Welcome to fall.
Actually, that makes it sound like we have some kind of mystical hold over the season, and are graciously allowing you to partake. Truthfully, fall is for all.
And that is especially true here in our little slice of Heaven, isn’t it? e coastal towns in our community get a respite from the craziness of summer, and our inland towns turn amber and gold along each rural road as the leaves announce their presence with a colorful splash of authority. ere are pumpkins and gob lins and football and sweaters and nearly e ver y other wonderful thing a person could imagine in one magical season.
And, of course, there are those fall checklists that appear e ver y year at this time You know, things to do around the home and yard that you ’ ve been want ing to tackle, but just haven’t had the
time. Or you didn’t want to do it during the hot weather. Or you want to do it before the start of cold weather. Or, well, you just got lazy. at is your G od given right as an American.
We tr y to share some ideas with you in these pages on home and garden projects , ideas for how to best cook up your favorite tailgate foods and some tips for reducing your carbon footprint a bit We also have a fe w ideas for ne w residents who are tr ying to get accli mated to a ne w community, and we were fortunate to get access to a lovely ne w local bed and breakfast and now we get to share that access with you.
We are extremely grateful to our advertisers for their continued support with projects like this one, and hope you, the reader, takes a good look at their ser vices when you make decisions down the future. Shop local. Live local. Love local.
Welcome to fall.
Susan Lyons
Darin McCann
mccann@coastalpoint
Tar yn King
yn.king@coastalpoint.com
Shaun M Lamber t
lamber t@coastalpoint
M Patricia Titus
Susan Mutz
mutz@coastalpoint
Kerin Magill
Jason Feather
Susan Canfora
canfora@coastalpoint
Mike Smith
smith@coastalpoint
Mike Stern
Nadine Timpanaro
Jane Johnson
johnson@coastalpoint
Chris Aube
Congratulations! You’ve made the leap
You’re now a full time resident of one of Delaware’s beautiful beach towns Before you slap that starfish sticker on your car, though, there are a few things you need to know.
Let’s start with learning what the best time of the year really is around here. It’s now that time between Labor Day and Halloween, otherwise known as “Locals’ Summer.”
e best day of the year? Sept. 15. Why? It’s the day the parking meters come down, of course. It’s not an official holiday, and yet if you know, you know.
You’ll need to get used to the fact that there is not a Target or a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe’s within at least an hour’s drive. It’s OK. You’ll survive. Really.
You’ll discover that you can buy golf skirts at the grocery store, and bait at the auto parts store. You’ll learn the local coffee spots are way better than those ubiquitous S bucks
back in Silver Spring. Embrace the quirky.
But seriously… ere is a shift that needs to happen when moving to a summer resort town as a full time resident. Here are a few tips from those who have been there, and those who work to make this area the one you chose for your new life.
is is also the time of year when you can finally turn left out of those Route 26 busi nesses without doing the whole “Cars” thing as in, “ ya gotta go right to go left.” And it’s perfectly sane to grocery shop on Saturday afternoons again e cashiers won’t look at you funny that “What the heck are you doing shopping here on July 3? Don’t you know better? How long have you lived here?” look (unless you ’ re wearing your shirt inside out or your sunglasses are upside down).
We reached out to some of our favorite “experts” in living life to the fullest here in these quiet resorts, and we have some of their best tips.
First, there is Bryan Clifford. ose in the know may recognize Clifford better as “Boul der’s dad.” Boulder is something of a local
celebrity he’s Clifford’s affable Bernese Mountain dog who pops up all over the area, and is a frequent flyer on local social media sites.
“Get a dog,” was Clifford’s first piece of ad vice particularly a friendly, photogenic one like Boulder.
“My wife, Gail, had five high school friends who, at age 50, all got together annually at one ’ s house on Evans Street here in Bethany Beach,” Clifford recalled. “We fell in love with Bethany Beach, and I decided to retire here,” he said, adding that “the huge savings in taxes” in terms of property sales tax, com pared to New Jersey, was a major selling point
After looking for five years, Clifford said, “We finally bought a small townhouse about a half mile from the beach. We downsized from a good sized house and gave a lot of stuff to ACTS,” he added of the thrift store on Route 26 in Clarksville, and to Seaquels consignment store.
“We spend little time on maintenance and
so we can enjoy other things
of our lives.
Clifford
As
choice
for
initial way of connecting with the
looking for local social media sites, including groups on Facebook and NextDoor
While Clifford recommends avoiding “election season drama” on some local sites, he said they can be a source of “great tips and information on restaurants, doctors, me chanics, etc. e Town of Bethany Beach website is also helpful,” he said.
Clifford said he and his wife, Gail, joined the CHEER senior center in Ocean View, and he said that was a nice way to meet new friends.
“eir $3 lunch is like a dinner,” he said. “We were early 60s, and most participants were 80 plus, but we enjoyed talking to folks,” and the center also offers activities and trips, he said.
Getting back to the dog Clifford said, “We get together with other dog lovers at the beach and dog parks,” adding that he thinks “We need one in Bethany Beach Ocean City is the closest, and there’s a fee.”
“We do pet therapy together at a local as sisted living facility,” Clifford said. “People stop us every time we walk downtown We also promote local businesses and events on Facebook,” he said “Everyone seems to know Boulder”
Clifford also recommends joining the South Coastal Village Volunteers
“It’s a great organization to visit and help local elderly shut ins,” with a “ very conven ient online system,” he said, of the website at http://www.villagevolunteer.org.
stove and insulating the roof.
When it comes to jumping into life at the beach with both feet, Vicki Carmean of Fen wick Island is a bit of a posterchild She re cently retired from the Fenwick Island Town Council, where she had served for 20 years, the last year as town council president/mayor
Now, Carmean intends to spend a lot more time in her garden, a passion she has nurtured in her “ spare time” over the years. She also plans to take up quilting.
For those looking for ways to keep active, Clifford said “My wife, Gail, does Zumba three mornings a week. In addition to great exercise, she enjoys a nice group of friendly ladies of all ages.
”
Clifford said he loves Bethany Beach year round, particularly the “second season, ” but said he also enjoys the “craziness” of summer (except the traffic).
When it came to feathering their beach nest, Clifford said, “We chose not to make every room beachy. Our living room and bedroom are not. Our guest room and guest bathroom and sun porch are. ”
Household projects the couple took on at their new home included upgrading the walkway, adding a fireplace insert/wood
“One of the best decisions I made when I first arrived here as a full time resident 20 years ago was to join a garden club,” Carmean said. “Right now, there are two Delaware Fed erated clubs in this specific area the Bare foot Gardeners for the Fenwick Island communities and the Salt Air Gardeners, which is more in the Bethany Ocean View area, ” Carmean said.
