Middlefield Post May 9, 2012

Edition Three

T ird of three fabulous guides for homeowners and garden enthusiasts

While some people appear to have been born with a green thumb, others aren’t so fortunate. Gardening does not come so instinctively to them. If you are among them, do not despair. You can learn how to garden and become really good at it by following some basic tips.

Learn all that you can.Read up on the subject of gardening,

from the basics to the fine details. Check out some books and subscribe to a few magazines. Join a gardening club or at the very least get together with a group of gardening friends. The more data you collect, the better decisions you will make in the long run and the more likely you are to have some success.

Watch out for the pretty.Budding gardeners too often select

plants on their appearance rather than their requirements. They like the way a certain plant looks, plant it and then wonder why it doesn’t measure up later. You need plants with requirements that your garden can meet. If your garden gets a lot of sun, then you need plants that require full sun. If your garden is in the shade much of the day, then you need plants that require shade.

Be patient.Gardens take time to mature. Don’t

try to turn a budding garden into a mature

garden with closer plantings and invasive species. While your garden might look fuller at first, it will not stay that way. Some of the plants competing for space might not survive, while others might get run over by the invasive species. Correcting the issues won’t be easy either, as transplanting doesn’t always work and getting rid of a invasive species can be downright difficult.

Compost, compost, compost!Set up a compost bin, add to it regularly

and apply it every spring for a fertile garden. It will save you big time in fertilizer costs, help the environment and give your plants the extra boost they need. Creating a compost bin is not that difficult either. There are tons of how-to’s and tips online.

Be realistic.Again, gardens take time to mature.

Don’t push yourself so hard in the beginning that you run out of steam and call it quits. Take your time, be prepared to make mistakes and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The best gardens often come out of years of trial and error. If you don’t get it right the first time, ask a buddy for some advice, and remember, there’s always next year.

You don’t have to be born with a green thumb to become a great gardener. You can learn how to master the art over time. All it takes is some patience and practice.

Geauga County Master Gardener Garden Tour & Plant Sale

Budding Gardeners

The Geauga County Master Gardeners are presenting their fourth and best yet Garden Tour & Plant Sale. As usual, the property owners’ care and love of gardening and nature will be evident in the selected gardens, which are all located in the Auburn/Bainbridge area. (No pets or children at the request of our homeowners, please.)

The plant sale date is Wednesday, June 20, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The $15 tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 440-834-4656 or one can buy them the day of the sale at Adam Hall Community Center, 11455 E. Washington St., Auburn Township (44023) (east of Route 306). This is the fourth annual scholarship benefit.

The plant sale at Adam Hall, the same

day, is worth the trip, with an abundance of perennials, annuals, houseplants, trees, shrubs, tropicals, vegetables and herbs. Many of the plants, for sale, are donated by Master Gardeners themselves, straight from their home gardens. Master Gardeners will be on site to help with plant selections and care advice. Tool sharpening, a new addition this year, will be available for knives, scissors and garden tools at a reasonable price. Most items can be sharpened for $5 - $10. (Cash or personal checks, please.) If that isn’t enough to get your interest, refreshments and garden art from whimsical repurposed pieces to hypertufas and hand-painted chairs will be available throughout the day.

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2 { Middlefield Post } May 9, 2012

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Cleaning With VinegarBy Jacquie Foote

These days, you can find many recipes using vinegar as a cleaning aid. There are even entire books written about it. Most of these recipes are based on actual recipes used by ladies from the late 1700s on.

