I’m so grateful to be here. Everyone I interact with here is a blessing. That’s why we work so hard to be a part of the community.
Q. Thanks, Chris. I think we all need that reminder of just how special this place truly is. Now, shifting gears, let’s dive into our seasonal fall cleanup plans!
A. It’s very important for people to understand that when the leaves fall you need to take them out as fast as you can! If the leaves sit on the grass for too long, it kills the grass. Clean them up with whatever you have, and if you don’t have the money or the time to do it the right way, at least push them to the side
of the grass. That’s a great thing.
Q. Is there another tip during these October days?
A. Be sure to clean the gutters. That’s one thing people always forget to do. I see it more and more. People don’t realize that the leaves fall and clog the gutters, potentially causing damage to your house.
Q. What trends should we be aware of in construction? Are clients asking for certain things they didn’t ask for before?
A. Now it’s all about energy. The energy codes are a new change to the Island. The windows, doors and insulation are more efficient. It’s a great thing for the homes. It’s changing and it’s changing fast. It’s code-driven.
Q. How does that affect seasonal homes on Martha’s Vineyard?
A. The old mentality is turning the heat down and the water off in the winter. With the new houses, you set the thermostat, and the houses are so tight that once the system is set it doesn’t change much. And now we have an app that controls everything for you, so it’s the next best thing to being there. It’s like you’re on location! Thanks to technology, there’s less chance of damage to the home in the winter.
Q. Let’s talk about the state of pools on the Island. I read that there’s a waiting list for pools.
A. There are just not enough pool people to build all the pools people want. It’s been crazy on this Island since Covid. It’s a priority on peoples’ lists nowadays, and it just makes sense. I have three kids – 19, 16 and 13 – and it’s a place where they hang out. It’s bringing families back together. And if you are renting in the summer, you can raise your rent and pretty much pay for the pool in the first season in most cases.
Q. Your business keeps you busy, but so does your church. Tell me about the mission of your church and how you serve the Brazilian community?
A. We go to the New Lagoinha Church. It means “the river.” A lot of immigrants are coming here, and we are trying to introduce them to the environment of the Cape and Islands and help them find jobs, homes, get these kids to school and introduce them to the new living style here.
Q. What do we need to know about this immigrant community and their challenges?
A. The great thing about the Brazilian community is that, in most cases, all are hard workers, good people. I know the country they are coming from and the intention of the people. Most of these people come here struggling financially and looking for opportunity. They’re here for good reason. Having these Brazilian and Jamaicans working so hard – it makes a huge difference in our business. They’re willing to work the extra hours, work late, whatever it takes to get it done to help us serve the tourists and the Island.
Q. In addition to all the community work you do on the Island you also make a difference further afield through your foundation.
A. We established Millers Foundation. I’m proud of the great work the foundation does around the world providing water and food in places where people have no water to drink near where they live. We have drilled about nine wells in parts of Africa and Brazil. We hope to put in 200 more in the next five years. I’ve learned that the best way to serve God is to serve people.
Sissy Biggers is a regular contributor to The Vine and a frequent contributor to Martha’s Vineyard magazine.
Chris Miller and his wife Lauriete are raising three children on the Island in addition to running Millers Professionals - a multi-faceted building, landscape and pool business - and staying active in the New Lagoinha Church in Vineyard Haven.
Taking Root, Branching Out
For Tara Gayle, adding a nursery to her existing landscape and design business is an opportunity for growth.
BY SARA MASON ADER • PHOTOS BY JEANNA SHEPARD
When Tara Gayle – founder and owner of the Island-based landscape design firm Gayle Gardens – heard longtime West Tisbury nursery Heather Gardens was up for sale last year, she recognized a golden opportunity to grow deeper roots on the Vineyard, both for her business and for herself.
“I dreamed about ways to acquire this property for over a year, to expand my business into a self-sufficient resource for my own landscape and design company as well as for other landscape companies across the Island,” Tara said. “I also saw it as a rare opportunity to solve my own personal housing crisis journey by offering a way to root in, work harder and quell
the lack of home.” The property sale included an existing home on it.
Tara undertook the long and arduous process of buying the property, which involved submitting a detailed business plan and a Small Business Association (SBA) loan application. “It was worth it as a means to an end to expand the business and buy a home,” she said.
