Page 6 - 2014 Spring Home and Garden - Gresham Outlook

C6 SPRING HOME & GARDEN
The Outlook, Sandy Post, Estacada News March 2014
Try this on for size:

Fun, free & fashionable

Naked Lady swaps, and those pieces are al- “Swaps are ed stripping
Clothing Swaps so some of my favorites — like the bag of 1960s vintage dress- not only the down and try- ing on items
bring together es, sweaters, tops and accesso- most eco- right in the
girlfriends and ries I scored last year, that once belonged to a swapper’s conscious living room, but nudity
spice up wardrobes
mom,” says Herrera, who lives in Southeast Portland. “Those way to refresh isn’t a cloth- ing swap re-
items would have cost at least your quirement. It
By LISA K. ANDERSON
a couple hundred dollars, if I had bought them from a local wardrobe, just makes for a saucy
Pamplin Media Group
vintage or thrift store.”
they’re also name.
One fall day in 2010, I Several times a year, my friends and I clear through virtually More often than not,
walked into my friend’s living room- our closets and gather for a swap at one of our abodes, dis- cost-free.”
swaps cause hilarious mo-
turned-clothing-bou- playing our goods throughout — Brandi
Katherine ments.
tique, complete with a platter of tea sandwiches and mimosa the living room in categorized piles. All items should be in Herrera, a Naked “One Na- ked Lady Par-
punch.
An assortment of blouses, decent condition, and freshly laundered, if possible.
Lady Clothing Swap aicionado
ty, a friend brought her
dresses, scarves and accesso- Often, we incorporate a pot- son,” says
ries decorated the living room, with mirrors strategically luck into the event, with drinks and catchy tunes (run- Megan Bu- chanan, also
placed around the space.
Within minutes, I was way music would be fun some- time).
of Portland. “No one thought anything of it, since he was
hooked on the concept of Na- At clothing swaps, the idiom just a toddler, but he ended up
ked Lady Clothing Swaps, a free and fun way to gather “one person’s trash in another person’s treasure” is key. spending most of the party peeking up our adorable new
girlfriends and jazz up your closet.
Hosts either can make it a free-for-all “shopping” experi- skirts.”
Swaps have included a vari-
I went home that day with a ence, or let each woman pick ety of items, including a stash
bright blue vintage swimsuit, a Victorian pink cardigan, two several of her favorite items to take home.
of tea, jewelry, yarn and cos- tume accessories. Sometimes
louncy skirts, a rabbit hat and If multiple guests have their they make me wonder why I
a small box of jewelry — with a $0 price tag.
eyes on the same item, some hosts have them do a “wear ever set foot in a mall.
A potluck, drinks, girl-
“Swaps are not only the most eco-conscious way to re- off” to determine who wears the article best. But we’re not friends and an easy way to switch up your wardrobe?
fresh your wardrobe, they’re that formal.
What could be better?
also virtually cost-free,” says Brandi Katherine Herrera, a We like to make it a free-for- all and donate any remaining “The best things in life are free,” says Alana Kansaku-
Naked Lady Clothing Swap ai- cionado and one of our hosts.
items to a women’s shelter or other charitable organization.
Sarmiento, a Southeast Port- land resident. “Especially STAFF PHOTO: JIM CLARK
“I’d say at least one-third of The “Naked Lady” phrase things you normally have to At swaps, you can take home clothing, dress-up clothes, accessories and more. One swap included a stash
of tea and yarn.
my wardrobe has come from
originated when women start-
pay money for.”
Jump-start spring by sprouting seeds indoors
Family Owned Since 1962

