Ojai summers are hot and dry with July and August being the hottest and driest months of the year. This does not keep folks from getting outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, but it does mean that most folks are seeking out opportunities to cool off in the shade whenever possible. While the air temperature is not actually cooler in the shade than it is in the sun, it generally feels 10 to 15 degrees cooler when you are out of the sun because you are not being bombarded with solar radiation. This is why working outside in the sun on hot days is nearly unbearable but relaxing on your covered patio with a glass of iced tea feels perfectly fine. Now in our third year of navigating life during a pandemic, most of us are ready for life to get back to some version of normal. For many, this includes an increasing number of social gatherings and hanging out with friends more often and with fewer protocols in place. One way to reduce risk while sharing time with friends and family is to do it outside. So, let’s look at ways to create shaded oases where you and your guests can escape the sun’s radiation and enjoy time together in your outdoor living areas. Use existing structures. The cheapest, fastest way to create a shaded seating area is to simply move your patio furniture into the shade created by an existing wall or fence. Add umbrellas. Another inexpensive, quick way to add shade to your yard is to place one or more umbrellas around your patio. Add a solid roof or pergola. If your budget allows for a bigger home improvement project, consider adding a solid roof structure to your outdoor living area. If this project seems too big or expensive, a pergola is another attractive option that can have its shade-producing capacity enhanced by adding a fabric cover. Install shade sails. I just added a shade sail from the roof of my covered deck to the fence, and I love how it both blocks the sun and obscures the view from my neighbors’ second-story window. Shade sails are affordable and available in lots of colors and sizes, so this a versatile option that is going to work for most backyards. Hang patio curtains. If you already have some type of roof structure over your outdoor living area, you can increase the shade while also enhancing privacy by hanging patio curtains. Install an awning. Awnings protect from both sun and rain and are available in stationary and retractable styles. Use temporary canopies. Pop-up canopies are easy to store when not in use and usually take just minutes to set up. This makes them perfect for impromptu playdates or creating multiple seating areas to give partygoers room to spread out. If you need to bring in a professional to help create shade in your yard by hanging shade sails or building a pergola or other roof structure, remember to support the local economy by using local contractors. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a member of The Davis Group and a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
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Back-to-school parties are a great way for kids to get to know other students outside of school and for you to get to know other parents. Aside from everyone making new friends, they are also a fun way to mark the transition between the end of summer and the start of the school year and are just a good excuse to throw a theme party. Since COVID continues to spread at a steady pace around here, it is still a good idea to do social gatherings outdoors. So, let’s go over a few tips and ideas to make sure your backyard back-to-school party is a hit. Let’s start with decorations. You can check out Ben Franklin or Ojai Creates for themed party supplies, order them online from a small business on Etsy, or hit up Party City or one of the dollar stores in Ventura to find inexpensive plates, cups, napkins, and centerpieces. Alternatively, you can use school supplies to create your own decorations, such as making crayon bouquets or filling mason jars with colored pencils or erasers. Consider using mini chalkboards as place cards and swapping out tablecloths for butcher paper. Choosing butcher paper to cover tables and scattering around some crayons or markers makes cleanup easy while offering a quiet activity for kids who might need a break from the excitement. Other activities you might consider include craft projects like decorating water bottles or bookmarks, hosting a school supply swap, renting a photo booth with school-themed props, or organizing simple games with school supplies as prizes. Every party needs party favors, and this is an easy way to make sure kids that don’t win prizes won’t go home empty handed. The perfect party favors for a back-to-school party are inexpensive, age-appropriate school supplies. Kids can always use more notebook paper, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, or other items that are on their classroom’s supply list. You might also consider water bottles, stickers, or small mason jars filled with school supplies and candy. You might want to put together some fun party favors for the parents too, such as a home spa gift basket to help them include a little self-care in the busy days to come. Simple is usually better when it comes to food for an outdoor party for kids. Order pizzas, grill hotdogs and burgers, or set out finger foods they can grab between activities. For something a bit more fun, consider a DIY ice cream sundae bar with lots of options for toppings, cookies for them to decorate before devouring, or having an ice cream truck on site offering sweet treats. If you opted for mini chalkboards to use as place cards, you might also want to use them to label dishes and list ingredients to help out folks with dietary restrictions. It is never too early for kids to begin learning about giving back to the community, so one more thing to consider for your party is including a note in the invitation inviting your guests to bring school supplies or books to donate to organizations that assist students in need. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
