northfield • dundas • faribault • cannon fallsnovember / decmber 2010 • free

redouxhome.com

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home for the holidays

holiday entertaining, decorating, cooking

make your own centerpiece

editor’s note 04 A holiday makeover. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

entertaining 05 Be the host, not the help. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

make a festiVe centerpiece 08 Forage your backyard for everything you need. BY DARLENE JOHNSON

let there Be light 09 Lighten up for the holiday season. BY NICHOLE DAY DIGGINS

time for tea 11 A Victorian Christmas Tea. BY LAURIN WOLF

recipe 13 Leftover turkey tostadas with jalapeno cranberry sauce. BY ANNIE WITKAMP

talking turkey 14 Heritage turkeys vs. the Broad Breasted White. BY JOEY ROBISON

the seeds of giVing 15 Helping fill the Northfield food shelf. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

holiday gift guide 17 You don’t have to leave the area to shop for the holidays. family treasures 21 Faribault’s Crafty Mavens. BY LAURIN WOLF

yard & garden 23 Planting for winter beauty. BY KRISTIN LUCAS

the energy eXpert 25 Improving home energy performance. BY JOE GRANSEE-BOWMAN

reView 27 Getting down and dirty: natural laundry detergent. BY SUSAN CROW

calendar 29 Upcoming events in the area.

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november / december 2010

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Open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–9 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

516 Water Street S, Northfi eld • 507-650-0106 • www.justfood.coop

PUBLISHERNichole Day Diggins / Flying Pan Productions

EDITORElizabeth Child

COPY EDITORJodi Ohlsen Read

CONTRIBUTORSElizabeth ChildSusan CrowNichole Day DigginsJoe Gransee-BowmanDarlene JohnsonKristin LucasJoey RobisonAnnie WitkampLaurin Wolf

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nichole Day Diggins

SALESElizabeth ChildSara FrenchKelly Ligday

REDOUX HOME • PO BOX 148, Northfield, MN 55057p: 507.301.9710e: info@redouxhome.com

redoux home is produced by Flying Pan Productions.All rights reserved. Copyright 2010. Copies of this publication or its contents may not be made for promotional purposes. For article reprints, contact REDOUX HOME at info@redouxhome.com.

to advertise: 507.301.9710 • 612.812.9987 www.redouxhome.com

Dear Reader:

Whenever my husband, Dick, and I think about redoing our 1960s kitchen with the red linoleum countertops -- now very retro -- we start a chain of “might as wells,” as in: then we “might as well” knock out a wall or two to enlarge the space. Eventually the “might as wells” overwhelm our budget, and the kitchen suddenly seems just fine as it is.

Fortunately, REDoux HomE is all about doable Redouxs. How refreshing! In this issue Publisher Nichole Day Diggins brightens a home with simple lighting solutions. Stylist Darlene Johnson puts together a holiday centerpiece using yard clippings. Sustainable architect Joe Gransee-Bowman answers questions to make a home energy efficient.One of Northfield’s most thoughtful hostesses, Peggy Hanson, helps us simplify hosting so we can enjoy it; and the Bjork family from Faribault exemplifies creativity with ingenuity.

I decided to have myself redone for our holiday issue, too. Lana Huberg, owner of Northfield’s Salon Synergy, gave me a more contemporary look starting with the cut she had already given me a week earlier. The joy of the cut I have is that I can do nothing, which is my wont, and look pretty good. This time, Lana styled, moussed and sprayed my hair to smooth out the flippy wave and drape the bangs artfully across my brow. Because I was on my way to a business meeting, she used a daytime make-up and, thankfully, no greasy foundation, caked on lipstick or heavy mascara. What a pick-me-up in under an hour!

Elizabeth ChildRedoux Home Editor

Before

Styling and make-up are a pick-me-up.

editor’snote

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Read more at redouxhome.comYou can read the full story and see more photos on our newly-expanded website.

stay connectedFriend us on facebook to receive regular tips, recipes and updates.

looking for a local business or service?Check out our online Resource Guide.

advertise your business.Become an advertising partner with REDOUX HOME and we’ll bring your business to life.Complimentary ad design included.

It’s the season of parties, which should be fun for all. But, oddly, when I give a party, I feel duty-bound to overreach my true comfort level in the kitchen. The result? I have to ask my husband for the party highlights I missed while fretting over food service.

Enter Peggy Hanson, entertainment angel of mercy. Hanson is known in Northfield for her ability to entertain with ease and thoughtfulness. She hosted thank-you teas for her two girls’ teachers every year until they went to college, and she’s notorious for the etiquette classes she periodically offers to the area’s college seniors or church youth groups to prepare them for the world.

While “rules” for hosting may strike you as old fashioned, Hanson’s self-made rules are guidelines that can make you a more confident host – and help you enjoy your own party. They are gold to those of us who frazzle instead of dazzle.

Hosting tipsHave fuN witH oNe DiSH. KeeP tHe reSt SimPLe“I will focus on one special dish, such as a really great salad where I’ve caramelized the pecans and made a homemade dressing. The rest of the meal might be baked chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, baked potatoes and ice cream for dessert.

