Home&Garden Spring
Inside:
Backyard Chickens Page 3C
25th Anniversary Page 3C
Powerwall Page 3C
Addison Independent • Thursday, May 12, 2016
PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
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Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 3C
A growing business
County company sees 25 years of landscaping trends
Agway in Middlebury is a popular source for pre-ordered chicks, ducklings and other fowl. This year the store ordered 2,000 chicks for area customers and their second shipment just came in last weekend. While laying chickens are the most popular backyard fowl kept, more and more people are experimenting with ducks, turkeys, geese and other birds both for laying and for meat. Independent photos/Trent Campbell
People flocking to chicks
Know the basics for raising chicken in your backyard By CHRISTY LYNN MIDDLEBURY — Backyard chickens are pushing do-ityourselfers to a whole new level. In Vermont, we live amidst people who pride themselves on being able to paint their own home, fix their own toilet, file their own taxes and grow their own vegetables. Perhaps it’s a natural progression (or return to a trend) that people here would want to keep their own chickens, too. The numbers have been steadily on the rise, especially in urban and residential areas, for the past five or six years and the trend doesn’t seem to be declining any time soon. Towns, cities and municipalities have passed zoning regulations about how many chickens you can keep on what kinds of properties, but the general trend has been to permit the fowl in almost every suburban or urban environment. In addition to the appeal of selfsufficiency, the charm of fresh eggs straight from the coop to the
frying pan as well as the meat from a chicken literally raised in your back yard has driven more and more people to adopt fowl as homestead companions. Our faith in large-scale food corporations has also plummeted as people become more educated
about the treatment of animals in large feedlots or factories where conditions for the animals are questionable at best. Use of antibiotics as a preventative measure against the spread of disease and the fear that hormones and chemicals are making it into the food we’re buying at the store has furthered our distrust in largescale agriculture. People’s response to this frustration, however, has been a refreshingly productive choice to take matters into their own hands — or yards, as the case may have it. Morgen Doane works at Agway in Middlebury and is an expert on keeping fowl. Doane was responsible for placing the orders and receiving the 2,000 chicks that Agway customers preordered through the Exchange Street store this year. “I don’t recall exactly what the number was last year,” Doane said, “but that’s easily 500 more this year.” (See Chicks, Page 4C)
By CHRISTY LYNN NEW HAVEN — In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected president of its United States to begin his first term in office. Microsoft released their newest technology, Windows 3.1. “Aladdin” and “Wayne’s World” packed movie theaters, while Pearl Jam and Nirvana rocked the boom box. Meanwhile, in rural New Haven, Vermont, Peter Norris committed to a business project that seemed small at the time, but has grown and flourished ever since and continues to feel at least as relevant today as the day he started (which is a tough claim “But in the for Pearl Jam world of or Windows 3.1). too-much Greenhaven technology Garden & and an app Nursery is now celebrating its for almost 25th season everything, at the New gardening Haven site on is a reprieve Route 7 and says from the fast- Norris the business paced digital has grown to match that big world.” idea he had at — Daenen Norris the beginning. Starting with just a small shed and some shrubs and annuals, Norris (and the few family members and friends who were helping him) started out modestly. But word about his knowledge of landscaping as well as the service customers could count on at Greenhaven quickly helped the business expand. “Each year, we added at least something more,” recalled Daenen Norris, who married Peter in 1993 and has been a business partner and integral member of the business ever since. The couple raised their three daughters on the site and, along with what they call a “rock solid staff,” have been able to turn their little dream into a successful business.
Daenen and Peter Norris own and operate Greenhaven Gardens and Nursery, which has steadily expanded each year for the past quarter century. Over that period they have seen more demand for larger, more developed plants in their gardens and landscapes, as well as more interest in native plants and edibles. Independent photo/Christy Lynn
Today, Greenhaven’s eight acres houses eight greenhouses, two irrigation ponds, lots filled with gravel and other landscaping material and row after row of perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees, vegetables, herbs and other edibles. Greenhaven also boasts a garden store stocked with all the supplies you may need to tend to these plants. In addition to the retail aspect of their business, Peter Norris and a team of about a dozen Greenhaven staff also work with landscape architecture firms on large-scale residential and commercial landscaping projects around the state. Some of their
recent projects include the skate park in Burlington and the Alchemist Brewery in Stowe, but they have also done work with Middlebury College and other local businesses as well as residential projects around Addison County. The Norrises also own an off-site solar farm that can generate enough energy to meet all their power needs (and more) for the gardens and nursery, something that certainly wouldn’t have been feasible 25 years ago. Indeed, the technological world has changed dramatically in the last (See Greenhaven, Page 8C)
Tesla Powerwall arrives in Vermont By TOM BENTON St. Albans Messenger ST. ALBANS TOWN — If you think rural Vermont and don’t think “technical innovation” — think again. Vermont homeowner Troy Turner became the recipient of Green Mountain Power (GMP)’s first Tesla Powerwall last week, a cutting-edge, rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can store backup power, akin to an electric generator. Turner is the first person in the state, and one of the first in the country, to receive the device. GMP is the first utility in the nation to install Powerwalls. GMP President and CEO Mary Powell said offering the Powerwall is about “embracing a consumer-led revolution for clean energy, and more energy independence. The Powerwall is just the first step.” Powell said the Powerwall is garnering so much attention on its own that the company might not even advertise it. She said the company is now oversubscribed: 700 customers have expressed strong interest in the Powerwall, but GMP’s initial order consists of only 500. Once GMP announced that order,
St. Albans Town homeowner Troy Turner and Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell pose next to the newly installed Powerwall in Turner’s basement last week. His is the first installation of such a power backup in Vermont. St. Albans Messenger photo/Roy Mercon
selecting the first person to have this revolutionary new device installed boiled down to a very old idea: first come, first serve.
