A special supplement to the Calmar Courier, Postville Herald and

A special supplement to the
Calmar Courier, Post ville Herald
and Monona Outlook.
2016
2
Home & Garden
HEADQUARTERS
2016
Lansingʼs interest in gardening continues
to grow as he has big plans to expand
SHARON DRAHN
HERALD EDITOR
Parker Lansing, son of
Glen and Angie Lansing,
who joined the garden club
through Postville Community
Schools two years ago, has
become an enthusiastic and
seasoned gardener. Nine year
old Parker, joined the garden
club as a second grader and was
immediately hooked. He said,
"I really like being outside and
it looked like fun.I asked my
parents if I could join and they
said sure."
During one of the first
meetings of the club, the kids
took a field trip to Benjegerdes
Greenhouse. He said, "It was
a fun thing to do. We learned
about different plants and
foods."
His mother added, "He likes
food and all our kids are willing
Parker Lansing poses with some of the
vegetables that were grown his garden last year.
After having a bumper crop, the Lansings canned
many jars of beans and carrots. Also pictured is the
succulent garden Parker created with the help of
Judy Egeland. The succulent garden was started in
the Egeland greenhouse.
to try new things so this was
right down his alley."
Parker, along with his
sisters, Jade and Olivia. shared
their experiences with Cross
Age Teaching at Postville
Elementary School where
younger students are encouraged
to try new foods. Jade, 17, is
currently a member of the Food
and Fit team which works with
the younger children. All second
graders at Cora B. Darling
School learn about healthy food
choices through this program
and Parker, has learned to grow
many of the foods that are
shared with the children.
SEE LANSING GARDEN, 3
Top 5 home projects to
help you save money
It’s remodeling season, and with so many projects on the to-do list,
which should you tackle first? While some projects provide great longterm return on investment, a few simple ones can provide instant savings.
Here are the top home spring projects to help you save money:
1. Caulk around windows and doors: Stop air leaks around your home by
sealing existing gaps and cracks. Use caulking or weather stripping around
doors and windows. Installing a door sweep is also a good idea.
2. Insulate your home: Use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul
Comfortbatt, which can be used to top up insulation in your attic. Aim for
an R-value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches. For whole home efficiency, ensure
other areas of your home, such as crawl spaces, basement headers, walls and
ceilings, are well insulated. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather
and take the stress off your air conditioning unit.
3. Clean your AC unit: Come spring, it’s not uncommon to find an air
conditioner’s condenser and compressor blocked up with dirt and debris. This
can result in greater stress on the unit, causing it to work harder. Giving it a
thorough cleaning is easy and can help maximize your AC unit’s service life
while minimizing your energy bill.
4. Plant trees: Direct sunlight can heat up surfaces and building materials,
as well as the interior temperature of your home. Consider planting trees in
strategic locations to provide shade and reduce cooling costs.
5. Install a rain barrel: Water is an important, but costly resource.
Installing a rain barrel is an easy and affordable measure to reduce your water
consumption, while keeping your lawn and garden looking great.
These simple home maintenance tasks can be well worth the effort,
potentially providing hundreds of dollars in annual savings.
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LANSING GARDEN
FROM PAGE 2
The youngest of the four
Lansing children, Parker said,
"Judy Egeland was the leader of
the garden club when I joined
and she really got me excited
about gardening. She taught
us what we needed to know to
become good gardeners and
made it fun."
When learning to be a good
gardener, Parker said, you have
to remember some basic steps.
He explained, "She taught us
to be careful not to walk on the
plants and when watering, to
water gently. Even though she
isn't the leader of the garden
club anymore, I still work with
her. I help her at the community
garden and she always has
something new to show me.
She calls me when she needs
extra help. Her garden in the
community garden is huge."
He added, "I also worked
with her in her greenhouse this
winter. She helped me plant
a succulent garden which we
started in the greenhouse."
As part of the Youth Garden
Club, Parker and the other
kids learned to plant and care
for many vegetables he wasn't
previously familiar with. Things
they grew were radishes,
watermelon, kale, cauliflower,
broccoli, and green beans to
name a few. Along with the
vegetables, the group also grew
and tended for raspberry bushes.
Following his garden club
experience, Parker persuaded the
rest of the family to get involved
in growing things. He said, "I
Raised beds
These raised garden beds
at Postville Community Schools
produce vegetables that the
kitchen staff uses to provide
healthy vegetables and nutritious
meals for the students and staff.
