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My House Beautiful: Carving out space for the guys

Until four years ago, Jeremy Sparks enjoyed the turnkey lifestyle that came with condo living in southwest Edmonton. But his passion for cooking and for tinkering on his Harley-Davidson motorbikes had him longing for more entertainment space and for a “man cave� garage.

Sparks enlisted a real estate agent to find him a house, but he has very definite feelings about what he likes. “I looked at other homes, and every home I looked at, I thought, ‘I would do that differently.’ �

Then he heard about a new subdivision being developed just down the road from his workplace in Acheson, an industrial area outside Edmonton’s western city limits and minutes from the city’s ring road, Anthony Henday Drive. He did some investigating and jumped at the chance to purchase the one-acre lot and have a house built to his own preferences.

“It’s country living, without the country,� jokes Sparks of the area that has a high population of shrub-eating deer but is also city-serviced, thus minimizing maintenance issues such as snow removal.

The reverse planning of the home’s design — with the garage and entertaining spaces as priorities — began as sketches made over lunch, on a paper napkin. Those ideas came to life as an award-winning bungalow created by custom home builder Richard Lystang of Rococo Homes. Sparks works as an operations manager for a crane company, so he opted to save costs by taking on the landscaping himself.

Sparks shares the home with his partner, Naomi Wharrick, and describes the two-level, carpet-free, three-bedroom and three-bathroom home as adult living — with no space left unused. Inside and out, the home reflects his masculine taste and Sparks’ desire to create spaces that welcome his friends.

The home’s wide driveway is exposed aggregate with contrasting terracotta-coloured stencilled-concrete trim. The 2,000-square-foot bungalow’s espresso brown exterior is made of highly energy-efficient acrylic stucco.

The front entryway provides an unobstructed view of the spacious gourmet kitchen (one of several meal-prep zones in the home), the formal living room and dining area. The airy feeling isn’t accidental. A large beam runs down the centre of the ceiling, so there is no need for supporting walls or pillars. To distract from the ductwork hiding the mandatory overhead sprinkler system, Sparks added the living room’s elegant coffered ceiling.

While the house proper is rich in amenities built to please guests, it seems only right to start where Sparks did — in that man cave.

It is accessed via a well-stocked, walk-through pantry off the main kitchen, which connects the home to its heated three-car garage.

Three Harleys fill one corner, while Sparks’ man cave takes up one side.

“It’s got a full-sized fridge, a beer keg, a popcorn machine and a 55-inch TV — all the things you need when you’re in the garage … some of my guy friends have never made it into the house,â€� says Sparks. “There is no reason for them to.â€�

Back inside the home, Sparks explains that he likes natural lighting, so window placement was planned with care. Small, old-fashioned-looking windows frame the fireplace’s hemlock mantel in the living room.

The heavy wood complements the natural stone finish and is — surprisingly — a cast-off from Spark’s workplace. The beam was previously used to stabilize a crane. The wide fireplace’s hearth is double-sided, and provides a focal point both inside and out, on the partially covered rear deck, where Adirondack-style chairs and one of the home’s two barbecues are used year-round.

Gardening books worth a look

It’s spring, time to dig into the soil and a few good books to inspire and inform. These are worth putting your trowel aside for:

“The Plant Lover’s Guide to Dahlias” by Andy Vernon (Timber Press, $29.95) is one of the first books in a new series on specific garden plants. The format is large enough for showy photos, especially important for the flamboyant dahlias on these pages. I love that the flowers are arranged by color; flip through to find dozens of dahlias from crimson to cream, with a chapter on “Extraterrestrials” that defy categorization. The author is a British photographer who not only worships dahlias but knows how to grow them. Vernon includes the practicalities of dahlia growing from staking to storing tubers. Also new in the “Plant Lover’s Series” are books on Sedums, Salvias and Snowdrops, with more to come.

“Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping” (Time Home Entertainment, Inc., $29.95) is the third edition of Sunset’s take on how to create gardens. This one has a decidedly modern edge. From the starter essay on sustainability entitled “Tomorrow’s Garden” to a chapter on nature-scaping, the environment and habitat are considered as carefully as lighting and patios. The photos, as you’d expect from Sunset, are beautiful and plentiful, although most of the gardens pictured are pretty high-end. A little more realism would be welcome, along with more Northwest gardens in this California-dominated book. That said, no one book offers more information on everything from growing edibles to lawn substitutes, from saving water to laying paths.

“Pacific Northwest Foraging” by Douglas Deur (Timber Press, $24.95) may change the way you see the world. The Oregon author, a cultural ecologist for Native peoples, has a deep understanding of ecosystems and native plants. Which, along with a lifetime spent mostly outdoors, has caused him to see the natural world as a giant buffet table. Deur explains how and when to harvest wild plant foods from forests, fields, wetlands and shorelines. This celebration of the food growing incognito around us includes the familiar, like watercress and blackberries, and the surprising, like the needle buds on Sitka spruce and the reproductive shoots on horsetails. Don’t worry, Deur gives detailed instructions on identifying plants and their edible parts, as well as how best to cook and eat them.

