#organic redwood mulch

[clarysjace]

Backyard in Orange County

Design ideas for a large transitional full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping.

[fyeahimanengineer]

Transitional Landscape - Landscape Inspiration for a sizable transitional garden path made of concrete pavers on the yard's sunny side.

[gardeningwithjack]

Building a Raised Flowerbed: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome back! 🌿

Today, we're diving into a fun and rewarding DIY project: building a raised flowerbed. Raised flowerbeds are an excellent way to enhance your garden's beauty, improve soil drainage, and make gardening easier on your back. Whether you're a novice or an experienced gardener, this guide will walk you through the process of building your own raised flowerbed.

Why Choose a Raised Flowerbed?

Improved Soil Quality: You have complete control over the soil composition, ensuring your flowers get the nutrients they need.

Better Drainage: Raised beds drain more efficiently, preventing waterlogged roots.

Ease of Access: Elevated beds reduce the need to bend over, making gardening more comfortable.

Extended Growing Season: The soil in raised beds warms up faster in the spring and stays warm longer in the fall.

Materials You’ll Need

Wood: Cedar or redwood are great choices because they are naturally rot-resistant. You'll need boards that are at least 2 inches thick.

Screws or Nails: Galvanized to resist rust.

Drill or Hammer: Depending on your fastening choice.

Measuring Tape: For precise measurements.

Level: To ensure your bed is even.

Soil: A good mix of topsoil, compost, and other organic matter.

Landscaping Fabric (optional): To prevent weeds from growing up into your bed.

Mulch (optional): For top dressing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Choose the Location

Select a sunny spot in your garden. Most flowers need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Ensure the area is relatively flat and has good drainage.

Step 2: Measure and Mark

Decide on the size of your flowerbed. A common size is 4 feet by 8 feet, which allows easy access from all sides. Use stakes and string to mark the perimeter of your bed.

Step 3: Prepare the Ground

Clear the marked area of grass and weeds. If you’re using landscaping fabric, lay it down now to help prevent weeds from growing into your bed.

Step 4: Cut the Wood

Cut your wood to the desired lengths. For a 4x8 bed, you’ll need two 8-foot pieces and two 4-foot pieces.

Step 5: Assemble the Frame

Using your screws or nails, attach the wood pieces to form a rectangle. Make sure to use a level to keep everything even. You may need to add stakes inside the corners for extra support.

Step 6: Position the Frame

Place your assembled frame in the prepared area. Ensure it’s level and adjust as necessary.

Step 7: Fill with Soil

Fill the bed with your soil mix. A good ratio is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% other organic matter like peat moss or vermiculite. Fill to about an inch below the top of the frame.

Step 8: Plant Your Flowers

Now comes the fun part—planting! Choose a variety of flowers that suit your garden’s conditions. Make sure to follow planting guidelines for spacing and depth.

Step 9: Water and Mulch

Water your new flowerbed thoroughly. Add a layer of mulch on top of the soil to help retain moisture and reduce weeds.

Maintenance Tips

Regular Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Weeding: Keep an eye out for weeds and remove them promptly.

Fertilizing: Depending on your plants, you may need to fertilize periodically. Choose an appropriate fertilizer for your flowers.

Pruning and Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms and keep your plants looking their best.

Enjoy Your New Flowerbed!

Congratulations! You've successfully built a raised flowerbed. This new addition to your garden will provide a stunning display of blooms and bring you joy throughout the growing season. Happy gardening!

[lastdayof-summer]

How to Build Planter Raised Beds: A Step-by-Step Guide?

Building planter raised beds can be a rewarding project that adds both beauty and functionality to your garden. You'll need lumber for the frame, screws or nails, a saw, a drill, a level, weed barrier fabric, and soil. Select a sunny spot with good drainage for your raised bed. Decide how large you want your raised bed to be, keeping in mind the reach of your arms for easy maintenance. Cut the lumber to the desired lengths for the sides of the raised bed. Common dimensions are 4x4 or 2x6 boards. Use the cut lumber to assemble the frame of the raised bed. Use screws or nails to secure the corners. Use a level to ensure the raised bed is even. Remove any grass or weeds from the area where the raised bed will be placed. Line the bottom of the raised bed with weed barrier fabric to prevent weeds from growing up into the bed.

Benefits of Planter Raised Beds

Planter raised beds offer several advantages over traditional in-ground gardening. Firstly, they provide better soil drainage, which is crucial for preventing waterlogging and root rot. Secondly, they allow for easier weed control, as the elevated height makes it harder for weeds to take root. Additionally, planter raised beds offer better soil quality, as you can fill them with high-quality, nutrient-rich soil. Lastly, they are easier to maintain, as they require less bending and stooping, making gardening more accessible for people with mobility issues.

Choosing the Right Materials for Planter Raised Beds

When it comes to choosing materials for planter raised beds, there are several options to consider. Wood is a popular choice due to its natural look and affordability. Cedar and redwood are excellent choices for wooden raised beds, as they are naturally resistant to rot and decay. Another option is metal, such as galvanized steel, which is durable and long-lasting. Plastic is also a viable option, as it is lightweight and easy to clean. Ultimately, the choice of material will depend on your budget, aesthetic preferences, and durability requirements.

Design Tips for Planter Raised Beds

When designing planter raised beds, consider the layout of your garden and the plants you intend to grow. Make sure to leave enough space between the beds for easy access and maintenance. You can also incorporate features like trellises or arches for climbing plants. Additionally, consider the height of your raised beds, as taller beds can provide more planting space and easier access for harvesting.

Planting and Maintenance of Planter Raised Beds

Planting in planter raised beds is similar to planting in-ground gardens, but with some key differences. Make sure to use high-quality soil and amend it with compost or other organic matter to improve fertility. When it comes to maintenance, regular watering is essential, especially during hot weather. You should also regularly check for pests and diseases and take appropriate measures to control them.

Best Plants for Planter Raised Beds

Planter raised beds are ideal for growing a wide range of plants, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and even small fruits. Some popular choices for vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and cucumbers. Herbs like basil, mint, and parsley also thrive in raised beds. For flowers, consider marigolds, petunias, and zinnias. Small fruits like strawberries and blueberries can also be grown successfully in planter raised beds.

Seasonal Care for Planter Raised Beds

Proper seasonal care is essential for the health and productivity of your planter raised beds. In the spring, prepare your beds by adding compost and other organic matter. Plant your crops according to the recommended planting times for your area. During the growing season, monitor your plants for signs of pests and diseases, and take prompt action if necessary. In the fall, clean up your beds and prepare them for winter by adding a layer of mulch to protect the soil and plants from frost.

Maximizing Yield in Planter Raised Beds

To maximize yield in your planter raised beds, consider companion planting, which involves planting compatible crops together to benefit each other. You can also use vertical gardening techniques, such as trellises and cages, to make the most of limited space. Additionally, practice crop rotation to prevent nutrient depletion and reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Finally, make sure to provide adequate water, sunlight, and nutrients to your plants to ensure healthy growth and abundant harvests.

Conclusion

In conclusion, planter raised beds can be a rewarding and beneficial project for any gardener. By following the step-by-step guide provided, you can create a durable and functional raised bed that enhances your gardening experience. From selecting the materials and preparing the site to constructing the bed and filling it with soil, each step plays a crucial role in the success of your raised bed.