In addition to being excited about being a first-time homeowner, Tara was thrilled about the chance to grow her business and solve some of the sourcing issues she was experiencing for the native plants that she prefers using in her design work. Tara, who describes herself as a landscaper with
an emphasis on resilient design and healthful practices, pointed out that she is continuing to offer many of the same plants as the nursery’s previous owner, but that she is also working to bring more native plants in. She has also discontinued sales of chemical pesticides and insecticides.
“We have transitioned to natural fertilizers and our plants are doing really well,” she said. “Customers say the plants are thriving once they take them home.”
Tara has built her small business from scratch. She has never had investors, and her equipment is modest. Aside from a seasonal crew and her four-year-old English Bulldog
named Lunchbox (who likes to hang out in the nursery during the offseason), Tara is a one-woman show. Rather than trying to meet every need herself, she partners with local architects and landscapers to provide services that don’t make sense to offer on her own.
“I eat and sleep the business,” she said. “I’m probably working with an unhealthy balance, but I can honestly say I’ve loved it. There’s so much more to learn and that’s what keeps me engaged.”
Originally from the New York area, Tara first trained at the New York Botanical Garden and then pursued permaculture certificates in both
Holland and Italy. After Holland, she began coursework with Dr. Elaine Ingham, of Soil Food Web School, to learn how to go from soil health to finished design.
Tara began her career on the Island 15 years ago working for a landscaper in West Tisbury before breaking out on her own. Her business has evolved from a leased truck and a few tools into full-service landscape design, and now the nursery.
“My vision for the Island is to have most, if not all, residents moving toward a more balanced approach and ecologically sound practices as they apply to landscape and design,” Tara
said. “There is a lot you can do instead of a lawn.”
The good news for most home owners is that an enormous property is not required to pursue Tara’s version of eco-friendly design. “I love when people take a postage-stamp-sized lawn and apply a regenerative design element to what they’ve got,” she said. “We’re slowly getting away from people thinking that you always need to have green grass.”
While Tara said that many gardeners on the Island understand the importance of soil health and native plants, it is still a reality that many new construction projects on Martha’s
Vineyard begin with bulldozing a property and culminate with the laying down of fresh sod. Rather than using grass, Tara recommends a landscape plan that incorporates elements of the Island’s own natural environment as a more visually interesting and healthy option for the land.
In creating her pollinator gardens, Tara picks low-maintenance species and plants that tend to take care of themselves, nourishing the soil and helping it to regenerate over time. Her gardens are densely planted and usually look robust within a year, she said. Some of her favorite native varieties include Lobelia, Baptisia (wild indigo), Athyrium (ferns), Carex (grasses), Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-
in-the-pulpit) and Prunus maritima (beach plum).
Looking forward, the latest addition to her personal life will be the baby she is expecting in November. Tara plans to continue her learning process and her expansion of the nursery side of the business in the months and years ahead, even as she expands her family.
“I have deep respect for the Island and the privilege of living here,” she said. “I want to be giving back something that I don’t otherwise see here.”
Sara Mason Alder is a freelance writer based in Hingham, Mass.
Gayle Gardens is located at 377 State Road, West Tisbury.
Tara Gayle’s landscape and design business expanded last year with the purchase of the former Heather Gardens, now Gayle Gardens, in West Tisbury. Tara emphasizes native plants and pollinator (and hummingbird!) friendly gardens in the nursery and in her designs.
A Stainless Life
The fairy godmother of stain removal has an arsenal of interesting products and a collection of tips to help you get those stubborn stains out.
BY MONINA VON OPEL • PHOTOS BY JEANNA SHEPARD
I am the fairy godmother of stain removal; friends email, call, text or come to see me from far and wide lamenting their latest accidents – and potentially ruined favorite articles of clothing. It is often in my power to return a stained garment in pristine condition. Well, most of the time. What a claim to fame!
My arsenal is vast and varied. I’ve found many products during trips around the world. I like to check out local markets and can’t resist a hardware store. I frequent them all here at home on the Island. However, in the end, everything still depends on tactics and perhaps my magic wand.
MY STRATEGY
1. Avoid trouble in the first place: When dining, use your napkin by laying it over your lap all the way up to your waist. That’s where it is supposed to be and where most accidents happen.
2. If you do stain your clothing, rule number one: never dip your napkin into a water glass to rub the stain. If you are desperate to do something, sprinkle salt on it. Better still: wait until you get home. Speed is not of the essence.
3. Use the right product for your particular stain. See my tips at right.
The Culprits, The Solutions
GREASE, MEET TERRE DE SOMMIÈRES.
More often than not, mealtime stains are grease-based; they will not disappear with water. Oil and water don’t mix. If you incur a grease stain while you are out to dinner, try hiding the stain behind a scarf or tie a sweater around your waist!
