Booklet Has Tips To Stop Deer From Gobbling Gardens

Anyone who gardens in areas where deer live knows the destruction these browsing animals can do to a garden. A northeast Washington author with plenty of experience repelling deer has written a booklet loaded with tips for preserving your flower and vegetable gardens.

The 54-page booklet, “Preventing Deer Damage,” is $7.95 plus $1.95 for shipping from the author, Robert Juhre, 1568 Pigston Creek Road, Kettle Falls, WA 99141-9771.

Get out of the mud: Tired of having wet feet after walking around in the garden, and of trying to get the mud off your shoes with sticks or a digger or whatever tool is handy? Now Birkenstock makes garden clogs. The Birki Clog is molded polyurethane that can be hosed off after a stint in the garden. The price range is about $40 to about $60. To find the retailer nearest you that carries Birki Clogs, call (800) 597-3338.

All decked out: The financial return on new decks for homeowners who sell their house within a year of building the deck can be as much as 77 percent of the cost, according to Remodeling magazine.

The returns vary by region and the return is highest here in the West.

Double duty: In a survey of 400 men and women by a leading jeans maker, 4 percent said that in order to give their jeans the proper “lived-in” look, they’ve used them to clean the house.

Between sneezes … Those with allergies need look no farther than their own homes for dust, mold spores and other allergens.

The American Lung Association and the makers of Tavist and Tavist-D offer the following decorating tips to reduce allergins in the home: Eliminate dust-collectors like open shelves, dried flowers and knickknacks.

Convert carpeted areas to hard-surface like wood or vinyl and recover upholstered furniture with leather or vinyl. Dust mites thrive in carpeting and upholstery.

Repaint the interior with mildew-resistant paint.

Use vertical blinds instead of draperies.

Wash sheets and blankets in water that’s more than 120 degrees. It kills dustmites.

Ceiling fans keep allergens suspended in the air so avoid use when possible.

Dust using a damp cloth so dust isn’t just stirred up.

For a free calendar with more tips, call (800) TAVIST-D.

A free brochure is available from Honeywell called “Comfort in the Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality” is available by calling (800) 345-6770, ext. 7122.

, DataTimes