Tag Archives: Chappaqua Luxury Real Estate

Best Vegetable Seed Companies | Chappaqua NY Homes

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By the time you poke your first seeds into the ground each spring, you  already have huge hopes for the success of your crops. You’ve spent hours  planning, weeks waiting, and your soil may reflect years of hard work spent  building its fertility. With so much potential in those seeds, you want to buy  from a seed company you can trust. So how do you know which have the best seeds  and selections? And which follow sustainable practices?

To answer these questions, we asked hundreds of gardeners to take our 2011  Seed Company Survey. Our survey group was a well-seasoned bunch: About 65  percent had grown food gardens for more than 10 years. Each respondent picked  his or her three favorite vegetable seed companies and then ranked companies  based on individual qualities. Ultimately, the survey revealed 15 standout  vegetable seed companies, all of which emphasize sustainability. (Join our Gardening Advisory Group to take future surveys.)

Top 15 Sustainable Seed Companies

Our Top 15 list (toward the end of this article) is based on how often the  vegetable seed companies were ranked in gardeners’ top three. For our survey  takers, it wasn’t just about the seeds. In addition to an array of varieties  with consistently high germination rates, they wanted seed companies that  provide detailed variety descriptions, growing advice and interesting stories.  Genetic integrity was also a top priority. The gardeners we surveyed were deeply  concerned about genetically modified (GM) food crops, so we made sure all of the  companies here have signed the Safe Seed Pledge — a written commitment to sell  only non-GM seed — or made public declarations that they will not knowingly sell  GM seeds.

Many gardeners said they didn’t know there were more than 100 mail-order seed  and plant companies. You can find a national list in our Directory of Companies Offering Mail-Order Seeds and  Plants.

Superior ratings in multiple categories put Johnny’s  Selected Seeds, a company that offers heirlooms, organics and hybrids, in  the top spot. “The Johnny’s catalog is accurate and informative without the  hype, and I have never had a failed crop from their seed,” wrote a Midwestern  gardener with more than 20 years of experience. Others praised Johnny’s “cool  tools” and hard-to-find organic gardening supplies, and many said they liked  doing business with an employee-owned company.

Gardeners want to support preservation of heirloom varieties, so Seed Savers Exchange  received high marks for providing unique and nearly forgotten heirlooms. Seed  Savers, a nonprofit organization, has “wonderful heirloom seed, a beautiful  catalog and a great mission,” wrote a Mid-Atlantic gardener who puts  sustainability first. The Seed Savers catalog was rated highly for its variety  descriptions and photographs, plus customers said they liked being a part of  seed conservation. “They’re outside of the mainstream, consolidated  seed-production system, and they have a wonderful community feel to their  operation and network,” wrote an organic gardener in the Pacific Northwest.

A strong sense of purpose has earned Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds many  loyal patrons. A prominent spokesman against GM “Frankenfoods,” founder Jere  Gettle has amassed a global selection of rare and worthwhile varieties. “What’s  not to love about Baker Creek?” wrote a Mid-Atlantic gardener. “They’re making a  hugely positive impact on the world. With all the GM seed obscenities going on,  they’re helping make sure humans will be able to eat in the future!”

Passions for ethical responsibility and high-quality seeds helped put Seeds of Change, High Mowing Seeds and Fedco Seeds near the top of the list, too. Here’s what some  respondents had to say about them:

Seeds of Change: “Good combination of heirlooms, open-pollinated and quality  hybrids, all organically grown.”

“I find the agronomics information listed for each type of vegetable very  helpful, and I like their emphasis on biodiversity and sustainability.”

High Mowing Organic Seeds: “I love the personal service and wide variety of  organic selections from High Mowing.”

“The varieties they offer are excellent and suitable for organic market  farming; everything is certified organic, which makes life easier if ordering  seed for a certified organic farm.”

Fedco Seeds: “Excellent variety choice, and usually the cheapest prices. I  like supporting a co-op, and Fedco offers information on where their seeds are  from.”

