Greetings all!  By now you have realized that we are not on the air. Our season ended on November 24th. We are taking a couple of months off but will return on March 1, 2008. In the meantime we will be sharing some helpful hints for you and some new ‘web only’ stories to help you through the winter months ahead.

This week we feature...

Christmas Tree Varieties

We were out at Lee Farms (503-638-1869) in Tualatin to visit with Craig Lee about the most popular types of cut Christmas trees. The varieties that Oregonians are buying include Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Nobel Fir and the Frasier Fir. The most popular tree is the Noble fir, but the Frasier fir is gaining ground, because it is very fragrant. Lee’s also carries the wonderful Davis Tree Stand. Pick one up and you will never need another stand again! Stop by Lee’s for your Christmas tree, they are open 9am to dusk through the holidays.

Kindergarden – Milk Jug Feeder

It is easy to teach your kids about backyard birds and recycling, with this easy craft project that’s for the birds! You can recycle a milk jug and make it into a bird feeder. Myra Lukens from the Backyard Bird Shop (503-635-2044) brought some of her friends to the store and gave us a quick lesson on building one. All you need is an empty clean milk jug, a dowel for a perch, some wire for a hanger and some seed. Hang it from a tree branch, and the birds will soon find the new feeder. You can find instructions at your local Backyard Bird Shop or by clicking show061125a.htmhere.

Fall Equipment Maintenance

It is the time of year that we are putting away our power tools for the season and to keep them in the best condition for the next year is to give them a tune-up for the winter. Scott Ashby from Stark Street Lawn and Garden (503-255-5393) in Portland showed us how to prepare your mower, blower, chain saw and generator for the cold months ahead! The benefit of doing it now keeps your tools in the best condition so you have less maintenance in the future. A couple of pointers… use all your gas now. Old gas becomes weak gas and can foul your engine. Check air filters and spark plugs. Sharpen blades/chains and clean all surfaces. If it sounds like too much to tackle, you can always take it to your local Stark Street dealership. They have 3 locations in the Portland area.

Walnut Harvest

A couple of weeks ago we showed you how they harvest hazelnuts in the Willamette Valley. This week we return to Willow Lake Nursery (503-390-3032) to see them harvest walnuts. When you have a large operation you have to use the heavy equipment to get the job done. A sweeper pushes the nuts into a tidy little row, and then the harvester scoots along to pick them up. Next they are washed, sorted and dried. For the homeowner, John Blake, gave us some other tips. Collect the nuts off the ground. If they are still in the green outer shell it may mean that they are empty. Clean them and then place them over a hot air vent. They are ready when the membrane inside the nut is hard and crispy. If you have questions you can call the nursery, or better yet, stop by and pick up a bag that is already clean and cracked!

Jack Richards Holiday Centerpiece

Making a splash at your holiday dinner table is easy to do if you follow the tips of Jack Richards the master of floral design. Jack works at Fresh to You (503-769-9682) in Stayton and is one of the best in the business for creating masterpieces from ordinary materials. We stopped by to learn how he can transform a Thanksgiving design into a Holiday one with just a few items. First he showed us how he can use small gourds in one arrangement and then spray paint them silver and gold to make a totally different design. Another arrangement had wet magnolia leaves that had been sprayed gold to give them a mottled look. Another centerpiece was all centered on silver accents. It is easy to do and you can learn from the master, just check with Fresh to You for class times.