Eight Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable Print

Saluting our March Staycation in Wickenburg Arizona!  Rosie and Jennifer talk about their visit to the town.

Interview with Dan Finley, Director of The Desert Caballeros Western Museum.  It has evolved in 50 years to a western and art museum.  Featuring many of the well known western artists and exhibits.

Discussion of the Cowgirl Up Event featuring the brightest contemporary female western artists!

Western Artist Judith Durr creates exquisite oil painting and taken Native American art to a new level.  Innovative, style and attention to realism.  So real, you'll want to touch it.

Judith Durr talks about the pieces she creates.  Western and Native American.  

Judith talks about how she started her interest in art.  And a TV personality who she watched to learn the basics.

She has a passion for teaching those who really have a desire to paint.  And gives some advice.

Angie Freeman of The Flying E Ranch in Wickenburg where our Staycation Winner is staying.

22 Thousand acre ranch with trails, horseback riding and other special events on a working cattle ranch.

Angie discusses the accomodations at the ranch.

Jay Harper talks about the vegetables you can plant now.  Vegetables that you can pick like a fruit.  Jay has the list.

Pros and cons of planting seeds and starter plants.

What to look for in picking a starter plants.

Consider some sort of compost, mulch, organic material when preparing the soil

Discussion of the wet winter and its affect our water storage and spring gardens.  Great for plants but also causes weed infestation.  

Getting ahead of weeds with pre-emergents.

Weed control keeps insects and some diseases at bay. 

Identify the type of weed, where its growing or pull the weed and bring it to an expert to figure out what to use to get rid of it.

Pulling them before they flower or produce seed is a way to keep ahead of weeds.

TEXT:  Is there an easy way to get rid of spider mites.

TEXT:  Tips on growing blackberries.

Trees and plants with great color.

Discussion of citrus fertilization if you missed doing it and what condition the soil should be in.

Update on lawns at this point of the year.  Winter rye grass lawns and bermuda.

The Farms Choice has plenty of natural fertilizers for gardens and lawns.

With all the spring Home Shows we get a lot of questions about 'does this really work'.  Rosie talks about a liquid spray that seals duct work called Aeroseal.  

CALLER:  Has a one year old home.  The backyard that wasn't properly graded.  Has standing water like a lake from recent rains.  What recourse do I have.

CALLER:  Switching from a traditional water heater to a tankless water heater.  Wants to know what to consider for going tankless.

Our 'HOW TO' with Dave Byrns of  Green ID (Green Integrated Design) about home energy audits.

Basic calculation on what you should be paying for a high summer bill.  Around $100 per 1000 square feet.

Dave gives his observations on the duct work designs when your home was built dating back to the 1960s.  This can be a start to determine if you can improve on your summer energy bill.  

Swamp coolers, Y splits, duct leakage are some of the designs that can affect your A/C performance.

CALLER:  Best wishes to Rosie!!

CALLER:  Changing out the A/C in a 2000 sq ft. house and wants to know about SEER Rating on new units.

Special interview with John Wesley Miller.  Acclaimed builder known for green sustainable and accessible homes.  

John talks about his background in construction starting with his Dad.

Starting with his knowledge in solar energy, he has build a sustainable subdivision of 90 plus homes at  Armory Park del Sol in Tucson

Heating and cooling bills average $300 A YEAR!

John explains the theory of using Thermal Mass Storage starting with insulating outside the masonry block built home.

Describes the design of Armory Park del Sol.  Front doors face each other, garage in the back, and 6 foot wide walkway for accessability.  Neighborhood friendly.

Interiors are designed for accessability for wheelchairs.  No front steps.

John talks about VISION HOUSE TUCSON.  A net zero energy project.

Rosie discusses implimenting new energy saving technologies in existing homes.

Accessability in homes has become a big issue as people age in place.

Ways To Make Your Home More Sustainable

Discussion of parents and relatives making the living enviroment for them safer.  Part of the Aging In Place process.  Jennifer goes into some details.

Anti slip product called Slip Doctors

Lithium battery smoke detectors that last for 10 years.

CALLER:  Her mother takes care of father with dimentia and discovered Sabre Alarms

Recap of today's show!

When you're considering remodeling, do it with anyone that looks at the entire house. 

How To Care For Your Aging Parents by Virginia Morris

Jennifer reads 'When God Looks Down On Seniors'.