Coastal Home & Garden: Fall/Winter 2022-2023

FALL/WINTER 2022-2023

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Fill Your Home With Comforting Color –12

Coastal Home & Garden Real Estate – 21

What to do in Santa Cruz During the Winter Months – 32

Seven Budget Friendly Gardening Tips & Tricks – 40

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2 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

PUBLISHER Patrice Edwards

EDITOR Jondi Gumz

LAYOUT & DESIGN Ward J. Austin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cathe Race, Ward J. Austin and Camisa Composti

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jondi Gumz and Ward J. Austin

PRODUCTION MANAGER Camisa Composti

MEDIA CONSULTANTS Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine & Camisa Composti

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FALL & WINTER 2022-2023 is a publication of the Times Publishing Group Inc.­located at 9601 Soquel Dr. Aptos, CA 95003.

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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

FEATURES Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Home Energy Costs This Fall

High-ROI Home Upgrades to Improve Curb Appeal

When to Harvest Pumpkins How to Make Your House More Attractive to Buyers

Fall Gardening Spells Success

4 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Tips and Tricks to Conserve Water INSIDE & OUTSIDE

CONTENTS COASTAL HOME & GARDEN 8 ... Clever Storage Ideas for Small Spaces 10 ... Simple Tweaks for a Contemporary Bath 12 ... Fill Your Home With Comforting Color 14 ... How to Make Your House More Attractive to Buyers 16 ... Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Home Energy Costs This Fall 18 ... Plant Bulbs Now to Have a Colorful Spring Garden

COASTAL HOME REAL ESTATE 22 ... High-ROI Home Upgrades to Improve Curb Appeal 26 ... Natural Light Can Increase Your Home’s Value 28 ... Tips & Tricks to Conserve Water Inside and Outside 32 ... What to do in Santa Cruz During the Winter Months 36 ... Fall Gardening Spells Success 38 ... Three Easy Ways to Enjoy Living Color in Your Outdoor Space This Fall 40 ... Seven Budget Friendly Gardening Tips & Tricks 42 ... Business and Service Directory 44 ... When to Harvest Pumpkins

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Clever Storage Ideas for Small Spaces No matter how cramped and cluttered your living space may be, you can almost always find a spot or two for extra storage. It’s often just a matter of getting creative and utilizing a few clever solutions. With the popularity of Tiny homes and small living spaces Coastal Home and Garden took a look at how to utilize your available space efficiently.

Consider these simple ideas to create some extra space in oft-used rooms: Kitchen

• Metal rods with hanging hooks can create storage space on your blank walls. Use them to hang coffee cups, cooking utensils, dish towels or pots and pans.

• Magnetic strips mounted on the wall or the inside of a cabinet door can be a simple way to hang knives and free up counter space normally taken up by a knife block.

• If your countertop is cluttered with small spice containers and oil bottles, elevate them with a decorative cake stand. & Garden2021-22 | Fall/Winter 2022-2023 8 | Coastal Homefall-winter

Place small jars below and top with pretty decanters and additional spices.

• If you’re using prime cabinet space for items you only use once a year, such as holiday cake pans or a big serving bowl you pull out for parties, consider storing them in the attic or a closet instead.

Bathroom

• Instead of hanging just one towel bar on the back of the bathroom door, hang multiple to maximize your drying space.

• Most modern cabinetry has adjustable shelving. If you haven’t customized the heights of your shelving to accommodate different sized bottles and containers, give it a try.

• A three-tiered fruit basket might seem perfect for the kitchen, but it’s also a handy way to store bathroom essentials right beside the sink.

Flour and sugar canisters can also be repurposed in the bathroom to keep makeup, toiletries, cleaning supplies and soaps contained. Make sure to buy bins that stack easily.

Bedroom

• Nix those night stands and hang small shelves on either side of the bed. This cuts down on the clutter you can keep and makes cleaning underneath a breeze.

• Rolling bins that fit under the bed are perfect for storing linens, out-of-season clothing and children’s toys.

They’re also the perfect way to slide building block projects out of sight without destroying your child’s latest masterpiece.

• Closets with a single hanging rod are one of the biggest

space-wasters in the bedroom. Double their storage capacity by hanging a second rod or shelf below shorter jackets and shirts.

eue. Recycle. Replen R ih ce . .R u e ed

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Simple Tweaks for a Contemporary Bath Bathrooms are your personal sanctuary and escape from the chaotic outdoors – a place to reset, recollect and prepare for the next step in the day. Many homeowners today are looking to modernize this space to build on the need for tranquility. Read on for simple tweaks you can implement to revamp your space and create the contemporary bath of your dreams!

Step 1: Assure the colorway is ideal

When thinking through ways to bring that contemporary feel in to your bathroom, a color swap is always a go-to option.

When thinking through how to change the colors in your space, warmer options like beige and woody tones are beginning to rise to the top. A simple way to incorporate these tones and give your bath space a neutral feel is by painting your walls in coolgray and off-white hues. Also, implement black matte finishes to create elegant and eye-catching contrast in the bath.

10 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Step 2: Modernize your fixtures

When redesigning your bathroom’s aesthetics for a more contemporary feel, your fixtures choices and finishes are critical. To implement your own personal sophisticated touch, fit your bath space with the Flute Bathroom Collection by Peerless. The collection offers a Two-Handle Widespread Lavatory Faucet and Single-Handle Lavatory Faucet – all available in three different finishes. Inspired by the trend of clean, minimalist design, this collection offers smooth curves and cylindrical design that exude simple elegance making your contemporary bath space an inch closer to possible. Best of all, the Flute lineup is designed to pair with the popular Peerless Precept tub and shower fixtures for the ultimate modern fixture look.

Step 3: Work in fluted finishes

Integrating ribbed surfaces is another simple, yet beautiful way to give any space a contemporary twist. An easy way to do this is by matching rounded items such as mirrors, light fixtures or vases for a unified, modern look. Other simple tweaks to incorporate fluting is throughout cabinetry and drawers. Precise ribbed surfaces on these types of fixtures seamlessly offer a contemporary touch to any interior, all while providing essential storage.

Bringing it all together

Achieving the ideal contemporary bath doesn’t mean making overly expensive renovations or hefty accessory purchases. Altering the look and feel of your space by making simple, attainable updates – such as changing the wall color, updating your fixtures and working in fluted finishes – is all you need to introduce a modern touch to the bath space. BPT |

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Reimagining classic, familiar tones allow you to achieve a design motif that is equal parts reminiscent and refreshing.

The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an effortless look that reveals the importance of being hopeful to find stability and balance, the 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.

Blending Past and Present

Striking a balance between old and new can take many forms, as these styles show: Heritage Revival

Fill Your Home With Comforting Color In the world of design, what’s old inevitably becomes new again, and a similar pattern is inspiring today’s on-trend color palettes for home decor. The latest styles reflect reviving and comforting colors influenced by heritage and romance, lending to a look that is familiar in an individualistic way.

Whether living through the romance of rural lifestyles, the comfort of home or the nostalgia from far-off times, some of today’s most beloved design aesthetics celebrate the past, present and future while bringing balance, hope and comfort for you and your family to embrace.

