Curb appeal – the buzz phrase for that je ne sais quoi that adds the ba-da-bing to a house’s front side. Is there an “it factor” when putting one’s best front forward?
While trends change, tasteful, balanced layout never goes out of style. If you are considering a facelift for your accommodations, read on.
First, what does your front yard currently “say” about you? That you don’t own any yard tools, nor possess the phone number of a gardener? That you’ve spent the better part of your adult life collecting and clothing pink plastic flamingos? Yeah, our constitution guarantees our basic rights to be as tacky as we want to be on our own property. Conversely, however, living in society means choosing to forgo exercising some rights, in order to promote the greater good.
Maybe, like most, it merely says blah. No problem. Time to give ho hum the heave ho.
Take a step back and consider first impressions. The windows are your home’s eyes. Open them up! Clean off cluttered sills. Refresh window coverings and replace or repaint shutters. Consider window boxes.
Make sure a guest can get up your path without twisting an ankle. Does your drive or walk need to be power washed? Weeded? How about lining the merry path with some annuals?
While you are working on it, how about creating a more sustainable space? Reducing your lawn’s footprint reduces the amount of water needed to maintain it. If you are considering planting trees, can they be positioned to shade part of the house? Be sure and research plants native to your zone, so they don’t demand excessive resources to thrive.
If you are considering increasing your square-footage of produce-garden, you can plant fruit trees, interplant herbs with flowering plants, or use a trellis and a flowering climber to partition off kitchen-garden rows.
These are just a few thoughts. Go for a walk and note what you like about your neighbor’s spaces. Doodle some designs and do some research. It’s all fun.
When we bought our home, one of our first projects was a front yard make over. The yard wasn’t unsightly, just not to our taste.
Along the front sidewalk was a berm – a mound of earth lined with Agapanthus and tall reedy grasses. Then there was a half-circle of small trees, which arced from the edge of the driveway, across the yard almost to the front of the house. Inside the ringed grove was a field of gravel. This is where the former owners parked their boat. They at least get kudos for trying to shield it from the street.
As we leaned into our shovels, clearing out vegetation, scooping gravel, and leveling earth, a new neighbor stopped by. He shook our hands and thanked us for getting rid of the “bunker.”
It was a good description – one could easily have crouched down behind the hill at front and lobbed oranges at passers-by. Not that one would want to, of course. What a waste of perfectly good oranges.
As we laid out our new yard, we knew we wanted to create a more inviting landscape for visitors. We also wanted to be able to view an actual panorama out our front panoramic window. We hoped to have kids one day, and so were mindful of “play-space,” and researched poisonous plants.
It’s been almost 13 years now, and we’ve made a few changes along the way. There are some others that we need to make.
What about you? This week we’ll be chatting about curb appeal. Like beauty, appeal is in the eye of the beholder. What does it mean to you? What are some do’s and don’ts? What questions do you have?
Write now, or forever hold your peas.
Those little seeds we plant may be tiny, but boy howdy – the budget to develop them likely was not.
Wednesday’s blog about the W. Atlee Burpee Seed Company was a feel-good nugget about the American dream, and an entrepreneur who personified it.
Yet, these days the firms developing new hybrids and bio-engineering seeds are more likely to be ginormous transnational firms.
I found an interesting article on the consolidation of the seed industry. Author Robynne M. Anderson includes a quote from Rod Stacey of Verdant, stating that: “there are six major companies in the global seed industry and between them, they control about 50% of seed sales worldwide.” Consolidation is occurring at all levels of the industry – from R&D to distribution and retail.
Yet, there is room for the entrepreneurial little guy. The little biotech start-up guy, that is. Likely with a bunch of that venture capital we were talking about on July 9th.
That got me thinking about little guys – you and me, and the power of our consumer dollar. Sure, America’s farmers are mighty big players, but with trends such as people paying more for healthier foods, demanding organic foods (and seeds), and driving up seed sales at retail outlets like Home Depot, I’d say our aggregate voice is coming across clearly as well.
Didja ever wonder about those little seeds in the seed packet? How’d they get in there? Where’d they come from?