Once you are home, trust and use this French magic potion: Terre de Sommières. It is actually ground-up earth – a dry clay – from the region of Sommières. I used to stockpile it every time I went to France. Now it’s available, yes...on Amazon!
Believe me, this will solve many of your problems. To use Terre de Sommières, sprinkle a generous layer of this dry miracle powder on the stain. (Do not add water!) Let rest overnight.
Brush off the next morning. The stain should be gone without having to wash the whole garment. No dry cleaning necessary either.
If, for some reason, the stain is not gone the next morning, put a clean cloth (or piece of paper towel) underneath the stained area. Sprinkle with Terre de Sommières again. Put another clean cloth (or a paper towel) on top and gently iron the spot. The point is to heat up the grease. Move the clean cloth (or paper) around and iron until the stain disappears. Shake the garment and brush (I use a wire brush) in every direction to remove any trace of powder. (See photos on next page.)
WINE SPILLED, WINE AWAY.
If a wine stain is your problem (not an uncommon one), use a clean cloth to absorb as much liquid as possible. Spray the stain with a product called Wine Away, then dab. (Use a clean spot on the cloth with each dab.)
AND ABOUT THOSE MYSTERY CLOSET STAINS…
And those little orange-yellow stains you find on clothes that have been hanging for way too long at the back of a closet? Clothes that you should
if caught early enough could have been washed with vinegar, but over time they become permanent. But given the fact that the stains have set over time, they will be permanent by the time you see them. That’s my theory. If anyone has more information about
I find this sometimes works with rust stains as well. Got milk? You can use it to dissolve red fruit stains. If raspberries or strawberries stain your blouse or pants, soak the stained area in milk overnight. Wash normally the next morning.
CANDLE WAX, BE GONE.
If you get candle wax on your clothing, scrape off as much wax as possible. Tear a brown paper grocery bag into pieces. Put one piece of the brown paper underneath the wax stain and put another piece on top. Iron carefully, and the paper will absorb the wax. For maximum absorption, move the paper around frequently (so that fresh paper is over the spot) until the stain is gone.
No household should be without Savon de Marseille, a fabulous 72-per cent oil-based soap that has been made in Marseille, France since the 17th century. It comes in various sizes, in both traditional olive and ivory, and in variations infused with herbs and flowers. It is available from many online sources.
I use this as my go-to weapon when I don’t know what the stain is. For generations French households have
used the soap not just to wash up at the sink but to clean fabrics as well. We use it as our kitchen soap, to wash hands, plates, pots and even sponges. It lasts forever. (I keep both a nail brush and a toothbrush for working on stains.)
Here on the Island, Olive Branch Fair Trade (in Woodland Center on State Road in Vineyard Haven), also carries Nablus soap, a Palestinian olive oil soap that has very similar properties to Savon de Marseille.
NOT SURE? TURN TO SAVON DE MARSEILLE.
grease stains. If the powder does not absorb all the grease on the first try, the next day you can use more powder, a cloth and a hot iron to facilitate removal. (See previous page for details.)
I use all of these products on cashmere, wool, linen and cotton – and they mostly work. However, it is very difficult to get stains out of synthetic fibers. Almost all of these products are available from online sources, but I prefer to buy from Island hardware stores whenever I can. Availability varies, so check when you are out shopping in order to purchase local if possible. You’ll also want to have a brush or two on hand; I use both a nail brush and a toothbrush.
• Vanish, from the UK, for undetermined stains
• Rubigine, from France, for rust and blood
• Savon de Marseille, from France, multiple uses
• Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover, from the U.S., multiple uses
• Unbelievable, from the U.S., for blood, grease, wine and more
• Gonzo, from the U.S., for blood stains
• Exit, found in Ireland, made in Australia, for lipstick and red wine
• Linum, found in Switzerland, for a variety of stains
• Starwax “The Fabulous Savon au fiel de boeuf,” from France, for grass and grease stains
• Wine Away, from the U.S., for red wine stains
• Shout, from the U.S., for multiple uses
• Terre de Sommières, from France, for grease stains
Monina von Opel lives in Chilmark. She grew up in an area of France where water was precious, and it was considered wasteful to wash a garment that could be rescued by spot removal.