Timeless Color

Using color to evoke feelings and emotions is hardly new but combining a carefully curated color palette with other design elements can allow you to create a look that pays homage to the past while breathing new life into your living space.

12 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

An interest in reviving the past is evident in design trends like a reemerging appreciation of antiques and vintage elements, such oversized furniture and traditional shapes. To capture this style, your design should focus on contrasting old and new for a mix-and-match look.

A cohesive color scheme can allow the various elements to stand on their own while working in harmony for an intentional design. 2023 Color Collection of the Year includes a combination of familiar tones that have been thoughtfully curated by design experts who borrow color and design concepts from the past for a hopeful future and a sense of belonging. Hues like Poetry Plum and Hot Cocoa evoke warmth and depth, while moderate shades like Restrained Gold and Glamour offer fresh ways to incorporate mid-range neutrals. Meanwhile, soft tones like Natural Linen and Cool Beige offer subtle color for lighter, brighter spaces.

Mixing and Matching of Eras

A new take on retro design is emerging in which eras are blended and new and old furnishing work side by side. To get this look, you’ll craft a space that marries historical and contemporary design, celebrating both old and new.

To design for longevity, incorporate pieces that are ambiguous in era and stand the test of time.

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Reviving design elements from the past with mixed patterns, classic shapes and vintage decor adds up to comfortable and comforting design. With this trend, prints and patterns encompass a range of styles, reinforcing how interiors connect to fashion. Mixing classic elegance with sleek vintage shapes is refining the concept of polished comfort. To achieve the look, curate pieces in heritage shapes and patterns, along with retro accents. Be sure to incorporate vintage lighting and glass, as well.

A versatile color choice like Darkroom, the 2023 Color of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, is an alluring shade that is classic enough for heritage interiors but also modernly retro for a throwback-inspired aesthetic. It’s a neutral perfect for creating an eclectic yet modern look inside and out.

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How to Make Your House More Attractive to Buyers What causes a listing to not sell? Why does it expire? Some of the reasons may surprise you, but all of them can be remedied by the seller, realtor, or both. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons listings get overlooked in a market where there’s more to choose from.

The Listing is Poorly Presented

The goal is for the listing to show like a new construction model home. Remove children’s toys that are laying around, remove clutter on the kitchen counters, nothing personal should be out on the any counters. The more of the house a potential buyer sees the better. Less is more.

Listing Pictures not Attractive

This includes tiny iPhone pictures, photos with kids sleeping in their beds, kitchen pictures with dirty dishes, and worse. You’ve seen pictures where the photographer is in the kitchen mirror, holding their iPhone to shoot photos. If you look at home listings on the internet it is obvious who hired a professional home photographer and who did not. It is definitely worth it to hire someone to do the pictures.

14 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

The Listing has Too Many Showing Restrictions

If the property can only be shown when the baby is asleep you won’t get many lookers! As an owner, be open to showing times.

If a potential buyer wants to look at it on Thursday morning but cannot because of your book club, there is a good chance they will not reschedule. If need be, schedule your home activities away or postpone if a potential buyer is on their way.

The Listing has Poor Curb Appeal

Some 50% of the buying decision is made from the street. Does your house look like something that someone would be proud to come home to? Do some simple things to improve the curb appeal, put a wreath on the door, add a pretty front doormat, plants on the porch, landscaping, weed removal, re-sod dead portions of the grass, make the pool blue again. The listing gives a bad impression when you open the front door. The other 50% of the buying decision is made in the foyer. A clutter-free, bright foyer should make the buyer want to see the rest of the house, not make them want to turn around and go see what’s next on the list.

The Listing has Too Many Personal Items

Family pictures, degrees on the wall, specific artwork, etc. can distract the buyer from focusing on the property and how they would live there. Buyers want to think about their stuff, not the seller’s stuff. You’ve all heard people walk through a listing and imagine where they’d put their couch, wonder if their dining room set would fit and which kid would get which bedroom. Too many personal items can make it so that conversation never happens and the buyers just want to move on to the next option.

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is in top condition – and replace your furnace filter at least every 90 days – to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. This will reduce your utility bills over time, while keeping you and your family warmer.

2. Go tank less

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Home Energy Costs This Fall As temperatures begin dropping this fall, you may be worrying about rising energy costs. Fortunately, there are a number of simple, proactive steps you can take that will save on energy and expenses for your home – while also increasing comfort - today and well into the future. On top of that, you will also be helping to increase the value of your home with these effective energy-saving measures. Consider these 5 steps to help your home become more energy-efficient.

1. Give your furnace or boiler a checkup

Get in the habit of having your furnace or boiler professionally tuned up and cleaned at least once a year, ideally just before the weather starts turning colder. Just as you perform regular maintenance on your vehicle, make sure your entire HVAC system 16 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Looking for a great way to cut down on energy usage and also ensure more consistent access to hot water? Upgrading to a tank less water heater will save on energy and expenses compared to a traditional water heater. For example, Noritz EZ Series highefficiency, condensing tank less water heaters are engineered to replace larger, conventional storage tank-type units, cutting both installation time and costs substantially. The wall-hung technology also has zero footprint in your home, which is a great space saver for smaller homes or if you just need more areas for storage. Tank less water heaters efficiently provide continuous hot water – meaning no more cold showers along with big energy savings. In addition, tank less water heaters like the Noritz EZ Series also result in reduced carbon emissions and have a longer life expectancy than traditional models. Tank less water heaters use top-mounted water connections, avoiding the need for additional and costly plumbing. Even better, you can often find money-saving rebate programs from your local gas utility for your new tank less water heater that will help cut the installed cost even more.

3. Insulate your attic

You’re probably aware that heat rises - so if your attic is not properly insulated, you may be losing a lot of heated air through your roof every winter. Lack of good attic insulation can also lead to damage from ice buildup, which is costly to repair. If you own an older home, it’s a good idea to have your attic inspected for insulation before winter sets in. And while older homes are the least likely to have properly insulated attics, even if you have a newer home it’s worth having a professional check to see if your attic is under-insulated. This can make a big difference when it comes to heating costs.

4. Make your thermostat programmable

If it’s been a while since you upgraded your thermostat, you may be surprised at what new programmable thermostats can do to help keep your home comfortable while also saving on utility bills. The latest models provide much better fine tuning when setting your thermostat, allowing better control of the energy you’re using to heat (or cool) your home. You can make sure you’re not overheating your house when you’re asleep or not at home. Traveling or on vacation? New smart thermostats allow you to adjust your home’s

thermostat controls remotely, using your phone or another electronic device.

5. Check for leaks

Every year, homeowners lose a lot of heated (or cooled) air through leaks around areas like windows, doors and chimneys.

Inspecting your home for leaks can alert you to spots where you may need to improve caulking, flashing or weather-stripping for a fairly low-cost fix. For a longer-term solution, you may want to consider replacing older, less energy-efficient windows and doors with new ones. For help finding leaks, call your utility company. Many provide energy audits to help customers locate trouble spots in their homes.

