Author: c-ville-abode

Really? Free?

In the spirit of freecycle and freesales, here’s another national trend that’s easy on your wallet: Really Really Free Markets. They’re events held in cities across the country where folks can show up with their excess belongings, and other folks can browse and take what they want—no bartering, payment, or haggling necessary. We all win when waste decreases, right? Plus, the markets tend to feature music and food.

Charlottesville’s not on the bandwagon yet, but Richmond is. The capital city’s RRFM is held the last Saturday of every month in Monroe Park. Check out myspace.com/rvafreemarket for details. Yeah, we know it’s not that green to drive to Richmond for free stuff, but if you’re gonna be there anyway, by all means: Help yourself.—Erika Howsare

Less is more green

Hey, homeowners! If you’re a Dominion customer, a change is coming to your electric meter that’s meant to help conserve energy in the community.

On June 16, a group of notable Virginia figureheads including Governor Tim Kaine and Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell, along with local officials, announced the establishment of a new program called SmartGrid Charlottesville. This energy-efficiency program has now made Charlottesville the first city in the state and one of the first in the nation to be on a “smart grid” network.

A smart grid network is a two-way communication system that sends information directly between a power source, in this case Dominion, and energy customers, through the use of “smart meters” in customers’ homes.

Through these meters, the company says it can significantly reduce the amount of power being used. According to Dominion, the smart meters will reduce usage by 4 percent or more for typical residential customers and remove 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. In the future, the company says we’ll be able to shift power usage to off-peak times to save more money.

As of June 1, 22,000 smart meters had been installed locally. By the end of the year, Dominion plans to have 46,500 installed in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. If you would like more information, check out dom.com/about/conservation/smartgrid-charlottesville.jsp.—Caroline Edgeton

Green gadgets that are really worth it

Far be it from Betty to promote the latest, greatest green gizmo with a hefty price tag and made-in-China label, but I believe your pocketbook and the planet will appreciate these eco-gadgets. 

The Smart Strip delivers “bang for your buck,” says Betty.

The Smart Strip “is still the best bang for your buck as far as green gadgets,” according to Paige Mattson of the Blue Ridge Eco Shop. Given our love of Plasma HD, LCD, TV, and all things bright and flashy, it behooves all of us to conserve energy in any way we can. This powerstrip can sense when devices are on and off and acts accordingly to eliminate any excess energy drain. Reviews suggest the cost (around $40) can be recouped within months.
 
So many items in our home require the use of batteries, why not use solar battery chargers? They now come in all shapes, sizes, and options. Ubergreen geeks will love the HyMini which has an option to collect wind power while you jog, bike or ski! Given the wide price range, consider your budget and remember solar power requires some planning and patience.

Finally, two gadgets which conserve our most precious resource: water. No plumber is needed for the Controllable Flush, a five-part handle replacement, which converts a standard toilet into dual flush. After all, not every flush needs a full flush. (If it’s yellow…). A two-person household can save 15,000 gallons of water per year depending on your toilet!  

The five-minute shower timer is simple, durable and costs $5. Suction cup this (recycled) plastic covered hourglass to a relatively dry area to help you to cut down your shower time.—Betty World Betty

 

 

LEAPing forward

“We bought this house when you could buy a house in Charlottesville,” says city resident Ingrid Feggans. Even though she is proud to own her house, the cost of power has been quite a burden for her.

Through the help of community outreach programs including SPARK and the Quality Community Council (QCC), she has gotten assistance this year with such energy-efficiency upgrades as an on-demand water heater, heat-retaining foam in her basement, and weatherization of windows and doors. “I have noticed a little bit of a change in (my utility bill),” says Feggans, “but when the winter comes, I’m excited to see what will happen.”

Standing outside Feggans’ home on June 23, Mayor Dave Norris announced a new city program called LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program), which will launch in January and is meant to provide many more residents the kind of assistance Feggans received. “LEAP will pick up where (community programs) have left off,” Norris said. Through a revolving loan structure funded largely by federal stimulus money, as many as 2,000 homes will receive upgrades in 2010 and 2011. Look to hear a lot more about LEAP as this far-reaching program gets underway.—C.E. and E.H.

Become a fan of moving in the proper direction.

Blade basics

We don’t have to tell you it’s hot around here at this time of year. If you’re like us, you’re sleeping under a ceiling fan in hopes of catching some decent Zs. But did you know that its blades need to be turning counterclockwise in order to function properly? It’s true: Ceiling fans have winter and summer settings. In winter, blades turn clockwise to force warm air down. In summer, they do exactly the opposite.

If yours are spinning the wrong way, get yourself on a stepladder (careful! and turn the fan off, for pete’s sake!) and check for a toggle switch on the body of the fan. Flip it, step down, and enjoy a much cooler breeze as you snuggle off to sleep.—E.H.

