Spring Home & Garden 2012

BBllaacckk ggoolldd ffoorr ggaarrddeennssWoman says compost hashelped keep her garden

producing excellent yields, not diseases.

Page 2

Patty Conradt and her son, Carter, 13, stand in their lot — in the middle of Rose Creek along Main Street —which contains several gardens.

In-town gardenshows no city limits

Story and photos by Matt Peterson • [email protected]

Living in the middle of town doesn’t have to be a burdento gardeners.A family in Rose Creek is proving that. The Conradts,

who also own and operate Rose Creek Locker, are pushingthe envelope of gardening in town. Ironically, they evenhave plant sprouts strewn about the inside of their meatlocker.And they don’t just specialize in one plant. In fact, one

would never catch them buying produce at the grocerystore.“There are so many things I never purchase there be-

cause I always have them,” said Patty Conradt, wife of Markand mother of Carter, 13, and Ashley, 11. “It’s not so muchthe savings, it’s that I know what I’m getting.”

Big growth in town

See GARDEN, Page 6

GGooiinngg ggrreeeenn mmaaddee eeaassyyEcoAdvisor shares easy tips for re-

placing toxins found in cleaners and around

your home.Pages 4, 5

JJrr.. ggaarrddeenneerrssYoung gardeners growing by leaps

and bounds in Mower County.

Pages 7

2 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Big gains from black goldBy Adam Harringa

Therese Manggaard jokes that she decided to getinto gardening after trying unsuccessfully to play thepiano. On a farm outside of Sargeant, the six-yearmaster gardener has excellent yieldsand doesn't have problems with diseasein her garden. A main reason for that,she says, is a secret she calls black gold:compost.Gardening is one of Therese's joys,

and she's a firm believer in compost-ing. When it comes to the organic fer-tilizer, Therese keeps it simple; ratherthan using a container for compost, she keeps her ma-terial in a pile in her backyard."I have a really simple pile at home," she said. "If I

want fresh compost, I just take off the top layer thathasn't composted yet and I dig out ready compost."Almost any organic waste can be used to create

compost; from potato and orange peelings to egg shells

and coffee grounds, to yard waste such as leaves andgrass clippings. To start, you need storage bins —which range from $20 to $200 — or you can simplyclear a small space in the yard.Dave Hillier, owner of Hillier Composting in

Austin, recommends using two or three bins roughlythree feet by three feet. Hillier suggests filling one con-tainer, then shoveling the material into the next bin.When the first bin is full again, empty the second bininto the third and the first bin into the second, and soon. By the time the third bin is full, you’ll have a fin-ished product.

Moving the material aerates it and speeds up theprocess, but Hillier says if you stir it on nearly aweekly basis starting in the spring, you can have fully-developed compost by August or September.You can then apply the finished product directly to

a garden, by spreading a quarter-inch layer on top, orby spreading two inches on top and tilling it in, or youcan use it as a one-third mixture with soil for pottedplants.

"It's letting nature do the work de-composing yard waste," Hillier said. "It'sdefinitely a recycling process."Hillier said six to eight wheelbarrows

full of yard waste, which ends up asroughly two to three wheelbarrows fullof compost, can go a long way for a homegardener."It's not rocket science," Therese said.

“People think that compost piles are unattractive andsmelly and they don't have a need for compost, but Ithink none of those statements are true. If a compostbin is maintained properly, it won’t smell. As far asbeing unattractive, making a structure is up to you. Asfar as I'm concerned, it's the circle of life.”

Composting keeps gardens going strong

“It’s letting nature do the work decomposing yard waste.”

-Dave Hillier

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - SPRING HOME & GARDEN THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 3

Four easysteps to

jump-startoutdoor

springcleaning

Make outdoor spring cleaning a breezewith these four simple tips to ensurethat you're ready for warm weather fun:

1. Get the grill ready —Barbecues and pic-nics are as much a part of summer as baseballand trips to the beach. Your grill is central to thefun when you're cooking and dining outdoors, soget it ready with a good cleaning. If you were dili-gent about cleaning the grill after every use lastyear, a good cleaning with a wire brush may beall the cooking grates need. If your grates have alot of build-up and burnt-on food, remove andsoak them in warm soapy water to loosen the de-bris. Use a wire brush and a little soapy water toclean out the inside surfaces of your grill, in-cluding the inside of the lid.