“or I might make a stew, soup or jambalaya. Then the salad is just washed red and green grapes or sliced apples. I will buy the bread and warm it. I might put butter and garlic in a pan and toast it, but that’s sometimes even too much.”

maKe “SimPLe” SPeciaL Hanson makes a simple dessert special with presentation. “I use a fancy stemmed glass, put crushed oreos in the bottom, add a scoop of store-bought ice cream and top with a hot fudge sauce that I also bought. I make the glasses up ahead of time and put them in the freezer. I add whipped cream to serve them.

At Christmastime I like to tie a present around the glass – a string of rock candy for the kids, ribbons, jingle bells or a tiny ornament. I put a mini-doily on the plate, and place the ice cream on that. It’s just Ice cream, but it looks beautiful.

taBLe maNNereDHanson encourages hosts to leave time for the visuals. “I get to the end of the cooking and I’m spent. Then, I realize I haven’t bought flowers!” Luckily Hanson knows how to make a table arrangement in minutes. “I’ll buy one stem of carnations. They’re fresh, they add a lot and you have two dollars in your flowers. I clip evergreens in my yard and add them to the carnations. I place low votive candles down the middle of the table. It’s beautiful. It’s simple. And it’s cheap. You don’t have to have a $40 flower arrangement.”

cLeaN aND tiDy“You can tidy the house without having to break your back. But really clean the bathroom,” instructs Hanson. It’s OK to simply organize the family’s boots in the foyer. But when it comes to the bathroom, she says, “I want to know I’m using the guest towel and not the family towels that are used everyday.”

maKe aN eNtraNce“Entrances are huge. In winter, make sure people can get to your home. The walk is shoveled and sanded. Maybe you’ve put candles out. The front porch light is on. The address numbers are visible so I can find the house. Lights in the house are on. My first impression is, ‘This is going to be nice; they really want us here tonight.’”

Greet your GueStS“make sure as a host you are at the front door greeting everyone. If someone says, ‘I’ll get the door,’ I say, ‘no, I’ll get it.’ The host should always be the one answering the door and making introductions. It’s a good idea, if people don’t know each other, to give a little background about them: ‘You two might really hit it off because you’re both engineers,’ for example.’”

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Catherine Sheppard, Peggy’s daughter, keeps teacups filled as “mother of the pot,” a British term.

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entertaining: Be the host, not the helpBY ELIzaBETH CHILD

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Elizabeth Child is the editor of Redoux Home and a marketing communications consultant based in Northfield.

continued from page 6

worK aHeaD“I do everything ahead of time. I’ll set the table a day ahead of time because I like to play around with the arrangement and make sure it looks nice. If I’m serving bread, I’ll get the basket out and put the cloth in it. I think about what serving dishes I need and I get them ready. Before the dinner, I get the coffee ready so all I have to do is push start at the end of the meal. I have the creamer in the fridge. Dessert plates are out. I know I have enough forks so I don’t have to wash the dinner forks for dessert. I truly want to enjoy myself at my party. I can just relax when the party starts.”

GueStS DoN’t Do DiSHeSGuests who offer to help can help by clearing the dishes or bringing out the dessert, but not by doing the dishes. And, Hanson adds, “Don’t do the dishes yourself while the party is going on.” Stack dishes or make sure the dishwasher is empty so you can zip everything into it quickly. “as the host, I am anticipating doing the dishes. John [Hanson, Peggy’s husband] and I will often reminisce about the party while we’re wiping dishes at night.”

The Guest ListGuests have responsibilities, too. Here are a few good rules:

Be oN time“As a guest, your number one job is to be on time. It’s rude to be more than five or 10 minutes late. If you’re a guest running late, call and let the hosts know. They’ll understand if you were in a traffic jam or other uncontrollable circumstance. “

HoSt or HoSteSS GiftS are oPtioNaL“You can bring a gift and you can offer to bring a dish, but you don’t have to. It’s your choice to offer. Gifts can be small – cocktail napkins or a candle – but they aren’t necessary.”

tHaNK-yous are eSSeNtiaL“after the party, sending a thank-you note or calling to say thank you is very important. If the invitation came via e-mail, you could write an e-mail thank you. Written notes are the best. I had a friend who wrote beautiful thank you notes so I invited her to everything because I knew I’d get a beautiful note.”

How do you make a beautiful holiday centerpiece without spending a bundle? Darlene Johnson, a collector and sales associate at Northfield’s Present Perfect, has also been a film, video and theater production coordinator and stylist. Here she shows us how to create a showy display with found objects.

make your own holiday centerpiece

Johnson clips green branches in the yard of varying textures and shapes. They come from common plants such as arborvitae, yew and viburnum that were sporting red berries this fall. Later the berries will dry, but still offer color.

Johnson prefers a natural, unstructured centerpiece. She starts with a basket from Present Perfect and fills it with moss, available at craft stores. She places it on a vintage mirror to add interest.

add the branches, berries and sticks gathered in the yard.Keep the centerpiece low so your dinner guests can see each other across the table. Johnson’s rule of thumb is no higher than 12 - 14 inches.