“Trees Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest” by Mark Turner and Ellen Kuhlmann (Timber Press, $27.95) is a treasure of a field guide, thorough and well-photographed. If Deur’s book inspires you to snack on the world around you, this detailed guide draws you in closer to really look at, and identify, our wildly diverse flora. I could wish for a different organization than by leaf shape (compound, simple or none at all, in the case of our native cactuses), but since the book is all about identification, I guess that’s appropriate. What makes the book so useful is the wide range of plants included, not just natives. You’ll find ceanothus and willows that have escaped cultivation to grow on verges and vacant lots, making this book as useful around cities and suburbs as in the mountains and forests.

Also new and noteworthy:

“The Gardener of Versailles: My Life in the World’s Grandest Garden” by Alain Baraton (Rizzoli, $26.95).

“Handmade for the Garden” by Susan Guagliumi (Stewart, Tabori Chang, $27.50).

“Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise Between the Sidewalk and the Curb” by Evelyn J. Hadden (Timber Press, $24.95).

Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer. Check out her blog at www.valeaston.com.

Home News Leeds-Grenville Summer Company program accepting…

Carleton Place Almonte Canadian Gazette

The Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre is accepting applications for the Summer Company program.

Summer Company is a young entrepreneur’s initiative focused on youth 15 to 29 years of age; in school and returning to school in the fall of 2014. It offers up to $1,500 in start up cash to help get the business running.

Over the summer months participants receive hands on business training, mentoring and coaching from successful business mentors in the community. Participants are expected to complete a business plan, work in their business full time, and attend meetings and training sessions. Upon successful completion of the program participants will receive an additional $1,500 to return to school. Summer Company is a great opportunity to learn what it is like to run your own business.

Last summer 15 young entrepreneurs benefited from this experience including: lawn mowing and gardening, landscaping, children’s camps, selling baked goods and specialty items on the various farmers’ markets. Other business ideas may include selling arts and crafts. Summer Company is a highly competitive program with a limited number of applicants being accepted across Leeds and Grenville. The application deadline is May 23.

Interested participants can go to www.ontario.ca/summercompany to complete the application and get started on their business plan.

For further information call the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre at 613-342-8772 ext. 471.

Angie’s List: Easy and affordable landscaping ideas

CLEVELAND – Whether it’s cleaning up the yard and adding some pretty flowers or going all out with a total redesign, a well-cared for lawn can add up to 14 percent of your home’s value. Your landscaping project doesn’t have to be big or cost an arm and a leg to add value.

Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews, asked highly rated landscapers about projects for every budget.

What can you get for $50? At this price range you might be looking at more DIY-type projects, such as buying and spreading your own bags of mulch. But there are a few tasks you can hire a pro to tackle.

  • A flat of seasonal spring flowers, such as begonias, planted and mulched by a highly rated landscaper.
  • Programming a sprinkler’s timer and an operational once-over.
  • One application of fly repellent for an average-sized lawn.

What can you get for $500?

  • A 3-D rendition of a new landscape design.
  • Several applications of a fertilization and weed control program.
  • Lawn mowed and trimmed and edged weekly for four months, for the average half-acre lot.

What can you get for $5,000?

  • A wide variety of finished projects such as patios and retaining walls.
  • Revamping a home’s front foundation landscape. This involves removing most, if not all, of the debris and plants already in the beds.
  • Complete irrigation system in both the front and back yards.

Before you dig too deeply into hiring a landscaping contractor, take time to do two things:

  1. Be clear about what you want to achieve. If you only want yard work, check out companies that specialize in residential lawn services. If you want design or installation services, you’ll need a full service landscaper.
  2. Gather your ideas. Offer as much detail about your preferences as possible. For inspiration, print, copy or tear out images from landscaping websites, magazines and books.

When shopping around to get the most landscaping bang for your buck, always verify a company’s insurance and applicable licensing information. What they’re selling may sound like a bargain, but you might end up with a raw deal if they’re not following the rules.

Here are 5 questions to ask prospective landscapers.

  1. Can I see your plan? A drawing is the best way to be sure you can envision what a landscaper proposes. Ask each bidder to provide a design sketch. They may charge a fee if you want to keep it, but they should at least be able to let you see it. In addition, ask for photos of projects they’ve done that are similar to what you want.
  2. What’s your process? Ask about basic work practices and what materials and equipment would be used. For example, would they dig your patio out by hand or use machinery?
  3. What’s your experience? Does the contractor have the experience, manpower and skill to handle your project? How long has the company been in business? Find out what kind of training the contractor and his or her staff have undergone. Do they belong to local, state or national landscaping associations?
  4. What’s your guarantee? Reputable landscaping contractors should be willing to guarantee their work for at least two years, preferably five. Ask about separate warranties for plants.
  5. How well do you communicate? Ask each bidder for the best way to communicate so you’re likely to get a timely response.

WaterSense demonstration home at AgriLife center at Dallas center earns …

DALLAS – The Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas has received statewide recognition for developing the first WaterSense labeled demonstration home in Texas.

The home is located on the grounds of the center, 17360 Coit Road.

