As Dandelion season is upon us, here are a few tips on how to put them to good use.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) Americans have benefited greatly from this European import, though many people would disagree. Dandelion is a beneficial companion plant, breaking up hardpan, pulling up deeply buried nutrition (calcium especially) and creating channels for earthworms to move freely. As the dandelion roots loosen the soil, they also ensure that water can move freely, allowing toxic salt levels to leach downward and prevent unhealthy accumulation. Contrary to popular belief, the roots of dandelion do not compete with shallower root systems, as they are not feeding in the upper three feet of topsoil. It is only when the flower blooms that the plant begins to cause a negative effect, slowing growth in the plants nearby. Managed well, dandelion is a valuable asset to the garden.

Work with this Weed: Dandelion can be allowed to grow in the garden, but should be scrupulously dead-headed or simply harvested before it is allowed to turn into that familiar white puffball. Turning the leaves and roots back into the garden as mulch or via compost teas can be highly beneficial.  

DANDELION GREENS PESTO

• 4 cups washed dandelion greens. Do not blanch.
• 2/3 to 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup nuts  –  almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, etc.
• 2-6 cloves garlic according to taste
• 1/4 cup romano or parmesan cheese

Put all ingredients in a food processor and process on high until creamy, making sure all ingredients are well blended.

Use the pesto on baked potatoes, as a dip, on pizza, noodles; he choices are endless! The pesto can be frozen for up to a year.

Bon appetit!     

Note- Dandelion is a digestive bitter. It heals, nourishes, and balances the entire digestive tract, including the liver.   

CLICK HERE for where we found Dandelions Green Pesto 

 

COMPOST TEA

                  A compost tea made from weeds from your yard is a simple and relatively quick way (compared with finished compost) to deliver the nutrients of your yard’s weeds back into your soil.

Ingredients:

* One pair of old/cheap women’s hosiery

* Weed of your choice

* 5-gallon bucket

* Distilled water

* Small fish tank bubbler (available for around 10 dollars on Amazon)

Instructions:

1. Fill one leg of a pair of old hosiery with the weed of your choice and add this to a 5-gallon bucket. Cover with distilled water. Be sure water does not contain chlorine or fluoride (don’t use city water in this application).

2. Let sit for 3 to 9 days in a spot out of direct sunlight or intense heat or cold.

3. Remove hosiery and add fish tank bubbler. Leave brew to bubble for another 24 hours.

4. When it’s ready to use, simply pull out the bubbler and dilute 1 part tea to 20 parts water. This can then be drenched directly on the soil. Save the remainder in empty milk jugs or other lidded containers.

CLICK HERE for where we found Compost Tea

 

Spring Break is a Great Time To Plant Seeds for Summer

 

Typically seeds should be started indoors 4-10 weeks before planting outside, after last chance of frost. Here in VT most people use Memorial Day weekend as the marker of when to plant outdoors, so planting during spring break gives you 5-6 weeks of inside growth. 

1. Good seeds for kids to plant with that time frame are Marigolds, Asters, Morning Glory. Sunflowers, Basil, Cucumber and Squash.

2. Container options are many from purchased to a variety of items you have right at home.  Egg shells work great, just remember to wash them out and poke a small hole in the bottom for drainage.  You can skip the eggshell and plant right in the egg carton also, again poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup.  Toilet paper rolls work well also, cut in half then cut 4 slits around 1 end and fold the pieces in to make a bottom.  You can even use a citrus rind, cut in half, remove the inside and poke a hole in the bottom for drainage.

3. Fill containers of choice with seed starter mix and plant seeds according to package directions.

4. Place containers in a waterproof tray and water until well moistened, but not soaking.  Either place tray in a clear plastic bag or cover with plastic wrap to hold in moisture and make a greenhouse until seeds sprout, then remove plastic, as sprouts need good air flow. 

5. Place seed containers in a warm room with lots of sunshine or under a grow light.  Best to water from the bottom, keep moist but not wet.

Click HERE to visit a direct link to Get Busy Gardening for an easy DIY Seed Starting Mix Recipe.

 

We would love to see your plants grow– Visit us on Facebook and

post your photos.

 

 

 

The below challenge provides eight categories of tasks and activities. 

Even if you don’t want to do the challenge, check out the challenge list and the VT State Parks website, as they contain a wealth of information on things to do outside.  Check out the “Things To Do” tab on their

website for information on Camping, Hiking, Swimming, Boating, Fishing, Biking, Parks Events & Programs, Venture Vermont, Winter Activities, Other Activities, Family Fun and Enjoying Nature.  