Today’s recipes tell you to go to the store and buy the vinegar, usually white vinegar. The ladies of early Geauga just made it. Because apples were so plentiful in Geauga, most ladies made cider vinegar from “hard cider.” They would add some vinegar from a previous batch to the hard cider. This addition was called the “mother of vinegar.” If they had no “mother”, they would mix unpasteurized and unfiltered cider with an alcoholic liquid such as beer, wine or another “spirit.” This mixture would be put into a glass or enameled earthenware container and placed in a sunny spot for about two weeks with the opening covered with cheesecloth. (The amount of time it takes for the vinegar to form depends greatly on the type of alcoholic liquid used, and how much of the juice is being converted. The range is anywhere between 3 weeks to 6 months.) They knew it was done when there was an intense vinegary smell that produced a burning feeling in their nostrils. They strained the vinegar through cheesecloth, reserving the thickened scum left on the cheesecloth. This is the “mother” and was kept in a cool, dark place until the next vinegar making. Unless they fermented the vinegar for a long time, there was probably alcohol still left in it. This they removed by boiling. Then, they canned the vinegar. White vinegar was made much the same way except that grain was used instead of apples as the base.

Once they had the vinegar, they used it in many ways. When they had a burned on mess in a pan, they added 1/4 cup of sugar to 2 cups vinegar, poured this into that pan while it was warm, soaked it for an hour and washed it as usual. They wiped their

wooden counter tops with vinegar once a day to remove stickiness and prevent grime build up. For heavy deposits of dirt on the counter, they wiped it down with a cloth or sponge dampened with vinegar and sprinkled with salt.

If they found mildew on cloth, they made a paste of vinegar and borax and scrubbed the stained area. If the mildew got into a rug, they would soak it with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and dry it outside. If the mildew on the cloth was especially bad, they used vinegar full strength. They were careful when doing this as strong vinegar could adversely effect homemade dyes.

For wooden floors, they used a cup of vinegar to a gallon of water and mopped lightly so as not to saturate the floor. They would allow the floor to dry without rinsing.

As cane chairs became popular, the ladies found that if they sponged a sagging seat with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and allowed it to dry in the sun, the seat tightened up.

Rust was regularly removed from tools, nuts, bolts and nails by soaking them in pure vinegar for several hours and rubbing away the rust.

Vinegar also had many uses medicinally and in the garden. What the early Geaugans did with vinegar may have taken a bit more time, but it was effective and cost efficient.

Jacquie Foote is a volunteer for the Geauga County Historical Society’s Century Village Museum, 14653 E. Park St., Burton. For information about events at the Geauga County Historical Society’s Century Village Museum, call 440-834-1492 or visit www.geaugahistorical.org.

Planting Tips From Pleasant Valley

When planting annuals, those flowers that need to be planted every year, it pays to plan ahead. Instead of using green, fresh mulch, use bagged mulches or compost for smaller areas. Buying in bulk for larger areas is fine if it isn’t freshly ground or dyed. Consider using a premium brand of compost such as Wholly Cow or Michigan Peat. Both of these brands, and all your gardening needs, are carried by Pleasant Valley Greenhouse 3310 Clay St. Middlefield (44062). 440-636-5558.

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New “Radioactive” ManagerRadioactive Electronics would like to welcome Daniel MacRaild as Installations Manager

for their custom audio/video division. Dan is a graduate of Malone College in Canton. After working for a movie studio in Orlando, Florida, Dan relocated back to Geauga County and worked in the home theater and security installation industries, and spent time as an electrical contractor. These positions proved vital to his knowledge base to help deliver customers a final product to exceed their expectations.

Mr. MacRaild previously owned his own company for five years, where he continued his installation success of high performance home theaters, church and worship center audio. After accepting an opportunity to work for one of the largest sound companies in the world, Mr. MacRaild closed his business. Dan was soon promoted to field manager and has sold, designed and installed some of the largest sound systems in the country. One of his club designs in Washington, DC earned Billboard Magazine’s, Club of the Year, two years in a row. Dan’s wife recently gave birth to their first child, so Dan decided to stay closer to home and joined forces with Radioactive Electronics. Radioactive’s desire to grow and expand will now be possible with Mr. MacRaild’s much earned expertise.

