Being long time farmers they are owners and operators of a 20 acre vegetable farm called Big M Berry Patch.  Living on the same family homestead since 1901, the Repscher’s wear many hats extending their knowledge beyond the typical ag production of strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, potatoes and many other garden variety vegetables.

Farming the Big M Berry Patch in spring and summer, they switch operations in the fall to Big M Manufacturing and produce their corn fueled furnaces until April.  Big M produces four corn burner models with forced air and boiler versions.  A corn furnace does not burn stalks or left-over cobs. It burns corn kernels.  Corn contains oil and ethanol, which burn cleaner than other fuels, and more cheaply, too. Once you learn how valuable this reasonably priced source of fuel is, you have to wonder why the government is not using corn for more of America’s energy needs.

The built in grill was the beginning of the outdoor kitchen trend.  Originally the most common grills were wood or charcoal, followed by gas.  Hybrid grills interchanging between gas, wood or charcoal are gaining popularity for outdoor cooking.  The addition of sinks, refrigerators, countertops for preparing food, and cabinets for storage then became a “must have” for cooking outside.  As more equipment is added, outdoor entertainment areas are becoming larger.  Many even include seating areas either covered or open, fire pits, pizza ovens, trickling water areas, ice makers, keg-tappers, wine chillers, and outdoor TVs.   However, no matter what you add to the outdoor kitchen, the grill remains the king.

Since the existing economic downturn, people are spending more time at home and are starting to upgrade their homes with outdoor kitchens.  This trend is becoming very strong, especially in warm climate areas where outdoor living is a year-round feature.   Preparing a meal outdoors is not a dreaded chore but an occasion and a reason to have friends over and enjoy the experience.

Organize – gather all cleaning materials and equipment

Clean window sill and window frames first; if mildew is evident use a mixture of bleach, laundry detergent and water; rinse with clear water once cleaned.

Wipe down window glass with damp/wet towel to remove the excess dirt.

There are many different methods for cleaning windows.  The most popular being spray on glass cleaners and wiping with paper towels.  However, some swear by black and white newspaper to wipe the window instead of paper towels.  Yet others say the only thing to keep windows from streaking is to use a squeegee.  Or, if you are one who prefers using a cloth towel to clean & dry your windows, make sure it is a lint free material.

Suggested Cleaning Mixtures:
1)         Mix ¼ cup of vinegar to one quart of water; use in spray bottle.

2)         Mix 2 cups of warm water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch; use in spray bottle.

3)         Mix 1 quart water with ½ Cup rubbing alcohol; 1/8 cup ammonia; 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap.

Never clean your windows in direct sunlight.  The heat from the sun will dry the windows too quickly and cause streaking.  Try out different methods and see what works best for you for cleaning windows.

It is the general conception of most contractors that residential solar systems would be installed more if homeowners could afford it.  While many homeowners would like to use a residential solar system, they simply can’t afford to do it.  Many are, however, switching from conventional asphalt shingles to metal or tile roofing systems.  While the homeowner’s interest in green roofing is somewhat narrow, they do show strong interest in other green ideas such as rain barrels and solar powered attic or whole house fans.

Many contractors are taking it upon themselves to present green ideas to homebuilder prospects.  Interest and awareness, especially in the roofing field, means reduced energy consumption.  Basically, some people are more sensitive than others when it comes to green.  Some care, some don’t.  Some have the means to be environmentally friendly and others don’t.

In these times of conflicting regulations and lengthy approval processes that cross all avenues of government, you might be in need of expert sources you can turn to for guidance and assistance. Evaluating current circumstances, preparing your market study, finding and selecting a builder, choosing a building site, obtaining financing and having your plans approved are a few of the challenges you will face.  There are numerous resources available on the web including the National Home Builders Association.  Help is also available to you through local building groups and organizations that target homebuilding development markets.  Ensure a profit in your project by researching all avenues before beginning the actual land development.

Many homes were built before the realization of the importance of light and air circulation. Residential skylights are the most practical and economical solution in providing natural light, air control and ventilation in your home. The much improved design and attractiveness of today’s residential skylights have made them very popular among home owners and builders, especially in the United States.

Deflection and protection, distribution of natural light and elimination of hot spots are a few of the skylight factors that are increasing popularity.   The distribution of natural light through a residential skylight has been shown by researchers to increase concentration and productivity, aid the healing process, and raise people’s spirits.  Accompanied by its financial benefits of reduction in heating and cooling costs, uncomplicated installation and its calming, peaceful qualities, the residential skylight is undoubtedly a worthwhile addition to any room in your home.

