home & garden 2014
DESCRIPTION
Good Times Home & Garden 2014TRANSCRIPT
• AIR COMPRESSORS
• AUTO TOOLS
• CHAIN SAWS
• GENERATORS
• GARDEN TOOLS
• LOG SPLITTERS
• MIXERS
• FORKLIFTS
• MANLIFTS
• LIGHT TOWERS
• REACH LIFTS
• BACKHOES
• TRUCKS
• TRAILERS
& MORE!
WE PAY THETAX ON
RENTALS!
www.AToolShed.com1-800-A-TOOL-SHED
SIX CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
WE DELIVER
Santa Cruz831-477-71333700 SOQUEL AVE.
Watsonville831-722-0334285 BEACH ST
Campbell408-378-4921900 DELL AVE
Santa Clara408-727-08222550 LAFAYETTE ST.
Hollister831-638-19992610 SAN JUAN RD.
Morgan Hill408-779-736895 E. MAIN AVE.
4 HOME & GARDEN
PublisherRon Slack
EditorJenna Brogan
ContributorsJoel Hersch Jenny SimeoneAric SleeperJosie Cowden
Proofreader Josie Cowden
Art Director Joshua Becker Designers Ian WebbCarly GuntherJulie Rovegno
PhotographerKeana Parker
WebmasterJeff Hotchkiss
Advertising DirectorStephanie Lutz x204 Senior Account Executive Kate Kauffman x208Account Executives Rose Frates-Castiglione x219
Chelsey Mosgrove x218Julia Cunningham x213
Accounts Receivable Alix Crimbchin x202
Circulation ManagerPamela Pollard x203
A Good Times Weeklypublication. Send tips, resourceinformation and more to [email protected].
On the cover: Design by Joshua Becker
contents
editor’s note
ECO-LIVINGMaking your home more environmentally sound has never beeneasier with these helpful tips fromSanta Cruz Green Builders.
g
6
DUELING DESIRESOne local interior design professional
shares the secret to designing a spacethat marries the different tastes of
cohabiting partners.
HELPING HANDSGet kids outside and engaged in thegarden with a fun and educationalactivity courtesy of Life Lab.
10
UP ON THE ROOFEver thought about going solar?Find out why so many locals are making the switch.
14
18
26
10
INTO THE WOODSReclaimed wood is all the rage in
home furnishings. Find out why, andwhere to buy.
16
16
HERBAL REMEDIESLocal herbalist Darren Huckle tells ushow to harvest good health in our ownbackyard.
Wave goodbye to winter and say helloto spring with Good Times’ Home &Garden issue—the ultimateresource guide for designing, main-taining, and reinvigorating your liv-ing space, both inside and out.
The first half of the magazine, starting onpage 6, focuses entirely on the home—coveringtopics as diverse as eco-friendly improvementprojects, interior design, decorating, and organiza-tion. Ever wondered why so many locals are seek-ing out alternative sources of electricity for theirhomes? Allterra Solar weighs in. Do you want todesign a shared living space that makes both youand your partner happy? One local interior designprofessional shares her secrets. Are you lookingfor a way to introduce some fashionable, yet envi-ronmentally conscious furnishings into yourhome? You’ll find all that and more.
Then, in the second half, beginning on page18, dive into all things garden. First learn about themany benefits of homegrown herbs. Spoiler alert:They’re not just useful in the kitchen. Then, takenote of a number of design techniques for creatingthe perfect vegetable garden. Got kids? Try out ahands-on gardening activity from Life Lab, whichwill not only get them out of the house, but havingfun too. Plus: find out the best way to water yourplants during a drought, and how to put together aunique floral arrangment for spring, usingCalifornia native plants.
But wait—that’s not all. Take note of five localhome and garden experts who have made a splashin the scene. And lastly, find tons of related eventsand workshops in our calendar. —JJeennnnaa BBrrooggaann, Entertainment Editor, GOOD TIMES
5 HOME & GARDEN
www.shopmodernlife.com 831.475.6802 925 41st Ave.Open: Tues – Sat 11-6, Sun 11-4
CALL U
S
BEFO
RE
INSTA
LLING A
CONCRETE
OR
ASPHALT D
RIV
EWAY
• A large variety of design choices
• durability that never cracks
• stronger than poured concrete• environmentally friendly• a product that lasts a lifetime
LET US SHOW YOUTHE ADVANTAGESOF PAVERS:
6 HOME & GARDEN
Did you know that havingthe walls and ceiling ofyour house packed full ofcellulose—recycled clothand paper fibers—can dowonders for the heating
bill? Or that the ability to select howmuch water you flush down the toilet isan excellent way to conserve water? Orthat choosing the right interior wallpaint—a product without volatile organiccompounds (VOCs)—can help reduce yourchances of getting sick? Well, it’s all true.
Eco-friendly home upgrades fall intothree main categories, according to TaylorDarling, co-owner of Santa Cruz GreenBuilders, a local company that designs andbuilds environmentally sensitive
dwellings.Those areas of improvement, hesays, are energy efficiency, water conserva-tion, and indoor air quality.
With many Santa Cruz residents liv-ing in older homes, there are often sever-al ways to improve functionality andresource-conservation. Darling’s sugges-tions can help reduce a house’s ecologicalimpact, increase its overall value, makebreathing safer for inhabitants, and savemoney on home expenses over time.