Whether it’s new home construction or remodel, no job is too big or too small. If your church or worship center wants to update or build a top performing audio system, Dan is the project manager for you. Providing a first-class entertaining experience in businesses such as medical offices, restaurants, sports bars, and clubs are the sweet spot of Mr. MacRaild’s expertise. Dan can be contacted at 440-632-1600 or danmac@radioactivenow.com.

Pine Craft Windmill’s Harness the WindPine Craft can help you harness the wind to beautify your property and aerate your

pond while using absolutely no electricity. American Eagle Windmills aerate your pond in the summer, from bottom to top, forcing fresh oxygen to your fish and promoting zooplankton and daphnia that eats unwanted algae. Fresh oxygen increases appetite growth and stimulates spawning as it rids your pond of harmful gasses and pollutants. In the winter, aeration prevents fish from dying off from lack of oxygen, and year round, it guarantees a cleaner pond and bigger, healthier and livelier fish. Paul at Pine Craft said his American Eagle Windmill customers tell him that when they hook fish from their aerated ponds the fish are healthy and really fight back, making their fishing experience much more exciting.

Another use for your windmill is to water cattle in the field. Just attach the windmill to a water pump and pump directly from your pond to where your cattle are. Choose from 18, 23 or 28 overall heights, or use the roof mount to put it on your tallest building to catch the most wind. All windmills come in kit form with easy to follow instructions, and it’s a great weekend project. If you don’t have the time, Pine Craft offers assembly and installation services. Windmills come with a full 3-year warranty against defects in workmanship or materials, and a 5-year warranty on the bellows.

To improve your yard and solve your storage problems, turn to Pine Craft for all the help you need. The sky’s the limit. Stop by at 13650 Madison Road (44062). Call 440-632-0174.

Leadership Opportunities For Young AdultsThe Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s

(OFBF) Young Ag Professionals program is accepting applications for its advisory team. The team suggests, develops and conducts activities that provide opportunities for young farmers, couples and singles age 35 and younger to become involved in Ohio Farm Bureau. The process to select team members is based on Farm Bureau involvement, leadership potential and community service. Team members serve a two-year term of planning a yearly leadership conference and hosting young agricultural professionals in a variety of in and out of state events.

Applications are due by June 1 and are available at www.Bit.ly/y o u n g a g p r o f e s s i o n a l s . A d d i t i o n a l information is available at County Farm Bureau offices or contact Melinda Witten at mwitten@ofbf.org.

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Spring StartupBy Joe Novak

If you haven’t started using your summer equipment yet, you missed some great days to get onto your fields or lawn. The dry spring gave many farmers and lawn owners an opportunity to till and mow.

I tag all of my equipment that is stored for the winter with what needs to be done before starting the engine; add oil, fuel, attach blades and so on. I learned this after attempting to cut without blades on my mower. Oops.

On my bigger equipment I check the hydraulic lines and fittings for leaks and wear and to be sure they are matched for the correct pressure. Using galvanized or black pipe on hydraulics could be a safety hazard. I also check the belts, gearboxes, PTO shafts, attach pins and clevis pins and use only approved spring locks, never bailing wire or nails. Always replace all safety guards, shields and covers and don’t override, disable or circumvent safety switches that are meant to protect you. It is more of an inconvenience operating your equipment without fingers, arms or eyes than it is to work within the safety constraints. Always wear safety glass when operating anything with moving parts; however it is only necessary to cover the eyes you want to keep. (Note: sarcasm.)

If your equipment was stored in an unheated garage, it may be necessary to change the gear oil, engine oil, or even the hydraulic oil, if condensation has contaminated it. Check your water filter before starting your diesel engine and again after running a short time. If you are draining it often, you may have a leak or too much condensation in your fuel tank. Diesel injectors and pumps do not like water and serious damage can result.

Greasing all the zerk fittings before leaving the barn for the first time can save a burnt bearing. Some bearings have a relief screw that is removed before greasing so you don’t force the seals out with the pressure. Don’t forget to replace these and always use the manufacturer’s recommended lubricants or better; synthetics for example. Diesel engines require special high pressure oils and few synthetics on the market meet these requirements; read the label, it must say that it is recommended for diesel engines (API service CJ-4/SM is an example).

