by Sue Newhouse, suenewhouse@yahoo.com

Every year, after New Year’s creeps past, there’s one nice warm day that hints at the fact that spring is just around the corner. It’s the day I run to the nursery to see what’s available, knowing realistically I should wait until it’s at least close to April first before planting to avoid the last frost. However, even before I plant there are a few things that need to be done.

First and foremost, feed your soil! If you do nothing else, do this. Some people use fertilizers, I prefer organic material. I start by adding 2-3” of composted manures blended into the existing soil.  This nutrient rich material improves the soil’s texture as well as retain moisture. It allows the roots to penetrate clay soils and allows plants to take up more air and water. The nutrients in the compost feed the plant and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and lastly, compost has been found to help suppress plant diseases. I can’t stress this enough – it all starts with the soil.  The North Central Texas College Gainesville Campus Equine Facility has composted horse manure they freely give to anyone who wants to pick it up. They’ll tractor load your truck or trailer, or you can shovel it yourself.  Contact Kelly Carr at kcarr@nctc.edu before you access the campus.

Next, get those roses and fruit trees pruned before first bud break. Since tree fruits are pruned differently than roses, you should locate specific information for each plant in question.  Texas A&M has an extensive online library of information at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu and look for pruning information.

Lastly, for this new 2010 year, do something different! Grow vegetables instead of flowers; plant a beautiful, edible vine; consider a new method of growing – square foot gardening perhaps (www.squarefootgardening.com).  How about companion planting? This gardening method places beneficial plants together, such as asparagus and tomatoes allowing the tomatoes to protect the asparagus from the asparagus beetle.  A companion planting chart can be found at  http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html#chart.  Learn something new by checking out www.FeedTexasFirst.org. This site connects you to local farmers who are having workshops specifically in the north Texas area. Suppose the small farmer needs help putting it in a drip irrigation system and you need to learn how to do this for your own garden. You provide the help the farmer needs and in exchange you gain the educational hands-on experience. Most of these sessions last only a few hours on a Saturday, so it’s minimal time investment on your part but a huge educational and networking opportunity for you.

Are you ready for spring? Gardening – whether it’s for food, aesthetics or just plain fun is guaranteed to encourage a lifetime of learning. Every year is a new opportunity to try new methods, varieties and styles of gardening. Happy planting!

by Reese Grey

Winter time, we button up the house by cleaning and checking, fixing and sealing… After the hustle and bustle season, it is still not too late.

Turns out that getting the house ready for winter isn’t just a cold-winter thing — it’s an eco-friendly thing, too. A tight house uses — and loses — less energy, requires fewer natural resources and produces less pollution. With just a bit of effort, you can make your winter house chores even greener. Here’s how:

• Seal: Gaps and spaces around windows and doors and in the attic can suck up to 30 percent of your home’s energy efficiency, according to the U. S. Department of Energy.

Fill them with caulk and you’re being green. Use the right caulk, and you can be even greener. Low-or no-VOC caulks have fewer noxious chemicals, but they may not be the best choice.

Look for a product with a long life expectancy, said Phil Smith with Minnesota’s Office of Energy Security. Using a caulk that has a 25-year life expectancy, such as siliconized acrylic, means you’ll use less material and discard fewer empty caulk containers over the years.

• Cover: Windows can be a source of heat loss and drafts. The standard fix – a window insulation kit.

• Filter: Before the furnace starts working hard again, treat it to a new filter. Not all filters are created equal, though.

The standard filter (think fiberglass mat in a metal holder) collects larger particles in household air that could interfere with furnace operation. But it’s designed to be replaced — and tossed in the garbage — every month.

A high-performance furnace filter (one with large paper pleats) does a better job of keeping indoor air clean and needs to be changed only once or twice a year. Plus, the paper part of many high-performance filters is recyclable.

• Insulate: Adding insulation keeps warm air in and cold air out, which saves money on heating bills and saves the planet’s resources.

If you need to add insulation, one environmental choice is cellulose, which is made from recycled materials.

“It’s taking yesterday’s newspaper and extending its life for a hundred years,” said Smith. To find out if your home needs insulation, go to www.energy.mn.gov and search for “Home Insulation.”

A show that has become a traditional highlight for thousands of North Texas family holidays, Providence Christmas is gearing up for a bigger and better show than ever show.  The first thing you will probably notice is the name change. If you are familiar with the display, then you will recognize the former name ‘Vaderville’ has changed to Providence Christmas.   That is because with four years of growth and changes it now encompasses four neighboring homes.

The magnificent display will include over 70,000 lights, 60 strobe lights, a several virtual snow machines, a virtual Santa Claus, red and green flood backdrops, a 20′ ‘mega tree’, video synchronization, and a couple of very cool LED scanners and other special effects. Oh yeah, and don’t forget that Santa will make live appearances as the big day draws close!

Come by and see the show, don’t forget to bring a donation for the Aubrey Food Bank; Providence Christmas is an official drop point for the Hilltop Church Hope Food Bank in Aubrey, Texas. The Hope Food Bank provides food and clothing for those in need during times of hardship or crisis. If you enjoy the display, please consider donating non-perishable food items that will help make some local family holidays a little brighter. Donations can be placed in the red drop box near the street in front of the display.

“There is nothing more precious that the smiles our work puts on the faces of the merry – both young and old – and the benefit that is received by the HOPE Food Bank of Aubrey” said Darren and Angela Vader, founders and head elves of this joyful treat.

1430-1451 Providence Blvd.
Providence Village, Texas 76227
info@vaderville.com

Show Starts Friday, November 27th, and ends at Midnight January 1, 2009
Sunday – Thursday  6pm-10pm
Friday – Saturday  6pm-11pm

Tune your car stereo to 107.3 FM for a synchronization of the lights and show.