Members of the Urban Water Program team of the Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas receive the Texas Rain Catcher Award from the Texas Water Development Board. (Photo courtesy of Texas Water Development Board)

Members of the Urban Water Program team of the Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas with the Texas Rain Catcher Award from the Texas Water Development Board. The award was presented May 1 in Austin. (Photo courtesy of Texas Water Development Board)

The WaterSense home received a 2013 Texas Rain Catcher Award. Announcement of the award, which is presented by the Texas Water Development Board, was made May 1 in Austin.

The award recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas through promoting technology and educating the public, according to board information. Recipients display “excellence in rainwater harvesting” in Texas in educational, government, residential and non-profit/research categories.

“The Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center is to be commended for implementing new technology that promotes rainwater harvesting and the benefits of water conservation,” said board member Kathleen Jackson. “This demonstration project provides Texans with yet another invaluable tool for conserving water.”

Board chairman Carlos Rubinstein added that rainwater harvesting is an important tool toward water conservation in Texas.

“We need individuals, cities, agriculture and industry all conserving for the long-term future of Texas,” he said. “We applaud this year’s recipients for their dedication to promoting conservation through the exploration of creative ideas.”

The Dallas center’s WaterSense home was completed in March of last year in partnership with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 and the City of Dallas Water Utilities, said Clint Wolfe, urban water programs manager for the center.

According to the EPA, WaterSense is an agency partner program that emphasizes “saving water and protecting the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products for the home, yard and business, along with taking simple steps to save water each day.”It estimates that WaterSense homes use 40 percent less water than the average home, saving about 50,000 gallons a year for a family of four.

“Our facility is the first ever to receive certification as a renovation project and the first WaterSense home to have a rainwater harvesting system as one of its water-saving features,” Wolfe said. “The system provides an efficient alternative source of irrigation by using captured rainwater for landscaping.”

He said the rainwater harvesting system for the WaterSense home consists of a 1,000-gallon polyethylene tank with a first flush diverter and fill tube. The tank provides water to seven drip irrigation zones and two spray zones outfitted with a 1-horsepower self-priming pump.

Overflow from the rainwater system drains into a dry creek bed in the back of the house and irrigates a rain garden. The home’s garden area consists of low-water-use native and adaptive plants, and the landscape has been designed to be sustained solely by irrigation from captured rainwater.

“The WaterSense labeled home was a top attraction at the WaterSense event held at the center in March to recognize World Water Day and national Fix a Leak Week,” Wolfe said.

More than 800 people from Dallas and surrounding cities were able to tour the home as part of event activities.

“The WaterSense home and nearby multi-family dwelling, which we are also hoping will receive WaterSense designation, serve as working models to demonstrate to visitors just how easy water conservation can be,” Wolfe said.

He said in addition to rainwater harvesting, the center’s WaterSense-oriented dwellings provide hands-on learning opportunities in areas such as hot water on-demand systems, water-efficient faucets and fixtures, low-water-use landscaping and irrigation, and rain garden design.

“Preserving water resources and maximizing water-use efficiency is a major emphasis of the Dallas center’s research and educational programs,” said Dr. Mike Gould, center director.

“We’re proud the Texas Water Development Board has recognized us for our efforts,” Gould said. “Management of our limited water resources is one of the highest priority issues affecting urban residents. Here at the center we are looking into a wide array of technologies and methods of conservation that will work not only for today but also into the future, as metropolitan centers continue to grow and limited resources become even more strained.”

He said in addition to rainwater harvesting, water-oriented efforts at the center include lawn and landscape water conservation, resource-efficient landscapes, irrigation system design and management, rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs and wetlands, protecting urban water sources from erosion and sedimentation, promoting responsible chemical use in urban landscapes, and the use of alternate irrigation water sources for urban landscapes.

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Asheville area community calendar – Asheville Citizen

GET LISTED: Share your events at CITIZEN-TIMES.com/events at least two weeks in advance of publication.

May 9

Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus: May 9-11, U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville. 7 p.m. May 9, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. May 10, 3 p.m. May 11. Tickets available at the box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. Everyone age two and older will need a ticket to enter. Floor seating $42, VIP seating $27, riser seating $22. Opening night special: tickets start at $10 (excludes floor seating and VIP seating). All kids tickets $10.

Fundraiser dinner: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Hopkins Chapel AME Zion Church, 21 College Place, Asheville. Chicken (baked and fried) and fish dinners for $8, hot dog dinners $5. 254-6098.

“Photography on the Water” workshop: Orientation 7-9 p.m. May 9, workshop 1 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 10, Headwaters Outfitters, U.S. 64, Rosman. On May 10, choose a kayak or canoe for drifting down the French Broad River, catered lunch, review photography. $135 advance, $155 at the door. Send check or money order to Headwaters Outfitters, P.O. Box 1057, Rosman, N.C. 28772. 877-3106 or www.headwatersoutfitters.com.

AARP Smart Driver Class: 1 p.m., Skyland Fire Department, 9 Miller Road, Arden. Classroom-only course offers tips for remaining safely behind the wheel, coping with inevitable changes in reaction time as well as increased hazards on busy roads. Come 15-30 minutes early to register and receive materials. $15 AARP members, $20 non-members. Call 505-8381 to register.

