Sidney Herald Spring Home and Garden

SIDNEY HERALD SuNDAY, ApRIL 21, 2013 1B

spring home and garden

EARTH WEEK CELEBRATION!

$200 flat for Autos$130/Ton for Tin

$0.50/LB for Aluminum cans $6 flat for Auto

Batteries

In honor of Earth Week, Pacific Steel & Recycling of Sidney is offering special

pricing for your recyclables!

ApRIL 22-26, 2013

4 0 6 - 4 3 3 - 1 3 0 1 • 3 5 0 2 3 C O U N T Y R O A D 1 2 3 • p A C I f I C - R E C Y C L I N g . C O m

We’re also offering a special prize for the individual who can guess the make and model of a scrapped vehicle we’ve baled! Stop in to see if you can figure it out!

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By Sarah BloomSIDNEY HERALD

The inspiration for the overall theme and design of the remodel at the Marker household came after Den-nis Marker took his wife, Brenda, on a trip to Italy. The couple was moved by the Tuscan feel and Brenda knew that she wanted a subtle touch of Tuscan throughout what would be the finished project of her remodeled area.

Remodeling a kitchen and dining room area in a modestly sized house can be an overwhelming project for anyone. “We have a large family, so I need some room,” Brenda said.

Starting a big project starts with an idea. And the physical start for the Markers’ remodel started within the colors of a china cabinet. The colors matched pieces in the living room. It was a must-have in the new design and a favorite piece of furniture that the couple wanted to keep in the dining room.

From there, the remodel started to take shape.

The cabinets in the kitchen were made by Dura Supreme with a Bella door style. The deep cherry color had subtly resembled the Tuscan feel. The cabinets were finished with Mission with a charcoal glaze.

Underneath the beauti-fully detailed cabinets, the couple decided on a zodiac quartz countertop finished in a minera pearl color. Completed within the coun-tertop was an Elkay egran-ite sink in mocha.

In remodeling their living space, Brenda had a good idea of what she wanted, but it took professionals to open up her ideas to some-thing different. The staff of Creative Solutions suggest-ed a backsplash within the

tile work in the kitchen. At first, Brenda was hesitant, but after it was all said and done, Brenda was happy she had trusted profession-als with the idea because it brought the kitchen to-gether.

The kitchen was complete down to every last detail. And perhaps the most con-venient add-ons in the whole remodel were the carefully done pull-out drawers and cabinets that were designed for easy access to anything one might need.

Even the island in the center of the kitchen had cleverly placed storage cabinets if needed. Brenda was thrilled with the size of the island because it gave room for her family to cook together, something of a pastime for her and her rela-tives to do.

And what is a beautiful kitchen without a pantry? Brenda decided to go with Lifespan Organizers for the pantry. The Lifespan items helped easily place together an open walk-in pantry and made everything accessible.

The couple used the same Lifespan Organizers in the laundry room as well. Completing the room were laminate gumloc table tops.

“I never thought I’d like going to the laundry room or the pantry,” Brenda said.

The family knew they wanted to get help from lo-cal businesses and services to complete the project. Brenda said that Dennis knew they would have pride in their work.

H&R Construction helped with all of the carpentry work. Charlie and Chris of H&R helped to install all of the cabinets and were very particular about the place-ment and design.

Mike Potts of Chuck’s Plumbing helped with the plumbing, while Ken’s Heat-ing and Sheet Metal com-

pleted the heating and air side of the project.

The painting was a group project involving Rhonda Rupp with the assistance of both of the homeowners. The paint was purchased from Johnson Hardware and Furniture.

Gurney Electric and Prai-rie Electric helped to bring all of the lighting fixtures come together while Melby’s did the gutter work and the concrete work was complet-ed by Frank Sticka.

Mandy Householder of Finir supplied the tile for the project. Brenda Larson of Creative Solutions sup-plied the cabinets, counter-tops, kitchen organizers and Lifespan Closet organizers.

Purchases made for the

remodel included flooring from Chad’s Furniture; appliances, including the refrigerator and washer and dryer, from PATH; while ProBuild helped to supply all of the lumber and trim.