“We just started calling people and went right down the list,” said Betsy Bloomer, the director of GMP’s En(See Powerwall, Page 7C)
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PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Chicks…
long as it’s large enough to allow for (Continued from Page 3C) Doane says the growing appeal for about 2.5 square feet per chick. The chickens, ducks and turkeys doesn’t bottom of the brooder should be filled surprise her and makes sense given with clean and dry wood shavings or people’s renewed interest in knowing other litter. Cleanliness at the earliest the real story behind the food they’re stages is very important, as they are prone to disease. eating. Food and water are essential to all “In my opinion we’re going to have to come to a point with our food living creatures, and the chicks will system where we’ll need to rely more be hungry when they arrive (having heavily on small and independent sustained the journey on the last of producers because of all the diseases the yolk from the egg before they and problems we’re starting to see at hatched). For the first six weeks, larger-scale operations,” Doane said, Doane recommends a “chick starter” referring to the avian flu and other feed that specifically helps them get diseases that spread easily in large off on the right track. At around six weeks they shift to a grower formula, factories. Doane grew up on her family’s then at around five and a half months farm in New Haven and studied dairy to a layer pellet, each one supporting management at UVM. Following the growth phase that the chicken is in. Clean, fresh and cool water should graduation, she purchased a property be provided readily for the chicks, adjacent to her with specific care family’s land and has to ensure the vessel started her own farm is one that the little with chickens, ducks, “Chickens are kind birds wouldn’t drown geese, turkeys, pigs, of an entry point in if they slipped in. goats, cows and to farm animals” (Using marbles or horses all working to pebbles at the bottom keep the pastureland because the recipe of a bowl is a popular productive and for fowl success is effective tip.) healthy. pretty simple: food, andChickens, ducks The chickens have and other fowl are an important role to water, warmth. — Morgen Doane not especially careful play on the land, as creatures and will they will go through make a mess out of and help process the manure from the larger animals, anything, Doane says, so keeping keeping the parasites down and things clean and dry can be more acting as “extra composters” for the of a challenge than it sounds like it farm. In total, the farm system at the would be. For example, the young birds will Doanes’ Grey Tiger Farm is a tight feedback loop that fits within their sometimes suffer a condition called ethos about sustainable local food “pasty butt,” where their droppings cake to their backsides, clogging the systems. Of course, not everyone has 35 opening and making for a dangerous acres or wants to have so many backup. Doane says it’s a good idea animals on the farm, so let’s get to check the chicks regularly and back to backyard chickens, because make sure they’re clean to avoid this even with a small neighborhood and other potential challenges due to lot, keeping a small flock is quite unsanitary conditions. The temperature in the brooder is feasible. “Chickens are kind of an entry also important, as chicks need the point to farm animals,” Doane said. warmth and the light to stimulate That’s in part because the recipe for healthy growth. A 100-watt bulb fowl success is pretty simple: food, with a reflector is typically fine, though some people use heat lamps water, warmth. Chicks and ducklings are shipped to ensure their chicks are warm the day they are born, arriving (yes, enough. Doane and other experts suggest via a box in the mail) within a couple days of hatching from their shell. As measuring the temperature in the tiny fluff balls they are delicate and brooder at about 95 degrees for in need of a safe and clean place to the first week, then reducing the temperature by five degrees each grow, often called a brooder. Brooders can be made out of a week after that, until the chicks cardboard box or another basin, as have developed their feathers and
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Chicks arrive when they are just one day old as delicate, fluffy critters that are hungry and ready for their new homes. At such a young age their needs are pretty simple — they need food, water, light and warmth. But with a little TLC and about six months, they’ll be grown and laying fresh eggs for the table (unless of course they’re destined for the table themselves). Independent photo/Trent Campbell
can reliably keep themselves warm (which happens at around five to eight weeks). Some people use thermometers to carefully measure the temperatures at all times in the box, specifically three or four inches off the ground — or at chicken height, she says. “But honestly they’ll tell you when they’re too hot or too cold. They’ll all huddle together under the light if it’s too cold. If they’re all splayed out with wings and legs going every whichway, they’re hot. If they’re moving around independently, chirping and exploring, they’re happy.” After about six months, most hens begin to lay. At first, the young laying hens (also called pullets) drop small eggs, about the size of a quail egg. The eggs gradually get larger as the hens get used to their task and will continue laying reliably for an average of about four years before their production starts to decline.