“Back then, because there were no local clubs, I joined forces with two other inter ested ladies and started the Barefoot Garden ers Club,” she said. “ese clubs provide something for everyone: horticulture, flower arranging, community development projects,
Please turn to page 10
Following a busy summer working in a resort area, local residents often have to wait until fall to tend to their own house hold projects, including painting. And when they do whether it’s a room indoors, the front door or outdoor furni ture to use as they enjoy cooler fall weather they often choose colors from shades
that are trending.
“And usually, it’s the women who pick the colors,” noted Martha Hagenbuch, as sistant store manager at Sherwin Williams on Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View. “e men have some input but, depending on the age bracket, as they get older become more involved. Younger men are like, ‘Whatever you want.’
“Right now, grays are popular, and whites, for inside and outside. Some tans.
Nothing really bold for outdoor living spaces, ” she said. “Living rooms are definitely in the grays. We have seen more combinations of warm vs. cool colors, but cool colors are making more of a comeback because of the coastal colors.
“For front doors, coral has been making a comeback, but some are more bright coral. A lot of our customers are going on Pinterest and seeing stuff they want to do.
“Blues are still very popular for the front door. A lot of navy and shades of blue. Red is not as popular. It’s about 50:50 with reds,” she said.
Bathroom colors are often selected based on the room ’ s tile, but many cus tomers want more neutral colors, then place an accent piece in the bathroom
“People are going more lighter, more airy with colors, more relaxing instead of bold,” Hagenbuch said.
When it’s time to paint the kitchen, lighter colors and creams are popular, in cluding Pure White, City Loft and Natural Linen.
“ey are going for creamier, yellowy whites, Antique White, Shell White. Gold is coming back, but on the beige side, the neutral side, not a bright gold,” she said.
Generally, ceilings are still being painted white.
Once painting is finished, it’s time to decorate, and this is the time of year when home décor from throw pillows, for in doors and outdoors, to blankets has a fall theme, said Meghan Hudson, owner of Coastal Cottage on Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View.
protection, Cottage Tour assistance,
“Just recently the Barefoot Gardeners have been involved in providing decorated planters for the Operation SEAs the Day pro gram, ” Carmean said, as well as flower ar ranging programs at the Brandywine nursing home, a $5,000 fundraising project for the Delaware Botanic Gardens and the annual beach clean up
Such projects, Carmean said, often spin off of one another.
“It’s amazing how one thing leads to the other once a project begins... plus, the people that one meets are so interesting!”
Carmean urged new residents to visit local nurseries and garden stores for inspiration and advice on landscaping and garden proj ects in the beach area, as soils and conditions can be quite different from the areas from which they came.
“e Delaware Botanical Gardens also has a volunteer program for those who are inter ested in helping out with that amazing place,” she said.
While on the subject of local interests and organizations, we turned to Lauren Weaver,
executive director of the Bethany Fenwick
Area Chamber of Commerce, for some in sight into how to help newcomers make the transition from summer visitors to full time residents
First, Weaver said, “Learn the history of the area, ” starting with local museums, such as the Historic Towns Museum and the Dinker Irvin Museum in Bethany Beach, as well as the Town of Bethany Beach Museum in the town hall.
Weaver also suggested that new residents should make an effort to learn about the area ’ s unique ecosystem, through organiza tions such as the Delaware Center for the In land Bays and the state department of natural resources and environmental control (DNREC). Along those lines, a walk, kayak paddle or bike ride along the Assawoman Canal, in the Assawoman Wildlife Refuge, at the James Farm Ecological Preserve or other trails/waterways are great ways to learn about the area ’ s natural wonders.
“Find a nonprofit to join, to give back and make friends,” Weaver said.
ere are local organizations that cater to a wide range of interests A good place to look for those is (shameless plug) the Coastal Point’s weekly calendar section
“The Delaware Botanic Gardens also has a volunteer program for those who are interested in helping out with that amazing place.”
V i c k i e C a r m e a n
Weaver also recommends exploring the area. ere are so many hidden gems that she said people can “find a new place to ex plore or visit every month” a very achiev able goal given the sheer number of suitable spots
A new face at the Chamber, Jen Roros, chimed in with some more good tips straight from her own recent introduction into life at the Quiet Resorts.
Roros, who moved to the area from Sev erna Park, Md., suggested that newcomers familiarize themselves with the Delaware vehicle registration process particularly the fees involved, and the emissions testing sys tem, in order to avoid surprises at the De partment of Motor Vehicles.
Speaking of surprises, Roros learned dur ing the summer season that just wrapped up that there is a science to grocery shopping in beach towns specifically, don’t do it if you don’t have to.
e same goes for “parking ins and outs up at the beach,” Roros said.
Locals tend to know the best time to get their toes in the sand during the summer is either earlier in the morning or later in the
Please turn to page 12
now that she’s survived her first sum mer, Roros said she “ can’t wait” to
can take a little time to adjust to the quirks of living in a resort area but not being a tourist. Dorothy Rader grew up in Millville during a time when she could ride a horse all over the area. She moved away after college and only recently returned, purchasing a home in Ocean View with her husband, Den nis.
Rader described the adjustment to the much more developed and busier area she loved as a child as “feeling as if I’m in a pop up book.” Where there once were farm fields and pastures, she said, there are now rows and rows of new homes.
“Sussex County has become a melting pot of sorts,” Rader said. “ere is still a contin gent of people who live here that were born and raised here and have lived here all their life.
“e Bethany Beach and surrounding area was extremely remote 100 years ago or so, ” she said, “and it’s important to understand and respect those kinds of roots.
“As a native,” Rader said, “I am always amused when people who more recently ar rived say, ‘I want the growth to stop now. ’” While such comments make her incredu lous, she said, “I just smile and respond sin cerely with, ‘Change is inevitable, so get used to it!’”
While some of the changes are difficult for true locals sometimes, Rader said one thing she appreciates about the area since moving back is the array of dining options
“When I was growing up, ” she said, “I re member when my dad used to plan trips to Philadelphia and New York, in part so we could experience ‘fine dining,’” she said. “It’s not necessary to go that far these days!”
Rader recommends getting involved with a local church as a way to meet people “and also to give back to those who need help in various ways. ”
“After having a D.C. paced career for three plus decades,” she said, being able to come back home, and to have the time to “be present and available to others” while living in the area she has always loved, “is so re warding, personally”
“I love this area because there are four sea sons, but none are outlandishly severe, ” Rader said. All in all, the area has a temperate climate, so many days of the year can be spent outdoors. e beach is packed in the summer, but other seasons can be beautiful here as well, even on the beach.