May 10

Letter Carrier Food Drive: Letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. These donations go directly to the local food pantries. Last year over 300,000 pounds were collected in our region, and this year MANNA is aiming to surpass that amount. Participating in this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on May 10 and your letter carrier will do the rest.

Fly Fishing 101: 8-10 a.m., Orvis Asheville, 28 Schenck Pky., in Biltmore Park. Lessons on fly casting and outfit rigging. Free. 687-0301.

Indoor yard sale: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., East Asheville United Methodist Church, 48 Browndale Road (across from VA Medical Center). Sausage biscuits and cinnamon rolls available for $1 along with free coffee. 298-3211.

Flapjack fundraiser: 7:30-10 a.m., Applebee’s, 279 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville. Fundraiser for Sweetwater Youth Ranch. $7. 253-2515.

Open mic for spoken word: 3-5 p.m., Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St., Asheville. Open to all readers of poetry and spoken word. Held every second Saturday. 575-9525.

Asheville Lawn Bowling Club: Meets from 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays, Carrier Park, Amboy Road, Asheville.

FrogWatch USA family training session: 4-8 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Learn to monitor area wetlands for frogs and toads all while contributing to a nationwide science study in this kid-friendly session. To register, contact Lauren Pyle at lpyle@ashevillenc.gov or 259-8085.

May 11

Mother’s Day luncheon: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Morris Cultural Center of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave., Asheville. Food served cafeteria style with a variety of Greek gourmet dishes and pastries. Also Greek folk dancing and tours of the sanctuary. Carry out available from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 254-7424.

“Red Mansions” book launch and wine tasting: 4-6 p.m., Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St., Asheville. Launch for “Red Mansions,” the sequel to the award winning first historical novel by Cynthia Drew, “City of Slaughter.” A Jewish family struggles to stay together and hold onto their house during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. 575-9525.

The Community Orchestra of Hendersonville: 3 p.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville. Featuring several soloists and compositions by the conductor Robert Hudson. Free. 693-3081.

Haiku bamboo walking tour: 1:30-3 p.m., Haiku Bamboo Nursery/Farm, 468 Rhodes Mountain Road, Hendersonville. Learn about bamboo plants and their characteristics as we walk inside a lush bamboo forest. Wear walking shoes. Camera permitted. $20, $18 seniors, $10 teenagers, free age 12 and younger. 685-3053 or www.oshimabambooschool.com.

May 12

Allman Brothers biography launch: 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. A celebration of the Allman Brothers with music, pictures, and beer. “One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band” by Guitar World senior writer Alan Paul is the first major Allman Brothers biography. “One Way Out” is the product of 25 years of interviews with over 50 people related to the ABB. Paul will grace us with some Allman tunes and will be joined by photographer and former ABB road manager Kirk West, who will present a slideshow. 254-6734 or www.malaprops.com.

Conealed carry handgun class: 6-10 p.m. May 12-13, Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. Two sessions at Opportunity House. Also a required range session by appointment. Depending upon the number of participants attending the range session and their shooting experience, it will take 1-2 hours and will be held at Rex’s Indoor Range. Other classes: June 16-17, July 14-15, Aug. 11-12. $60 military personnel, $80 civilians. 692-0575 or www.opportunityhouse.org.

WNC Knitters and Crocheters for Others: 7-9 p.m., New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville. This group provides handmade items to 18 local charities. Hats, scarves, baby hats and booties, mittens, dolls, blankets, sweaters, afghans, dishcloths, etc. All skill levels welcome. Contact Janet Stewart at 575-9195.

May 13

“Echoes of the Cotton Club”: 5 p.m., Laurel Ridge Country Club, Cupp Lane, Waynesville. Musical salute to the roots of jazz and the Big Band era. By WCU Catamount Singers and Electric Soul. $30 includes entertainment, small plates and desserts. For tickets, call 452-0545, ext. 131.

AARP Smart Driver class: 1 p.m., Hunter Volvo, 252 Patton Ave., Asheville. Classroom-only course offers tips for remaining safely behind the wheel, coping with inevitable changes in reaction time as well as increased hazards on busy roads. Come 15-30 minutes early to register and receive materials. $15 AARP members, $20 non-members. Call 299-0069 to register.

Shag lessons and dancing: Every Tuesday with Mountain Shag Club at Showtime Saloon, 97 Underwood Road, Fletcher. Free lesson 6:30-7 p.m. No partner needed. Rotating DJ’s 7-10 p.m. $5 cover charge. www.mountainshagclub.com.

May 14

Asheville Mushroom Club: 7 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. membership $20 per year, family $25. Learn about and collect all kinds of fungi and eat edible mushrooms we gather in the forest. Others cultivate fungi in their gardens. Hear from experts about different aspects of fungi identification, folklore, cultivation and culinary preparation. We conduct a number of forays (field trips) around Western North Carolina. Some are day trips while others are camping adventures. www.ashevillemushroomclub.com.

