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Plenty of people in the United States live without air conditioning during the summer. Sometimes on the hottest summer days, even AC won’t cut it. A hot and miserable home can take the fun right out of your summer. Thankfully, there are plenty of small ways you can help keep your house cool.

Try putting some of these tips to use this summer to help you and your family stay comfortable and cool.

Keep Your Blinds Closed

According to research from The Huffington Post, 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows. This percentage can be even higher if you live in a home with primarily south and west facing windows.

Thankfully, you can reduce the amount of extra heat in your house by utilizing shades and curtains. In fact, regularly closing your blinds can save you up to 7 percent on bills and will even lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. That’s a big difference! If you’re desperate, you could even invest in blackout curtains. Blackout curtains block sunlight and naturally insulate the rooms in which they are installed. In short, a simple action such as closing the curtains during the day can help keep you cool and will even save you money in the long run.

Change Out Your Bedding

Changing your bedding is a great way to freshen up a room. But more importantly, swapping out your sheets is a good way to keep cool. Flannel sheets and fleece blankets are wonderfully cozy in the winter but can make you feel hot and sticky during warmer months. Cotton sheets are a smarter choice at this time of the year as they breathe easier and stay cool longer.

You could also consider purchasing a buckwheat pillow. Buckwheat hulls have a naturally occurring air space between them, which means they don’t hold onto your body heat like conventional pillows.

Rotate Your Fan Setting

Most people are shocked to hear this, but your ceiling fan actually has a bi-directional setting that needs to be adjusted seasonally. Generally speaking, you want your fan to run counter-clockwise at higher speeds in the summer to move breezes around, and clockwise at lower speeds to help distribute heat in the winter.

If you’re not sure which setting your fan is on, stand directly underneath it. If you immediately feel a breeze from the fan, then it’s on the appropriate summer setting (counterclockwise). Otherwise, turn off the fan, and look for a button or switch that sets the fan to run in the opposite direction.

Plant Shade Outside Your Home

Obviously, a large shade tree won’t grow overnight. But with a little bit of planning and landscaping, you can get great results that will make the outside of your home look great and also make your interior cooler. A shade tree in full bloom can actually block more than 70 percent of solar radiation from entering your home according to research by Common Sense Homesteading.

Find plants and trees that will flourish in your soil and a particular location and get them planted in front of your bigger windows. Over time, you’ll create a flourishing shade border that helps keep your house cool from the sun’s glares.

Limit Indoor Cooking

Using an oven or a stove will definitely make your house hotter. If it’s 100 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400-degree oven. Thankfully, summertime is the perfect time for grilling outdoors. Bust out the grill and the summer patio furniture in order to help cool down the house.

If you must cook in the oven, be careful about how long you let the oven preheat for.  Try to do as much prep work as possible before turning on the heat. Remember also to keep the oven door closed as an open oven door will release heat into the kitchen, lower the oven temperature, and prolong cooking time.

Ask Your Local Agent

Don’t let extreme heat ruin your summer fun. If you have any further questions regarding home efficiency or housing in general, reach out to experienced agent, Kim Clark. With years of experience, Kim is a knowledgeable source for anyone living in or near Kosciusko County. Give her a call today and get all your questions answered.

Gardening and caring for plants in general can help boost your mental and physical health. In fact, research has found that caring for plants can help you recover from mental fatigue, slow down your heart rate, and even reduce high blood pressure.

In our fast-paced world, taking the time to prioritize your mental and physical health is important—and taking care of plants is a simple, natural way to accomplish this.

Certain plants and flowers even have unique qualities that can help boost your overall wellbeing. These four plants will let you exercise your green thumb while improving your physical and mental health.

Lavender

Lavender is known for its beautiful lilac hue and incredible scent. But did you know lavender is associated with several beneficial qualities?