Parker Lansing uses raised beds
for his personal gardens at his
home and he also has helped
with these types of gardens at the
community garden and the school
garden.
talked to Judy about hints and
the advantages of raised garden
beds and convinced my dad to
help me build some. Dad and I
have built four raised beds and
we are going to build two more."
With the raised beds, Parker
was ready to try gardening on a
larger scale in their yard. Along
with his favorites of green beans
and carrots, Parker also planted
kohlrabi, lettuce, potatoes,
radishes, egg plant and peas.
"The raised beds," Parker
said, "Makes gardening easier
because there aren't so many
weeds. Dad and I got some of
our good dirt from the compost
site."
He went on, "We can also
weed-eat around the garden beds
and put the extra grass around
the plants. That is another way
to keep the weeds down. It is
good mulch. With less weeds the
plants grow better. The raised
beds also help keep the rabbits
out."
With Parker's successful
gardening prowess, the entire
Lansing family has become more
enthusiastic about home grown
foods. Glen explained, "Before
Parker got into gardening, I tried
to have a small garden but the
dirt plot in the back yard was
3
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SEE LANSING GARDEN, 9
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4
Home & Garden
HEADQUARTERS
2016
Postville School Garden Club
Egeland lends a helping hand
Judy Egeland has been active in the Postville Community Garden
and Children’s Garden for years. She gives much of the produce to the
food pantry and others in need. Although she is no longer the Children’s
Garden leader, she has influenced many children and instilled in them
a love of gardening. Her gifts to the food pantry, along with sweet
corn from a family member, have been most appreciated and provide
countless nutritious vegetables to the less fortunate.
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BUILDING OR
REMODELING?
Last fall, the Postville School Garden Club harvested 150 pounds of pie pumpkin for the school lunch
program. Pictured here with the pumpkins, left to right: Kelleigh Martins, leader Elise Martins, Clare
Martins, Katelyn Frey, Summer Delatorre, Emily Frey, FoodCorps service member Elin Amundson, Owen
Bentley and Junior Ixen. The group also sold the school lunch program 250 pounds of potatoes. The garden
also produced tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, beets, radishes, lettuces, Swiss chard, kale, butternut
squash, raspberries, strawberries, carrots, pole beans, pea pods, and onions. The 4-H club includes 2-6
graders who earn a water bottle, t-shirt, or this year’s hat for all of their hard work. Club members also took
some of the produce home when school was not in session or it was given to the Postville Food Shelf.
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Monona Butterfly Garden receives
confirmation of tagged butterfly in Mexico
Some of the earliest butterflies
of the season may be spotted at
the Monona Butterfly Garden this
Painted Lady
Jim Langhus captured the
earliest butterflies of the season
at the Monona Butterfly Garden.
JIM LANGHUS / PHOTO
month. Jim Langhus of Monona,
notes, “These are butterflies that
hibernate in the loose bark of
trees, leaf litter and brush piles.
The ones that are being reported
around the Midwest right now
are known as Mourning Clocks,
Red Admirals and Painted
Ladies.”
Butterflies have a way of
traveling thousands of miles.
Word was received recently that
one of the Monarch Butterflies
tagged at the Monona Butterfly
Garden in 2015, was recovered
in Mexico at the El Rosario
Sanctuary. Langhus explained via
the Butterfly Garden Facebook
page, “It was found March 7 by
Jose Martinez Cruz. It was one of
a group of 23 Monarchs tagged.
This was the first good group of
Monarchs coming in to roost in
over five years and the first tag
recovery since 2005.”
This is indeed a very exciting
event.
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“Mother Nature is playing tricks on us this year. Usually this
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JIM LANGHUS / PHOTO
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6
Home & Garden
HEADQUARTERS
2016
Home trends to expect in the year ahead
Trends in home remodeling
and decor tend to come and go.
Something that is popular for a
little while can fall out of favor
when the next new idea comes
along. New trends are always
on the horizon, and 2016 may
encourage homeowners to try
something new.
• Metallics and metals are
back. Although stainless
steel accents in the kitchen
have long been popular, the
glistening look of metal and
metallic shades are back in a
big way. Inspired by the 1950s
and 1970s, brass, gold and
metallic finishes are popular
right now.
• Texture: Texture is a big
component of interior design.
Furniture and accessories
featuring faux fur and natural
fibers are becoming popular.
Pieces adorned with cozy
materials can seem more
inviting. Organic shapes, such
as tables looking like the tree
Don’t be surprised to notice a resurgence of metallic shades and
metals incorporated into home designs in the year ahead.
trunk they were cut from, also
are expected to become more
popular.