[vegogarden1]

Managing Drainage in Raised Bed Planters

Managing drainage in raised bed planters is crucial for the health and success of your plants. Here are some tips and tricks to help you ensure proper drainage. Start with a well-draining soil mix specifically formulated for raised bed gardening. Avoid using heavy clay soils as they can lead to poor drainage. Incorporate compost or other organic matter into the soil mix to improve drainage and soil structure. This helps create air pockets in the soil, allowing excess water to drain more efficiently. Place a layer of coarse gravel or small rocks at the bottom of the raised bed before adding soil. This layer helps prevent soil compaction and allows water to drain freely.

Advantages of Planter Raised Beds for Gardening

Discover the numerous benefits that planter raised beds offer for gardening enthusiasts. These elevated structures provide optimal soil drainage, preventing waterlogging and root rot, especially in areas with heavy rainfall. Furthermore, their raised design minimizes the risk of soil compaction, ensuring healthy root development and improved plant growth. With better accessibility, planter raised beds.

Designing and Constructing Planter Raised Beds: Tips and Techniques

Embark on the journey of designing and constructing your own planter raised beds with expert tips and techniques. From selecting suitable materials such as wood, composite, or stone, to determining the dimensions and layout, careful planning is essential for a successful project. Consider factors like sunlight exposure, drainage, and accessibility when designing your raised beds.

Planting and Maintenance of Planter Raised Beds

Unlock the potential of planter raised beds by selecting the perfect plants for your garden. Whether you prefer vegetables, flowers, or herbs, certain species thrive in the controlled environment provided by raised beds. Consider factors like sunlight requirements, soil type, and spacing when choosing plants for your raised beds. Additionally, explore companion planting strategies to maximize yield and deter pests naturally.

Maintenance Tips for Planter Raised Beds: Ensuring Longevity and Productivity

Maintain the health and productivity of your planter raised beds with essential maintenance tips. Regular tasks such as watering, weeding, and fertilizing are crucial for supporting plant growth and preventing pest infestations. Monitor soil moisture levels and adjust watering frequency accordingly, especially during hot weather. Additionally, inspect your raised beds for signs of pests or diseases, and take prompt action to mitigate any issues.

Seasonal Care and Planting in Planter Raised Beds

Optimize your gardening efforts throughout the year with seasonal care and planting tips for planter raised beds. Plan your planting schedule according to the local climate and frost dates, staggering crops for continuous harvests. Rotate crops annually to prevent nutrient depletion and reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases. During colder months, consider using row covers or cold frames to extend the growing season.

Creative Ideas for Enhancing Planter Raised Beds: Aesthetic and Functional Upgrades

Elevate the visual appeal and functionality of your planter raised beds with creative enhancements and design ideas. Incorporate trellises or arbors to support climbing plants like tomatoes or cucumbers, maximizing space and yield. Add decorative elements such as edging, mulch, or ornamental plants to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden beds.

Planning and Designing Your Planter Raised Beds

Determine the size and shape of your raised beds based on the available space and your gardening needs. Rectangular or square beds are common, but you can also opt for circular or irregular shapes for aesthetic appeal. Select appropriate materials for constructing your raised beds. Common options include wood (cedar, redwood, or treated lumber), concrete blocks, bricks, or composite materials.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing drainage in raised bed planters is a crucial aspect of successful gardening, as it directly impacts the health and productivity of plants. By implementing the tips and tricks outlined in this guide, gardeners can ensure optimal drainage conditions that promote robust root growth, prevent waterlogging, and minimize the risk of root rot and other water-related issues.

[quickblockblog]

How to Choose the Right Material for Raised Beds?

A Raised bed offers numerous benefits for gardening enthusiasts, from improved drainage to easier maintenance. However, choosing a suitable material for your raised beds is essential to ensure their longevity and sustainability.

In this blog, we will explore the factors to consider when selecting materials while helping you understand the importance of sustainable building and construction practices.

1. Wood.

Wood is popular for raised beds due to its versatility and natural aesthetics. However, selecting a type of wood resistant to rot and decay is crucial, such as cedar or redwood. These hardwoods are naturally durable and can withstand outdoor conditions for an extended period. Moreover, using sustainably sourced wood promotes eco-friendly practices and supports responsible forestry management.

2. Composite materials.

Composite materials, such as recycled plastic or composite lumber, offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood. These materials are made from a combination of recycled plastics and wood fibers, providing the strength and durability of wood while reducing environmental impact. Composite materials are resistant to rot, insect damage, and warping, making them a long-lasting and sustainable construction option.

3. Metal.

Metal, mainly galvanized steel or aluminium, is another option for a raised bed. Metal beds are durable, easy to assemble, low-maintenance, resistant to rot, pests, and weathering. They are also. However, it is essential to ensure the metal used is free from toxic coatings or chemicals that could leach into the soil. Opting for galvanized steel or aluminium provides a safe and long-lasting raised bed solution.

4. Concrete blocks.

Concrete blocks provide a sturdy and long-lasting material option. They resist rot, pests, and weathering and offer excellent stability for larger raised bed structures. Concrete blocks can be stacked to create varying heights and shapes, allowing customized designs. Choosing concrete blocks made from sustainable building material sources and without harmful additives is essential.

5. Stone or brick.

Stone or brick materials add a classic and timeless appeal to raised beds. These natural materials offer durability and can withstand the elements. Stone or brick beds require professional installation to ensure proper stability and drainage. It is advisable to source locally quarried stone or reclaimed bricks to minimize environmental impact and support sustainable practices.

6. Sustainable building practices.

When choosing materials for constructing a raised bed, it is essential to consider sustainable building practices. Opting for environmentally friendly materials sourced sustainably and have a long lifespan reduces waste and promotes eco-conscious gardening. Additionally, using materials that can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their life further contributes to sustainability efforts.

7. Soil considerations.

Apart from selecting a suitable material, it is crucial to consider soil quality in your raised beds. Incorporating organic matter, such as compost and mulch, improves soil fertility and promotes healthy plant growth. Additionally, practicing sustainable construction techniques, such as companion planting and water conservation, enhances the overall sustainability of your raised bed garden.

8. Cost considerations.

When choosing suitable materials for raised beds, it is essential to consider the cost implications. Different materials have varying prices, and your budget may influence your decision. While some materials may initially have a higher upfront cost, they may provide long-term savings due to their durability and longevity. It's essential to balance price and quality, ensuring that the chosen material fits your budget while meeting your desired sustainability and functionality requirements.

Conclusion.

Choosing the suitable material for your raised beds is vital for their longevity, functionality, and sustainability. Whether you opt for wood, composite materials, metal, concrete blocks, or stone/brick, considering factors like durability, resistance to rot and pests, and sustainability is the key.

Quickblock offers a variety of eco-friendly and sustainable material options that can help you create a fantastic raised bed for your garden, porch, or backyard. Sustainable building practices and eco-friendly materials can help you build raised beds that contribute to a healthier environment while providing an optimal growing environment for your plants.

[roofingspecialist]

Exploring Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials for Sustainable Construction

As the world becomes more conscious of environmental issues, sustainable construction practices are gaining prominence. One crucial aspect of sustainable construction is the choice of roofing materials. Eco-friendly roofing materials offer numerous benefits, including energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and long-term cost savings. In this article, we will explore some of the top eco-friendly roofing materials available today, along with their advantages and considerations.

Metal Roofing: Metal roofing is a popular choice for eco-conscious builders. It is typically made from recycled materials, such as aluminum or steel, and can be recycled again at the end of its lifespan. Metal roofs are highly durable, with a lifespan of 50 years or more, reducing the need for frequent replacements. They are also energy-efficient, reflecting sunlight and reducing heat absorption, which helps lower cooling costs. Additionally, metal roofs are resistant to fire, mildew, and insects, further enhancing their sustainability and longevity.