Invest in a neutral tablecloth and simple dishes so you can use any display colors you like for different occasions. Mixing and matching plates and cups and saucers you’ve collected can be a fun way to add interest, too.

add color in candles or candleholders. make a splash with napkins that spring out of glasses. Decorate a chandelier with boughs, cranberries or dried flowers. Voilà! Dinner is served.

Peggy’s holi-dazzling cookies take center stage.

Let there be

LightBY NICHOLE DAY DIGGINS

There is no mistaking the signs: bare trees, frosted morning grass, dwindling daylight... Omens of winter’s approach are literally in the air. Even people who love winter can hate its short days and long nights. But instead of cursing the darkness, make the best of it. The darkest months are the ideal time to warm up your home with well-placed lighting. and a more luminous home inevitably leads to a brighter outloook as well.

Don’t flood the room. a lot of people think the best way to light their home is to put a 100-watt bulb in every overhead fixture throughout the house. But one central light creates hard shadows and glare, not a warm, cozy feeling. Instead, combine table lamps and floor lamps with accent and task lighting and distribute throughout your space. Place your lighting at different levels – low, mid and high – to create ambiance. Use compact fluorescent bulbs to save energy; every regular bulb replaced by a compact fluorescent bulb saves you $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Choose your bulb accordingly: warm white bulbs feel cozier than daylight bulbs, which give off a cool light and pick up every detail.

take a cue from mid-century trends. Watching television in a darkened room can be a strain on the eyes. To soften contrast and reduce glare, backlight your TV by placing a lamp behind the screen. In the 1950s, the ubiquitous TV lamp sat atop nearly every television in america. In Northfield you’ll find one of the largest collections around. Antiques of Northfield (416 Division Street) boasts more than 1,000 TV lamps of all varieties.

Add elegance in unexpected places. a chandelier on the porch, in the bath or the laundry room adds easy sophistication. avoid the hassle and expense of hardwiring with a chic hanging pendant - just add a ceiling hook and cord set (see inset).

mood lighting. Sometimes a cozy island of light can lift your spirits more than bright ambient light. For a relaxing vibe, turn off the overheads and use only task and accent lights instead. When shopping for accent lighting, don’t overlook the wall lamps: they come in all shapes and sizes and help spread a warm glow throughout your space.Candles also add ambience and life to any room. If you love to look but not the soot, try a candle-style LED light – they’re surprisingly realistic.

Highlight it. Put a spotlight on your favorite work of art or prized possessions and watch them come to life. If you’re not able to hardwire spotlights, there are lots of other options, including an up-light, which you simply plug in and place wherever you want to add drama.

For many people lighting is an afterthought. But in Sweden, where there are only about 5 hours of daylight in the depths of winter, lighting often takes center stage. Photo: Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden

The start of winter is marked by the winter solstice, which occurs exactly when the Earth’s North Pole is tilted farther away from the sun than at any other time of year. Though the solstice lasts only an instant, the term is also used colloquially to mean the first day of winter.

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Capiz Hanging Pendant – $69worldmarket.com

Nichole Day Diggins is the publisher of Redoux Home and owner of Flying Pan Productions.

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Victorian

Christmas teaBY LAURIN WOLF

Walking into the Faribault Queen Anne Victorian Bed and Breakfast owned by Tami and Doug Schluter is like taking a step back in time. Yet Tami’s approach to hosting guests, whether it is overnight or for a special event, is thoroughly modern. She follows the business motto KISS, or “Keep It Simple, Stupid.”

Her relaxed way of welcoming people into her home reflects the playfulness of her philosophy. Schluter avoids the clutter that is characterized by the

Victorian style in favor of more minimalist decorations. “You don’t have to stress out to be a good host,” she insists.

She and Doug realized they had a gift for hospitality when they repeatedly housed church guests and exchange students in their former residence. During their travels, they stayed in B&Bs and enjoyed meeting the locals. So, when they purchased their Victorian home in Faribault, they knew they wanted to create a laid-back, go-with-the-flow environment where visitors would feel comfortable.

Built in 1892, their B&B is named The Historic Hutchinson House after its famous first owner, John Hutchinson, Jr., a Civil War veteran, local businessman and entrepreneur who owned a flour mill, lumber company, furniture company and bookstore. The Schluters not only host overnight guests, they also book events that range from graduation parties to wedding receptions and baby showers.

On Saturday December 5 and 12 at 3 p.m., they will host their annual and extremely popular victorian christmas tea featuring Tami’s blue-ribbon scones. (They’re so complicated to make that she doesn’t give out the recipe.) So, gather some friends this holiday season and check out the annual Christmas Tea. Make reservations early – space is limited.

Laurin Wolf is a Faribault native studying creative writing at Johns Hopkins university.