Double Down on Daffodils, Vineyarders
Three reasons: they’re deer-proof, they make gorgeous cut flowers and they arrive in early spring when we most need a boost. But you need to plant them now.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSIE MIDDLETON
Around the time you get this Vine in your hands, I’ll be in my yard digging a new trench for more daffodils. I’m a little obsessed, but when spring (if you can even call it that on the Vineyard) arrives, I’ll be so thankful for the color. Last year I planted a total of 125 bulbs from eight different varieties, and they bloomed over a period of seven weeks. I was in heaven. And the flower vase on my breakfast room table was never empty.
I used to think of daffodils as landscape stalwarts; picking a few here and there was a nice bonus, but their main purpose was to line the driveway or fill the understory beneath a stand of
trees in their cheery and reliable way. My outlook changed two winters ago when I took an online flower farming course from Floret Flowers. One of the main strategies farmer Erin Benzakein stresses for those who want to make a business of selling flowers is to extend the growing season as much as possible – earlier in spring, and later in fall. Home growers who love cut flowers can benefit from this approach as well. And here on the Island, spring is an especially needy season. Colorful fresh flowers can really lend a boost to an otherwise stark season. While home growers may not
have a hoop house or greenhouse to start flowers such as ranunculus or anemones in late winter, we can easily plant spring-blooming bulbs outside in the fall. And though I’m crazy for tulips – I grow some inside my fenced vegetable garden – the deer love them too. So that leaves daffodils as our best Island bet. We shouldn’t look at them as a consolation prize, though. The gorgeous varieties available now are popular with farmers, florists and flower geeks alike for many reasons.
ABOVE: Daffodil varieties, clockwise from top left – Avalanche, Carlton, Apricot Whirl, Bella Estrella and Mount Hood.
CONSIDER COLOR, SHAPE, FRAGRANCE AND BLOOM TIME
One of the nicest things about daffodils is that there are early, mid- and late-season varieties. So if you purchase and plant varieties from each group, you can have blooms for six to eight weeks, starting in March. If you have a cool, sunny indoor spot, you can even plant some varieties in pots and force them to bloom before they would outdoors, extending your bloom time even more.
There are literally thousands of daffodil cultivars in the narcissus family. Take a look at online sources like colorblends.com and dutchgrown. com, and you will be amazed at the variety. And, ahem, only some of them are yellow! Colorwise, there are infinite combinations of white, cream, lemon, peach, egg-yolk and tangerine. The color changeups occur in the tepals (the petals), which are often one color, and in the coronas (the cup- or trumpet-shaped center), which are often another color (or colors).
Sizes and shapes vary too. Some daffodils are “doubles,” which means they have extra tepals, sometimes overlapping in a whorl, making them
look fluffy and almost rose-like. They are gorgeous. The classic large trumpet daffodils – such as the yellow Carlton and the white Mount Hood – have long, narrow coronas, while other daffodils, such as the fragrant heirloom daffodil Poeticus Actaea (also known as pheasant eye), have a delicate, short cup and an open face. And not all daffodils feature one blossom on one stem. Some produce clusters of two or more small blooms on a stem. One of my favorites, Avalanche, has eight to 12 petite flowers on each stem. It is simply adorable. Sir Winston Churchill is a popular and elegant double-flowered daffodil that has a cluster of small blooms on each stem –and a heady fragrance.
Interestingly, the doubles are often fragrant. But not all daffodils are fragrant, so read descriptions carefully when making your choices. You’ll want to have at least a couple scented ones in your mix. Double check that your choice of scented daffodil is hardy in New England; some are better suited to Southern climates.
DIG A TRENCH INSTEAD OF HOLES
Traditionally, gardeners spend an entire fall day (or at least a few hours) with a trowel or a bulb planter digging holes in the grass or under trees to plant daffodils. This is the best option for landscaping with daffodils that you want to look natural – and to naturalize (spread) over the years.
But if you’d like to have an ongoing supply of daffodils for cut flowers, consider using an entire flower bed –one that already exists in your yard or one that you create by digging a wide, shallow trench. You’ll arrange the bulbs in the trench in rows quite snuggly (close but not touching) and cover with decent soil and a layer of mulch. When we planted our 125 daffodils last year, we chose a bed behind our deck that we had initially created to plant shade perennials. I grouped each daffodil variety into a section of rows. I also spaced five empty pots, each six or seven feet apart, in the bed. They were placeholders for five astilbes I eventually bought in the spring.
A dedicated bed for daffodils has a few advantages. First, it’s an efficient use of space. Secondly, if you’re planting a large number of bulbs, it’s easier to dig a shallow trench than to carve out hundreds of holes.