Despite all of the experts helping the family on their newly remodeled home, Brenda and Dennis were still very much involved in the whole process. “We were very hands on,” Brenda said. “I just put the final touches on an already great final project.”

After the project was all done, the couple remains happy with all of their decisions made, down to the very last detail. “It’s so nice to come home,” Brenda said.

spacious remodel ideal for entertaining

BRIAN EDER | SIDNEY HERALD

The Markers’ newly remodeled kitchen area offers spacious cooking and entertaining spaces for their large family.

BRIAN EDER | SIDNEY HERALD

The backsplash within the tile work brings the new design together.

Spring home and garden2b Sunday, april 21, 2013 Sidney Herald

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Schedule your appointment now

(H) 406-488-6624 • (C) 406-489-2831

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GARDEN CENTER OPENING SOON

• Plants & Flowers• Planters• Ceramic pots• Decorative bark• Hanging Baskets• Vegetable plants

• Scotts fertilizer• Grass seeds• Miracle Grow Soil• Chickity DooDoo• Organic Fertilizer• Wicker Furniture

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Call 406-488-1461 for an appointment.Showroom located at 109 3rd Ave. NE, Sidney

Brenda Larson

Closets for

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Cabinetry and counter tops

for kitchens, bathrooms and offices.

Get Organized in 2013

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Bryan and McKenzie Mc-Dowell, Sidney, utilized the sixth extra bedroom to open up their own areas of the house. By taking down the wall surrounding the extra bedroom, Bryan was able to open up room for a big-ger bathroom and a larger addition to their master bedroom, complete with a walk-in closet.

The bathroom now has a custom-made tile walk-in shower across from a roomy tub that is surrounded by carefully laid out tile. A big-ger shower area is some-thing the couple has wanted for a long time.

With their desired fin-ished date rapidly approach-ing, Bryan and McKenzie were running out of time to complete the bathroom. They had wanted to com-plete the bathroom before their wedding date in June of 2012. M&S Builders helped them speed up the process with help on tile work and trim. They also helped with the finishing work throughout the bath-room.

The walk-in closet offered space for Bryan’s custom-made shoe rack, just one of the perks McKenzie said she definitely loves about the new spaces.

After tearing down some of the walls, the hallway’s lighting was another obsta-cle that Bryan had to battle with. But with assistance, again, from M&S Builders,

Bryan was able to tackle the lighting by adding in two separate fixtures to make sure the hallway was well-lit with the new design.

The new changes in the house is not only for the couple’s comfort, but in looking ahead to the future with possible resale value.

“The house had six bed-rooms and the sixth one was small,” Bryan said. “(Com-paring) the re-sale value for a house with five bedrooms and a big master bedroom with a walk-in closet versus six small bedrooms, the price actually went up.”

Perhaps the most unique transformation is taking place in the couple’s base-ment. After buying the house from within the fam-ily, the couple made sure to keep family history within the details, literally.

The house had originally belonged to McKenzie’s grandparents, James and Margaret Vaira.

“The family really wanted us to buy the house,” Bryan said. “We weren’t really interested in it, so we told them no.”

After the couple’s initial rejection, McKenzie’s family started painting the house to prepare it for the market. Maybe it was fate when some paint had spilled on the carpet and Bryan was asked to help clean up the area before showing.

“I was cleaning the carpet and started looking around

a little bit,” Bryan admitted. “I didn’t realize it was a six bedroom house and how big it was. I could actually visualize what I wanted to change on it.”

When Bryan told McKen-zie’s family that they want-ed to take it, her mother, Nancy, got ahold of all seven of her brothers and sisters and everyone of them was eager to sell it within the family.

Keeping the family still physically in the house, Bryan went to McKenzie’s grandparent’s homestead, a farm located outside the Lambert area. There, Bryan took down an old wind-break that sat on the farm’s property. Alongside of a long wall in the basement,

the farm wood paneling was placed over a black wall. It stands now as a major piece in the room that draws visitors in. “This is defi-nitely the highlight of our downstairs,” McKenzie said. “I just love this wall. I love it. Just because the story behind it is so neat with my grandpa.”

Antlers, hunting memo-rabilia and knick-knacks line the wood-paneled wall that leads to the original fireplace on the far side of the room. Bringing in items like the original wood made the basement area a unique site to see.