Rader recalled a favorite childhood mem ory, of being on the beach on New Year’s Day, “bright, crystal clear and frosty,” she said.
All of the folks interviewed for this piece mentioned the importance of supporting local businesses instead of bemoaning the lack of a Target, explore a bit and you will find hardware stores that sell Baltimore Ravens gear, tiny shops that specialize in everything from model trains to scrapple, and loads of farm stands selling local pro duce.
While taking a breath after shepherding area businesses through another challenging summer season, Weaver’s parting words for “newbies” are simple, but profound: “Be
“It’s a different season, and now we can enjoy the outdoors. is time of year, we sell a lot of furniture, for indoors and out doors. Locals, this time of year, are taking the time to fix up their houses
“After Labor Day, in the fall, people are using their firepits, and they want to buy furniture to sit around the firepit
“We are still seeing a lot of coastal décor, but this time of year they are picking out fall blankets for the front porch, fall throw pillows,” she said.
Do it yourself repairs also often wait until the off-season.
One recent afternoon, David Brown of Bethany Beach was in the hardware aisle of G&E Hocker’s, shopping for “those little plastic things that keep babies out of cup boards.”
He and his wife recently adopted a black Labrador retriever puppy, Atlas, and the dog has figured out how to open the cup board door where a paper bag of treats is stored.
“He’s still a baby, but he’s very inquisitive and smart. I’ve been trying to find time to put these latches on for weeks, but I’ve
M e g h a n H u d s o nbeen so busy working on the boardwalk in Ocean City, sometimes until 1 or 2 in the morning,” Brown said.
A few aisles over, Margaret Albert of Ocean View was urging her husband, Harry, to “buy what he needs to make our
toilet in the guest room fill up. ”
“What is it, a flipper or something that you need?” she asked as he slowly shook his head from side to side
“Flapper,” he corrected, deadpan, “and I have what I need right here ”
For those who want ideas for sprucing up their homes in the off season after all the repairs are made, the Better Homes & Gardens website at www.bhg.com has sev eral, including placing fall decorations on the coffee table, fireplace mantel or window ledges, and lining up fresh or ceramic pumpkins on shelves or bookcases. e first initial of the family’s last name can be carved into a large pumpkin.
Gourds can be painted, or just the tops dipped into paint that runs a little, for a dripping effect.
Homeowners can arrange a few sprigs of bittersweet into a grapevine wreath and hang it above the fireplace or on a wall, or find colorful leaves to lay on side tables or place in blue glass vases.
And, of course, the inside and outside of homes can be decorated to resemble haunted houses, with skeletons, black can dles and fog machines, as Halloween draws near
Showroom Hours:
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“After Labor Day, in the fall, people are using their firepits, and they want to buy furniture to sit around the firepit.”
By Tar yn King Editor
How ’ s the adage go? “If you ’ re lucky enough to live at the beach, you ’ re lucky enough.” Whether you live at the beach or not , the same can be said for working remotely. anks to the COVID 19 pan demic, in the last fe w years , there’s been a massive uptick in the percentage of employees who are now working from their homes .
According to the American Opportu nity Sur ve y conducted online by McK inse y & Company, 58 percent of people polled stated the y were able to work from home at least one day a week , and 35 percent have the option of working remotely for at least five days a week . at is a lot of people spending a lot of time working outside their company of fice
Working remotely certainly has its advantages and has proven to be a
highly productive arrangement for many, but it’s not without its downsides , many of which appear in the form of distractions . While there are numerous ways to cut down on distractions , the focus here is on one of our favorites taking work outside.
In addition to getting away from the interior distractions of your home, such as house work , pets , T V, etc , a shift in scener y can provide bursts of energ y and inspiration, and hone your focus
For years , scientists have been telling people to get at least 10 to 15 mins of sun exposure per day And if simply looking out a window can briefly lower stress le vels , imagine what actually sit ting outside can do Just being in nature makes most people feel a le vel of relax ation and e ven happiness assuming you aren’t allergic to the sun or a bug magnet . (But we can help with that last one!)
e question you may now be asking is , “Sure, sunshine is great , but how do I set up a productive work environment outdoors?” Don’t worr y, we ’ ve got you covered. Follow these tips to create the perfect outdoor office space!
is is the big one. ere’s nothing worse than getting yourself set up out side only to realize that it’s miserably hot , there’s a mosquito buz zing in your ear, and your derrière could use a better cushion So, make sure you pick a cool, shady spot that’s not in the direct line of the sun (computer glare, anyone?) and put up an umbrella if you have to Batter y operated fans can keep you cool, along with an ice cold thermos of your favorite caffeinated be verage.
As for the mosquitos , an easy fix , along with bug spray, is a portable bugPlease turn to page 18
“ink globally, act locally ” is a motto that ever yone should take to heart. It emphasizes the importance of real actions you can take at home and in your com munity, while emphasizing the fact that ever y creature on planet Earth is con nected. With that in mind, here are three ways to help save the planet in your ver y own back yard this fall:
(1) Save the lives of birds Bird popu lations are in decline due to a range of threats , including habitat loss and climate change. In fact, North America has lost more than 1 in 4 birds in the last 50 years , according to the Audubon Society.
Amid this alarming trend, you can make the skies safer for birds by mitigat ing the chance of window strikes , one of the more common threats birds face In the United States each year, 350 million or more wild birds are killed when strik ing windows . Research shows that apply
Barbecue season ’ s winding down, you say?
Well, put on another layer and start clicking the tongs. It’s always barbecue season.
With holidays, football, family get togeth ers and basically any day that ends with “ y ” putting a significant emphasis on food, and your home being crowded with loved ones to the point where you just want to do any thing you can to escape the insanity and get outside Do you see where I’m going with this?
at’s right It’s always time to barbecue But what if you ’ re on the hunt for an outdoor cooking device that can satisf y your barbe cue cravings?
Now, to be fair, the term “barbecue” can stir up some different responses. Some be lieve it encompasses all methods of cooking outdoors, from the hot-and-fast methods to low and slow cooks bathed in smoke. For others, barbecue means something more
specific cooking over the course of hours at a lower temperature, but without the use of smoke Either way, it means good food is cooking outdoors, and that is a win much more often than it is a loss.
But it is important you figure out what you ’ re looking for, and to do that, it’s best to determine how and what you want to cook. ere are three main fuels for outdoor cooking, and we ’ re going to take a look at each of them.