Use your equipment for its intended purpose only and if your friend, relative

or neighbor yells, “Hey watch this!” while operating equipment, it may be time for a serious safety lecture.

Joe has 20-some years experience in manufacturing and says that as a small business owner, he found that you either learn how to solve a problem yourself or pay to have it done. Joe’s articles are his opinion and are only intended as a guide. Please consult an expert when in doubt.

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Quality Country Furnishings Country Side Furnishings offers only well-built high-quality furniture made mostly by

Amish craftsmen from Ohio and Indiana. They use solid oak, rustic cherry and cherry fine wood pieces of every description in County Mission, Shaker, Queen Anne, Charles Schneider or contemporary styles.

Country Side Furnishings won’t settle for just the usual styles, and they go to furniture shows regularly to explore the latest designs. They update their pieces to stay with the trends but always incorporate good old-fashioned workmanship and excellence, like dove tailed joints and full extension drawers. They have faith in the over 100 Amish craftsmen they use, and guarantee you can trust them to do a good job.

Along with their handsome furniture, Country Side Furnishings has a selection of original gifts, wall hangings, crafts, toys and accent pieces. Country Side Furnishings is located at 16403 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield (44062). Call 440-632-0248 or visit www.countrysidefurnishings.com.

Grandma and Grandpa are BusyMay will be a busy month at Grandma’s Garden. The May special is buy three, get one

free of equal or lesser value. They have gifts for mothers, grandmas, aunts, and godmothers to honor them on Mother’s Day. One gift idea is putting children’s handprints or your dog’s paw prints in a stone. Make an appointment for these, as they require special attention. Gift certificates are also available.

Relay for Life will be held at Cardinal High School May 19 and 20. Grandma’s Garden will be in the Middlefield Methodist Church tent with their collection of cancer stones to encourage those fighting the battle, celebrating those who have won, and remembering those who are gone. Twenty percent of the gross will be donated to the Relay for Life Foundation. If your team has not ordered their team stone, stop in and see what is available.

Graduation is just around the corner and there are many special items for graduates. Huskie and Badger Paws are a great way to remember your school and at the same time make a donation to the “Pay to Participate” program. Their “Love Collection” offers lovely wedding and anniversary gifts.

Sandie and Terry Simmers look forward to seeing you soon.15065 Kinsman Rd, Middlefield (44062). 440-477-0782 or 440-840-7500. http://grandmasgarden.vpweb.com

Hayes Road GreenhouseGo see Dan C. Miller at Hayes Road Greenhouse for a lot of great suggestions for Mother’s

Day presents. He has gorgeous hanging baskets in enough varieties to please Mom, Grandma, and all the aunts. There are combination baskets, hanging petunia baskets, petunia pots, roses and more. He also has all the food and sprays to keep them lush and healthy. The greenhouse carries peat moss, shredded hardwood mulch, organic lime, potting soil, and fertilizers, such as Fertrell’s organic blends and Triple 12. And, of course, they still stock their regular items like Basic H, fire starter blox, heavy frost protect row cover, grass seed, birdseed and water softener salt.

Dan is always happy to answer questions to help Mom grow gorgeous flowers, superb trees and healthy vegetable plants that will supply your family with a bounty of delicious home grown products. Hayes Road Greenhouse is at 13015 Hayes Road in Middlefield (44062) and is open from 8 a.m. to dark every day but Sunday.

Joe Keeps Your Tools WorkingJoe’s Saw Shop is the place to go

for chain saws, leaf blowers, trimmers, lawnmower tune-ups, blade sharpening and servicing of all your tools’ engines. Tools need regular care, so be good to them, and you’ll cut through your chores quickly and cleanly with enough time left to spend with Mom on her big day. How’s the washing machine doing? If Mom’s isn’t working so great, go to Joe for a brand new Briggs and Stratton washing machine engine. Joe’s Saw Shop services all brands of tools, and if they don’t have the parts you need, they

can get them. Keeping your tools in good shape helps you finish your chores easier, safer and faster.