Crazy for Seed Catalogs

Nearly 70 percent of gardeners said they buy most of their seeds from  mail-order vegetable seed companies. Most gardeners were quick to heap praise on  their favorite seed companies and their catalogs. Of Fedco, one gardener said, “Their catalog makes wonderful, entertaining, laugh-out-loud reading, and all of  the vintage graphics are wonderful.”

Loco for Local Seeds

Most gardeners send at least one seed order to a local or regional company,  and this practice offers certain benefits. For instance, locally grown seed is  more likely to be suited to your climate. In the upper and mid-South, Southern Exposure Seed  Exchange has a strong following. “I go here first,” said a Mid-Atlantic  gardener. “Southern Exposure provides mostly locally grown seed, heritage and  open-pollinated varieties, excellent service and decent prices.” Known for  offering unique items, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange was called “a small  company with a big heart” by a longtime organic farmer.

In the Northwest, Territorial Seeds reigned supreme as a regional seed source,  with excellent ratings for producing catalogs brimming with varietal and  cultural information. “They always have what I want in stock, so I don’t have to  wait. The variety descriptions are excellent,” wrote a gardener with a small  plot who’s just getting started. And Territorial Seed is successful nationally,  too. “Territorial has good selection across the board, dependable seeds and fair  pricing,” said a New England gardener. Additionally, Territorial is one of the  only major seed companies that publishes a winter catalog, which is of  tremendous interest to food gardeners in areas with mild winters.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Gardeners of all skill levels enjoy trying new crops and varieties, and many  look to mail-order seed companies to add to the adventure. “Nichols  Garden Nursery always has something new and interesting, plus they continue  to carry my old favorites,” said a veteran gardener from the Southwest. A  Mid-Atlantic gardener noted, “The family warmth of Nichols shows in the care  they take with each order, and they have taken a stand against treated and GMO  seed.” A gardener from the Midwest with more than 20 years of experience summed  it up this way: “When I’m looking for old-world heirlooms or just plain fun,  Nichols Garden Nursery is my favorite.”

Those in search of undiscovered garden pleasures often find them in packets  from Renee’s  Garden, which is also a valued source for garden-worthy annual flowers. “The  Renee’s Garden catalog introduced me to favorite new crops, including ‘Trombetta’ squash and ‘Garden Babies’ lettuce,” said an experienced gardener  from the Southwest. A Midwestern gardener with 20 years of experience praised  Renee’s “combo packs” that include three varieties of lettuce, squash, tomato or  pepper.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={56DCD921-5138-45DE-8FC5-E13DAADFF64F}#ixzz2nMheJ3Y6

Tech-Happy Design in the Hollywood Hills Asks $7.825M | Chappaqua NY Homes

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Location: Hollywood Hills, Calif. Price: $7,825,000 The Skinny: Here’s a sleek Hollywood Hills house that is definitely not for the technophobic: with self-closing kitchen cabinets, an automated Neorest toilet in the master bathroom, and a sound system that’s controlled via a Smarthome system, this place might very well be among the first to throw off the shackles of human domination when the A.I. singularity occurs. Until that unhappy moment arrives, though, the Jay Vanos design provides everything an early-20th-century free-range human could want in modern luxury. Inside there are Miele appliances in the kitchen (including a built-in coffee system and wine refrigerator) and heated bathroom floors; outside there’s an infinity pool with a swim-up bar and spa, all with panoramic city views. The 5,200-square-foot home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms (one full, three partial) that are served by an elevator which, hopefully, is not powered by a semi-autonomous computer chip nurturing a murderous rage toward the people who make it go up and down all day, every day. The listing is asking $7.825M, regardless of whether Skynet is about to awaken or not.

Black Ice, Slick Conditions Likely In Chappaqua | Chappaqua Real Estate

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The snowstorm that dropped 2-4 inches of snow throughout Westchester County has passed, but the National Weather Service has just issued a Special Weather Statement warning of black ice and slick conditions Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

Those conditions are especially likely on walkways and untreated roads, where many are either wet or covered with snow and ice.

Temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s Tuesday night with any slush or standing water refreezing.

Icy conditions could continue Wednesday, which will be mostly sunny but with a high of only around 30 degrees.

Thursday and Friday should also be dry, but temperatures are not expected to climb past the freezing mark.

