Monthly Archive for August, 2010

Happenings at Spring Ledge Farm

Published on August 30, 2010 in New London Community. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The Corn Maze will be open (9-5 Mon-Sat, 10-3 Sundays).

Its a great way to spend some time outside and to entertain the kids.  This last bit of rain we had pushed the corn even taller – we have some sections at over 10 feet tall.  Just right for getting lost.

Congratulations to the first two $20. gift card raffle winners:  Holly N. & Megan H.  Everyone going through the maze has a chance to enter the raffle.  We will draw a new winner each week.   Admission is via the farmstand – $5. for kids (12 & under) and $7. for adults.  Kids 3 & under are free.  Parking is down the driveway from the farmstand  in the sheep field (follow the signs).

Puttin’ Up:    Does not refer to the boss (as in “we’re always puttin’ up with him”).  It refers to storing the summer harvest for great flavors all winter long.  We offer high quality canning tomatoes in bulk, sweet corn by the bushel and herbs in our cutting garden for drying.  At times, we also have larger quantities of summer squashes, cucumbers and potatoes for sale at bulk prices.  Give us a call or email me for availability.

Salsa: The other day, I walked through the farmstand and collected the following for some fresh salsa:

6 tomatoes
1 green pepper
1 Tomatillo
1 yellow or red pepper
1 hot pepper
6 cloves garlic
2 ears sweet corn
1 onion
1 bunch cilantro – finely chopped
2 peaches
1 lemon – squeeze for juice.
salt to taste

Chop all of these up with the following in mind…if you want a very hot salsa, use the hot pepper – seeds and all.  For a milder salsa, remove the seeds from the hot pepper or omit the hot pepper entirely.
The sweet corn can be shaved off the cob, mixing the raw kernels into the salsa.  Or you can shave off the kernels and roast them before adding to the salsa.
For a chunky salsa, leave as is.  For a smoother textured salsa, take a third of the chunky salsa and puree, then add back to the bowl.  Mix well.  Enjoy with your favorite chips.

Upcoming Events:

Labor Day Weekend – Sept. 4-6th.  Great supply of sweet corn, local beef and bountiful vegetables for your picnics and events.  We will be open on Monday, Sept. 6th from 10am-2pm.  The Corn Maze will be open that day as well.
Tomato Tasting, Corn Roast, Beef Roast – Sat. Sept. 11th 1-3pm.  Join us as we try over 60 varieties of tomatoes that we grew here on the farm.  Different tastes, textures, acidity, colors and shapes.  Sixty Varieties!  We will also have our sweet corn roasting over the grill with different flavored  butter combinations.  And Star Lake Farm will have their delicious pasture-raised Scottish Highland beef slow cooked and smoked.  This year, we are asking for a $2. donation which we will pass along to local food banks.  Hope to see you there.

Moonlight Maze – date tbd – either Friday, Sept. 24th or Sat. Sept. 25th.  We’ll let you know soon.  A nighttime romp through the maze!

Fall Open House & Apple Pie Contest – Sunday, Oct. 3rd 11-3.  Fun, Fun, Fun.

Towns of the New London/Lake Sunapee Area A Snap-Shot Featuring: Sutton, NH

Published on August 26, 2010 in New London Activities and New London Community. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Town of Sutton was incorporated in 1784, and today, supports a population of nearly 1,800 people.  Sutton is located about 25 miles northwest of Concord and is easily accessible from either I-89 or NH Route 114; it consists of three village settings running south on Rte. 114:  North Sutton, Sutton Mills and South Sutton.

From the town web site:  “Sutton encompasses an area of 36 square miles, with over 17,000 acres of predominantly forested open space. With its rolling hills, streams, ponds and lakes , Sutton abounds with rural character and ‘rural characters’ which make it a great place to live and visit”.

The village center in Sutton Mills, features charming older homes, the Town Hall, the Sutton Free Library, and the Sutton Center School (part of the Kearsarge Regional School District) serves elementary students in the town.  Also, within the town are both the Kearsarge Regional High and Middle Schools.  See Kearsarge Regional School District.

Further up Rte. 114, in North Sutton, lies peaceful Kezar Lake, a favorite loop for walkers, an established bed and breakfast (Kezar Lake Bed and Breakfast), Wadleigh State Park for memorable family outings (Wadleigh State Park), and the post office.  Also within the bounds of the town is King Hill Reservation which includes “…441 acres of mixed woodlands and open fields, including the former King Ridge ski trails, historic stonewalls and cellar holes, vernal pools and ¼ mile of Lyon Brook”.  King Hill is protected by a conservation easement held by the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust and open to the public for enjoyment.  South Sutton also has a post office and several antique homes along the roadside.  Further down the road is another beautiful lake:  Blaisdell.

This blog barely scratches the surface…Sutton has wonderful history (having been established in the late 1700’s), great natural resources to enjoy, a vibrant, active community (less than 1,600), and a very convenient location…it’s a great place to live or visit!

The Cost of Renting in New Hampshire is Going Up

Published on August 25, 2010 in Advice for Buyers and New London Housing Market. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

As recently reported in the New Hampshire Union Leader (Monday, July 19, 2010) by Doug Ireland with The Eagle-Tribune, a recent state report shows rental costs rising, despite the overall economic climate.  The report was issued by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and concluded, that despite the fact that home prices are still adjusting downward, rents are still increasing.

Over the past year the median price for a typical 2-bedroom apartment, which includes utilities, rose about 2% to $1,056 ($1,205 in Rockingham County).  This trend of rising rent prices is making it hard for some residents to pay their rent.  The median income in Rockingham County is already lower than what is estimated to be needed to keep up with the rent payments.  It is the same case statewide.  There are approximately 31,315 rental units in the state.