Color cups

Need some indestructible cups, for kids or clumsy guests? Want to make sure your style’s equally unassailable? ’50s-vintage melmac cups and saucers from Antics bring cheery hues and retro flair to your kitchen, all mid-century-like.

 

 

 

Smart reductions

Little books for little spaces: Mimi Zeiger’s Tiny Houses is seven square inches of “microgreen living,” showcasing homeowners the world over who are simplifying and shrinking their lives to fit into homes under 1,000 square feet. Get ready for wee floor plans and mini-innovation, from treehouses to boathouses, and prepare to feel positively gluttonous about that walk-in closet.—Lucy Zhou

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lush (and selective) life

For those of us who were around when the great drought began half a decade ago, it’s been a treat to see a little mud during this remarkably rainy season. But Nature is two-handed if she is anything, and the boons of moisture and moderate temperatures (albeit with the ambiance of Mumbai) have also fostered abundant foliar diseases.

Abundant rain this year also means abundant foliar diseases.

Copious rainfall and high humidity mean fungal spores will splash and paint alarming blotches all over the leaves of dogwoods, photinias, roses, witch hazels and tomatoes. It’s just that kind of year. It’s way too late to spray fungicides after symptoms appear.

Although they’re bad news for plants that are mostly foliage, fungal diseases in general do not do long-term harm to trees and shrubs, merely disfiguring their leaves for a season and freaking out the anxious gardener.

For the long term, keep it clean at the base of susceptible plants. Remove debris and re-mulch each year so spores don’t over-winter. Avoid pruning dogwoods and witch hazels when leaves are wet because it spreads diseases and further stresses the plants. Wait for winter dormancy to thin for good air circulation. Pull yellow leaves from the bottom of tomatoes on a dry afternoon (smokers, wash your hands to avoid spreading tobacco mosaic disease) and mulch thickly with clean fluffy straw.

This lush season brings to mind Jefferson’s remark that in the new world of America, “Gardens may be made without expense. We have only to cut out the superabundant plants.” Seedlings abound—annual larkspur, poppy, cleome, cardinal vine, tassel flower and verbena left to go to seed last year are popping up like Chia Pets while perennial hosta and hellebore have skirts of hardy babies at their feet.
 

JULY IN THE GARDEN -Don’t mind the spots. -Thin the annuals. -Weed it.

In late summer I’ll prick off the little hostas and hellebores and transplant them a foot or so apart, but annuals need to be thinned early. I learned this lesson well with radishes which I sowed early enough, but neglected to thin to the recommended 1-2 inches, thinking, “What could go wrong with radishes?” Gargantuan top growth overwhelmed meager taproots which supplied hardly a decent tang worth harvesting.

Yet the gardener resists culling tender shoots, not only from innate indolence, which is a factor for some of us, but because a nurturing habit is the kernel of gardening. For myself, as long as I have a compost pile, I have little compunction in discarding plants. Let them rot and feed the soil. When you’re dealing with diseased foliage, however, burn or otherwise discard it rather than composting.

With flower and vegetable seedlings come also chickweed, henbit, mugwort and other weeds which must be eradicated before they choke out our favored pets. Large uniform plantings of groundcovers like grasses, junipers or spireas can be mulched with landscape fabric (which, unlike black plastic, allows water to permeate) or newspapers (which allow soil amendment) topped with a couple of inches of shredded hardwood. But mixed borders where plants have varying habits and cultural requirements need to be cultivated by hand.

Done properly, hand weeding can be therapeutic, even Zen-like. Yanking the tops off five-foot weeds growing in baked hardpan will definitely turn you off. But if you time it right—moist soil, small weeds—and have the proper tools—soil knife, trowel, customized kitchen implement (no gloves; you need finger contact)—and suitable stool, kneeling mat or strong back, you can clean up a bed in short time with immediate results and no harm to the environment. Top it with compost to amend the soil.

Chisel away the excess and the garden will emerge.—Cathy Clary

Canned heat

Up to your eyes in Jersey Boys or Beefsteaks? While popping open a jar of store-bought tomatoes might be easy-peasy, you’d be surprised at how simple and rewarding at-home canning can be. Grab your biggest pot, and your biggest, reddest bushel, and get ready to can-can your surplus Romas away. Believe us—you’ll be thanking yourself come December.

1) Pick fresh, fleshy tomatoes. Even though they’ll be cooked, this isn’t the place for mushy runts—quality canned tomatoes call for quality produce, period. Romas are recommended for having less skin and water, and thicker, meatier walls.

2) Sterilize, sterilize, sterilize. The dishwasher will do, or you can toss your jars, lids, and rings in a pot and get boiling. You should also start heating up your tomato juice as well as your canning pot (filled half-way with water), lid on.

3) They make for chewy sauce, so take the skins off after a quick one-minute dip in boiling water and then a dunk in a bowl of ice.

4) Fill the jars leaving a quarter-inch of headroom, add two tablespoons of lemon juice to ward off spoilage, and fill to the brim with hot tomato juice. Use a spoon to get rid of air pockets, then close it all up. Always use new lids!