By taking a few of these proactive steps, you can help your family stay cozy and comfortable all winter, while also helping to save energy and protect your budget.

Visit EZSeries.Noritz.com to learn more about how you can save energy, space and expenses on heating water for your home.

BPT |

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 17

Plant Bulbs Now to Have a Colorful Spring Garden When it comes to fall bulb planting, there are a few things you’ll need to know. Try out these tips this fall, and you should have lots of beautiful blooms next spring!

As you are planting bulbs, there are a few things to remember.

First, make sure that you choose a spot with at least six hours of sunlight. When you are ready to plant, the general rule of thumb is to plant a bulb three times as deep as the bulb is tall, making sure the pointy part is facing upwards. You don’t want to simply dig a hole and plant the bulb. Be sure to prepare by removing weeds and loosening the soil. It is also a good idea to add compost for nutrients or sand for drainage before you plant.

18 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Not all bulbs should be planted in the fall. Dahlias and gladiolus should be planted in the spring, for instance, while daffodils and tulips do well when planted in late summer or early autumn.

Here is the rule of thumb: If you are planting a bulb that blooms in the spring, plant it in the fall. For bulbs that bloom early summer or later, plant them in the spring.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis bulbs are easy enough to grow indoors, and just as easy to grow in the garden. They perform well in beds, borders, or containers outside. These plants look exceptionally attractive when planted in groups. Best of all, amaryllis bulbs are deemed resistant to both deer and many rodents.

Asiatic Lilies

Plant these bulbs in fall, a few weeks before the winter brings freezing temperatures. Plant the bulbs three times as deep as the height of the bulb, with the flat end down, then mulch lightly to retain moisture. Place in a location away from browsing deer, they are edible and deer love them!

Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are easy to grow in the garden and containers. As cut flowers, they can last up to two weeks. The flowers, along with their green, often speckled foliage, are stunning in the sunny garden or containers. Calla Lilies do not generally require too much attention. They prefer to be located in full sun or partial shade in warmer climates.

Daffodils

Daffodils are some of the easiest plants to grow. The deer-resistant bulbs are simply put in the ground in early fall; then the sunshine-yellow flowers emerge at winter’s end! Daffodils are suitable for planting between shrubs or in a border, or for forcing blooms indoors. Daffodils make for great springtime cut flowers.

Gladiolus

Gladiolus prefer well-drained and even sandy soil. They also like sunny locations. You will want to plant the gladiolus deeper than usual because they have a tall sheaf of leaves. This will help anchor them against strong winds that might blow them over to the ground.

Naked Lady

A gorgeous flower with many identities: Belladonna Lily, Naked Ladies, or Belladonna Amaryllis, this plant produces green, leafy growth that emerges in spring and dies back by mid summer. In late summer, leafless stems produce elegant, pink flowers. |

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 19

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BEFORE

High-ROI Home Upgrades to Improve Curb Appeal Your home’s exterior can say a lot about you and your family while also making a first impression on guests and potential buyers. Because of the impact curb appeal has on the amount prospective buyers are willing to spend on a home, it’s important for homeowners to look beyond simply choosing the right siding color and consider different siding materials and profiles, adding accents like stone veneer and researching other exterior upgrades that can both increase beauty and deliver performance over time.

22 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

In fact, exterior remodeling projects typically top the list of projects that add the most resale value to homes. According to Remodeling’s 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, nine of the top Ten projects delivering the best return on cost were exterior renovations.

If you’re looking to sell or just want to increase the overall value of your home, consider these high-ROI exterior upgrades that could improve aesthetics and increase resale value.

Front Door

If replacing the front door isn’t necessary, adding a fresh coat of paint is a simple way to refresh your home’s exterior. You can take your “dated” door and make it modern again with a bold, on-trend color. Take it one step further by adding artistic house numbers, a new light fixture or a door knocker in an unexpected shape for inexpensive pops of style.

Vinyl Siding

Updating your home’s exterior with vinyl siding yields a 67.2% return upon sale, according to the report. When considering new siding, look for high-quality, lowmaintenance materials. Depending on where you live, insulated vinyl siding can add additional protection against the elements, as well as increased energy efficiency. While function is important, don’t be afraid to make bold choices with color, texture, different profiles and contrasting trim to make a true statement with your home’s exterior. continued on page 24 ...

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For example, Westlake Royal Building Products offers a wide range of vinyl siding options in the latest shades, including adding five on-trend colors. Inspired by colors found in nature, the gray, blue-gray, brown and green tones reflect the latest trends in modern exterior home design. Both lines feature patented color protection technology to resist fading, which is especially important for darker shades contact Royal Siding.

Shutters

Adding or replacing shutters is another easy way to add a bit of flair and can be a key finishing touch in creating the perfect exterior.

With the potential to play beautifully alongside windows and siding as well architectural style and surrounding landscaping, it’s important to make thoughtful choices and install them properly to ensure they look and function as designed.

Composite Decking

Another exterior remodeling project with a high ROI (62.1%), according to the report, is replacing your home’s existing wood deck with composite decking. Composite decking combines the natural beauty and warmth of exotic hardwood with the durability and low-maintenance requirements of PVC (cellular polyvinyl chloride), which resists stains, scratches, fading and moisture, for a deck that will last for years with minimal upkeep.

Column Wraps

Give your front porch an instant face lift by wrapping your existing columns with PVC wraps. This is an easy way to achieve a cleaner and more modern, updated look. Resistant to moisture, PVC column wraps prevent issues found in traditional wood columns, such as warping, rotting and insect damage. Available in a variety of ready-to-install styles, they can also be painted to complement your home’s exterior color palette.

These suggested improvements can give your home a dramatic face lift for a home buyer and/or your family to enjoy for years to come. | 24 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

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Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 25

Natural Light Can Increase Your Home’s Value

5 practical upgrades to increase style and function

Whether you’ve purchased a new house or are just looking to invest in what is likely your largest asset, home improvements can make your living space more comfortable, functional & stylish.

Home buyers are looking for practical home amenities that allow them to live, work and play – such as dedicated home offices, backyard retreats, home gyms and more – without having to worry about any potential future restrictions caused by the pandemic, according to a survey by Zolo of more than 3,300 new homeowners and potential first-time buyers in 2022.

Consider these popular upgrade ideas to create a space built for your family’s needs that can also increase resale value down the line.

Home Office

At the height of the pandemic, many professionals found themselves working remotely – a trend that continued as restrictions were lifted. In fact, 46% of survey respondents listed a dedicated office space as a must-have when purchasing a new home. When creating this space, keep function and efficiency top of mind. Build your home office around a desk – either standing or traditional – then consider additions like an ergonomic chair and keyboard, soft light desk lamp, mood-boosting plants and a white board to stay organized. Don’t forget to add flairs of personality like artwork, knick-knacks or photos of loved ones to make it your own.