Not only is it a cool phrase, but cooking with propane legitimately gives you plenty of benefits.
“Gas grills have pretty obvious advantages,” explained Bob Ricker, owner of Baker’s Hard ware in Millsboro, and an avid barbecue en thusiast in his own right. “ey’re fast, easy, and fuel is readily available. Just about every one has a propane tank at their house, and they are easy to get re filled ”
Basically, if you ’ re hankering to throw on a steak or cook up a bunch of burgers or hot dogs, it’s as easy as opening up your tank, turning on a knob on your grill and pushing an ignition switch. e fire will start immedi ately and will go as hot as you desire, with control resting on how far you open or close that knob.
With many propane fueled grills now offer ing multiple burners, users can more easily “ zone ” their cooking maybe fast cooking a steak at 550 degrees on one part of the grill, and doing their vegetables on the other side at 300. Or pulling off a popular reverse sear steak with ease, cooking it low and slow until the temperature comes up, and then dropping it on the searing part of the grill to get that de sired crust on the outside.
“Part of the popularity with barbecuing these days is that the sky is the limit, with techniques and recipes and all of that,” said Ricker. He added that so many people have ac cess to other enthusiasts through online mes
It’s always the right time to barbecue Or smoke. Or grill. Or, well, the options now are mouth-watering
When guests arrive at the Sal isbur y House Bed & Breakfast near Bethany Beach, owner Michele Salisbur y is ready to greet them at the door in fact on the front porch with a friendly smile
(Locals, take note: the Salis bur y House, and its innkeepers, Michele and Robin Salisbur y, pronounce it “SALS berr y ” not “SAWLS berr y ” like the city down the road in Mar yland.)
e three-room bed-andbreakfast inn is unique on several fronts, one of which is obvious from the moment guests pull down the driveway off of Double Bridges Road.
Inspired by architecture in the Tuscan region of Italy, the Salis bur ys utilized rich, warm colors and fabrics, as well as deep, dark , ornately car ved woodwork to bring a cozy, yet worldly feel to the home. e couple built the 4,500 square foot inn, which sits on 6.5 acres near the Assawoman Wildlife Refuge, after purchasing the property in 2017
e setting itself draws visitors in, with tall, mature trees surrounding the home like a protective cape In fact, some red and white oaks from the property ended up being used in the inn as flooring, and a large, rustic coffee table was made by one of the couple’s sons from pine trees that were on the property.
In addition to the custom hewn floors, woodwork throughout the home brings character and a graciousness to the space.
Many of the unique furniture pieces, as well as doors, come from an antique dealer called Gatsby ’ s in St. Michaels, Md., that specializes in pieces im ported from Denmark , Italy and France. All of the doors, Michele said, come from a church in the south of France.
“e craftsmanship you can’t find that today,” she said. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Each of the guest rooms is named after one of the Salis bur ys ’ dogs Jessie, Bailey and Fiona. e Bailey is the largest of the three rooms, and features deep red accents and a private patio, as well as an en suite bath room
e Jessie room is decorated in muted tones and features a luxu rious chaise lounge and a cus tom tiled bathroom with a rain head shower. e bathroom is shared with the third guest room, the Fiona.
e Fiona features a similar chaise lounge, and is decorated in rich tans and deep, dark blues.
All rooms offer bamboo linens, towels and bathrobes another eco friendly touch the Salisbur ys incorporated into the inn’s overall philosophy.
e house was built to take full advan tage of its woodland setting, and that ex tends to the expansive patio and pool area which is where the three canine resi dents can be found sunning themselves when the weather is pleasant.
Large glass doors open to an outdoor living space where lush, comfortable seat ing areas beckon for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine
“is is where I have my coffee ever y morning,” Michele said
Left,
of the guest rooms at the Salis bur y House Above, the dining room
Kerin Magill
Sometimes, guests come with inten tions of leaving the inn for the day but
Inspired by architecture in the Tuscan region of Italy, the Salisbur ys utilized rich, warm colors and fabrics, as well as deep, dark ornatelycar ved woodwork to bring a cozy, yet worldly feel to the home.
sage boards and YouTube that the amount of information available is amazing and grow ing.
Ricker mentioned the Weber Crafted line of propane cookers as an example of how those grills are evolving, as cooks can use a griddle surface, and then move out that at tachment for a grilling basket or pizza stone in a matter of moments ere can also be side burners to provide additional options, creat ing a one stop outdoor kitchen.
With new technology everywhere, includ ing the outdoor cooking world, it’s easy to kind of fall asleep on the age old method of cooking with charcoal. Don’t do that. Oh, my goodness, do not do that.
“I went a while without using coal and de cided to try out a Big Green Egg to see what all the fuss was about,” said Ricker. “I threw on some steaks, followed each part of the recipe and method to a tee, and… oh, my. ere is something about that charcoal taste that’s just so good. Nothing can replace that taste.”
And when it comes down to the benefits of
cooking with char coal, that’s the big one that unmis takable flavor e user needs to pur chase charcoal, and getting it started and up to your desired temperature can sometimes be a time exhausting chore that is nowhere near as easy as flicking a button on a gas grill, but the wait is worth it for that flavor, according to many aficionados.
Ricker mentioned the Big Green Egg, in particular, and that is another cooker that provides a ton of op tions for cooks, thanks to a seemingly endless array of acces sories. You can grill hot and fast at tempera tures up to 700 degrees or more, or hold it steady for 12 to 15 hours to smoke a brisket at 250 with the use of a heat deflector, or even
Big Green Eggs, as seen here at Baker’s Hardware, provide plenty of options for outdoor cooking enthusiasts, from smoking to grilling to becoming an instant pizza oven.
n Photo by Darin J McCann
get it down to 175 or so to smoke homemade bacon. With accessories like the Egg Genius that can moderate your temperature while you sleep or run to the store, the sky is indeed the limit.
You can even get a pizza stone and make your own pizza in just a few minutes.
“If you haven’t made a pizza on a Big Green Egg, do it,” said Ricker, smiling “Just do it ”
A wildly popular method for the outdoor cooker these days is the pellet grill. Like the others, they offer some flexibility as cooks can buy their choice of wood pellets to pair with what they’re cooking, go low and slow for hours at a time or burn hot enough to cook burgers or steaks with ease. And the pellet grill is remarkably easy, pushing a “set it and forget it” model where you digitally lock in the tem perature you want, and a series of fans and blowers control the air flow perfectly to main tain that level of heat.
e Traeger model, a favorite of Ricker’s, is another cooking tool that can be used in many different ways, thanks to its inherent flexibility and a vast array of accessories. ey are known for giving that great wood flavor to food, while allowing people to grill, smoke, bake, braise and roast on one grill.
