How to Save Money at the Farmers Market

September 8, 2013 by

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market
Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying fresh
produce and other farm goods.


By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market - Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying freshproduce and other farm goods. By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Shopping at the Boulder farmers market can be a great way to get locally grown fresh produce and other farm goods such as meat, cheese and honey. You already know this if you shop at one in your community. But if you’ve shied away from this sort of market because you think it’s too pricey, perhaps you should reconsider. If you know how to shop at a farmers market, you probably won’t spend any more than you would at the supermarket. In fact, you might even spend less. These tips can help.

Comparison shop. Prices can vary greatly from market to market and from farmer to farmer. For example, I found on a recent trip to the farmers market that the price of a pint of blackberries ranged from $3.50 to $5. So spend some time checking prices from several sellers before buying anything. Also, markets in many communities accept vouchers and EBT cards from government nutrition assistance programs. So if you participate in one of these programs, look for markets in your community that accept this form of payment.

Get to know farmers. Developing a relationship with the person from whom you buy foodcan pay off, says Michelle Howell, who owns Need More Acres Farm in Kentucky along with her husband, Nathan, and sells produce at a community farmers market. She says that farmers may throw in extra produce for free if you buy multiple items from them or set aside things they know you like.

Buy at the peak of the season. You likely know that you can save money at the grocery by buying fruits and vegetables when they’re in season. The same holds true for the farmers market. You’re probably thinking that if a fruit or vegetable is at the market, it is in season. That’s true, but prices vary throughout the season. At the peak of a growing season, when there’s an abundance, prices will be lower (sometimes substantially lower) than at the beginning and end of the season, when there are fewer of an item.

Buy in bulk. Howell says that farmers often sell items in bulk at peak season. You just might have to ask ahead because they don’t always bring big boxes for bulk purchases to the market. When you buy in bulk, not only do you get the best price of the season but sometimes you get a discount for your large purchase. You can either juice, freeze or can fruits and vegetables so they don’t go bad, or divvy up the bounty with friends. Safely freeze ground meat for 3 to 4 months, steaks for 6 to 12 months and poultry for 9 months, according to Foodsafety.gov. Eggs last 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator.

Buy at the end of the market. You’ve probably heard that farmers lower their prices at the end of the day so nothing goes unsold. But Howell says that this really depends on the farmer. Some sell their produce to other outlets, such as restaurants. This is another reason why it’s important to befriend farmers so you know which ones are more likely to offer a discount at the end of the day — or on a rainy day when there aren’t many shoppers.

Join a CSA. A CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture, is another way to buy food directly from a farmer. When you join, you share in the bounty and risk of the farm, says Howell, who operates a CSA. You pay a set amount to receive a weekly assortment of farm products. Exactly what and how much depends on the time of year and the success of the farmer. Some weeks you’ll receive more than you are paying for if the farmer has an abundance. Other weeks you may receive less if the crop is limited by weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Buy less at the grocery store. If you’re shopping at the farmers market, your list of grocery items should dwindle. That is, make sure you cross everything off your regular grocery list that you’ve bought at the farmers market so you don’t waste money buying what you already have. You might find that you need to buy very little at the grocery store if you make meals entirely with purchases from the farmers market.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2013 The Kiplinger Washington Editors.Kiplinger.com.

 

John Marcotte

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98 Anemone Dr • Boulder, 80302

September 4, 2013 by

98 Anemone Dr • Boulder, 80302

Beautiful new listing!

98 Anemone Dr., Boulder

3 beds, 4 baths, 2628 square feet

Best lot in Seven Hills subdivision. It’s rare to find such an idyllic mountain retreat with its privacy & natural beauty just five minutes to the Pearl Street Mall! Set on a lot with fenced yard area and good usable land, you’ll enjoy the abundant outdoor spaces & marvel at the foothills and city views. Kitchen has granite counters & radiant heated stone floors, all bathed in southern sunlight. Hot water radiant floor heat, over-sized 2 car garage. A unique property in an incredible setting!

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Greeley getting 1st student housing

August 31, 2013 by

 Greeley getting 1st student housing

Greeley, with an apartment vacancy rate of only 1.4 percent, had the lowest vacancy rate of any major market in Colorado in the first quarter.