5) Arrange the jars in your canning pot, cover with at least an inch of water, and boil for about 40-45 minutes. Once done, lift them out and let them cool overnight in a draft-free place, then check that the lid is sealed. If it pops, it’s not, so refrigerate and use quickly. No pop means your juicy reds are ready for stowing.—Lucy Zhou

Fragile fruits

Once cherries have appeared at City Market, set your alarm clock and watch the sky for crows—the tree fruit is coming in! Small tree fruit such as apricots and plums can be very difficult to grow and sell in Virginia—even under the best of circumstances, they are extremely perishable, and don’t take kindly to late frosts nor wet weather. For that reason, most orchards in Central Virginia tend to focus on peaches and apples based in part on lengthier seasons and heavier fruit. If you see apricots or plums, snatch them up and eat them quickly—they won’t be around for long!
 
If competitive fruit shopping isn’t your thing, taste the fruits of the season with Jam According to Daniel (accordingtodaniel.com) on Saturdays at the City Market and Tuesdays at the Forest Lakes Market. Daniel scours the countryside for fruit and herbs to transform into artisan jams such as White Peach + Hibiscus, Damson + Italian Plum, and Lemon Apricot; buy a few extra jars to push to the back of the cupboard for those seasons without fruit.—Lisa Reeder

Sleek street face

We’re always drawn to siding alternatives other than plain ol’ vinyl or wood. This aluminum-clad wall turns what could be a forgettable rancher in Meadowbrook Heights into a real head-turner.

Abundant rain this year also means abundant foliar diseases.

Prospect Hill Plantation Inn and Restaurant’s Tart Apricot

Shortbread Crust:

1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup apricot preserves, heated and strained

Beat egg and sugar in mixer until fluffy. Add vanilla, cinnamon and small amount of butter, then fold in flour and butter a little at a time until mixture forms a ball. Knead dough a few minutes and press into a buttered 12-inch pie tart pan. Bake at 375 degrees 15-20 minutes or until firm and golden. Do not over-bake. Set aside to cool completely, then brush with jam.

Mascarpone filling:

1 egg
1 cup sugar
16 oz. mascarpone cream cheese
1/2 tsp. almond extract (or 1 Tbs. Amaretto)

Whip egg and sugar until fluffy. Add extract, then cheese, a little at a time until smooth. Spread cheese filling evenly onto crust, then top with your choice of any of the following: peeled apricot or peach halves, peeled and sliced kiwi or apple, berries, halved strawberries (or any combination of the above) and fruit preserves to match. Firm fruits such as apricots, apples or pears need to be cooked in simple sugar syrup to soften. Arrange fruit in pattern all over cheese and glaze with melted, strained jam. Chill at least one hour. Serves 12.

Bird is the word

A professional knife kit contains many old friends, such as peelers and sharpeners and Band-Aids—but it may also contain some lesser-known tools. Until researching this article, I didn’t know the name of my “peach knife”—that is, the small, sharp paring knife that can skin a peach, peel an apple, pit a cherry and split a plum right in half.

One name is the bird’s beak paring knife, so named for the curved blade with a sharp point at the end; it is just the tool for peeling ripe fruit as the curved blade hugs the round contour of the fruit, causing fewer bruises and drips. The bird’s beak is also great for hulling strawberries, and (with a bit of practice) will yield smooth peeled potatoes of every shape and size.

The newly relocated and retooled Happy Cook at Barracks Road Shopping Center offers reasonably priced bird’s beak paring knives with cheery, painted handles by L’Econome. The new, larger location (just across the way from the old location) highlights artisan kitchen products of all types; it also features a demonstration space that will showcase local chefs and food producers. (See thehappycook.com).—L.R.

Your best side

As the recently departed Ed McMahon amply proved, everyone loves the sidekick. Give your sofa or easy chair a supporting act to be proud of with one of these side tables from local shops.

Ebonized tea cart with mirrored shelves, c. 1940s, from DeLoach Antiques
$550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-century-style metal and wood table, from a set of three, from Patina
$175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beverly side table with Greek-motif legs and wedge-shape inlay from Kenny Ball Antiques
$405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry side table made locally by Dan Mauro, sold at The Artful Lodger, $700
 

Remember the olden days when people used to drive around neighborhoods with their real estate agent in tow looking at properties? So 1992. These days, the only real way to search for homes (as with everything else in life) is online. And real estate blogs and search engines are making it easier than ever. Following is a round-up of the most popular local sources for tracking down properties in the Charlottesville area.

mycaar.com

The MLS (multiple listing service) arm of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors, mycaar.com is regarded as the most mainstream search vehicle for Charlottesvillians.

Advantage: If the property is listed by a CAAR member—that is, 95 percent of the agents in town—it’ll show up here first. Potential home buyers are free to peruse listings anonymously, and search criteria are detailed to the point of superfluity—you can search for homes that feature flourishes like wainscoting and wet bars as by price and square footage.