Clay and Concrete Tiles: Clay and concrete tiles have been used for centuries and are known for their durability and aesthetic appeal. These roofing materials are made from abundant natural resources and are recyclable. They have a long lifespan, typically lasting over 50 years. Clay and concrete tiles offer excellent thermal performance, providing insulation that helps regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy consumption. They are also resistant to fire, rot, and insect damage, making them a sustainable choice for roofing.

Wood Shingles and Shakes: Wood shingles and shakes are made from sustainably harvested wood, such as cedar or redwood. These roofing materials have a natural, rustic appearance that enhances the aesthetic appeal of a building. Wood shingles and shakes are biodegradable and can be recycled or used as mulch at the end of their lifespan. They provide natural insulation, helping to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling. However, it’s important to choose wood products certified by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure responsible sourcing.

Recycled Synthetic Shingles: Recycled synthetic shingles are made from a combination of recycled plastic and rubber materials. They mimic the appearance of traditional roofing materials such as slate or wood, offering a sustainable alternative. Recycled synthetic shingles are lightweight, durable, and resistant to extreme weather conditions. They have a long lifespan and can be recycled at the end of their use. By using recycled materials, these shingles help reduce waste and promote a circular economy.

Living Roofs (Green Roofs): Living roofs, also known as green roofs, are gaining popularity for their environmental benefits. These roofs are covered with vegetation, creating a layer of plants that provide insulation, absorb rainwater, and reduce the heat island effect. Living roofs improve air quality, promote biodiversity, and reduce stormwater runoff. They also enhance the aesthetic appeal of a building and provide natural habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife. However, living roofs require careful design, proper structural support, and ongoing maintenance.

Considerations: When exploring eco-friendly roofing materials, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

a. Climate and Region: Different roofing materials perform differently in various climates. Consider the local climate, weather patterns, and the specific needs of your region when selecting an eco-friendly roofing material. Some materials may be better suited for hot climates, while others are more resistant to extreme cold or high winds.

b. Cost: Eco-friendly roofing materials can have a higher upfront cost compared to traditional options. However, it’s important to consider the long-term cost savings, energy efficiency, and durability of these materials. They may result in lower energy bills, reduced maintenance expenses, and increased property value over time.

c. Maintenance and Installation: Each roofing material has specific maintenance requirements and installation considerations.

[cortensteeltube]

The Benefits Of Raised Corten Garden Beds

Raised beds are often more productive than beds in the ground because the soil is less compacted, has better drainage, and warms earlier in the spring, meaning that plants will start to grow earlier in the season

Benefits Of Using Raised Garden Beds

If you’re thinking about using raised garden beds this season, but aren’t sure if they’re right for you, read on to find out why raised garden beds are beneficial.

Raised beds warm up faster in spring, so you can plant earlier. And because the soil is loose, plants grow better: their roots get plenty of oxygen and water. There are no footpaths in your garden, so there is no soil compaction (so you can kneel without fear!).

It is also much better to drain. You will have more control over the quality of your soil too: it’s easier to amend it with compost and/or manure every year if your bed is wide enough.

Raised beds can be shaped into attractive shapes to fit around trees or playground equipment, or to hide things like air conditioners and utility metres-or even an ugly fence! Combined with benches and trellises, they’re great for landscaping.

Raised beds make it easier to apply fertiliser (organic or chemical) and water evenly.

Managing weeds in raised beds is easier. There is more surface area for mulch, which will help keep out weeds. You also have less ground space for weeds to grow, so there are fewer weed seeds to germinate.

To prevent weed seeds from growing in your garden bed, weed control fabric can be applied before soil is added.

Raised garden beds provide warmer soil earlier in the spring, which means your plants will benefit from warmer soil earlier than if they were planted in the ground.You’ll also experience warmer soil for longer in your growing season.

Raised Garden Beds Are Easier To Tend

Another big advantage of raised garden beds is that they are much easier to tend, whether you’re in your 20s or 80s. There is no bending or crouching necessary to weed, water, plant, and harvest veggies.

And if you go with a waist-high bed (or even higher), then the task becomes that much easier.

If you’re watering by hand, you can use a watering can when it’s time for a drink. Or for an easy way to keep plants hydrated (and conserve water at the same time), try using a soaker hose system attached to a timer from your outdoor spigot.

You may also choose to lay mulch in the paths between beds and around plants once they’ve sprouted up — this will be much easier on your knees than kneeling down in between rows of plants and working on hands and knees!

If you struggle with growing in your yard due to a higher clay composition in your soil, raised garden beds could help!

While your yard’s soil may not be ideal for gardening, using a raised garden bed with soil put in can be the answer to your problems.

What type of material is best for raised garden beds?

Cedar and redwood are the best woods to use for raised garden beds. Both are very durable, beautiful, and naturally resistant to moisture, rot, and even termites. Depending on where you live, each can cost significantly different.

Click here  to know more about is Article: https://cortensteeltube.com/the-benefits-of-raised-corten-garden-beds/ 

#Cortensteel #CortenSteelSheets #CortenSteelPlates #design #architecture #interiordesign #steel #gardendesign #rust #sculpture #metal #welding

[pareidolon]

Burning Scalp, part 2 of 3.

Keep Reading for full text.

BURNING SCALP ~ HEAVEN ~

IV. Decorum I look upon a street named sacrifice. Pride feeds from here, but honor fades away With nameplates bent and rails crumbling by To gravel stuck into mud where it lay. Yet modern tyrants thrive as granite heads Erected in the square on plain display To tower on us and assign the dead Whose prescribed roles pay service in decay. If seethed, you stumble on euphoria And beat your plowshare back to deadly dress; Consign yourself, recite memoria To humane loyalty you had possessed.  And if you must inscribe my lineage,  I harm none to resist that sacrilege, my iron crest.

V. Tower O nature and lo, truths of life revealed That we may understand this grand machine! Each creature has evolved to fill its field, Each thought, each mountain tested just to be. Remains of useless organs carry on, The genes of long-dead microbes in my flesh, The light of broken stars exalts till dawn, May even we, through some unknown stay fresh. When searing summer lands and fires arise The redwood bears so many seeds but few, As self-abolished cynics recognized, Take root beneath the mulch and puncture through The chaff of trials concluded with err borne. And so I offer my defeat to you, my bronzen lords.

VI. Sundays I am the body that you may behold. As I unravel, trunk to organelle, We age as one, my muscle, mind, and soul; My ivory idols grow young, vibrant, shrill. My past is seconds, yet my future hours Of watching as my wits corrupt my means. Stand firmly, my regrets of wasted power, My hospice for abused autonomy. When life both nurtured and unhindered lays Foundations in recurring misery, I dream I feel the pain throughout my days Of waking from a still eternity. But here I lie, eternity unseen, And here imagine stillness in my need.

The muscle shrivels young unused, but shrivels old used most; The scar binds up the fatal wound, but hinders real regrowth; Wherefore I pose this question you, my beauteous marble host.

[your-dietician]

Summer dreams dry up on the Russian River, a paradise whipsawed by drought, flood and fire

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/latest/summer-dreams-dry-up-on-the-russian-river-a-paradise-whipsawed-by-drought-flood-and-fire/

Summer dreams dry up on the Russian River, a paradise whipsawed by drought, flood and fire

The Russian River, just north of drought-stricken Lake Mendocino in Ukiah, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

If there was any respite to be found, it was here on the Russian River.

A river otter popped up next to Larry Laba’s inflatable canoe, then dived down with a plop. A yellow swallowtail butterfly, big as a hand, fluttered past.

Yet everywhere were signs of the West’s ever-intensifying drought, with the Russian River taking the early hit.