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As Doane advises, new chicken owners should consider the full life of the birds before impulsively stocking up on cute and fuzzy chicks at the local garden store. “It’s important to make sure you have the time and money and energy to keep chickens through every season. They need at least 12 hours of light every day, which in Vermont means you will likely need an insulated coop with electricity for a light to keep them warm and their water from freezing.” They also need enough space to move around and stay entertained with their surroundings so as to prevent them from picking on each other. But on the whole, Doane says, keeping chickens is a pretty easy and rewarding endeavor. “Having backyard chickens is better for the chickens, it’s better for you, and it’s better for the whole food process,” she says.
(BPT) — If you’re a part of the nearly 90 percent of Americans who believe it’s important to have a well-maintained yard, you and your backyard will appreciate these seven simple steps for tending to your natural turf lawn with minimal effort. According to Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and academics, investing a little repair time in early spring and a small amount of maintenance time in summer will pay off with a lush lawn ready for all your summer activities. Test your soil Good soil is one of the essentials of a healthy lawn. A soil test is simple, inexpensive and provides valuable information about current pH levels. Simple amendments like lime or sulfur can be added to neutralize overly acidic or alkaline soil and help grass thrive. Find a soil test kit at a local garden store or make your own using common household items. Aerate Older or heavily trafficked lawns can suffer from soil compaction. A core aerator with hollow tines will pull small plugs of soil out of the ground, allowing increased movement of water, nutrients and oxygen. Aeration can also increase the soil contact with new seeds and promote new growth. You can rent an aerator or hire a professional to do the work for you. Seed According to Grass Seed USA, the ideal lawn planting season is April through the mid-to-end of October, depending on where you live. Turf specialists at a garden store or local university extension office can help select the right seed for your area and usage, pointing you toward the seed closest to existing grass or suggesting alternatives for problem areas. After seeding, water lightly but regularly, keeping the reseeded areas damp until the new grass grows in. Control weeds Healthy lawns essentially control weeds by squeezing them out. However, if crabgrass
or dandelions invade, herbicides may help. Consult a garden specialist about which herbicide is right for your lawn and how to use it. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring before weed grass emerges can reduce problems down the line. If you’ve applied seed, keep in mind herbicides can kill it, so use a product that will not affect new growth. For dandelions, digging them up is often effective, but a broadleaf herbicide may be applied. Water as needed On average, a lawn needs about 1 inch of water per week, from rainfall or irrigation. Letting the lawn dry out completely between waterings will encourage the grass to grow stronger, deeper roots as it searches for water deeper in the soil. Put a rain gauge on your porch to measure rainfall; skip the watering and save your irrigation money if you receive 1 inch of rain in a week. Fertilize naturally Don’t break your back trying to bag lawn clippings. If you mow frequently (about once a week during the growing season) and don’t remove too much height (only one-third of the blade), you can leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They contain the same nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as commercial fertilizer — and they’re free. Mow to the right height Wait until your grass is three inches tall before mowing and then cut it to two inches in height. By only trimming one-third of the blade length, you will avoid stressing the grass while leaving enough leaf to protect the roots from the sun — helping you create a low-maintenance, droughttolerant lawn. A lawn doesn’t need constant pampering. Ongoing lawn maintenance can be quick and easy, and the reward is a beautiful, environmentally-friendly setting for outdoor activities of many kinds. So, fire up the grill, hang up the hammock and get busy enjoying your personal great, grassy outdoors.
