Motivated seller, amazing unit, open floor plan, wrap around balcony,
spectacular updates throughout.
Asking $519,000
Call me for showings 212-518-8829
fcaccia@gmail.com
2+2 |1763sf | 2 parking spots | valet
Vegetable Gardening Tips
By: Sandra Karnes
A vegetable garden can be very rewarding. As with any new beginning, you will want to start simple and learn the tricks and tips of gardening as you go.
Sun, Size, and Soil
Vegetables need a minimum of six hours of sun per day. Keep in mind that the sun gets higher as the months pass, so the hours of sun light on your plot will increase as summer nears and passes. In this case, more is better.
A good size starter garden should be no bigger than 10x10 feet. It's manageable and will supply just enough vegetables so that there is no waste.
Soil is an extremely important factor that coincides with success. Seeds and young plants need soft, loamy soil so that their tender roots can push through. Test your soil for nutrients that it may be lacking.
Once you've chosen where your plot will be, remove all the grass, weeds, and stones. Dig up the plot with a rototiller or a pitch fork and shovel. Tip: You can usually rent a tiller just to get your first dig done.
Dig down at least 12 inches. Add any nutrients that your soil test revealed was lacking. Tip: Compost or aged manure are great, natural fertilizers. Mix well into the soil.
Once you've added your nutrients, till (or turn) the soil again. Let the area rest for a couple days.
Consider a raised bed. Raised bed gardening can add a little landscape look to your yard and is perfect for a beginner. Frame out a square or rectangle of wood and set it in your desired area. Layer newspaper in the bottom of your raised bed. The newspaper will kill the grass and keep any weeds from coming through to the surface. Fill the bed with garden soil and a little manure or compost. Let the soil rest for a couple days. Tip: don’t use railroad ties or treated lumber, since the chemicals could leach out of the lumber and contaminate your vegetables. The best raised bed material is composite decking since it won’t rot or disintegrate.
Choosing Seeds and Plants
Because you're a beginner, you will want to find plants and seeds that are easy to grow. If you pick seeds that are hard to grow, you may get discouraged by the results.
Radishes and green onions are two of the easiest and fastest growing plants. From seed to table for radishes is only about 20 days. (Also, the seeds are easy to handle because they're bigger than most.) Tip: If you want radishes to grow even faster, spread the seeds on a paper towel laid in a flat dish, with another paper towel over the seeds. Soak the paper towels with water from a spray bottle. The seeds will sprout in a day or two, and then you can plant them in soil.
For green onions, don’t buy seeds—buy onion sets. All you have to do with onion sets is push them into the ground with the root end down and leave a little of the other end sticking up through the soil. Tip: If you have any robins in your area, you may want to cover the onion sets with a cage of chicken wire. For some reason, robins think they are worms and pull them out of the ground. Once the onion tops turn green, you can remove the cage.
Another beginner favorite is tomatoes. Tomatoes can be easy to grow, depending on the variety you choose. For a first-time gardener, I would recommend a small tomato. The smaller tomatoes are less likely to succumb to end rot or other tomato diseases. Cherry or plum tomatoes are easy to grow, mature fast, and taste great. However, don’t try growing them from seed, at least not your first year. Go easy on yourself and purchase plants that have already been started. Your chances of getting all the way to harvest are better if you purchase bush varieties of tomatoes. They don’t require tomato cages and grow within a given area. Tip: buy some sweet basil to plant near the tomatoes. Basil repels bugs and will add flavor to your tomatoes.
For green onions, don’t buy seeds—buy onion sets. All you have to do with onion sets is push them into the ground with the root end down and leave a little of the other end sticking up through the soil. Tip: If you have any robins in your area, you may want to cover the onion sets with a cage of chicken wire. For some reason, robins think they are worms and pull them out of the ground. Once the onion tops turn green, you can remove the cage.
Another beginner favorite is tomatoes. Tomatoes can be easy to grow, depending on the variety you choose. For a first-time gardener, I would recommend a small tomato. The smaller tomatoes are less likely to succumb to end rot or other tomato diseases. Cherry or plum tomatoes are easy to grow, mature fast, and taste great. However, don’t try growing them from seed, at least not your first year. Go easy on yourself and purchase plants that have already been started. Your chances of getting all the way to harvest are better if you purchase bush varieties of tomatoes. They don’t require tomato cages and grow within a given area. Tip: buy some sweet basil to plant near the tomatoes. Basil repels bugs and will add flavor to your tomatoes.
Cucumbers and beans are another favorite for first-time gardeners. Again, bush varieties are easiest to grow. Tip: you can use the same paper towel trick as you did for the radishes (see above) to get your cucumber or bean seeds to sprout sooner.
