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2019 Spring Home & Garden
Help Save the Bees
Bees produce more than tasty, sweet honey. We owe most of our food to the hard work
of one of the species of apis. Seventy out of the top 100 human food crops, about 90
percent of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees, Greenpeace says. But bees are
in crisis.
Colony collapse disorder occurs when most of a colony’s worker bees disappear,
causing the colony to slowly die off. CCD ran rampant starting in the mid-2000s, when
beekeepers began reporting up to a 90 percent loss of their hives. The disorder has
scaled off somewhat, but bees are also under attack from pesticides, global warming,
habitat loss and diseases.
How You Can Help
Start by looking at what pesticides you use and opting, if possible, for organic solutions
that don’t harm bees. Then plan some plantings. When choosing new spring color for
your beds, ask your nursery worker to point you toward fl owering plants that bees like
and that are native to your area, requiring less chemical care than other varieties.
Build a Bee House
Build or buy bee houses for your garden. North America is home to more than 4,000
native bee species — honey bees were imported from Europe in the 1600s — and most
of those don’t live in hives, the National Wildlife Federation says. Instead, they live in
small nests carved into soil or wood. And, bonus, they rarely sting. Talk to your local
nursery or agriculture extension agent about what bees live in your area and how to
create the best habitat for them.
Don’t Forget the Water
Bees and other pollinators need water, too. Add a water feature to your garden. It can be
as simple as a bird bath you regularly refresh. Add rocks or pebbles that stick out above
the water line to give bees and other insects a safe place to land. Dump the water every
few days to kill any mosquito larvae, and stay away from chemicals.
Hiring an Exterior Painter
All the sprucing up in the yard may make
you turn a critical eye to the exterior of
your home.
While you can paint the outside of your
home yourself, most homeowners choose
to hire a contractor for this big job. Here
are some tips for picking a pro from Con-
sumer Reports.
Set Up a Meeting
Ask friends, family and the local paint
store for recommendations, then set up a
meeting time with each contractor. He or
she will want to walk around your home
and take a close look at all the surfaces to
provide a detailed estimate. Be wary of
short visits. Ask how big the contractor’s
crew is and how much experience they
have.
they plan to use, number of coats and
surface prep work that must be done, like
replacing rotten wood. Once you pick
a contractor, they also should provide
you with a written contract. The contract
should include everything in the estimate,
plus a clear outline of what is and is not
included in the work. You also can ask for
a guarantee of the work; your paint may
offer a warranty, but it probably doesn’t
include labor.
Check References and Credentials
Talk to past clients and, if you can, look at
their work from several years ago to see
how well it holds up. Also check more re-
cent projects to see the skills of the current
crew. Make sure each contractor is up to
date with any local or state licenses and
that they have their own insurance.
Get it in Writing
Each contractor should provide you with
a written estimate that includes a com-
plete breakdown of costs, including labor
and supplies. Look for the brand of paint
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