Ricker said that, with pellet grills being rela tively new to the game, they are rapidly im proving all the time increasing efficiency
and the ability to produce that smoke flavor profile, adding new accessories to take outdoor cooking to another level and, on some high end devices, the ability to use induction cook ing for searing steaks, sauteing vegetables and frying.
“at’s a gamechanger,” said Ricker. “You can honestly cook every meal out doors now with one of them.”
The Traeger Timberline allows for any cooking one could imagine, and is operated with a ‘set it and forget it’ ease n Photo by Darin J McCann
ere is no ver dict on what’s the superior cooker. ey each come with their own advantages, and the amount of acces sories available for all of them continues to grow with the popularity of outdoors cook ing
And we haven’t even gotten into the
Blackstone flat top griddles that have been sweeping the nation the past few years. By the way, Ricker gave us a little tip that some other companies are coming out shortly with their own takes on the stand alone griddle
And we can’t wait to try them all out
take a look at the pool area and ask , “Can
just stay here and hang out by
pool?” Salisbur y said.
And the answer is always “Of course!” she said Michele and Robin once thought they would eventually turn their former home
a circa 1780s farmhouse in upstate New York into a bed and breakfast once their boys were grown But fate and an economic downturn in that part of the state inter vened. Eventually, Michele, a former school nurse, and Robin, a building contractor, found their dream coming to reality in southeastern Delaware instead.
Much of the craftsmanship other than the doors was done by the Salis bur ys ’ sons. e endeavor is a true family
effort, she said.
“All my sons helped build it,” she said. One of her sons is a chef “He helped me plan my kitchen out,” Michele said
One recent morning, the scent of warm cinnamon filled the home as Michele had just made an apple cake for visitors Along with the cake, she ser ved fresh cantaloupe from her garden, as well as lemon balm tea made with freshly picked herbs.
All of the food ser ved at Salisbur y House is vegan, and much of the food Michele ser ves in her three-course breakfasts comes from produce in her organic garden, which thrives in the yard just out side her expansive kitchen.
In addition, the pool is flanked by two pollinator gardens, “So we get a lot of but terflies and dragonflies and bees and hum mingbirds there’s a swallowtail right there!” Michele said, pointing to a large, richly colored butterfly.
“is is our little piece of paradise,” she said. “It’s nice and quiet we hear noth ing out here,” except the wind in the trees and the hum of seasonal insects.
Left, the patio at the Salisbur y House.
n Photo by Kerin Magill
e home was completed in 2019, and the bed and breakfast was then approved by Sussex County, Michele said
“And we know what happened after that,” she said, referring to the COVID 19 pandemic that all but shut down travel and many businesses in early 2020
e inn took in its first visitors in April 2022, Michele said e delay, although perhaps frustrating at the time, “ gave Robin and I the opportunity to finish the gardens, and do more renovations, and buy more furniture,” she said.
Since then, “We have been so busy,” Michele said. “I love it. I meet so many wonderful people.”
She said she hopes to open the inn for small gatherings, such as weddings, and is already planning a garden filled with white flowers for the outdoor space she thinks would be perfect for such events. e inn has County approval for gatherings of up to 50 people, she said.
“ere’s an old Chinese proverb that goes, ‘At ever y window it should look like a picture,’” she said. “I think we ’ ve accom plished that.”
e Salisbur y House at Bethany Beach is located at 36700 Double Bridges Road, Frankford For more information, call (302) 829 8080 or go to the inn’s website www bethanybeachbb com
One of the most important considera tions for any major home project is its return on investment . at’s why ex perts point to metal as a solid choice for roofing
“If you ’ re looking for that elusive combination of beauty, longe vity and energ y efficienc y, metal roofing is a smart choice,” said James Alpeter, ProVia metal roofing marketing man ager. “It offers superior performance and enhanced curb appeal, plus excel lent resale value down the road.”
As Alpeter points out , your roof plays an important role in safeguarding your home, protecting it from the elements and providing a barrier to temperature extremes . With your roof covering at least 60 percent of your home’s exterior, consider these advantages that metal has over other roofing materials :
• Longe vity Roofing takes a beating from all kinds of weather rainstorms , high winds , hail, harsh U V rays
and
heav y snow. Materials such as asphalt and wood shingles are susceptible to mold and deterioration, and clay or slate tiles can chip and break . Metal roofing is durable, long lasting , and withstands extreme conditions better than other roofing options Metal roofs typically last 40 years or more, and their war ranties are stronger as well
• Curb appeal Innovations in the metal roofing industr y have resulted in
beautiful panels and shingles that look identical to traditional materials , but without the associated damage concerns and maintenance issues that can quickly compromise curb appeal
For example, ProVia stamped panel metal roofing features an embossed sur face that mimics the look and texture of cedar shake and quarried slate, and the horizontal panels resemble shingles rather than the industrial looking standing seam metal roofs .
At the same time, this roofing choice
features built in fade and chalk resist ance, a premium architectural coating offering dirt , milde w and stain protec tion, and virtually no material degrada tion B ottom line? Your roof will stay beautiful with minimal care
• Environmental ste wardship Metal roofing can offer significant energ y sav ings when compared to asphalt shingles , helping you reduce your carbon foot print and lower your utility bills . You can take your environmental ste wardship a step further by choosing longlasting , rec ycled and rec yclable products , as well as products that are American made, which require less shipping .
To learn more or get your project started, visit provia .com.
e decision to reroof your home is a big step. As you weigh your options , be sure to select materials that are not only striking , but offer durability, strength and weather resistance.
S h o p p i n g fo r a n e w re f r i g e r ato r c a n fe el o v e r w h el m i n g B u t k n o w i n g y o u r ex a c t n e e d s w i l l s i mp l i f y th e p ro ce s s a n d h el p y o u fe el co n f i d e nt i n y o u r p u r ch a s e .