Shred Day for Hendersonville residents: 9-10:30 a.m. in parking lot of Patton Park, 59 E. Clairmont Drive, Hendersonville. American Security Shredding will have their shredding truck available to allow residents to dispose of sensitive materials. Bring up to two boxes (or 50 pounds) of paper items. This is not for businesses. The public can simply drop their documents off or stay and watch. Bring food and toiletry items to donate to The Storehouse and IAM. 697-3088.

Blue Ridge Orchestra open rehearsals: Community orchestra directed by Milton Crotts holds rehearsal at 7 p.m. at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. Free. 251-6140 or olliasheville.com.

“Bird Feeding Myths Facts” program: 3 p.m., Mills River Library, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River. Do hummers stop migrating if you leave your feeder out too late in the season? Is there really a “no-mess” bird food? Can a bird choke on peanut butter? Free. 697-4725.

May 15

Ignite Asheville Big Idea competition: 3-5 p.m., The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville. Asheville is a creative hub for entrepreneurs with bold ideas that enhance our quality of life and transform how we live, work, and play. Speakers from 10 high impact ventures will share insights during five-minute lightning rounds about their big ideas and how they embrace challenges through ingenuity and collaboration. Get inspired by these success stories in technology, outdoor apparel, natural performance foods and other Asheville innovations. $12 Asheville Chamber members, $15 non-members. 258-6118 or www.web.ashevillechamber.org/events.

WNC GM Alumni Club: 11:30 a.m., Hendersonville Country Club. Judith Long, executive director of The Free Clinics of Hendersonville, will be the speaker. Free Clinics utilizes the skills, talents and gifts of over 260 active volunteers to provide free health care, mental health care, patient wellness education and pharmaceutical support to low-income, uninsured residents of Henderson County as well as some services to residents of Polk and Transylvania counties. 684-8488.

May 16

God and Country Wagon Train: Madison County Fairgrounds, U.S. 25/70, Marshall. A unique venue modeled after the wagon trains associated with our nation’s earliest development and a chance to revisit our Christian heritage. A time to honor those who have paid the ulitmate price so that we my have the freedoms, privileges and liberties that we are blessed with in America. Free unless participating on train or attending rodeo for $6. 545-4560 or www.Godandcountrywagontrain.org.

Book sale: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 17, Polk County Public Library, 1289 W. Mills St., Columbus. Hardback, paperback, CD’s, some free material. 894-6339.

Poetry seminar and workshop: 1-3:30 p.m., Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St. Poet and teacher Tina Barr will conduct “Fighting For Your Writing.” $35. To register call 669-0930.

Community shredding day: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave. American Security Shredding will have their mobile shredding truck on site. Area residents and businesses are welcome to bring up to three boxes or 50 pounds worth of material for shredding. Free.

May 17

Lake James cleanup: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Black Bear Access Area at Lake James State Park, N.C. 126, Nebo. Volunteers and boats are needed. Free lunch and t-shirts while supplies last. To volunteer, call Gloria at 652-7121 or e-mail kmb@mcdowellgov.com.

“Farm Dreams? Explore Your Vision”: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Cooperative Extension Agency, 94 Coxe Ave., Asheville. Are you dreaming of starting your own farm? Explore the practicalities of your dreams. We’ll cover common sense, relevant information to discover if sustainable farming is the next step for you and prioritize your next steps toward your farming goals. $55. 255-5522 or www.organicgrowersschool.org/events/farm-dreams.

“Spring into Wellness” health fair: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. Demonstrations and conversations about health and wellness to find better balance in your life. Demonstrations including hula, Silver Sneakers, therapeutic yoga and open art studio rooms where you may see potters in action and how gems are created in our lapidary room. Free. 692-0575 or www.opportunityhouse.org.

Barbecue fundraiser: 2-7 p.m., Camp Stephens, Clayton Road, Arden. Hosted by Boy Scout Troop 26. $7, $25 for family of four. 651-9227.

Yadkin Valley Wine Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Elkin Municipal Park, 399 Hwy. 268 W., Elkin. Wine, crafts, music, food, fun. The park is accessible off I-77 from exit 85 coming from the north or exit 83 coming from the south. About two hours from Asheville. $20 advance, $25 at the gate. 336-526-1111 or www.yvwf.com.

Sustainable living workshop-permaculture: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at a private home in Hendersonville. Permaculture designer Chuck Marsh will provide an open consultation on transforming a conventional yard into an abundant and thriving edible, energy and water conserving home landscape. Rain or shine. Location given upon registration. $15. Call 692-0385 or visit www.eco-wnc.org to register.

QuickDraw art event: 4:30-9:30 p.m., Laurel Ridge Country Club, 49 Cupp Lane, Waynesville. Fine art, food, fun. Watch as artists race to create ready to hang art in just 60 minutes. Bid to win a piece of art in live and silent auctions. Hors d’oeuvres buffet. Benefit for art education in Haywood County schools. $50 in advance. Visit www.wncquickdraw.com or call 456-6584.