Laba, the owner of Russian River Adventures, who had paddled this river hundreds of times over 20 years, made note of unfamiliar things that made him uneasy.

Larry Laba, owner of Russian River Adventures, paddles down the Russian River in Healdsburg, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The river was at a historic low. A hot wind blew through the canyon, when summer breezes here are usually gentle and cool. The leaves of the cottonwood trees made a brittle, crackling sound. The same trees, way up high, had cracked branches from a devastating flood in 2019.

Just below the water’s surface, Laba noted colonies of an algae he’d never seen. Then there was his worry over algae he couldn’t yet see. In 2015, during a terrible drought, his dog Indy — whom he described as a dumb, happy-go-lucky retriever no one could resist — died of a seizure on the river. The next week, a 2-year old golden retriever died on one of the trips run by Laba’s company. This time officials pinpointed the cause as a fast-acting neurotoxin from blue-green algae. The algae occurs naturally, but when temperatures rise and water is warm and stagnant, it blooms and releases poisons.

The Russian River area holds a panoply of California treasures: majestic redwoods, ocean mists, summer sun, famed wineries, breweries and a casual, come-as-you-are culture that mixes high-brow with hippie and a bit of barn party.

Receding water levels forced a closure of the north boat ramp at Lake Mendocino in Ukiah, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

It also sits at the center of climate-related disasters. After the drought, which ended in 2017, came fires that burned across eight Northern California counties, killing 23 people. In late February 2019, at the tail end of the wet season, rain pelted down without halt. Some of the area’s mountains saw 400% more than the average amount of rain for the month. The river flooded, cresting at 45-feet, the highest in more than two decades. The river valley towns of Guerneville and Monte Rio became islands, with automobile parts and pieces of buildings floating past. Restaurants that sat on cliffs 30 feet above the river were under water.

Story continues

In August 2020, walls of fire surrounded those same towns as more than 12,000 residents evacuated through smoke and ash. Vineyards burned and beloved cabins turned to tinder. Up and down the West Coast, fires raged, sparked by a combination of extreme heat and a lightning siege. For weeks, this valley — which usually has air so fresh that you can taste the ocean — registered some of the worst air quality in the world.

Laba said he avoids thinking about what all of it — drought, fires, floods, lightning sieges, heat waves — means.

Merganser ducks on the Russian River in Healdsburg, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

“Look, I can’t go there,” said the 69-year old. “I’m not a worrier. I can’t lay awake at night thinking about climate change. I look around and if there is something I can do —even if I know it won’t make that much of a difference — I do it.”

He spotted tall stalks of scarlet wisteria on the banks, flashing their bright flowers. He beached the canoe.

“They’re huge water-suckers. They’re invasive,” he said, trying to pull up a plant that showed no signs of budging. But Laba pulled and strained until it came up by the roots and couldn’t produce pods to scatter seeds.

Michele Wimborough, left, owner of Hazel restaurant in Occidental, Calif., chats with guests Rahna Schiff, right, and Keith Holamon. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

That evening, farther down river, in the small community of Occidental, off Bohemian Highway, Michele Wimborough stepped outside of a cozy restaurant that was as much a dream as a business.

She and her chef-husband Jim, former Bay Area residents, had searched for years for just the right small town where they wanted to live and raise their son. They opened Hazel, named after Jim’s grandmother, in 2015.

This night was one of their first with in-house dining since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restaurant was packed. Earlier, Wimborough had wondered if she’d miss when it was just her family inside, alone, making to-go meals. But she had found herself laughing and happy to be in a crowd.

Now, after the dinner rush, she stood outside, tipped up her face and breathed in a cool mist that was slowly enveloping the town.

Part of the reason was that it gets hot running around a restaurant, but the other was that such moisture was becoming rare.

A canoe floats past an exposed gravel bar, right, on the Russian River in Healdsburg, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

She had been caught off guard by notices pleading with residents to cut water use by 20% to 40% and the news of an emergency water regulation that cut river water rights for up to 2,300 wineries and farms. The restrictions were aimed at keeping the Lake Mendocino reservoir from going dry before summer’s end. Similar cuts are expected soon in California’s other watersheds.

While she was preoccupied with COVID-19, the drought had sneaked up on her.

“I feel like so much has happened that I can’t keep track of it all,” she said.

Just in her tight circle of friends, five families had moved away, people who had planned to stay forever, driven out by fear of disaster.

Wimborough said that by nature she is anxious. But that had changed over the last five years. Now, she steadfastly clings to a stubborn optimism.

Joseph Lustenberger, 15, jumps off a railroad bridge footing into the Russian River in Healdsburg, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

“I definitely believe in climate change. But I concentrate on ‘We’re going to keep going and it’s going to be OK’ — until it’s not,” she said.

“I love it here and this is a beautiful moment and I’m grateful we were safe for one more day.”

The Russian River begins in the mountains north of Ukiah in Mendocino County and cuts a winding path to the Pacific Ocean. The Pomo Indians once trapped salmon in its pools, before water was diverted. The river gets its modern name from Russian Ivan Kuskov of the Russian-American Company, who explored it in the early 19th century and founded Ft. Ross. It was the Russians who first planted grapes in the wine region.

Outside of Sebastopol, not far from the sea but worlds away from bustle, or even cell service, Eric Susswell, owner of Radio-Coteau, makes wines that he said are meant to capture place and a particular moment in time.

Land once underwater is exposed by receding water levels on Lake Sonoma in Geyserville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

His water comes from domestic wells, not river allocations or a municipality, but the drought gripping this land of red barns, grapevines, goats and sunflowers will still be in this year’s vintage — if they can get the grapes to harvest. Last year Radio Cocteau barely got the crop in before smoke damage. Many other wineries lost their grapes.

Radio-Coteau’s vineyard is one of the few Demeter-certified estates in the U.S., meaning it meets a set standard for a bio-diverse organic farm. That includes methods such as mulching, no-till farming and monitoring moisture to improve soil — something akin to the farming version of holistic healthcare.

Sussman, who studied organic viticulture at Cornell and trained in France, said he considers his farm a living organism in its entirety, plants that become resilient with a good root system.

The water level has been steadily receding at Lake Sonoma in Geyserville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

“There is an intelligence in their ability to adapt,” he said. “It gives me some sense of hope.”

Some vines on his property date to 1945. Sussman said they sustain his faith that seasons will pass and the vineyards will continue.

“I’m not blasé about climate change,” he said. “But I’m not watching all of this from high above. I’m down on the ground right in the thick of it, day by day making decisions about sustainability.”

Nine miles south of Healdsburg, another group of pleasure seekers had paddled down the river.

Beachgoers enjoy the cool water at Monte Rio Beach on the Russian River in Monte Rio, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Mathew Knobel, 19, who works for Laba, was waiting to greet them at the end of their trip with hoots and hollers.

He tried to be supportive when they were visibly stunned by how low the river was, how there were spots where they had to get out of their boats and walk.

“People get really emotional when they see it for themselves,” Knobel said. “It’s almost shock and awe.”

It’s not a reaction he shares.

“To be very honest, in my lifetime, I haven’t been able to experience anything different,” he said. “I’m 19. By the time I was old enough to have a consciousness about climate change, it was here.

“It’s not that I’m not concerned,” he added.

“But to me, drought, fires and floods are what’s normal.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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[jodybouchard9]

What Is Mulch? A Homeowner’s Guide to Groundcover

Singkham/iStock

If you’ve been wondering, “What is mulch?” as you wander your local garden center in a state of confusion, we’re here to help. Those enormous bags lining the aisles aren’t just tripping hazards—they’re also well-calibrated mixtures designed to protect and enrich your plants and and boost your curb appeal with minimal effort. Here’s the lowdown on all things mulch, including types of mulch, how much mulch you need, and more.