• Artisanal touches in
accessories: It’s all about
getting back to basics, with
homeowners desiring pieces
that are one-of-a-kind and
handmade rather than massproduced. Expect to see more
accessories that are made
by hand or in small batches,
like pottery or handwoven
textiles, as homeowners
are increasingly turning
to independent artists and
artisans when decorating
their homes. Homeowners
can even support independent
artists when choosing art for
their homes. For example,
YourArtGallery.com provides
an online marketplace for
artists to showcase and sell
their work, and buyers looking
to support independent artists
can rest easy knowing that 90
percent of all image royalties
go directly to the artist, a
stark contrast to the roughly
50 percent offered by more
traditional galleries.
• Fabric on the walls: Walls
also will be covered in texture
and pattern. Textiles will
increasingly turn up on walls
and in places they haven’t
traditionally been seen.
Patterns may lean toward
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Home & Garden
HEADQUARTERS
2016
Consider moisture issues when choosing insulation
BY: SCOTT MCGILLIVRAY
We insulate our homes
primarily to keep them warm
in the winter and cool in the
summer. As a result, most of
us evaluate insulation based on
its thermal properties, which is
definitely important to consider.
However, there is another aspect
of wall and ceiling insulation
that should be considered before
making a final decision, and
that’s moisture. If you choose the
wrong insulation, moisture can
seriously damage the long-term
performance of the insulation,
drastically reducing the benefits it
offers to your home.
Although wall and ceiling
cavities may be out of sight after
a home is built, they are very
important spaces in residential
construction and remodeling
projects. They play a critical
role in managing the interior
temperature, noise level, air-flow
and mold levels. It is important
that the insulation in the walls
and ceilings works just as well
years after installation as it
does the day after the project
is completed. This means that
the insulation needs to stay
consistent over time –– any
sagging, compressing or rotting
will compromise the safety and
comfort of your home.
To combat these potential
problems, look for insulation
that does not absorb water, but
repels it. Stone wool insulation,
like that produced by Roxul, is
a good choice. Water-resistance
is important year-round, but
especially in summer, when
humidity levels rise, and in
spring and fall, when rain and
moisture levels can increase
dramatically. It’s vital that your
insulation won’t compress or
sag within the wall or ceiling
cavity, because when insulation
materials compress and sag,
they leave gaps, compromising
the thermal performance of the
wall. Cold, heat and sound can
pass through much more easily,
creating a living space that’s less
comfortable and more expensive
to heat and cool.
Another important
consideration when choosing
insulation is mold resistance.
Materials that resist mold growth,
like stone wool, are essential
to the health of your home and
family. Because mold feeds
on organic matter, selecting an
insulation that is composed of
nonorganic matter is ideal to
prevent rot.
Keeping moisture and mold
at bay with a quality insulation
will contribute to a safer indoor
environment and provide energy
savings and comfort benefits
that can last for the lifetime of a
home.
Scott McGillivray is the
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contractor, author, and educator.
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smcgillivray.
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LANSING GARDEN
FROM PAGE 3
just never very productive. It has
been fun building the raised beds
with him and seeing things grow
so well."
Angie added, "The kids have
always been good about eating
vegetables and trying new things
but with all these different
veggies we have had more
options."
Parker added, "Dad and I
work together most of the time
but the other kids help with
mulch and harvesting. My
brother Carter (16) helps haul
soil in the pickup."
Parker Lansing poses with the giant cabbage he grew in his garden
last summer. An enthusiastic gardener, Parker hopes to add two more
raised beds to his garden this spring and summer.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Olivia, 11, added, "I was able
to use two of his beds for my
4-H garden project last year. I
did very well with the stuff I
took to the Allamakee Fair."
Her produce, which included
peas, green beans, and egg plant,
earned her all blue ribbons.
Parker, who was not yet
old enough to compete at
the regulatory nine-year-old
4-H entry level, earned a
participation ribbon for his
cabbage. He said, "I thought it
was kohlrabi when we planted it,
but it turned into great heads of
cabbage."
The bountiful harvest, led to
another family project, canning
and preserving the vegetables.
Angie said, "I had never canned
before but I looked up recipes
on the internet and found out it
wasn't too complicated."
The family has enjoyed peas,
green beans, yellow beans and
carrots all winter long thanks to
Parker's bountiful harvest and
his mother's canning. One of the
more adventuresome recipes the
family has enjoyed is pickled
green beans. Angie said, "They
have quite a kick but we really
like them. The yellow beans are
not a favorite and we probably
won't have them this year."
Parker said, "They are easy to
grow, but we can try something
new if we don't grow them.