Free mountain/lap/Appalachian dulcimer workshop: Beginner level at 2:30 p.m. at a private home at 105 Eastmoor Drive, Asheville. Taught by Janet Parkerson, experienced multi-instrumentalist and teacher. By reservation only. Call 298-1090.

Yard sale and bake sale: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church, corner of Brevard Road and Glen Bridge S.E., Arden. Sausage Biscuits for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch.

Gorges State Park family fun day: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free admission. Vendors, speakers, display of emergency response team vehicles and equipment, kid’s activities, hikes to Rainbow Falls. “Invitation to Falconry” at 2:30 p.m. with red-tailed hawks. Waterfall film at 4 p.m. Music by Sliding Rockers Bluegrass Band 5-7 p.m. 966-9099. Take U.S. 64 to N.C. 281 in Sapphire, then one mile to the park entrance on the left.

Edible landscaping workshop: 10 a.m. at a private home in Hendersonville. “Envision and Manifest Your Abundant Home Landscape” by local permaculture designer Chuck Marsh. Participants can see firsthand how the process develops. $15. Register at www.eco-wnc.org or call 692-0385. Location provided upon registration.

Square dance: Southern Lights Square and Round Dance Club “Hearts and Roses” dance at 6 p.m., Whitmire Activity Center, Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville. Callers: Jerry Biggerstaff and Stan Russell. Cuers: Lou and Al Krech. 697-7732 or 625-9969.

“Farm Dreams” workshop: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Buncombe County Extension Office, 94 Coxe Ave., Asheville. An exploratory workshop for farm dreamers. $55. Bring your lunch. Visit https://organicgrowersschool.org/farm-dreams-registration/ to register.

Artist studio tours: 9:15 a.m., May 17-18, meet at Asheville Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave., to ride together in a van. Art Connections will visit destinations in the Celo community in Yancey County May 17 and in Asheville May 18. Eight art studios featuring the work of 12 artists. The tours give participants the opportunity to interact with artists and give art lovers and collectors opportunity to have one-on-one discussions. One- or two-day tour option. Call 779-6808 or visit www.arttoursasheville.com for details.

May Wild Walk-WNC Nature Center behind the scenes tour: 1:45-3:15 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Go behind the scenes at the black bear habitat, predator area and more in this staff-guided tour. $25 for Friends members, $30 adults, $15 age 16 and younger. No strollers. Register by contacting americorps@wildwnc.org or 259-8092.

Eco-friendly New Jersey homes, Blairsden among those on view for 2014 house … – The Star

Many have wished for a two-way fireplace, but how about one lined with brick in a herringbone pattern, viewable, along with the flames, from the family room and an expansive parlor on the opposite side?

And how about a screened porch that doubles as dining area and sleeping room to offer bug-free enjoyment of summer breezes?

These are just two of the dreamy features of gorgeous homes that are also environmentally friendly. Such houses will be open to the public during the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s inaugural house and garden tour. The May 28 event will showcase seven homes and a garden, highlighting the beauty in “green” features.

The previously mentioned fireplace is set in the center of the house, for example, to reduce the heat loss that is more common in those traditionally set within an exterior wall. And sleeping outdoors in summer would not only be fun, it could reduce the need for air conditioning.

A two-way fireplace in a Basking Ridge home on the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s house and garden tour has the luxury of brick laid in a herringbone pattern, but its central placement within the home makes it more energy efficient than a traditional fireplace that can lose heat through placement near an outside wall.  

Any house tour fan knows house tour fundraisers present opportunities to view some of the state’s loveliest residences, often of historical or architectural significance. This season’s roster of tours will satisfy an appetite for opulence and grandeur, with the storied 34-acre Blairsden estate and its 62,000-square foot mansion among properties open for touring. The estate, built between 1898 and 1903, will be open to the public for the first time ever.

But gracious living also can involve eco-friendly solutions that enhance a property. Take the home of Chatham Township Committee member Kathy Abbott, whose landscape includes a certified wildlife habitat, native plants and a front-yard stream that helps keep the basement dry.

“We’re near the Great Swamp, so there is a high water table,” says Abbott, whose garden will be on the tour. “It was a way to turn a liability into an asset.” The system diverts water expelled from a sump pump into a rock-lined stream that attracts birds, frogs and other wildlife.

It is a feature that goes hand-in-hand with the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s mission to preserve and protect the watershed region’s 36,000 acres. The tour as a whole supports its work with municipalities in Morris and Somerset counties to educate the public about regional environmental issues while maintaining open spaces and monitoring headwater streams that feed the Great Swamp.

The art and book filled living room of the Madison home of architect Chris Kellogg and artist Helen Kaar was designed to maximize use of solar power, enhancing natural light while also reducing sun-related heat gain. The house has numerous environmentally friendly features.  

The association’s Executive Director Sally Rubin spearheaded the tour. She says it will introduce tour-goers to the organization while showcasing design and landscaping ideas of Great Swamp-area homes. The homes are in Bernards (Basking Ridge), Chatham, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Morristown and Morris Township.

“It’s not impossible to do some of these things in your own home,” Rubin says. “You don’t have to be uber wealthy or to start from scratch.”