Disadvantage: The listing agent wants your business, so they tend to leave out key details of a property in the hope you’re compelled to call for more information. For instance, a listing on mycaar.com won’t tell you if a property is in foreclosure, or how long the current occupant has lived there. For that, you have to deal directly with the agent.

realcentralva.com

The search feature of local real estate blogger Jim Duncan’s popular blog relies on data partially provided by Charlottesville MLS.

Advantages: The search criteria here are a little more helpful and creative than what’s readily available on mainstream search engines and other agents’ sites—i.e. the site provides information that actually matters to savvy buyers. For example, you can search by price drops, the number of days a property has been listed, and foreclosures. There’s even a green component—you can search for properties based on their “walk score,” that is, how easy it is to get to and from without a car. You can also choose to save searches and have them emailed directly to you, and Duncan promises to “never spam you.”

Disadvantages: Not many, though searching for price drops—which requires you to enter a specific percentage decrease within a designated timeframe—can be tricky. Try searching for a decrease of at least five percent, and know that Duncan is working to improve this part of his search engine.

realcville.blogspot.com

While not a search engine per se, the so-called Bubble Blog frequently highlights specific MLS listings and gives the insider drop on each.

Advantage: The blog is written anonymously, so expect refreshingly non-chirpy, non-glossed over and oftentimes ranty estimations of properties in question. For instance, the writers come right out and say things like renting rather than owning may be preferable in a market like Charlottesville and “Homeownership should not be associated with the qualities and achievements that comprise ‘The American Dream.’” You won’t find that kind of gimlet-eyed commentary on other real estate sites.

Disadvantage: They only feature listings they want to write about, and the tone is geared more towards those versed in industry vernacular—“move up buyers,” etc. Also, expect a lot of bold text, you know, in case you don’t get it.

craigslist.com

Advantage: A repository for “for sale by owner” properties, Craigslist appeals to buyers who prefer not to work with agents. 

Disadvantages: As with all things Craigslist-related, expect to wade through a lot of garbage before finding a gem. And even if you do find a “gem,” the information could be misleading—or the seller a crackpot.

Agent websites

Many real estate agents have their own sites and blogs equipped with MLS search capabilities.

Advantages: Perusing an agent’s blog or website is the quickest way to determine if this is a person you can actually work with. For instance, Pam Dent (jumpintogreenerpastures.com) specializes in horse properties, Roger Voisinet (cvilleproperties.com) frequently posts about green issues. And the agent can usually set you up to have MLS listings that fit your criteria emailed directly to you.

Disadvantages: In order to receive customized listings, you must give the agent your contact info.

Now we’re rolling

Plenty of projects are more important than a toilet-paper holder, but we still gave it a place on our big list of things to do. (This is notwithstanding my husband’s claim that the back of the toilet made a fine toilet-paper holder.)

Of course you can buy these things in all sorts of styles at any hardware store, but as usual we enjoy personalizing (read: complicating). We had some nifty old wooden drawer pulls—dark, carved items I picked up at a junk store, which must have come from a bureau or sideboard—and we decided to use one of them to fashion the TPH. It seemed that if we cut the pull in half, it would make two “arms,” perfect for holding the plastic spring-loaded rod that goes inside the roll.
 

Top: Forstner holes in the plate for the TPH; bottom: the finished product.

And it did. Cutting was tricky on our way-too-big-for-this-job miter saw, but we made it through sans injury. Next we drilled depressions (not holes) into the ends of these arms, into which the springy rod would fit. Then we cut a scrap of oak trim to act as a “plate” on the back of the holder. We gave it a quick sanding, and put two holes in with a forstner bit, for screws.

Finally, we glued the arms onto the plate, put two drywall anchor screws into the bathroom wall, attached the holder, installed the roll, and there it was! One little project, crossed off the list.

A hammer for every task

When it’s hammer time, choose wisely.

If you think the concept of using a hammer is pretty easy, well, you’re pretty right. Depending on the task, though, there are specialized hammers on the market that can make your job-at-hand an error-proof breeze.

When you just need a household hammer for hanging portraits or general carpentry, go with a 16-ounce claw hammer. For prying purposes, use a straight claw hammer; for nail pulling tasks, a curved claw hammer will work best to get those nails out smoothly.

If cabinet building is your calling, we recommend a finishing hammer with a smooth face so you don’t find yourself chipping the wood. In the case of delicate wood projects like putting furniture together, use a soft-face hammer. On some, the heads are interchangeable; you can find hard or soft rubber, plastic or copper faces.

For the wall-demolishing, stake-driving folks out there, sledgehammers are clearly your best bet. May we recommend using a fiberglass or graphite handle for its shock absorbency so that you won’t feel like the sledgehammer is sledging you.