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 5C
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Fruit trees like this Bartlett pear bloom in the spring with dainty white and pink flowers. These flowers will soon make way for fuller leaves and finally the fruit later in the summer and into the fall. Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery in New Haven supplies fruit trees and shrubs as well as larger landscaping trees and smaller garden plants, flowers and edibles.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Mosquitoes? Rid your property of standing water (BPT) — Malaria, West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis virus and heartworms — as if you didn’t already have enough reasons to fear and loathe mosquitoes and the illnesses they spread, now there’s Zika, a virus that is possibly linked to birth defects. Mosquitoes are much more than itchy nuisances; the illnesses they can transmit with their bite kill thousands of humans every year. In fact, some scientists believe malaria, a mosquito-borne illness, has killed one out of every two humans who has ever lived, according to a report in National Geographic. Keeping mosquitoes away from your home, yard and family
is much more than a matter of convenience; it may help preserve your health. Eliminating standing water from your property is the single most effective thing you can do as a homeowner to minimize the presence of mosquitoes around your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water — puddles and standing water in your yard can be a breeding ground. “When warm weather arrives, that low spot in the backyard where water always collects becomes much more troublesome than just being an eyesore,” says Ryan Larsen, a civil engineer with NDS Inc., a leading manufacturer of water management solutions. “It will attract mosquitoes
that will want to lay their eggs in that standing water, but first they need to bite a human or two.” Homeowners may think solving their drainage problems will be difficult and costly, or that they’ll end up with an ugly drainage ditch on their property. But Larsen says it is possible to eliminate standing water cost-effectively and attractively. He suggests homeowners take these five simple steps: • Identify actual or potential trouble spots. Is there a low area in the yard where water collects after rain? Are any downspouts or gutters on your home clogged with debris? (See Mosquitos, Page 8C)
Powerwall… age. One could power an average (Continued from Page 3C) ergy Innovation Center. “Whoever home for four to six hours. Powell said that GMP’s average power got back to us first, got it.” outage lasts 2.2 hours, “so one unit That was Turner. “I’m fired up about this because would cover anything but extreme we do lose power here,” Turner said. weather outages.” The question for most people, of “Being around farms and being a bit rural, we do lose power from time to course, will be cost. It’s $6,500 to buy a Powerwall outright. But to time.” Turner is a physician’s assistant, lease one through GMP, it will cost transitioning into woodworking customers $1.25 a day, a total of from home. He tells a story about about $37.50 a month — with no putting finish on a large woodwork- upfront cost. Turner said pricing like this makes cost a ing piece, only to have non-issue. the power go out, forc“I’m not paying ing him to start over. “It’s really about anything,” he said. But first and foremost, Turner is the staying safe with “Just the cost to run it, which is cheap. No father of a 16-month- my family.” old child. He said he — Tony Turner, overhead, no upfront, fears losing power Powerwall owner no upkeep or maintenance.” for his child’s sake: Powell said GMP It would mean losing the ability to run a breast pump, will “work with customers to fill and a longer outage might mean the battery when too much energy is the loss of the family’s refriger- on the grid. People can actually get ated breast milk, which he calls paid to take excess energy off the grid. That’s part of the idea of new “liquid gold.” “It’s really about staying safe energy, eliminating energy peaks. “The Powerwall is a lot safer than with my family,” Turner said. “I do like technology, and being cutting- using a fossil fuel backup. This is a chance for people to really get into edge, but I’m not a tech guy.” So why the Powerwall? “With a energy and get sophisticated about gas generator, there’s the fumes,” it.” Josh Castonguay is GMP’s chief he said. “You could die from the exhaust. With any generator, there’s innovation executive. He said, the cost, and I’d have a huge unit in “Before the Powerwall is put in someone’s home, it’s tested for my yard, and there’s the noise.” The Powerwall stores 7 kilowatts overheating, underheating — it’s of power. Multiple Powerwalls can put through anything to make sure be “stacked” to increase power stor- it’s fine and it can take it. If there’s
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Bring it to the a short circuit, it shuts down. It’s no different than your lithium-ion phone.” Castonguay said users can download new firmware and software for the Powerwall within their own homes. He did note that GMP monitors the devices to make sure they’re adequately performing, and that Tesla receives usage information for each device. That doesn’t worry Turner. He said he heard a story from a Tesla Motors driver — Tesla receives usage information from their electric cars as well. “Tesla actually called them,” Turner said. “Tesla said, ‘You have time, but your car needs to be fixed.’” Castonguay said each Powerwall is guaranteed for 10 years, after which the unit can be recycled. Turner hopes his experience with the Powerwall will answer potential customers’ questions. “They might say, ‘It doesn’t matter, I don’t have the money,’” he said. “But I don’t either. I’m not paying for it. “My brother said I need to put him as my beneficiary, so if anything happens he’ll get it.” Powell said GMP hopes to have more Powerwalls in Franklin County within a couple months. “Can I get one?” she asked Bloomer. Those interested in buying or leasing their own can get more information or sign up online at www. greenmountainpower.com.
A per-bulb nominal fee applies for more than 10 non-CFL bulbs.