“A re f r i g e r ato r c a n d o a l o t m o re fo r y o u th a n h o l d y o u r fo o d a n d ke e p i t co l d . S o m e o f to d ay ’ s m o d el s h av e fe a tu re s th at c a n t r u l y el e v ate y o u r k i tch e n exp e r i e n ce , ” s a i d Pe te r We e d f a l d , s e n i o r v i ce p re s i d e nt o f s a l e s a n d m a rke t i n g at S h a r p Ho m e E l e c t ro n i c s C o mp a ny o f A m e r i c a . “ K n o w i n g y o u r n e e d s a n d w a nt s c a n h el p y o u b e a s av v y sh o p p e r. ”
To f i n d th e r i g ht f r i d g e fo r y o u r h o m e , co n s i d e r th e s e f i v e f a c to r s :
( 1 ) Me a s u re m e nt s . Me a s u re th e s p a ce w h e re y o u ’ l l b e p l a c i n g th e f r i d g e . N o t o n l y d o e s y o u r n e w f r i d g e n e e d to f i t i nto th i s s p o t , b u t y o u a l s o n e e d cl e a r a n ce to o p e n th e d o o r s Hav i n g th e s e s p e c i f i c at i o n s c a n h el p y o u b e g i n y o u r s e a rch a n d n a r ro w y o u r o p t i o n s ( 3 ) Fi n i sh C o n s i d e r g i v i n g y o u r k i tch e n a co h e s i v e l o o k b y m atch i n g th e f i n i sh o f y o u r n e w re f r i g e r ato r to y o u r o th e r c u r re nt ap p l i a n ce s . St a i n l e s s s te el i s p a r t i c u l a rl y sl e ek a n d e a s y to cl e a n . Wi th a q u i ck w i p e d o w n , y o u r f r i d g e c a n l o o k b r a n d n e w. U l t i m atel y, o p t fo r a f i n i sh th at y o u l o v e a n d th at t i e s y o u r k i tch e n to g e th e r.
( 4 ) C ap a c i t y. Ke e p y o u r sh o p p i n g a n d co o k i n g h ab i t s i n m i n d to e n s u re y o u r f r i d g e s i z e m e e t s y o u r n e e d s . A re y o u
s o m e o n e w h o b u y s a l o t o f f re sh p ro d u ce a n d g o o d s ? D o y o u te n d to d o b i g g ro ce r y h au l s ? Th e n a l a rg e c ap a c i t y f r i d g e i s a mu s t . I f s p a ce i s at a p re m i u m a n d y o u ’ re s e a rch i n g fo r s o m e th i n g co mp a c t , y e t s t i l l ab l e to h a n d l e y o u r n e e d s , th e S h a r p S J B 1 2 5 5 G S , a 2 4 i n ch B o tto m Fre e z e r C o u nte r D e p th R e f r i g e r ato r m ay b e th e i d e a l f i t Wi th t w o sh el v e s , a 4 2 c u b i c fo o t f re e z e r w i th th re e d r aw e r s , a n d a re m o v ab l e w i n e r a ck fo r q u i ck a n d e a s y o rg a n i z a t i o n , th i s s p a ce s av i n g m o d el fe atu re s w el l - d e s i g n e d s to r a g e s o l u t i o n s . ( 4 ) Fre e z e r s t y l e . Th e re a re th re e m a i n f re e z e r s t y l e o p t i o n s y o u m ay co m e a c ro s s w h e n l o o k i n g fo r a n e w re f r i g e r ato r : s i d e b y s i d e , b o tto m f re e z e r, a n d to p f re e z e r. D e te r m i n i n g w h i ch s t y l e i s r i g ht fo r y o u l a rg el y d e p e n d s o n w h at y o u w a nt a s y o u r m a i n fo c u s . Fo r ex a mp l e , i f y o u u s e y o u r re f r i g e r ato r m o re o f te n th a n th e f re e z e r, a b o tto m f re e z e r i s a g o o d ch o i ce , a s i t m e a n s th at y o u r re f r i g e r ato r sh el v e s w i l l b e at
“Having a garden is so easy to do. You don’t have to spend much money. You can ask a neighbor for a few seeds at the end of the year and just start growing. Just try it. If you ’ re just learning, that’s OK It’s a process If you haven’t gotten it right you can try again
“Despite everything that is happening in the world, open the window and listen to some bird songs Get outdoors and stay grounded. Taking off your shoes and walk ing on the grass helps you separate from that anxiety and stress and tension that we hear so much about. It lets you realize no matter what else is going on in the world, nature is going on.
“Growing something for yourself, whether it’s a vegetable, something like wildflowers in a container by your front door, is also rewarding. You can grow flow ers or vegetables in containers, wildflowers in a window box, a few seedlings on the windowsill. e benefits of eating some thing that you had a hand in growing is in credibly satisf ying,” he said.
Fall gardeners can grow mums. Winter violas are in season, as are pansies, orna mental kale and cabbages.
Vegetable gardeners can raise collard greens, kale and cabbage all cool weather vegetables and, Pryce Lea said, lettuce can be tended all year
“Even if you have low light, you can ger minate leaf y greens and grow greens under grow lights,” he said.
“e biggest thing is to get outdoors, to take time for yourself and appreciate and observe,” he said, explaining that being a lifelong gardener taught him to be a keen observer.
Adding trees to the garden attracts wildlife, which is also enjoyable to watch and listen to.
“It’s important to take time out to ob serve nature at its best,” Pryce Lea said.
“Take a few minutes for yourself with a coffee and just observe nature.”
Many people go about their day from start to finish without realizing how often they end up in the kitchen. Breakfast, caffeine fixes, cruising through the pantry for snacks, regular pauses at the refrigerator hoping something more interesting will be in there on the second or third stop, meal prep, rins ing a cup, filling the dishwasher… the list goes on. But what might occur to them only with the arrival of that electric bill, and the proverbial mini heart attack, is whether they can find new ways to save energy in your home.
Appliances account for about 13 percent of a home’s overall energy use, and four of the top 10 culprits that consume the most elec tricity are found in the kitchen Refrigerators, oven/stove combos, dishwashers and mi crowaves not only draw large quantities of energy but can also increase the usage of air conditioning by heating up and making a home warmer.
Given that these are appliances that people need and use on a regular basis some 24/7/365 it can present quite a challenge in lowering usage. But that’s not as daunting as it may seem. Here’s a list of recommended tips and tricks to help make the most used room in the home more energy efficient and, hopefully, lower that dreaded electric bill.
• Don’t place this appliance near the stove or boiler if you can help it. e heat produced by these items forces the refriger ator to work harder to maintain its interior temperature
• Clean the coils at least once a year, and be sure to sweep under the refrigerator while you ’ re at it, to maintain airflow
• Keep the doors closed as much as pos sible
• Set the refrigerator/freezer to the man ufacturer’s recommended temperatures.
• Don’t allow frost to build up more than a quarter-inch, as it decreases the unit’s efficiency.
• Use appropriately sized pots and pans and cover them when cooking.
• Keep stove tops/burners clean.
• Use toaster or convection ovens for smaller meals these draw about a third of the energy that a standard full size oven uses.
• Don’t preheat the oven unless the dish
requires it to fully cook.
