Making apple cider vinegar at home is surprisingly simple and a great way to use up apples or even the scraps like peels and cores. Here’s how to get started.
Begin with about 5 to 6 medium-sized apples, ideally organic. Wash them thoroughly, then chop them into chunks. You can also use just the peels and cores from another recipe. Place the apple pieces into a large glass jar – a half-gallon mason jar works well. Fill the jar about three-quarters full, ensuring the apple bits aren’t packed too tightly.
Next, dissolve 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar in 4 cups of water. Pour the sugar water over the apples until they’re submerged. The sugar helps feed the natural bacteria that turn the liquid into vinegar. Weigh the apples down with a fermentation weight or small plate if they float to prevent mold.
For those who have made apple cider
vinegar before, this is the perfect time to intro duce the “Mother” – the cloudy, gelatinous substance found in raw vinegar. Adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of the Mother from a previous batch can speed up fermentation. Simply stir it in after the apples are submerged. Cover the jar with a breathable cloth or coffee filter, securing it with a rubber band. Place the jar in a warm, dark place, such as a pantry, for 3 to 4 weeks, stirring every few days to keep the apples submerged.
After a month, strain out the apples, then return the liquid to the jar for another 3 to 4 weeks of fermentation. Taste along the way; when it’s tangy enough for your liking, bottle it up. Whether using the Mother or starting fresh, homemade apple cider vinegar is raw, unpasteurized, and full of possibilities, from cooking to natural cleaning solutions.
Welcome to the Winnemucca Collective; the quintessential way to shop local! Founded in 2023 by Aryn Williams and Shellie Harrell, the Winnemucca Collective gives local small business owners the opportunity to share their creative talent year-round.
Being small business owners themselves, Aryn and Shellie wanted to create a shopping experience that would support their community. By offering vendors and small business owners a storefront, it not only allows customers to shop local, but assists in the growth and awareness of each of the individual small businesses inside.
Located at 16 E. 2nd Street in Winnemucca and now home to over 40 of these local small businesses, there is always something unique to find inside the Collective! Whether you’re looking for home decor, clothing, jewelry, gift ideas, coffee or baked goods, the Winnemucca Collective has it! Now with the crispness of fall in the air, you will enter a delightful world of Autumn color, warm spiced aroma and whimsical charm of Halloween decor and all that fall has to bring! Crocheted blankets and hats, soft sweaters, cute kids outfits, delicious home baked
breads, cookies, and even sweet treats you won’t find anywhere else.
Aryn and Shellie also strongly believe in giving back and supporting those who support others, and have been proud to donate to various fundraisers throughout the year, including the “Handbags for Hope” event and upcoming Mayor’s Ball, supporting the WDVS.
Aryn and Shellie have created various events to draw in vendors not currently inside the Collective, such as the recent Summer Street Fair series, and indoor events throughout the winter.
This month, they are looking forward to participating in the Business Trick-or-Treat, Chamber Wine Walk, and on November 2nd, will celebrate their one year anniversary!
And if you are looking for a space to hold a birthday party, baby shower or any celebration, the Winnemucca Collective has an Event Room! A 600 square foot space perfect to use for your special occasion and also available for classes and meetings with tables, chairs and fresh pastries and coffee provided.
Come experience local, at the Winnemucca Collective!
As
to prepare for the seasons
Fall is often overlooked for its advantages for planting. With warm soil, cooler air, and fewer pests, fall planting is ideal for establishing perennials, planting spring bulbs, and growing hardy vegetables that will thrive when the weather warms up.
Spring Bulbs: Plan Now for a Beautiful Display
One of the most rewarding tasks for fall gardeners is planting spring bulbs, which will provide a spectacular display of color after winter. Some of the best bulbs to plant in the fall include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, and alliums. These bulbs need the winter’s cold dormancy period to bloom in the spring, making fall the ideal time to plant them.
To plant spring bulbs,
choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Bulbs should be planted at a depth that is about three times their height and spaced several inches apart. Plant them in clusters for the best visual impact. For example, plant groups of tulips or daffodils together rather than in a single row. To insulate bulbs and prevent weeds, cover the area with mulch after planting. For continuous color, consider layering early, mid, and late bloomers. Snowdrops and crocuses will emerge first, followed by mid-spring bloomers like daffodils and hyacinths, with alliums and late-blooming tulips providing color well into early summer.