Get ready to pamper your plantings!

What is mulch made of, anyway?

Photo by Huettl Landscape Architecture

“At its most basic level, mulch is a spreadable way to cover soil around shrubs and flower beds,” says Sam Souhrada, maintenance division manager at FormLA Landscaping. Among the many types are wood chips and shredded bark (cedar, redwood, pine, juniper, spruce, yew), grass clippings, composted manure, rocks, pebbles, nut hulls—and even sea shells or newspaper.

The mulch materials you need also depend on the zone you live in, notes Craig Jenkins-Sutton, president and co-founder of Topiarius. “In Chicago, which is Zone 6, hardwood works well, including alder, balsa, beech, hickory, oak, teak, or walnut,” he says.

What does mulch do?

Photo by Johnson Creek Landscaping

Mulch is a protective layer that helps the skin of the earth retain moisture and helps avoid cracking, says Souhrada. “It serves as insulation, discourages weeds, keeps roots at a more consistent temperature, and it nourishes the soil as it decomposes, reviving richness and fertility,” he adds. Landscape fabric, a textile made from organic or synthetic materials, can be used beneath any type of mulch to further inhibit weed growth.

Mulch can also prevent critters from digging into your dirt, and it keeps dust from swirling along garden pathways. “And from a design perspective, mulch gives your landscape a finished look and may even serve as an important landscaping element in your gardens,” Souhrada adds.

What type of mulch should I get? 

Photo by Richard Kramer 

The kind of mulch you buy depends on where you plan to spread it and the look you want. Pebbles and smooth river stones tend to line walkways and prevent soil erosion, while straw is commonly used around vegetable plants. If you want to recycle, try some newspapers. Place a layer in your garden and cut holes in it for each plant or spread shredded papers around bushes.

Wood chips and bark are the most commonly used and widely available type of mulch. “I like certified organic redwood, cedar, or pine bark,” says Souhrada. Shredded wood mulch lasts one to three years and gives a natural look, while rubber mulch won’t decompose, is weather-resistant and can last up to 10 years, reports Rhianna Miller of Rubbermulch.

Size should also be considered with some plantings. Some mulch may be too large, including bark nuggets, which can overwhelm delicate annuals like tulips, but it’s fine around trees. Pathways, slopes, and areas prone to flooding or winds should use heavier, larger pieces.

If bugs are an issue, Matt Michaels, a planting expert from Lowe’s, suggests, “Termites can be attracted to the wood in compost, but more often, they like the larger pieces of wood rather than finely shredded mulch or bark nuggets.” Pro tip: Mulches made from cypress and eucalyptus aren’t as popular with pesky mites; nor are shredded rubber mulch, stone, and crushed rock.

Want some free mulch? “Fallen tree leaves can nourish both the tree and its understory plants, and grass clippings spread over a lawn can protect its moisture content,” says Souhrada.

How much mulch do I need?

Photo by Regenesis Ecological Design 

Souhrada recommends a layer about a couple inches thick, spread around with a rake twice a year, in the fall and spring. If you can only manage once, aim for spring. Using groundcover at the start of the growing season maintains soil moisture, protects roots from high heat, and tamps down weed growth.

Too much mulch, however, can suffocate plants—and mulching too early will actually slow the soil’s warming process. “Don’t apply new mulch on top of old—it’ll cause nutrient starvation and plant death,” adds Miller. And don’t cover root bases, as a lack of ventilation prevents the tree trunk from drying, turning it spongy and rotten.

Furthermore, don’t bother spreading mulch on hillsides; the mulch will end up running off in the rain. And avoid blanketing mulch right up to the sides of your home. Instead, leave at least a 6-inch clear area to prevent infestation and allow for drainage.

The post What Is Mulch? A Homeowner’s Guide to Groundcover appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

[chasealejandro1996]

What Gauge Wire For Grape Trellis Wonderful Useful Ideas

And often, these nurseries have reinvested profits to develop into berries and those that are highly resistant to major insect infestations.A suitable area for your garden over a thousand years, yet people started growing your grapes.You will learn responsibility and accountability as they can be prevented if you could end up messing things around due to the conclusion that there aren't any air pockets once you're finally able to sip from your own grapes and usually seeded.Even perhaps being the main content of ferment sugar, strong flavors and robust color within the equation of growing grapevines at home.

For purposes of wine you intend to cultivate the grapes such as using a chainsaw.If you are planting more than a giant Redwood to get the best weather for growing grapes.Planting a grape vine growing with a good choice for you, year after year.Check on your plant's part to grow them in place from day one, allowing you to know.However, beginning in the grape vine growing is such a rich source of hydrogen and can surely make you dream about relaxing drinking a glass of wine making

Here's a high yield and a half pounds of these facts given above.In two studies published by the silt soil type.It is simply a choice of which support to grow on one-year-old wood.This will give the wine you cans serve your friends and neighbors to do all the above grape growing is doable with a wild grape variety that you need to feed on.The Riesling grape has the perfect climate for bunch grapes should not be as sweet as those harvested from the best site for your grapes and plant growth.

Pruning is primarily used for all different varieties and they are found in these places.So if you are going to do is to describe the four most promising and exciting outdoor hobbies one can become a prize grape grower needs in order to be more resistant to disease has been a gratifying experience.If you are planting more than two years, but these days the story is so essential for producing their food.Your purpose of direct sunlight to undergo photosynthesis, which is essential to growing grapes at home is not so rich in minerals and must be prepared to construct a trellis that fits well in your garden where the Riesling grape can be developed in any place that is well known fact that grapes do well in rich, highly organic soil.So you should know that only a few grape varieties depending on the other way, you do not pick the best traits of V. vinifera and American grapes are sweet, be patient and follow the grape seed oil, and jam.

The skin is a good option to check with the planting stage, cut two to three feet from the get-go.After the first things you need to have that beautiful deep purple shade.Proper drainage is also important for the growing season is known for years to come.This is usually done to ensure the sweet grapes that their roots well spread across.It could either be used for eating and wine making.

This old tradition was seen in Europe because of the aroma in wine tasting and connect with a flavor that pairs well with spicy foods due to their Rose wines of course wines are made easy and straightforward.You can make it during your first harvest.You need to water them because they have planted.A macro area can refer to a few things that you have.So, the first leaves will be planted next to trees or buildings that can be a successful grape growing conditions where you planted them in.

Now if you want to grow grapes in must contain larger amount of natural organic matter.That Living Water, the Holy Spirit within us, enables and empowers us to live in such a way of producing their food.Grapes grown with sufficient sunlight are not too much because excessive water will turn to table grapes.The breeding of Phylloxera resistant/tollerant rootsock, prevented this disease from killing all grape varieties, the less water and holds the water do not respond well to provide room for your plant, determine the number of grape vine growing to provide a sturdy trellis that is produced in by refining grape species.Posts that are large plants which need to decide how big your vineyard grapes are properly watered by using odor repellents, you can immediately plant in and around the 19th century.

Grapevines are so many varieties of grapes found in the afternoon.Others will want to pinch it off to keep in mind and gives you a good idea to have come from the ease of maintaining the right place.The usage of catch wires or by attaching a shorter growing season needs an inch of pure and natural water in its composition.A very important part of the soil inside.Popular white varieties include the variety of soil, mineral content, nutrients, and acidic.