The next chance of snow is Saturday, with a 70 percent chance and a high temperature of 35.

 

http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/black-ice-slick-conditions-likely-westchester

 

20 tips to harden your home security for next to nothing | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

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Most burglars work the daytime shift, just like most of us do. “Daylight jobs require a burglar to be quick, typically spending around 45 minutes selecting a home to target and just three minutes actually doing the job,” Los Angeles security expert Chris McGoey tells MSN Real Estate.

Burglars decide whether to hit your home based on appearances: Is it easy to crack or not worth the trouble? The most effective improvements are the ones that convince a burglar to move on to the next guy’s home. How? see it here. Sonitrol verified electronic security, this company for commercial security systems in New England notes. Alarm New England’s home security systems in Boston provide multiple safety and home automation features, For more information you could check here. The locksmith walnut creek ca  provide locksmith services such as: lock & key cutting, lost car keys replacement, re key and unlock door assistance. Sonitrol provides security systems like Intrusion detection, fire protection, video surveillance and access control.

9 easy and free ideas
  1. Enlist local police. Local police departments typically will send a trained officer to your home to do a “walk through” with you, pointing out your vulnerabilities and suggesting simple fixes. Check your police department’s website for crime statistics and tips. Any resident who lives in Norwalk would do well to protect themselves, by resorting to security systems that will help prevent crimes or at least help pinpoint and catch perpetrators when they do occur, for more information contact Mammoth Security Inc. For example, here is the Los Angeles Police Department’s detailed list of home-security tips for residents. Remember to alert police when you’ll be out of town.
  2. Chat up the neighbors. Join the local Neighborhood Watch program or start one. Chatting with neighbors updates you on local crime problems and enlists allies who’ll watch your home while you’re away. Neighbors are terrific watchdogs. My retired neighbor up the hill who likes peering out his window through a giant telescope spotted and chased a pre-dawn intruder from my garden once.
  3. Use your locks. Even if your neighborhood feels safe, make locking up a habit. Burglars often test a home by knocking on a door and, if no one answers, opening it. Keep every exterior door and window locked, including the door between the garage and house. If you need help finding locksmith companies working in Philly willing to take your job.
  4. Fake it. Getting a dog is a great security move. But if you can’t, pretend to have one, McGoey advises. Buy a couple “Beware of Dog” signs at a hardware store and put them up. When a stranger is at the door, make a show of putting the “dog” in the other room before you open the door.
  5. Install Long Distance Wireless Security Cameras. That way you will not only get indoor but also outdoor protection, using wireless technology avoid the use of communication wires and it will make your security cameras almost invisible at night time. For more details about security camera, click here now to find out the solution for camera installation. 
  6. Paste a local security company’s sticker on your front window.
  7. Keep the place looking lived in. Rotate lights on timers when you’re gone. Sign up for USPS’ Hold Mail service, reschedule expected deliveries and get friends to drop by randomly to water plants or just walk around.
  8. Trim shrubs. Bushy trees and shrubs provide cover for bad deeds. Keep the foliage well-trimmed.
  9. Use your head. “Don’t open the door — and don’t let kids open the door — to uninvited strangers,” McGoey tells MSN Real Estate. Stay home when workers are in or around your home. Don’t put keys in obvious places like fake rocks and under pots and doormats. “Train children (especially teens) to keep key locations, alarm codes and other family security information private from their friends,” the article adds.Locksmith sacramento ca provide us a good security solution.
4 cheap fixes
  1. Light the night. Install bright, motion-triggered security lights outside the front and back of your home. Battery-powered lights start at around $10 each. Hard-wired products start at around $50.
  2. Replace the door … or don’t. The best entry doors are solid wood ($100 and up) or 16-gauge minimum steel ($120 and up), says the Los Angeles Police Department. Use non-removable hinge pins and avoid doors with glass windows unless the glass is burglar-resistant. Consumer Reports’ test of entry doors found, however, that a strong door frame may count more than the door: “All [doors] eventually failed because the doorjamb split near the lock’s strike plate, though we also found that beefed-up locks and strike plates can greatly increase a door’s kick-in resistance.”
  3. Install a high-quality deadbolt – or two. Whatever you do, don’t rely on a simple knob lock (built into the door handle) alone. Install a deadbolt above a knob lock. McGoey recommends:
  • Use a solid core or metal door for all entrance points.
  • Use a quality, heavy-duty deadbolt lock with a 1-inch throw bolt.

http://money.msn.com/home-loans/article.aspx

Guards Raise Indian Point Security Concern | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Several former and current security guards raised concerns about the state of security at Buchanan’s Indian Point Nuclear Facility in a recent Fox 5 report.