The HazWaste Center is open to residents from any of the District’s 20 member towns. Most items are accepted free of charge. Not accepted: laboratory chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fireworks, flares, explosives, smoke detectors, ammunition, radioactive waste. NOTE: Businesses must pay for disposal and must call 388-2333 for an appointment time. HazWaste Center Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri, 9am to 1pm Mon.Fri., 88am a.m.toto2pm noonand andSat Sat. 9 a.m. to 1pm Closedmajor majorholidays. holidays. Closed
DISTRICT TRANSFER STATION 1223 ROUTE 7 SOUTH, MIDDLEBURY District Transfer Station Regular Hours: M-F, 7am to 3pm & Sat 9am to 1pm Questions? Call us at 388-2333 or visit www.AddisonCountyRecycles.org
PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
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Daenen Norris stands among the rows of trees that will make their way into landscaping projects around the state this spring and summer. Norris applies her knowledge of plants and gardening when helping customers choose plants for their gardening and landscaping needs, but also is in charge of the business management of Greenhaven, a job that to takes up more and more of her time as the business continues to expand.
Greenhaven… (Continued from Page 3C) quarter-century, revolutionizing the way companies like Greenhaven can do business. “When we first got started, we just had a cash box,” Daenen recalled. “We eventually moved to a cash register, then added the credit card processing machine. Now we have a Square and I can ring someone out on my phone. “But in the world of too-much technology and an app for almost everything, gardening is a reprieve from the fast-paced digital world,” Daenen continued. And that’s a good thing for Greenhaven, she added. CHANGING TIMES In fact, the staff at Greenhaven has watched as trends have shifted back toward the natural world and responded to the calls for a renewed interest in the natural landscape. “People are more interested in native plant varieties than they used to be and curious about edibles and how to integrate them into their naturalized gardens,” Daenen says. “Vermont’s localvore movement is having a major effect on the plants people want to grow and ways they want to design their landscapes.” She says it is an environmental and a political message of self-reliance and consciousness about what is good for the landscape and what isn’t. Access to technology and information in the modern world has enabled people to
Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery is located along Route 7 in New Haven. Visible from the road is their large sign with an OPEN flag that waves seven days a week from May through October. The clever messages on the sign are a fun project for Daenen and Peter Norris’ three daughters, who grew up in and around Greenhaven and come back to work at the nursery each season. This photo taken last week, features a Mother’s Day reminder for those driving by.
become a lot more educated about the kinds of gardening and landscaping practices that are good for the land and those that are not. “We know a lot more about invasive species and pesticides and growth stimulators than we used to,” she
Independent photos/Trent Campbell
says, and that knowledge has shaped the choices that consumers make about the plants they grow, chemicals they use and alternatives they seek. Greenhaven staff has responded aptly by creating things like hanging basket mixes designed specifically to keep certain pests away from their neighboring plants. That way gardeners have an alternative to pesticides, but still can enjoy a tomato or lettuce green that doesn’t already have a munch out of it. The nursery is also investing more heavily in heirloom varieties of vegetables as well as flowers and other plants. Heirloom varieties help keep the biodiversity of a crop strong and disease-resistant, as well as introduce a fun and interesting variety to the garden or salad bowl. But according to Norris, perhaps the most distinct characteristic of gardeners today is their lack of patience and desire for instant satisfaction. “Where we used to sell tiny seedlings that people would be able to watch grow over many years, now people want bigger plants, shrubs and trees that are going to instantly look like what they were envisioning or saw in a picture,” she says. People’s tendency to move around more may also affect their desire for instant gratification — they don’t know when they’re going to leave, so don’t want to risk missing out on the good (See Plants, Page 11C)
Mosquitoes… (Continued from Page 7C) Does water linger along a retaining wall, edging, walkway or patio after you’ve irrigated the lawn? Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in very shallow standing water, so anywhere water collects could be a breeding ground. • Address the easy fixes first. The gutters, downspouts and minor collection spots are easily addressed by simply clearing away the obstructions. When those issues are resolved, homeowners should concentrate on addressing low areas, Larsen says. “These muddy, wet areas look bad, can kill grass, attract mosquitos and eventually lead to more serious damage to a property,” he says. • Determine the scope of the
problem. Standing water on a property can occur in multiple spots, from walkways to lawns. Seek online or professional guidance to help you identify your problem, possible solutions and whether the resolution is a DIY project or if you’ll need to hire a professional. • Choose and install your solution. French drains, underground drainage and catch basins are typical solutions for many home drainage problems. Placing drainage underground not only minimizes the risk of mosquitoes breeding in standing water, it can preserve the visual appeal of your landscape. Most drainage systems can be installed in just one weekend. • Take steps to protect yourself.