And the plans don’t stop quite yet. For the expecting couple to be, Bryan plans on sheet-rocking over one of the closets in another bedroom to make the adja-cent room complete with a double closet for their future baby.

“Bryan really worked hard for this,” McKenzie said of her husband’s work on the house.

Helping the couple turn their sixth bedroom house into a roomy five bedroom open living space were local businesses and contractors across the Richland County area. On top of efforts by M&S Builders, Big Sky Siding and Windows helped with all of the window work in the house and Sidney Paint & Glass aiding in replacing the carpet in the basement.

breaking down walls, improving resale value

SaraH Bloom | Sidney Herald

Hunting memorabilia hangs on original pieces of wood paneling from McKenzie’s grandparent’s homestead outside of Lambert.

SaraH Bloom | Sidney Herald

A large tub sits across from a spacious shower stall after the McDowells decided to take out their sixth bedroom and expand their bathroom.

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• Concentrated Cleaning Products

• Garbage Bags• Clorox Wipes• Vinyl Gloves• Dust Mops• Dust Mop Treatments

• Paper Towels• Oven Cleaner• Hand Cleaner• Floor Wax And Sealer• Micro-Fibre Cleaning• Automatic Air Fresheners • Variety of fragrances

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Monday-Thursday 8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm • Friday 8am-12pm & 1pm-4pm

Is it Spring Cleaning Time? We have the products you need.

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Spring home and gardenSIDNEY HERALD SuNDAY, ApRIL 21, 2013 3b

Call us for all your electrical needs. [email protected]

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Heating & CoolingElectricalPlumbingWell Drilling

Well ServiceTrenching & BoringPhone & Data ServiceWell Drilling

1775 S. CENTRAL AVE., SIDNEY406-488-8066 • 1-877-8066 • WWW.AGRIINDUSTRIES.COM

KALBERER’S Heating & Cooling

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We have everything you will need to get your home built. One contractor will do it all.

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www.richlandfcu.com482-2704 • 201 W. Holly • Sidney

787-5890 • 18 East 2nd St.• Culbertson

Stop in and see Janet for a Home Equity Line of Credit.Great for home improvement, like adding that garage or deck...

or how about taking that special vacation.Loans for Cars, Boats & RVs.

We finance the fun things of spring!

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This is your home with a brain.

Start with justone roomReduce coffee table clutter with one remote that can do it all—and more. With one touch, you can turn on your TV, draw the shades, dim the lights, and commence the movie...

Control thewhole houseIf you love the way control can transform a room, wait until you see what it can do for your whole house!

Making your home work for you.Automatically.Imagine a house that remembers to lock itself at 10 pm. Shades that close as the sun hits. A home theater setup that takes care of lights, sound and picture with one touch. With Control4, everything works together the way you want it to. Life is just better with a little more control.

1 2 0 E . M a i nS i d n e y 4 3 3 - 4 3 7 0

TOOLBOX – Creating the garden of your dreams means either calling on the services of a landscape pro­fessional or diving headfirst into the project yourself. Of course, landscaping a yard requires a great deal of time, but it is definitely a great opportunity to let your imagination run wild. Be­fore you get down to work, here is a list of all the neces­sary steps to follow to turn your dream into reality.

1. Planning is vitalUse your survey or certifi­

cate of location to check the site for any easements. Take note of hours of full and partial sunshine, undesir­able views, which corners to highlight and which to hide. Find out about current municipal regulations con­cerning landscaping. Have your soil analyzed, locate the areas that are exposed to wind, and determine your hardiness zone.

2. identify your needsHow will you use the

space? Do you want to in­stall a pool or a spa? Do you need space for a children’s playground? Would you like to create a water garden or a dining area? Hang a ham­mock or plant a vegetable garden? Think carefully about all your needs.

3. Make a PlanUsing a pencil, eraser and

graph paper, draw a scaled

plan of your property. Include the house, shed, pathways, driveway, and any trees and shrubs you want to keep. Then add all the elements of your new layout, taking into account the vegetation and struc­tures you wish to include. Don’t be afraid to sketch out a variety of plans; it’s easier to make changes on paper than it is once the work has started.