Venture Vermont will return soon for 2018 with brand-new challenges! Download your new score sheet below on April 15th to get started.

You and your family will never run out of fun things to do when you participate in the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge.

 

Here's how it works:    

1. Download a score sheet (PDF)- here is last year's as an example

2. Do fun outdoor activities listed on the score sheet between April 15, 2018 - October 15, 2018.

3. Take photos of your activities

4. When you reach 250 points, submit your score sheet and photos to us

5. Receive a VIP gold coin, good for free state park entry for rest of this year and all of next!

6. Have a blast!

If you are doing the challenge as a family, you can take group photos, but each family member needs their own score sheet.

 

 

 

1408 Bovat Road, Georgia

Þ Wooded Lot

Þ 20.04 Acres

Þ Drilled Well

Þ Well & Septic Design Available

Þ Driveway

Þ MLS# 4648011

Þ $139,000 - Click to view listing

 

Lot #14 Oak Knoll Road, Williston

Þ Subdivision Lot

Þ .92 Acres    

Þ Drilled Well

Þ Electric  On-Site

Þ Paved Public Rd

Þ MLS# 4669162

Þ $135,000 - Click to view listing

 

Give us a call today if you are looking for a lot to build your home!

~ The Market is MOVING, are You? ~

 

Due to the limited amount of inventory, homes are moving FAST. 

If you are thinking of selling, NOW is the time.

Give us a call and we can share what we will do to get your home SOLD!

802-846-8460

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

Now that we are officially in spring and the weather is warming,

it’s a great time to spruce up the home inside and out. 

Since outside is not an option quite yet, here are some ideas

to get your home looking great inside. 

 

· Make inside repairs:  Perform any necessary minor repairs and touch-ups to walls, windows, fixtures, etc.  Oil squeaky doors and hinges.  Replace all burned out bulbs.

· Freshen up walls:  Brighten interiors with fresh, light-toned paint.  If the walls are neutral and in pretty good condition, just give a good wash and touch up any nicks or scrapes.

· Replace outlet and light switch covers:  Sometimes after years of use covers get worn and dirty.  Replacing is quick, easy and inexpensive and gives that like new look.

· Update outdated or unsightly fixtures:  You can update your homes look relatively inexpensively by putting in a few new faucets, light fixtures or other accessories, such as door hardware.

· Replace or clean flooring:  If you have older carpeting that’s threadbare you might consider replacing it. If the carpet is newer you might want to just get it cleaned to remove any stains. Clean and wax all hard flooring.

· Freshen bathrooms:  If needed, put fresh caulk around shower, tubs and sinks.

Homestead Declaration Filing Deadline is April 17

By Vermont law, property owners whose homes meet the definition of a VT homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April filing deadline.  A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile.

All property is considered nonresidential, unless it is declared as a homestead. The education property tax rate levied on nonresidential property differs from the rate levied on homestead property. It is your responsibility to claim the property as a homestead if you meet, or expect to meet, the following requirements: You are a VT resident and You own and occupy a homestead as your domicile as of April 1, 2018.  Many people file their Homestead Declarations at the same time they file their VT income tax returns. However, if you apply to extend the time to file your income tax return, the declaration must still be filed by the April filing deadline. Even if a person is not required to file a VT Income Tax Return, the declaration must be filed by the deadline.              

Buying Property On or Before April 1: If you buy the property that you will use as your principal home, you are responsible for filing a homestead declaration on this property by the due date.

Selling Property On or Before April 1: If you filed Form HS-122, but sell the property on or before April 1, you are responsible for withdrawing the homestead declaration and property tax adjustment claim. You will be responsible for repayment of a property tax adjustment if issued. Use Form HS-122W, Vermont Homestead Declaration and/or Property Tax Adjustment Withdrawal.

Selling Property After April 1: If you filed the Form HS-122, but sold the property after April 1, the property tax adjustment amount is allocated to the seller upon closing unless the parties agree otherwise. The property tax adjustment is your payment for the previous calendar year property taxes and needs to be considered at the closing when pro-rating the property taxes.

You can now file your 2018 Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Adjustment Claim using myVTax. 

Filing online is EASY, QUICK, and FREE!

 

 

 

SD Ireland Construction Co.

will be driving thru Burlington, Winooski & Williston area again this year on Saturday

in celebration of

St. Patrick’s Day and

finding a cure for cancer. 

Hope you get a chance to enjoy the parade

and check out the

SD Ireland Cancer Research Fund.

 

SD Ireland Cancer Research Fund is a 501 C-3 Non-Profit Organization.

After battling cancer as a family, Kim and Scott Ireland decided to wage the war on a larger front and founded the SD Ireland Cancer Research Fund in 1999 with the goal of beating the disease once and for all.

