Grow Your Energy Efficiency . . .
Come to the Energy Fairs! NEXT DAY DELIVERY OFFERED ON PARCEL EXPRESS ITEMS COMPETITIVE RATES ON ANY SHIPMENT INCLUDING SPECIAL HANDLING OVERSIZE OR HAZARDOUS ITEMS
• • • • •
W Weatherization Demos Rebate Inf Information Lightbulb Exchange Solar Home Tours Efficiency and Conser Conservation Workshops • Electric V Vehicle Demos • Kid Activities
San Juan Island Saturday, May 30 10am to 3pm Mullis Community Center Orcas Island Saturday, June 6 10am to 3pm Eastsound Village Green Lopez Island Saturday, June 27 10am to 3pm Lopez Center for Community and the Arts Co-sponsored by:
FRIDAY HARBOR FREIGHT DIRECT SERVICE TO: MT. VERNON, BELLINGHAM, SEATTLE & TACOMA AREAS Monday thru Friday NEXT DAY DELIVERY NOW OFFERED ON PARCEL EXPRESS ITEMS COMPETITIVE RATES ON ANY SHIPMENT INCLUDING SPECIAL HANDLING OVERSIZE OR HAZARDOUS ITEMS
360.378.2012 • 1.800.562.3245 PO Box 728 • Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Merle’s
Masonry, Chimney Care & Stoves
“the Chimney Doctor” Need a New Gas or Wood Stove? When did you last clean your chimney?
New Location! 635 Spring St, Friday Harbor 360-378-5357 • merlesmasonry.com
LAND SURVEYING • Planning a garden? • Wondering where your property line actually is? • Thinking of building a fence or a garage? • (360) 378-2300 • sanjuansurveying.com • info@sanjuansurveying.com Robert Wilson, PLS Andy Holman, PLS Patrick Kirby, PLS
P
lanting flowers is as simple as digging a hole, positioning the plant and filling the hole with soil, right? Unfortunately it’s not that simple, at least not if you want your flowers to thrive. Here are a few tips for successful planting. The right time to plant depends on the type of flowers chosen. Spring-flowering perennials (perennials are plants which live several years and flower on a regular basis) should be planted at the end of the summer. Summerflowering plants should be planted in the spring. Annuals, which are flowers that only live for one summer, should be planted as soon as all risk of frost is over. It is preferable to plant at the end of the after-
noon or on a cloudy day so that your plants are exposed to as little heat as possible. If you cannot put them in the ground on the same day as you purchase them, they should be stored in a shady area, sheltered from the wind. Should freshly planted flowers be watered with a fertilizer so they will grow more quickly? Definitely not. New plants must be allowed to start a root system before they are fertilized. They have to be able to find their first nutritional elements in the soil in order to develop properly. Once that has happened, apply a liquid fertilizer, such as 15-30-15, once every 15 days. Never apply fertilizer to dry soil. Take the time to water it beforehand so that the fertilizer doesn’t burn your plants.
Group Publisher: Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor: Cali Bagby Contributing Writers: Colleen Smith Armstrong, Cali Bagby, Emily Greenburg, Scott Rasmussen Advertising Sales: Colleen Smith Armstrong, Cali Bagby, Cherie Sarrett, Howard Schonberger Creative Artists: Scott Herning, Kathryn Sherman
The Journal of the San Juans: 640 Mullis St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250 P: 360-378-5696, F: 888-562-8818 - www.sanjuanjournal.com The Islands’ Sounder: 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245 P: 360-376-4500, F: 888-562-8818 - www.islandssounder.com The Islands’ Weekly: 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245 P: 360-376-4500, F: 888-562-8818 - www.islandsweekly.com
Locally owned & operated Since 1971
Richard Lawson Construction INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL Gravel, Shale, Ponds, Dams, Rock Bulkheads, Land Clearing, Road Building, Site Prep, Local Materials, Concrete, Pump truck available, Licensed, Bonded Insured FREE ESTIMATES CONTRACTOR LICENSE #RI-CH-AL-C998P6
RichardLawsonConstruction.com • 360-378-4313 • 1165 West Valley Road, Friday Harbor
®
Islanders Bank
Home Equity Loans
No job is too small! Stop by and talk with a lending specialist today. Friday Harbor 225 Blair Ave. 378-2265
Lopez Island 45 Weeks Rd. 468-2295
www.IslandersBank.com
Orcas Island 475 Fern St. 376-2265
Residential and Commercial Architecture P.O. Box 995, Eastsound, WA
360.376.2930
www.S-29.com
New Construction, Additions, Remodels Design and Permit Services 360-468-2830 | SWALLCL95108
Staff photo / Emily Greenberg
Peggy Mauro and her dog Roo love their tiny home on San Juan Island.
