Semcac, a Community Action Agency serving southeastern Minnesota, has funds available through Minnesota Housing for housing rehabilitation loans for eligible homeowners in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties. This loan is a 0% interest rate loan (no monthly payments) with a 15-year term or a 10-year term for … [Read more...]
Dispose holiday greens and Christmas trees correctly to protect Minnesota’s trees
Invasive pests use festive foliage to hitchhike into Minnesota Holiday greenery brings joy and delight, but is there a humbug lurking in your décor? Trees and boughs can provide diseases and invasive species the perfect ride into our landscape. Pests of concern include elongate hemlock scale, a small insect established in the eastern U.S. where many decorative Fraser firs … [Read more...]
1926 Farmhouse restored
In the fall of 2019, Matt St. Mane (from Lanesboro), was driving on Scenic Byway Hwy 16 between Preston and Wykoff. He was headed to Grand Meadow where his daughter was playing volleyball when he spotted a for sale sign in front of an empty, run down farm house. Relieved of its exterior paint for many years, the 1926 American Four Square style house sparked his imagination. … [Read more...]
Dream of sleeping in a treehouse? Now you can.
Nestling Pines Treehouse Retreat is Fillmore County’s first Airbnb located in a tree. It is helpful to potential visitors to find out what their peers’ opinions are of specific lodging facilities that they have stayed in. Melanie, one of the first visitors at Nestling Pines Treehouse described her experience on www.airbnb.com, “A lovely retreat in a natural setting … [Read more...]
Low-maintenance perennials make beautiful landscaping at the Augs
Chuck and Vonnie Aug have lived in their big white house in Preston for 39 years, but it wasn’t until they tore down the old garage to build a new one 26 years ago, that Vonnie got into landscaping. Once the garage came down and she saw the bare dirt, she figured that she needed to either pay someone to take care of it or learn to garden herself. She had never really done any … [Read more...]
Recycling 101
By Drew Hatzenbihler Solid Waste Administrator Just as many parts of our lives have been changed by the pandemic, our upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection event will also have some changes to ensure the safety of all of our participants and staff. We ask for everyone’s help to have a safe collection event on October 6 from 12-5 p.m. The requirements to … [Read more...]
Upcoming training: GAPs for gardeners
Do you grow fresh produce as a part of a community garden, school garden or for donation? If so, join University of Minnesota Extension to learn practical steps for keeping your produce and customers healthy. Attend this series to learn science-based best practices to reduce foodborne illnesses associated with fresh fruits and vegetables, or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). … [Read more...]
Munroe home: Attention to detail
Mike and Susie Munroe have finally moved into their new home, located on a gravel road a couple of miles northeast of Canton. And although there are still a few items to be finished at their new home (mostly landscaping and other outside work), Mike and Susie said they definitely feel good about how the project has gone, and they are very pleased with their decision to do … [Read more...]
Tips to successfully grow tomatoes
Slicing into the first tomato of the season is a much anticipated moment for gardeners. Tomatoes are among the most popular fruit or vegetable plants grown in home gardens. Much of that popularity may be credited to the fact that red, ripe tomatoes have a delicious, juicy flavor that serves as the basis for all sorts of recipes. And since tomatoes can just as easily be grown in … [Read more...]
Yurt living brings Wykoff family closer
After buying a piece of property outside of Wykoff, the Ramaker family – Damon, Kylie, Ruby, Lucy and Walter, had the difficult decision of what to do for a house. They decided that the existing home on the property wasn’t salvageable. After weighing their options, they ended up buying a yurt. A yurt, also called a ger, is a round, portable tent that is used by the … [Read more...]