“These are things that any home-owner can put their money and efforttoward upgrading their house to be moresustainable,” he says. “Each has greatvalue and pay-off.”
Make yourhome more
environmentallyconscious with
help from SantaCruz Green
BuildersBY JOEL HERSCH
ECO-FRIENDLY FIXES
home
9
Living Green
FIXES 8>
Residential Master Planning • Landscape DesignSSA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
BETTER DESIGNS. BETTER LIVING.
8 HOME & GARDEN
ENERGY EFFICIENCY1. Insulation The older the house, the more likely it is to be lacking in insulation, which should fill thewalls, ceiling and floor to retain heat. In thatcase, damp cellulose—made of shreddednewspapers and fire-retardant materials—canbe sprayed into the walls, floors or ceiling.When it dries, cellulose will insulate the housejust as well as the fiberglass alternative.Darling advises that homeowners opt to insu-late the ceiling first, as that is where the mostheat is lost.
2. Air Sealing You could have the most well-insulated houseon the block, but if heat is being lost throughopened pipes, old rattling windows, or thespace under a door, then insulation is notgoing to do the job. This can be fixed with acombination of multi-purpose insulating foamand caulking application to the places that leakwarm air, laying down weather stripping, andin some cases, replacing old windows.
ECO-FRIENDLY FIXES
home
93. LED Lighting LED light bulbs last muchlonger than traditional incan-descent bulbs, making them agreat home investment. Anincandescent bulb, which usesfilament wire, lasts about 2,000hours, while the life of a LED bulbcan run up to 50,000 hours and usejust 1/6 the energy of an incandescent one,Darling says. Plus: LED bulbs do not flicker ortake any time to warm up.
4. Heating Upgrading the home heating system, while costly, is a great way to reduce energyconsumption. Natural gas-forced air heatersare a good option, since they operate at 96percent efficiency, meaning they consumeminimal energy when they warm a space to the desired temperature.
5. Solar Water A solar water-heating system is a black panel with glass over it that sits on the roof,generating energy to heat water before it goes into a traditional home water heater. It’s pricey, but it’s also a great long-terminvestment, if you can afford it, according to Darling.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY6. Nontoxic Paint The interior of many older homes arepainted with products containing VOCs.Over time, that paint slowly evaporatesinto the air we breathe, which hasbeen shown in some cases tocause cancer. When selecting anew paint for the inside of ahouse, Darling adviseschoosing a product withzero VOCs. For familieswith young children,Darling adds that choosing a safe paintthat will not pose sucha risk is a particularlysmart idea.
WATER CONSERVATION7. Shower Head AeratorAn aerator shower head can reduce the waterflow of a shower down from approximately 2.5 gallons per minute to about 1.5 gallons,Darling says. But by mixing in more air andincreasing the pressure flow, it feels like aneven stronger shower.
8. Dual Flush Toilet A traditional single-flush toilet system, common to old houses, can use between three and six gallons of water with every flush.A dual flush toilet, which uses two valves, canbring the amount of water being used down
to 1.28 gallons per flush, creating huge water savings.
9. Native LandscapingNative landscaping is an eco-friendly technique that involves growing plantsthat are accustomed to the local environ-ment, develop well through dry summers
and rainy winters,and are generally notoverly dependent onbeing watered.Darling adds that,considering the current status ofemergency droughtin California, optingfor more hardscape,such as patios, rocks,or bark, can be asmart decision.
This list is ordered by most substantial eco-friendly upgrades—“in terms of biggest bang foryour buck”—down to more low-level upgrades, though every little bit helps, says Darling.
<PAGE 6
9 HOME & GARDEN
2800 Daubenbiss Ave, Soquel831-476-8780 • Interiorvision.biz
Follow us on facebook and Yelp
ShackingUp Interior design professionals—
saving décor and relationships,
one house at a time
By Jenny Simeone
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 11
oving in together is a hugemilestone for many couples.But attempting to design thelook and feel of a shared space
can open up a huge can of worms.“Hire a designer so you don't have to
pay a therapist,” jokes Lorri Kershner,owner and interior designer of L.Kershner Design (LKD). While she’s most-ly teasing, Kershner has found sometruth in the saying.
“Oftentimes couples will have conflict-ing ideas, conflicting sensibilities, andeven conflicting needs,” explainsKershner. “And often times, a gooddesigner can qualify a solution that’sacceptable to both parties.”
Kershner advises couples to thought-fully outline the kind of space they are
aspiring to create with a designer. Shenotes that disagreements between part-ners often spring from unvoiced expecta-tions. Couples should consider things likehow much they plan to entertain, or howhighly they value private spaces.
“I am there to give clients good designintelligence to find the solutions whenthey don't agree,” says Kershner. “Oncethey have a cohesive idea of what theywant, any good designer will be able tosay what is the most cost effective, func-tional, and what will look better at theend of the day.”
Before couples start picking out light-ing and paint, Kershner advises setting afeasible budget together ahead of time toavoid a future headache. She says resi-dential clients are often in “sticker shock”
“Oftentimes couples will have conflicting ideas,conflicting sensibilities, and even conflicting needs.”
M
SHACKING UP 12>
12 HOME & GARDEN
because they don’t know the true costs ofconstruction, materials, or furnishings.
“There’s always aesthetic and utilityversus budget,” explains Kershner. “Adesign professional can project how yourbudget will play out for your desires, andguide clients who are going through thisprocess for the first time.”