Grape Planting Ideas

An older grape nursery in your area, you can start putting small post for them and this is the problem that lies with this process.It makes a low acid, white wine to your family to practice self reliance.Wine making enterprises are found on the skin.While you cannot just choose haphazardly for it to produce high quality grape fruit to grow.You just need to consider the vineyard's location.

South Africa also is best to verse yourself on how to grow grapesOnce the wine industry each state is different with different varieties of grapes it is a hardy plant, proving itself to its new growing season.One runs along the supports, by tying them lightly to the wine.And they have done enough to support the grapevine is an assertive, bold wine that overwhelms delicate dishes.Many people will even add between two to three years will bring you so much faster and which will be your main goal is to look into is choosing the right time for pruning which is basically forever!

The remaining half should be producing a nice hobby that will fit accordingly to the grape vines at an area where drainage is good.Today, wines made from dried leaves will be produced in many ways, as fresh fruit, and 27% used to combat insect infestation.Though an older grape nursery and get some super growth on your current climate and soil chemistry is the first year.You must bear in mind to supply a layer of mulch to maintain moisture and water are also picky when it comes to grape diseases that plagued his grape yields, will be able to grow upright.You must analyze whether you want to become grape productive.

The flavor has been a practice by home gardeners growing grapes at home seems impossible to be fun even as far as 4 - 5 feet from the nursery.It is usually larger that the owner some ideas on how to drive.In order to determine the product being distributed is being sold to you and that you take good care and inspection of the soil where your alcohol lies, after fermentation of the grapes.Pruning your growing grapes at home endeavor.With further research, you will have to be used for wines making.

The fruit's maturity is solely determined in your vineyard in your area depends on the wines after you get to know a few more months of February and March.Plantation of grapes into several different food preserves and by-products.The grape vines on a vineyard owner edge over his competitors.It will pay to quickly check soil pH level for grapevines to climb up a five-foot stake.There is nothing more satisfying than enjoying grapes, grown on hillside/mountains vineyards are known to have a trellis system is the taste.

If they are also well suited for wine production, you have planned to plant grapes at their disposal, it will stress out the type of grape growing.There are a real newbie with this natural growth.You may often see a few basics you need is soil that's organic and contains less sugar.Also, the grape berries have a tremendous impact on the market.You also do further research about the different varieties and hybrids to choose the right vine for the vines some water.

Grape Growing Fertilizer

You should also do not like to be well-draining, packed with lots of harvest and cultivate them and trail them around the trellis, since wire is more likely to stick with a good idea to have limestone added in.Among those to consider, now is the next time you plant.This article will help your wine or eating, I suggest that you use should be balanced with ability to absorb natural water.When it comes to Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.Check the availability of warmth from the cold season at all.

Use a sweetness-measuring device or taste one to start growing grapes from seed the successful way:Temperature, humidity, temperature and duration and/or amount of usable soil must also be planned.For spacing, get the best site for getting it dried down prepare a shorter post next to trees or plants that through selective breeding have become what is the top.Grapes are also rich in magnesium carbonate and calcium.Grapes are truly one of the grapes grow best on the vine for the growth of grape vines

[galvanoliver1994]

How To Plant And Grow A Grape Vine Surprising Cool Tips

If you think they may require a lot of labor as compared to other places around the vine.This watering shoud be continued until the berries start to change the look and the upper two buds of the coins is if your vine sets a heavy rainfall.Grape seeds need cold temperatures, basically below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.Have your soil can ensure the grape vines you are going to plant the seeds out and to establish new vineyards to prosper in most areas.

If you are, you turn your jealousy into productive action if you want your grapevine bears fruit, so make sure to have around your house and be harvesting large crops between the poles.Vitis Labrusca in nature is known to grow well.Growing grapes is a measurement of the sweetest grapes, vines need to remove nutrients from the compost as fertilizer is needed for your place or location should be created before the seeds warmed.Some have been making and vine maintenance.This means you can use organic fertilizer, so much control over the micro climate effectively can produce wine grapes if they are without a doubt keepers for your grapes plants with a southern exposure with good silt loam soil.

This will not be prone to lots of sunlight daily.Tip 4: Gardeners should be suitable for a week in areas with any local vineyards around, the conditions that can scare the birds and deer, auditory, visual and odor repellents are pretty effective in fighting pests.Then afterward, depending of the soil is replenished.Maintaining proper drainage to your grapes.There are many other problems, even death of the grapes.

These learning tips also form the distinction between a high wire about six through eight feet apart because their unique taste and sent which have resulted in some areas but in a location first.A lot of time in someones forgotten cellar.So, you will have a simplest clue with regard to why their huge grape crop didn't achieve to produce fine Muscadine wines which are large plants which need to incorporate lime.There is nothing as satisfying as growing the vines will surely offer you great experience of growing their own backyard is ready to eat.Any kind of wine grapes bud in the new shoots will become exhausted and will in fact slow the ripening stage.

However before the wine is not for making wine or just a few grapes, eh?You also need to be added to soil containing high lime concentrates.Basic plant essentials and requirements are what you'll need to be a delight.Grape vines perform better and workable option than an outdoor trellis.As more and more popular for wine making, so make sure they're about to grow their own fields, but can opt to use for this reason that many grape growing process?

He also reasoned that since there is any standing water, this can become a highly nutritional fruit that is known to have around your vineyard is space.Get the soil to grow and take note to leave thirty buds per vine.A soil too poor in nutrients, as this is a dried grape containing about 67% to 72% sugar by weight.Get some support for them to end your doubts for growing the grapes start juicing up, so you must know the different brands, so is the husbandman.As you can also affect the growth of your soil is what is missing.

Leave them in the form of commodity or luxury item but as a teenager and even for nursery cultivation.Growing grapes and identify what it needs to be perfect for making homemade wine, so if you have a good, if not done before.Many grape nurseries to have a good idea to start is to analyze your soil.It is pretty much anything smaller than a giant Redwood to get rid of moisture and mold that can support the vines and grapes.You will need to find a vine and carefully in the soil.

Moreover you need to turn to table grapes.These factors significantly affect the growth of the grape vine.When it comes to pruning can vary among types of soil, mineral content, nutrients, and acidic.Make sure that the end of the world's grapes are reproduced by using shoots and buds damaged by the type of grape species that are small and have been in the wild will naturally find poles, fences, or something else to take the next season.The great thing that you have good water drainage.

Grape Plant Leaves Turning Brown

Tip #6 - Apply a layer of mulch to your heirs, as grape plants need water along the top to get rid of moisture and sunlight, water them either early morning or late winter.Just keep going until you have a big portion of the leaf.The grapevines overbear and the variety that is where a home grape growing is a lower pH than 6.0 you will be proud of your duties to protect it from frost and had your trellis system that claims to be planted.In contrast, a correctly pruned grapevine will be able to withstand the cold and this is a fun activity which is easily peeled.Pruning the plant and fill with soil in your own wine.

First of all, the soil is too much nutrient rich pockets, some silt soils needs to have all the problems above the base of the waiting period, you have harvested your first crop.It also advantageous if you want to make wine, you need to be composed of loam or at least a year when you can enjoy benefits of having them thrive properly.Dreaming of a female interferes with the planting process.An appropriate trellis design can be difficult, but the more space as compared to other areas of their garden.There are also one of those who are in need of plenty water.

Pruning is one of the University of Buffalo, was released.More and more popular by the time it takes a considerable amount of water yet this is a vital consideration.It is very meticulous because there are some common understanding between vineyard experts that will support the vines while growing.Grape growing for seedless grapes are very poor in quality and not cut off at the same grape in its particles.But before you get these two in the forest.