Victorian tea Menu:

ScoNeSBlueberry White Chocolateapple Pecan CinnamonCranberry White Chocolate (Rice County Fair Blue Ribbon Winner)

QuicHeFlorentine - Spinach & CheeseLorraine - Swiss & Bacon

tea SaNDwicHeSSalmon DillCurried Chicken (recipe supplied)Cucumber

SPaNaKoPitaSpinach & Fetamushroom & onion

SauSaGe eN croute

DeSSertPetit FoursBelgium Chocolate CupsCheesecakeCream PuffsLayered almond Bread Pudding with amaretto Cream Sauce

Victorian Christmas tea

December 5 & 12 • 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Historic Hutchinson House305 2nd Street NW, Faribault

$20 / person

Reservations required: 507.384.3291

The Historic Hutchinson House Bed & Breakfast in Faribault

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Leftover Turkey Tostadas with Manchego and Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

Serves 2

aNNie witKamPthedabble.com – recipes & musings from a northfield culinary writer

ingredients:

2 small flour tortillas

2 tsp. olive or canola oil

3 tbsp. Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce (recipe below)

½ cup leftover turkey, shredded

½ cup manchego cheese, shredded

2 tbsp. red onion or scallions, thinly sliced

1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely diced-optional

Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

ingredients:

2 cups cranberries

½ cup + 2 tbsp orange juice

½ cup sugar

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced

1 tsp. lime juice

In a saucepan, place the cranberries, orange juice, sugar and jalapeno. Simmer over medium-low heat until the cranberries burst. add the lime juice, stir and remove from the heat. allow to cool and thicken. Refrigerate and store in an airtight container up to a week.

rec

ipe

So what is a Heritage Turkey, anyway?

Joey Robisonmarketing and member Services managerJust Food Co-op

Small family farms used to raise a wide variety of diverse domestic turkey breeds for Thanksgiving dinner. But over the last few decades, these choices have become very limited in standard grocery stores. We’ve come to know one bird and one bird alone as our traditional Thanksgiving turkey: the Broad Breasted White. It’s true that this bird produces a high amount of breast meat in a short amount of time, and industrial production has made it cheap. But in an attempt to create large, cheap turkeys, we may have forgotten one important thing: flavor.

The diverse breeds that used to be found on farms across the country—known as Heritage breeds—are being raised once again, praised by chefs for their rich flavor. To be considered Heritage, a turkey breed must be able to mate naturally, have a long, productive life span, and grow slowly (Heritage birds take about 28 weeks to mature, far longer than the industrial average of 14-18 weeks).

You can purchase Heritage and Broad Breasted turkeys in limited quantities at Just Food Co-op in Northfield, or find other local producers at LocalHarvest.org.

Preheat the oven to 400F. Divide and brush the oil, on one side, between the two tortillas and place the tortillas, oil side down, on a baking sheet. Divide and spread the cranberry sauce between the two tortillas. Top with the shredded turkey, cheese, onion and optional jalapeno on each tortilla. Bake for 8 minutes or until crisp. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

For more leftover turkey & holiday recipes, visit thedabble.com.

Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls grows free-range turkeys on the third-generation Peterson family farm. The birds are grown without the use of antibiotics, processed naturally, and available both fresh or frozen in sizes 10-20 lbs. at Thanksgiving. ferndalemarketonline.com

Pre-orders for fresh turkeys can be placed by phone or email: 507.263.4556 • ferndalemarket@frontiernet.net.

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BY ELIZABETH CHILD

While thinking about food shelves is seasonal for some, Nancy and Greg Carlson and their daughter Rebecca, a St. Olaf senior, aimed to make the Northfield food shelf a major beneficiary when it started SEEDS, a new community farm that stands for Social Entrepreneurship, Environmental Design and Stewardship.

“We wanted growing for the food shelf to be a goal, not an after-thought,” says Nancy.

on 35 acres, SEEDS produce is grown without pesticides and herbicides to feed those in need of healthful foods, to nurture learning opportunities for new sustainable farmers, including students and Latino immigrants in the community, and to sell as inexpensively as possible to residents, restaurants and food service organizations.

Those receiving supplemental sustenance from the food shelf are thrilled with the addition of so much fresh produce including kale, kohlrabi, beets, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, squash and melons. Four hundred twenty families depend on the Northfield food shelf regularly, and some 900 families are eligible to benefit from it, says Judy Bickel, Community Action Center program director. Clients normally can benefit from the food shelf once a month, but because of the generosity of community farms, they are invited to return often throughout summer and fall to partake of the harvest.

Community Supported agriculture farms (CSas) including open Hands Farm, Big Woods Farm, Bridgewater Produce and now SEEDS brought in a bounty of fresh foods totaling more than 26,000 pounds to be given away by the food shelf from May through August. For the first time last winter, families also received fresh produce year round thanks to donations from Cub Foods.

The Carlson’s multifaceted vision took root in their three-season porch where the first seeds were planted last spring. Other young plants were contributed by Northfield’s Eco Gardens, organic gardeners on Division Street, who gladly pitched in to help their newly adopted community.

Driven by a strong charitable motivation, Rebecca became SEEDS’ manager. She quickly learned the ropes of farming in an entrepreneurial approach she calls: “Ready, shoot, aim” and energized volunteers to collaborate in making SEEDS a success. By harvest end, SEEDS crops had been sown into the fabric of the Northfield community. “We learned a lot,” says Rebecca about year one. Like how much work goes into a $4 bag of beans. and not to over plant. and that a community of volunteer farmers, despite age and cultural differences, can support each other to fill the plates of many.

read more online at redouxhome.com

The SEEDS of

g iving

Local Food Shelves

Donate or learn about receiving food to supplement your family’s diet:

Cannon Falls: 100 mill St. (no published phone number)Faribault: 507.334.2137Northfield: 507.664.3550

To participate in the Northfield CAC program:

apply at the Community Action Center office (1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200). once registered, participants pick up a five-day supply of groceries once a month. The food varies in type, but the focus is always on food that offers good nutrition. For more information, call 507.664.3550 or visit communityactioncenter.org.