4. Choose your Plants w ith Care

Before buying anything, take the time to make a list of all the plants you have chosen, including the hours of sunshine they need and

the care they require. Be sure to consider the size of the vegetation once it has reached maturity – this is especially important if you want to plant trees and shrubs.

5. sPread out the workSpread the work out over

more than a year so that your project doesn’t develop into a source of stress. Give priority to the jobs that require qualified workers and any machinery (pool, water garden, parking area). Establish a realistic time­table that takes your budget and your time availability into consideration.

6. Consult the exPertsLandscaping is an invest­

ment that could increase the value of your property. Don’t hesitate to consult an expert if you have any ques­tions. It is better to spend a few dollars straight away rather than have to redo already completed work.

7. stay in ControlFrom the moment your

garden starts to take shape, you will have to start main­taining it. No­maintenance gardens are a bit of a myth. Weeding, watering and pruning can take either a few minutes every day or a few hours once a week – so, don’t wait for the work

to pile up. Learn to del­egate; family members can contribute to yard upkeep, and gardeners can be hired for weeding and for bigger seasonal jobs.

8. enjoy itThe last rule is definitely

the best: have fun! Make the most of your dream yard and enjoy your favorite pas­times there. You deserve it!

Your dream garden in eight steps

Landscaping is an investment that could increase the value of your property.

Spring home and garden4b Sunday, april 21, 2013 Sidney Herald

Brenda Larson

Thank you to Dennis and Brenda Marker

Cabinetry and countertops for kitchens, bathrooms and offices. Closets for every room.

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MAIN APPLIANCE214 S. Central Ave., Sidney • 406.433.1800Hours: M-F 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Washers • Dryers• Refrigerators • Freezers

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2508 Lincoln Ave. South, Sidney (County Road 350, North of Pacifc Steel & Recycling)

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When it comes to your equipment need, one name stands out from the rest. At Sidney Rental we offer a comrehensive selection of modern equipment and the professional service to ensure you get what you need, when you need it.

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Expert electrical work!

Quinnell ElectricChuck Quinnell • 406-776-2331Call us for all your electrical needs!

CommercialResidential

RemodelsNew Construction

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Contact LYREA regarding

heat pump rebates.

3200 W Holly NW Sidney • 406-488-1602 • www.lyrec.com

Talk to your local heat pump dealer for all the details and start saving money on your heating and cooling bills.

Take the stress out of spring cleaning TOOLBOX – Throw open

those doors and windows – there is no better cure for months of winter than some fresh spring air.

But with spring, comes spring cleaning. And if the thought of pulling out mops, buckets and brooms brings on more stress than serenity, remember that a few tricks and some great tunes can make cleaning easier and perhaps even fun.

Set the MoodThere are work playlists,

workout playlists – why not a cleaning playlist? Put together some of your favorite, preferably upbeat tunes to motivate you while you’re working and keep that music playing when you’re moving from room to room.

Give your nose some sen-

sory motivation too. Spray a fresh clean scent to remind you of what’s to come when the work is done.

SiMplifyThe soups, stews and

heavy cooking of winter earn kitchen appliances everywhere a little tender loving care. While the task of cleaning accumulated splatters and stuck-on food residue from off of heavy winter cooking can sound overwhelming, there are cleansers that can make the sprucing process a lot less labor-intensive.

You can clear the cutter of your cabinet by opting for a cleanser that works on a variety of surfaces and appliances. For example, affresh kitchen & appli-ance cleaner and stainless steel cleaner can be used on refrigerators, microwaves

and countertops, and won’t be too abrasive on finishes. And unlike ammonia or bleach-based cleaners, you can simply spray and wipe down without rinsing.

Renew the RefRigeRatoRIt’s easier to clean the

fridge with less in it, so prior to starting, throw out what’s old, pull out what stays and roll up your sleeves.

Clean door gaskets, racks and drawers with warm wa-ter and mild dish detergent. Don’t forget to clean under-neath the refrigerator and the vent of the appliance. Proper air flow provides better performance and optimum efficiency.

Once it’s all sparkly clean, admire your handiwork. Then put your food back inside before it spoils.