Whatever your project is, make sure your eyes and body are protected. The checkerboard or mill-faced hammer is designed to help prevent nails and wood chips from flying around, but it can hurt the finish on your wood, so only use it if really necessary. A good hammer is worth the money, because the cheaper ones generally fall apart with extensive use. Priced between $20 and $30, they’ll guarantee a solid hammering experience.—Caroline Edgeton

Bring your own bag

The way things are going, the question “paper or plastic?” is really on its way out. We’ve all heard the stats (Americans use 380 billion plastic bags every year; each ton of paper thrown away represents 17 trees) and we all know the solution: reusable bags.

Still need a reason to ditch plastic bags? Here’s one: a nickel off your bill.

With the collaboration of local nonprofit (and ABODE columnist!) Better World Betty and the Shop Charlottesville initiative, a team launched by the Charlottesville Office of Economic Development in partnership with local merchants, local businesses are offering reusable shopping bags made of recyclable plastic material. You buy them for a small 99-cent fee instead of accepting the usual fare. Then, of course, you reuse. 

So far, about 1,600 bags have been sold throughout the spring season. One participating business, Earlysville’s All Good Groceries, sold out rather quickly. “We’ve been out for the past six months, but we encourage people to continue bringing them; we encourage it for the environment,” said manager Shelby Cooney. “It’s for unselfish purposes.”

So kick the habit and B.Y.O. bag! Participating businesses include Nature’s Child, Giant, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods.—Caroline Edgeton

Tanks, but…

Was your home built 30 or 40 years ago? Got an underground heating-oil tank? You might have a problem. “Lots of folks in Albemarle County own homes built in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the tanks were put in at that time. They’re leaking as we speak,” says Todd Pitsenberger with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your tank is not polluting soil or groundwater. One local company that does testing and remediation is Pollard Environmental: oiltanks.net or (804) 377-8383.—Erika Howsare

Recycling with the stars

You may already consider yourself a recycling expert, so this month two local pros, Sonny Beale of UVA Recycling and Bruce Edmonds of the McIntire facility, help answer recycling conundrums of a subtler kind.

DON’Ts: Avoid recycling the packaging from reams of paper, Sonny Beale reports. It is woven with protective plastic and damages recycling pulp machines. The same goes for the paper backing on sticker labels for nametags and mailings, as well as wax-coated paper cups and milk cartons. Tissues and paper towels cannot be recycled for sanitary reasons .

DOs: Turns out you don’t need to cut out the plastic window from your mail  envelopes. “Just toss it in with your other junk mail and office paper,” Bruce says. Also, gift-wrapping paper (including tissue wrapping paper) is recyclable in the paper bin. Avid recyclers will be glad to know that Blue Ridge Packing Store on Preston reuses those annoying sheets of Styrofoam that large electronics or appliances are packed in, as well as air bags.  Empty spray paint cans and other aerosol cans are recycled with the metal cans after removing the plastic top. And speaking of lids: The plastic ones join the 1s and 2s and metal jar tops join the steel bin.

Finally, how clean does the peanut butter jar have to be? “Pretty clean,“ Bruce advises. Which means? “One good rinse is enough; a dishwasher cycle is not necessary.” This comes from the head manager of a facility that boasts zero contamination. Trust it and recycle onward, green warriors!—Better World Betty

Get a charge outta this

Toxic charge: Batteries must be recycled properly to avoid pollution.

Batteries are ubiquitous in our lives these days, powering all the same stuff they did for our grandparents (flashlights) and a whole bunch of other, more modern gadgets (phones, Flip cameras). Having power is cool and all, but keep the following points in mind so your batteries don’t become an eco-liability:

Batteries are toxic. They’re full of heavy metals like lead and nickel, and alkaline batteries contain potassium hydroxide, which can badly burn your skin. Bottom line: We don’t want this stuff leaching into groundwater.

Therefore, it’s best to recycle them. Better World Betty and earth911.org are two great sources for info on where to recycle batteries locally. This is one thing that chain stores, like Radio Shack and Staples, are good for.

Using rechargeables is preferred. And you can get solar-powered chargers! They’re slower than the plug-in variety, but so very virtuous. Blue Ridge Mountain Sports sells one made by Solio.—E.H.

Condition your condition

If you’re tired of cranking up the heat when it’s cold outside, but you’re daunted by the investment needed to weatherize your house, check this out:  On April 23, Congressman Tom Perriello announced an $8.8 million program for helping locals improve the efficiency of their homes.

Congressman Tom Perriello has made $8.8 million in grants available for weatherizing local homes.

Thanks to federal funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more than 1,000 Fifth District low-income families—especially those with disabled members, elderly individuals and children—can bump up their homes’ comfort factor through better insulation.

Most people know that insulation, higher quality windows and storm doors, and other measures can significantly reduce their monthly energy cost. But the up-front price of these home improvements can be too big a burden for some households. With this plan, weatherization assistance totaling over $2 million is available for an estimated 382 local homes.