The SEEDS farm stretches in front of a neighboring farmstead. Thousands of pounds of produce were donated to the food shelf.

Rebecca Carlson makes a delivery to the Northfield food shelf.

Holiday

GiftGuide

Melissa & Doug Wooden Play SetIdeal for the little future chef! Ages 3+$22.99 • Find this and many more gifts at Just Food Co-op • 516 Water St. S.

You can’t go wrong with the gift of food and this winning combination will delight anyone on your list: The Republic of Tea’s coconut cocoa tea, $11.95, and sumptuous hand-crafted chocolate by B.T. mcElrath, $5.50. Present Perfect • 419 Division St. S.

Lightweight , durable and ever-so-stylish, envirosax reusable bags can easily hold up to 44lbs. Each bag conveniently rolls into itself making it the perfect shopping companion! assorted designs under $12the Sketchy artist • 300 Division St. S.thesketchyartist.com

Soft, snuggly cotton long sleeve Leendaloo t-shirt, perfect for putting your heart into your yoga . . . on and off the mat. $32 Heartwork Yoga Studio • 101 West 5th Street

Warm and cozy Haflinger boiled wool slippers put the fun in functional. Latex molded arch support, non skid outsole.assorted colors. made in Germany. $68the rare Pair • 401 Division St., Northfield

Apples don’t get better than Minnesota Haralsons plunged from the tree into rich, gooey caramel. Give the delicious classic topped with good wishes and a flourish of peanuts or fudge. $3.50-$4.50 Fireside Orchard & Gardens • Hwy. 19 in Northfield

Give the Gift of Cheese! Shepherd’s Way farms cSa cheese share -- providing a variety of 4-6 award winning local sheep cheeses once a month for six or 12 months. www.shepherdswayfarms.com (register online), or call 507.663.9040.

Freshen up your interior!

$100 off any winter interior project over $700 (valid when booked by 12/31/10).Porchlight Painters • 507.663.1515

When you shop locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services (through sales tax), invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development.

Local stores help sustain vibrant, walkable town centers, which help reduce sprawl, automobile use and air and water pollution.

Stacking rings: 14kt reclaimed yellow gold with vintage semi-precious stones. Sustainable designer Susan crow brings you beauty with a conscious. Each handmade piece is a commitment to a socially & environmentally responsible lifestyle. 612.735.1712 • susan.crow@gmail.com

Paradise Community Theater season tickets make great stocking stuffers. See three plays: Coconuts and Warheads, Godspell, and m*a*S*H, $35 for adults and $20 for students. Contact the Paradise at 507.332.7372 or paradisecenterforthearts.org.

Holiday gift baskets loaded with an assortment of tasty treats: coffee, soup, candy, cookies and more. $10-$50the ole cafe • 1011 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield. the-ole-cafe.com

Life legacy planning for women.Give yourself the gift of intentional giving. Plan a meaningful legacy, large or small, and have an influence on the people and concerns you care about most. Free one-hour consultation. therese whitesong, american Family Insurance. 507.645.5010 • twhiteso@amfam.com

This whimsical hand-thrown ceramic mug by Farmington artist colleen riley is just one of the many local gift ideas you’ll find at the Northfield Arts Guild store. $32304 Division St., Northfield

Give yourself the gift of beautiful, gleaming wood floors – and save 15% with this ad (minimum order applies). Buff & coat Hardwood Floor Renewal • buffandcoat.comRod magsam 612.685.9172

a soft and luxurious pashmina shawl is perfect for any occasion. available in a variety of colors. 27” x 70” Extremely versatile, they also make wonderful (and affordable) wall hangings or table covers. $7.50 Aescendant Accessories • 13 Bridge Square, Northfield

Soft, snuggly cotton long sleeve Leendaloo t-shirt, perfect for putting your heart into your yoga . . . on and off the mat. $32 Heartwork Yoga Studio • 101 West 5th Street

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Taylor-Made Builders, LLC

License #20416171

General Contractor Custom Homes • Remodeling • Additions

Dean & Sara Taylor 507.663.7010

www.taylor—madebuilders.com

GUITARlessonsstudiolive

Peter Diggins – 30+ yrs. pro experience. creative, dependable, fast and fun.507.301.9710 • flyingpan@me.com

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Family TreasuresBY LAURIN WOLF

I’m sitting with Beth westerhouse on a cozy sofa in the back office of Faribault’s crafty maven on Central avenue. Suddenly, Beth pulls out what appears to be a sandal, but with a handle. “It’s a flip-flop fly swatter!” she exclaims with a laugh. Beth, a special education teacher, opened the shop in 2007 with her sister Dee Bjork, who manages it. The crafty maven sells craft and sewing supplies, fabrics, art, clothing and home décor, and resides next to vohs floors, owned by their crafty sister anne vohs and her husband, Karl. a fourth crafty Bjork sister, carol, lives in Pennsylvania. Their mother, ruth Bjork, the original family crafter, is never far from the fold, and I sat down with the local foursome one Thursday morning as they finished each others’ sentences and laughed over shared memories.