Joe’s Saw Shop is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 14530 Butternut Road, 440-834-1196.

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{ home and garden }

6 { Middlefield Post } May 9, 2012

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Coyote Sightings On The Rise With the warmer weather, reports of Coyotes in our area are becoming more numerous.

Because of their hunting skills, willingness to eat nearly anything and tendency to seek the security of each other’s company, it appears they are here to stay. Rumors are a large pack will soon be forming a den in downtown Middlefield. Though more often heard than seen, especially when they get together, Coyotes are another reason we live in the best county in Ohio.

The Pygmy ConnectionThe Pygmy Connection had their second meeting on April 15. The club discussed the

April Newsletter and the 4-H Public Speaking Contest. Members received their project books and new members received the Goat Resource Handbook. The club had helped clean up Punderson State Park and plan to do more community service. The current fundraiser, selling chocolate bars, is going very well. The club took nominations for Jr. Fair King and Jr. Fair Queen. Best of luck to them! The next meeting is scheduled for May 6.

The Flockmasters 4-H ClubBy Dakota Ward

The Flockmasters 4-H Club met at the Burton Town Hall April 17. We will collect paper goods and cleaning supply donations for the Newbury food pantry. Kate will store donations until we help them this summer.

The Flockmasters made t-shirt flowers to take to the nursing home for Mother’s Day.Amanda gave a report on lime disease and how to prevent ticks from biting. Tom

explained his Eagle Scout project and asked for volunteers to help paint the Goat Barn on April 21 and 28.

The club was reminded that members who want to take livestock animals to the Geauga County Fair have to participate in Quality Assurance on May 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Fairgrounds. Members also have to participate in Project Judging on July 21. If they cannot attend either date they must call the Extension Office for alternate dates.

The club nominated Dakota W. and Jenn L. for Jr. Fair King and Queen. Our next meeting will be May 8 at the School Building on the Fairgrounds.

Stream Quality Monitoring

Interested in aquatic critters, such as crayfish, dragonflies, water pennies, and caddisflies, which live in local streams? Then grab your water shoes and join the Millennium Youth Conservationists (MYC) team. In MYC we use kick seines, sediment sticks, pH test kits, and more to analyze the health of area streams and rivers. The adventure begins in June and concludes in August throughout Geauga County. Contact Colleen Sharp 440-834-1122 extension 6 or e-mail csharp@geaugaswcd.com.

Totally Dogs 4-H Dog ClubBy Megan Maddox

The Totally Dogs Club put on a benefit dinner and silent auction on April 20 and proceeds benefited the Geauga County Dog Warden and the Geauga County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit. The meal was set up, prepared, served and cleaned up by the club members, their parents and advisors. A special thank you goes out to Donna Weir who helped prepare the delicious food. A

profit of over $6,500 was split between the Dog Warden and the K-9 Unit. The dog club marched in the Maple Festival parade Saturday and Sunday and was a real crowd pleaser. Club members and dogs will soon begin their formal training for The Great Geauga County Fair.

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{ home and garden }

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Monday - Friday 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.Saturday 8:00a.m. - 12:00noon

Looking For Any & All Scrap Metals

#2 Unprepared $340/ton #2 Prepared $375/ton P. & S. Prepared $390/ton Motor Blocks $440/ton

Aluminum Rims - $16.50 ea.

• Sheet Steel $295/ton • Junk Cars $295/ton

Add Junk To The TrunkFor Extra Weight!

“Steel & Appliances”

8784 Snow Rd. • Windham 44288

Aluminum Cans - 50¢ lb.