Only the tiny Southeast Colorado market had a lower vacancy rate, at 1.1 percent. However, owners representing only 60 apartment units responded to the most recent survey the Colorado Division of Housing.

Overall, the state had a 4.9 percent vacancy rate, the lowest in years.

“I wouldn’t compare Greeley to Southeast Colorado,” said Ryan McMaken, economist for the housing division.

“For practical purposes, you can say that Greeley has the lowest apartment vacancy rate in the state,” he said.

“The market is getting a lot of pressure on the demand side from people in the oil and gas business, as well as people in the Fort Collins area looking to the Greeley area for cheaper rents,” he said.

McMaken said he assumes that students attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley would be scrambling to find rental units in the Northern Colorado city’s tight market.

However, students will finally receive at least some relief in a market that is essentially has no apartment vacancies.

From 11:15 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, officials will host a groundbreaking ceremony for University Flats, the first off-campus housing for college students in Greeley, including UNC. The groundbreaking is at 1750 6th Ave., near Jackson Field.

The eight building development will bring 92 needed apartment units, which represents 262 beds to the area. It is anticipated to be open for the 2014 fall semester.

The $10 million project is being developed by Greeley Realty Investors, an affiliate of Denver-based Central Street Capital. Central Street Capital is headed by V. Robert “Rob” Salazar.

The company, among other communities, developed the Regency, converting a former hotel at 3900 Elati St. in north Denver to housing for students at the Auraria campus.

The company investments also include market-rate apartments, healthcare services, food services and retail, office and industrial properties.

The two- and three-bedroom units at University Flats will range in size from 905 square feet to 1,234 square feet. Students will have access to common-area amenities including a swimming pool, fitness room, clubhouse, barbecue area, horseshoe pit,and kitchen for events.

Rents have not yet been set. 

Insiderrealestatenews.com

 

 

 

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Stapleton senior housing

August 28, 2013 by

Stapleton senior housing

Greenway at Stapleton

Greenways at Stapleton

The first market-rate apartment community for active adults at Stapleton is officially breaking ground today.

The 108-unit development, called Greenways at Stapleton, is in the heart of Stapleton at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Ulster Street.

“Greenways is a smart choice for people aged 55+ who want to live a maintenance-free lifestyle close to all that Stapleton offers—shopping, dining, parks and events,” said John Thode, director of development for Wisconsin-based Horizon Development Group. “We’re already hearing from folks who want to live closer to family or retire in the area.”

The Greenways will feature 48 one-bedroom, 53 two-bedroom and seven two-bedroom plus den apartments.

They’ll offer a wide variety of floor plans, with apartments ranging in size from 700 to 1,200 square feet. For other senior living options, visit sites like carltonseniorliving.com/community/sacramento/.

All apartments feature functional layouts, nine-foot ceilings, full kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers, energy efficient design and appliances and private balconies or patios. Rents start at $1,000 per month.

Amenities for residents include a large clubroom with kitchen; outdoor landscaped plaza; fitness room; café with free WiFi; private dining/meeting room; activity room; and underground parking. A community manager will schedule on and off-site gatherings. Insidernews.com

 

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RE/MAX’s $100 million public offering plan

August 27, 2013 by

RE/MAX’s $100 million public offering plan

Dave Liniger

Dave Liniger

RE/MAX Holdings Inc.,  the real estate juggernaut that popularized the 100 percent commission concept after being founded in Denver four decades ago, today announced it is taking the first step to going public, a move long-anticipated by observers.

RE/MAX, founded by Dave and Gail Liniger in 1973, filed a registration document with the Securities and Exchange Commission saying it would seek to raise as much as $100 million with an initial public offering. It would be traded

The document also provided the first public look at many of the privately held company’s finances.

Financial Snapshot

It posted $78.316 million in total revenues in the first half of the year, 11.6 percent more than the $70.2 million in the first six months of 2012.

Revenues have been growing since 2010. Last year, it had total revenues of $143.7 million, compared with $138.3 million and $140.2 million, in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The real estate franchise company, the biggest in the world, showed net income of $14.95 million in the first half of this year, compared with $13.835 million during the firs half of 2012. It had $18 million in 2012, compared with $13.94 million in 2011 and a loss of $16.14 million in 2010.