See JOURNEY, Page 8
Spring is here… stop in to see what’s fresh at • Floral Arrangements • Tropical Plants • Unique Jewelry • Candles
• Northwest Artists • Glassware • Gift Baskets • Home Decor
(360) 376-4580
18 Haven Road Eastsound (Orcas Island) Washington 98245 10 am to 5:30 pm Daily www.nestflowers.com
Stop in and see our extensive inventory of Toro push mowers and Zero turn riders
360-378-2220 harborrentalandsaw.com 890 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA
Healthy home interior products for a more sustainable planet.
Market Alternatives For prospective homebuyers of modest means, options exist outside the conventional market. Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands each are home to a community land trust, all three of which provide permanently affordable homes to qualified buyers. In addition, Home for Islanders, a federally funded "sweat equity" homeownership program, is based in Friday Harbor. Visit the website of these organizations more information on programs, income qualifications and opportunities offered by each.
• Flooring • Fabrics • Countertops • Window Coverings • Finishes
■ Lopez Community Land Trust: www. lopezclt.org ■ Of People & Land (OPAL): www. opalclt.org ■ San Juan Community Home Trust: www.hometrust.org ■ Home for Islanders: www.homesforislanders.org
Linda Di Bona 360-468-2830 or 360-982-7429
n our Garden Center! i w e N Bare root trees & shrubs, A wide variety of roses and ground covers, Veggie starts and flowers…
A colorful selection of pottery and garden art! Just in this Spring! Beautiful Benches, Bird Baths, Water Fountains and Statuary!
our Home Center! n i w e N Garden supplies: Seeding soil, peat pots and seeds and seed trays. Organic seeds from Territorial, Botanical Interests & Burpee. Check out the raised garden bed brackets. We have a wide selection of Bird Seed and Suet, as well as Feeders and Houses for our feathered friends! Our mowers styles and wheelbarrows are out!
! 2015 Outdoor Living Catalog n i t s Ju Outdoor & Patio
Featuring...
furniture has arrived!
nline Shop O Store! our Ship to ventory Huge In PPING HI FREE S
New Gardner & Bloome! Raised bed potting soil. This is great for your raised beds with flowers or vegis. Worm Glo: Works wonders for improving your garden soil.
w w w. b r o w n e s h o m e c e n t e r. c o m 860 Mullis Street Friday Harbor, WA 98250 | Open Weekdays 7am - 6pm, Weekends 8am - 5pm
CROW VALLEY POTTERY & GALLERY An Orcas Island Landmark Since 1959!
Eventide Tree Care, Inc. Fine pruning | View enhancement Technical removals | Stump grinding | Chipping
Austen Ater Certified Arborist
Licensed, Bonded, Insured | LIC # EVENTAC888B5
376.3214 EventideArborCare.com
LIC #602470148
Thank you, Orcas Island for your continued support!
I bow my head with gratitude…
~ Next to Island Market ~ 376-6801
Brilliant & Unique Gifts for Inside & Out Inside ~ Come see our display of over 200 island artists! Outside ~ Koi pond with 40 Koi fish some nearly 30 years of age! The oldest on record died at the age of 225! 378-6550 • www.islandstudios.com • 270 Spring St, Friday Harbor
Contributed by Gary Franklin
Broker/Manager, Windermere Real Estate/San Juan
1: Making an offer on a home without first getting prequalified – Take the time to talk with a lender and ask questions about income and expenses. This is the best way to determine the price range you can afford, and it will make your life easier. 2: Limiting your search to open houses, ads or the Internet – Many homes listed on Zillow.com and other website aggregators may have already been sold. These sites get their information from the local and regional MLS, which is developed by local realtors. The best source of up-to-date information that is unavailable to the general public is a local
realtor. They are invaluable in finding the home you want. 3: Thinking there is only one perfect house out there – Buying real estate today is more a process of elimination than one of selection. Be open to all properties coming on the market that might meet your parameters. Ask your realtor for a comparable market analysis, which compares similar properties that have sold recently. 4: Not having a home inspection – Trying to save the $500-$700 home inspection fee today may end up costing far more tomorrow. A licensed inspector can uncover issues that many buyers overlook. 5: Not considering long-term needs – Think ahead a few years. Will the property serve your family’s needs in the future?
Custom Cushions Made Easy
Do you have a window seat that needs new cushions? I have a passion for design and getting it right. I love creating a product that my client will enjoy for years to come. Let me help you with your next project.