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Mosquitoes have been around since the time of the dinosaurs (and they’ve been spreading malaria for that long, too), according to National Geographic. While eliminating standing water on your property will go a long way toward reducing the number of mosquitoes in your environment, it’s virtually impossible to remove them entirely. The American Mosquito Control Association says some mosquitoes will travel 40 miles or more in search of a meal. When outdoors, wear insect repellant on exposed skin and clothing. Dark colors attract mosquitoes, so wear lighter colored clothing, and burn citronella candles or run a fan near the ground when you’re enjoying your deck or patio.
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 9C
Hanging baskets and hanging bags cover the grounds at Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery early in the season, but fly out the door when people buy them as gifts and easy ways to add a colorful splash to an outdoor deck or porch for the summer.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Window boxes can help the bees and bats WASHINGTON — At this year’s annual White House Easter Egg Roll, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urged Americans of all ages to “Plant a Window Box for Pollinators” by using a new, free online tool available at the redesigned People’s Garden Initiative website. The new tool allows people to determine which plants will provide pollinator forage based on their zip code. Site visitors can then print out the list to take to their local garden store, and then grow the plants in a window box. There is also a virtual window box game. Even a space as small as a window box can help pollinators by ensuring they don’t have to fly too far to find food. The interactive People’s Garden website also includes the popular live USDA “bee cam” which broadcasts honeybee activity on the roof of USDA’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C. The new People’s Garden website is just in time as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack designated April as National Garden Month. “Gardens provide a positive setting for pollinators such as bats, bees, birds, butterflies, beetles and other animals that contribute substantially to the U.S. economy and play a vital role in keeping fruits, nuts and vegetables in our diets,” Vilsack said in the proclamation. In addition to the window box tool, the website features an interactive map of the more than 2,100 People’s Gardens planted since Vilsack launched the effort at the start of the Obama administration. The new website shares People’s Garden success stories and numerous resources, from videos to checklists, on how to create a garden that benefits the community and incorporates sustainable practices.
Plant a Window Box for Pollinators
“The website’s ‘Plant a Window Box for Pollinators’ tool is a fun way for gardeners to select native plants for their gardens and, at the same time, help bees, butterflies and other pollinators flourish,” said Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Elanor Starmer. The People’s Garden Initiative works with agencies and offices across USDA and with federal, state and local partners to start and sustain gardens with the mission of growing healthy food, people and communities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, Transportation and Marketing Program oversees the initiative for the department.
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PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Six tips for buying a new home this spring (StatePoint) — Buyer-friendly 30-year fixed mortgage rates and an improving job market are good news for spring homebuyers this season. Yet, even with these favorable conditions, many home purchase contracts will get held up at closing by financial issues. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are several things you can do before and after submitting a contract to help make sure you walk away from the closing table with the keys to your new home in hand.
Freddie Mac Senior Vice President Christina Boyle recommends doing the following before seriously hunting for a home this spring: • Learn your current credit history and score. You don’t want any surprises down the road. If you have no credit history, or have had credit problems in the past, you can take steps to build, improve, and maintain strong credit. Contact a HUDapproved housing counselor for free advice. • Talk to your lender about
applying for a mortgage and getting a pre-approval letter. This letter gives an estimate of how much you might be able to borrow, and demonstrates to home sellers that you’re a serious buyer. • Understand your options. Don’t assume you won’t have enough for a down payment or won’t qualify for a mortgage without 20 percent down. In fact, about 40 percent of today’s homebuyers are making down payments of less than 10 percent, according to research from Zelman
& Associates. And new products, like the Freddie Mac Home Possible Advantage mortgage, offer down payment options as low as three percent for qualified borrowers. • Gather your documentation. Expect your lender to request documentation verifying your income (W-2 forms, tax returns, and employment records), credit history, and assets (such as bank statements to verify your savings). After signing a purchase contract but before closing, Boyle recommends doing the following: • Don’t take on more debt or make large cash purchases. Resist the temptation to take out new loans or open new credit cards. This could affect your credit profile and may require the lender to resubmit your mortgage application to verify you still qualify. Also, substantial cash purchases may make your mortgage company question whether you can really afford monthly payments. • Meet your lender’s deadlines.
Heed deadlines for providing documentation or information. A missed deadline could delay the closing, which may require you either to pay more to extend the mortgage terms you locked in when you
submitted the application or, in the worst case, reapply for the mortgage. Buying a home can be intimidating without knowledge. With preparation, you can help ensure your homebuying process goes off without a hitch.
