This ROCs!!!

A couple of weeks ago, 
I attended a meeting of the Ridge Organic Cooperative (ROC).
It's a group of citizens who get together
to discuss their concerns about our food system.
Some of the goals of the group are to be more responsible
in the growing and distribution of local and sustainable food,
to network with others to find resources,
to participate in community work days to aid others in creating gardens
and 
to provide educational experiences for the community at large.

At the last meeting, we discussed what we are currently growing in our gardens.

We came up with quite a list.

Several members of the community recently got together

to help another member start a garden in her yard.

The local paper covered the event here.

That's the kind of project I can get behind.

Any excuse to do more gardening works for me!

Each meeting presents an opportunity to swap garden-related items.

It could be magazines, plants, seeds, fruit or veg,

whatever might appeal to a fellow gardener.

I brought some seeds and homemade seed packets.

This is just the type of community I would enjoy getting to know.

Grass roots groups like these can make an impact.

And what a wonderful way to extend to others

the gift of being a gardener.

To find out more about the Ridge Organic Cooperative,

you can go here.

Weatherization Series-Solar Screens

This is the third post in our series on weatherization.
We had an evaluation done in February after applying
for the weatherization assistance program last year.
Last week, we talked about Central Air/Heat maintenance.

Today we're looking at Solar Screens.

This is not window tinting,
but actual screens that fit over your windows.

Here's the back of our house.  It faces south.

The window to the left is the Master Bedroom,

the other two look into our living area.

Here the original screens are in place.

Lil' Guy's window is also on the south side.

He likes his room darker in the mornings,

so he can wake up at his own pace.

These two windows are on the west side.
We have one more window on the east side of the house, which I haven't shown here.
The north side of the house has one window and our front door.
The program doesn't provide screens on the north side of the home.

Maurice came out on two different occasions to measure our windows.

"Measure twice, cut once."

He then ordered his materials and made the screens in his shop.

Each screen is custom-made to order,

to ensure a perfect fit on the windows.

The bonus?

Maurice cleaned the windows before installation!

If you'll notice on the first pictures shown on the post,

these screens are much darker than the originals.

They block out 90% of the sun's rays.

One of the things I liked best about this house,

was all the natural light that came into it,

so I wasn't sure I would really like the light being blocked.

Each window is fitted with a metal channel to hold the screen in place.

The installation took the better part of a day.

We've noticed a big difference in the amount of heat felt through the windows.
It's also helped with privacy, as we have no back fence.

So far, I'm doin' okay with the decrease in light,
and being outside as much as I am,
I think it'll work out okay.



The best part of these screens is that,
unlike window tinting with film,
when you open up your windows in the cooler months,
you still get the protection from the sun,
but ventilation is not compromised.
They are also supposed to help retain the heat 
during the colder part of the year. 
With our house now on the market,
we think these screens will add to its resale value,
and it didn't cost us a dime.
Thanks, Maurice!




 

It's too early to tell what the change will be on our power bill,
but I'll bet it will be significant.
I'll post an update after we get our next bill.

Maurice can be reached locally at 863-661-1533 
or email him at solarscreenandmore@yahoo.com.
Tell him daisy sent ya.
Here's the company's website for more information.


Those in Central Florida can find out more
about the program here.

Wordless Wednesday

Join these three fellow bloggers today
and learn more about the Homemade Living Series.

Jackie@Born Ambitious
Mary@Homegrown on the Hill
&
Tammy@Our Neck of the Woods


Staci, Sue and I will chime in next Wednesday
with our Homemade Living posts.

Maple Hill Hop 3

Welcome to the Maple Hill Hop,
where we share what's going on outside our door.
Hope you'll join us today!

I'm so thrilled with the peas in the square-foot bed.
Since starting Farm School,
I'm more motivated than ever to keep the garden growing.

The beets are poppin' up.
The garden will be fertilized today,
so I'm curious to see how it affects their growth.

It's been a while since we've had lettuce growing.

The green beans are looking strong.
I noticed the flowers yesterday.
That means it won't be long before they're producing veg.

I've been watching them for signs of pests.
Guess I missed these leaf rollers.

Only a little damage done.
Hopefully, I'll stay on top of pest patrol
so we'll actually end up with some of the beans to eat!

These eggs are sometimes found underneath
and are easily removed.
As we don't use pesticides,
hand pickin' is the way to go.

The passionflower vine is mezmerizing.

Many zinnias are going to seed...

as is the basil.

The star jasmine seems to be coming back,

and creating a blanket of snowy blooms.

The butterfly vine has slowed down,
but still graces us with lovely yellow flowers.

cosmos

Cooler temperatures are on their way,
and it's none too soon.
It means more hours to garden
without feeling the effects of the heat and humidity.

moonflower bud

Hope you are enjoying time outdoors.
What's going on where you are?