At the same time, there are more and more rental units coming on the market as sellers, particularly of upper end properties over $350,000, give up trying to sell and decide to rent instead.  There are also more potential renters moving into the market from foreclosure loss of home as well.

For those who can get qualified to buy a home, this is still the best time in years to do so, especially considering the current rates and inventory.

New Listing – Ready for Barbeques on the Back Deck?

Published on August 24, 2010 in Advice for Buyers and New London Housing Market. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Invite the neighbors and enjoy the park-like setting from this 3 bedroom, 3 bath, charming country cape.  Beautifully updated kitchen and baths.  Visit www.59ShindaganRd.com for more details and photos.

Chris McKee, Listing Agent

Enjoy our New Hampshire Summer-but Keep Cool!

Published on August 20, 2010 in Advice for Sellers and New London Community. 0 Comments Tags: , .

There are plenty of easy, low-cost alternatives to cranking up the air conditioners, which require a lot of energy to operate, which leads to more air pollution and more greenhouse gases being released into the environment.  These solutions will help keep you cool, save a few bucks, and reduce your carbon footprint:

  • Use fans to keep the air moving.  Ceiling fans can lower the temperature in a room by as much as 7 degrees.
  • Window coverings such as shades, drapes or blinds can reflect heat away from the house.  Close them during the day on the sunny sides of the house.
  • Heat sources inside:  turn of lights, computers, etc. when you’re not using them.  Don’t use a stove or oven to cook-grill outside.  Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs.
  • Air-conditioning:  if you use central air, program your thermostat to work around your family’s summer schedule; set the temp higher when no one is around.  Clean the filter regularly and change it when it’s dirty.  Consider buying a new air conditioner that is an ENERGY STAR product.
  • Plant trees:  by planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house you can reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 30% and still allow the sun to warm the house in the winter.
  • Roofs:  install a light colored, reflective roof if you have renovation plans or your roof is ready to be replaced.
  • Windows:  upgrade your windows to ENERGY STAR windows which will save costs in warm or cold seasons.
  • Running air conditioning in the car:  when you’re traveling at less than 40 mph, it’s more fuel-efficient to open the windows.  Park in the shade, put a shade in the front window of the car and always roll down the windows when getting into a parked car.

Obviously, it may not be possible to eliminate the use of air conditioners entirely, but there are options that use less energy and keep your costs down.  Stay cool, save money —and the environment!

From “GREENWorks”-Ideas for a Cleaner Environment, a publication of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 603-271-1370, and the Office of  Energy and Planning, 271-2155, Concord, NH-July 2010

SAVE WATER!

Published on August 17, 2010 in Advice for Buyers and Advice for Sellers. 0 Comments Tags: .

News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

DES Encourages Homeowners to Conserve Water

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is reminding NH residents on the need to conserve water resources.  Although New Hampshire is not formally under a drought declaration at this time, the lower than average precipitation in April and May coupled with the current heat spell is reason enough to consider our water use and identify opportunities for conservation and water use efficiency. Although water conservation is something that needs to be practiced year-round, it can be especially important as a proactive measure during dryer than normal conditions.

“One of the easiest steps a homeowner can take is to reduce the amount of water used outdoors” said Derek Bennett, Manager of the Water Use and Conservation program. “Discretionary uses, like lawn irrigation can account for the majority of a homes total use during the summer months.” Lawn irrigation often leads to restrictions as water systems confront increasing water demand in the face of limited supply. “Adhering to water use restrictions is important” said Bennett. “Water systems implement restrictions to avoid larger problems down the road, and full cooperation by the water system connections is needed to be successful.”

Even without restrictions in place, reducing the amount of water used on landscapes makes sense, both environmentally and financially. Reducing lawn size, ensuring adequate topsoil, and choosing drought tolerant grass mixes are good first steps. If irrigation is needed to supplement rainfall, the typical lawn requires less than an inch of water per week (irrigation and rainfall combined).

DES has prepared a series of guidance documents that assist homeowners with reducing water use both inside and outside of the home. Please visit: http://m1e.net/c?82384231-x/oG7sFTAlAGk%405492898-EKfpihNIDuck6 for a complete list of water efficiency fact sheets.

This message brought to you by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302.

New Listing – The Sunsets are Worth a Million, but that’s Not the Price!

Published on August 6, 2010 in Advice for Buyers and New London Housing Market. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Come enjoy your views and privacy, yet still be only 1.25 miles to town.  Wonderful sunsets from this open concept cape with tons of storage.  Visit www.231BeechHill.com for more photos and details.

Stacey Viandier, Listing Agent

Are Real Estate Sales Strengthening or Slipping?

Published on August 3, 2010 in New London Housing Market. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Wondering how the real estate market is doing these days?  Using data in our MLS, it appears that sales have nudged up from 2009, based on data from 8 towns –Bradford, New London, Newbury, Sunapee, Sutton, Springfield, Warner, Wilmot.    From Jan. to July 1, 2009, a total of 85 homes sold with a 90% list to sell ratio, and an average of 194 days on market.  In 2010, same time frame, 109 homes sold with a 92% list to sell ratio and an average of 212 days on market.   Looking at the big picture, in these 8 towns, a total of 219 homes sold in 2009.  Currently there are 431 houses for sale.  With supply exceeding demand, this will most likely put downward pressure on home prices.

Home sales will continue to be influenced by economic factors such as the unemployment rate and the stock market.  Obviously no one has a crystal ball to really predict what the future market will look like.   However, NHAR President Monika McGillicuddy is optimistic that the low interest rates, relatively low prices, and substantial inventory will continue to lead towards a gradual improvement of the real estate market.

Donna Forest, Broker Associate

www.donnaforest.com