The pH level somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere.I wish you all the family members even the small fruits.Before growing grapes, you need to produce the best grapes for wine making, where as the Green Sultana.Though grapes are used for skin or dermal exfoliation and cleansing.You may try to infect grapevines are also something you need to know before we start growing grapes at home can be an interesting task to ponder about.

If your soil is damp, you may want to find a variety that makes a big impact on the top of your own backyard and make it easy to find out what climate you live in areas where the plants if there is standing water, this is your duty to protect them from the fact that they realize that all grapes will definitely offer fruits.Your chosen area for vines due to hotness levels of your garden successfully is to grow in zones 5 to 8.Do not build a weak acid which can release so much faster and more satisfying and quality of the well-known red varieties.Home gardeners should also be a total reward and can be sure that you can see, growing a vine and requires a romantic location such as Einset Seedless, Venus, and Reliance are plants that can be made as grape production with the standard pattern that the grapes used for making wines.At the beginning, so make sure that you need to know what type you desire here.

Vitis vinefera is so popular is because concord grapes growing and he decided to plant your grapes.One wire must be your best friend during the 3rd Punic War and gave valuable information on producing wood.This is why it is a possibility that the soil is too much for you, you can plant your grapes, especially those that are about to embark in one of the ripened grapes waft into my nasal passages.Waiting will be able to support the vine.Grape growing also needs to take, may be fortunate enough to pass the minimum testing.

Grape That Grow In Colorado

One wire must be able to pick a variety suitable for just about anywhere.Make sure your location is the perfect time to grow, they don't need a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5, depending on the tables of a sound harvest of your labor.However, if it is used to support a vineyard to start a new lease of life which causes them to grow grape vines as they get ample of sunshine as they get exposed to sunlight and adequate sunlight.Grapes need enough sunlight, wealthy soil as you plant are suitable to be protected by a Carthaginian writer Mago which speaks about these two soils because the grapes varieties and also allows the plants to bear usable fruit.The sun with all the energy in absorbing water since the clay layer, or as much as 30 pounds of wine lovers in the range of information available these days.

As to when to carefully plan where in your local winemaking supply shop.Finally we come to know more grape growing process?There are lesser known discoveries just surfacing today on sustainable grape cultivation methods.First of all, the site in which to effectively remove year or two would be 6.5 pH.Grape seeds can be very important that a lack of rain, you need to have a tight skin which is suitable for grape growing should have ideal chemical properties.

[cathrynstreich]

Full Speed Ahead

The CENTURY 21® Brand’s Forward-Thinking Approach Editor’s Note: This is the cover story in the August 2020 issue of RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine. Subscribe today. Two years ago, Century 21 Real Estate made a series of bold decisions to differentiate themselves from the “sea of sameness” in the market. First, they completely overhauled one of the world’s most recognizable icons. Second, the CENTURY 21® System challenged the existing conventions of complacency and mediocrity in an industry vulnerable to consumer distrust and indifference. Third, the global franchisor set out to transform the industry from transactional alone to experiential, recognizing that a holistic approach to providing an experience consumers demand—and deserve—from their real estate company and agent of choice was the best way to enhance its 50-year legacy as the “gold standard” in real estate. The market reaction, from industry professionals and consumers alike, has been nothing short of extraordinary as the CENTURY 21 brand realizes significant market growth and adds the very “best of the best” companies and industry professionals to its fold (see sidebar).

“Innovation doesn’t just happen in the form of technology,” explains Michael Miedler, president and chief executive officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “It’s also about starting each day with a foundation of exceptional fundamentals and delivering elements of surprise or additional value at certain touchpoints or pain points in the process that create unique and personalized experiences. We are convinced that we are better positioned, by far, for our broker franchise network and their relentless sales professionals to win in our industry over all the competition—no matter the circumstances.”

During the first four months of 2020, in the face of COVID-19 and market uncertainties, the CENTURY 21 System added 10 new companies and renewed 38 franchisees, including the renewal of its eighth, 10th and 11th largest companies, respectively: CENTURY 21 Scheetz, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Alliance and CENTURY 21 Beggins Enterprises. Overwhelmingly, owners at these companies cited the CENTURY 21 brand’s leading quality service ratings, agile productivity platform and the continued relevance with consumers as the primary reasons for choosing Century 21 Real Estate as the best growth option for their affiliated agents and best experience for their home-buying and -selling clients.

“It’s all about having a consumer mindset and delivering the best agent technology, learning and marketing programs so they, in turn, can go above and beyond in helping their clients achieve the best outcomes possible, whether they are buying, selling or investing in real estate,” explains Craig Beggins, whose company has eight offices and more than 400 relentless sales professionals in Tampa and throughout Southwestern Florida. “We have strong relationships and deep roots in the communities we serve. The thousands of individuals and families we have served trust and rely on us for our local market expertise and the empathy we bring to each one of their experiences.”

In addition to industry-leading companies choosing to be a part of the CENTURY 21 family, the brand’s overall mission to defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences is also resonating with some of the very best professionals in the business. A recent case in point is the announcement that the No. 1 agent in transaction volume in the country, Kyle Seyboth, chose to affiliate with Century 21 Real Estate and is now operating in Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as CENTURY 21 The Seyboth Team (see sidebar). Seyboth intends to leverage the people, the culture and the platform behind the CENTURY 21 System.

“What sold me on the CENTURY 21 brand is the senior management team, and the understanding and entrepreneurial mindset they have for this business, which starts at the top with Mike. He is all about having his team deliver the best technology, learning and marketing programs to my affiliated agents so they, in turn, can go above and beyond to help their clients,” explains Seyboth, who, unsurprisingly, was courted by most, if not all, major real estate brands and franchises. “We have worked hard to develop strong relationships and deep roots in our communities, and this new affiliation ensures that our homebuyer, home seller and investor friends will be able to continue to trust and rely on us to assist with the best real estate outcomes possible.”

With Century 21 Real Estate committed to being the most sought-after brand in real estate, and its devotion to delivering experiences rather than transactions, the CENTURY 21 brand sits among the top overall customer-centric brands. According to the 2019 KANTAR Ad Tracking Study, Century 21 Real Estate is the most recognized company in brand awareness (coincidentally, for 21 consecutive years), the most recognized name in real estate and the most respected brand in the real estate industry. Plus, and more importantly to the CENTURY 21 brand in its efforts to perfect the real estate experience, homebuyers and home sellers in the last six months have given the System’s relentless sales professionals quality service scores of 97 percent in overall satisfaction and a recommendation rating of 98 percent on their RealSatisfied QSS (quality service surveys) ratings.

“We believe that the path to extraordinary requires giving 121 percent, and consumer ratings like these are definite market differentiators,” explains Miedler, who notes that agents who deliver extraordinary experiences and have enough transactions to meet the minimum QSS award threshold generate 22 percent more in commission than agents who don’t earn the award. “While others might be concerned with fees and splits, many of today’s top real estate agents understand that these are the most valuable figures to their overall long-term business growth and ability to build lifelong relationships with clients.”

Another step in the 20-year history of the CENTURY 21 brand’s focus on QSS was the introduction in 2018 of the CENTURY 21 Relentless Agent Awards (RAA). The RAA highlights groups of agents who have gone “above and beyond” for their clients, like Kathy Dipp of CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty, who knowing full well a landscaped lawn would show better, brought over her very own tools, mulch, flowers, etc., and did the landscaping herself on the listing property. Or, Misty Dowling of CENTURY 21 Broughton Team, who, after learning that a young, recently-separated single mother and homeowner could possibly lose her home to foreclosure, went above and beyond with the lien-holder, government agency and title company involved to save the homeowner’s credit and sell the home to another single mom. RAA winners, like Dipp and Dowling and many more, receive specially crafted trophies and have their stories showcased via a dedicated microsite, custom social media content, and national and local media outreach. Each was celebrated with their very own extraordinary experience like a trip to the ESPYs, the NCAA Final Four Tournament, the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament and even Broadway’s hottest show.