Estacada Rock
By DENISE RUTTAN
drainage. If the containers
OSU Extension Service
have been in contact with soil,
When daffodils let us know When you’re sterilize them in a bleach solu- tion of one part bleach to nine
that spring is here, it is time to start vegetable seeds indoors starting seeds indoors, it’s parts water, Miller said. It is possible to grow seedlings in
or in the greenhouse.
critical to give biodegradable pots fashioned 4
Warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should new vegetable starts out of newspaper or eggshell cartons, but the material takes HG031
be started in late March to ear- ly April, said Weston Miller, a appropriate a long time to break down in the soil after transplanting, 53785 S
Crushed Rock • Gravel • Sand
Round River Rock • Boulders
horticulturist with the Oregon amounts of water, oxygen and the plant starts might not 4
52 years of experience with top quality products and service.
State University Extension Ser- vice. Tomatoes should be and light.
become well-established, Mill- er cautioned.
503-630-4223
“stepped up” from flats into 4-inch pots and then potential- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Next, ind a seed starting mix at your local nursery or garden
ly into gallon-size pots prior to LYNN KETCHUM
supply store. These mixes are
transplanting, Miller advised.
Germination starts when the seed takes up water, a process “Seeds need enough water for imbibition, but if they get not actually soil, but rather a sterile growing medium used
Bor ng Bark
i
Bor ng Bark
i
called imbibition. A seed just after germination consists of too much it can suffocate the developing seed or lead to root to support growth, generally consisting of organic materials
three parts: the embryonic rot,” Miller said. “If the soil such as peat moss or coconut
root, also known as the radicle; the hypocotyl, or the develop- temperatures are too cool, the seed won’t germinate and cold iber and perlite, Miller said. The seeding material will re-
ing shoot; and the cotyledons, soil temperatures could also tain water for seed germina-
or the plant’s irst leaves.
During this fragile time in lead to damping-off, a disease caused by soil fungi.”
tion and seedling growth and also drain well, he said.
and Landscape Materials
and Landscape Materials
the life of a plant, it’s critical that seeds receive appropriate To successfully start seeds, irst select and clean the right Place the lats on a seedling heat mat, which can be pur-
amounts of water, oxygen and container. Miller recommends chased at nurseries and garden
light. At this point, starting seeds becomes a balancing act.
plastic lats or repurposed yo- gurt containers with adequate
supply stores. The mat will heat the seeding material to “Let us help make your landscaping dreams a reality!”
promote quick germination, Miller said.
Phyllis Brinkley Then it’s important to have
enough light, Miller said. Use standard shop lights with luo- • Barkdust • Topsoil • Decorative Rock
Wendy Dauenhauer
rescent bulbs. Position the lights about 2 inches above the • Hazelnut Shells • Compost • Gravel • Sand
lat and move the lights up as
503-630-2599
the seedlings start to grow.
To tell if the seeds are get- • Garden Soil Blends • Veggie Starts Seeds
30076 SE HWY 2111 ting enough water, the growing
Eagle Creek, OR 97022
medium should always feel damp to the touch just under YOU HAUL OR DELIVERY 7 DAYS A WEEK
the surface, Miller said.
For more information, the
OSU Extension guide “Growing info@oldfarmhousefeedandgarden.com
COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE
G0314
Your Own” offers advice on starting seeds and a calendar wwwoldfarmhousefeedandgarden.com
COFFEE SHOP
780.SH
of dates to start planting vari- ous vegetables. Find it at http:// PLANTS • FEED • PRODUCE
453
bit.ly/OSU_GrowingYourOwn.

Featuring
Spruce up your yard for Spring!

Cat’s Moon Coffee Beans

ROASTED RIGHT HERE!

ONE FREE

STARGAZER LILY BULB
FS 110
G0314
with the purchase of
Bike
783 SH
Any Espresso Drink
$40995
453
Come check out our new
Limited to one per customer. Must have coupon. Expires 4/30/14.
STIHL Concept Store
DICK’S
30265 SE HWY 212,
WOOF
Boring, OR
LOGGING G0314
3786.SH
(next to Chambers Motors)
SUPPLY
45
503.668.3219
PHONE # 503-630-6868

& Landscape Materials
www.boringbark.com
NW INDUSTRIAL WAY - ESTACADA, OR