• Consider investing in a unit with an in duction cooktop for significant drops in en ergy use
• Only run the dishwasher when it’s full
• Pre rinse heavily soiled dishes to avoid running a second wash cycle.
• Hand dry clean dishes heated dry settings use a lot of energy.
• Run the dishwasher at the coolest times of the day/night.
• Keep the inside surface clean to maxi mize heat reflection.
• A microwave uses more energy run ning its digital clock than it does heating food, thanks to standing idle most of the day If you ’ re able to, unplug it when it’s not in use
• Inverter microwaves use lower power and can thaw/cook food faster and more evenly than non inverter models.
they
plugged in.
Boiling water in an electric kettle is both faster and uses less energy
Review lighting sources in the kitchen
to LED bulbs can make a bigger impact than you think Turn lights off when you aren’t in the room
e y e l e v el ( 5 ) Fe atu re s A f te r th e b a s i c s , s u ch a s c ap a c i t y a n d f i n i sh , co m e s th e f u n s tu f f ext r a fe atu re s Th e s e ext r a fe atu re s c a n re a l l y s e t o n e ap p l i a n ce ap a r t f ro m a n o th e r. To g e t a n i d e a o f w h at ’ s av a i l ab l e to d ay, co n s i d e r th e S h a r p S J G 2 2 5 4 F S , a Fre n ch fo u r d o o r co u nte r- d e p th re f r i g e r ato r. A g re at b e t fo r th o s e w h o e nte r t a i n o r h av e g ro w i n g f a m i l i e s a n d ch a n g i n g n e e d s , i t fe a tu re s a t r i p l e co o l i n g s y s te m th at a l l o w s y o u to i n d e p e n d e ntl y co nt ro l th e re f r i g e r ato r, d r aw e r s , a n d i ce m a ke r fo r g re ate r f l ex i b i l i t y.
A mu l t i p u r p o s e f l ex d r aw e r w i th fo u r i n d e p e n d e ntl y co nt ro l l e d te mp e r atu re s e tt i n g s m e a n s y o u c a n o p t i m i z e th e s to r a g e o f m e at s ( 3 0 d e g re e s F ) o r u s e i t a s a b e v e r a g e co o l e r ( 3 4 d e g re e s F ) . Th e f l ex d r aw e r c a n a l s o b e o p t i m i z e d fo r d el i i te m s a n d s n a ck s ( 3 7 d e g re e s F ) o r co nv e r te d to a w i n e ch i l l e r ( 4 1 d e g re e s F )
To l e a r n m o re ab o u t th e l ate s t f r i d g e fe atu re s a n d g e t m o re ap p l i a n ce sh o p p i n g t i p s a n d i n s i g ht s , v i s i t sh o p sh a r p u s a co m L o o k i n g fo r a n e w f r i d g e , o
e first thing many people do in consid ering a home improvement is to either check with neighbors or ask reputable hard ware store owners or installation dealers they have come to trust for advice.
Beth Blake, project manager at Green Street Solar in Selbyville, a division of East Coast Shutters & Awnings, said that 60 per cent of the solar installation company ’ s busi ness comes from customer referrals. e solar home improvement company has completed 147 orders from area homes this year and is on track to again install 200 homes with solar energy photovoltaic pan els
“We start with a computer aided design [CAD] drawing and then offer the home owner a satellite view of what their property will look like with the panels installed,” said Blake. “We are creating racking systems” Greenstreet cuts their own frames “and installing every day.”
Delaware has special programs for solar installation and geothermal cooling or heat ing that make those options simple and more affordable. A Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) auction will take place in October through the state. at is when bids are provided by homeowners to have their solar energy production recognized. Greenstreet handles the application process for its customers.
“You will get more credits if you have a southern exposure on the home,” said Blake. “In order to qualif y for an additional grant from Delmarva Power, you must install on the south side We help guide homeowners through the state and the power company process for rebates
“We do everything from designing to in stalling and from start to finish,” said Blake, who has been with Green Street, a 15 year old solar installation business, for three years. “At the end, we have the SREC Auc tion in October, and that allows our home owners to bid for credits, which we do for them. e customer sets up a portal and must insert their meter readings.”
Yes, there is an app for that, and many solar customers spend time watching their solar investment savings and return of power to the smart electricity grid.
“People can see the energy they are pro ducing every day,” said Blake.
Green Street is already booked with solar
new wrinkle is that homeowners as
are no longer able to dictate the
of solar panels on the rooftop In the past, HOAs often tried to regulate or not permit solar on the front of homes How
if a home has a southern exposure, families were missing out on multiple tax credits and power firm rebates.
laws have recently changed on panel placements, and you have to keep up with them,” noted Blake.
Cindy Ireland and her partner, Mark Munsterman, are homeowners in Millville who also own a Tesla electric vehicle (EV ) and a 220 volt rapid charging station for the car. ey are happy to be able to produce electricity for their own vehicle.
“We just love it,” said Ireland as she shared her application for solar power mon itoring. “We power our EV, using a rapid charging station. Our original goal was to try to get off the grid completely, but that would require a $15,000 investment in a bat tery for storage
paid about $16,000
stallation using Green Street,” she said. “I have the app, which shows me how much energy we generate and the amount it is worth on the energy market. We have ob tained about $1,500 in credits already, which are available today, and can sell them back to the grid So, the system is ultimately going to pay for itself ”
Ireland added that the State of Delaware and DNREC will do a complete home en ergy audit. e homes in her neighborhood of Bishop’s Landing are already energy effi cient and Energy Star rated.
“Delaware rates you well with newer home construction. All they found with us was some air leakage near an exhaust pipe. ey went through our attic, crawl space, garage and windows to check for efficien cies. So, we simply added insulation to the air exhaust, and now we are rated as 100 percent efficient.”
Gary and Peggy Manion live nearby and were early adopters of solar. He said that the SREC program is relatively easy to navigate.
“I get a certificate showing the available energy I have going back to the grid,” said Manion. “Right now, we are running at
$41.35 per month for credits, and that will equate to $600 for this year at the same solar rate ”
“We used Green Street, as did our neigh bors, and there is a referral program, ” added Manion “Our installation process was very simple and only took about four hours For some dealers, it can take a few days You re ally need to have a plan before you start and have the framing custom cut for the solar panels so it’s like a puzzle.”
Manion also drives a Tesla.
Delmarva Power has different allowances for energy efficiency rebates than the elec trical co op in the area, so Manion says homeowners need to check their local serv ice provider.
“It is a good thing for the environment and to create energy at the same time.”