The W. Atlee Burpee Company, in Pennsylvania, has been supplying seeds by mail order since the 1880s. Part of the company’s longevity is due to the guarantee it provides - satisfaction for one year from date of purchase or a replacement of the seeds.
The company history is a great read, starting with W. Atlee Burpee’s yearly visits to Europe in search of the best vegetable and flower seeds, and the dog-eared notebook which became the starting point for the annual catalog. He was an innovator in selective breeding, hybridization, and adapting European seed stock for the soil and conditions of U.S. farms. The farm he started is today a world-famous plant development facility.
Along Burpee’s path to success were serendipitous discoveries, and calculated risks. By the 1890s his was the largest seed company in the world.
During World War I, the Burpee Company - under the leadership of Atlee’s son, David - was instrumental in the creation and spread of the concept of the War Garden, showing people how to grow their own food. He continued to help turn non-farming folk into vegetable growers with the Victory Gardens of WWII.
David Burpee had an eye for not only produce, but for PR as well. He named flowers after famous women, and dropped promo leaflets from the air.
In 1954 he launched a contest which stretched over two decades, challenging gardeners to produce seeds for a white marigold - thought to be non-existent.
Did he succeed? Hmm… I guess you’ll just have to read for yourself!
So, it’s a lovely summer evening and you are all set to entertain in the backyard. The yard looks smashing - well pruned and colorfully bloomed. The table is set, lanterns lit, pillows plumped. But something is missing.
Your guests! Where is everyone? They are all gathered in the kitchen, of course. It never fails.
One sure-fire way to draw the party outside - without abandoning the chef - is to cook out there.
Dining under the open sky is one of the many pleasures of living in Northern California. Cooking out there is even better. It keeps the house cooler, brings everyone together, and turns meal preparation into a leisure activity.
Outdoor cooking has come a long way from dad flipping burgers on the old charcoal grill. Nowadays many folks enjoy food prep stations complete with slate or tile countertops, built-in barbeques, gas heated burners, warming stations, refrigerators, wine chillers, sinks, smokers and more.
The varying degrees of sophistication is not only a factor of money, but also a reflection of lifestyle and preferences.
A friend of mine purchased a fairly good propane grill and tiled it into his pre-existing brick raised planter, resurfacing the dated brick and adding a counter. He incorporated matching smokers on each side, which creates visual balance. He smokes in one (meats, nuts, and fabu salmon) and uses the other for storage.
If you’d like to prepare more of your meal outside than your current set-up allows, think of adding things in stages. Plan ahead so that you achieve some balance, but don’t feel you need to pull it all together at once if your budget doesn’t allow. Consider what you like to cook, how you entertain, and the layout of your space.
Don’t forget lighting - will you need to run wiring? A wet bar - you’ll need to plumb.
Your cook surface doesn’t have to accomodate a side of beef. Check out this cutie - perfect for a small group or for centerpiece DIY appetizers.
Here’s a grill table, divided into three sections, so that no one chars their elbows.
Troy Adams Design came up with this delightful, low Teppanyaki style cooking/dining table. Yum-where are my chopsticks?
President Teddy Roosevelt made the West African proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far” into an
oft-repeated phrase. His point was that a subtle show of strength goes further in negotiations than bluster or grand-standing.He was right, of course.
But so is the truism that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar. (Please assume, for the sake of discussion, that attracting flies is a good thing.)
Thus goes the age-old debate: which is more effective in inducing change? To compel action - does one use the carrot, or the stick?
Brent Schulkin believes in the power of the carrot. He feels so strongly, in fact, that he has created carrotmob, which “organizes consumers to make purchases that give financial rewards to those companies who agree to make environmentally friendly choices.”
The core principle for carrotmob is the observation that corporations will do anything for money. That reality - coupled with the superior reaction time of the market place relative to the political sphere - is wherein lays the power of the consumer. Carrotmob actually organizes consumers, so that their aggregate spending not only sends a message, but literally funds a company’s strides toward greener business practice.
Most cool, yes? It’s grassroots, it’s positive, it’s making a difference. Tha’s what it’s all about.