Perennials: Establish Strong Roots Now for Years of Growth
Perennials are excellent for fall planting because they have time to develop deep roots before the win-
ter. Popular hardy perennials like coneflowers (Echinacea), hostas, daylilies, coral bells (Heuchera), and sedums thrive when planted in the fall. Once established, these perennials will return year after year with minimal maintenance, adding structure and continuous interest to your garden. Fall is also an ideal time to divide and transplant existing perennials that have become overcrowded. For example, if your daylilies or hostas have outgrown their space, you can divide them and replant the new sections elsewhere in your garden. This process helps rejuvenate the plants and provides additional plants without the expense of purchasing new ones.
Vegetables: Extend the Harvest with Fall Crops
Vegetable gardeners can make the most of fall by planting cool-weather crops that will extend the harvest.
Garlic is a favorite for fall planting—plant the cloves in late autumn, and they’ll be ready for harvest the following summer. Cool-season greens like kale, spinach, and Swiss chard also thrive when planted in early fall, producing fresh, nutrient-rich leaves well into the cooler months.
Root vegetables like carrots, beets, and turnips are
also excellent choices for fall planting. These crops prefer cooler temperatures and can even sweeten after exposure to light frost. For a continuous supply of fresh vegetables, consider planting fast-growing crops like radishes and lettuce, which can mature in just a few weeks and be harvested before the first hard frost.
To extend the growing season even further, use row covers or cold frames to protect your vegetables from early frosts. These
simple structures create a microclimate that can keep your crops producing longer into the fall.
Preparing Your Garden for Winter
As you plant, it’s also essential to prepare your garden for winter. Mulch around your newly planted bulbs and perennials to retain moisture and protect them from extreme cold. Adding organic matter like compost will also enrich the soil and give your plants the nutrients they need to grow
strong in the spring. Be sure to clean up garden beds by removing dead leaves, spent plants, and other debris that could harbor pests or diseases over the winter. This maintenance will help ensure that your garden emerges healthy and vibrant in the spring.
Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions made in a lifetime that is exciting yet mixed with a fair share of anxiety. From every step of the journey, there are so many options for potential customers when buying a new home. Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, and our visual sense leads the way and brings the other senses along for the shopping experience. The first impression is a lasting impression, and the ultimate goal with customers is to make a great first impression. Driving up to a business and having a positive visual experience is a great first step! Curb appeal is a first step to shape the shopping experience.
Our recent relocation of Affordable Home Center and Aspen Creek Construction is a journey as small business owners. As a small, locally owned family business we felt our best strategy was to invest in the community where we live by improving a building that had enormous potential inside and out. Purchasing a building in the community that needed some attention and making aesthetic updates is our way to show customers a professional experi ence and a positive contribution to the com munity as well. Transforming a business that was closed and seeing its potential through
Before AHC purchased the location, the building was faded and surrounded by dead grass and weeds.
a new lens is an exciting journey yet can be a risk for small businesses. It’s a challenge to make significant changes to a shuttered shop while it is a boost to hear positive feedback to the changes. “Shop Local” is truly an incentive to a small business owner to keep doors open
porate-owned competitors or those without a storefront as they are not investing in the local community.
Stay Warm with Us!
When opening the door and walking in a business, the value of making a customer feel welcome and envisioning options for their home is a valued goal. Conveying to customers a comforting vibe while learning about home buying options is what we strive to offer. This encourages customers to feel welcome and envision what their home experience will be. A knowledgeable staff available with the option to touch and see the multitude of options
available in pre-built homes extends the experience. Providing a positive environment that feels like home is our way of making a beautiful place to work as well.
Maximizing resources by bringing multiple small businesses together under one roof can make the buying experience more enjoyable. Having partners available to assist with the process from start to finish helps customers visualize the process but allows other small business owners to thrive and share resources. The leap
of faith for proximity to the downtown area and industry partners is a goal for our business vitality and enhanced visibility.
As small businesses our philosophy is that we live and work in this community and do our best to build relationships when we visit in the grocery aisles, coach sports teams, and immerse ourselves in the community. For us, a property with curb appeal creates a positive first impression and the start to a lasting relationship.
