FALL COMPOSTING: Ensures a Bountiful Garden

Autumn is the perfect time to begin a project that will ensure a bountiful garden next year: a compost pile. Decaying vines, vegetables, leaves and grass clippings contain excellent nutrients that break down over time to recharge soil with nitrogen for spring planting.

First, find a place for your compost. Drive four 5-foot wood or metal stakes one foot into the ground — one at each corner of a square three feet wide. Fence in three sides with chicken wire, leaving one side open for easy access. If you like the idea of a compost pile but don’t have time to build one, purchase a prefabricated compost unit.

Next, collect chopped tree leaves, grass clippings, and all the vines and fading plants from your vegetable garden and build a pile that’s at least three feet high. This will create a hot internal temperature to decompose the organic waste into fertilizer. To prevent odor, you can add a dusting of lime every six to 10 inches. As a safety precaution, avoid adding lawn clippings that have recently been treated with herbicides or weed killers.

Shape the pile like a volcano and make an indentation on top to catch rain. Water the pile at least once every two weeks to keep it moist and turn it once in a while to move drier outside material into the middle where it can break down into lush humus.

This months joke:

Question:Why did the burglar take a shower?

Animal-Proof Your House

some animals that venture into your back yard are fun and pleasant to watch. Some are not. Some animals inside your house are welcome and tame. Some are not. From wild animals to the family kitten, here are some tips to help you keep control.

* Are raccoons in your garbage cans waking you in the middle of the night? Try adding one cup of ammonia to the trash bag before you close it up. The smell drives raccoons away and keeps them from spilling trash everywhere. Eventually, they learn to steer clear of the garbage.

* No one likes bats in the attic. Getting rid of them can be a challenge. If holes in your roof are the culprit, one way to keep bats out is to wait until dusk to patch them up. That way, any bats living there are already out on the prowl and won’t be able to get back in.

* Has your cat decided your sofa is its new scratching toy? To break the feline of the habit simply cover the scratched area with tin foil. Cats dislike the surface and will find a new place to let loose — hopefully on a scratching pole. Soon enough you can remove the foil when the cat has forgotten about its original appeal.

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2007 Risa's "Thank You for Being my Client" party was the BEST party ever!! Go see the pics at Risas Party

New Holiday/Vacation Homes For Sale

Question:Safety Measures

Answer: When it comes to home safety, there's no such thing as doing too much. That's why monitoring your home's carbon monoxide (CO2) level may be one of the most important actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and home. If CO2 levels build up in a home, this undetectable gas can be extremely dangerous, resulting in severe flu symptoms or even death. Keep yourself and your family safe by following these safety tips:

• Check and adjust gas appliances to prevent leaks. These can include gas fireplaces, stoves or space heaters.

• Install an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors over gas stoves.

• Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune your heating system annually to prevent future problems. If any leaks are found, repair them promptly.

• Install a CO2 alarm, which detects elevated levels of the gas. Place this monitor outside of every sleeping area because most CO2 poisonings occur at night. If the alarm rings, immediately open windows and doors for ventilation. Test the detector weekly and replace the battery monthly.

Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901

September favorite links:

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Happy New Year to all my friends and family

Use This Moving Truck for FREE      

RE/MAX Town & Country Realty has a moving truck (pictured above) that our clients can use FREE for their local (inside the Metro-Orlando area) moves. When Risa helps you buy or sell a home, just let her know that you would like to use the RE/MAX Moving Truck. Then Ray, the Moving Truck Coordinator, will coordinate your reservation to use the truck for a 24 hour period and outline all of the details for the truck’s use. Tell Risa early on in your transaction that you’d like to use the truck to make sure that you can reserve the best time for your move! We’re glad to be able to offer this additional service to our clients. Risa Saltman wants to help make your moving process as smooth, enjoyable and efficient as possible.

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