Steve and Leah Lamberty, who live in the same neighborhood, used a different provider, called Orbit Energy & Power, based in Mantua, N.J. ey are a national dealer for solar panels and installations.
“Delaware encourages residents to go solar by offering financial rewards and in centives to homeowners who make the switch,” according to Orbit “In addition to the rewards offered by the state, the federal
government offers a 26 percent tax credit off the total system cost.”
“We have 49 panels installed on three sides of our rooftop,” said Steve Lamberty, a military veteran, and handyman and local carpenter “I wanted to produce more en ergy than I am using We have a home office for my wife, we have gamers, and we are creating a pretty big footprint.”
“I have 34 panels on the front of my home, facing east, along with 15 panels on the back of my home, facing west, so we are getting energy from the sun at sunrise and sunset. I also installed six panels on the south side of the home to get the additional energy company credits.”
“For tax rebates, you must have a south ern panel, so that provides us power from within the azimuth of proper orientation,” said Lamberty of the compass points.
“Orbit made the process easy for us, ” said Lamberty who, as a construction worker, al ready understood the CAD designs and the space for panels. He also noted that, with Tesla power packs and energy storage, homeowners who experience a power loss can run their homes from battery energy
Gardening for Wildlife Tour
Sea Witch
Activities
with Stephen Pryce Lea. A tour of Piet Oudolf Meadow discussing garden maintenance.
October 1, 2, 15 & 16 $10 per person plus admission
the Woodlands with Elizabeth Rives. Learn tree identification in a holistic way and shares with you the fascinating ecology of the woodlands.
13 $10 per person plus admission
Enjoy the return of our stunning 9ft Sea Witch and Scarecrows in conjunction with Rehoboth Sea Witch
weekend
29-31
Celebrate the noble Holly, Delaware State Tree, learn about the history of Holly in Delaware.
November 10, 11am $10 per person plus admission
Energize Delaware is a statewide non profit that helps homeowners with energy efficiency and offers audits (energizedelaware org) It provides Energy Star home energy assess ments and usage audits
“Our mission is to educate the community, bring down barriers and create home energy audits or workshops to increase energy effi ciency,” said Shweta Arya, executive director of Delaware Interfaith Power & Light (Del IPL). She said that DNREC has just released a free solar installation program for lower-income households. ere is already a waiting list.
Qualified homeowners will receive a solar installation that is 70 percent paid for by the LMI Solar Program, and those units produce up to 6 kilowatts of power. ose with slightly higher incomes can get larger systems with a lower discount. Families can visit DE.gov/lmi to learn more about these programs.
“DNREC’s Green Energy Program has helped thousands of Delawareans make the switch to solar power, but installation costs continue to be an obstacle for many low and moderate income households,” said DNREC
Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “is pilot pro gram removes that barrier and makes clean energy a viable option for more families ”
Experience acquired from this two year pilot program will be used to develop a statewide solar program that will provide services to low to moderate income homes, regardless of electric utility service territory
e Help Initiative of Delaware is also available to support energy audits, assess homeowner needs and provide weatheriza tion. Charles Kessler is the CEO of Help Initiative.
“e goodwill built by Lights ON Delaware Strong has opened doors to more community programs, ” according to representatives of the initiative. “From home energy counseling and checkups to heating and weatherization serv ices to identif ying housing related health is sues and preparing young adults for green industry jobs,” the Help Initiative is there to help.
“Most people really learn about these pro grams by word of mouth,” said Del IPL’s Arya. “Solarize programs usually work best in bulk, or by a group means of getting more panels up on homes You need to have a well vetted installer”
“We are stressing electrification for all sys
tems,” said Arya. “If you are replacing old sys tems, homeowners should use high energy ef ficiency units, heat pumps, because this type of installation stays in your home and in our community for decades ”
“It’s really about a lifecycle and how we in vest in our future energy needs,” she said “For cars, we must go with EVs and with charging stations. Electrification is a longer term in vestment, and you can plug in wherever you can. ”
Geothermal systems are also available for homeowners, and the investment cost for heating, ventilation or cooling (or HVAC) is $10,000 to $20,000. Delaware Geothermal of fers programs, and mini grants are also avail able for those capital investments.
Capstone Homes provides geothermal sys tems for new home construction in the area. e green construction programs also qualif y for federal funds, and geothermal tax credits of up to 30 percent of the cost of installation may be possible.
“Homeowners can really lead the way to a carbon free future,” said Arya. “So, as individ uals, we can all do our parts. Energy genera tion in your own home gives power back to the grid and will lower our carbon energy footprint ”
Between the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sky high oil and gas prices, a signifi cant pellet fuel supply shortage is likely this winter season. Industry experts say you should plan ahead and secure your fuel now for the cold winter months. e good news is that, currently, there is plenty of supply to stock up.
As Tim Portz, executive director of the Pellet Fuels Institute, explained that Russia is the second largest producer of wood pel lets globally, supplying more than 2 million tons to global markets in 2020 But sanc tions and restrictions due to the invasion of Ukraine have required U S pellet produc ers to fill the gap
What’s more, the sticker shock Ameri cans may experience this winter when re viewing their energy bills will likely have many switching to pellet heating in search of a better deal, and those with multiple heating options may start opting for pellets, putting extra demand on potentially short supplies.
“Wood pellet demand fluctuates year to year; however, with heating oil, natural gas, electric and propane prices at near historic highs, we could see record sales of pellets in 2022 2023,” said Portz. “Consumers will need to be savvy. To ensure their annual supply is secured, they should stock up now. ”
Wood pellets are used as primary or sec ondary space heating in more than 1 mil lion homes nationwide Pellets are a renewable, clean burning fuel made from the waste streams generated by the manu facturers of products such as dimensional lumber, hardwood flooring, wood pallets and cabinetry Although supplies are strong right now, pellet producers are highlighting the importance of keeping inventory mov ing through the system.
With the capacity to produce more than 1 million tons of wood pellets each year, Please turn to page 53
Lignetics Group, the largest residential wood pellet manufacturing company in the United States, noted that taking advantage of the surplus while it lasts will allow pro ducers to run at full throttle and build in ventory before usage begins to outpace production in the depths of winter
Because pellets are competitively priced nationwide, consumers who opt for this method of heating will save hundreds of dollars over the course of a winter season compared to heating oil or propane, and thousands of dollars compared to electric heat.
“Many have already turned to wood pel let heating and many more are expected to do so amid the current energy crisis,” said Brett Jordan, CEO of Lignetics Group. “However, these consumers will need to take their wise choice a step further by being prepared. Fueling up now on your normal pellet supply will mean being able to take advantage of this sustainable and cost efficient option all winter.”