In home design consults for:
• Draperies and Hardware • Pillows and Cushions • Roman Shades • Insolroll Solar Shades • Bedding Ensembles • Hunter Douglas
Call 360-929-0903 or visit
www.classyshades.com
to schedule your in home design consult today.
Katherine Cade CWTC | Lopez Island
Serving the San Juan Islands for over 15 years
NATURAL STONE TILE CARPET SOLID SURFACE COUNTER TOPS HARD WOOD WINDOW SHADES LAMINATE FLOORS 360-378-6071 • 22 Web Street • Friday Harbor We service ALL ISLANDS • Like us on
6: Not knowing all of the costs – Ask your realtor or lender early on to give you the estimated closing costs. Title company, homeowner association and insurance fees should all be considered. Will you be required to pre-pay anything? Be sure to examine your settlement statement prior to closing. 7: Not following through on due diligence – Recent court rulings have highlighted the old phrase: “Buyer Beware.” Buyers should make a list of any concern they have relating to issues such as: water supply, septic systems, road easements, neighborhood rules, etc. Ask the important questions BEFORE you make an offer. Be diligent so you can have confidence in your purchase.
"Business Built by Referrals, Ask Someone About Us."
Bathan Shaner ISA Certified Arborist PN-7212A • ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor • Certified Erosion Consultant Certified Septic Installer The Shaner X team offers a combination of excavation and tree services, meaning that the trees and the land are well taken care of at our clients projects.
Please visit our new website! www.SHANERX.com 376.6008 or 317.6220 • BATHANSHANER@gmail.com LIC# SHANEET895L4
We’re here from start to finish. Free design & estimate consultation
Journey:
Continued from page 4 She has also gone from always having something cooking to eating mostly steamed or raw foods. At 50-something, Mauro was looking for a more sustainable and closer to nature existence, and wanted to show other women her age that they could do it, too. But her ultimate drive to purchase and live in a tiny home was for her kids. With no retirement fund, she wanted to simplify her life as much as possible so that if she needed their help of care in the future, she wouldn't be a burden. "I can just park my house anywhere," she said. "And they can bring me coffee."
T
by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG
he joys of owning a furry loved one far surpass the downsides. Yet anyone who has spent hours vacuuming a car or shaking out couch blankets knows there are days of great frustration. Why must there be so much fur attached to EVERYTHING? In owning three dogs, I've come up with a
Mention this ad and get
25% OFF ALL GARDEN ART at JILLERY through Memorial Day!
Eastsound, Orcas Island • 376-5522
list of must-haves for pet owners. 1. Wood floors. This can be a costly endeavor to do all at once, but try replacing your carpets with hardwood where you can. Start with one room and change it out as your budget allows. There are few vacuum cleaners that can actually remove all of the fur, debris, dander and germs that reside in carpet fibers. Once you switch to hardwood floors, you'll cringe at how much hair was living in your carpets. 2. A light, easy to move vacuum cleaner. I love the sucking power of my giant Dyson, but everything changed when I purchased a Shark cordless vacuum. It weighs 10 pounds, runs for 30-plus minutes on a charge and is bag-less. It has two speeds (carpet and hardwood), but I run the carpet setting over my wood floors to make sure everything is picked up. You do have to empty the canister about once a week and wash the filter periodically. 3. A good brush. I've always used a FURminator de-shedding tool, but after losing it, I switched to a less expensive variety. Sadly, it's just not the same. The FURminator seems to really get the undercoat. If your dog or cat doesn't have particularly thick fur, it may be okay to use a different kind of tool, but I find it is worth
it to pay a little more for one that gets the undercoat. 4. Towels. Lots and lots of towels. I have a stack of towels in my truck at all times. They can be used for mopping up muddy feet, cleaning up vomit if paper towels are not available or breaking up a dog fight (trainers say throwing a towel over a fight will stop it quickly). 5. Leather couches. Yes, your animals might scratch it, but it is a lot better than having fur embedded in your upholstery. 6. Wash your dogs frequently. Giving your pet a bath on a regular basis helps get rid of excess hair and makes the coat easier to brush.
San Juan Pest Control Services & much, much, much more for your ornamental & flower garden!
Caterpillars, Other Insects, Disease Treatment, Lawn Care, Weed Control, Fertilization, and Driveway Weed Elimination We service all sizes & types of trees & ornamental shrubs
40+ years experience
Locally Owned & Operated by Steven J. Billmyer M.S. Entomologist PO Box 44 Friday Harbor WA 98250 • 360-378-8489 • control@sanjuanpest.com
SAVE THE DATE JUNE 13 ✹ 10-4
SJI GARDEN TOUR
Organized by: San Juan Islands Garden Consortium