The Bjork women are a welcoming presence in Faribault, adding old-fashioned ingenuity and good will to downtown. Each is complimentary of the others’ skills. They work in mediums as traditional as paint or needle and thread, and as eccentric and eclectic as the afore mentioned flip-flops or discarded kitchenware that becomes a garden decoration.

Beth has a knack for bringing together cute and clever in her artistic work. anne sparkles with warmth as you enter her shop, one of the area’s go-to spots for flooring, including sustainable options such as marmoleum and bamboo. She uses her in-born design sense to help customers pick out textures and colors of flooring, and in her free time is a gardener and seamstress.

Dee is a practical crafter who specializes in upholstery. “We learn how to do things when we have a customer with a need,” she says, touching us all with the story of a distraught family that nearly lost the treasured chairs that were once their grandmother’s in a house fire. To their relief, Dee found a way to restore the charred remnants.

Leading by ExampleThe Bjork tradition of remaking the old into new marvels in Faribault dates back to 1948 when Ruth Bjork moved to town from Kenyon with her husband, Bob, who owned Belz Company, a stationery store. as a young wife and former teacher, Ruth led by example when it came to creating something wonderful out of almost nothing. She made all of the girls’ clothing until they went to college – partly out of necessity in the Depression era. Luckily for the girls, she was – and is – a skilled seamstress who could repurpose high-quality, hand-me-down fabrics. “I went off to pre-school in a cashmere coat with a matching muff and hat,” Beth recalls with pride. Ruth could recreate any look that her daughters saw on the cover of Seventeen magazine, and she did just that with daughter Anne’s confirmation dress.

Ruth continues to be the active matriarch of the family. She sews aprons, which are sold in the Crafty maven, and is in a quilting circle at a church near her winter residence in Texas. The group makes nearly 400 quilts a year, which they distribute to high school graduates, newly baptized babies and needy families. “It’s a place where there is a great deal of wealth, but also a great deal of poverty,” Ruth explains.

A Crafty HolidayBeth and Dee offer up their ingenuity to the community over the holidays, too. For the last two years their seasonal store window has won Faribault’s holiday window contest.Inspired by childhood memories of the moving window displays at Dayton’s Department Store in the Twin Cities, Beth and Dee dressed two mannequins in costumes and ice skates, and mounted them on a rotating Christmas tree stand where they spun in endless circles last year. They aren’t revealing anything about this year’s display, except that it involves a conveyor belt. The mavens are set to out-craft themselves yet again, spinning something wonderful out of something redeployed, reconfigured and re-imagined.

read more online at redouxhome.com

Crafty clan: Ruth, ann, Beth, Carol and Dee

Beth and Dee play fortune-tellers at a local event.

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When planning our yards and gardens, many of us dream about the thrills that plants bring us from spring through fall: the blooms, the greenery, the texture, the fragrance and the color. When we think of the long expanse of winter, on the other hand, we visualize anything but a time to enjoy our gardens.

But mix a few specially selected plants into the landscape, and our gardens can keep delighting us all winter long. In fact, adding in some plants with year-round interest could, along with the absence of mosquitoes and weeds, make winter one of the most exciting gardening seasons of all. You often can plant into November if the ground doesn’t freeze.

Evergreens are the backbone of any winter garden. Their deep green needles add color and depth to the landscape, and provide a fantastic contrast to the white snow. They also provide a deep-hued backdrop, making it easier to see other plants.

Trees and shrubs with interesting bark or bright berries add color, structure, and excitement to the winter garden. Dried perennials lend form, texture and movement (think grasses blowing in the wind) to the scene. Leaving perennials up over the winter, rather than cutting them back, gives the snow a place to land, adding contour and shape to the landscape.

as an added bonus, many of these plants will attract birds during the long winter months, making the garden feel almost as active and alive as it does spring through fall. as you winterize your yard this fall, think about adding some of the following great winter plant combinations to your landscape. Then curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the winter!

Small Yards or Foundation Plantings

D• warf Norway Spruce (small evergreen with deep green foliage)‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea (the dried blossoms catch snow) • ‘Jim Dandy’ and ‘Red Sprite’ Winterberry (bright red berries • on light grey twigs)

moist or Low-lying areas

River Birch (beautiful peeling bark and delicate branches)• ‘Cardinal’ Dogwood (bright red branches)• ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass (ornamental grass) • Viburnum (many varieties retain their berries into winter)•

Dry or Upland Areas

B• lack Hills Spruce (deep green contrast to the white snow)‘Red Jewel’ Crabapple (bright red berries stay on through • winter)‘Arctic Fire’ Dogwood (bright red branches) • ‘Autumn Fire’ Sedum (dormant plant remains rigid and • catches snow)

Partly Shady Areas

Pago• da Dogwood (horizontal branches on this small tree catch snow)‘Taunton’ Yew (deep green foliage)• ‘Arctic Sun’ Dogwood (yellow branches with red tips) • Rudbeckia (dried seed heads catch snow)•

Kristin Lucas is a Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association-certified Landscape Designer. She designs beautiful outdoor spaces for Knecht’s Nurseries and Landscaping in Northfield.