It has total assets of $238 million and long-term debt of $223 million. It has 91,808 agents, compared with 88,487 in the first half of 2012. RE/MAX agents sold $296 billion in real estate last year, $165 billion of it in the U.S.

It plans to use about $27.3 million of the net proceeds of the initial public offering to re-acquire regional RE/MAX franchise rights in the Southwest and Central Atlantic regions of the U.S. through the acquisition of the business assets of HBN, Inc. and Tails, Inc.

Weston Presidio, a private equity firm with offices in San Francisco and Boston, made a $40 million investment in RE/MAX in 2010.

Going public has long been discussed as a possibility for RE/MAX.

Insidernews.com

 

 

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Brookfield completes state’s 1st Passive House.

August 26, 2013 by

Brookfield completes state’s 1st Passive House.

 

Peter Rusin of the Colorado Energy Office stands in front of the state's first certified Passive House.

Peter Rusin of the Colorado Energy Office stands in front of the state’s first certified Passive House.

The first “Passive House” in Colorado has been officially certified in the Midtown at Clear Creek community in Adams County, a few minutes drive north and northeast of trendy Denver neighborhoods.

The home, constructed by Brookfield Residential, is also believed to the the first in the nation constructed by a production homebuilder.

The super energy-efficient home was built at Brookfield’s Midtown development near West 68th Avenue and Pecos Street. The home, with 2,421 square feet of finished space and an unfinished basement, is priced at $569,990.

The Passive Home is projected to its owner thousands of dollars every year in utility costs, with expenditures of less than $80 per month.

Fewer than 60 homes in the U.S. have received official ‘Passive House’ certification by the Passive House InstituteU.S. .

“It has taken Colorado a long time to reach this milestone, because constructing a building that can actually meet the strict requirements of the Passive House standard and pass the rigorous review of PHIUS is a difficult task, ” said Lance Wright, president of the Colorado chapter of the Passive House Alliance U.S., a  public outreach arm of PHIUS.

“Just consider that our Colorado chapter of PHAUS is over two years old and, while we have several custom home projects under construction, Brookfield managed to complete its project first, ” he said.

A Certified Passive House must meet three strict standards of performance in terms of:

  • Air-exchange (two-way, inside-to-outside), which cannot exceed 0.6 of every room, per hour.
  • Energy usage (basic electricity), which cannot exceed 11.1 kilowatts per square foot annually.
  • And BTU consumption (typically applying to heating and cooling), which cannot exceed 4,750 per square foot annually.

“When we embarked upon this project, we saw it as an opportunity to experiment in technologies that will improve production homes’ comfort, efficiency and durability,” said Brookfield Residential General Manager Perry Cadman.

“We’re committed to a vision that we call ‘Home Evolved,’ which includes an evolution ofresidential housing, with an unwavering search for changes that will result in improvements and, ultimately, perfection in residential building,” Cadman said. “The Passive House is the best example of this commitment and vision.”

The Brookfield Residential Passive House at 1787 W. 67th Ave., achieved its energy efficiency through a creative design of its outer walls, a tight thermal envelope that employs the latest scientific insulation techniques, the highest-performing windows, and the most modern HVAC system.

 

 

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A Plea from a Boulder Cyclist to Motorists

August 25, 2013 by

 

A Plea from a Boulder Cyclist to Motorists

boulder cycling rules
On any day where the weather is even halfway decent, you can scan the roads of Boulder, Colorado and find them filled with cyclists. People move to Colorado for our over 300 days of sunshine and altitude, making it one of the top training destinations in the world for recreational and professional athletes alike. I mean, folks in Boulder take to two wheels like birds to flight. Unless you’re a penguin, but that’s neither here nor there.

But I’m asking — pleading, actually — the motorists: it’s time to re-prioritize bikes in your field of transportation-related vision.

This past Tuesday, another cyclist was killed while out for an early morning ride. Yes, he was wearing a helmet. And no, the truck driver didn’t stop. He failed to yield to an oncoming vehicle (read: the cyclist).

How many more stories like this do we have to read in the Daily Camera before Boulder-area motorists begin to see cyclists for the vehicles they are? I’d much rather read about Lucky’s Market branching out to a new Longmont location than about another dead cyclist who’s dead because people don’t afford bikes as much respect as gas-powered vehicles.

