Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2019)
SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 | 9A Summer Home Improvement Dishing on popular grilling methods G rilling is not only a way to prepare meals; for many, it’s also a passion. Flavor, lifestyle and entertainment are the prime reasons people grill. “Barbecuing is no longer just a pastime, but an integral part of the North American lifestyle,” said Jack Goldman, president and CEO of Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA). “We expect consumers’ pas- sion for flavorful food and entertain- ing their family and friends to contin- ue to increase.” The HPBA’s 2017 industry survey found that 70 percent of adults in the United States own a grill or smoker. Those numbers are even greater in Canada, where 80 percent of adults have a grill to call their own. When it comes time to replace or upgrade a grill, the age-old question remains: Do I choose a charcoal- or gas-fueled grill? That decision can spark heated debate among grillmas- ters, but for many it may boil down to a number of factors. Cost Charcoal grills tend to be less ex- pensive than gas grills. The food and beverage trend reporter Chowhound indicates that a low-end grill can be purchased for around $25. However, deluxe charcoal kettles and other char- coal alternatives tend to be consider- ably more expensive. The most popu- lar gas grills may cost anywhere from $130 to $300. Those who prefer more options and high-end offerings can pay to worry about running out of gas. Gas between $800 and $1,500. fuel tends to be cheaper than charcoal and easier to clean, and some gas grills High heat searing come with side burners that enable When cooking expensive, well-mar- cooks to prepare side dishes right next bled steaks or other dishes that benefit to their grilled entrees. from high-heat searing, charcoal grills seem to outperform gas ones, at least Portability according to the experts behind The For those who want to grill at home Sweethome, a product recommen- and on the go, then a charcoal grill is dation site owned by The New York the right investment. A charcoal grill Times Company. That isn’t to say gas can be brought to a campsite or a park counterparts can’t come very close. without going to great lengths. And deploying a cast-iron pan on top of the grates can help concentrate the Clean-up heat and allow the meat to cook in its Gas grills generally are easier to own fat. clean, and home chefs do not have to wrangle much ash or leftover coals Convenience once they’re done cooking. There is no doubt that gas grills are a marvel in regard to convenience, espe- Charcoal and gas grills each have cially when they are directly tied into their merits. It is up to consumers to a home’s propane or natural gas sys- decide which features reign supreme as tem. In such instances, one never has they shop for new grills. Did you know? Weeding is a chore few gardeners relish. Weeds can seemingly pop up overnight. And when left to their own devices, weeds can quickly grow out of control. There are a few key tips to weeding that can make the process easier. First off, start with wet soil. Choose to weed after it rains, as wet soil makes it easier to pull the full weed, including the root, out of the ground. Removing the weed all the way down to its root prevents it from growing back. If there’s no rain in the forecast, water the garden before attempting to remove weeds. If the ground is compacted and you’re weeding in a pinch, at least remove the head of the weed to prevent seeds from spreading and starting new weed growth. Prevent the hazard of overloaded circuits A home is a safe hav- en for its residents. No matter what’s going on at school or the office, many people know they can re- lax in comfort and safety when they arrive home at the end of a day. Safety at home is some- thing that can be taken for granted until it’s too late. The National Fire Pro- tection Association notes that each year more than 47,000 home fires in the United States are caused by electrical failure or malfunction. Overloaded electrical circuits are a frequent culprit in residential fires. Fortunately, overloaded circuits are preventable. According to the Elec- trical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), the following are some poten- tial indicators that circuits are overloaded. • Flickering, blinking or dimming lights • Frequently tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses • Warm or discolored wall plates • Cracking, sizzling or buzzing from receptacles • Burning odor coming from receptacles or wall switches • Mild shock or tingle from appliances, recepta- cles or switches. Learning to recognize the signs of overloaded circuits is an important step in making homes safe, as the NFPA notes that home fires contribute to hundreds of deaths and more than 1,500 injuries each year. Such fires also hit homeowners in their pocketbooks, causing an estimated $1.4 billion in property