Interviewing multiple professionals,and seeking referrals from friends andfamily is a good place to start whenlooking to hire a design professional.Kershner suggests bringing prospectivedesigners to the space for an onsite walk through to gauge their design values and knowledge.
“Make sure they know their stuff andare established in the community,” notesKershner. “In California especially, wehave a separate energy code, and we havemore strident building codes than therest of the country in terms of sustain-
ability. You want to work with a designerwho is really aware of those things.”
While there are a number of qualifiedinterior designers in Santa Cruz County,couples should make the hiring decisiontogether, Kershner says. Redesigning acouple’s residential space is an intimateprocess that she likens to creating a sanc-tuary. For her, designing an aesthetic thatblends two people’s tastes and needs isas much an inspiration as it is an honor.
“Homes are so special for that reason,they are not a show piece,” says Kershner.“They are an expression of the peoplethat inhabit them, and any good designwill reflect that.”
L. Kershner Design is located at 911 CenterSt., Suite D, Santa Cruz, 426-0177. For moreinformation, visit lkershnerdesign.com. Photoon page 11: Courtesy of L. Kershner Design.
“There’s always aestheticand utility versus budget.A design professional can project how yourbudget will play out foryour desires, and guideclients who are goingthrough this process for the first time.”
<PAGE 11
HOME ORGANIZATION TIPS
home
6
2. Match up all plasticstorage containers,and recycle those you no longer needor use
3. Clear the floor of your bedroom closetand consider utilizingshelves or a smalldresser for extra storage space
Springtime is all about feeling relaxed, refreshed and renewed. But how can youexperience that state of mind with a cluttered living space? Shannon McGinnis, a
Santa Cruz-based author and Certified Professional Organizer has numerous solutionsto that dilemma within her home organizing book, “The 10-Minute Tidy: 108 Ways to Organize Your Home Quickly.” It may seem like a daunting task, but if you start by tackling some small projects, you’ll be on your way. To help get you started, hereare six of McGinnis’ recommendations. BY JENNA BROGAN
4. Sort the mail andrecycle all the junk
5. De-clutter the top ofeach dresser in yourhome to bring morebeauty, order andcalm energy intoeach room
6. Sort one box in yourgarage, and donateor recycle whateveryou no longer need
TIME TO
For more organizationtips and services, visitorganized4success.com or 10minutetidy.com.
1. Sort your book, videoand music collections,and either donate orsell whatever you nolonger need
Tidy
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 13
REASONS TO GO SOLAR
home
14 HOME & GARDEN
Homeowners can own a solar system for $0 out of pocket, utilize generous federal tax credits,and save thousands on electricbills in the first year alone.
Homeowners paying more than$75 per month for electricityshould go solar because it will be cheaper than PG&E. Yourelectricity has to come fromsomewhere—why not pay lessfor solar energy from your veryown rooftop power plant?
CO2 REDUCTIONEQUAL TO PLANTING30 TREES
1
2
5
zero
These days,more and more people are gettingsolar panels installedon their homes. To findout why, we asked the local experts at AllterraSolar—winner of BestSolar Contractor inGood Times’ 2013 Bestof Santa Cruz Readers’Poll—to explain whatthe buzz is all about.Here’s what they had to say.
BY JENNA BROGAN
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 15
To find out more about going solar, visit allterrasolar.com, or call 425-2608.
Feasibility evaluations and financialanalyses are free, making solarsomething everyone should at least consider.
3 4
REASONS TO GO SOLAR
home
5
Going solar creates jobs locally becausesolar installations cannot be outsourced.5One kilowatt of solar (three to four panels)
saves 100-plus gallons of water, keeps morethan a ton of Co2 out of the atmosphere, andis equivalent to planting 30 trees each year.
againstthegrain
BY JENNY SIMEONE
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 17
tarley Bullard-Moore hastaken the phrase “one per-
son’s trash is another person’streasure” to heart. As a custom fur-niture designer specializing inreclaimed wood, she has a uniquetalent for turning outdated or seem-ingly useless items—from an oldpark bench to the foundation of anabandoned home—into swoon-wor-thy home furnishings.
“It’s almost like a treasure hunt,”laughs Bullard-Moore, owner anddesigner at Charley & Co. inCapitola. “I’m never looking for anyparticular species of wood, but mostof the materials we find are primedto make the most unique designs.”
The process typically begins withBullard-Moore drawing the designfor a piece of furniture and thensending it to one of her trustedbuilders, the majority of whom arelocal. He or she will then salvagethe wood from an old barn oranother source, create the piece,and bring it back to Charley & Co. tosell. For a recent piece, she and herteam refashioned the foundation ofa redwood picnic table into a mod-ern butcher block.
“Reclaimed wood comes with ahistory and romance,” explainsBullard-Moore. “Imagine for exam-ple, finding an old barn beam withthe initials of young lovers carvedinto it. It could be the defining fea-ture in a tabletop. Every dent or dingin a piece of old wood merely addsmore character to the piece.”
Reclaimed wood has more bene-fits beyond the personality it addsto furniture. Strong and easily main-tained, wood furnishings keep theirvalue for generations and stand upin high-traffic households.Structurally speaking, salvagedwood is even stronger than newly
harvested wood because it has driedand set over time. Pieces made fromreclaimed wood are also not suscep-tible to expansion, contraction, andwarping like new wood furniture.