So, I have a bit for the motorists — some of which I covered earlier this year when I chatted about Bike to Work Day. And I also have a few choice words for my fellow cyclists.

To our state’s lawmakers

Operators of motor vehicles are under your auspices. Until law enforcement officials begin to cite motorists in accordance with Share the Road rules, motorists are only going to continue seeing bikes and their operators as annoyances instead of the vehicles they are. It’s also time to start citing more cyclists for acting like jerks when they blow stop signs, intersections, and traffic signals. Not all of us ride like this, but the ones who do make the rest of us look like the problem when we’re truly asking for a solution.

Perhaps it’s also time for tests on cycling rules to accompany Drivers Licenserenewals. This way, there’s no excuse for anyone to say they didn’t know about how they’re supposed to treat cyclists on our state’s roadways.

To our state’s motorists

I get it. Bikes move slow — much slower than your Subaru and definitely much slower than your SUV. But the impact of your car against the unprotected body of a cyclist (even though we’re wearing our helmets) is a battle of ratios you never want to be involved with. Having been hit by a car that blew a stop sign, I know what it feels like first hand no not win. So, here are a few key details you need to remember when you see a bike on the streets of Boulder — or anywhere in Colorado:

  • Bikes have the same priority as cars. Legally, cyclists must obey alltraffic signals and signs. Just because you paid $30,000 for your SUV doesn’t make it more important than the $700 to $7000 a cyclist paid for his or her bike.
  • Three feet to pass. When you pass a cyclist on the road, you must give that cyclist a berth of 3 feet to legally pass. And yes, sometimes that means slowing down because you can’t swerve around. But it’s the law.
  • Stop seeing us as annoying. I know that there are cyclojerks, cyclists who act like jerks and make the rest of us cyclists look bad. By and large, though, we’re good people who just have an inexplicable love for self-powered transportation. We might be slower than your car, but we’re not riding our bikes to ruin your day.

To my fellow cyclists

Only a few words here:

  • Stop riding like jerks. Three-wide ain’t cool and blowing traffic signs and signals makes you no better than the drivers who see us as a problem. Stop being a part of the problem. Obey traffic laws and stop letting your power meter run your life.
  • Wave. When drivers are nice, wave. Say thank you. Reinforce courteous driving. Quit it with the flip-offs. Instead, start taking photos of license plates and situations. Call the cops or State Troopers.  Yelling only continues to make us look like the problem.
  • Learn the law. Head over to Colorado Bike Law and read up on your responsibilities as a cyclist. We’re not better than cars — we are cars and have to start acting like cars. We also have to start acting like law-abiding operators of vehicles.
By  YourBoulder.com 

 

John Marcotte

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What’s Your Favorite Color? Monty Python – This Saturday!

August 22, 2013 by

 

What’s Your Favorite Color? Monty Python – This Saturday!

boulder outdoor cinema monty python
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for.

If you thought Rocky Horror Picture Show was good, this is (inarguably) better.

Bring your quips and quotables, song lyrics and cardboard swords. Oh — and don’t forget the shrubbery.

That’s right. This Saturday at Boulder Outdoor Cinema, it’s time for Monty Python’s The Holy Grail.

How long has it been since funny has been this clean yet this memorable? The Monty Python legacy stretches from generation to generation, finding audiences who are ageless and ready for smart laughs. There’s nothing better than hearing an 11-year-old kid spout lines from the Black Knight (or k-niggit, as the movie would say) or catching a conversation where two folks are regaling the exploits of the African Swallow. It’s nearly impossible to believe that this movie was released in 1975 (!) and remains a favorite.

Here’s my advice for this weekend’s show: arrive early. Get comfortable. Bring the kids and show them a film worth remembering. Hannah Montana’s got nothing on this flick.

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Boulder Neighborhood Guide: Dakota Ridge

August 21, 2013 by

DakotaRidge001 Boulder

Dakota Ridge is a fairly new area, located north of Wonderland Hills and alongside the Boulder foothills. The streets are wide and the houses have a modern feeling. With the energy-saving enhancements and eco-conscious building, Dakota Ridge gives homeowners the best of green living.