Think you’re eligible? Contact Rebecca Rush at the Community Energy Conservation Program at 293-3777.—C.E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirt so good

Here’s an easy way to support the local green scene. Pick up a T-shirt from ABODE columnist Better World Betty, who’s always up to various planet-friendly schemes for Charlottesville and Albemarle. Betty is essentially a source of information and encouragement, answering such questions for locals as “Where am I supposed to take these old paint cans?”, “What’s the hottest Earth Day party in town?”, and “Why should I care?”

The shirts are free with a $15 donation, and you can get them at Nature’s Child, a kids’ gear store on the Downtown Mall. (Betty is very into shopping local.)

And the shirts’ color scheme is reminiscent of ice cream! Dig it.—E.H.

 

Connect four

Here, the cheese factor’s a good thing: A set of four serving plates from The Happy Cook brings vintage labels from European cheeses to your table. Are you daring enough to serve Gruyere on the Emmenthaler plate?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hyper-local food

When times get tough, get foraging. Edible: An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Food Plants will show you the way with its thoroughly encyclopedic cataloguing of everything digestably vegetal. O.K., so you’re not going to find Rambutan or peanut butter fruit in the yard, but morels and dandelion greens are definitely out there! Perfect for garden inspiration or the adventurous vegetarian in all of us.—Lucy Zhou

 

 

 

 

 

Love is a battleground

Late spring has come to our place in the hollow. The creek is running high with lots of little waterfalls, and for the first time in years the Regale lilies have not required their traditional draping to protect tender buds from a late freeze. Yet the soil below, though moist, remains perversely chilly. Moon vine leaves pout and heat-loving tomatoes, peppers and basil languish in the cold ground. Such are the vicissitudes of nature to which the gardener must bend.

Japanese beetle traps should go on the perimeter of the area you’re trying to protect, not at the center.

On the other hand, consider the Japanese beetle. In great numbers (which rise with abundant rainfall or irrigation and fall during drought years), they destroy leaves and flowers of crabapples, hibiscus, roses, crape myrtles, Boston ivy, Virginia creeper, and Japanese maples, as well as feeding on grass roots in the fall during their grub stage—a double whammy. Many dollars are spent and poisons applied to defeat these enemies of our ideal Eden. Yet they keep coming.

The metaphor of gardening as war is so 20th century. Let us think more creatively. Thoughtful gardeners can refrain from poisoning bees, birds and earthworms, not to mention their immediate surroundings, and choose not to put out a welcome mat for the bronzy green marauders in the first place.

Begin by limiting their preferred underground nursery, the lawn. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of different plants. For instance, members of the rose family are prone to fungus as well as to Japanese beetle attack. Euonymus can host damaging amounts of scale insect. Older varieties of garden phlox tend to get powdery mildew. Look instead to “iron-clad” plants like daffodils, Siberian iris, peony, daylily and herbs that have few problems. Use disease resistant roses and phlox.

JUNE IN THE GARDEN • Spare the pollinators. • Deflect pest attacks with wise plantings. • Explore the “iron-clads.”

Diversity is the best defense. In a healthy ecology, it makes sense to avoid large plantings of just one kind of plant, a practice known as “monoculture” that can set you up for devastating insect or disease infestation and create a cycle of chemical dependence. The more different kinds of plants, the less vulnerable they are to one pest and the easier it is to use environmentally friendly methods when problems do crop up.

Handpicking beetles into jars of soapy water or dealing them a deft thumbnail squish on the head do not exactly qualify as a Hindu-like respect for life, but at least the surrounding atmosphere isn’t polluted and other creatures beyond the immediate predators aren’t harmed.

Jaunty yellow and green beetle traps attract their prey with odiferous pheromones, so place them on the perimeter of the area you’re trying to protect, not at the center. Daily emptying the cardboard houses of their poisoned bodies is a necessary task, so why not handpick them anyway?

Milky spore disease has long been touted as the ultimate organic solution. The idea is to introduce naturally occurring bacteria into the soil by sprinkling granules in a grid pattern over large areas of turf where it will infect future generations of beetles. Sounds logical, but I know of no evidence that indicates milky spore has eradicated Japanese beetles from any place.

Even if, however, this were the case, the only way to protect your grounds from adult beetles, which after all, do fly, would be to infect the surrounding neighborhood, county, state—you see where this is going.

“It is in the understanding of this world —a world not of our making—that life becomes richer,” wrote the great landscape architect, Jens Jensen.

One can only concur and exhort the general gardening populace not to go into full military alert at the sighting of the first beetle of summer. Peace, baby.—Cathy Clary

 

Out with the old, in with the cukes

The zucchini are coming, the zucchini are coming! To be prepared for that weekly CSA box bounty, it’s time to trash those leftovers, scrub those shelves, and whip your fridge into shape to make room for summer fruits and veggies. Here’s how to take on that big white beast:

1) Get rid of leftovers. It sounds simple, but we guarantee that you’ll unearth an opened can of this or that from yesteryear. Keeping your Tupperware labeled with a “packed on” date can help keep you on track, while checking expiration dates is another way to free up the clutter.