Sturdy as it may be, reclaimedwood is very flexible when it comesto design styles. From mid-centurymodern, to traditional rustic, to con-temporary, it can be fitted to anyaesthetic. In her own work, Bullard-Moore uses neat lines and prairie-style inspirations, but always adaptsto the needs of her customers.
“I work with clients to designsomething that they can’t find inany other furniture store, that fitsthe needs of their space,” sheexplains. “We work collaborativelyto create something that reflectstheir lifestyle.”
Often, clients are interested inusing reclaimed wood because theyvalue environmentally sustainableproducts. Salvaging older wood fornew products removes the need forfreshly cut trees. It also reduces theneed for new manufacturing andthe use of additional resources,electricity, and fossil fuels.
Between the individuality of eachwooden piece, and its structural andenvironmental benefits, Bullard-Moore sees reclaimed wood as morethan just a fad.
“The whole movement isbecoming more and more popular,but I think it’s something we’ll haveto stick with if we want to preservethe resources we have,” saysBullard-Moore. “It might be trendynow, but you’re not going to see itgoing away any time soon.”
Charley & Co. is located at 515 CapitolaAve., Capitola, (925) 395-3054. Formore information, visit charleynco.com.
Both eco-friendly and attractive,reclaimed wood furniture is onetrend that’s here to stay
“The whole movement is becoming more andmore popular, but Ithink it’s somethingwe’ll have to stick withif we want to preservethe resources we have.”
“I’m never looking forany particular species of wood, but most ofthe materials we findare primed to make themost unique designs.”
S
18 HOME & GARDEN
For insomnia orindigestion, smallwounds or anxiety,
a trip to your own back-yard could be a betteroption than a doctor’svisit.
“There’s a bountyof self-care potential inevery garden,” sayslocal herbalist Darren
Huckle. “So many gardensalready have medicinesgrowing in them, but theirowners don't know how touse them.”
This is where gardenherbalism comes in handy.It is the practice of learninghow to identify and useplants that grow locally, inorder to maintain wellness
and heal minor ailments.Garden herbalism has beenused to treat everythingfrom stress to muscular/skeletal-related conditions.
“I would say 90 per-cent of medical conditionscan be treated really effec-tively with herbs, nutrition,and lifestyle,” says Huckle.“People come in with a
HERBALISM
garden
RosemaryStimulates the brain,improves energy level,supports circulation,antioxidant
MintIncreases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, settles the stomach
OreganoImmunity-enhancing, settles digestion, prevents bloating
SagePrevents loss of mental function,increases oxygen to the brain,improves concentration
Harvesting good health with local herbalist Darren Huckle
Homegrown MedicineBY JENNY SIMEONE
EASY EIGHT
Lemon balm used by herbalists as a calming tea to promote healthy digestion
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 19
garden
ChivesClears stuffy noses, prevents bad breath, eases stomach aches, strengthens lower back,improves poor circulation
Basil Improves energy level, protects cell DNA from radiation
Cilantro Boosts immune system,smoothes out digestion
Parsley Cools the liver, helps protectthe eyes from UV radiation damage and glycation
medical diagnosis or problemsthat pharmaceutical drugshaven’t been able to help.”
Plant medicines tend to bemilder and more like foods thantypical over-the-counter med-ications. While herbalism canbe very effective, Huckle warnsthat every person’s body hasslightly different needs—herbsthat help one person, might notbe appropriate for another.
“If you’re dealing with amajor medical condition, it’snot the best thing to go intoyour backyard and just starteating a bunch of differentherbs,” laughs Huckle. “But youcould get some support fromsomeone who knows theplants and can recommendwhich ones could be helpful foryour specific needs.”
Huckle works with morethan 300 herbs when consult-ing with clients through hisclinical practice, Roots ofWellness, and students. He hastaught classes at Five BranchesUniversity, Esalen, and hisalma mater, UC Santa Cruz.
Of all the delights thatcome with teaching, Huckleparticularly enjoys helping stu-dents understand what he calls“the green wall.”
“We are so divorced fromthe plants around us in thisday and age that we’ll go on ahike and to us, it’s just a greenmass all around,” he explains.
“Maybe we know one or twoplants here and there, but wedon’t know our way into theworld of plants and how to usethem for our wellness.”
Students in Huckle’s gar-den herbalism classes aretaught everything from how toidentify and grow healingplants, to harvesting and stor-ing them. Huckle also helpsclients point out herbal medi-cines already found withintheir home gardens, and offersrecommendations of otherhealing herbs to plant.
In his holistic practice,Huckle works to abate a client’ssymptoms by strengthening hisor her entire body. He observestheir lifestyle and body systempatterns, and then proposestreatments that will interruptthe problem-causing trends.
“Symptoms are messagesfrom the body calling for betterhealth practices,” says Huckle.“If I do my job well as a practi-tioner, every system operatesto a higher level, not just thechief complaint.”
Making recommendationsis easy, but Huckle says that itcan be challenging to inspireclients to change their habits infavor of herbalist-friendly ones.He advises that wellness comesto those who create time for it.
“The terrain for healing isa place where we’re not feelingrushed and have a sense of
peace in our lives,” says Huckle.“It’s challenging to work in afast-paced culture where peo-ple are pulled in so manydirections, with less and lesstime for self care.”