Skylights

By improving the overall look and functionality of dark spaces, such as home offices where natural light can improve creativity and productivity, an option like skylights can increase the value of a home, and 55% of new home buyers rated skylights as desirable or essential, according to research from the National Association of Home Builders. For rooms that need brightening, skylights can free up wall space for storage while adding abundant natural light and increasing ventilation. An option like Velux No Leak Solar-Powered Fresh Air Skylights help rid indoor air of bacteria, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide.

Over the long-term, high-quality skylights can also help reduce carbon emissions and home energy consumption, saving money on household bills, according to Urban Grade. Remotecontrolled models can be opened to bring fresh air inside, and with light-filtering or room-darkening shades homeowners have maximum control over the exact amount of light they want. Plus, solar-powered shades come in more than 75 colors and patterns, allowing homeowners nearly endless customization options.

Backyard Retreat

Perfect for hosting friends, dining al fresco or simply relaxing with the backdrop of nature, 48% of survey respondents cited a backyard retreat as a must-have home amenity. Start with a deck or patio then customize your outdoor living space to meet 26 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

your family’s wants and needs. Weather-proof furniture can add comfort while features like outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fans and lighting can create a connection to your indoor areas that add both style and function.

Home Gym

Another trend that rose in popularity amid the pandemic, home gyms can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, utilizing available space in the garage, basement, a spare bedroom or even the backyard. Providing more time to fit workouts into your schedule, home gyms can be customized with equipment most important for your lifestyle. From yoga mats, jump ropes and free weights to treadmills, ellipticals and benches and racks, your space, budget and goals can help in the creation or update of a dedicated, in-home workout space.

Walk-In Pantry

If you want to add a pantry in your kitchen, you’re not alone.

Walk-in pantries found their way onto 48% of respondents’ lists of must-haves. To get started, consider your storage needs to determine the amount of space you’ll require and remember to vary shelving heights to maximize space. Open shelving can also be combined with additional counter space, cabinets, pull-out organizers and other features to help match the design to the rest of your kitchen. Family Features: Find more ideas to maximize your space at eLivingtoday.com. |

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 27

Tips and Tricks to Conserve Water INSIDE With California droughts seemingly getting worse year after year, water conservation is becoming a part of living in our great state. Conserving water doesn’t have to disrupt your household life if you implement some if not all of the following tips. There is also a big upside to water conservation – YOUR BILL. As water prices climb as are all utilities, you can find yourself cutting your bill nearly in half if you and your family are diligent water savers. If you were to institute all of the following measures, you could save as much as roughly 80 to 230 gallons of water! By doing so you are not only helping out your community, our beautiful state of California but also your pocketbook.

Only Fill Your Bathtub Halfway or Less

By filling up your bathtub halfway or less can save as much as 17-25 gallons of water per person each time someone in your household takes a bath.

Turn off Water When Brushing your Teeth, During Shaving and When Washing Dishes by Hand

Instead of letting the water run freely while doing the above activities, shut off the faucet in between actions. Doing so can not only teach you water conservation habits but can also save up to 8 gallons of water per person per day in your household.

Recycle Indoor Water and Use it to Irrigate Your Garden

Recycling indoor water usage and using it to water your garden can cut water use by up to as much as 30 percent.

Check for and fix Leaks

Aerators integrate surrounding air into the water and can save as much as .7 gallons per minute.

Leaks in your water system can be hard to detect but taking the time and effort to do so can not only conserve water, but save anywhere from 25 to 90 gallons of water everyday. You’d be surprised how much water a simply dribbling faucet can waste.

Install High-Efficiency Toilets

Take 3-5 Minute Showers

Install Aerators

High-efficiency toilets use up to 40 percent less water then a regular toilet. You can save anywhere from 5 to 35 gallons of water per day. Probably one of the easiest and passive money savers you can do to your home. These toilets are not always cheap, but they will pay themselves off within a couple of years of use.

If you keep your shower time down to 5 minutes or less, again you can save up to 12-13 gallons of water a day. Another trick is to install a low-flow efficiency shower head which has a finer spray, but uses gallons and gallons less water on a daily basis.

Wash Full Loads of Clothes and Dishes

Washing Clothes: By refraining from doing the quick wash of just a couple of clothing items, wait and do full washes only once or twice a week depending on household family size. This can save you up to 15-45 gallons of water per load. Yes, it’s a lot!

Dishwasher: Instead of again doing a quick wash with a halfempty load of dishes can waste a lot of water on a daily basis. If you pack your dishwasher to the hilt and run it only as much as needed, you can save up to 5-15 gallons per day. Another trick is to do a quick wash of pots and pans, turning the water off in between, as they take up a lot of space that could easily be filled with dishes. continued on page 30 ...

28 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

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Tips and Tricks to Conserve Water OUTSIDE

One of the biggest ways to conserve water for homeowners who have gardens and lawns is outside the home. The following ideas and recommendations are relatively easy to implement, inexpensive to buy, and pay themselves off over and over, year after year.

Use Drought-Resistant Plants

By checking with your local nursery and doing research on-line, you can easily identify low water use plants. Native California plants always work well as they are accustomed to the dry climate already. These plants once well-rooted can save you hundreds of gallons of water over the course of a year.

Re-think Your Yard and Garden

Always water your vegetable and fruit gardens as they sustain you with healthy and inexpensive source of food. Drought-resistant foliage and trees used little to no water once established in your garden. Let your lawn go brown as once Winter rolls around again, it will turn back to green with morning dew and California’s on and off again rain.

Check Outdoor Watering Systems for leaks as a leaking faucet head can wasted over 5,000 gallons of water per month and make your water bill skyrocket. Also, make sure your only watering your garden, not sidewalks or weeds outside your yard area.

Drip Irrigation and Timers

Installing drip irrigation is a much more efficient way of watering,

it allows the plants to drink instead of water overflowing and draining away from your garden. Another great way to monitor your watering is a timer. This will make sure you don’t over water and can allow you to be away during watering time.

Water Catching Devices

Wine barrels, tubs, troughs and any type of container can catch runoff from your gutters which in turn can be utilized to water your garden. Running hoses from the bottom of said containers into your garden beds can keep your watering needs down and conserve an incredible amount of water per year.

Be Mindful of What you use Your Water for

It’s tempting to use the hose and a spray nozzle to clean off sidewalks, driveways and roofs. However this can use an astounding amount of water anywhere from 6 to 8 gallons every minute. Break out the broom or electric blower for these outdoor tasks and save, save, save.

Use Mulch, Bark Chips and River Rock in Your Garden

The use of mulches, bark and rock helps hold the water instead of it just draining away in little rivers to areas where it is not needed.

You would be astounded about how much water these functional and inexpensive amendments can be. Also, during rains, they hold the water and slowly release it as they drip dry thus giving your garden more water in the long run. | 30 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

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Fall/Winter 2022 | Coastal Home & Garden | 31

What to do in Santa Cruz During Fall and Winter

Discover Museums

Winter is an incredible time to explore Santa Cruz.