Lavender oil has been used to assist in the treatment of anxiety and depression for years. An article in the International Journal of Psychiatry even tested the use of lavender on anxious patients in dental offices. The researchers found that those patients exposed to lavender scents before their appointments were much calmer than those who were not.

Lavender has also been known to help people with chronic insomnia. The relaxing scent calms the mind and allows people to sleep through the night. An indoor lavender plant would lend a soothing atmosphere to your home. You could even set your plant beside your bed at night to aid your sleep.

How Do I Plant It?

Lavender grows best when placed in a bright area. Only water your lavender plant when the soil is dry to the touch—too much watering can shorten its life span.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is considered one of the most useful plants in the entire world. The gel from aloe leaves can help heal sunburn and other minor cuts and scrapes. Aloe gel has also been known to help heal acne scars. Rubbing an aloe leaf on acne scars increases the collagen production in your skin, helping to repair scarring.

Also, aloe plants help remove harmful chemicals in the air. Aloe emits oxygen while also taking in carbon dioxide. This improves the quality of air anywhere in the near vicinity.

How Do I Plant It?

Aloe vera is a very low-maintenance plant. You really only need to water aloe plants once their soil is dry. Aloe does enjoy direct sunlight, so you should set your pot near a window or in an open, sunny space.

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are known for their vibrant, beautiful colors. If your home could use a pop of color, gerbera daisies might be the perfect house plant for you. Just the simple act of adding color to your home can help brighten your mood and change the atmosphere of your house.

But gerbera daisies are not just beautiful—they are also useful. These flowers are known to purify the air around them, removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Now that’s a powerful flower!

How Do I Plant It?

Gerberas like sunlight, but a little shade is okay. Try to water these daisies in the morning so the leaves can dry out during the day.

Eucalyptus

When people hear the word “eucalyptus,” they think about the large trees that grow in Australia. But you can actually grow dwarf species of eucalyptus in your home.

Eucalyptus has a very distinct smell, which has been known to help calm and reduce stress. The scent of eucalyptus is also beneficial for clearing your sinuses from a cold or allergies.

Little tip: if you are feeling under the weather, you can create a eucalyptus “bath bouquet” in your shower. Tie a bundle of eucalyptus around your shower head and turn your shower to the hottest setting. This will allow the steam and eucalyptus fragrance to mix, which helps clear congestion, lessen asthma symptoms, and calms your mind.

How Do I Plant It?

Your eucalyptus plant will need full sunlight and will need to be watered regularly.

Talk To Your Local Agent About Outdoor Garden Spaces

If you’re inspired to make gardening your new hobby, you should talk to experienced agent, Kim Clark. Kim can help you understand the value of adding an outdoor garden space to your current home. Schedule a call with Kim and get your questions answered today.

Herb gardening has become increasingly popular as people are prioritizing nutritious and fresh meals that are full of flavor. Thankfully, herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. You can grow them outdoors—in raised beds—or inside in pots. Most herbs require very little maintenance, meaning they are a great starter plant for beginner gardeners.

Whether you’re wanting to boost your creativity, lead a healthier lifestyle, or explore your green thumb, creating an at-home herb garden is a great way to save some money while also growing some delicious herbs.

Planting Tips For Your Herb Garden

While starting an herb garden is relatively easy, it is important to be aware of the best practices for keeping your plants healthy. If you rush into the gardening process without a clear plan, you might miss some of the crucial steps for cultivating an environment where your herbs can thrive.

First, find a sunny spot for your garden. Herbs that have more access to sunshine actually have better and stronger flavors. Plus, they need sunlight in order to grow. So, be sure to plant your herbs in an area that gets plenty of light throughout the day.

Make sure you are watering regularly and with care. All plants, but herbs in particular, need consistent watering. But be careful—too much water given too fast will stunt your herbs from growing properly. The seed packets you purchase should have water and sunlight requirements written on the back. Check the back of your seed packets before planting in order to make sure you know how much watering each type of herb requires.