For those with time, butwithout access to a backyard,garden herbalism is still anoption. Huckle recommendsgrowing potted herbs, whichcan be harvested repeatedly,indoors. One such herb islemon balm, used by herbalistsas a calming tea to promotehealthy digestion.
“A good exercise is tochoose a plant that has a longhistory of culinary use andexplore its other applications,”says Huckle. “For instance,everyone has used rosemary,but many don’t know that it’s afantastic antioxidant and sup-ports healthy circulation.” He’salso used California poppies toinduce sleep, and yarrow forhealing scrapes.
As Huckle sees it, peopleare constantly surrounded bymedicines to uplift their bodiesand spirits. He believes thateveryone has an innate connec-tion to the plant world, and thatherbalism is an ideal avenue torediscover that relationship.
“It’s in our history ashumans to use plants as medi-cine, and we’ve always knownthem well, except for these lastfew generations,” explainsHuckle. “That’s the take-homemessage—with this practice,you will never look at a field orgarden in the same way, and[will] have a deeper under-standing of it.”
Darren Huckle will teach a garden herbalism workshop on May 16-18 at Esalen.To register, visit esalen.org/learn.Roots of Wellness is located at 343 Frederick St.,Santa Cruz, 334-5177.Visit rootsofwellness.net.
“I would say 90 percentof medical conditionscan be treated reallyeffectively with herbs,nutrition, and lifestyle.”
HERBALISM
20 HOME & GARDEN
With the declaration of astatewide drought
emergency by Gov. Jerry Brownat the onset of 2014, Californiaresidents are looking to theskies in hopes that a rain cloudor two might bring the boon ofprecipitation.
Until the rain falls, expertson water conservation such asAerin Martin, environmentalprojects analyst for water con-servation at the City of SantaCruz Water Department, urgelocal gardeners to be consciousof their watering practices.
“This is such anunusual year,” saysMartin. “It’s not
business as usual. People aregoing to have to be mindfuland make water conservationa priority.”
When building a water-smart garden, it’s best to thinkfrom the ground up, accordingto Christof Bernau, gardenmanager and instructor of theapprenticeship program at theCenter for Agroecology andSustainable Food Systems atUC Santa Cruz.
“It starts with the soil, firstand foremost” says Bernau,“and building soil quality thathas high organic matter content
that is going to do a goodjob of retaining moisture.”
Although developing soilrich in organic material is along-term process, Bernau saysit’s never too late to start.
Raising the organic mattercontent of soil can be achievedby growing cover crops in agarden’s open spaces, whicheventually break down overtime and incorporate their biomass back into the soil, orapplying compost and manure.After soil is amended withorganic material, another simple way to boost moistureretention at the ground level isto blanket the soil with mulch,such as wood chips.
WATER CONSERVATION
garden
WWise
a retLOCAL EXPERTS WEIGH
IN ON GARDENINGDURING A DROUGHT
BY ARIC SLEEPER
W
22>
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 21
DESIGN GROW BUILD
831.459.0656www.CentralCoastWilds.com
Central Coast Wilds
VISIT OUR NURSERY:336A Golf Club Drive Santa Cruz, Ca 95060
CALL FOR AVAILABILTY OR CONSULTATION:
831.459.0656
A Division of Ecological Concerns Incorporated
CCL #778397 CPESC #5000
ASLA#3309
235 River Street
420-5449
2218 Mission Street
Purchase a compost bin from one of these stores orfrom our online vendor and receive a $40 rebate.
For City of Santa Cruz Residents Only.
www.cityofsantacruz.com/homecomposting
22 HOME & GARDEN
“Mulching is easy,” says Martin. “Itmakes the landscape look great and itkeeps weeds down.”
Because of this season’s droughtconditions, and because water restric-tions are in place, watering should bedone only before 10 a.m. and after 5p.m., and automatic irrigation timersshould be turned off. Gardeners shouldcheck hoses and sprinklers for breaksor damage, and make sure water ismaking its way to the root systems ofplants and not running off onto side-walks and driveways.
Drip irrigation is one of the moreideal forms of watering, according toboth Martin and Bernau, but in orderto stay aware of a garden’s needs, it isbest to water plants by hand.
“Studies have shown time and timeagain, people that hand water—when
you go out there yourself and do it—you water much less,” says Martin.
When determining the frequencyand amount to water, gardenersshould keep in mind the plantspecies, where plants are in their lifecycle, the microclimate the garden islocated in, and the soil’s moistureretention level.
“When we’re in a real droughtstress situation like this,” says Bernau,“we should try to be as conservativeas possible without pushing theplants too far.”
For more information on water restrictions, the watering needs of plant species, additional gardening tips,or to schedule a water audit, visit theWater Department’s website at cityofsantacruz.com.
WATER CONSERVATION
garden
1. Check soil moisturebefore watering with a trowel or screwdriver. “Don’tassume a plant needs water because it may lookdry on the top or you think it needs water,”says Martin.
3. Mulchingis an easy way to increase the water retentionin soil and help to raise the aesthetic value ofa garden.
2. Being mindfulof a garden’s specific needs is the most important tipfor growing plants in drought conditions. Be aware ofthe soil, the types of plants grown, and the specificweather conditions in an area before watering.