Call for Special Pricing on Complete Junk Cars Picked Up

The Garage Door Guy“The Garage Door Guy” aka Burzanko’s Home Maintenance (BHM) is thankful to be

counting this year as their 10th year in business. BHM specializes in sales, service, and installation of garage doors and openers. Their main line of doors is Safe-Way Garage Doors bought through Anderson Door. Openers are the Liftmaster brand. They can and will get any brand a customer prefers, and they’ll install all doors and openers.

Your garage door is one part of every household that is used every day, and without proper maintenance and upkeep will experience problems long before it should. One very basic but important maintenance issue is lubrication. Every 3 to 4 months, spray all moving parts (rollers, hinges, cables and especially the springs on top and on sides of door) with a spray lubricant. Never use axle grease or any heavy grease as it attracts dust, doing more harm than good. One tip: keep the area around the opener’s safety sensors clear. It’s usually at the bottom of the track on each side of door . If they’re blocked or have been bumped and are not pointing at each other, you’ll have problems.

The Garage Door Guy’s business philosophy is simple: honesty, integrity and dependability. They keep prices fair and reasonable, and if they can save their customers money, that is what they will do. So if you have a problem with your garage door give them a call. If they can help you through it over the phone, it will save you the $55 cost (for most Geauga County residents) of a service call. Call Rich at 440-636-3203.

Neetlights Open in BurtonBy John Melaragno

Hello everyone. My name is John Melaragno and my wife’s name is Linda.

Together we run our small business called Neetlights. We have been in business for 4 years, but just opened our new store in Burton. We also sell our products online and at local gun shows. We are a unique store with lots of ‘neet’ things.

We have a large selection of LED flashlights, hunter and tactical lights, weapons lights, laser lights, laser bore sites, emergency preparedness products, personal security products, battery and crank powered lanterns, headlamps, pet lights, bike lights, 12-volt battery chargers, batteries, camp in gadgets, fire starters and just a lot of ‘neet’ stuff. We are adding new things every day. We have products by JETBeam, Fenix, Thrunite, LED Lenser, Streamlight, Inova, NiteIze, UTG, Aim, Aimshot and more. If you are looking for something bright, come see our Nitecore Tiny Monster with 2,000 Lumens of power. We are located at 14533 N. Cheshire St., Burton. Contact us at 440-218-7153, neetlights@gmail.com or visit www.neetlights.co.

Selecting the Right Ball MountBuying the right ball mount for receiver hitches is critical to the safe operation of your trailer. If you install the wrong mount, the weight imbalance may break either the

ball mount or the trailer coupling, causing a huge accident that could easily kill people. To find the right “drop” or “rise’ height. Park the vehicle and the trailer on level ground. Drop the trailer jack and level the tongue with a bubble level. Then lock the proper-size trailer ball into the trailer coupling. Measure from the ground to the skirt of the ball. Then measure from the ground to the top of the vehicle hitch receiver. The difference between the two measurements is the “drop” or “rise. Find the ball mount that’s closest.

Scheid’s, located just north of Middlefield are your travel experts, have Pop-up and Travel Trailer rentals, and are a dealer for Fautras Horse Trailers, EdenPURE Heaters, and ECOBricks. Scheid’s are open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 pm.; Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., reopening from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and most Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by and meet the owners, Neil and Andrea Scheid. You’ll be glad you did. 13680 Old State Road (Route 608) Middlefield (44062). Call 440-632-6321 or e-mail andrea@trucnrv.com.

Geauga County’s Largest Treasure Chest

Auntie’s Antique Mall(located 1 mile west of Rt. 528 on Rt. 422, south side)

15567 Main Market (Rt. 422)Parkman, OH 44080

OPen 7 Days a Week: 10aM - 5PM

www.auntiesantiquemall.com440-548-5353

– 100 Dealers in 14,000 sq. ft. of Antiques –Delivery & Layaway Available

Furniture Repair & RestorationShowcases Available

There’s Something for Everyone!