 

History: Before it was a desirable place to live, Dakota Ridge was an area on the edge of town that was almost consumed by a wildfire in November of 1990. Then again, in 2009, fires the foothills north of Dakota Ridge got very close to the homes built there. Aside from the brushes with destruction, as one of Boulder’s youngest neighborhoods, there isn’t much to report in the way of history. Only years of people traversing the trails on foot and animals hunting for prey.

Housing: Dakota Ridge is made up of single family homes, townhomes and apartment units. The neighborhood is still under development as there are a few dozen homesites left to be built and a 3-acre park that is under construction. When finished, the park will provide sheltered picnic tables, a children’s play structure and fields for throwing balls with the dog. Homes in Dakota Ridge start at the mid-$600′s and go up to several million dollars. There is affordable housing allocated in the area.

DakotaRidge006 boulder

Restaurants & Shopping: There is an interesting mix of industrial and retail space located on both sides of Broadway in North Boulder. Businesses run the gamut from tattoo parlors and glass-blowers to the upscale Amante shopping center. Not only is Amante the meeting place for spandex-clad cyclists, the baristas here also make a mean cup of coffee. Other North Boulder favorites include the restaurant 4580, as well as a top quality bike shop, Boulder Cycle Sport. With a popular bus line servicing Broadway, Pearl Street is never more than a fifteen-minute ride away.

Family & Fitness: Outdoor play is the big draw of living in this neighborhood. With many hiking and biking trails within minutes of your doorstep, Dakota Ridge offers unparalleled access to all the beauty and adventure that Boulder’s Open Spaces have to offer. Additionally, there are trails up Lee Hill Road and a Gateway Fun Park open a few miles down US 36. Between the miniature golf, the batting cages and the food truck roundup, there is something fun for everyone.

DakotaRidge008 boulder

Schools: Foothill Elementary, Centennial Middle, Boulder High

Quirks: Be sure to keep your eyes open if you live in this neighborhood. Hang gliders fly overhead and land in Foothills park. And, as with every up and coming part of town, Dakota Ridge does indeed have it’s own Neighborhood Association and Facebook page. You’ll never miss out on the action here.

Major Street Boundaries: Lee Hill Road on the south, Broadway on the west and bordered by sprawling foothills on the north and east.

By  YourBoulder.com

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Boulder Beer Company: Colorado’s Oldest Microbrewery

August 17, 2013 by

 

Boulder Beer Company: Colorado’s Oldest Microbrewery

Boulder Beer tap board

These days, when you think Boulder, you think beer. But that wasn’t the case in 1979, when two CU professors received the 43rd brewing license issued in the United States and the Boulder Beer Company was born. That’s right. Boulder Beer is officially Colorado’s first microbrewery and after 35 years, is still putting out many tasty brews.

The flagship Boulder beers are the mountain bike-inspired Singletrack copper ale, the Buff Gold, a light beer which is a homage to the town’s university and the Planet Porter, the brewery’s oldest recipe and a delicious addition to a milkshake. But the beer that Boulder brewing might be most famous for is it’s innovative Hazed & Infused. First introduced in 2002, Hazed is an unfiltered dry-hopped amber ale and is definitely the most popular beer that Boulder Beer makes. When driving around, it’s hard to miss the ubiquitous Hazed stickers that cover town.

Boulder Beer brewpubThe food at Boulder Beer is above-average pub fare, with beer pairings suggested for each dish and much of the cuisine  featuring beer as an ingredient. From the beer-battered fish & chips to the Schooner salad that features fresh greens on a bed of pub fries, you’re sure to find something to help soak up that beer. And don’t forget that there are also daily food specials including a very popular event, $2 tacos all day on Saturday.

With ample seating, a bar area, private room and gorgeous back patio, Boulder Beer has created a perfect gathering spot. The brewpub’s central location makes for easy meetups and a calendar packed full of community events means that there’s always something fun going on. From weekly music nights to beer festivals galore, Boulder Beer exemplifies the feeling of a neighborhood watering hole. Of course, it helps that this watering hole has $3.50 happy hour pints of beer brewed on premises and bikes available for rent right outside the front door.

If you haven’t checked out Boulder Beer yet, you have no excuse. They’re both dog and kid-friendly, so don’t just wait until you have folks visiting from out of town to show off this local gem. It’s an oldie and with each passing day, it’s even more of a goodie. YourBoulder.com Tara Caliman.

 

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