QUICK TIPS:///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
<PAGE 20
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 23
Lyons Marble & Granite, Inc. hasbeen in the trade for more than 25years. We provide services locally aswell as around neighboring cities inthe Bay Area and Central Coast.Bring us your ideas and togetherlet's dream it and do things right thefirst time.
� Kitchen� Bathroom� Fireplace Hearth� Fireplace Surround� Kitchenette� BBQ� BIG or small projects.
Present this ad and enjoy 10% off your final purchase.
Projects such as
presented by the
Architects Association of Santa Cruz County
as a benefit for
Habitat for Humanity Santa Cruz County
TOU
RA R
CHITE
CTUR
EOP
EN19TH ANNUALORIGINAL
The Architects Association of Santa Cruz County &Habitat for Humanity Santa Cruz County invite you to
GET INSPIREDV I S I T T H E S T O R E
• Find what you need for your home in our 17,000 sq. ft. warehouse
• OPEN: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 9am-5pm• 719 Swift Street, Santa Cruz | 831.824.4704
TA K E T H E T O U R
Saturday, May 17th
10am–4pm• $36 ticket admits two people to all sites• On sale April 25th! • INFO: 831.460.2999 | aascc.org
24 HOME & GARDEN
THE ROOT OF THE MATTER
VEGGIE TA L E S
Setting up a plot of land to raise vegetablesneed not be that difficult, and the satisfac-tion of watching your garden grow and
reaping the benefits is enormous. You sooncould be nurturing your very own seedlings of lettuce, kale, carrots and more.
CYNTHIA SANDBERG OF LOVEAPPLE FARMS OFFERS TRICKSTO DESIGNING THE PERFECTVEGETABLE GARDEN
Here are some tips from gardening expert CynthiaSandberg of Love Apple Farms
to help you get started:
GOOD TIMES: How can you site your vegetable beds for maximum efficacy?CYNTHIA SANDBERG: It’s best to site your vegetable beds running north to south so thatthe sun is able to shine on both sides of the bed.
What are the best methods of bed design? And how important is bed size?Bed size is important because of watering somevegetables more, according to their individualneeds. This applies also to fertilizing, shadingand pest control. A good bed size is 4 ft. by 12 ft.so it’s easier to water and weed. Love AppleFarms prefers garden beds with hard sides, suchas lumber or stone, because it keeps thingstogether and also forms a barrier so that theveggies are not stepped on. But for budget reasons, outlining the beds with stakes andtwine works, too.
TIPS
PAGE 26>PAGE 26>
BY JOSIE COWDEN
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 25
(408) 406-8970allstar-windows.com
Installation Specialist
when you mention this ad
Licensed, bonded and insured #830629
FREE ESTIMATES
Carpet Cleaning for Less
We also clean upholstery, leather, hardwood floors, area rugs, tile, and vinyl floors.
ARTISAN CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
(831) 278-2526 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm Aptos, CALocally Owned & Operated by Bill Wenderlich. Licensed and Insured
Carpet Steam CleaningWhole House (up to 6 areas) $1853 Areas $1202 Areas $99
UpholsterySteam CleaningSofa (up to 7’) $99Loveseat $79Chair $59Leather furniture & loose back cushions extra.
$99 Minimum OrderArea size up to 175 sq. ft.Stairs Extra. Combined or L-shaped rooms count as 2 rooms
Phot
o co
urte
sy o
f Fre
sno
Carp
et C
are
We offer Scotchguard™ & Deodorizers
Rotovac™ 360 Steam Cleans
600 passes per minute
We Get Results–BreakthroughTechnology
Prices include pre-treating and spotting as needed.
General Feed & Seed Has you covered with :� Botanical Interests & Renee’s Garden �We stock the large variety of heirloom tomatoes and organic seeds.�Plant your garden with the LARGEST selection of organic fertilizers available
in the area. By the pound, up to 50 lbs available.�Organic Pest Control Products by
Down to Earth Distributors � Livestock Feed�Pet Food�Vet Supplies� Saddle Shop�English Riding Apparel�Western Boots and Western Wear
26 HOME & GARDEN
garden
THE ROOT OF THE MATTER
What is the best type of soil to usewhen gardening?Use good topsoil rather than regular garden “dirt.” Topsoil blend has beenspecially formulated to contain a balance of clay, silt and loam for maximum growing potential. But youwill still have to amend your soil withfertilizers, preferably organic.
How can you make a cost-effective vegetable garden?Check the Craigslist Farm and Gardenforum for folks giving away lumber,rocks, bricks or concrete in order to build
or form your beds. Picking up free horsemanure from local stables will enableyou to pile it in a corner of your garden,keep it wet, and, within six months, agreat compost/soil additive will result.
What type of surface is best forinstalling a vegetable garden?You can install a vegetable garden on anexisting lawn by either taking up the sodor by laying down cardboard to kill thelawn, and then putting a vegetable bedright on top of the cardboard. On a hardsurface, build up with a bed that is 24inches high.
What can you do with limited sunexposure? Grow veggies that don’t need to flowerto produce the edible part of the plant,such as lettuce, spinach, kale and herbs.Or plant root veggies such as carrots,beets, turnips, radishes, and potatoes.
Love Apple Farms offers several classesrelated to vegetable gardening. For a fullclass schedule and more information, visitgrowbetterveggies.com, or email [email protected].