Ah, our beautiful U S of A, founded on the principles of democracy and the voice of the citizen. Especially in an election year, rhetoric and posturing about the “will of the American people” can get a bit heady.
Now don’t get nervous – I’m not going to get into religion or politics. I’d like to chat about a different democratic process – one in which the entire world participates, to some extent.
Each and every day we register our preferences, opinions, and priorities. Not in terms of polls or ballots, but rather through the power of the dollar.
You may not feel like an activist. But our purchases send messages. And the free market economy is far faster and better suited to respond than any political entity.
Case in point - Matt Nauman’s article in yesterday’s Mercury News revealed that $794 million of venture capital was pumped into California firms last quarter. Specifically, into CA companies working toward advances in clean technologies. This includes areas such as solar energy, biofuels, advanced lighting, and so on.
This article comes on the heels of a report that last quarter contained no venture-backed IPO debuts. Just how unusual is that? It’s a first in 30 years. It’s considered a crisis.
So, if money talks, it’s shouting that venture capitalists believe in green tech. Why do VCs invest in things? To make money. The VCs believe that green technology will pay off. Granted, these are forward-looking guys and gals. They are looking at the big picture, big trends.
I, for one, don’t mind proving them right. I’ve got no problem lining a corporate pocket, if that will yield more choices – more commercially available, economically viable, renewable-resource-based products and eco-savvy providers of my services and energy needs. In the words of Smash Mouth - double entendre included - “we could all use a little change.”
In the meantime, I’ll keep encouraging portfolio diversification into green technologies, with every buck I cast. Err, spend.
Check out the wealth of home, garden & wine events, throughout the greater Bay Area, in the month of July.
Sunset Idea House. New home shows off innovative products and design ideas. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 31. Lane Woods development, Menlo Park. $15, $12 for seniors over 60 (Fridays only), $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under. Park and buy tickets at the Sunset parking lot at 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park. Cash and checks only. (800) 786-7375.
Wines at Tam Cellars Location: Tam Cellars, Larkspur Landing shopping center, 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle Wines poured every Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm. Great line-up of wines!
July 8
Bruce Cass Wine Lab: Fundamentals of Taste & Smell 3 Session Wine Course Location: SFSU at Westfield Mall, San Francisco, CA 94123 3-session course designed to create a strong foundation for wine appreciatio n while developing confidence about wine. Classes in San Francisco and now Menlo Park.
Volunteers needed. Help snip dead blooms and earn free ice cream. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Heritage Rose Garden, West Taylor and Spring streets, San Jose. (408) 298-7657.
July 9
Bio-Dynamic Tasting at William Cross William Cross Wine Merchants, 2253 Polk Street San Francisco, CA 94109. Domaine Select features several of their Bio-Dynamic producers.
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. Call (408) 918-4640 to pre-register or email compost@pln.sccgov.org. 6PM – 8PM, Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose Registration (408) 298-7657 or email info@grpg.org
July 10
Ceanothus for Gardens. Learn about this California native plant in a talk by Krzysztof Kozminski. 7-9 p.m. Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto. (408) 715-7020.
July 12
Central Coast Boutique Wines Pinot Noir Tasting Half Moon Bay Wine and Cheese, 604 Main St. , #J Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 We will host Marci Breitling of Central Coast Boutique Wines, pouring Pinot NoirsTime: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Grand Opening Art & Wine Tasting Party Location: The Artists Alley, 863 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 The NEW Artists Alley, at a terrific new location! This enjoyable evening will feature a variety of wines from boutique wineries from California and around the world. Specialty French Appetizers will accompany the wines to cleanse your palate. Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Cost: $20 in advance, $30 at the door.
‘Eating California‘ A California Native Edible Foods Workshop 10am – 1pm, 1305 Middlefield Rd # 1, Palo Alto, CA 94301, (650) 463-4900 RSVP Required: Please call 408-292-9993 or email info@cngf.org Each class will begin with an evaluation of all foods included in the recipes. Classes will prepare at least 3 dishes together and dine together at the end of the class. Recipes, sources, and garden tips will be included with each dish.