Guards falling asleep on the clock, failed drills and faulty computer systems are just some of the problems the five current and former security guards spoke about with Fox 5.

 

 

http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/news/guards-raise-indian-point-security-concern-fox-5-report

Historic 18th-Century Charleston House Wants $3.5M | Chappaqua NY Homes

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Location: Charleston, S.C. Price: $3,499,000 The Skinny: The house that originally stood at this site was built in 1726 for French Huguenot Paul Douxsaint and burned down in Charleston’s Fire of 1796, which destroyed the homes of more than 300 families. Yet a new, clapboard Federal-style house was built in its place over the next four years and, at some point during the 19th century, was purchased by prominent Charleston merchant Daniel Macaulay. The Douxsaint-Macaulay House, as it is now known, has since undergone multiple renovations, the most recent one occurring after it sold for $2.275M in 2006. It has managed to retain a few interior details, such as wainscoting and fireplace mantels, and more of its exterior detail, including the nine-over-nine windows with narrow muntins and dormered hipped roof. It’s now asking $3.5M.

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Plummet 16 Basis Points | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.06 percent, down from 4.22 percent at this same time last week.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate steadily declined last week, leveling off near 4.12 percent over the weekend before falling to the current rate this morning.

“Mortgage rates during the past week have fallen back to lower levels, helped by Federal Reserve vice chair Janet Yellen’s assurances before the Senate Banking Committee that Federal Reserve stimulus won’t be removed too quickly. This trend halves the increases of the prior two weeks,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. “Looking ahead, rates will be influenced by the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes, scheduled for late Wednesday, as observers try to read the tea leaves to assess the likelihood of a December taper.”

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate this morning was 3.05 percent, and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 2.69 percent.

 

 

 

http://homes.yahoo.com/news/30-fixed-mortgage-rates-plummet-16-basis-points-192253906.html

7 Strategies for a Well-Designed Kitchen | Chappaqua Real Estate

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What’s the most important room in your house? For me it’s the kitchen. I love to eat, cook and spend time with family, and the kitchen is where I can do it all. With today’s busy schedules, mealtimes are often the only times families have to spend with one another. So how can you have the perfect kitchen for your lifestyle, stay within your budget and maximize resale value?
One of the most important steps in any project is starting with a great design. It’s not just about looks, it’s more about function and adding value to your life. More than any other room in the house, a kitchen has to be well thought out, carefully configured and designed to accommodate multiple functions. You probably spend more time in your kitchen than any other room, and that’s exactly why it’s so important to start with a great design. Consider these seven ways to get there.

1. Avoid isolation. For many of today’s families, the kitchen is the heart of the home and should be a place where people can gather, entertain and relax — not just cook. That’s why an open plan, like in this kitchen, works so well.
The open plan isn’t your only option, but it isn’t going anywhere yet. Consider your family’s needs carefully before choosing a kitchen plan, and know that if resale is an option for you, most buyers these days are looking for an open kitchen.
Open vs. Closed Kitchens — Which Style Works Best for You?
2. Plan a functional layout. If you like to cook and enjoy making meals for family and friends, there is nothing more frustrating than a kitchen that doesn’t function well. Most designs today follow the basic kitchen work triangle of the sink, refrigerator and range to maximize functionality. But take your own needs into account too. Plenty of counter space for prep, especially next to appliances, like in this kitchen, can make your cooking routine go much more smoothly.
Read more about kitchen layouts
3. Choose a good location. If you plan to make your kitchen the heart of your home, choose a location that connects it with all the other major circulation points. Having your kitchen anchor your home’s great room or provide access to the garage through a mudroom or laundry room is a great way to achieve this.