 

Parade Route March 17 12:00 pm

♣ Follow Grove Street to Winooski

♣ Go over Winooski Bridge

♣ Circle around Rotary

♣ Up Route 15 to Interstate 89 South

♣ Get off Burlington exit – 14W

♣ Head down Main Street to Church Street

♣ Turn Right onto Church Street

♣ Turn Left onto Cherry Street

♣ Turn Left onto Battery Street

♣ Turn Left onto Main Street

♣ Follow Williston Road to Industrial Avenue

♣ Turn Left onto Industrial Avenue

♣ Turn Right onto 2A follow to Taft’s Corners

♣ Turn Right at light onto Route 2/Williston Road

♣ Follow Williston Road back to plant

 

For More information visit http://sdicancerresearch.org/

 

This year Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday March  11th,  when the majority of the USA will be “springing ahead” as they change the clocks. One benefit of Daylight Savings time is that it reminds you to take care of some other important home tasks that should be done at least twice a year. So while you are setting your clocks ahead, take care of these other important tasks in your home.

 

 

 

10 Things To Do When You Set Your Clocks Forward

· Replace the batteries in your Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector.  Making sure to replace and test these devices twice a year can be the difference between life and death.  Make sure to help any elderly loved ones in your life as well.  If they can’t do it on their own, some fire departments have programs that will assist.

· Reverse the direction on your ceiling fan.  In the Spring fan blades should rotate counter clockwise to help cool down the rooms.  In the Fall, switch the direction to clockwise which helps pull down the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling.  Both of these measures help save cost on heating and cooling.

· Flip and rotate your mattress to help promote even wear and tear.  Unless you have a no flip mattress. Then just rotate it.

· Schedule a furnace inspection.  This should be done twice a year to make sure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible.

· Replace the filters in your heater and air conditioner. This should actually be done several times a year to ensure they run as efficiently as possible.

· If you have a fireplace, scheduled a chimney sweep in the Fall and in the Spring take some time to clean up the fireplace and brush down the walls.

· Drain your water heater.  It is recommended that you drain one quart of water from your water heater every three months.  Make sure to check the owner’s manual for your water heater for further recommendations and how to drain the water correctly.

· Go through you medicine cabinet and first aid kit and discard any expired or discolored products. Dispose of any prescription medication that is expired or no longer needed.  You can search on FDA.gov for how to safely dispose of medications.

· Go through your pantry and dispose of any expired or stale/opened foods.

· Daylight Savings Time is also a good time to start rotating your wardrobe.  Wash your winter clothes and inspect them for damage and wear and tear.  If you have clothes you know longer wear put them aside for a garage sale or donate them.  Pack away clothes for winter and start washing and inspecting your Spring and Summer wardrobe.

If you are thinking of making a move—Springing ahead is also a perfect time to get your home on the market! 

Call us when you’re ready to make a move!

802-846-8460

 

Why You Should Sell Your Home in 2018

From Realestate.usnews.com By Devon Thorsby, Staff Writer |Jan. 12, 2018

Housing markets should remain tight this year, but 2018 may be a great time to profit as a home seller.  If you haven’t given much thought to selling your home this year, you might want to think again.  If you’re a homeowner and have been thinking about selling, what are you waiting for?  You may not consider 2018 to be your year to sell, but here are four reasons why selling in the next 12 months could be more beneficial than you think.

Buyers are chomping at the bit. Eager homebuyers have been frustrated over the last few years, experiencing low inventory in most major markets, which is pushing them to start home shopping earlier in the year to try to beat out the competition and ensure they’re not missing out on any available properties.

Interest rates are low … for now. For both the buyer of your home and your own next home purchase, low interest rates can help make a transaction possible The current low rates can serve as a catalyst for many potential homebuyers to get moving sooner rather than later.

You can move to find cheaper property taxes. The passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at the end of 2017 means a few significant home-related tax policy changes for the 2018 calendar year: Mortgage interest rates are only deductible up to $750,000 in debt and property taxes are only deductible up to $10,000.  If your household is going to struggle without the deductions you’ve had previously, it might be time to look elsewhere.

Renovations today won’t come back in full next year.  If you’ve got remodeling on your schedule for the year, be sure it’s an update for you because it’s unlikely that renovations will have a 100 percent return when it comes time to sell. Buyers will still expect effort from sellers in preparing a property for sale. While they may be willing to overlook a dated kitchen, it's the clutter, deferred maintenance and lack of curb appeal that can still kill a deal. 

Click HERE to visit  for the link to the full article