While she described the tour homes as “lovely, large and gracious,” she notes that at least three are working on LEED certification, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which requires adherence to certain environmentally friendly building standards.

The home of Chris Kellogg and Helen Kaar is among them. “Part of our LEED charge is sharing the sustainable construction with others.” Kaar explained. Doing so is important, she says, because it helps make the public aware “that you can have a green house that you want to live in just because of the way it looks. We don’t think green building will become the standard unless people want it.”

Helen Kaar in the home’s bathroom with lattice detailing that she designed and a living curtain of pothos and philodendron outside the shower.  

Kaar says the two-story house Kellogg designed for them with her input is the dream home of an artist and an architect who respect the environment and their surroundings. Their studios and office spaces are in the basement. The living area has three bedrooms with two and a half baths. There is a summer sleeping porch and a one-car garage. “We built it for us, and we both work here, so how many cars do we both need?”

The house also was situated for easy access to public transportation and shopping. Its roof was designed to shade the home from the sun’s heat while also drawing its power. Kellogg oriented the house on the lot to get maximum sun exposure for rooftop solar collection panels.

“Passive solar is the best,” Kaar says. “It’s free energy, all you have to do is turn to face it.”

A screened porch not only provides a place to enjoy bug-free summer breezes, it doubles as a sleeping area when cooler summer nights can reduce the need for air conditioning.  

Sari Jepsen, who with her husband, Mads, owns Scandic Builders agrees. Their Chatham home, built in traditional shingle style, was also placed to maximize solar energy collection. Their home and another home they built are on the tour. Like the Kellogg-Kaar home, the Jepsen houses have numerous green features.

“A house tour makes sense because it can show how everything we do affects the environment,” Jepsen says. “This shows how you can build intelligently and environmentally friendly and it still can be a beautiful home.”

The house tour also dovetails with historic activism that prevented the swamp from becoming an airport more than 50 years ago. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge now has federal protection against development.

The historic Long Hill home of Alan and Kathy Pfeil will be on the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s May 28 house tour.  

Kathy Pfeil, whose historic 19th century Long Hill home is on the tour, notes that the association also works to preserve land in the surrounding area where she believes the threat of over development is much more pressing. Pfeil’s home is above Millington Gorge where the Great Swamp empties into the main branch of the Passaic River.

“We have bird habitats, wildlife, ponds, vegetation, deciduous and coniferous trees and countless boardwalks and trails meandering throughout what is one of the few untouched areas dating to prehistoric times,” she says. “We have to thank the people with the vision to preserve the Great Swamp, as well as all those who continue to protect its legacy.”

Related: Upcoming 2014 New Jersey house and garden tours

Kimberly L. Jackson: kim_jackson @ starledger.com

Choices Do Matter

Posted // May 7,2014 –

As a promoter of native plants for low-water landscaping, my experiences at the local farmers markets of late indicate that water conservation is not on most people’s minds these days. The recent water issue [Green Guide, April 17, City Weekly] is a timely reminder that water use has consequences beyond the individual. But it is distressing that planners predict the end of agricultural water use in Salt Lake Valley in a few generations as inevitable. Does this mean that the Buy Local movement promoting local food sovereignty is just an empty feel-good slogan rather than something real and substantial?

Rather than accept the end of local food production as inevitable, take a pointer from America’s perennial whipping boys, the late Hugo Chavez and the still very much alive Fidel Castro. Chavez authorized the local people—many of them poor—to take over the Caracas landscaping beds and plant food for themselves. Castro promoted local food production in vacant city lots and rooftops after the demise of the USSR, Cuba’s major source of imported food. Both actions resulted in better health and access to nutritional foods, at little cost to the state.

Why can’t cities along the Wasatch front adopt these ideas for their benefit as well? All it would take is a simple rewriting of extremely stupid landscaping restrictions and some creative architectural approaches for rooftop and vertical gardening, and every city could be a center for food production rather than a dead zone requiring constant importing of basic food needs.

As always, astute water conservation will be a big part of such a shift in landscaping. Another big piece of this would be a radical change in our relationship with the biosphere. In a nutshell, our ideology of continual growth needs replacing with new traditions that nurture and sustain the system that gives us life.

This little ball of water, air and rock—a mere 7,926 miles wide, not even a speck in the infinity of the universe—can only hold so much, and by all indications, it is now reaching its limit. Do we continue with mindless growth for the sake of mindless growth until we poison it all, or do we stop and reinvent a different reality? Do we even have a choice?

Clee P. Ames
Eureka

Hosner Carpet offers advice on investing tax refunds in home improvements

Millions of North American’s receiving a tax refund this year will be faced with the question “How should I spend the money?”

While some may choose to splurge on a vacation or a fun purchase, a smart option for the extra money is to invest in home improvements.

According to a recent report by USA Today, the average refund could be more than $3,000 which could make a bit difference in your home.

By investing tax refund dollars into home improvements – whether it’s new lighting, new hardware, new flooring or new landscaping – the extra income can provide a little excitement, while also increasing a home’s value for resale.

Carpet One Floor Home encourages customers to invest in creating a beautiful home. They also stress the importance of making smart decisions when you’re are working on any home project.