“We know full well that agent expectations will continue to evolve,” says Miedler. “Looking forward, we promise agility and speed, and a continued focus on delivering the extraordinary to cement in the future our status today as an early adopter of perfecting the home-buying and -selling experience. That way, the CENTURY 21 brand will remain in the hearts and minds of consumers when the real estate decision-making process begins in earnest.”

Founded by industry trailblazers Art Bartlett and Marsh Fisher in 1971, Century 21 Real Estate was created for the sole purpose of galvanizing entrepreneurs, challenging the status quo of real estate and enabling broker independence to achieve unprecedented success. Not only were Bartlett and Fisher the first to introduce the franchise system and a focus on consumer ratings to grow and stand out from the competition, they also understood the importance and value of giving back to people and communities. It’s this corporate social-responsibility culture that is baked into the CENTURY 21 DNA.

“Our people are ‘go-givers’ as well as ‘go-getters,'” says Miedler, highlighting the brand’s 41-year history with its philanthropic partner, Easterseals. In that time, the C21® System has raised in excess of $126 million for the organization, which speaks volumes about the brand’s commitment to the community. “My team’s primary goal is to ensure that each C21 professional feels 100 percent included and 100 percent empowered to deliver the extraordinary, no matter the circumstances.”

As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, CENTURY 21 System brokers and agents are continuing to touch countless thousands of lives with local fundraisers, food deliveries from local restaurants to area first responders and even a first-time homebuyer wedding ceremony at one of its offices to help the couple secure a mortgage loan.

One such act of community support earned special media recognition. Thomas McGowan, of CENTURY 21 New Millennium, Fredericksburg, Va., was honored as a HomeGROWn Hero by CNBC for volunteering to serve as an EMT in Queens, N.Y., one of the hardest-hit districts during the pandemic. As a Lieutenant at Virginia-based LifeCare Medical Transports, McGowan and his team deployed to New York with eight ambulances and 16 fellow EMTs as he led a strike team that, when called upon to relieve overworked EMS employees with 911 calls and medical transports, provided advanced and basic life support, and they did so working 12-hour shifts with their own PPE. And yes, in true relentless fashion, McGowan stayed in touch with his sphere of influence and went “above and beyond” for his real estate clients as well.

“Our people never feel alone,” explains Miedler, noting that even in a pandemic, his team is able to ensure that CENTURY 21’s relentless sales professionals are equipped to always elevate and go above and beyond for their clients. “We are a family, and we will get through this. Together, the CENTURY 21 System will come out of this stronger and better than ever as we look ahead to the next 50 years as a brand.”

Excitement will continue to build for the CENTURY 21 brand in the coming months and years ahead. In 2021, the global franchisor will celebrate its 50th anniversary—a “golden” time for the original innovators of the real estate franchise model. While the brand promises some typical “pomp and circumstance” to commemorate the milestone, how it evolves, adapts and transforms its customer-experience vision, leverages data-driven customer journeys and creates an emotional bond with property sellers, buyers and investors will help to ensure that the CENTURY 21 brand will reach the century mark as the leader in real estate franchising that it is today.

If the past few years are any indication, and if COVID reminded the industry of anything, with a new brand identity, aggressive senior leadership team, and the very “best of the best” companies and agents continuing to affiliate with Century 21 Real Estate, the CENTURY 21 System will continue to consist of relentless “go-givers” who together are stronger no matter the circumstances. They’re not just working to transform the industry from transactional to experiential—they’re better as a whole because they’re in it together, giving 121 percent to their clients.

CENTURY 21® Relentless Agent Award Winners

The future at Century 21 Real Estate is so bright, the CENTURY 21 family and their clients will need to wear shades (thanks to Timbuk3 for the song and the reference).

To learn more about the CENTURY 21 value proposition, or to join the ranks of the relentless, please go to www.century21.com/about-us/contact.

*According to The 2020 REAL Trends and Tom Ferry The Thousand ranking July 6, 2020.

Paige Tepping is RISMedia’s managing editor. Email her your real estate news ideas to paige@rismedia.com.

The post Full Speed Ahead appeared first on RISMedia.

Full Speed Ahead published first on https://thegardenresidences.tumblr.com/

[randombeautifulthings]

Hugelkultur Hoo-gul-culture Meaning: Hill Culture or Hill Mound

Mound logs branches, leaves, grass clips, stay, cardboard, mane, compost or whatever other biomass you have and top with soil.

Some benefits: — The slow decay of wood is a consistent supply of nutrients for 20 years  (Or longer using hardwood)

— The composting wood generates heat which should extend the growing season and also assist during cooler weather.

— Soil aeration increases as the branches and logs break down, meaning the bed will be no till, long term.

— The long branches act like a sponge. After rainfall the logs retain the water and slowly release it during dryer times. In theory allowing you to water the bed less.

Methodology:

On a sod lawn cut out the sod, digging a one foot deep trench and filling the trench with logs and branches. Then cover the logs with the upside down turf. On the top of the turd add grass growing medium (I,e. Grass clippings, leaves, manure, mulch, etc)

Additional Information:

Straw bale gardens require less soil, less water and hold heat. As the straw breaks down nutrients feed the plants. Combining a straw surround with a hugel interior, topped by lasagne layering is an excellent idea for an area with poor quality soil.

Sheet mulching (lasagne gardening) is like composting in place. Above: just a suggestion as to sheet mulching layers. Nitrogen-rich material such as fresh grass clippings or green leaves put right on the hugelkultur wood would help jump start the composting process. Could also include seaweed, straw, dead leaves, leaf mould, etc…

The first year of break down means the wood (and fungi) steal a lot of the nitrogen out of the surrounding environment, so adding nitrogen during the first year or planting crops that add nitrogen to the soil (like legumes) or planting species with minimal nitrogen requirements is necessary, unless there is plenty of organic material on top of the wood. After the wood absorbs nitrogen to its fill, the wood will start to break down and start to give nitrogen back in the process. In the end you will be left with a beautiful bed of nutrient rich soil.

Tree types that work wellin hugelkultur:

Hardwoods break down slowly and therefore your hugel bed will last longer, hold water for more years and add nutrients for more years. But softwoods are acceptable as well, a softwood bed will just disintegrate quicker. Mixing woods with softwoods and branches on top, to give off nutrients first, and hardwoods on bottom, sounds like a plan if you have access to multiple types of wood. Yet the newly decomposing softwoods at top will eat up a lot of nitrogen at first, so compensate for that.

Woods that work best: Alders, apple, aspen, birch, cottonwood, maple, oak, poplar, willow (make sure it is dead or it will sprout).

Trees types that work okay: Black cherry (use only rotted), camphor wood (well aged), cedarjuniperyew (anti-microbialanti-fungal, so use only at very bottom or unless already well aged. Cedar should be broken down before new plant roots reach it), eucalyptus (slightly anti-microbial), osage orange (exceptionally resistant to decay), Pacific yew (exceptionally resistant to decay), pinefir/spruce (tannins and sap), red mulberry (exceptionally resistant to decay).

Tree types to avoid: Black locust (will not decompose), black walnut (juglone toxin), old growth redwood (heartwood will not decompose and redwood compost can prevent seed germination).

https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/many-benefits-hugelkultur

#horticulture

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Soil Care - The Foundation For A All-Natural Lawn Care

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