As a result, construction builders are cutting prices and offering deals to bump up sales of their spec homes.  Many are offering very attractive options such as free design, 15% inventory reduction costs, and fixed for life very low mortgage rates.  Some are not advertising exactly what the great buy is, only that it is a great home sale and it is up to you to check it out for yourself.

So, if you are in the market – check out the builders in your area.  You just might find one of those “make me an offer I can’t refuse” deals and end up with a gorgeous new home at a bargain price.

Cabinets, flooring, paints and textures are a few of the items important to the design and feel of the kitchen.  Countertops are the main focal point and the real “eye-catcher”.  Shop around, research the various types of countertops out there to choose from, match to suit your kitchen design, and then make your decision.

Countertop options include natural stone like marble, limestone, and soapstone.  Countertops made of recycled glass, concrete and terrazzo or resin are becoming more popular with a variety of finishes like smooth, grounded and pressed. Wood is also a popular choice because of its durability and ease in repairing visible scratches from long-time use.  And there is still the good old standby — formica.

Granite, however, is definitely the top choice for most homeowners. Granite comes in various colors and patterns.  Its polished finish gives a shiny look to your kitchen. Granite costs depend on the style, color and where the stone comes from.

As a homeowner, you should be able to choose the perfect countertop.  If you cannot decide on a single material, remember mixing and matching surfaces is also an option.

Disposals
Garbage disposals are a very high maintenance item usually resulting from operator failure.  Garbage disposals are not designed to grind bones, chicken skins, banana peels, coffee grinds, etc.  This type of waste will clog the disposal drain.  Run cold water into the disposal for a short time (15 seconds or so) before and after adding the food scraps.  Use lemon or orange peels in the disposal for a deodorizer – it works great and smells fresh and clean.

Drains
Make sure all drains have strainers. Strainers catch debris such as hair and prevent drains from stopping up.  Grease and cooking oils clog drains; don’t use the drain to dispose of these items.

Floors, Basement and Walls
Loose wall tiles in or near the bathtub area are an indication of water problems.  Locate the source and repair the plumbing as needed.  Sump pumps can be checked by pouring a few buckets of water into the pit.  The pump should kick on, pump out the water and then shut off with no problems.  If you have a basement, a battery operated flood alarm is a good idea.

Outside
Exterior drain areas require regular maintenance.  Check exterior faucets, especially in cold climate areas, for leaks.  If a leak is evident, it could be from a frozen pipe that busted.  Excess standing water might be an indication of a damaged sewer line.  This should be thoroughly checked and repaired immediately for sanitary reasons.  Keep gutter/downspouts free-flowing.  Clean them
regularly and keep them free of debris.

Toilets
Do not flush items down the toilet that will not easily dissolve or break up.  If you suspect a leak you can add a few drops of food coloring to the tank.  If there is a leak the color will show in the toilet bowl in a short time.  Make sure the toilet flushes properly.  If it continues to run after flushing and if you have to jiggle the handle, you may need to replace these parts.  This is a very minor expense and will save you in the long run on a cheaper water bill.

We will be talking about a couple different types of garage doors that can be purchased at a multitude of different home improvement stores.

The first type is the tilt up door which is made of one single panel and pivots out and up.  Then you have a sectional roll up door that is made up of several different hinged, horizontal panels that have rollers which are set in a track.  This door moves straight up then rolls back ending in a horizontal position directly above the vehicle parking space.

We recommend the sectional style garage door over the single panel garage door.  Although the sectional garage door typically cost anywhere from 15% to 35% more than the single panel garage door, the benefits are worth the increase in cost.

The sectional garage door is safer and easier to operate than its single panel counterpart.  It’s also more convenient than the single panel door when it comes to space needed to operate.   With the sectional door you can park your vehicle directly in front of the door and still operate it up and down.  This feature is not available on the single panel garage door due to its operating procedure.  The sectional door also allows for more headroom in the garage and provides a better weather barrier due to its optimal position behind the door opening and not within it.

Both single and multiple panel garage doors can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as, wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass composites, and more.   They also come in wide variety of finishes such as, flush, raised-panel, recessed-panel, and more.  They also come with many different window options and packages.   Be sure and compare both styles of garage doors to fit your needs and purposes before you make a decision on which style to buy.   Different people have different needs and every garage door situation comes with its own challenges.