With mountain views and plenty of space to spread out, this ranch-style home offers the perfect homebase for enjoying all the valley has to offer. From here, you can bike or walk to the eclectic village of Meiners Oaks or enjoy a leisurely bike ride or short drive through the historic Arbolada to downtown Ojai. The remodeled kitchen features granite counter tops, travertine backsplashes, a door to the garage for easily bringing in groceries, and a breakfast bar separating it from the formal dining room where built-in shelves and mountain views make a great space for dinner parties. Parquet flooring and a stone fireplace add visual appeal to the living room, which has space for casual dining and a sliding door to a covered patio for outdoor living or entertaining. The bathrooms boast travertine flooring, granite vanities, and tile showers, while the bedrooms have freshly installed, cozy carpet. Plus, there is a two-car garage, workshop or art studio, mature landscaping, and fruit trees. Property Features Include:
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms Approximately 1,735 square feet Remodeled kitchen with breakfast bar Granite counter tops and vanities Travertine tiles in kitchen and bathrooms Dual-sink vanity in primary en suite bathroom Built-in shelves in formal dining room Stone fireplace Newly installed carpet in bedrooms Approximately .91-acre lot Two-car carage Workshop or art studio Covered patio and wood deck Mature trees, fruit trees and landscaping Mountain views Room for horses or hobbies Bike or walk to Meiners Oaks Bike or short drive to downtown Ojai Visit the property information page for more photos, a 3D tour, and videos, or contact Nora to schedule a private showing. Magnolia Cottage is a remodeled, move-in-ready Ojai Valley home that sits on approximately one-quarter acre and boasts two primary bedrooms, two dual-sink vanities, laundry room, fresh paint, upgraded appliances, breakfast bar, and mountain views.
All three bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, and you will find easy-care, wood-look vinyl flooring throughout the home. Multiple outdoor living areas provide plenty of space for entertaining, including a wood deck shaded by a magnolia tree that is a perfect spot for al fresco dining. The large, fenced backyard features three fruit trees, RV parking accessed through double gates, a door to the enclosed carport, and plenty of space for gardening, playing, or hobbies. Hop on your bike and head to the Ojai Valley Trail or the eclectic shops and cafes in Meiners Oaks or enjoy a short drive to downtown Ojai for the two weekly farmers markets, two golf courses, galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and spas. Features include:
Contact Nora Davis for more information or to schedule a private tour. Weeds are an issue for nearly every homeowner, but conventional options of ridding your yard of these unwanted plants are not exactly appealing. Pulling them might get you outside in the fresh air and help you burn a few extra calories, but who wants to spend hours pulling weeds in Ojai’s heat? Using chemical-laden herbicides might save time, but they are also not that appealing, particularly if you have children or animals who play in your yard. You will probably never be able to completely avoid pulling the occasional weed, but there are several all-natural weed control methods that can help you kill the weeds you have and limit future weed growth. You can always purchase organic herbicides online or at some garden centers. This is definitely a step in the right direction; however, if you would like to save money and go greener, you can also use some all-natural products you probably already have in your pantry. If weeds are an issue in your yard, try one of these five inexpensive, simple, natural weed killers: 1. Vinegar – It’s no secret that vinegar can be used for just about anything, and killing weeds is one of its many talents. Spraying weeds with distilled white vinegar is an effective, chemical-free way to kill them, but it generally requires multiple applications – and at least a few days for them to die. 2. Salt – Mixing a little salt into the soil is very effective for wiping out your weeds; however, it cannot be used in areas where you plan on planting desirable plants. Use this one with caution and only in areas like driveway cracks and gravel areas where you do not plan on growing anything. Also, keep an eye on the runoff to make sure it does not make its way to your flower beds. 3. Boiling Water – If you can avoid burning yourself or your desirable plants as you pour it on your weeds, boiling water is a simple, inexpensive weed killer. 4. Cornmeal – Cornmeal prevents seed germination, which makes it a perfect choice for all-natural weed control. Because it prevents all seed germination without discrimination, it is best to use this method around mature plants. Using organic cornmeal in your garden also attracts worms, which is great for your soil. 5. Non-Living Ground Covers – Natural ground covers, such as gravel, bark, wood chips or mulch increase the visual appeal of your yard while also limiting weed growth. If you use landscaping fabric under your ground cover, you can limit weed growth even more. When using natural weed control methods, it is important to remember that these effective, inexpensive, healthier options do not discriminate between weeds and desirable plants. This means you will need to use these chemical-free weed killers with caution around plants you want to keep and in areas where you plan to plant. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