MaintainThe dishwasher cleans

dishes. What cleans the dishwasher? Don’t stress! Cleaning the dishwasher may be one of the easiest tasks on your checklist. Just run a normal wash cycle and add an easy-to-use tablet, such as affresh dishwasher cleaner, to the bottom of the tub to help clean and remove residue.

Likewise, you can clean your washing machine by running a normal cycle with hot water and a washer cleaner tablet. A formulated tablet designed to penetrate, dissolve and help remove odor-causing residue from the inside of the machine will give your washer and your clothes a fresh scent.

Don’t forget to check washer and dryer drains

and pipes for blockages – such as lint or the infamous missing sock – to improve optimum water and air flow. Clean the dryer’s outside exhaust to help shorten drying time and decrease energy use.

For more helpful cleaning tips, visit www.affresh.com. You’ll be out enjoying the spring weather in no time.

With the right techniques, you can make cleaning a cakewalk.

When it comes to your equipment needs, one name stands out from the rest. At Sidney Rental we offer a comprehensive selection of modern equipment and the professional service to ensure you get what you need, when you need it.

Spring home and gardenSIDNEY HERALD SuNDAY, ApRIL 21, 2013 5b

“Quality work at a fair price”• New Construction• Remodels and Additions• Siding, Decks, and Windows• 30 Years of Experience

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www.stockmanbank.com

Member FDICNMLS ID# 523498 © 2012 Stockman Bank

Consult a tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest. Subject of credit approval. Property insurance required.

What’s Your Next Big Dream...

Taking a Vacation, Buying a New Car,

Remodeling your Home?

make it a reality with a home equity line of credit.

Call Pam Burman today for all your consumer lending needs.

Sidney: 433-8600

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www.johnsonhardwareandfurniture.comHours: Mon.-Fri 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Grade “A” Kentucky Bluegrass

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COVER YOUR MUD WITH OUR TURFGRASS!Green Acres Sod Farm16057 32nd St NW, Fairview, MTPh: 701-744-5759Fax: 701-744-9083

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615 E. Main, Sidney • 482.3327 • An Independent Lennox Dealer Since 1966 • Dennis Marker 482-5281

Lifespan Closets – We all have that one spot!

A closet is a just place to store your “stuff” – right? But, how often does a trip to the closet turn into a 10 minute hunt to find that one pair of shoes that has ended up in a pile, at the bottom? Or, upon reaching to grab something off a shelf, have you found yourself covered in items that have come fall-ing down on top of you?

In the past, customized closets were considered a luxury; but now, they have become a major necessity! According to a recent article published in the New York Times, in the real estate market today, having an attractive, functional closet, or NOT, is playing a big part of the buying decision. Al-though, closets do not drive the sale; they certainly can tip the scales in a homeown-er’s favor. Many contractors,

homeowners and develop-ers, who have overlooked the importance of closets in the past, are quickly jumping on board. They recognize that bathrooms and kitchens will always be important features to a homeowner; but that the im-portance of well-designed, functional closets cannot be overlooked.

Conventional closet sys-tems, such as the permanent one shelf, one rod style, can-not be easily adapted to per-sonal needs as life changes. These closets, while serving basic needs, have little value in enhancing the home or its inhabitants’ lifestyle.

A modular closet system, like Lifespan Closets, that is adaptable to the chang-ing needs of your life, affords you the means of easily adding, upgrading and reconfiguring closet components, thereby adding

value, design, organization and ease to your home and lifestyle. With its appeal-ing flexibility, Lifespan’s modular systems can also transition into many areas of the home: pantries, laundry rooms, mudrooms, foyers, garages and can even make affordable, custom entertainment centers! With the design tools on its web-site, Lifespan Closets helps you to design your space with ease, in the comfort of your home or office, and even on-site at a “ground up” construction project or remodel.

But don’t take our word for it! You can try it and see for yourself at www.Lifes-panclosets.com – click “de-sign it” and begin! We know that you, your family, your clients and your tenants will appreciate the ease and enjoyment of having a well-designed, organized space.

We all have that one spot

StatePoint – If you’re building or remodeling your home, as more Ameri-cans are doing these days, consider a fresh approach to your lighting both inside and out.