“We know the importance of being proud of your home. A home should reflect your personality and lifestyle,” said Mary Lucius Hosner of Hosner Carpet One Floor Home. “But, you also want to ensure that your investment will offer you a high return on the value of your home.”

Carpet One Floor Home’s suggestions for the best ways to invest your tax refund in your home are:

• Find the right light. Give a room a bright, fresh new look with updated lighting fixtures. In the bathroom, choose a light that fits both sides of the mirror evenly for a balanced spread of light, rather than a fixture that lights vanity mirrors from above and creates unflattering shadows. Different levels of light can be created by choosing from ceiling lights, lamps and task lighting.

• Choose quality flooring for a solid foundation. Installing new flooring can give a dramatic change to a room. It’s also a great investment in your home. With new products like luxury vinyl tile, engineered stone, and super-soft carpet, there are many options that provide quality, performance and style. Checking the warranty available for a floor provides a good idea of the durability of a product. Carpet One Floor Home provides an easy to understand warranty system to help customers make smart decision.

• Plant an investment and watch it grow. Landscaping isn’t just about good looks–it can increase a home’s value, make it sell more quickly, and even reduce energy bills. Invest in flowering trees and perennials that will give you the gift of color year after year. Fountains, yard art, or attractive benches are also great new additions for outdoor spaces. .

• Build in organization. Maximize both the horizontal and vertical space in a room by adding a built-in shelving unit. Consider a built-in bookshelf on either side of a doorway or along a blank wall to create a wrap-around cozy reading nook.

• Focus on the Outdoors. A beautiful deck can be a natural extension of interior flooring and extend the living space of your home. The design possibilities are endless when it comes to creating this functional yet visually appealing space. Deck designs can range from a simple horizontal surface bordered by railings, to a more detailed design with built-in planters, barbecue station, trellises and even a recessed spa.

• Give your stairs a step up. Constant foot traffic on stairs can wreck havoc on carpets, leaving them dull and dingy. For entrance stairways that see a constant flow of feet, a new carpet runner can do wonders for the overall look and make for a more inviting welcome area. When choosing new carpet runner for stairs, darker colors as well as patterns will help mask dust and dirt. Generally shorter pile carpets show less wear and tear over time. Look for carpets with superior warranties, like Relax, it’s…Lees carpets. Consider adding stair rods on the landings of each step, which add a classic accent while keeping the runner secure.

• Cook up a new look. Update your kitchen with a new look. Kitchen trends are looking a little softer in 2014. Warmer metals like brass and copper are being used in the place of stainless steel. And with that, warmer, natural flooring is the perfect compliment. A beautiful hardwood floor can make your kitchen feel cozier. For a natural stone look there is a new product available called engineered stone. Vero Stone, available at Carpet One Floor Home, provides unbelievably realistic stone looks while providing added durability and a softer, warmer feel underfoot.

For more ideas on creating a beautiful home download their free digital home décor magazine.

200 show up to offer ideas for Tampa park

— Some want more play areas for children and picnic areas for adults. Some want better landscaping and an area to launch kayaks. Others want to make sure safety is a priority.

All want a say in what the redone Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park will look like.

About 200 people attended a public information meeting Tuesday evening as city officials prepare to tackle the outdated park, which is off the Hillsborough River and near West Tampa, Tampa Heights and downtown.

“This park will change; it needs to change,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

The city has hired Civitas, a Denver-based planning and design firm that will propose a new concept for the park by September. Tuesday evening’s meeting is part of the process for conceiving and refining that concept.

John Bowden, who was one of around 200 people in attendance, said he’d like to see park features for children and picnic areas to eat. He’s happy to see improvements planned because the park, which was built in 1977, needs work, he said.

“It needs renovation and life brought to it,” said Bowden, 64, who grew up in West Tampa and still owns property in the area. “You bring life to it, you bring life to the community.”

Ricky Peterika said the park’s location is perfect to connect with several nearby communities and to distinguish itself from the existing downtown Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Water Works Park scheduled to open this summer just north of downtown. He’d like to see Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park complement the other two parks by offering something the other parks don’t have.

“It’s an opportunity to capture what they can’t provide,” said Peterika, who lives in Tampa Heights. “This could be an opportunity for a park that strikes a balance between people and the environment.”

He proposed removing the sea wall and creating a naturalized river’s edge where people could launch their kayaks, paddle boards and canoes.

“Make it feel like you aren’t in the city anymore for five seconds,” said Peterika, 31.

Mark Johnson, president of Civitas, said some of his company’s employees talked to people in the community before Tuesday night’s meeting and learned that some people didn’t know the property was a park. They thought it was an extension to Tampa Prep or the University of Tampa.

“We thought that was very revealing,” Johnson said.

Civitas has not started to design the park, Johnson said.

Three more meetings with the community are planned: June 10 will be the first round of ideas for the park; Aug. 12th will be a draft plan, and a more final plan will be presented on Sept. 9. All meetings are scheduled to be held at Blake High School.

jpatino@tampatrib.com

(813) 259-7659

Twitter: @jpatinoTBO