Planting for

WINTER BEAUTYBY KRISTIN LUCAS

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BY JOE GRANSEE-BOWMAN

as minnesotans, we live among some of the most beautiful scenery and seasonal changes. But the great outdoors also brings extreme temperature differentials of over 100 degrees between the summer and winter solstice. Luckily, we have building solutions to address our need for energy-efficient shelter.

To help us prepare our homes for winter, REDoux HomE posed questions to Joe Gransee-Bowman, a Certified Passive House Consultant in Northfield who helps people design plans for integrating systems of food, shelter and energy. Gransee-Bowman holds a master of science degree in sustainable design architecture. For more information, he can be reached at joegb@northfieldwifi.com or 952.406.1215.

reDoux Home: What should we consider when planning to weatherize an older home?

Gransee-Bowman: In order to address the challenges of weatherizing older homes it is important to start with safety, indoor environmental quality, energy performance and moisture control. First, identify whether your home harbors any safety concerns such as mold or back drafting of carbon monoxide from combustion appliances, including gas water heaters, stoves or furnaces. Next, seal up the leaks in the attic and around the foundation, walls, windows and doors. once your home is air sealed, insulation can be added to reduce heat loss in the attic and walls, and strategically around crawlspaces and basements. Keeping moisture from building up in your home requires controlling sources of water both from rain with a solid roof, gutters and downspouts, and also by using exhaust fans to remove water vapor from activities such as bathing and cooking.

reDoux Home: How can we seal up our homes without jeopardizing air safety and quality?

Gransee-Bowman: as a homeowner, you can accomplish some fixes yourself, such as using spray foam to seal up leaks in the attic and around the foundation, and blowing cellulose into the attic. However, sealing up one part of the house such as an attic leak might inadvertently cause back drafting of carbon monoxide or increase radon levels. Hiring a professional who understands building science to conduct an energy audit of your house can help you identify solutions to building performance problems. although utility companies provide building diagnostics for air leakage, they may not test for combustion issues or air quality, and they don’t assess moisture problems. Energy auditors provide a comprehensive assessment of the building and then develop a plan, based on savings to investment ratios, for improving the safety, comfort and energy performance of the building as a whole system.

reDoux Home: What incentives and resources are available for making our homes more energy efficient?

Gransee-Bowman: I have gathered some of the top resources for you. For a more comprehensive list, please see this article at redouxhome.com (click the “Sustainable Living” page link).

energy.mn.gov Learn about Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), state legislation that will bring about potential financing for energy improvements and renewable energy systems.

energystar.gov/yardstick The federal program ENERGYSTAR soon will be replaced by HOMESTAR, offering tax credits to fund recommendations from qualified energy auditors. This is an improvement to the Energy Star tax credits. Learn cost effective measures you can take to improve your home’s efficiency.

thenec.org Minnesota Energy Loan: Low interest financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency building improvements is available to those that qualify.

mncee.org Home Energy Loan: Low interest financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency building improvements.

cleanenergyresourceteams.org Clean Energy Resource Teams have online resources about renewable energy.

The Energy Expert

THE 2010-2011 FESLER-LAMPERT PERFORMING ARTS SERIES

Shattuck-St.Mary’s School Presents...

CELEBRATING OUR 25TH SEASON...

Rhythmic Circus SEPT. 9, 2010

The Princess and the Pea SEPT. 25, 2010PRESENTED BY MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Tanner Taylor Trio OCT. 14, 2010

Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire Du Doldat” JAN. 6, 2011

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble JAN. 20, 2011

My Antonia MAR. 24, 2011PRESENTED BY ILLUSION THEATER

Chic Gamine MAR. 31, 2011

The Sweet Land Project APR. 6 & 7, 2011

CONTACT PERSON: RICHARD KETTERING – 507-333-1631 – RKETTERING@S-SM.ORG ssm3074

ssm3074take3:Layout 1 8/19/2010 9:44 AM Page 1

Get cash back for your energy-saving upgradesIf there were ever an ideal time to invest in your home by adding more insulation or replacing an inefficient old water heater, it’s now. The economic stimulus package passed by Congress last February included a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of energy-saving upgrades. This is a full tax credit, not just a deduction, but there is a cap of $1,500 per house.

Time is running out – the upgrades must be installed by the end of 2010. So if you hurry, there’s still time to slash your utility bills and increase your house’s long-term value, too. For more information, visit energysavers.gov.

Getting Down and Dirty

Laundry Detergent

according to the organic Consumers association, “Fragrances added to many cleaners, most notably laundry detergents and fabric softeners, may cause acute effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing and watery eyes in sensitive individuals or allergy and asthma sufferers.” The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. But because the chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies aren’t required to list their ingredients but merely label them as containing “fragrance.”