Spring cleaning can help cut energy use
VERMONT — As sure as the return of longer days and songbirds to Vermont, spring cleaning season is back. According to Efficiency Vermont, your spring cleaning efforts could bring you more than a tidy house. They could save you some money. “We all have hidden places in our homes where we’re wasting energy dollars. You just have to know where to look,” says Bridget Ashe, customer support manager at Efficiency Vermont. “Many are easy to find during spring cleaning. Fixes can be simple and the savings really add up.” To cut your energy costs by getting better performance from your appliances, exhaust fans and lights, Efficiency Vermont suggests looking here: Clothes dryer: Clear lint from the exhaust hose and filter. Fans: Dust bathroom ceiling fan covers and fan blades. Clean dust
and grease from the kitchen stove hood and exhaust fan. Fridge: Clean dust from under your refrigerator, the vent at the base, and any exposed coils at the back. Outdoor vents: Take a look at any accessible exterior vents, such as for a clothes dryer, heating system, water heater, kitchen fan exhaust or bath fan exhaust. Clear them of any dust, webs, leaves, and lint. Electronics: While you’re dusting your TV, computer and other home electronics, take a look at how they’re plugged in. You can stop overpaying to power these big energy users (many draw electricity even when off) by plugging them into an advanced power strip, which automatically cuts electricity to any idle equipment you choose. Lights: You can really “clean up” by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Energy Start-certified
LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which use about 75 percent less energy for lighting. Bathroom ceiling: Have mildew? That’s a sign of insufficient ventilation. If you have a bath fan, use it to remove moisture created by baths and showers. If you need a fan, look for an Energy Star-certified model. These fans are quiet and use little electricity. Be sure to vent bath fans to the outdoors, or you’ll risk creating a mold problem elsewhere in the house or attic. Major appliances: If you’re ready to replace an appliance, check the rebate offers at www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates for models that will save you energy dollars for years to come. Have questions? Contact Efficiency Vermont’s customer support team with any questions about your energy use and to get help taking control of your energy bills. Call 888-9215990 toll-free, or send an email to info@efficiencyvermont.com.
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Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 11C
Plants… (Continued from Page 8C) part of the plant’s life. So to that end, Peter Norris has invested in a giant tree spade that can relocate a tree that has a trunk up to 10 inches in diameter (which, for the record, is HUGE — “Vermont’s such a tree would easily localvore reach over movement 20 feet tall). Their grounds is having a filled major effect are with large on the plants p e r e n n i a l s people want already a size would to grow and that naturalize ways they quickly into a hole in the want to garden. Their design their greenhouses landscapes.” are filled with — Daenen Norris v e g e t a b l e plants that will grow to be two feet tall before someone takes them home. For Greenhaven, people wanting larger plants that have a greater chance of surviving, or fruiting, or producing a flower, isn’t a bad thing. Perhaps that will keep them going — and growing — for another quarter century.
BEFORE
Greenhaven’s staff got a jump-start this year with the unseasonably warm winter and early spring. With Easter and Mother’s Day also earlier than usual this year it’s meant the greenhouse and garden team has been hard at work getting all the plants organized and ready for when the sunny weather arrives and the masses decide it’s time to get plants in the ground. Independent photos/Trent Campbell
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Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 13C
Clean smarter, not harder
Making a plan can ease spring purge
(StatePoint) — If you love the results of spring cleaning, but not the process, it could be that the methods and tools you’re using to get the job done are making the work harder than it needs to be. To get your to-dos done with less effort, consider these tips. Make it Fun Before you even get started, take steps to prepare yourself for an afternoon or day of chores. Turn on some music to motivate
you. Open the windows to get some fresh air. Eat a solid meal so you’re fueled for the tasks at hand. You’ll already be in a much better mood. Avoid Harsh Chemicals One of the less savory aspects of cleaning can be the exposure of one’s eyes and skin to harsh and irritating chemical formulas. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In some cases, you can get the same results with natural alternatives and, at times, just water. For example, microfiber is designed to pick up and trap dust, dirt, fingerprints, and grime from furniture, woodwork, and cabinetry without scratching surfaces. Many brands offer an array
of cleaning supplies made of this material, including cloths, chenille mitts, mops and dusters, which offer deeper cleaning with just a little bit of water. Avoid Reaching Cleaning can be a pain in the neck — and back, and everywhere else for that matter. Treat your cleaning like a workout. Stretch your neck, shoulders and torso beforehand. Also, look for implements that reach so you don’t have to, with pivoting heads to work in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies from floor to ceiling, such as windowsills and moldings. Work Smart Mopping can be a tricky task when you’re using a conventional mop and bucket. Rather than push an ever-increasingly dirty mop around your floors, seek out smart cleaning tools that work for you. A built-in washing spinner at the bottom of the bucket can help keep things cleaner as you go. Use microfiber cloths and dusters that hold onto the dirt they gather so you don’t leave a trail of dust as you move from room to room. These materials are machine washable, so your post-cleaning tasks are a cinch as well. The fresh feel that spring cleaning affords does not need to come at a great cost to your happiness. With a few tweaks to your routine, you can make it simpler and more enjoyable.