Space out your plants. If you are planting directly into soil, you should plant your herbs approximately one foot apart from each other. For larger herb plants, such as rosemary, oregano, and sage, plant 3-4 feet apart. If you have planted your herbs in pots, make sure your containers are well spaced. If your containers are too close together, your herbs will not get enough airflow, which will stunt their growth.

Picking The Right Plants For Your Garden

If you are a beginner gardener, some herbs will be easier to plant than others. These five herbs are just a few of the many options you can choose from to start your herb garden.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a very fragrant and popular herb for many herb gardens. You can put rosemary in plenty of recipes, such as soups, casseroles, salads, and stews. Additionally, Rosemary has some health benefits. For example, including rosemary in your diet can help fight allergies and nasal congestion. Plant this herb in full sun and in well-drained soil for maximum results.

Dill

Dill is a great addition to rice, soup, and salad dishes. Dill plants do not appreciate root-disturbance, so you should plant it securely in the ground or in a stable container. Like rosemary, dill should be planted in full sun and in well-drained soil.

Chives

Chives are a member of the onion family. People love adding herbs to their garden because they offer a milder onion flavor that can be included in plenty of dishes. Chives grow best in a sunny area with rich, moist soil and should be planted around March or April.

Basil

Basil might be considered the most popular herb for beginner gardeners. It is a very tasty herb and can be included in plenty of different recipes.

Mint

Many sources recommend buying young mint plants from a garden center rather than planting from seed. Mint is a plant that spreads easily, so it should be planted in pots in order to contain the roots. You can plant mint in full sun or in partial shade. It is a very aromatic herb and a great inclusion to fun summer recipes.

Ask Your Local Agent

If you have any questions about the value adding an outdoor garden space gives to your home, don’t hesitate to contact experienced agent, Kim Clark. With over 15 years of experience, she knows exactly how to assist you in making your home appeal to the widest audience possible. Set yourself up for success—contact Kim today.

Last March, seed sales for at-home gardens hit an all-time high due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reason behind this massive surge was understandable: people were looking for a solution to address the food supply anxiety sparked by the pandemic.

Even though life is beginning to return to a more normal pace, the interest around at-home gardening has continued to increase. Whether you’re wanting to boost your creativity, lead a healthier lifestyle, or explore your green thumb, creating an at-home vegetable garden is a great way to save some money while also growing some delicious veggies.

Choose The Right Location

Picking the right location for your garden is the first and maybe most crucial step in starting your vegetable garden. You will want to look for a space that gets a lot of sun throughout the day as most vegetables require at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. If you live in a primarily shady spot, there are still some vegetables you can plant. Vegetables that will grow in light to partial shade include arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale.

When looking for the right location, you should also try to pick a space that has moist, well-drained soil. If your yard typically pools with water after a heavy rain, you probably don’t have a well-drained lawn. If this is your situation, try planting your veggies in a raised bed or a raised row for improved drainage. Wet soil leads to wet roots which can create rotting vegetables, which is definitely something you don’t want.

Finally, when considering your location, try to avoid areas that would be affected by strong winds. Wind can wreak havoc on your garden and can keep bees and butterflies from pollinating your plants.

Choose A Plot Size

If you’re a beginner gardener, it’s best to choose a small plot size. One of the most common errors beginners make is planting too much too soon. So, what is the perfect size for a small vegetable garden?

A 16 x 20 food plot is a sufficient size for a family of three or four. However, if you’re new to gardening, something smaller might suit your needs more accurately. The Farmer’s Almanac recommends that beginner gardeners make your garden about 10 feet long and about 11 rows across.

When plotting your garden, make sure you have foot paths that let you access your plants easily. You will have to weed your garden consistently if it is going to flourish, so you’ll want to be able to access your plants readily.

