Your backyard or local park is home to ballgames and barbecues with family and friends. But did you know that it’s so much more? The trees, grass, plants and flowers in your yard, local parks and ballfields play an important role in fighting climate change. The planet is growing warmer because there is too much […]
eco-friendly
Posted inAt Home
How to Design with Authentic Materials
Creating a welcoming and relaxing space may be easier than you expect when you give natural materials a leading role in your design. Elements like natural stone, wood, fiber, metals and even plant life can allow you to express a sense of unique personal style that is broadly appealing. Most inviting rooms share one quality: […]
Posted inAt Home
Battery Safety Tips for Your Power Tools
While battery-powered tools are convenient options for efficiently tackling projects both around the house and on the job site, contractors and DIYers alike still need to know how to safely operate and handle the tools. One important safety aspect to keep in mind is battery selection. Lithium-ion batteries have become the industry-standard energy source for […]
Posted inGarden
Rain Garden at the Heart of Dream Northwest Landscape
When Sherry and Kirk Kanode moved into their beautiful, brand-new custom home in 2002, little did they know they were embarking on a gardening adventure of a lifetime. A deep, crescent-shaped bioswale separated their front yard from the street, making street parking and a path to the front door nearly impossible. The home was a […]
Posted inAt Home
Quick Tips for Detoxing Your Home
With so many people staying home because of COVID-19, this is the optimum time to “detoxify” your surroundings and “cleanse” your environment. Even small things you do — like swapping out plastic or eliminating certain products — can make your space healthier and more comfortable. Here are some quick tips on how to create a […]
Posted inGarden
A Garden Makeover
It takes time — as well as imagination, desire and commitment — to turn a yard into a garden. Sam and Karen Brindley had the latter two necessities when they moved to Indianola from Kirkland 10 years ago. The house they found had a spectacular southern view across Puget Sound toward downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island […]
Posted inGarden
The Garden Shed Takes Back Stage in the Garden
Every garden needs a work area: a “behind the scenes” staging space where all the glories of the garden are dressed, groomed and rehearsed until they are ready to make their entrance. This can be a spot tucked away out of sight with a simple table, a bag of potting soil and a stash of […]
Posted inGarden
Papa Paul’s Dahlia Farm
About 20 years ago while living in Sandpoint, Idaho, Paul Kusche got bit by the dahlia bug. A food industry executive by profession, and the son of a landscape architect, he’s always viewed gardening as an important hobby and source of relaxation away from the world of business. Kusche’s first attempt at growing dahlias ended […]
Posted inPeople & Places
‘Recycled’ Art
This “chandelier” was created by a group of students from the Community Transition Program at South Kitsap School District. Made from 400 plastic water bottles, it’s 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is currently on display at the Port Orchard City Hall. The 11 students in Romny Arnold’s class worked for six months […]