Dear Eartha, I recently discovered that what I thought were beautiful flowers in my yard are actually noxious weeds. Can you explain how to identify noxious weeds and why they are harmful? Spring has sprung, and with it, a burst of green across our beautiful Summit County. The snow has melted, the wildflowers are beginning to […]
Dear Eartha, I read about new watering schedules in the community, and I’m confused. Is this meant for lawns only? What about vegetable gardens? As you suggest, not all plants are created equally. And while the new watering schedules reflect the maximum number of days to run sprinklers on your grass lawn (three days per […]
Dear Eartha, I just heard of the new watering schedule recommendation here in Summit County. I have a small lawn and automatic sprinklers. What does this new schedule mean and how does it affect me?Watering your lawn just got a whole lot simpler. Why? Because local leaders all agreed to the same watering schedule: easy-to-understand […]
Dear Eartha, I have some old paint and electronics in my house that I need to get rid of, but I feel bad throwing them away. Are there options to recycle household items? It’s that time of the year. Time to get out of the winter funk and refresh our spaces with some spring cleaning. But […]
Dear Eartha, I try hard to recycle, but I still feel like I throw a lot of things away. Do you have any advice that can help me throw away less stuff? Most of us are well-acquainted with the three Rs of Recycling: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In March, I shared that recycling should be […]
Dear Eartha, I have deicing cable on my roof. I need it to prevent roof leaks, but is there any way to dial back the energy use?Roof deicing cable, also known as heat trace or heat tape, is a common solution to the fearsome ice dams we see on our roofs each winter in Summit […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve caught wind that April is Earth Month. I’m familiar with Earth Day, but what exactly goes down during Earth Month?Earth Month is a celebration and dedication to our planet that extends beyond just Earth Day. We all know that Mother Earth deserves more than one day of celebration! Throughout the month, various […]
Dear Eartha, I heard about some recycling grants through High Country Conservation Center and I have some ideas to get recycling started at my condo. How do the grants work?You heard right, funding is available for recycling projects in your homeowner’s association, neighborhood, school, business, or nonprofit. If you’re thinking about applying, consider going beyond […]
Dear Eartha, as I was doing my taxes, I noticed there are credits available for energy efficiency projects. How can I qualify? From energy-efficient windows to heat pumps to renewable energy, Uncle Sam has tax credits to help you boost the comfort and durability of your home. Since tax season is already upon us, here’s […]
Dear Eartha, can I drive an electric car in cold weather?On any given day in Summit County, you’re sure to spot electric cars cruising the roads. Which lends an easy answer to this question: Yes, they can be driven in the cold. In fact, there are currently 861 electric vehicles (EVs for short) registered in […]
Dear Eartha, I know composting is good for our environment. Outside of creating a healthier soil environment for plants, what other benefits does composting provide our community? Thank you for the great question. Composting has been part of humankind since early civilizations began practicing agriculture. While the process has evolved over thousands of years, composting […]