“Lighting sets the mood for a space and illuminates daily activities, “says Jeff Dross, trends expert at Kichler, a manufacturer of decorative lighting, land-scape lighting and ceiling fans. “A good lighting de-sign will balance form and function for beauty, safety and convenience.”

To maximize the appear-ance and functionality of your rooms and outdoor spaces, there are several things you should know before getting started:

• Style: Consider your taste and how your light-ing will interact with your décor and architecture. Is your style contemporary, traditional or transitional?

If you have heavily orna-mented furniture, wallpaper or window dressings, con-sider lighting that’s cleaner and simpler for a balanced contrast.

“The trend today is cleaner and simpler designs, regardless of your style preference,” says Dross. “Keep it simple.”

Finish: Today’s most pop-

ular fixtures feature lighter colors like polished nickel or chrome, and textured or distressed finishes such as aged bronze.

Layers: Multiple light sources can minimize glare and shadows, while adding depth and dimension, so layer spaces with ambient (overhead), task and accent lighting. Ceiling fans are a favorite source of ambient lighting for a great room or family room.

• Functionality: Think about how you plan to use each space you’re light-ing. For example, if your dining room serves more as a homework and hobby sta-tion than a formal place to gather, you`ll want to install a maximum amount of light. If you entertain there, be sure to install a dimmer.

Take advantage of the experience and expertise of a designer, contractor or lighting professional to help you determine how your lighting can accommodate your daily life.

• Dimensions: Pick ap-propriately sized lighting fixtures for the size of your rooms. A good rule of thumb for chandeliers is to add the two dimensions of your room to arrive at a minimum diameter. So a 12x12 room should have

a fixture with a minimum diameter of 24 inches and be no larger than the width of the dining room table.

• Energy-efficiency: Con-sider new lighting technolo-gies such as LED lighting, which can save you money on electric bills.

• Wiring: Know where the outlets and electrical boxes are. This is especially important for new construc-tion or large remodeling jobs.

• Sunlight: Natural light plays a large role in the type of lighting you need. Look at where the windows are and how much light they let in. Pay attention to plants or trees that may partially block the sun’s rays.

It’s important to consider both daytime and nighttime lighting when choosing lighting.

• Accents: Light the cove, add sconces and fill the tray ceiling with light. Accent lighting is the jewelry of the home and can make a huge difference to your home’s appeal. For more lighting ideas, visit www.Kichler.com.

If you haven’t given light-ing careful consideration in the past, now is the perfect opportunity – whether you’re remodeling or build-ing your home.

Simple lighting ideas when remodeling, building homes

Gurney Electric, Inc.115 N. Central Ave., Sidney • 482-3204

Commercial and Residential

• Decorative Lighting

• Supplies• Equipment

• ElectricalContracting

• Installation & Repair

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Spring home and garden6b Sunday, april 21, 2013 Sidney Herald

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402 3rd Ave. NE, Sidney406.433.4044

Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Turn your dream kitchen into reality!

1521 S. Central, SidneyM-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • 433-3735

Spread the colors of spring!From grass green and pale blue to cheery yellow and vivid orange, your can find all the beautiful colors of spring in Pratt & Lambert® paints.

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100 14th St. SE, Sidney • 433-2012 • 1-800-236-5787Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

www.probuild.com

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$100 OFFON PURCHASE OF ANY DeWALT

18V XRP™ OR 20V MAX* 3.0 Ah TOOL KIT

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The

PAINT PROS

Expanded paint department specialising in computerized paint matching.

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Con’s Crew ready to serveLeft to right:

Con Donvan, richard haraldson, Matt Donvan,Michael Donvan, Megan Johnston,Josh Laroche& William Breitling

Lawn Weed & Feed • Weed Control • Bare Ground Weed Control • Schedule your summer spray now! Free Estimates Serving MT & ND • 406-488-7422

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Con’sweed

ControlserviCe

StatePoint – Cooking from the garden is not like cook-ing from the store. There’s nothing more tasty, nutri-tious and satisfying than fresh, homemade meals made from the fruits, veg-etables and herbs you grew yourself.

Experts say that even with modest amounts of time and space, you can grow an or-ganic garden plot that feeds your family all year long.