2. Clean outdoor surfaces without scrub-bing — Over time, wood and composite decks,

concrete, railings, awnings and outdoor furni-ture can accumulate mold, moss, mildew andalgae. An environmentally-sensitive mold andmildew cleaner like Wet & Forget works overtime to gently remove outdoor stains on virtu-ally any exterior surface without scrubbing. Per-fect for mildew and mold removal, thenon-caustic, non-acidic and bleach-free,biodegradable formula can be applied with apump garden sprayer instead of a power washer.

3. Spruce up your view — Clean windowsnot only brighten the interior of your home, theycan make the exterior look fresher, too. Spring isa great time to remove screens (if you haven'tstored them for the winter) and give them a goodcleaning. Hosing them off should do the trick,but if they're very dirty try cleaning with a littlesoapy water and a soft scrub brush. Before you

replace the screens, give the windows a goodcleaning.

4. Taking care of your tools — Yard workand gardening are realities of warm weather. Allyour landscaping maintenance chores will beeasier if your tools are clean and in good repair.Unload the tool shed or garage of all the equip-ment you'll use this summer — from rakes andhoes to lawn mowers and trimmers. While youprobably cleaned your garden tools before youstored them for winter, they'll still have accumu-lated dust — and possibly rust — from sittingidle for so many months. Clean rust spots anddirt from metal tools, and use a coating of min-eral oil to ensure the rust doesn't return. Cleanlawn mower and trimmer blades, and replace theline on string trimmers.

—ARA Content

• Common household items, likevinegar, baking soda, Borax andlemon can be used to clean nearlyeverything in your home — from sinks,tubs and toilets to ovens and glass.• Sodium hydroxide or lye, which isin most oven cleaners, is a corrosivepoison and hazardous waste. Usebaking soda, vinegar and lemon as ahealthier alternative to clean youroven. Pour baking soda into the bot-tom of the oven, onto the charredfood. Pour a bit of vinegar over thebaking soda and watch it fizzle. Let itsit for 10-15 minutes and use a lemonhalf as a scouring pad to scrub youroven to a “sparkling” clean.• Hang clothes, blankets and towelsto line dry. If using a dryer, avoid dryersheets, which can be fire hazards andcreate a chemical buildup on clothes,

and opt for dryer balls.• Air dry dishes cleaned in a dish-washer instead of wasting electricheat to dry them. Run the dishwasherat night before bed or before you leavefor work in the morning to allow timefor the dishes to air dry.• Use soy candles instead of paraffincandles. One of the benefits to soycandles is that they are clean burning.Unlike paraffin, soy wax is nontoxic,with no petrol-carbon soot that canblacken walls, ceilings and furniture.Paraffin wax can also add toxic car-cinogens into the air you breathe. Soycandles burn much slower and coolerthan paraffin wax, creating a longerburning candle. This makes them amuch more cost-effective choice forconsumers.


With rebates up to $1350, Carrier comfort has never felt so good.

For a limited time, Carrier is offering rebates on the purchase and installation of a new heating and

cooling system. See your dealer for details.

ADDITIONAL REBATES UP TO

$625.00on a new comfort system from Austin

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placed from time of adtill April 22, 2012.

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QQuuiicckk aanndd eeaassyy ttiippss ttoo hheellpp mmaakkeeyyoouurr hhoommee mmoorree eennvviirroonnmmeennttaallllyyffrriieennddllyy aanndd ccoosstt eeffffiicciieenntt::

Making a breeze of going greenBy Michelle Haacke

Jillian Hoium Stitt’s admittedmisconceptions about “goinggreen” left her overwhelmed whenshe decided to make her NewBrightonh o m emore en-vironmen-t a l l yfriendly.S t i t t ,

formerlyof AlbertL e a ,began herquest forliving ag r e e n e rl i f e s ty l ewhen shebecame pregnant with her first sonin 2009. Using all-natural householdcleaners to reduce the amount ofin-home toxins with a baby on theway was her top priority, and clothdiapers were a close second. “There are so many products out

there and conflicting information,a lot of people don’t even knowwhere to start,” said Stitt. “Out ofall consumer goods we bring intoour home, household cleaners takethe lead in being most toxic.”

