Second Nature

Free trees!?!?

The Tree Fund provides trees to neighborhoods to enhance the city’s urban forest. Neighborhood groups can receive awards of 10 to 40 trees including up to one fruit tree per household. All projects must demonstrate their capacity to build a stronger and healthier community.

Program participants receive:
• Free trees! Trees can be planted in yards and along streets. Available species
• Watering bags
• Training on proper tree planting and care
• One free bag of GroCo compost, made with King County biosolids
• Helpful tree care tips and reminders

Applications are due August 16th. Review application guidelines at the website.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Below is a guest blog posting by friend and colleague Brenda Nunes with the Sustainability Foundation. I hope you enjoy!

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

…

Why do we do it?

So often in the green building industry we get caught up talking about what level of green we have achieved or how much energy we have saved.  All of that is a step in the right direction but missing the heart and soul of green and sustainable living.  It is easy to overlook some of the qualitative aspects of green building (especially as it pertains to a second home) when trying to meet the required and measurable objectives of green building.   But, a well designed Built Green home not only meets the metrics for energy, it should also support a healthy active lifestyle and utilize both indoor and outdoor living spaces.  This can be done:

• By carefully choosing products and systems that are durable, timeless and have low maintenance requirements, a home owner can spend far less time maintaining their home and will not have to replace due to obsolescence or style;
• By eliminating the lawn and other formal landscaping  and replacing it with natural drought tolerant landscaping, yard upkeep is minimal and the home blends in with its natural surroundings;
• By designing the home to integrate indoor and outdoor living, a smaller building feels more comfortable and accommodates more living.

The Green Access Home in Suncadia is smaller than many other Suncadia homes but lives big.  The family and design team carefully designed indoor and outside spaces to blend together and complement each other so that extended family and friends could congregate comfortably and create memories together.  Products and materials were selected to last the test of time, both from durability and a style aspect, and create a simple, casual and cozy environment.  That means the Carr’s will have more time to enjoy all of the activities that Suncadia and Central Washington has to offer.  They will have time to visit the Roslyn Farmers Market on Sundays this summer to pick up some great heirloom tomatoes and make my new favorite side dish; an easy to prepare simple addition to any great bbq meal.

BRENDA’S HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD (the secret is fresh seasonal food!)

• Heirloom tomatoes-cut into small chunks
• Fresh shelled peas or fava beans blanched
• Olive oil
• Fresh garlic and other herbs; salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly shave parmesan
• Bed of fresh pasta (I like Trader Joes Lemon pepper  Pappardelle Pasta)

Cook pasta, cool and toss lightly with drizzled olive oil and spread on a platter; mix tomatoes, peas or beans, olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper.  Layer tomato mixture on top of pasta.  Enjoy!

- Brenda Nunes, guest blogger

Energy Auditor

I was recently contacted by a nice woman named Carol. She wanted to do an energy retrofit on her home however didn’t know where to start.

Some general advice for anyone who is in the same boat:

The first step you should do is have your home go through an “energy audit” where the verifier will go through the energy systems in your home and look over the insulation, windows, etc. I suggest you ask to have the infrared camera used and the blower door / duct performance tests done – if the verifier finds that necessary for your situation.

A personal friend and colleague is Tom Balderston with Conservation Services Group. He should be able to help you personally or get you in touch with one of his colleagues.

Tom’s contact information:

Tom Balderson
Conservation Services Group
tom.balderston@csgrp.com
206-363-1815

I definitely suggest you take a peak at CSG’s website. They have some excellent consumer info, including rebate items.

After you receive a final report from CSG, you are able to contact trade contractors for the repair work. I strongly suggest you receive a minimum of three bids for any work you need to have done, as pricing is very subjective right now and a lot of trade contractors are hungry for work. If you need any referrals, please let me know.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

That's right…I'm married!!! 

And as part of the transition, I'm migrating my blog to jaymecarleton.com — don't worry though, all of your old links that say jaymemattson.com will still work, but you'll now be redirected to jaymecarleton.com automatically.  In fact, you won't even notice the difference unless you look at your web browser's address bar.

I look forward to blogging under my new name and bringing even more environmental and safety news to your front door.

Your friend and blogger,

Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

The Green Access Home at Suncadia is a 5-Star Built Green home meaning it has minimal toxicity or volatile organic compounds.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) refers to organic chemical compounds which have significant vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health. There are many types of VOCs which occur naturally and are man-made, however it is the anthropogenic VOCs that are regulated, especially for indoors where concentrations can be highest.

VOCs are typically not acutely toxic but have long term affects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, analysis of VOCs and their effects is a demanding and growing area.

VOCs can be found in:

• Paints, Coatings & Solvents
• Chlorofluorocarbons and chlorocarbons (which are banned!)
• Formaldehyde (such as in wood products, wall board)

Some of the symptoms of VOC exposure:

• Coughing,  Sneezing,  Headaches (flu like symptoms)
• Asthma
• Cancer

For a wiki definition of VOCs, click here.

- Jayme Mattson, Second Nature

http://jaymemattson.com

A recent article on Remodelingcenter.com discussed 10 Ways to boost curb appeal. All ideas were good, however some more practical then others. Based on what they said – here are my top 5 favorites which I wanted to share with you.

1. Upgrade the Front Door A new front door instantly enhances your home's appearance, and what's more, it can greatly increase resale value. A recent study by door manufacturer Therma-Tru found that upgrading the front door of a house increased the perceived value of a $190,000 home by almost $8,000. Estimates for new entry doors start around $2,500, so you could actually make back triple the money you spend. Jayme Tip: Be sure to get two or three quotes for the front door. Manufacturers can vary a lot in pricing and installation fees.

2. Take Care of the Landscaping Curb appeal starts with quality landscaping that enhances the style of your home. Landscaping doesn't have to be expensive; only well-thought-out, interesting, and cohesive. Pick a theme for plantings (native, tropical) and stick with it. Jayme Tip: Visit a local nursery for advice. Many nurseries carry pre-planted pots of plants or have plants grouped together, ready for purchase, which will give you the most street appeal for the least amount of money. Nurseries are making it very easy now for homeowners to do amazing landscape designs. And remember – be sure to pick plants native to your area. You want plants which are drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering.

3. Give the Garage a Facelift Plain beige or white garage doors are a thing of the past. Today's market offers beautiful alternatives such as carriage doors made of composite materials. Keep what's behind the doors beautiful, too. To tidy up the space, add built-in storage or use cabinets, shelves, or pegboards. Jayme Tip: Once again, be sure to get two or three quotes for the garage door. Manufacturers can vary a lot in pricing and installation fees. I am a huge fan of carriage doors as they have an elegant, old world flair.

4. Update Your Hardware Get new house numbers, a new mailbox, and a door latch with the same finish to give your exterior a cohesive, stylish look. Jayme Tip: Check out Home Depot for options. Before buying however, check out the local salvage stores as they receive a lot of left over items from builders and remodelers. There are a lot of good deals at salvage stores as well as eye catching pieces. My favorite Seattle-based stores are Second Use or Re-Store.

5. Install Outdoor Lighting Properly planned and installed outdoor lighting can add safety, drama, and interest to your home. Path lighting should also be an integral part of your outdoor lighting plan. Jayme Tip: Home Depot and Lowes carry many types of solar outdoor lighting. No need to hook up electricity for lighting when you could invest in something which uses natural solar energy and wouldn’t cost you money to run.

- Jayme Mattson

http://jaymemattson.com