Maybe more green beans."
With a smile he added, "Mom
used to say, I would rather eat
green beans than ice cream."
Asked if he wishes to
continue gardening for years
to come, he said, "I want to
continue to build and plant
more raised beds. Along with
the stuff we had last summer, I
plan to grow peppers, potatoes
and tomatoes. I also want to
start growing sweet corn. If
I run out of room at home, I
would like to get a place at the
community garden. I would love
to have enough vegetables to
9
have a stand at the 4-Way Stop
in Postville."
Gardening, however, Parker
noted is also a lot of work. He
said, "If you are going to have
a good garden you have to take
care of it every day. When there
isn't rain, I have to water every
night. I always listen to the
weather report to see if rain is
coming. Sometimes, when my
friends come over they help
me in the garden. Between the
gardens at home and helping
Judy, I keep busy but I still have
plenty of time to play ball and
do other things outdoors. It is a
great time of the year."
Love your vegetables
Willis Livingood of Postville, harvested this heart-shaped potato from
his garden last fall. His plan was to save the potato all winter long, and
he and his wife Marlene share it on Valentine’s Day.
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10
Home & Garden
HEADQUARTERS
2016
Veggie garden tips for beginners
Veggie delivery
Seth Salinas, son of Hector and Lindsay Salinas of Postville,
likes to help out with their harvest with his own means of
transportation.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
16
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Send ideas, stories and
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Advertising Representative
Nicole Vega
[email protected]
Planting a vegetable garden
can be a worthwhile endeavor
for anyone who has an available
patch of land. Gardens need not
take up much space, and even
apartment dwellers without
yards can plant small gardens in
containers they place on terraces
or window boxes.
Although establishing a
garden is easy enough, beginners
may make a few mistakes along
the way. Those who already have
paved the garden way before
can offer novice gardeners some
worthwhile tips.
One of the first decisions
novice gardeners must make
is which crops to grow. This
will help determine how much
land you will need and which
supplies or soil amendments
will be necessary. According to
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a
common error for beginners is
planting too much and more than
anyone could ever consume, so
it’s best to start small and be
proud of that small garden.
Plants such as peppers,
squash and tomatoes produce
throughout the season, so you
may not need many plants to
provide for your needs. Less
prolific plants may require a
greater investment to produce a
similar yield.
Locate your garden in an area
that gets adequate sun. Many
vegetables need between six and
eight hours of sunlight per day.
Without enough light, they will
not bear as much and could be
susceptible to insect infestation.
Vegetables and fruit also need
plenty of water because they’re
not very drought-tolerant, so
keep gardens close to a water
source.
Another good tip is to locate
the garden near the house or
barbecue grill. This way you can
easily harvest fresh produce and
use it when cooking.
Soil preparation is also
key. Till the soil and remove
debris like rocks, sticks and
hard clumps of dirt. Work with
organic material, such as manure
or compost. Apply mulch
after planting to help maintain
moisture levels in the soil.
Plant the tallest crops at the
rear of your garden bed. Work
forward with shorter crops. Try
to leave a foot or more between
planting rows.
It’s easy to get a garden
started and enjoy fresh food for
many months to come.
Spring
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Plant the
right tree
in the right
place!
Deciduous trees can provide
shade, keeping your house
cooler during the summer. In
the winter they allow the sun
to help keep your home warm.
When planting, watch for
overhead power lines.
We all enjoy trees, but when
they interfere with power lines,
reliability and safety
are compromised.
888-788-1551 • acrec.com
11
ʻOne is closer to God in
a garden than anywhere else on earthʼ
MICHAEL HOHENBRINK
CALMAR COURIER EDITOR
Stan and Elaine Fuchs are
waiting for spring.
Stan, a retired dairy herdsman
who taught for Northeast Iowa
Community College for 19 years,
and Elaine, a retired nurse, make
their home in rural Winneshiek
County, between Calmar and
Decorah.
Their home may be easy to
spot as spring nears as new life
begins to emerge from the soil.
Extensive flowerbeds and
attractive landscaping adorn the
property.
“This was something after we
got to the rocking chair stage,”
said Elaine.
Stan had previously had a
vegetable garden in the Spillville
area, but it was only in later years
the couple began to get really
focused on the work.
Married in 2002, the couple
began to garden seriously a few
years later.
“In 2005, we took the Master
Gardener course,” said Elaine.
“We became active in the Master
Gardener Club.”
A plaque on the wall of their
home sums up a way the couple
looks at gardening.
“One is closer to God in a
garden than anywhere else on
earth,” the plaque reads.