The crowds have died down and the pace is slower. All attractions and tourist sites remain open year-round there are a few that are open weekends only and can be experienced at a less expensive rate than in the summer months.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

The Capitola Historical Museum

Is admission-free and great family fun. Enjoy a free walking tour of this famous seaside beauty or have fun at Neptune’s Kingdom, with the latest arcade games and a miniature golf course to test your skills. There are a variety of eateries and games. Taste the best of the best at the 41st Annual Chowder Cook off on February 25 & 26, 2023.

We offer a new, major annual exhibition on the history and art of the area. The museum also provides rotating exhibitions at the Capitola Library and maintains extensive collections of Capitola related photographs and artifacts. The museum grounds include a furnished 1907 Beach Cottage and an early 20th century Bath House. Located at 410 Capitola Ave. in Capitola. For more info. call 831.464.0322 or visit www.cityofcapitola.org/capitola-museum.

Enjoy our Beautiful Beaches

Santa Cruz has miles of coastline and mild winter temperatures. Enjoy Santa Cruz Main Beach, Twin Lakes Beach, Seabright Beach, Capitola Beach, Rio Del Mar Beach, Manresa and many more! (see sidebar next page)

We are a nonprofit educational institution and museum founded in 1996 and located at 705 Front St. in Santa Cruz at the downtown McPherson Center. For more information call 831.429.1964 or visit www.santacruzmah.org.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

The museum has connected people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years. Located above Seabright Beach at 135 E. Cliff Dr., the Museum highlights the region’s diverse plant, animal, and human communities from the shoreline of Monterey Bay to the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

For more information call 831.420.6115 or visit www.santacruzmuseum.org.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Water’s Extreme Journey takes you on a quest for clean water.

Experience the watershed as a water drop, exploring firsthand the science behind the water cycle. Learn how your daily decisions can immediately improve the watershed in Santa Cruz County. Maze included with admission. The Discovery Center is located at continued on page 34 ...

32 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

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100 McAllister Way in Santa Cruz. Call 831.459.2800 for more information or visit www.seymourcenter.ucsc.edu.

Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center

Located just steps away from the ocean and Santa Cruz Wharf, the center features state-of-the art exhibits and interactive displays highlighting the sanctuary and its incredible underwater environment. Visitors can explore the sanctuary’s remarkable marine environment as well as their personal role in protecting one of our nation’s underwater treasures. Call 831.421.9993 of visit montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/sec/welcome for more information.

Agricultural History Project Center & Museum

Located in Watsonville at the SCD County Fairgrounds, we are open every 2nd Saturday 11am – 3pm for Second Saturday on the Farm. Group tours may be arranged in advance by appointment. What is a Living History Farm? A living history farm is an interactive outdoor museum which educates, entertains, and connects people to real life experiences on a farm or ranch during a particular time in history. Docents demonstrate everyday chores, household tasks, and how a family was fed without a grocery store around the corner. Docents also assist visitors with “hands-on” activities. Facilities are handicapped accessible. Call 831.724.5898 or visit www.aghistoryproject.org for more information.

San Lorenzo Valley Museum

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum operates two galleries, one in Boulder Creek, and one in Felton. Both are housed in former church buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both galleries house permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Entrance is FREE, donations are appreciated. Call 831.338.8382 or visit www.slvmuseum.com for more information.

Capitola Village

Ghosts, goblins, boys and ghouls…join us for the annual Capitola Village Halloween Parade on October 30 from 2-3pm! Line up begins at 1:30pm in the Beach & Village Parking Lot. Parade begins promptly at 2pm. Call the Capitola/Soquel Chamber at 831.475.6522 for more information. Capitola offers it’s popular Plein Air Festival Oct. 31 – Nov. 6. And on Nov. 12 come down to the village and enjoy our annual Sip n’ Stroll. Visit capitolavillagebia.

34 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

com for more information. Surfing Santa rides the wave onto Capitola Beach for free visits with families. Accompanied by wet suited “reindeer”, Surfin’ Santa then sets in his beach chair to greet families with candy canes and an ear for children’s wish list.

Hiking the Towering Redwoods

A number of Santa Cruz County parks have great hiking trails and are admission-free, including DeLaveaga Park, Quail Hollow Ranch, Nisene Marks. Visit www.scparks.com for more details.

Explore Magical Gardens

Explore the bamboo gardens, enjoy the rare roses, and see exotic plants from around the world. Bamboo Giant Nursery, Roses of Yesterday and Today, Sierra Azul Nursery and many other gardens are free to explore. The UCSC Arboretum offers free admission the first Tuesday of each month. | Explore the Beautiful Redwoods and Beaches at these State Parks:  Big Basin Redwoods State Park  Castle Rock State Park  Castro Adobe State Historic Park  Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park  Lighthouse Field State Park  Manresa State Beach  Moran State Park  Natural Bridges State Beach  New Brighton State Beach  Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park  The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park  Wilder Ranch State Park  Capitola State Beach  Lighthouse Field State Beach  Manresa Uplands State Beach & Campground  Natural Bridges State Beach  Palm Beach State Park  Seacliff State Beach  Sunset State Beach  Twin Lakes State Beach

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7960 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 35

Fall Gardening Spells Success Scrumptious, healthy veggies, hefty harvests and a break on your grocery bill – many appealing advantages draw people to growing their own vegetables. If you’ve never gardened before or you’re a green thumbed, garden-guru, you’ll soon figure out that fall’s a great time to get growing your own produce. Cooler temperatures and milder sun can spell success for any gardener who takes up the trowel as autumn approaches.

Favorable fall conditions mean growing cool weather crops is comparatively easy, with less watering and care needed for a successful garden. Cool crops will start out strong, growing quickly and then slow their growth as days become shorter and cooler.

You’ll also need to work less to protect your garden from pests, as both insects and animal populations will taper off in fall. And since weeds will germinate less frequently and grow slower, weeding won’t be a time-consuming task. Finally, more rain and less sun and heat mean you’ll need to water less. If you’re ready for gardening success, now is the time to grab that hoe, break some ground and get growing. Tips to get you started: Pick your plants

Start with transplants, rather than seed. A shorter, gentler growing season means you need to get started right away. Many local garden centers will have a selection of transplants that will grow well on the central coast of California. Transplants that are six weeks or older will give you a jump start. You’ll be able to harvest sooner than if you start from seed and skip

the volatile, sometimes unsuccessful, seed-starting process.

Transplants usually come in earth-friendly biodegradable pots, making planting easy, preventing transplant shock and sparing the use of much plastic. As the pot biodegrades, it’ll add nutrients to your soil, too.

Choose cool crops that your family likes to eat.

Popular fall favorites include:

 Lacinato Kale – A cold-hardy vegetable, kale

leaves sweeten after frost. Kale is a super food, and Lacinato leaves extend excellent health benefits, lowering cholesterol, fighting cancer and decreasing inflammation.

 EarlyDividendBroccoli–Manygreenslovethefall, and broccoli is no exception. Plant stalks 18 inches apart and get ready for an easy, hearty harvest.

Broccoli is high in fiber and calcium.

 Cabbage – The quintessential fall vegetable,

Bonnie’s hybrid cabbage grows large, round bluegreen heads. From salads to stews, cabbage adds a punch of flavor and nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins C and K, and plenty of fiber.

