Time to Grow for It: Homegrown on Your Own


from the fruits of your labor - without having to spend hours tending it.


Gardening 101 Who would have thought getting dirt under your finger-


nails would ever be considered one of the hottest trends going? According to Doug Jimerson, garden core director for Better Homes and Gardens, “growing your own fruits, veg- gies and herbs is something Americans are doing in record numbers this season.” “It’s cheaper to grow your own produce than buy it - one $3 tomato plant will yield pounds of produce all season long,” Jimerson says. “Plus, the produce you grow just tastes better than even your grocer’s best. And while it’s healthy to eat and grow your own, gardening is rapidly gaining popu- larity as a great way to get some exercise, relieve stress and spend healthful family bonding time.” Eating foods grown in your own backyard means you


Area News Group


Salem


Community Patriot


May 4, 2012 Page 8


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Step 2: One-stop shop Heading to only one or two stores is crucial for any weekend


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warrior. Your time should be spent renovating, not driving all over town for what you need. So, once you’ve found your inspiration, do a bit of online research to locate the products at your local home improvement store that would be an ideal fit in your new and im- proved bath. Planning ahead will lessen frustrations when you begin scouring the aisles.


Step 3: Finding the perfect products For a weekend makeover, focus on the following products: paint, faucets, showering, accessories and accents. * Paint: Be sure to choose a semi-gloss or bathroom-specific paint, since the steam from hot showers and excessive water flow can make the bathroom a harsh environment. * Faucets: When selecting your faucet, consider style, finish, co- ordinating products and quality. The new Moen Boardwalk bath collection, for instance, features a blend of vintage design and classic lines for a stunning look


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Fruits: Blueberries, Raspberries Grapes, Strawberries


Veggies: Lettuce, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Artichokes, Peas, Brussel Sprouts, Rhubarb


Trees: Dogwood, Rhodies, Lilacs, Crab Apples


Perennials : Fancy Iris, Peonies, Ground Cover


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won’t be contributing to the carbon footprint left behind by the “food miles” it takes to bring imported produce to your local grocers - so you’re helping the environment, too. Growing vegetables is easier than you think. Plan it properly, and you can enjoy a healthy, homegrown harvest


Sunshine is sustenance - Vegetables need at least six hours of full sun per day. The easiest thing to do is to place your garden in full sunlight. Make sure it’s easily accessible for watering; if the garden is too far from your house it could get neglected. Check the last frost date in your region and wait until threat of frost is past before you begin planting. No yard necessary - Gardening doesn’t require a lot of room - although if you have the space and time to go large, go for it!. Many popular vegetables and herbs grow just fine in containers, making them a great option for those with limited space. For smaller yards, raised beds are an easy, low-maintenance option. If your garden is going right into the ground, just turn the earth with a shovel, toss out roots and rocks, mix in a soil amendment for healthy soil, and plant. Water relief - Water regularly, but avoid doing so during the heat of the day when evaporation will diminish the ef- fectiveness of irrigation. Water to wet the soil about 8 inches deep, but don’t over-water. Feed your food - All edible plants draw nutrients from the ground, and can quickly exhaust the soil without the help of a fertilizer. Always follow label directions.


Growing for it Now that you’ve got an idea of the basics, it’s time to pick


your plants. Start with transplants - seedlings are way easier to get


growing than seeds, so you’ll save loads of time and enjoy improved success. Fortunately, national purveyors like Bon- nie Plants make it easy to find hardy, high-quality, regionally appropriate plants at your local garden retailers. Bonnie offers time-tested vegetable and herb favorites, as well as


new varieties, in eco-friendly, biodegradable pots that not only reduce plastic waste in landfills, they reduce transplant shock. Simply tear off the bottom of the pot and set the whole thing - plant in pot - directly into the ground. Be sure to pay close attention to plant tags, they’re packed with facts and details to help you successfully grow your plants.