Elaine notes with Stan that
he takes the spiritual side of
gardening to heart.
“He just spends every waking
minute in the lawn or the
garden,” said Elaine.
Stan is amused when asked
about his favorite part of
gardening.
“Harvesting I guess,” said
Stan.
His favorite food to harvest?
“I suppose sweet corn,” said
Stan.
Stan likens the work to
scripture.
“We sow the seeds, and God
brings in the harvest,” said Stan.
In addition to gardening and landscaping, Stan Fuchs enjoys
birdhouses.
Stan and Elaine Fuchs are both Master Gardeners and
members of the Winneshiek County Master Gardeners.
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Every year, a little miracle
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“Everything goes back to
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Coming up will be busy
season for the couple.
What is the hardest part of the
process?
“I suppose the planting of it,”
said Stan.
“But he’s got something to
do every day of the year,” Elaine
adds.
Stan does composting on his
own. What is garbage one day
can become something useful
down the road. Stan is adamant
about making sure garbage is put
to productive use this way.
“Whoa to me if I throw a
banana peel away,” laughed
Elaine.
While Stan is into the
landscaping, Elaine tends more to
the flowers.
She has 13 flowerbeds to keep
her busy.
The greatest satisfaction for
the couple comes from the fresh
produce and fresh flowers, said
Elaine.
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12
How to ensure a successful basement remodel
Americans continue to fuel
remodeling spending across the
country, driven by upward growth
in real estate prices and the
rising cost to trade up to a larger
home. Basement renovations
are expected to be a hot trend
in 2016, as buyers look to
maximize available living space
rather than move, and as young
buyers look to offset the cost of
homeownership with potential
income suites.
While finishing a basement can
be a great alternative to moving
–– especially if you love your
neighborhood — there are some
challenges homeowners must be
aware of when tackling belowgrade living spaces. Choosing
the right products is vital to the
comfort, safety and function of
your new living area. Look for
products that help to maximize
energy efficiency and protect
against moisture, fire and noise.
Here are the top points to
consider to ensure a successful
basement renovation.
Waterproof it. Check the
interior foundation and floors to
make sure there are no existing
moisture issues, water damage
or mold problems. Address any
primary moisture issues before
finishing the space. Examine
grading to ensure water runs away
from your foundation.
Insulation is key. Insulation
plays a critical role in making
your basement feel comfortable,
while keeping it safe and dry.
For the best results, install a
rigid board insulation, like
Roxul ComfortBoard IS, against
the concrete foundation before
you stud the wall. The board is
mechanically fastened or adhered
to the concrete foundation wall,
which prevents thermal bridging
through the studs, providing better
thermal performance. Finish
with a moisture-resistant and
dimensionally stable insulation
between the studs, like R14
Comfortbatt, to protect against
common basement issues such as
mold, mildew and rot.
Choose a functional design.
Draw out plans, carefully taking
into consideration any low
ceilings or small windows. Try
to incorporate structural features,
such as attractive wood beams,
into your design. Keep the
space as open as possible. Select
lighting that provides a bright,
airy feel.
Don’t forget to soundproof
it. Soundproofing is the ultimate
solution to maximize your
basement’s quiet and privacy.
Whether your newfound space
will function as a home theatre,
music room, home office or
playroom, it will benefit from
quality acoustic insulation, like
Roxul Safe ‘n’ Sound. Not only
is it highly effective, but it’s also
easy to install.
Consider fire safety. Since
many basements are now being
renovated as income suites,
fire protection is also a vital
consideration. Whenever possible,
select building materials with a
high fire-resistance rating and
look for products that will not offgas or contribute to toxic smoke
in the event of a fire. Include
additional exits in your renovation
plan and educate yourself on your
local fire code.
Before you start your
renovation, be sure to check
with your municipality to
secure the right permits and to
ensure that you’re complying
with local bylaws and building
codes. Finishing a basement can
be a smart renovation, if done
properly, adding to a home’s
value, increasing its function and
providing greater enjoyment or
income potential.
Home sweet home
Pictured above, this bluebird
family, with baby peeking out of
nesting box was captured near
Calmar in the garden of Joyce
Meyer.
Color is everything
Pictured on the right, Joyce
captured this Baltimore Oriole
that was attracted by the orange
color.
PHOTOS BY JOYCE MEYER
Dreaming of Your New Home?
We can help you rest easy.
Visit with Karla Johnson today
about a home construction loan
and turn your dreams into reality!
Karla Johnson
NMLS # 478478
Postville
563-864-7615
NMLS# 460971