 Romaine lettuce – Romaine packs a big punch with more vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients than other popular types of lettuce. Rich in fiber, vitamin C and beta-carotene, romaine is especially good for heart health. Space transplants 18 inches apart.

36 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Once you know what you’ll be planting, it’s time to get the ground ready. Remove any garden debris from the past season’s garden and remove weeds before they go to seed.

Size up your soil. Loosen compacted soil, fluffing it up with a garden fork. Soil test and amend if necessary. Adding a 2-inch layer of bagged compost is always good practice. You can also spread a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, according to labeled instructions, for added nutrients.

Plants will need an inch of moisture per week, either through rain or supplemental watering. You might consider raised bed planting; beds are easy to build or buy and allow you to start out with good quality soil. Plus, you’ll bend less come harvest time.

Position your plot and let the sunshine in. Most vegetables need full sun - at least six hours per day. Finally, don’t fear frost. When frost threatens, cover plants with floating row cover, cold frame or a cloche. Or, you can grow fall veggies in a container and move pots to a protected location on frosty nights.

Whether you’re working in the backyard, a raised bed or in containers on a deck, you’ll see how easy and successful fall planting can be. Start now to ensure you enjoy a healthy, plentiful and fulfilling fall harvest. |

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 37

Three Easy Ways to Enjoy Living Color in Your Outdoor Space This Fall As temperatures drop and seasons turn, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the vivid blooms you love so much in your yard. Strategically adding seasonal plants that can withstand cooler weather is a great way to bring color and dimension to outdoor spaces, enhancing your curb appeal into the autumn months.

To educate and inspire, the plant and gardening experts at Ball Horticultural Company share simple tips, top trends and standout plants that are ideal for fall: Pollinator plants in traditional autumn hues

There’s no easier way to add autumn atmosphere to your entryway, walkways and flower boxes than with the warm hues of rich yellows and sunny oranges. Blooms in these colors convey happiness and warmth, making them beautifully eye-catching. Some plants in these tones are especially attractive to bees and butterflies, helping create pollinator-friendly spaces.

For example, award-winning Echinacea Artisan Yellow Ombre is a native-type prairie plant that attracts songbirds, bees and butterflies throughout fall, and into winter. It’s drought tolerant and low maintenance, making it a no-brainer for colorful autumn gardens. Another great option as the weather cools is Achillea Milly Rock Yellow Terracotta. This perennial has a breathtaking golden-orange color that is perfect for fall because it is frost tolerant, plus it attracts pollinators while resisting hungry rabbits and deer.

38 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

Moody blues are trending for fall

While yellow and orange are quintessential fall colors, you can add an on-trend element to your outdoor space with Spreading Pansy Cool Wave Blue. The stunning dark, moody blue hue plays nicely when combined with a jewel-toned autumn palette. It is also a standout choice by itself, reflecting the cooler weather, crisp air and clear night skies associated with the fall months.

The vibrant shade of solid blue is beautiful in planters and hanging baskets, as well as in landscaping and window boxes.

This sun-loving variety is a spreading pansy, meaning it can serve as great ground cover, as well. You can enjoy this pansy in fall, and with superior overwintering hardiness, it’s the earliest pansy to return in the spring.

Create dimension through floral shapes

Color is one important aspect of landscape design, but to really elevate your outdoor appeal, consider dimension as well.

Creating variables in plants through shape and texture adds visual interest, bringing new depth to a space. To create this, mix florals with greenery and don’t be afraid of nontraditional flower shapes.

The perfect example is Celosia, which features blooms in unique shapes such as plumes, spikes or wavy crests. You can create any outdoor aesthetic you desire with varieties available in yellow, orange, red and dark purple. Each adds texture and dimension, pairing well with mums and other popular autumn florals.

Whether it’s containers, window boxes or several strategic places in your landscaping, you can update your home for the fall season and boost your curb appeal with fall flowers. A dash of color and texture will help your home be a standout on the block. BPT |

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY We are grateful to our community of individuals, local organizations, and patients who partner with us to ensure a healthier tomorrow. Together, we provide the resources needed to provide the best medical care available at Dominican Hospital and in Santa Cruz County.

Thank you for your commitment to philanthropy and caring.

TOGETHER, WE MAKE AN IMPACT.

Donate Now www.supportdominican.org 831.462.7712 GivingtoDominican@DignityHealth.org

@DominicanHospitalFoundation #DominicanHospitalFoundation

Seven Budget Friendly Gardening Tips & Tricks Gardening can be a simple way to beautify your yard, relieve stress and save money on your grocery bill, but like any hobby, you can get carried away buying necessary equipment.

Fun, budget and environmentally friendly, these tricks can help you create a cost-effective garden: 1. Use a yardstick and permanent marker to mark inches and feet on the handle of your rake, shovel or hoe. The next time you plant, simply lay the marked handle along the row to create perfectly spaced holes for seeds.

2. Line the bottom of a clay pot with a coffee filter to keep soil from leaking out the bottom.

40 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

3. Use empty plastic water bottles or clear milk jugs to fill the bottom of large pots. They reduce the weight of the pot and require less soil to fill.

4. To test your seeds to see if they’re still viable for this planting season, place a wet paper towel inside a ziptop bag, drop in 3-4 seeds and wait a week to see if anything grows.

5. One way to help prevent weeds is lining your garden with a layer of newspaper. Just top two or three sheets of newsprint with a layer of pine needles, grass clippings or dried leaves for an eco-friendly and inexpensive weed barrier.

6. Keep gardening twine handy. Nail a funnel to your potting bench with the spout pointing downward, feed the twine through and your string will never go missing. For a more portable solution, place a ball of twine inside a canning jar, make a hole in the lid and feed the end of the twine through the hole. Now, you can take twine anywhere, tangle-free.

7. There is no need to buy expensive potting systems for starting seedlings. Place several cardboard toilet paper rolls inside a clean plastic clamshell, like those used for pre-made salads. Fill each cardboard tube with potting soil and plant. Once your seedlings grow too tall for the clamshell, simply tear off the top lid.

Find more ideas for creating a garden without spending a bundle at eLivingtoday.com. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Family Features |

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY ART SUPPLIES

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

LENZ ARTS 142 River St., Santa Cruz 831.423.1935 • www.lenzarts.com Serving you for over 50 years, Lenz Arts offers the largest selection of fine art supplies and the oldest custom frame shop on the Central Coast.

Described as “one of the last real art stores on the West Coast,” people drive for hours to take advantage of our comprehensive stock and knowledge. From the finger-painting toddler to the professional gallery artist, we’ve got you covered!

BANKING

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 831.479.6000 • www.bayfed.com Bay Federal Credit Union is a full service, not for profit financial cooperative. We provide personal and business banking services but, unlike a bank, we’re owned by our account holders and members like you! Our goal is to be better than a bank by delivering outstanding service, competitive savings yields, and many low and no-cost services. Our Board of Directors is made up of unpaid volunteers who spend countless hours ensuring the safety and stability of your money in the Credit Union.

CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– APTOS LANDSCAPE SUPPLY 5035 Freedom Blvd., Aptos • 831.688.6211 www.aptoslandscapesupply.com At Aptos Landscape Supply, we believe in creating beautiful outdoor spaces, while being mindful of our customers’ budgets and timelines.

We stock a wide variety of top landscaping and hardscaping materials, including flagstone, wall rock, topsoil, bricks, pavers, and much more, while also offering fast delivery of these products to your home or job site. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is always willing to assist with questions and suggestions on projects of any size, making sure our customers feel confident in their landscaping ventures.

CENTRAL HOME SUPPLY 808 River Street, Santa Cruz • 831.423.0763 180 El Pueblo Rd., Scotts Valley • 831.440.0763 www.centralhomesupply.com As a family owned and operated business, Central Home Supply prides itself on personal, one-on-one service; expert advice; referrals to local contractors; and an ever-growing list of products. Pick up your products here or we’ll deliver it to your home. Whether it be a flatbed, forklift, and dump truck, we have the right sized vehicle to access your job. No project is too big or too small, from large commercial to small residential, Central Home Supply has the experience to get the job done right.

GRANITEROCK 303 Coral Street, Santa Cruz • 831.471.3400 540 West Beach Street, Watsonville

42 | Coastal Home & Garden | Fall/Winter 2022-2023

831.768.2500 www.graniterock.com Since the beginning, Graniterock has focused on keeping customers happy. This requires us to anticipate and exceed customer needs and expectations. The result is that you get what you need, whether it’s the right sand or the right information. That’s why we live by our “Yes, we will” standard of responding positively and creatively to every request for special products and/or services.

EQUIPMENT RENTALS

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A TOOL SHED EQUIPMENT RENTALS 3700 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz • 831.477.7133 285 W. Beach Street, Watsonville 831.722.0334 www.atoolshed.com A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals Inc. is your equipment rental solution for all your rental needs. We have the rental inventory to help you get your job done quickly and easily. You’ll appreciate our large rental inventory and wide selections of rental tools available from the novice or do it yourselfer to the experienced contractor. Rental equipment is our specialty with fast delivery services just a phone call away.

FLOORING AND DESIGN

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– INTERIOR VISION 2800 Daubenbiss Avenue, Soquel 831.219.4484 • www.interiorvision.biz We can help you with everything from the simple problem to complex installations including products for radiant heat, patterns, and borders. We carry both prefinished and sand and finish hardwoods including bamboo and exotic woods, laminates such as Mannington, Natural Linoleum, all major brands of carpet, wool, sisal, cork, custom and ready-made area rugs, porcelain tile, and Hunter Douglas Allustra and window shades and shutters.

MR. SANDLESS 1-877-966-3360 • www.mrsandless.com We are the company that invented sandless refinishing! Our traditional service uses wet solutions and our high-speed machine to prepare your floor. Then we seal your floor with multiple coats of our commercial grade sealer and finish with your choice of matte, satin, or gloss finish.

We also finish cabinets, tables doors, benches, stairs, handrails, outdoor and more! Give us a call to talk about all your options!

FURNISHINGS & DÉCOR

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– AMERICAN LEISURE 1118 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz • 831.423.2425 3550 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose 408.446.9350 www.americanleisure.com American Leisure started in 1972 as a small manufacturer of custom-made, one-of-a-kind patio furniture. For over 40 years, our skills have been honed as we have grown the business to

what it is today; a leading retailer of top-of-theline indoor and outdoor furniture in the Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay Areas. Family owned, we’ve built our reputation on quality, integrity and providing excellent customer service.

GARAGE DOOR

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A-1 OVERHEAD DOOR CO. 238 Wheelock Road, Watsonville 831.688.5892 • www.aonedoor.com Serving Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties in California since 1969 with over 50 years of experience in the garage door trade, and over 12,000 installations. We have built a strong reputation for providing the highest quality work by giving personalized service to our customers.

Our focus is on providing our customers with quality craftsmanship at an affordable price.

GARDEN AND HOME

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– KNOX GARDEN BOX 46 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley 831.461.0634 • www.knoxroofing.com It’s easy to create a smaller, more manageable, and prolific garden with a preassembled Knox Garden Box. Solve problems with overly compacted soil, poor drainage, voracious garden pests, damage cold temperatures, water shortages, and sore muscles from incessant bending and kneeling. The boxes provide exceptional soil drainage and solve the problem of gophers, which can destroy a whole garden in a day.

JAY WELTY LANDSCAPING 831.684.0433 Specializing in creative garden renovations: waterfalls, stone patios, lighting and irrigation, Jay Welty has been creating beautiful landscapes since 1978. We offer several services including arbor construction, artificial grass installation, brick and stone driveway installation and much more. See what you can design with Jay Welty!

Call for a free consultation.

HOME SERVICES

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PACIFIC COAST HOME SERVICES 2372 Qume Dr. Suite A, San Jose 408.212.0230 • www.pc-homeservices.com Pacific Coast Home Services has been providing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical repair in San Jose and surrounding areas for over 30 years.

We’re family-owned and operated, have great online reviews, and are proud of our A+ Rating at the BBB. Whether it’s regularly scheduled maintenance, or after hours emergency repairs; we offer up-front pricing, on-time service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all work.

LEAK DETECTION

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STARK LEAK DETECTION 831.334.5944 • www.starkleak.com Stark Leak Detection is equipped to accurately

pinpoint any water leak ... no matter the pipe size, depth, or distance! We are not a plumbing or licensed plumbing repair service. We provide services as an extension or complement to your business. You can always count on us for timely and professional service, whether contracted directly or referred to a customer in support of a project!

MEDICAL CARE

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– KAISER PERMANENTE 5616/17 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley 831.430.2700 115 Locust Street, Santa Cruz • 831.425.4100 1931 Main Street, Watsonville • 831.768-6600 www.healthy.kaiserpermanente.org Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management.

ANITA DeLONG 831.234.7481 anitamdelong@gmail.com We are licensed and certified to represent all the major Medicare Health Plans available to you. Everyone’s healthcare needs are different.

We will help you compare all your plan options and select a plan that will fit you. We don’t work for any health plan; we work for you and we can provide you with a no-cost unbiased plan consultation.

PAINTING

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– JUENEMAN PAINTING 831.345.7252 • juenpaint@yahoo.com Serving Santa Cruz for over 25 years, we provide top-rated interior, exterior, residential, and commercial painting. We are dependable, professional, and always friendly. Call today to get your quote on our Summer Special – 10% off your paint!

POOL AND SPA SERVICES

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APPI POOL AND SPA 1527 Commercial Way B, Santa Cruz 831.476.6363 • www.appipool.com Thinking a thought about your pool or spa that is other than leisure enhancing detracts from your experience. Our purpose is to provide you with services that optimize your leisure experience – to care for your pool or spa in such a way that baths you in satisfaction at every step in the process.