Stitt took to the Internet for tipsabout less toxic products, and sheran across Only Green, an educatorand supplier of eco-friendly prod-ucts and services. She was immedi-ately hooked and attended her first

EcoWorkshop inher hometown ofAlbert Lea that Oc-tober. By Christmas2009, she was an In-dependent OnlyGreen EcoAdvisor.While Only

Green offers envi-r o n m e n t a l l yfriendly health andbeauty, home, babyand pet products,Stitt said there arealternatives — al-ready found in

most households — to make thetransition to a greener lifestyleseamless.

“Out of allconsumergoods webring intoour home,household

cleaners takethe lead inbeing mosttoxic.”

-Jillian Hoium Stitt


OOTTHHEERR TTIIPPSS FFOORR GGOOIINNGG GGRREEEENN::• Replace energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs with compactfluorescent lights (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.• Reduce your plastic bag pile-up problem by taking sturdy,reusable cloth bags to grocery stores — some stores will evengive you a five-cent refund!• Keep your air conditioning temp 72 or higher, or donʼt use it atall.• Shut your blinds during the day to keep your home naturallycool.• Ensure outlets, windows and porches are sealed in winter toavoid drafts.• Use reusable water Klean Kanteens and coffee mugs.• Reuse paper in your office or at home for crafts or scratch paper.

Trey MewesReporter

Friday, March 235pm - 7pm

Matt PetersonReporter

Friday, March 235pm - 7pm Eric Johnson

PhotographerSaturday, March 24

9am - 11am JasonSchoonoverLayout Editor

Saturday, March 243pm - 4pm Adam

HarringaManaging EditorSunday, March 25

11am - 1pm

Kevin CossReporter

Sunday, March 2511am - 1pm


The Conradts have five dirt plots next to their business — the result of a lot theypurchased several years ago. The largest plot is roughly 30 by 20 feet, and four oth-ers are smaller, raised beds for asparagus, cucumbers and strawberries.Yet successful gardening requires many hours of work, along with the passion

to keep gardening.“(There is) something about it that just keeps us going,” Patty said. “I guess it’s

that challenge of doing better the next year. We’re never really satisfied with theway it looks, so we’re always trying to improve.”And Patty took on that challenge to improve. A while back, she began the

process of becoming a Master Gardener, a national program and status that re-quires educational credits to obtain. Now she is happy to be a resource for others,whether grandmas and grandpas simply need something from the garden or ifother gardeners have difficult time getting something to grow.Among classes, operating the meat locker, the Master Gardeners program, Jun-

ior Master Gardeners program and school, the Conradts still dedicate a lot of timeto their hobby.“In the summer time, we’ll work for three, four hours a night out in the yard ...

Until our fingernails are packed with mud,” Patty said.Though gardening can come to a halt in the winter, the Conradts stay involved.

They purchased a seed starting station from a catalog from which they also buytheir seeds. Now they have seedling peppers awaiting transplanting for later thisspring.“We’re in it already, full speed,” Patty said.The only thing more Patty wishes for is a greenhouse.“I’m terribly jealous of the people who have greenhouses,” she said.But she’s still doing just fine without one.The Conradts are growing dozens of petunias and geraniums indoors, and

they’re even starting to master the art of growing fruit trees, such raspberries,cherry trees and apple trees.One can expect their lot on Main Street to continue to transform into a larger,

more flourishing garden each year.“It’s always been this way around our house,” Patty said.

Above: Patty Conradt shows a tray of budding flowers she has ready for transplant-ing this spring. Right: Dozens of pepper plants line the inside of the Conradts’ seedstarting station.

Garden: ’We’re in it already, full speed’

CCoonnttiinnuueedd ffrroomm PPaaggee 11

“We’re never really satisfiedwith the way it looks, so we’realways trying to improve.”

-Patty Conradt


Junior Master Gardenerssprouting in Mower Co.

By Matt Peterson

ust like the plants they learn about, bud-ding horticulturists in Mower County area growing crop.