This is the second in a series on local farms in and nearby Denton County

It isn’t too often we are given the privilege of sharing someone’s story at the beginning, as it unfolds. Like a rock band that seems to become an overnight sensation when in reality they have been doing the work it takes to get there for years, this farm is in its infancy and I am inviting you to come along and share their journey as they grow.

This farm is so new it has no name. Leah and Michael Daily are the owners of this charming, nearly 15 acre farm just a hop from I-35 off Hwy 380. They live there with their 3 children – David, Samantha and Hannah. These kids play an important role in maintaining the property and helping with the chores around the house. Their oldest son Cody is stationed at the air base in Wichita Falls with his wife and 10 month old son.

The Dailys thought of calling this getaway Cottonwood Farms, because as Leah says, “only cottonwoods seem to grow here”, but these people are changing all that. In deciding what to plant, they performed a soil test that proved they were well-suited for berries, so that’s where they started.

This year they planted their first two hundred blackberries choosing two thorned varieties – Kiowa and Shawnee as well as two thornless – Apache and Ouachita. They also chose to start fifty of a drought tolerant raspberry that grows well in North Texas, Dorman Red. This farm irrigates from a well and being concerned about water conservation, they buried drip irrigation as they planted. In addition, they utilize tree mulch to cool the ground for the plant’s roots, preserve moisture to minimize watering and reduce weeds and grass invasion.

Leah and Michael are on schedule for additional plantings this winter and since these first plantings will have limited production in 2010, they are hoping to open to the public in 2011. The berries are only one aspect of this charming farm though.

The Dailys are hoping that this farm, complete with a stocked catfish pond, vegetable garden, fruit trees and ducks galore, will grow into a family destination for holiday and seasonal activities. Being social, they love to bring people together for Easter egg hunts (3000 eggs last year!) and Fourth of July celebrations. Several local churches participated this year in a “Celebrate Recovery “July 4th party complete with hamburgers, potato salad and fireworks!

As is true for many farmers these days, Michael and Leah both work “outside the farm”. This is their second job and there’s no question they love the farm and the potential they see. Leah is at the brink of establishing a web site to keep her followers connected, so to get on her mailing list contact her by email at mddaily21@msn.com.

For more local farm info try: www.SlowFoodUSA.org, www.LocalHarvest.org, www.NaturallyGrown.org or www.EatGreenDFW.com. Most importantly if you know of great farm in your community, email me at suenewhouse@yahoo.com

Oriental rugs are beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. A genuine oriental area rug often has a unique handmade quality that distinguishes it from a carpet that has been made by a machine, even if the pattern resembles a traditional oriental design.

At FM Oriental Rugs, you can clearly see the intense detail of the fine workmanship put into each and every rug, which is truly a work of art. With over 24 years in business, FM Enterprises has brought their oriental rug business to the Denton community for immediate liquidation. As we all know, the economy has taken a dramatic downward turn, and certain types of business are being hit harder than others. FM Enterprises has opened a location in Denton for a gigantic sale in order to satisfy the debts owed to creditors. Customers will benefit from the savings, and never has there been a better time to purchase an original, hand-woven oriental rug that will last a lifetime.

Real oriental rugs may be knotted or woven and, depending on the style of its origin, may or may not have an actual pile. Some of the best-known oriental rugs are made in countries such as India, Iran, China or Pakistan, and they are the product of a wide variety of cultures, faiths and religious backgrounds. Of course, such a rich artistic heritage has given rise to a variety of modern patterns and styles that derive from ancient designs.

Whether its a hallway, foyer, living room or dining room floor that needs covering, FM Oriental Rugs has the option and choices you are looking for at unbeatable prices. Visit them today at 1800 Brinker Road, next door to Nasr Jewelers, or call 940-566-1904 for more information.

From cookware and textiles to cars and houses, there is a broad range of colors for consumers to choose from. Color is what drives sales in the Home Furnishings and Fashion industries along with several other industries. If it is the right product but the wrong color the customer is less likely to buy therefore creating problems for the producer. So what will be the hot new colors for this Fall? Well, they are a mix of muted popular colors and classic neutrals mixed together to create a spicy combinations of earth tones. Here are a few colors to keep your eye out for this upcoming season:

• American Beauty: this flattering true red is neither harsh nor over-the-top.
• Rapture Rose: this color plays upon the vibrancy of last season’s fuschia but is toned down a little with soft pink.
• Burnt Sienna: more a pinkish, earthy orange, reminiscent of Mediterranean terracotta roof tiles. Warm and comforting, probably the most-fall like of all the shades.
• Majolica Blue: adding an exotic feel to the color group this cross between teal blue and navy complements oranges and purple hues perfectly.
• Purple Heart: sitting somewhere between true purple and lilac, this refined tone is soft and sensual.
• Warm Olive: a rich yellowy green, reminiscent of an olive in a martini, which, according to Pantone’s Fall 2009 report “makes all other colors come alive.”
• Honey Yellow: a warm and welcoming yellow with a hint of honeyed beige. A perfect partner to Burnt Sienna for a wintry feel.
• Crème Brûlée: needs no explanation for those who love its namesake, the delicious French desert. Providing one of fall’s classic neutrals, this paired down mix of gray and ivory beige looks good enough to eat!
  Nomad: another timeless neutral which falls between light gray and beige serves as an anchor for more robust colors
• Iron: represents the “new black” of the season. Neither a true gray nor brown it falls more in the category of a cross between slate and gunmetal. This serves as a grounding color for all other tones.

So whether it is clothing and accessories or home décor and kitchen appliances keep watch for these hot new colors coming this fall.