Choose Your Plants

The next step in your gardening journey is picking the right plants for your individual garden. Some plants are easier to take care of than others. Good choices for beginners include:

– Beets
– Carrots
– Lettuce
– Radishes
– Squash
– Tomatoes
– Cucumbers
– Beans
– Peppers

When choosing your plants, consider what your family likes and will actually eat. You should also be realistic about how much your family can actually consume. Be very cautious about over-planting. If you’re still struggling to pick your plants, contact your state’s Cooperative Extension Service. They will help you find out which plants grow best in your area.

Another handy tip is to mix in flowers among your vegetables, like marigolds or chrysanthemums. These flowers discourage pests and attract pollinators to your garden.

Know When And How To Plant

Finally, you should know when and how to plant your garden. Depending on where you live, every region has a different planting time based on local weather. You can look up gardening calendars online to figure out when to plant your garden. You’ll just need to enter your zip code.

Before planting, you should know the difference between cool-season and warm-season vegetables.

Cool-season veggies grow in the spring and include things like lettuce, spinach, and root vegetables. Warm-season vegetables are planted once the soil is warm and there is no threat of frost. Examples include tomatoes and peppers.

Almost all vegetables are annuals, which means you will need to replant every year. If you only want to plant perennial plants, you could look into growing asparagus, rhubarb, and some herbs, but sometimes these plants are a little more high maintenance for beginners.

Ask Your Local Agent

If you have any questions about the value adding an outdoor garden space gives to your home, don’t hesitate to contact experienced agent, Kim Clark. With over 15 years of experience, she knows exactly how to assist you in making your home appeal to the widest audience possible. Set yourself up for success—contact Kim today.

Along with many other things, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way children are educated.

Within the past year, nearly 93% of people in households with school-age children reported their kids were engaged in some form of distance learning.

With this dramatic alteration, many students have struggled to adjust to learning in a home setting. Thankfully, parents can find ways to create a productive home learning environment for their kids in order help develop their child’s creativity, sharpen their focus, and increase their motivation to learn.

Designate A Distinct Learning Space

If you’re like most American families, you don’t have a spare room just sitting around waiting to be converted into a learning space. But don’t worry. You don’t need an extra room in order to create a productive learning environment for your kids.

Instead of focusing on the amount of space you need, think about creating consistency for your child. For example, every time your kid sits down for their lessons, pull out the same folding chairs and table. You could even just designate a specific corner in the living room to class time. No matter what space you decide on, make sure nothing but schoolwork is done in that one area. That way, every time your child sits down, they know it is time to focus on school.

The key here is to create a specific routine for your child and stick to it.

Declutter The Learning Area

Logging onto Zoom meetings all day is exhausting for everyone—but especially for kids. When you’ve been staring at a screen for most of the day, it’s easy to get distracted. After designating a space for learning, focus on removing any and all distractions.

A clean work area is one of the most important ways to help your mind focus.

Too many pictures, toys, books, or supplies can quickly clutter a space and create a sense of chaos. Try to create an orderly environment by decluttering the area. To help you, start by investing in storage space. Consider buying an extra bookcase or set of shelves to store your child’s books, school papers, etc.

Additionally, ask your child to put away their phone while they are learning. Eliminating all potential distractions will help your student focus on their education during the long hours of virtual learning.

Personalize The Space

Creativity is important, and personalizing your child’s school area helps foster creativity and makes them feel comfortable. While unnecessary clutter isn’t good, personalized items like world maps, animal posters, or other learning-related decorations can help motivate your child and make them feel more at ease.

Make Your Space Comfortable

Creating a comfortable learning environment makes at-home learning so much easier. Consider all the aspects of your home that would add or detract to your student’s comfort level. Does the room you are thinking of using have good airflow? Is the space well-insulated? You won’t want to choose a space that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

Additionally, noise can be a big distraction for kids. Find a space that isn’t disturbed by traffic, other members of the household, or any other possible noise distractions.

Another suggestion would be to find a space that has lots of good lighting. This can include natural lighting from open windows or simply plenty of lamps in the learning space. Natural light in particular can help impact your child’s energy and attention levels.