REAL ESTATE

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TED MENDOZA EXP Realty 831-419-3124 www.tedmendoza.exprealty.com Ted has helped clients buy and sell real estate full time since 1969. In that time, he has represented clients in 3,000 plus escrows. With

50 years of experience through several buyers’ and sellers’ markets, he knows how to serve you and your family’s needs. If you have any real estate questions or want to learn more about the value of your home, please give us a call!

JIM FURLONG David Lyng Real Estate 831.212.9648 • www.jimfurlong.com Jim Furlong is known for “exceeding expectations”. Jim’s history in Santa Cruz business, marketing, and real estate enables him to excel in terms of his connections, customer service and his ability to close a sale while making it an enjoyable experience. His education includes extensive training on real estate contracts and standards. Expect only my best in professional real estate marketing of your home. Jim will make your needs a reality using good honest sense, knowledge, and credibility!

KATHLEEN MANNING Sotheby’s Real Estate 831.566.3127 • www.kathleenmanning.com With more than 20 years of experience, Kathleen is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the area. Kathleen offers the skills and experience required to successfully buy or sell a home in today’s complex market: Skilled negotiation, utilization of new technology, creative marketing, organization, careful listening and great communication, extensive knowledge of the area and a professional service team to insure a smooth transaction.

ROOM REAL ESTATE 831.234.6683 • www.roomsantacruz.com Founded by local real estate experts Jayson Madani and Maaret Forst, we are a boutique real estate agency serving buyers and sellers in the Santa Cruz area where Jayson was born and raised, and where he has sold properties since 2004. Our team know the local neighborhoods and communities very well, and our clients benefit from their knowledge and experience.

CAROLE SCHWARZBACH Schwarzbach Associates, Inc. 831.334.5262 www.schwarzbachassociatesinc.com Service and reliability are the main objectives of Schwarzbach Associates, Inc. We are a small, family-owned business that has served the real estate needs of thousands in Santa Cruz County. Not only do I list and sell but have developed the property management branch of our business. My husband Dan and I are both Certified General Real Estate Appraisers.

ROOFING

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KNOX ROOFING 46 El Pueblo Rd., Scotts Valley 831.461.0634 • www.knoxroofing.com Keeping the roof over your head in top condition is key to protecting you and your family, plus it protects your home’s long-term value. As residential and commercial roofing specialists, we can perform new installations, repairs, and roof replacements to ensure that your roof performs like it should. Our dedication to customer satisfaction has been the key to our success serving the California Central Coast.

SANITATION

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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SANITATION 701 Ocean Street, Room 410, Santa Cruz 831.454.2160 dpw.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Home/Sanitation.aspx The Sanitation Division of Santa Cruz Public Works is responsible for the collection of wastewater (sewage) for several sanitation districts and county service areas located within Santa Cruz County, providing water service (Davenport only), and Environmental Compliance.

SHOPPING CENTER

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APTOS VILLAGE SQUARE 7960 Soquel Dr., Drive, Aptos Conveniently located off Highway 1 and just outside Aptos Village, Aptos Village Square is host to several Aptos favorites, including Four Streams Kitchen, Showtime Pizza, Fleet Feet, Hotsource Yoga, Studio E Dance, Quality Water, Jansen Music, The UPS Store, CrossFit Aptos, Coastal Oak Interiors, Shanne Carvalho, and Caledonia Salon. Follow us on Instagram!

SOLAR

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SANDBAR SOLAR 2656 Mission St., Santa Cruz 831.469.8888 • www.sandbarsc.com From our Santa Cruz base, Sandbar Solar & Electric sends out crews every day to install solar energy systems in Silicon Valley, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, and of course, here in Santa Cruz. With Sandbar Solar & Electric, you know that everyone helping you go solar – project managers, engineers, electricians, and installers – are Santa Cruz locals themselves. Benefit from our experience on thousands of commercial and residential solar projects!

WATER PROVIDER

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SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT 5180 Soquel Dr., Soquel 831.475.8500 • www.soquelcreekwater.org We are a public agency dedicated to providing a safe, high quality, reliable, and sustainable water supply to meet our community’s present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible manner. The district serves approximately 40,400 customers through 15,800 connections in four service areas within mid-Santa Cruz County solely with groundwater.

WINDOW REPLACEMENT

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THE SKYLIGHT PLACE 4850 Capitola Rd., Capitola 831.476.2023 info@skylightplace.com • www.skylightplace.com We are a full-service glass shop that offers residential and commercial glass repair, shower doors, skylights, window screens, and window replacement. The Skylight Place has been in business since 1971 servicing all your glass needs. We know how difficult the construction process can be and that’s why we pride ourselves on expert installation and doing the job right the first time!

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 43

When to Harvest Pumpkins Harvest pumpkins when they are fully colored and the rinds are hard.

• The color of a mature pumpkin can vary according to variety; mature coloration can be orange, white, gray, or blue-gray.

• A mature pumpkin will have a hard, shiny shell that is not easily dented or punctured by a fingernail. The stem of a mature pumpkin will be hard and shriveled. Pumpkins will rot if harvested too young.

• Harvest pumpkins before the first hard frost.

• If pumpkins can’t be harvested before cold and rainy weather comes, put hay or straw under them to prevent rot caused by contact with damp soil. How to Harvest Pumpkins • Cut pumpkins from the vine with a sharp knife or garden lopper. Leave 3 to 6 inches of stem attached to the fruit.

When harvesting wear gloves • Lift and carry pumpkins by slipping your hand under the bottom of the fruit. Do not lift or carry a pumpkin by the stem.

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

This pumpkin baked oatmeal is simple to whip up.

Ingredients • 2 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats

• • • • • • • • •

½ cup pecan or walnuts 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons Pumpkin spice ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 ¾ cups milk of choice (dairy, almond or oat) 8 tablespoons pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil, melted 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Butter an 8 x 8″ or 9 x 9″ pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the rolled oats, pecan pieces, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and salt.

3. Dump the dries into the prepared pan.

4. In the same bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, milk, maple syrup, melted cooled coconut oil, and vanilla. Drizzle the milk mixture over the oats. Stir lightly with a fork to make everything gets evenly blended.

5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until the top is nicely golden and the oat mixture has set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

6. Before serving, drizzle with maple syrup OR add maple Greek yogurt* plus a drizzle of maple.

continued on page 46 ...

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Fall/Winter 2022-2023 | Coastal Home & Garden | 45

Toppings for pumpkin baked oatmeal

Make up a batch of this pumpkin baked oatmeal and it’s a fantastic on the go food. The toppings are where this recipe really adds flavor! Here’s what to know about topping the oatmeal: • Maple syrup: A bit of maple syrup is all you need for a little sparkle.

• Maple yogurt: It’s also tasty with maple or pumpkin yogurt.

If you make this, still add a tiny drizzle of maple over the top.

• Glazed pecans or walnuts.

• Pepitas. Pumpkin seeds work too! Roasted salted have the best flavor.

• Nut butter, Almond butter or cashew butter are the best nut butters to go with pumpkin! Peanut butter can overwhelm the flavor • Minimal prep: Mix up the wets and dries separately and store in separate containers (with the wets refrigerated).

Pour them together in the morning and bake. |

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