Idaho Falls

East Idaho Home/Garden 2010

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{ EDITOR’S NOTE } Home Schooling If there is one thing veteran and newbie homeowners can both attest to, it’s the fact that there’s always more to learn. For some of us it might be the simplest of tasks (my case in point: removing a door). For others, it might be plans for an elaborate project (such as building a backyard greenhouse). Online resources have their place, as do the multitudes of books that you can acquire through various local outlets. Sometimes, however, the best homeowners’ how-to resources get overlooked. Chief among them is the University Extension, which actually has a strong presence here in East Idaho. There are a number of excellent programs offered through the Extension, including classes and resources that are specific to homeowners. One of my favorites is Homewise—a comprehensive database of question-and-answer “Most home- owners would be more than happy to grow a few edible tomatoes and have the rudimentary skills to—I don’t know—mow the lawn without lopping off a sprinkler head.” topics ranging from animal care and cooking to fire prevention, landscaping, pest control and human relationships. It’s like a how-to guide for leading a fulfilling life, whether you’re a skilled do-it-yourselfer, a home-building neophyte or just a homeowner interested in tack- ling a new project. Construction projects and demolition exercises aside, I personally use the Homewise resources for a number of recurring honey-do’s around the Smede home. I still have a long way to go in actually initiating some of these tasks, but at least I know that whatever the project may be, there is probably a question-and-answer category for it. Homewise is by far the most relevant resource we could hope for in addressing the needs for homeowners reading this publication. It is hardly the only resource, however. On the gardening side, the University Extension service has even more informational tentacles of which to grasp hold. The Master Gardeners program is the most obvious example. It has probably done more to inspire green thumbs throughout East Idaho than any other program or service out there. Even more impressive to me is the pre-requisite programs for youngsters. The Sprouts pro- gram, for instance, helps kids with the basic concepts for growing a sustainable garden. Master Gardeners also provide resources on water-smart landscaping, “environmentally astute” pest control, and landfill-saving composting methods. According to the Extension’s website, Idaho’s trainee and certified Master Gardeners and Advanced Master Gardeners donate about 16,000 hours of volunteer time annually—a value of about $200,000. I believe it. Few of us may actually attain the lofty credentials of a Master Gardener or a Homewise expert. Most homeowners—Yours Truly included—would be more than happy to grow a few edible tomatoes and have the rudimentary skills to—I don’t know—mow the lawn without lopping off a sprinkler head. The purpose of this premier issue of East Idaho Home and Garden is to offer a testament of the joys of home ownership, gardening and living in this beautiful region we call home. Whatever our aspirations to make the most of it, it should be comforting to us all that certain educational resources are in place, manned by capable educators who not only know what to do, but also care deeply enough to pass their knowledge along. We are privileged to have such talented and generous individuals at our beck and call. 8 | EAST IDAHO HOME & GARDEN 2010

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