If you haven’t already, it is time to get your vegetable garden going. You can plant seeds directly in the ground now that we are not worried about freezes, so you don’t even have to start your seeds indoors. Just get out there in the sunshine and fresh air and get some food plants planted. Of course, there is the issue of water and how we really do need to be conserving it everywhere we can. Since we are not in an area where we can rely on April showers to bring those May flowers, this means best practices for gardening here include water-saving measures. Fortunately, small changes in how we plan and irrigate our gardens can make a big difference. Let’s go over some options that will allow us to save water while enjoying the benefits of growing our own food. 1. Replace your lawn. I know this sounds like it has nothing to do with your vegetable garden, but if you remove or reduce your natural grass lawn, you will save so much water that it will offset your water usage elsewhere on your property. Water usage studies on community gardens in Denver showed that traditional bluegrass lawns used up to 18 gallons of water per square foot per year, whereas, the community gardens used just 11 gallons. (denverwater.org) California Farm & Garden found that an edible garden in the same space as a lawn reduced water usage by up to 75%. (cafarmandgarden.com) 2. Choose lower-water food plants. There are lots of food plants that are drought-resistant and thrive with less irrigation, including black-eyed peas, summer squashes, tomatoes, sunflowers, pole beans, fava beans, eggplants, peppers, mustard greens, Swiss chard, pomegranates, and grapes. Also, most herbs, as well as some legumes and grains, require less water than other choices. 3. Install ollas. Sometimes it amazes me that we continue to jump on the latest, high-tech trends when our ancestors have been using elegant, effective solutions for centuries. Ollas are a great example of this and show how looking to the past just might help save our future. These low-tech, low-cost irrigation systems are used around the world in dry climates to help gardeners successfully grow bountiful crops in areas where wasting water is not an option. Ollas are large, porous, non-glazed pots that are buried among your fruit and vegetable plants with their necks above the soil. Once in place, these water-conserving pots are filled with water about once per week. Plant roots grow towards this water source, and water seeps into the soil only as needed, making this an incredibly efficient irrigation system. Delivering the water directly to the roots beneath the surface also helps you avoid runoff, evaporation, soil compaction and weed growth. 4. Install a drip system – or upgrade the one you have. If you are currently watering your garden by hand, you can save time and water by installing a drip system. This is a far more efficient way to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants. If you already have a drip system, check for leaks, make sure your emitters are working and watering the right spots, and install a smart controller that automatically adjusts your irrigation system according to weather conditions. Using an automated drip system also allows you to more easily adjust timers to save water by irrigating your garden in the early morning or late evening and allows you to water your plants more when they are young, and then reduce water once they are established. Keep in mind that it is best to water food plants in the morning. This helps fortify them to get through hot days while avoiding the diseases and pests that sometimes come with evening watering. 5. Add mulch. A layer of mulch around your food plants will help retain soil moisture and keep soil temperatures cooler. It has the added benefit of limiting weed growth and breaking down over time to add nutrients to the soil. If you pull back on water too much, your plants may wilt, bolt, produce little or no fruit, or die, so be sure to keep an eye on them and adjust the watering schedule accordingly. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
Spring is coming, which means it is time to prepare our gardens for this season’s planting. As we flip through seed catalogs, order potting soil for curbside pickup, and put together our garden plan, it can be easy to forget that our gardening tools could use a little prep as well. Since we can grow food and flowers throughout the year here, you probably have been using your garden tools all winter, so they might be dirty, dull, and bit worse for wear. Garden tools that are kept in good repair are safer to use, last longer, and function better, which is better for the environment, your plants, and your wallet. Here are some simple ways you can make sure you get the most out of your gardening tools.
AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
Build your dream home on this private, 20-acre parcel with 360-degree views that include the Topa Topa Mountains, Oxnard Plains, and the Pacific Ocean.