How to Plant
A basic rule of thumb is to follow the seed package directions for spacing. Keep in mind that your 10x10 area doesn’t leave much room to grow a lot of vegetables if you plan on using a tiller between rows. For more vegetables, distribute most plants about 18 inches apart. Leave just enough room for you to walk through the rows.
If you have a little creativity in your bones, you don’t have to stick to row planting. You could plant one plant in one corner, another plant in another corner, and so on. Tip: Plant tall vegetables (tomatoes, bush beans, etc.) on the north side of the garden. This keeps the tall varities from shading the smaller plants.
Care of Your Garden
Your new plants will need a minimum of one inch of water per week. If Mother Nature isn’t cooperating, you must water with a hose. I say hose, because it is best to water just the ground and not the leaves of your plants. Soak the ground well and let the roots soak up what they need, and then let them dry a few days before returning with the hose again. Too much water can do as much damage as too little water.
Hoe often. The reason is two-fold. It will keep the ground around the plants soft and help control weeds. Don’t let weeds take hold—they steal water and energy from your plants.
Keep a record of where you plant each vegetable because next year (if you are plant the same type of vegetable) you will want to plant it in a different area. Each plant pulls different nutrients from the ground and you will want the ground to recover for a year or two before you plant the same type again in that spot.
Wind | Penthouse unit # 4109
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ARBOR | Coconut Grove
3034 Oak Ave Miami, FL 33133
52 residences in Coconut Grove
inspired by eco-living,
good living and everything in between.
Developer
Urban Atlantic Group Oak Ventures Architect Behar Font & Partners Landscape Design Witkin Hults Design Consultant Samuel Amoia Creative Agency Lemon Yellow Public Relations Tara Ink Number of Units 52 residences Number of Stories 5 floors Unit Mix 2–3 bedrooms residences Pricing from $799,000 |
Square
Footage
1,466–2,010 SQ FT Residence features 10-foot ceilings PH residences with private terraces Two-story lofts Townhomes with over 20-foot ceilings & private gardens Floor to ceiling windows Features & Amenities Concierge Ample parking and storage Fitness center Lush courtyard pool Social lounge Rooftop terrace Pet friendly |
AVAILABILITY
UNIT TYPE
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UNIT
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BED/BATH
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INTERIOR SF
|
PRICE
|
ORIENTATION
|
A
|
Th1
|
2/2
|
1,605
|
$830,000
|
North
|
B
|
Th4 Th7
|
2/2+Den
2/2+Den
|
1,511
1,511
|
$835,000
$835,000
|
East
East
|
Th10
|
2/2+Den
|
1,511
|
$850,000
|
West
|
|
Th13
|
2/2+Den
|
1,511
|
$850,000
|
West
|
|
C
|
Lph1
|
3/2+Den
|
2,023
|
$1,011,500
|
North
|
D
|
202
203
303
307
|
2/2+Den
2/2+Den
2/2+Den
2/2+Den
|
1,474
1,474
1,474
1,474
|
$799,000
$847,550 $854,920
$854,920
|
East
West
West
West
|
406
|
2/2+Den
|
1,474
|
$869,660
|
East
|
|
505
|
2/2+Den
|
1,474
|
$906,510
|
West
|
|
506
|
2/2+Den
|
1,474
|
$884,400
|
East
|
|
E
|
208
|
3/2
|
1,511
|
$831,050
|
East
|
F
|
401
|
3/2+Den
|
1,957
|
$1,046,995
|
West
|
G
|
3/2
|
1,870
|
Not Yet Released
|
North
|
|
H
|
Ph2 |
2/2+Den
|
1,539
|
$992,655
|
North
|
G
|
3/2
|
1,870
|
Not Yet Released
|
North
|
Sell your home faster with these quick fixes
Staging your home is a critical step in getting it sold, but all the recommended updates and upgrades can get pricey. Thankfully, there are tricks you can use to make your home look bigger, better, and brighter, without spending a dime.
1. Fix up your floors
Don't want to pay to replace or refinish your floors? No prob. Grab a brown crayon to fill in divots. A one-to-one mix of olive oil and vinegar rubbed directly on scratched areas will also help make it look new. You can also use canola if you don't have olive, but then use a one-part vinegar, three-part oil mixture. Or, try this hack that uses walnuts to fix scratches. No, seriously.
Don't want to pay to replace or refinish your floors? No prob. Grab a brown crayon to fill in divots. A one-to-one mix of olive oil and vinegar rubbed directly on scratched areas will also help make it look new. You can also use canola if you don't have olive, but then use a one-part vinegar, three-part oil mixture. Or, try this hack that uses walnuts to fix scratches. No, seriously.