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. Call (408) 918-4640 to pre-register or email compost@pln.sccgov.org. Saturday 10AM– Noon. Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Avenue@Curtner, San Jose
Flower Arranging 101. See what you can do with summer flowers and foliage. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor and Education Center, 438 Coleman Ave., San Jose. $10-$15. (408) 298-7657.
Introduction to Orchid Growing. Beginner’s talk and hands-on demonstration with Steve Klitzing. 2 to 4 p.m. Saratoga Public Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga. (408) 867-6126.
Re-potting cymbidiums. Seminar and workshop with Rex Castell. 10 a.m. to noon. San Mateo Arboretum Society, 101 Ninth Ave. $10-$20. Reservations required. (650) 574-1677.
Healthy Pest and Disease Control. With Annie Joseph. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. $25. (650) 493-6072.
Watering 101. With Alan Tagami. Learn about efficient water use and get tips on saving water. 10 to 11 a.m. July 12. Yamagami’s Nursery, 1361 S. De Anza Blvd., Cupertino. (408) 252-3347.
Drip irrigation installation. Learn how to install a simple system. 10 a.m.-noon. Love Apple Farm, 9299 Glen Arbor Road, Ben Lomond. $45. (831) 588-3801.
Plant clinic. San Mateo Master Gardeners will diagnose plant problems and answer gardening questions. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. San Mateo Arboretum Society, 101 Ninth Ave. (650) 579-0536.
July 12 & July 13
Micobreweries Battling Breast Cancer Location: Larkspur Landing Courtyard, 2500 Larkspur Landing Cir, Larkspur, CA 94939
Taste beers from over 25 Local Microbreweries.
July 13
Wine Roulette with grape goddess Catherine Fallis at PCI Professional Culinary Institute, 700 West Hamilton Avenue Campbell, 95003. SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE named Catherine Fallis and PCI as best place to learn about and drink wine in their Readers Poll 2008
Tiburon Wine Cruise 3 Location: Angel Island Tiburon Ferry, 21 Main Street, Tiburon, CA 94920 Great wines, fabulous food, a hot band aboard the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry, cruising the San Francisco Bay for amazing evening views.
Watering 101. With Alan Tagami. Learn about efficient water use and get tips on saving water. 11 a.m. to noon. Yamagami’s Nursery, 1361 S. De Anza Blvd., Cupertino. (408) 252-3347.
July 15
Japanese Language & Cultural Experience Workshop: Sake Appreciation Location: Sozai Restaurant and Sake Lounge, 1500 Irving St., San Francisco, CA 94122. Matching food and sake is just like matching food and wine. It’s a fun, imprecise process that largely depends on your own unique taste buds.
Cloudy Bay Vineyards Wine Tasting Event at Pres a Vi Restaurant Location: Pres a Vi Restaurant, One Letterman Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129. 6pm to 8pm, $18 per person, inclusive of wine samples and cheeses. (415) 409-3000 www.presavi.com
The Soul of Syrah! A comparative tasting Location: Reaves Gallery - NEW ADDRESS - 235 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102. A guided, comparative tasting of six syrahs, selected to show the tremendous variation this grape makes possible. Limited to18 attendees. $49 includes course materials.
Silver Oak and Meyer Family Wine Dinner, Lecture and Tasting Location: Wine Scene at the Campton Place, Taj Hotel, 340 Stockton Street San Francisco
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. Call (408) 918-4640 to pre-register or email compost@pln.sccgov.org. 6:30 to 8:30pm Saratoga Community Center Arts & Crafts Room, 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga
July 16
Regional Italian Focus: The Wine & Food of Alto Adige Location: Ottimista Enoteca-Café, 1838 Union St., San Francisco, CA 94123. Join us for a journey through one of Italy’s most beautiful wine regions.
Wine Tasting and Cooking Class for Singles Location: Crushpad Winery, 2573 3rd Street San Francisco, CA 94107. Parties That Cook and Crushpad, San Francisco’s urban winery that is democratizing wine making, invite you to Cooking Crush, an evening of wine tasting and cooking for singles.