Maintain Consistency

Finally, and maybe most importantly, maintain a consistent schedule. With in-person classes, your child always has a set schedule. It’s important to keep a schedule with your child, even when working from home.

Make scheduling fun.

Write out a routine and mark it down on a colorful calendar. Get your kids to decorate larger posters and have them write out their routine at the start of every week. It’s important to set some rules and make sure your child’s schedule is consistent. It will also make learning from home feel a little more normal.

Get All Your Questions Answered

The COVID pandemic has altered the way we do a lot of things, including the way our kids attend school. Another area the pandemic has significantly altered is the housing market.

If you have any questions about buying or selling your home in the current market, real estate agent, Kim Clark, is a knowledgeable source for anyone living in or near Kosciusko County. Give her a call today and get all your questions answered.

One of the many ways in which the pandemic has affected our lives is in the way we conduct work.

According to Stanford research, 42% of America’s workforce now work from home full-time, and will likely continue to work from home for the foreseeable future.

For many of us, being able to focus and effectively conduct work from your own home poses numerous new challenges. With this new normal, it is very important to establish a home office that is conducive to your individual needs. These simple suggestions will help you make the best use of your house while working from home.

Designate a Distinct Working Space

Depending on what kind of home you live in, it might be very easy to designate a clear working space. If you already have an office room, it will be very easy to establish a distinct work area. However, a lot of people don’t have a room dedicated just to work. If that’s the case, just make the most of the space you have.

Try to pick a room where you have the ability to close the door. If you have kids, pets, or just get easily distracted, being able to close the door to your workspace will help you focus on the tasks at hand.

Set Physical Boundaries.

When working from home, it is critical to separate home life and work life.

This is so important for not only your productivity, but also your mental and physical health.

For example, you can set boundaries by never working in your kitchen. Sitting at your kitchen counter may trick your brain into thinking it is time to eat or snack. Your brain is programmed to associate your kitchen with eating. As we all know, trying to accomplish work tasks when hungry just isn’t a good idea.

The same goes for your couch or bed. Working from the comfort of your soft mattress makes your brain think it is time to relax.  This can make you feel sleepier during the workday and also make you unable to shut your mind off from work projects when it’s actually time to sleep.

Don’t Stay In The Same Place

While it’s a good idea to establish a more permanent workspace, it’s also a smart idea to change up your scenery once in a while. Moving locations helps stimulate your brain and may inspire more creative thinking patterns. If your living room gets lots of natural sunlight in the morning, maybe try working there for a few hours at the start of every day.

You can always transition back to your designated home office once you grow tired of one space.

Keep A Clean Workspace

A clean work area is one of the most important ways to help your mind focus. Maintaining a clean desk while at home can be very challenging. But there are ways to control the clutter.

Start by investing in some good storage space. If your home is conducive for extra shelving, consider buying an extra bookcase or set of shelves to store books, stacks of papers, etc. If not, buy some simple baskets, bins, or file holders to store your extra paperwork.

Keeping a clean work area not only helps your mind focus but will also help you feel accomplished and in control of your own space.

Decorate Your Area

One of the best things you can do for your work-from-home space is to add a personal flair. Studies have shown that incorporating elements from your house that you love in your home office will help you stay happy and reduce stress.

Add some personal touches to your space like a family photo, vase of bright flowers, or nice scented candle.

Also, if you’re a caffeine person, brew some coffee throughout the day to fill your work area with the aroma. The smell of coffee is said to actually stimulate creativity and productivity.

Personalizing your work area will make you happier, improve your mood, and make the workday a little easier.

Get Your Questions Answered

The pandemic has changed the way we do a lot of things, including working from home. Another sector the pandemic has altered is the real estate market.

If you have any questions about buying or selling your home in the current market, real estate agent Kim Clark is a knowledgeable source for anyone living in or near Kosciusko County. Call her today and get your questions answered.