<PAGE 24
LOVE APPLE FARMS offers numerous classes in vegetable gardening. PHOTO BY SAL INGRAM
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 27
expires 3-23-14
Helping HandsBY JENNA BROGAN
Getting children excited about the environ-ment and contributing to the health of theplanet is easy with the help of “The Bookof Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Waysto Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and HavingFun.” Written by Whitney Cohen and JohnFisher of Life Lab—a Santa Cruz-basednonprofit which has emerged as a nationalleader in the garden-based learning move-ment—the book is teeming with fun waysto teach young people about the wonderswaiting right outside the front door. Onesuch activity (found on page 82) involvescrafting Planet-Friendly Paper Pots, andteaches kids how to reuse a common pieceof household trash. Try it at home!
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 29
What you’ll need:
• Scissors
• Old newspaper
• A pot maker (a full,unopened 5.5-ouncejuice can will work)
• Seed-starting mix
• Seeds
• An empty nursery tray ormilk carton cut in halflengthwise
FUN IN THE SUN
KIDS ACTIVITY
Planet-Friendly Paper Pots
garden
DOWN & DIRTY
“The Book of GardeningProjects for Kids: 101Ways to Get KidsOutside, Dirty, andHaving Fun”
Available for $19.95 atBookshop Santa Cruz
GET IT
What you’ll do:
1. Cut newspaper into strips 3 x 10 inches wide.
2. Place a newspaper strip on a flat surface,with the short end close to you.
3. Place the pot maker on this same end of thenewspaper strip, leaving about 1 1/2 inches ofnewspaper hanging over the bottom.
4. Roll the pot maker over the table, away fromyou, to wrap it in newspaper.
5. Fold in the part hanging over the bottom.
6. Turn the pot maker upright and press downon the table.
7. Gently remove the pot maker. Youshould have a newspaper pot.
8. Make pots for all the seeds youwant to plant, and enough to fill anursery tray or half milk carton.
9. Fill your new pots with seed-start-ing mix, then place your pots in anursery tray or milk carton side byside so they are held upright.
10. Plant and label your seeds. Keepthem watered and watch them grow.
Note:
When your seedlings areready to transplant, you canremove them from the news-paper pots by peeling thenewspaper away. You can alsoplant each seedling in its potand let the newspaper decom-pose in the ground. In thiscase, make sure to bury all ofthe newspaper completely, sothat it does not wick wateraway from your plant’s roots.
Arranging a spring bouquetwith Native Revival NurseryBY JENNA BROGAN
F U N W I T HFLORAL
If you were to ask the experts atNative Revival Nursery in Aptos,there is a lot more to putting
together a spring floral arrange-ment than simply picking outbrightly colored flowers.
The nursery, which has beengrowing California native plants forthe past 20 years, recently beganoffering native and foraged floralarrangements in response to cus-tomers’ requests for a more sus-tainable, less environmentallydamaging alternative to traditionalfloral options.
“Floral is becoming one of thebiggest problems with importedplant material because there are somany different diseases,” saysowner Erin O’Doherty, who addsthat reducing the carbon footprintis also critical. “The floral businessis increasing exponentially in
imports, so you have the shippingcosts of floral coming in from Asiaand from the Central Americancountries, and you have the chemi-cals that they use there that wecan’t use here for good reasons—they’re really toxic and detrimentalto the environment.”
That’s why Native Revival usesonly locally grown flowers andother native plants when craftingits unique arrangements. Ratherthan using “big showy flowers” thathave been hybridized and cultivat-ed, the nursery’s lead floralarranger, Heide Schwartz, incorpo-rates nonculitvated plants, includ-ing buckwheat flowers, Californiaflannel bush, California grasses,monkey flowers, yarrow, and pen-stemon, into her bouquets, livingarrangements, wreaths and more.
“A lot of people don’t realizehow beautiful the California nativeplants can be,” says O’Doherty.
With that in mind, your chal-lenge this spring? Go native.
garden
“A lot of peopledon’t realize howbeautiful theCalifornia nativeplants can be.”
Fore more information, visit nativerevival.com, or call 684-1811. PHOTO BY KEANA PARKER.
NATIVE PLANTS
32 HOME & GARDEN
3/16Summer Vegetable GardeningAn all-day intensive seminar on starting andtending a summer vegetable garden.10 a.m.-5 p.m. Love Apple Farms
3/15,22 & 29Garden Cruz: Organic Matters,
a three-Saturday Organic Gardening Workshop
Learn the skills you need to create and main-tain a thriving organic garden, including
understanding and improving soil fertility,direct seeding and transplanting, preparing
garden beds, irrigating, and more.Alan Chadwick Garden, UCSC
3/29DIY Hypertufa Containers
Hypertufa is a man-made stone made fromvarious aggregates bonded together with
cement. It’s perfect for making long-lastinggarden containers. Learn how at this work-
shop. 2 p.m. DIG Gardens
4/20Reskilling ExpoA day-long symposium of workshopsdesigned to impart skills that increase foodsecurity, conserve water and build localresilience. Museum of Art & History
4/6Growing HerbsLearn the basics of growing herb plants fromseed. Noon-4 p.m. Love Apple Farms
3/20,4/2 The Ray Collett
Rare & Extraordinary Plants Lecture Series
Talks about the “Conifers over Space andTime: Insights into Plant and Water Relations”
and “The Australian Garden, Cranbourne,Australia.” UCSC Arboretum
3/20,21The Growing Classroom Workshop: 2-Day Intensive on Garden-Based LearningUsing Life Lab’s Growing Classroom activityguide for grades 2-6, participants in thishands-on workshop experience garden-basedlessons linked to Common Core LanguageArts and Math and Next Generation ScienceStandards; practice basic gardening tech-niques; and develop management strategiesfor a school garden program.Life Lab’s Garden Classroom, UCSC
4/12Arboretum Spring Plant Sale
(and California Native Plant Society Sale)Large plant sale, open to the general public.
