May is Deck Safety Month

Thanks to our Virginia member, Casa Decks, for this helpful info and links to get our decks in shape for summer:

May is National Deck Safety Month as sponsored by NADRA (North American Deck and Railing Association). The concept is to promote awareness of deck safety and to provide consumer information in order to assist in inspecting their deck prior to the outdoor entertaining season. It is important to take the time to inspect and review due to potential aging of the structures and deterioration over time.

More information about Deck Safety Month, a ten point Consumer Safety Checklist and a Deck Evaluation Checklist are available for download at www.nadra.org. Make your summer season safe by participating in NADRA’s "Check Your Deck" program.

As my cousin would say: Blessed Calan Mai (roughly transalted: Blessings on the beginning of summer)

Rollin' On The River

This is one of the coolest most ingenious things I have seen in a long time! Fun in the sun - fun on the water! Since I love boating, swimming - anything water related, I am loving this new invention. Imagine cruising your favorite lake or river on a jumbo party barge with double the deck space of the biggest pontoon boats. Bring your family, bring your friends, you can even bring the band! You can put a camper on it and turn it into a houseboat!

Rolling Barges are giant party barges, 17' wide and up to 32' long on the water, that fold up in the launch ramp parking lot to only 8.5' wide. They require no special permits to tow on the highway. In addition, Rolling Barge builds Rolling Floating Docks that can be trailered down the highway and launched directly into the water. If you live on or are renting a house on the water, you can bring your own dock.

The party barge folds up onto its own wheels to trailer wherever you want to go. After you are done with your fun on the water, you just fold it up and tow it home. Check out the videos on RollingBarge.com to see how it works. If you live in Oregon, you are in luck; you can rent a Rolling Barge at Lake Billy Chinook. Or you can purchase your very own. If you like being out on the water, this site is a must-see!

For more information about Rolling Barge, please send an e-mail to info@rollingbarge.com.

A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

GREEN PEST CONTROL

When I think back to my childhood and how we treated roaches in our home, I shudder. My mother would not just spray the insecticide; she would drown any roach or spider she saw in it. We had sprays for ants and roaches, a spray for wasps and hornets and poison for rats (which were actually field mice) that she would use.

Back then no one had any idea of what kind of harm we were doing to the environment. We were poisoning not only the pests we were trying to control but also the birds that ate the pests and, we were most likely poisoning ourselves. We did not know about the awful effects to not only the animals, but to humans and the environment as well.

Thankfully, now more and more pest control companies are going green. USCITY.NET member Alpha Ecological is one of those businesses. Alpha Ecological stresses prevention with client education and regular inspections. They will eliminate conditions that attract pests into your home and this is the most natural way to keep your home pest free.

If your home or business is infected, a tailor made pest removal plan will be implemented. Some pest control businesses will come in monthly and spray all over the place while paying little or no attention to whether or not there are pests or pest-conducive conditions there. At my grandmother’s house, I can remember every month the pest control man came, sprayed the entire perimeter of the house, came in and sprayed inside the kitchen cabinets, all around the floor boards and in the closets. Just think of how much pesticide was used in that one house.

If bugs have invaded your home or business, Alpha Ecological will put together a safe, effective and ecologically sound plan for you, by first blocking entrances and eliminating bug-friendly practices and if needed, using a range of natural, botanical and mineral based products as well as synthetic biodegradable products that target specific pests and will use only what’s needed – a direct contrast to my grandmother’s pest control management plan.

So let’s all be pro-active on the pest control front and if you find yourself in need of professional services, please make sure that you are using a company that integrates the greener technologies. Help keep your family safe and help the planet!

Many thanks to Alpha Ecological for allowing us to post these Pest Prevention Tips from their website:

• Keep food sealed tight and stored correctly. Only feed pets as much as they can eat in one sitting. Do not let pet food sit overnight and only feed them indoors when possible.
• Routinely remove garbage and compost from the kitchen. Ensure your garbage and compost areas are secured.
• Remove/correct any sources of moisture issues such a leaky roof or plumbing, clogged gutters, poor crawlspace drainage, etc.
• If you have a hot tub, set it up as far from the home as possible. While they’re great for us, they are also an ideal harborage place for carpenter ants, termites, rodents and more, as heat and moisture are an attractive combination for many pests.
• Water lawns and gardens as minimally as possible. Or be hip and join the brown lawn brigade! (Tip if you insist on having green grass: Put an empty tuna can out with the sprinkler. When it is half-filled with water, you’re done!).
• Have air ducts cleaned and maintained regularly. Ensure there are no leaks in the duct work.
• Have your crawlspace and attic inspected every six months by a pest control technician for signs of moisture, open entry points, and possible pest activity. Invest in a crawlspace and/or attic restoration to protect your home's health and help prevent pest issues.
• Remove wood that is not necessary outside the structure (ie, boards, railroad ties and logs which are being stored or used for decoration).
• Keep firewood as far from the structure as possible. Stack it off the ground and do not allow it to lean against other structures.
• Trim shrubbery and other foliage so it is at least 6-8 inches from homes/garages/sheds

Click here for some common conducive conditions for pests.

Click here for pest identifying some common household pests.