Here are some favorites to consider for your garden: * Tomatoes - The most popular, most-grown vegetable, tomatoes are always a best bet. Disease-resistant Bon- nie Original is a hardy, flavorful addition to any backyard garden. For containers or small spots, try Sweet n’ Neat, a prolific plant that sets fruit in grape-like clusters. * Basil - The perfect complement to tomatoes, basil works well in gardens and containers. New Greek Columnar Basil is particularly bountiful, as it grows high, leafs out densely and rarely flowers. The flavor blends traditional basil with spicy overtones of cinnamon, allspice and cloves. * Bell peppers - Versatile, flavorful and nutritious, bell peppers are great raw snacks and make an awesome ingre- dient for a variety of cuisines. Harvest peppers when they’re green or red when the vitamin levels are higher. * Eggplant - Black Beauty is the quintessential eggplant with a deep purple, glossy skin and meaty texture, and thrives in hot weather. White-skinned varieties like Cloud Nine offer a sweeter, bitter-free flesh. * Mints - Easy-to-grow mints are available in traditional spearmint and peppermint and in more exotic flavors like Bonnie Plant’s new apple mint, orange mint and even chocolate mint, which has a flavor that echoes the classic Girl Scout cookie. Hefty harvest - The general rule: If it looks good enough to eat, it probably is. With many vegetables, the more you pick, the more the plant will produce. For more gardening tips, ideas and advice, visit www.bonnieplants.com.


Weekend Warrior - Add Style, Safety and Storage Solutions in the Bath in Less Than 48 Hours


Many homeowners are looking to redo and update their homes, but with busy schedules, they often only have time on the weekends. While a complete overhaul of the house might be unrealistic for this time frame, a bathroom makeover is completely possible. The following tips and tricks will show you how to be a weekend warrior without having to hire a professional crew for assistance.


Step 1: Get inspired


Home magazines and online resources, such as Pinterest and Houzz, are filled with all the newest color palettes, design themes and patterns to get your inspiration flowing. While time-consuming tasks, such as replacing the tub, sink or tile aren’t in the cards for a quick weekend makeover, a new wall color, showerhead and faucet can be easily added. Utilize the many beautiful bath photos to find the theme or color scheme that calls to you and run with it.


in any bath - while also offering a wide selection of matching show- ering products and accessories. It’s available in chrome and Moen’s Spot Resist Brushed Nickel finishes, which does exactly what it says - resists fingerprints and water spots. Plus, Moen products feature a limited lifetime warranty to ensure quality. * Accessories: Bath accessories, such as robe hooks, paper holders


or towel bars, are an ideal way to keep your room looking neat and coordinated. But the latest products can also add thoughtful func- tionality - and even safety - to your bath. For instance, are you tired of finding towels on the counter or


floor, rather than hanging on the towel ring? Put this pet peeve in the past with the new Moen Retractable Towel Ring. The new accessory offers the traditional benefit of a towel ring, with a retractable cord to allow the towel to be used while it remains neatly in place. Next, for added safety with style, try Designer Grab Bars with Ac- cessories, which combine the safety benefits of a grab bar with one of three common bath essentials - a towel bar, a paper holder and a shelf - making each item functional and fashionable. Adding these discreet safety solutions will keep your bath looking great while still being practical. * Showering: The shower is a place to escape and relax - so be sure to find products to enhance this space. Today’s showerheads come in a variety of designs - wallmount, handheld, multi-function, rainshower - or a combination of all. Find the one that suits your showering style and be sure to choose a finish to coordinate with the rest of your bath.


Need more space in your tub/shower? Try adding a curved shower rod. In addition to adding a unique style statement in your bath, it’ll add up to six more inches of elbow room. Finish the look with a new set of Moen double shower curtain rings that offer a unique double- hook design to separate the decorative curtain from the liner. * Accents: Once you’ve chosen all the hardware for your bath,


you’ll need to think of the softer accents to help pull your design together. A new shower curtain, decorative towels, throw rug and curtains will add the final finishing touch to your new space.


Step 4: Install and enjoy Scott Richard


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Once you’ve made your product selections, it’s time to start your update. Luckily, each of these projects can be accom- plished quickly and are simple enough for even a novice. Just be sure to follow the instructions on each product’s packaging and, in no time at all, you’ll have a beautiful and delightful bath with added storage and safety solutions. For more informa- tion about Moen products, visit www.moen.com.


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