10 a.m.-Noon (members),Noon-4 p.m. (public). UCSC Arboretum
3/15Orchids 101 A hands-on demonstration workshop on how to care for and re-pot orchids. 2 p.m.DIG Gardens
calendar
4/5Vertical Succulent PicturesOwner and garden designer Cara Meyers leads a workshop on vertical gardening,using succulents.2 p.m. DIG Gardens
4/19Earth Day Santa CruzA community event offeringeducational information,activities for kids, live musicand a focus on green busi-nesses. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.San Lorenzo Park
GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN 33
6/212014 Monterey Bay
Greenhouse Growers Open House
Kitayama Brothers will participate in thisannual Open House with tours, gardening andplant demonstrations, plus gerbera daisies will
be available for sale to benefit Friends ofSanta Cruz State Parks.
Kitayama Brothers Watsonville
Find more home and garden events atgtweekly.com
Also, visit these resourceful websites for events throughout the year:
casfs.ucsc.edugrowbetterveggies.comlifelab.orgdiggardensnursery.comreskillingexpo.orgarboretum.ucsc.edu
calendar
6/21The Garden FaireA free-admission, educational event focusingon benefits of organic gardening and sustain-able, healthy living. Sky Park
5/11Jam Making
Learn how to make severalkinds of jam, utilizing a few
different methods.1-5 p.m. Love Apple Farms
5/3,4UCSC Farm and Garden Spring Plant Sale10 a.m.-3 p.m.,May 3 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,May 4.
The corner of Bay and High Street, UCSC
5/17Garden Bed PreparationLearn how to prepare and maintain a gardenbed with the help of the Center forAgroecology & Sustainable Food SystemsAlan Chadwick Garden, UCSC
4/29Plant It, Grow It, Eat it! Workshop:
Garden-enhanced Nutrition Education Workshop
For anyone interested in or involved in usinggardening and cooking to encourage healthy
eating for students in grades K-8.Life Lab’s Garden Classroom, UCSC
4/26Citrus Selection, Planting and CareIn this lecture and hands-on work-shop, participants will learn aboutthe best varieties of citrus for theMonterey Bay region; how toselect and prepare a planting site;how to plant; and how to irrigate, fertilize, prune, and control pests and diseases.1-5 p.m. UCSC Farm
STEVE SCHNAARPart scavenger hunt and part sustainability educa-tor and community builder, The Santa Cruz FruitTree Project, founded by Steve Schnaar, is a volun-teer-run effort to find untended fruit trees in localneighborhoods and help to collect unused fruit.Once the group has collected the fruit, they hostevents that involve processing the harvest insome way, whether it’s by pickling, preserving,pressing, or otherwise. A leader in the localurban gleaning effort, the project is dedicatedto reducing the amount of waste in Santa Cruzand promoting sustainability. Visit fruitcruz.org,or call 425-0667.
CLAUDINE DÉSIRÉEClaudine Désirée has quickly made a name for herself locally forher expertise in building cob structures. Cob is an ancient build-ing material consisting of soil, sand and straw. Désirée seesthese structures as an important step toward an eco-friendlyworld. And, after a year of effort, the permit for her cob struc-ture—which willl be the first structure of its kind to be permittedin Santa Cruz—was approved in December 2013. Visit cruzincob.com, or call 419-8017.
RENEESHEPHERDWidely regarded as a pioneering innova-tor in introducing international vegetables,flowers and herbs to home gardeners and gourmetrestaurants, Renee Shepherd is the driving force atthe helm of Renee’s Garden Seeds. Through hercompany, based in Felton, Shepherd searches forthe best seeds from around the world, teststhem in her own gardens, cooks and
develops recipes around their unique characteristics, andshares them with other gardeners. To order seeds and find suggestions for success with growingfrom seed, visit reneesgarden.com, or call (888) 880-7228.
MEGANMONTERO
Megan Montero pro-vides feng shui consul-
tations to the community.Her feng shui home consulta-
tions can bring peace and relax-ation, prosperity and joy, deep and lasting life change, balanced
and harmonious relationships, a successful career and more to herclients. She also offers feng shui consultation for a workspace and space
clearing. For more information, visit windandwaterblessings.com, or call 588-5424.
OWEN COMMONSOwen Commons of Commons&Burt Builders reverses your expecta-tions of what furniture is and can be
with his futuristic-looking creations.Using discarded metal, found
objects and recycled redwood,the gifted Santa Cruz sculptorcrafts one-of-a-kind lamps, plantstands, tables and more. Checkout his edgy and functional artin person at Many Hands
Gallery in Capitola. Visit owen-commons.com, or call 325-3992.
THESE LOCAL EXPERTS IN THEIRRESPECTIVE FIELDS ARE GREAT RESOURCESFOR YOUR HOME ANDGARDEN NEEDS
BY JENNA BROGAN
OwenCommons’recycledmetal table
34 HOME & GARDEN
TO WATCH5