damage annu- ally. Prevention is anoth- er key component when safeguarding a home and its residents from fires sparked by electrical fail- ures of malfunctions. The ESFI offers the following tips to prevent electrical overloads. • Never use extension cords or multi-outlet con- verters for appliances. • All major appliances should be plugged direct- ly into a wall receptacle outlet. Only one heat-pro- ducing appliance should be plugged into a recep- tacle outlet at any given time. • Consider adding new outlets to your home. Heavy reliance on exten- sion cords indicates that your home does not have enough outlets. Bring in a qualified electrician to inspect your home to de- termine if more outlets are necessary. • Recognize that pow- er strips only add addi- tional outlets; they do not change the amount of power being received from the outlet. Fires sparked by elec- trical circuit overload pose a significant threat. Thankfully, such fires are preventable. Learn more at www.esfi.org. Restore rusty tools Many people may be tempted to discard rusty tools that have gone unused and sat in a garage or shed for a significant period of time. But tools encrusted with rust do not need to be relegated to the trash bin, nor do gardeners have to toil for hours scraping and sand- ing off the rust. There’s a much easier way to restore rusty tools that re- lies on a common household ingredient: vinegar. Pour vinegar into a deep enough vessel to submerge the met- al part of the tool. Soak the tool overnight. The next day, use a scouring pad to rub off the rust. If the tool is too big to fit into a can or bucket, simply wrap it with a vinegar-soaked rag and cover the whole tool with After all the rust is gone, a tightly secured plastic bag. rinse the tool in cool water Follow the same procedure and dry thoroughly. Then the next day. return it to regular usage. Identify & treat a garden mole problem Mortgage Lending Finance your dreams with the help of our local lenders! Local Decision Making In-House Lending Options Lawn and garden enthusi- asts often must address un- foreseen issues when tending to their lawns. Weeds can be a blight, and drought can com- promise the look and integri- ty of a lawn. Another, more deceptive potential adversary is moles. After a spring and summer spent tending to their gar- dens, no homeowner wants to have their hard work com- promised by moles. “The Old Farmer’s Al- manac” says that moles are ground-dwelling insecti- vores that feast on insects in the soil. Moles grow to be roughly six to eight inches long and have gray or black, velvety fur. Their snouts are slender and hairless, and they have very small eyes and ears. Their large front feet have long claws that scoop dirt out of the way like a garden hoe. Even though moles are more likely to snack on grubs, worms and beetles than plants, they damage gardens and lawns because of their underground tunneling behavior. Moles make subter- ranean channels throughout the yard in search of food. Some of the telltale signs include sprouted mounds R e l at i o n s h i p Ba n k i n g CTR provides solid waste collection and recycling services for both residential and commercial customers in Florence, Mapleton, Dunes City, Westlake and Ten Mile areas. We off er big company support and local company service. #NotYourOrdinaryBank GARBAGE & RECYCLING CARTS 35, 45, 65 & 95 gallon For more information on how we can serve you call us at 541-997-8233 We Want to be Your Garbage & Recycling Hauler! member www.opbc.com (541) 997-7121 Ki m E r i c k s on SVP, Manager of Residential Lending NMLS #402699 541-902-9807 kim.erickson@opbc.com M a re e B e e r s Residential Loan Officer NMLS #1152278 541-902-9815 maree.beers@opbc.com M im i Teachou t Residential Loan Officer NMLS #1011695 541-902-7279 mimi.teachout@opbc.com of displaced soil, holes and raised burrows and hills. Tunneling can separate roots from soil, eventually killing vegetation in the process, ac- cording to the home and gar- den experts at BobVila.com. There are various ways to address mole problems in a lawn or garden. Some profes- sionals may recommend fu- migants, home remedies and repellents. But these methods are not always effective, ac- cording to Better Homes & Gardens. Using insecticides can rid the lawn of some of the foods that moles dine upon, ultimately discourag- ing them from coming onto a property. However, many experts agree that trapping is the only reliable means of stopping these creatures. Homeowners can trap moles humanely by catching the mole in the act. This in- volves waiting for a mole to start channeling, then using two shovels to block egress on either side of its path. The mole can be removed to a box and relocated. There also are various mole and gopher traps available for sale that operate with spring-loaded snares. Indi- viduals should check if trap- ping moles is legal where they live. For more information re- garding moles, visit www. almanac.com or www. bobvila.com.