Products may be labeled “natural” or “eco-friendly,” but if they don’t tell you on the container why or how, think twice about buying them. On the other hand, if a product says “solvent-free,” “no phosphates,” “no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)” or “no petroleum-based ingredients,” then you can be assured that the manufacturer is not trying to pull the wool over your eyes with suggestive words or packaging.

throw cold Water on Assumptions

Here are some tips on ways to tackle a few other global problems and save money in the process. First, always wash in cold water. most detergents on the market today are formulated to do a great job cleaning your clothes in cold water, so there is no reason to wash in hot water anymore. Hot water uses unnecessary energy, costing you more money. Second, use about half of the amount of detergent suggested on the bottle. The suggested amount is way too much and is hard on your clothes. Third, refill your existing large plastic liquid laundry detergent bottle. I have been refilling the same bottle at Just Food of Northfield for three years. Many laundry jugs are made out of #5 polypropylene plastic which isn’t accepted at our Rice County recycling center. Just think of all the plastic you are going to keep out of the landfills while also protecting our precious water by using less detergent in cold water.

So if you want to tackle your family’s dirty laundry including those stinky socks as environmentally friendly as possible: • Buy detergents that list their cleaning agents as plant-derived or plant-based. • Refill your existing plastic bottle to reduce plastic in the landfill. • Wash and rinse your clothes in cold versus hot water.

For more information, visit: organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfm

Just about every day we clean some part of our house and if we are not careful, dump some pretty toxic chemicals into our already polluted environment.

Laundry detergents are no exception.

If the laundry detergent you are using says “Danger, Warning, Poison or Caution,” it is poisonous. Diluting and rinsing it down the drain doesn’t make it go away, it simply takes it to another place. Products labeled “danger” or “poison” are the most hazardous; those labeled “warning” are moderately hazardous and detergents marked “caution” are considered slightly toxic.

Synthetic chemicals leave toxic residues in our environment, air and water. many of these chemicals are masked with other chemically based scents that mimic natural scents but very often are also dangerous to inhale or touch.

BY SUSAN CROW

Susan Crow is a Northfield-based sustainable designer.

An assortment of natural and refillable laundry detergents are avaible locally at Just Food Co-op in Northfield.

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The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic.

TUESDAY, NOvEMBER 9, 7 TO 8 P.M.a NiGHt of SiLverSharon Jensen and the Rice County Historical Society’s alexander Faribault House Committee members discuss the history and care of silver. Alexander Faribault House 12 NE 1st avenue, Faribault. rchistory.org

SATURDAY, NOvEMBER 13, 2010, 5 TO 10 P.M.reD rocK caNyoN: tHe HiStory of couNtry muSicTake a trip through the musical and visual history of country music, presented by Terry T, his band & Barb Piper. Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts.

FRiDAY, NOvEMBER 16, 6:30 P.M. worLD reNowNeD autHor aND PoSt carBoN iNStitute feLLow ricHarD HeiNBerG Heinberg presents “Mom, Dad, We Need to Talk: Preparing Together for a Changed World.” Northfield Ballroom.transitionnorthfield.org

SATURDAY, NOvEMBER 27‘DecK tHe faLLS’ Holiday celebration in Cannon Falls includes store open houses, parade, music, bake sales and the ceremonial lighting of the community Christmas tree. cannonfalls.org/communitycelebrations.html

tHurSDay, DecemBer 2 tHouGH SuNDay, DECEMBER 5St. oLaf coLLeGe cHriStmaS feStivaLstolaf.edu/christmasfest

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 10 A.M.-NOONmaKe it & taKe itmake a shibori silk scarf, jewelry, candles, purses, or paint a ceramic figurine. Open to all age groups. Pre-registration is required. paradisecenterforthearts.org

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 7:30 P.M.SimPLe GiftS witH miNNeaPoLiS acouStic GuitariSt BiLLy mcLauGHLiNShattuck St. Mary’s Newhall – Auditorium. Contact: dmusselman@s-sm.org

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 912tH aNNuaL wiNter waLK Downtown Northfield. Enjoy Northfield by candlelight!

tHurSDay, DECEMBER 9 tHrouGH SuNDay, DecemBer 12feStivaL of wreatHS at tHe NortHfieLD artS GuiLDWreaths are hand-decorated and available by auction. Thursday 5-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-3p.m. northfieldartsguild.com

tHurSDay, DecemBer 9 THROUGH SATURDAY, DecemBer 11SuN vaLLey cHriStmaSWritten by Merlin Players’ founding member michael Lambert, this musical revue is a valentine to films such as White Christmas and Holiday Inn. paradisecenterforthearts.org

SaturDay, DecemBer 11, 1-4 P.M.SHattucK St. mary’S camPuS cHriStmaS waLKFigure skating holiday show starts after the event at 4 p.m. at the SSm ice arena.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 10 A.M.- 5 P.M.GirLS Day awayCannon River Winery comes alive with handcrafted jewelry, fashions, mini-spa, cooking demonstrations and more. No entry fee.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 7-8:30 P.M.carNeGie ceNteNNiaL coNcert Featuring St. Olaf College String Quartets - at the Northfield Library.

FRiDAY, DECEMBER 31HeartworK yoGa New year’S eve iNteNtioNS-SettiNG retreat. Watch for details at heartworkyoga.com.29

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