And lastly, the bed makes dealing with the post-bloom foliage easier. After removing any remaining spent blossoms at the end of the bloom period, you’ll need to leave the green foliage alone until it browns and withers completely. (Don’t fold the foliage over and tie it up as some recommend, and most definitely do not cut it off – unless you don’t want the daffodils to rebloom next year!)
It can take weeks for the foliage to expire while it is directing energy down to the bulb for next year’s growth. In the short term it can look rather pretty, but as it decays the browning foliage can be annoying to look at, especially if your daffodils are scattered around the house or in a prominent location. But if you’ve got them in a dedicated bed, it’s easier to think of them more like a row in your vegetable garden – and resist tidying up prematurely. (In fact, creating a bed of daffodils right outside your fenced vegetable or cut-flower garden is a good option.) If the bed must be in a frequently viewed location, interplant with a few distracting perennials as I did with my five tall astilbes, which leaf out and bloom just as the daffodils are senescing.
Top: The more varieties the merrier; cut in bud stage for the longest vase life. Middle and bottom: Dig a shallow trench, rather than many holes, if planting bulbs for cut flowers.
CUT FLOWERS FOR DAYS
Topping off the list of great things about daffodils: they’re easy to grow and their sturdy stems are custommade for hanging out in a vase. If you plant the bulbs at the right depth (about 6 inches) in mid- to late-fall (they need a winter chill), the foliage will emerge in late winter, the blooms will arrive a few weeks later and you’ll have your first cut flowers of the season.
To harvest daffodils, bring a bucket of cool water and some snips to the garden. Choose stems with buds that are not fully open for the longest vase life. Make a sharp cut on the diagonal and drop each stem in the bucket, making sure the bottoms of the stems are submerged. Keep the bucket in a cool, dark place for several hours or overnight. Then arrange in vases.
One important note: daffodils have a sappy substance in their stems which is released in water. Other flowers (including tulips) do not like this sap!
(It also can irritate skin; wash hands after handling.) However, after an overnight rest and a fresh change of water, daffodils can successfully mix with other flowers. Pair them with hellebores, forced forsythia and azalea branches, pussy willows, and tulips. (Note: all parts of the daffodil are toxic; keep away from kids and pets!)
Like all cut flowers, daffodils are happiest in a cool spot in the house; the warmer the temperature the faster they will open, but also the shorter the vase life will be. Keep them out of direct sunlight and they will be happy for five to seven days.
Susie Middleton is editor of The Vine.
In addition to online sources, our local Island nurseries all sell a nice assortment of daffodils and other bulbs.
Let cut daffodils sit in cool water for several hours before arranging so that they release their sap. Then arrange alone or with other flowers. Varieties pictured: Avalanche (above); Sir Winston Churchill (left, in blue jars and below, back left); Geranium (below at front); Bella Estrella (in arrangement, above left).
letterpress notecards hand-printed on Island from antique printing block originally printed in the Vineyard Gazette newspaper!
Tim Johnson
BY SUSIE MIDDLETON • ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS BURRELL
250 HOUSING CRUNCH
38 WORKERS
CABIN FEVER. In 2024, Simon Athearn, CEO of Morning Glory Farm, built five doubleoccupancy cabins in West Tisbury to expand the farm’s existing employee housing of two cabins and a small dormitory on the farm grounds in Edgartown. The farm reports that 38 workers — more than a quarter of their summer payroll — live in employee housing.
1.3 MILLION
OUT OF REACH. As of 2023, an affordable house for the average Island family — costing less than 30 per cent of annual income in mortgage, taxes and insurance — should cost $400,000. But the median single-family home on the Vineyard, as of this year, costs just over $1.3 million.
SCRUBS AND DIGS. According to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital president Denise Schepici, 250 of the hospital’s 900 employees live in housing owned or leased by the hospital, which it provides to workers at a subsidized rate.
17 HOMES
HAMMER AND NAILS. In the past 20 years, Island Housing Trust has set up about 170 units of affordable housing and is looking to add 140 units in the next few years. They have also created 60 home ownership opportunities in the past 11 years. Habitat for Humanity Martha’s Vineyard has built 17 homes on the Island since 1996.
THE WAITLIST
24
Number of affordable rental units that became available through the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority in 2022 and 2023.
166
Qualified applicants for the 24 units mentioned above.
500
The number of Island households remaining on the authority’s home ownership waiting list.
340
Total number of current affordable housing units on Martha’s Vineyard for people making under 80 per cent of the area median income. Plans in development would add 120 more.