There are not many Ojai properties that offer both a country setting and ocean views, so do not miss this opportunity to take advantage of what is already on the property to help you get started. Features include gated entry, concrete driveway, well, two 5,000-gallon water storage tanks, electrical, parking structure, house pad, avocado orchard, and a citrus orchard. The house that once occupied the existing house pad burned in the Thomas Fire, which is why there are so many amenities on the property but no house. The property was most recently purchased through a foreclosure sale, so there is limited information available. See more photos and information on the property information page. Features of this Ojai horse property include:
Six bedrooms, six bathrooms Three custom fireplaces Covered porch Granite counter tops Walk-in pantry Travertine floors Jetted, over-sized tub in primary en suite Dual-sink vanity in primary en suite Dual shower heads in primary en suite Walk-in closet in primary bedroom Ceiling fans French doors from each wing accesses courtyard Approximately 1.41 acres Gated entry Guest houses or ADUs Stocked pond with dock, beach, and island Mature palms, conifers, and cacti Raised garden beds Yoga deck Detached, two-car garage Storage sheds Short drive to downtown Ojai Short drive to Lake Casitas Mountain views The gated entry opens to reveal your private oasis complete with palm trees, a large pond with a beach and dock, and a courtyard-style yard with a covered, wrap-around porch. Once inside, the expansive great room is a perfect example of how the owner-builder built this unique home for both entertaining and comfortable everyday living. The large kitchen offers plenty of storage and granite counter space to prep meals or make drinks while guests gather at the breakfast bar or enjoy the custom fireplace in the living room. Six bedrooms provide ample space for guests, extended family, or using these versatile spaces for a home office, yoga studio, craft room, or game room. Other interior features include six bathrooms, two additional fireplaces, walk-in pantry, and laundry room. Outside, the approximately 17-foot-deep pond has a large island and is stocked with koi, catfish, and turtles. There is also a detached, two-car garage and a separate entrance leading to the guest houses or ADUs. Visit the property information page for more photos and information. The Omicron variant running rampant isn’t making it any easier to reintroduce old favorites like traveling more and hitting the gym, so we have to continue to get creative when making our list of resolutions this year. If you had any interest in trying a new hobby or learning new recipes, you probably pursued those interests during your time at home over the last couple of years, so those are also out of the running. But resolutions are all about enhancing our lives and improving the way we interact with the world, so there are still plenty of options left. If you need a bit of inspiration, here are four you might want to consider. 1. Increase your water-saving efforts. Don’t let our recent rain fool you: We are still in a state of increasing drought and are looking at more mandatory water use restrictions in the coming year. If you need to level up your water-conservation skills, you can start with some water-saving resolutions I included in my New Year’s column a few years ago, including installing a rain barrel, participating in Meatless Mondays, insulating your pipes, covering your pool, and installing a graywater system. If you already have these practices in place, take it a step further by installing an automatic drip system, saving your cooking water to use for irrigation, or using a bucket to collect water while your shower warms up. 2. Make time for self-care. We have all had a rough couple of years. Although we are settling into our new normal, managing mask mandates, figuring out who is and isn’t vaccinated, and having to weigh the risks and benefits of every dinner out with friends or trip to grandma’s house continues to take its toll. Commit to making time for self-care this year. This might include COVID-friendly camping at Lake Casitas, scheduling hikes or outdoor dining with friends, treating yourself to an energy healing session, or having regular at-home spa days. 3. Support local businesses and contractors. I know local contractors are booked solid and have been difficult to schedule throughout the pandemic and that Amazon is the most convenient way to buy pretty much everything you need. It can be tempting to take the easy way out, but we build a stronger community when we keep our money local and support local businesses. Make it one of your resolutions to continue using local contractors and supporting local businesses so that we can all come out of the pandemic stronger and more connected. One easy way to do this even if you are following pretty strict protocols is to head to the farmers market to support local farmers and makers. 4. Live in line with your values. One thing that many of us gained from the pandemic is a clearer list of priorities. We know what is important to us, know where we want to focus our energy, and have a better understanding of our life goals. This provides us with an opportunity to clarify our values and take steps to live by them. Create resolutions that help you define and live by your values. AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.
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