The Junior Master Gardeners — a programstarted by Melissa Koch and others at the Uni-versity of Minnesota-Mower County Exten-sion Office — is teaching youth how to becomeresponsible, smart and dedicated gardeners.Now the program has roughly 40 to 50 mem-bers since it started.“We started just with an idea about five

years ago,” Koch said. “And the leadership justjumped on board and we started digging upthe ground and everything fell into place.”Local members of the national Master Gar-

deners have been teaching youngsters aboutall sorts of plants and helping them completeprojects.For example, Patty Conradt of Rose Creek

has two kids, Carter and Ashley, who are in theJunior Master Gardeners program. Carterwas last year’s grand champion for a projecthe completed about his family’s garden andhow it transformed the scenery on Main Streetin Rose Creek.Now gardening is growing on Carter.“It gives me something to do — keeps me

out of the house,” he said.Patty said Master Gardener Deb Schammel,

who passed away in 2010, was a big influenceon her. Now she and other Master Gardenershelp Junior Master Gardeners each Thursdayduring the summer at the Mower County Fair-grounds. Junior Master Gardeners tend to gar-dens, attend classes and make meals fromvegetables, every week. Though regular sum-mer sessions don’t begin until June 7, thereare a few other upcoming events, including aseed start on April 14 and a JMG open housefrom 5 to 7 p.m. on May 21.Those interested in JMG may contact the

Mower County Extension Office at 437-9552.The Conradts, who own Rose Creek Locker, purchased this seed starting sta-tion so they can grow healthier peppers, and more varieties. Matt Peterson/[email protected]

SEED . START . April 14: Start to the

gardening seasonJMG .

OPEN HOUSE . 5 to 7 p.m.,May 21


Grass is an extraordinary plant, theunsung hero of backyards every-where. With proper care and feed-

ing, grass can help clean the air, cool theground, reduce erosion and provide oneof the softest outdoor play surfaces. Withall of these amazing benefits, it pays tostart the spring season off right by givinggrass a boost.

SeedFill in bare or thin spots with grass

seed to encourage a thick lawn, helpingprevent weeds from invading your lawnby blocking access to sunlight. Use a high-quality seed appropriate for your region,like Scotts EZ Seed to fill in thin spots andthicken the lawn. To repair larger areas,use Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed withWaterSmart coating.

FeedGrass needs nutrients to grow strong,

deep roots that can endure harsh condi-tions and grow in thick to help block ac-

cess to sunlight for weeds. If the lawn doesnot need reseeding, use a high-qualitylawn food like Scotts Turf Builder. Thislawn food can be used in any season onany grass type, and delivers balanced nu-trients for strong, thick grass. Use astarter fertilizer when planting new grassto promote root growth and seedling de-velopment.When seeding or feeding, use Scotts

DLX EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader forlarger areas to direct lawn food onlywhere desired - on the lawn and off hardsurfaces - and out of storm sewers. Thisspreader combines the accuracy of a drop

spreader with the speed of a rotaryspreader.

MowSet your mower at the highest setting

and leave grass clippings on the lawn. Mowfrequently to avoid removing more thanone third of the grass height, and do sowhen grass is dry to avoid damp clumpsthat could smother grass. Leaving clip-pings on the lawn recycles nutrients storedin the clippings keeping the soil cooler, en-couraging deeper root growth and enrich-ing the soil with organic material.Keep these simple mowing tips in

mind every time you head out to trim thegrass: Mow your grass at the highest set-ting, keep grass clippings on the lawn andwater only when needed.

WaterGrass that is fed and kept at a taller

height develops deep roots which are bet-ter able to conserve water and withstandperiods of heat and drought. Rely on rain-fall as the primary source of water. Dur-ing periods of drought, the lawn can gowithout water for an extended time. Eventhough the lawn may look brown andwilted, it will recuperate after the rain re-turns. If you do choose to irrigate thelawn, water less frequently for a longerperiod of time rather than short frequentwaterings.These tips for a great lawn will provide

a foundation for a fun-filled summer inyour own backyard. For more informa-tion on seeding and feeding this spring,visit www.scotts.com.

—ARA Content

Documents

Spring Home & Garden 2012