2) While you’ve got everything out for examination, pull out the shelves and give them a thorough cleaning to get rid of sticky spots and spills. While baking soda mixes are traditional, others recommend a half cup of white vinegar in half a gallon of warm water. Wipe everything down and dry with a soft cloth.

3) To prevent your fridge (and other white appliances) from yellowing, mix 8 cups of warm water with half a cup each of bleach and baking soda, plus 2 tablespoons of Borax. Go forth and wipe.

4) As for odor control, baking soda works as do aquarium charcoal and fresh coffee grounds. Sounds crazy, but it’s true.—L.Z.

 

Charming accent

Ah, the miracle of paint: A bit of red on the windows, and this house on Woodland Road takes on a level of appeal that it wouldn’t otherwise have. In contrast with the crisp white walls and muted shutters, that red pops right out. Oh, and the window boxes are sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shrimp just might be the perfect Father’s Day grill.

Who you callin’ shrimp?

There’s nothing simpler and more delicious to throw on the grill for Father’s Day than shrimp. Slit, seasoned and skewered, they cook quickly and can fit into any meal or go directly into Dad’s mouth. While shrimp is almost always a frozen item, there is a seasonality to the little crustaceans; here on the East Coast, shrimp season begins in June and continues through the summer and into the early fall. If they’re going to be frozen, what does seasonality matter? Well, it means you are getting a product that has been frozen for a matter of days or weeks, rather than months.

For the best quality and freshest shrimp, buy from a seafood dealer rather than out of the frozen section of the grocery store. Seafood @ West Main (located in the Main Street Market) sources its shrimp from a single purveyor that pulls the wild white Atlantic shrimp from North Carolina’s Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. That’s about as local as you can get! Perhaps as importantly, owner Chris Arseneault sources seafood from purveyors who support sustainable fishing and management practices. While you’re there at the counter, you can pick up recipes and ask the experts any questions you might have. sfdatwestmain.com, 296-8484.—Lisa Reeder

 

Maharaja’s Shrimp Tomatar

This dish takes you away to India’s 3,000-mile coast—right here at home.

2 medium fresh hot green chilies
1 cup chopped onion
5 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp. red chili powder (or less)
3 Tbs. vegetable or canola oil
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1 Tbs. lemon juice
4 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. garam masala (available at Grand Market)
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1 lb. medium-sized shrimp, shelled and de-veined
2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
 
Blend onion, garlic and chilies into a paste with a tablespoon of water. In a saucepan, heat oil over high heat. Add the blended paste and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the chili powder, turmeric and garam masala and cook for 4 to 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the shrimp and salt and about 1/4 cup of water and cook, stirring for 4 to 5 minutes or until the shrimp turn slightly pink. Add tomatoes, cover and cook on low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. The sauce should start to thicken. Cook until desired tenderness. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with lemon juice and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with rice or chapati (flat bread). Serves 4.

 

The thrill of the grill

On grill duty? Protect yourself with all-natural bug spray.

Grilling season is upon us! Dust off your apron, rub the rust off your long-handled spatula and scrape the grates in anticipation of summer. If you have a charcoal grill, check that the body and legs are intact and fit for another season; any collapse or cave-in becomes very tricky at 800 degrees.  If you are a gas griller, check your propane supply and your hoses—and get rid of the spiderwebs! Before you go any further, move the grill to a little-used section of the yard, preferably sunny and within reach of the hose.

Gently pull the “fat traps” from inside or directly underneath the grill, and dump them into a plastic trash bag; this is guaranteed to be disgusting. Now lift out the grill grates and scrape them, top and bottom. Gently wipe any gunk off of the interior perforated gas hoses, being careful to leave them seated just as they are inside the grill. Give a wipe to the inside of the grill as well, removing any asparagus skeletons from last year. Finally, hose off the grates and the fat traps in the grass, letting them dry in the sun before reassembly.

If everything is in working condition, you are poised for a great season.  One last ingredient that will keep everyone safe and happy—how about an all-natural bug spray that really works? Try Natrapel, available at the Blue Ridge Eco Shop in Preston Plaza (blue ridgeecoshop.com, 296-0042).—L.R.

Working ideas

Need a place to park your laptop, your unfinished novel or both? We scoured the area for the best desks we could find. Pull up a chair and get down to work.

Root desk from Quince

Made from tree trunks and roots, topped with recycled elm, this one goes au naturel. $650; chair also available, $325.

 

 

 

 

 

Cosmo desk from Under the Roof

This piece does a minimalist wraparound, and you can remove the hutch if you like. Oh, and there’s a keyboard tray. Translation: friendly modern. $399.