The Big Green Bus is Coming! Noon – 3:00 PM YSI Vasona (Please park in the Circle Parking Lot) www.thebiggreenbus.org for more details and to track their journey across the country.
July 17
South American Superstars Location: Bambuddha Lounge & Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy Street San Francisco, CA 94109 We will transport you far away to enjoy the amazing wines of South America. Join us as we sample over 85 top wines in this exotic poolside location.
Winemakers Dinner with Mauritson Wines This will be a winemaker’s dinner to remember! $65/person includes 5 courses.
July 15 to July 17
From Healthy Soil to Harvest UC Berkeley Field Station, Richmond, CA 94804 Hours: 9:30AM-3PM. This comprehensive 3-day program provides educators with the tools to design, start, and teach from a school garden. Audience: Educators Type of Event: Workshops and Seminars. Fee Amount: $79/$119/$158
July 18
Wine Tasting Technique Deconstructed! With Jeff Prather Our approach in this class is different. * You will learn to identify acidity, alcohol, tannins, fruit, wood influence and general varietal characteristics in wine.
Special Guest: Todd Spanier of Re Dei Funghi 6:30 p.m. Six Course Meal $95/per
July 19
Around The World in 80 Beers presents The Great Beers of Germany Location: O’Neills Irish Pub, 34 South B St. San Mateo, CA 94031. We are celebrating this Great Beer region by featuring some of the Great Beers of Germany. One price includes all the beers you can taste plus mouth watering appetizers.
German Wine Banquet Location: Alioto’s Restaurant, 8 Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco, CA 94133. The German Wine Society, S.F. Chapter, is pleased to announce that this years wine banquet will return to Alioto’s Restaurant
Frias Family Vineyards Tasting and Food Festival Location: Half Moon Bay Wine and Cheese, 604 Main St. , #J Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Manny Frias Jr. of Frias Family Vineyards will be pouring and three Half Moon Bay retailers are joining forces to host a Food Festival. 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. Call (408) 918-4640 to pre-register or email compost@pln.sccgov.org. Saturday 10AM – Noon Community Center Heritage Garden Meeting Room. 550 E. Remington Drive, Registration (408) 730-7262
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. Call (408) 918-4640 to pre-register or email compost@pln.sccgov.org.
Saturday 10AM – Noon, Community Center 201 S. Rengstorff Avenue
When to Harvest That Great Produce 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Free Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, at Charles Street Community Garden, 433 Charles St., Sunnyvale, 94087. Is that tomato really ripe? When do you pick corn? Don’t let all your efforts go to waste by harvesting too soon or too late.
July 22
Wine Appreciation: From Vineyard to Glass Location: Savvy Cellar Wines, 2048 Broadway Street Redwood City, CA 94063; Wine Appreciation: From Vineyard to Glass Taught by a local winemaker.
Cetrella Italian Wine Lover’s Dinner Location: Cetrella Where: 845 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. 6:30 p.m. Executive Chef Robert Holt is preparing a five-course Italian-inspired menu to accompany wines from Italy’s best houses.
July 23
Eco-Gardening for the 21st Century - Native Gardening Book Talk 7:00 pm–8:00 pm at Santa Clara Central Park Library
Gardening in Small Spaces 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Free, Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Rd., San Jose 95121. Map and directions to Evergreen Library
July 26
Around The World in 80 Beers presents European Beers Location: Gravity, 3251 Scott St San Francisco, CA 94123. Europe produces some of the Best Beers in the world and is the Theme of our next Beer Tasting event at a New exciting venue in the Marina.
July 29
Home Composting Workshop - ‘Compost Basics’ No charge. 7 – 8:30PM Palo Alto Call for location and registration (650) 496-5910 or email recycling@city.palo-alto.ca.us
July 30
2nd Annual Summer Winemaker Dinner Featuring Esterlina Vineyards Location: Emile’s Restaurant, 545 S. 2nd Street San Jose, CA 95112. 2nd Annual Summer Winemaker Dinner. A sumptuous 4 course dinner paired with the exceptional wines of Esterlina Vineyards. 6:00pm
Vintage 1996 Premium White Burgundies & California Chardonnays Location: Carnelian Room Restaurant,