Floors look great but don't sound so hot? "Fix creaky wood floors with a generous dusting of baby powder," said One Crazy House. "Work it into the cracks until the floor is no longer noisy."
Presumably, you already have cleaning supplies, sponges, and paper towels in the house. Now all you need is some elbow grease to make your home look shiny and new.
When selling your home, you need to take the cleaning beyond your typical weekly run-through. Think "Spring cleaning" turned up a notch or two. Remember that potential buyers will be looking everywhere, including inside drawers and cabinets. Make sure they're crumb-free and well organized. They may also open your refrigerator. While this can seem intrusive, you don't want to give them a reason to walk away, so make sure to tidy up the inside, wipe up any spills, throw away rotten food, and put a nice big box of Baking Soda in there to absorb any leftover smells.
3. Let the light in
Everyone is looking for "natural light," so show off what you've got by opening up those blinds and drapes. Did you just reveal a bunch of dirty windows and sills? Ewww. Grab that cleaning spray and make them shine. An old toothbrush is a great way to get gunk out of corners and in window tracks.
If your place isn't light and bright, even with all the blinds and drapes drawn, you'll need to depend on artificial lighting. This is no time to have lightbulbs out. Go hit that stash in your laundry room cabinet and switch out for fresh bulbs.
4. Declutter
Home stagers will tell you there is no more important step when preparing your home for sale. "If you are serious about staging your home, all clutter must go, end of story," said Houzz. "It's not easy, and it may even require utilizing offsite storage (or a nice relative's garage) temporarily, but it is well worth the trouble."
Do a walk-through with an outsider's eye, or ask a friend or family member to help since they'll be more objective. Anything that isn't used regularly or is taking away from the open feel of the house can be packed away. Small appliances and anything else hanging out on countertops can be put in a cabinet if you're not ready to stick it in a box. You want people to see the bones of the house, not your blender.
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5. Depersonalize
While, you're decluttering, keep personalization in mind. Buyers want to be able to picture themselves living in the home, and they might not be able to do so if they can't take their eyes off your wall of taxidermy.
6. Create closet space
Even if you have the world's largest walk-in closet in the master bedroom, you can give buyers the impression that there isn't enough space by overfilling it. Stagers recommend taking half of your clothes and shoes out and packing them away to create some airiness. Does the idea of packing up your stuff freak you out? You're going to have to do it when you move, anyway. This is just giving you a head start.
7. Remove the stink
Does your home greet guests with a big whiff of cat box? Potential home buyers might just turn right back around and get in the car. You also want to make sure your animals aren't irritating those who are touring or impeding them from entering certain rooms. Don't want to board them? Surely you have a friend or family member who'd love to watch your pets during showings, right?
8. Pull those weeds
You really can't overestimate the importance of curb appeal today. Even if you don't want to spring for a few bags of mulch and some colorful flowers to frame your door, there are easy and free steps you can take to give buyers a great first impression. Dispose of any visible weeds, leaves, and other unwanted stuff hanging out in the yard. Give your bushes a trim and mow the yard. If you can't power wash your home, at least wash the outside of the exterior windows that are within eye level.
And don't forget about the area closest to your front door. Sweep that stoop and make sure your welcome mat is actually welcoming, instead of dusty and dirty.
9. Address your furniture
Some of the most common problems in homes when it comes to furniture: 1) It's ugly; 2) It's old; There's too much of it; The arrangement is uninviting. Ugly and old might be hard to overcome when you're trying not to spend money, but the rest you can do something about.
"Sometimes when sellers are trying to make a small room seem like it's more spacious, they have a tendency to push all of their furniture against the walls to leave a big open space in the middle. This type of arrangement may leave a lot of open space, but ultimately leaves the interior design looking unfinished -- a big turn off for buyers. In this situation, it's better to create furniture groupings. First, envision the way the space should be used," said Freshome. "Do you have a huge flatscreen TV that requires a lot of seating? Is there a corner in your living room that would serve perfectly as a reading nook? Group the furniture in ways that would make sense for the intended use. Then, make sure that there are clean and direct pathways through the room. You want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in your home and one of the quickest ways to do that is by creating a cozy seating area that's fit for conversation."
If the problem is that you've created a crowded space by using too much furniture, ditch a few pieces in a friend's garage for the time being (or, even better, donate them!) to create an intimate seating area. You can always bring those pieces back into your new home.
10. Borrow stuff
If, at the end of the day, your home still isn't looking show-ready, maybe it's time to raid a friend's house. Have a loved one who has an extra couch that's more neutral than yours or a couple of great accessories? It's time to test their love for you.
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