 

 

 

 

 

Folding campaign desk from And George

Circa 1850, did all desks have numerous leather pockets, worthy of a general’s correspondence? A winning strategy. $3,400.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atticus desk from Classic Furniture

No one can argue with this: solid work surface with plenty of storage in décor-friendly cherry. It’s a keeper. $2,899.

 

 

 

 

Dropfront desk from Patina Antiques

It’s old as the hills—made around 1800—and has the heft to match. Walnut construction and a plethora of cubbies. $2,800.

In today’s buyers’ market, you hear stories of $500,000 homes selling for as little as $250,000—a buyer’s jackpot by any standard. Price reductions are everywhere—so how can a savvy homebuyer make the most of them?

Searching for discounted properties is easy enough. Log on to realcentralva.com for an up-to-date list of price-reduced or foreclosure properties. The site’s database allows you to search by the amount of time a property has lingered on the market or its percentage decrease in price.

The downside to this approach is that every other buyer from Culpeper to Crozet has access to the same information—everyone is looking for a “distressed” situation right now (real estate parlance for short sales or foreclosure properties)—so it’s unlikely you’ll get the drop on a deeply discounted property before anyone else.

Which is why, for the best deals, sometimes it pays to skip the listings all together and do a little investigating on your own. Routinely walking around neighborhoods that interest you is a great way to get a feel for what’s happening there. How can you tell a property is about to be reduced before it’s actually listed as such? There are a few telltale signs.

Number one, the house sits empty with a For Sale sign out front. This means the owner is likely straddled with two monthly payments—one for the house she’s trying to sell, and the other she currently lives in, a predicament no savvy investor wants to be in.

Number two, the house has been on the market for more than two months. Most real estate transactions occur within the first eight weeks of being listed. After the second month, the clock starts ticking. Meaning, if the seller hasn’t already dropped the price, you can bet she’s at least mulling it over. Now is the time to make her an offer.
 
But what to offer? The biggest mistake deal-crazed buyers make is thinking they’re in a position to low-ball the seller by offering 40 to 50 percent less than the purchase price. Most sellers can’t afford to let a property go for a pittance and, in fact, may be offended at the suggestion and decide not to work with you at all.

As a good rule of thumb, offering 20 to 30 percent less than the asking price is a good place to start the negotiations.

If you do want to make a low-ball offer: First find out if the seller is delinquent on her property taxes, a signal that she’s indeed over her head. This information is open to the public and easily attainable at the county assessor’s office. It’s not the most endearing way to buy a house, but sometimes that’s what it takes to get the best deals.—Jessie Knadler

Moving day

One of the more ridiculous projects we’ve ever done at our house: moving an old wooden shed to a new spot, 30 feet or so uphill. Why? you ask. Well, we were supposed to tear it down altogether for insurance reasons—its stone foundation was beyond precarious—but we liked the building, knew we’d make use of it, and convinced the powers that be to let us rebuild instead of demolishing. While we were at it, we figured we’d move the shed to the edge of the yard to make our outdoor space more open.

A crude system of rollers allowed us to winch the building uphill. Sort of.

First step: Remove rotting floorboards and shore up the bottom of the walls with a band of wide planks and diagonal braces in the corners. Next: Attach a heavy chain and comealong to the frame of the shed and, at the other end, a large tree. We then used hydraulic and floor jacks to lift the shed off its foundation and insert a system of rollers (really just lengths of iron pipe, with planks to roll on).

There then ensued many, many hours of winching the shed a few inches at a time and making endless adjustments to compensate for the slope of the yard and the general crookedness of the structure—both of which meant the shed kept falling off its rollers. In truth, this was less a D.I.Y. project than a H.Y.D.D.I. (Help Your Dad Do It) project, and we’re glad no one lost a finger. Now, where the shed used to be, we’re growing tomatoes.—Spackled Egg

What’s the hatch?

What’s going on here? A door is repurposed as the centerpiece of an attic hatch. Watch your step.

Though we dream of converting the attic in our house to a master bedroom, for now it remains an officially unfinished space. Therefore, our renovation loan required us to close off the attic with a temporary hatch. A simple piece of plywood laid over the stairwell would have sufficed, but what kind of class act would that be?

Instead, we decided to use a leftover interior door. It’s just like all the other doors inside the house, but it would lie horizontally at the top of the stairs, making a kind of visual joke, Alice in Wonderland-style.
 
The stair opening was much bigger than the door, so we had to surround it with a frame that we quickly built with 2x4s. Quickly, yes, but sturdily—we thought it would be good to be able to walk on this hatch if we were ever up in the attic working on a project. So we built the frame the way we would have built a wall, with studs 16" on center, then attached it to the door. Some cabinet-grade plywood to face the frame around the door, and our hatch was done.

If you guessed that this thing is heavy to push up over our heads every time we make a trip to the attic, you’re right. We just think of it as good exercise. And besides, it’s only temporary.