“The simplest methods of gardening work best,” says Barbara Damrosch, organic gardening expert and co–author of the new book, “The Four Season Farm Gardener’s Cookbook,” which serves as both a garden guide and a health-ful cookbook. “There is very little you can’t accomplish in the garden if you trust the systems that are already in place.”

Damrosch and co-author Eliot Coleman contend that organic vegetable gardening is not only healthful for you and your family, but is also good for the planet and can make a serious dent in your food expenses.

They are offering these great tips to anyone looking to grow and cook their own food:

• When choosing which plants to grow, consider how

much space you have. Salad crops, for example, give you the most variety in a garden of limited size. Consider pri-oritizing crops whose flavor is most notably lacking in supermarket varieties, such as tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers and melons.

• It helps to get to know different plants on a family basis. Family groupings are very important in planning how to rotate the crops in your garden from year to year, and much of the techniques that work for one vegetable, apply equally well to its cousins.

• Don’t let weeds get ahead of you. Once they’ve gained the upper hand, getting rid

of them can seem almost impossible. The ideal time to control weeds is when they are tiny, right after they first appear. Take the extra time to plant in straight lines, which can help with weed control.

• Veteran gardeners tend to be supportive resources to newcomers. Let friends with green thumbs share their enthusiasm and expertise with you. Or get involved in an organic com-munity garden, where there is no shortage of experi-enced gardeners to consult.

• Pass up the modern habit of eating any crop, any time of year by letting your garden feed you. Fruits and vegetables that come from halfway around the world were often harvested far too early and can have a disappointing, bland taste. By planning meals from your garden, you’ll become a more creative, improvisa-tional cook.

More gardening tips can be found at www.fourseason-farm.com.

Eating is one of the most important things we do, so don’t just settle for what the supermarket has to offer. Gardening can revolution-ize the way you eat, and help you take greater control of your family’s nutrition.

StatePoint – It doesn’t matter if you’re a gardening novice trying to supplement your dinner table with some home-grown veggies or an entrepreneur that earns a living off the land, com-posting is a simple way to go green and help save the environment.

You don’t have to be an en-vironmentalist to compost, either. Compost, which is or-ganic matter that has been decomposed and recycled and used for fertilizing soil, is great for your garden and will help reduce landfill waste. In addition, compost-ing in your home garden will help you save money.

“Using compost means your garden will be more cost-effective because you will have to spend less on fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides for a given har-vest of any crop,” says Brett L. Markham, author of “The Mini Farming Guide to Composting,” the latest in his Mini Farming book series.

Across the country people are embracing the concept of self-sufficiency and pre-paredness, “mini farming” anywhere, from rooftop urban gardens to suburban backyards to larger land plots. Growing food is easier than ever and composting is a huge part of this move-ment.

Markham, who also has written the bestselling “Mini Farming: Self-Suffi-ciency on 1/4 Acre” as well

as mini farming guides to fermenting and vegetable gardening, offers these gar-dening tips to get started on composting:

• Composting is a natural form of recycling, so use food waste, grass clippings, coffee grounds and even paper as compost. Just be sure to shred the paper first to speed up the process.

• Start your compost pile in a convenient spot, and make sure it is semi-shaded and well-drained.

• Add bulking agents such as wood chips to ac-celerate the breakdown of organic materials, allow-ing the finished material to fully stabilize and mature through a curing process. Add leaves, straw or hay along with grass clippings or green manures for plenty of bulk.

Each layer should be no more than two inches so that the grass clippings or leaves don’t get matted down to form a layer imper-meable to air.

• Keep the compost moist.

Either water it yourself or let rain take care of it. The compost should be moist, but not soaked.

• Cover the compost pile to help retain moisture and heat. This will also help pre-vent the compost from being over-watered by the rain.

• Turn the compost pile with a shovel or a fork to aerate the pile. It is impor-tant to water the pile as you turn it as well. Turning the pile adds oxygen to the compost which is necessary to get the most out of your pile.

• Once you add the com-post to your garden, you’ll be ready to start planting in two to five weeks!

You can learn more about composting, mini farming, and self-sufficiency at www.MarkhamFarm.com/main-site.

Composting is the first easy step to helping the environment while growing your own food. So make the most out of your garden, and start digging!

Grow what you eat, cook what you grow

Start composting your garden