Keep an eye out for invasive plants VERMONT — sources. Gardeners and land- “Getting rid of “Getting rid of inscapers are already vasive plants makes taking advantage of invasive plants room for Vermont the mild weather to makes room for native plants and prepare their land Vermont native helps local wildlife, for the upcoming and it can also make planting season. But plants and helps you healthier,” said spring is also a great local wildlife, and Spinney. “Areas with time to take control it can also make fewer invasive plants of invasive plants that tend to see lower rates may be creeping onto you healthier.” of infectious disease — Elizabeth Spinney such as Lyme disease, your property. Invasive plants are because rodents and almost always the ticks thrive around first ones to leaf out in spring, ac- many species of invasive plants.” cording Elizabeth Spinney, the new Spinney recommends starting invasive plant coordinator for the with a few plants that are relatively Vermont Agency of Natural Re- easy to identify and manage, includ-
ing honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, buckthorn, and garlic mustard. Asian honeysuckles are shrubs with white flowers, red or orange berries, and a hollow stem. They are often found at the edge of yards or abandoned farmlands. Japanese barberry is a shrubby ornamental plant that forms dense thickets, shading out native plants. It has spatulashaped leaves, red fruit, and yellow flowers that hang from the stem. Both plants can be pulled with the roots when the ground is soft after a rain and hung from a branch to prevent re-rooting. They can also be cut down to the stump, with the stump wrapped in burlap or plastic, period(See Buckthorn, Page 14C)
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PAGE 14C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Buckthorn… (Continued from Page 13C) ically cutting back any new growth. Common buckthorn is a small tree with dark green shiny leaves, small black berries, and sharp spines at the end of twigs. It can similarly be pulled and hung, or cut with the stump wrapped in plastic or burlap. Buckthorn is one of Vermont’s most insidious invasives, requiring more aggressive monitoring and control over the
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long-term as shoots continue to sprout up. Garlic mustard is an herb with white flowers and broad leaves that are tasty in salad. It is easy to pull up like a dandelion, making sure to get the entire long, s-shaped root. Spinney recommends people use a photo to properly identify the plant, and try to minimize disturbance of other nearby plants as they’re digging
up invasives. “Be sure to check back a month later to get rid of any shoots that may be sprouting, and follow up every six months after that,” said Spinney. “Controlling invasive plants is a marathon, not a sprint, but a few simple steps can go a long way towards making your yard, and you, much healthier.” For photos of plants or tips, go to www.vtinvasives.org.
How to make a seedling starter box from newsprint
1. Start with a single sheet of newsprint, cut or ripped along the center seam. Lay the paper so that the short side is closest to you. 2. Fold the paper in half so the two short ends are matched up and the fold is closest to you. 3. Fold the paper in half again, this time folding the opposite way, bringing the right and left sides together. 4. Open the second fold so that the paper is once again folded just in half. 5. With your left index finger on the center joint, pinch the outside right bottom corner and create a pocket fold (bringing the bottom corner up and to the center fold inside the two layers of paper, lining up the top right corner of the first layer of the paper with the top left corner). Fig. 1. Crease the paper to form a triangular shape pointing towards you. Fold back the top sheet again to the right, leaving you with the original half sheet, with a triangle shape missing from the bottom right corner Fig. 2. 6. Perform this same task with the left side, carefully making sure your creases line up. 7. Your paper should now have an arrow facing you with vertical sides above the folded, tucked edges Fig. 3. 8. Start with the right side again and fold the vertical edge of the top sheet to meet the center fold. Crease along the outside edge Fig. 4. 9. Fold the same right edge a
second time, again bringing the outside edge to meet the center line. Crease along the outside edge Fig. 5. 10. Repeat these two folds on the left side Fig. 6. 11. Then flip the paper over, keeping the point facing you, but the two folded edges now against the surface. 12. Repeat the folds on the right and left sides of this opposite side, leaving you with all sides the same narrow width Fig. 7. 13. Grab the top edge of the upper sheet and fold toward you, creasing the paper at the line where the paper overlaps, about half the length of the straight sides Fig. 8. 14. Flip over and repeat on the other side, folding the top down and
creasing Fig. 9. 15. Finally, stand your project up with the tip of the point on the table. Pull the two flaps gently outwards and reach your hand inside the box to create a flat plane where your tip used to be. Create creases on the bottom edges so box stands upright Fig. 10. 16. You can tape the flaps down, or use them for easy transporting. 17. Plant and watch your seeds transform into plants! When you’re ready to transfer into the garden, simply plant the whole newspaper box. Newsprint is biodegradable and the Addison Independent is printed using non-toxic, soy-based inks — so no worries about nasty chemicals in your veggies!
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Lost or confused?
Check out a video tutorial on addisonindependent.com or on our Facebook page.
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 15C
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PAGE 16C — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
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