Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By Debbie James

High quality big bale silage is helping a Pembrokeshire grassland farmer maximise returns from his heifer rearing contract by achieving winter growth rates on forage only.

Keith Williams reseeds all fields approximately every eight years and that, together with cutting grass when it is young, are key to producing silage that can supply all the energy and protein requirements of growing animals.

It is not rocket science, you have to plant good quality seed, you must be prepared to cut grass young and it must have a high D (digestibility) value I dont want to cut old grass that has been there for donkey's years, says Mr Williams, who farms at Haverhill Farm, Spittal, with his wife, Helen.

The couple sold their milking herd nine years ago and now rear pedigree Holstein heifer replacements for a local dairy farmer.

They sell two crops of standing silage to a neighbour and make around 950 big bales of silage a year as winter fodder for the 160 heifers which range in age from 12-23 months.

Barley is grown on contract annually to provide an opportunity for reseeding with intermediate and late heading ryegrasses with a high D value.

These varieties will wait for you for a while, but if you have grasses that head too early you are in trouble, especially when the weather is changeable, says Mr Williams.

As an experiment, a short-term ley was planted in 2018. We decided late in the year to reseed and I dont like direct re-seeding so we used a short-term seed mix, Keith explains.

That ley is performing well but to capture the quality it must be cut every four to five weeks.

Prior to first cut, 112kgs/ha of nitrogen and slurry is applied. This is followed immediately after harvesting with 90kgs/ha of N via an after-cut fertiliser product.

For the third cut, 75kg N, 25kg phosphate and 56kg potash are applied the third cut provides the bulk of the winter feed, says Mr Williams.

The first cut of big bales in 2020 was taken on April 20 cutting dates depend on the year, he doesnt have a set calendar date.

I dont look at the calendar, I look at the grass, the weather forecast and the rotation do I need to take a field out to have it fit to graze by a certain date.

Mr Williams has used the same contractor, Geoff Thomas, for 30 years.

Mowing is done at midday with a mower conditioner, when the grass sugars are at their highest, followed quickly by tedding.

The number of times a crop is tedded depends on the weather if it is warm and sunny it will only be done once but if there is more moisture it will be spread a second time.

The grass isnt chopped before it is formed into bales because cutting it unchopped has never caused a problem with fermentation and conservation.

The crop is baled within 48 hours with a Fusion baler, with six layers of wrap.

Although it costs more than wrapping with the standard four layers, Mr Williams says it results in less waste and he doesnt use an additive so this offsets the cost.

Bales are stacked on their side, because his bale handler is designed for that rather than a preference over upright stacking; the bales are stacked within hours of baling.

All bales are marked to identify which field they have been harvested from.

It gives you some interest in the winter, to see how the silage feeds out according to the conditions it was harvested in and the ley it was grown from, says Mr Williams.

Producing good quality silage results from good farming practice, including controlling moles and liming.

Mr Williams approach to growing good quality leys coupled with attention to detail at harvesting produced the winning entry in the 2020 All Wales Big Bale Silage competition, 30 years after he won the equivalent award for clamp silage.

His winning entry analysed at 33.3 per cent dry matter (DM), a D-value of 69 per cent, ME of 11 MJ/kg DM, and 16.9 per cent crude protein.

He says he has learned a great deal through his membership of the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies (FWGS).

I have always used the same principles for making good silage and have learned all of those things through being a member of the North Pembrokeshire Grassland Society.

Continued here:
Revealed the secrets of super silage at west Wales farm - Wales Farmer

One year ago, Tamika Caston-Miller was on a trip to the Andes, when she started seriously reevaluating her life in Houston.

Why do people need to get away? Why do people travel? she wondered.

For Caston-Miller, it was all about finding an escape into nature. She asked herself: Is this something I could create in Houston?

She also thought about the lifestyle of the city, the hustle and bustle and how so many Houstonians are separated from nature, often without community or even knowing their neighbors.

Were not meant to be alone, she said.

Then, Caston-Miller began imagining a solution. She dreamed of a garden space, where adults could dig into the dirt and watch plants grow; where school children could go on field trips and learn about nature firsthand.

As founder of Houstons Ash Yoga, Caston-Miller also imagined restorative yoga near the garden. Since her wife Lenie Caston-Miller is a sculptor, there would also be a place for art.

It would be a whole space for a healthy community, Caston-Miller said.

She and Lenie were still in Peru when they began hunting for a property where this vision could take root.

At the time, they lived a couple miles north of downtown. Lets put our house on the market and see whats out there, Caston-Miller thought. We need a place where we can live and create this space.

The couple mapped it out and decided they needed at least 2 acres.

If we find a property that matches what were looking for, then well take it as a sign that we should move forward, thought Caston-Miller, who has worked as a school teacher and a yoga instructor for about a decade. She started her own yoga practice a year ago.

Even though she felt a pull to do more in her yoga business, leaving the security of a day job behind was daunting. But, after the trip to the Andes, Caston-Miller took a leap of faith.

When the school year ended, her new life as a solopreneur began.

First, Caston-Miller had to find the space inside the Beltway. After a few failed attempts, she discovered an ideal location, just south of Sunnyside, 10 minutes from the University of Houston.

On RenewHouston.com: How yoga helped me build my inner strength during the pandemic

It was exactly what we were looking for, and I was so surprised, she said. I didnt think there was something like this in the city.

Caston-Miller closed on the property last January - and named it The Ranch Houston.

Its old ranch land, she explained. Everyone has horses. There was livestock on the property. At its core, it looked like a ranch.

The couple planned to renovate the home into a livable space and urban homestead, but then COVID-19 hit two weeks after they began remodeling.

We shifted from what we couldnt do to what is possible right now, Caston-Miller said. And what was possible was seeding the garden, tilling the land.

Another possibility was teaching yoga outside. So she began extending invitations for private lessons. By June, she started offering yoga classes. First, the sessions were on the front lawn. Then, she built a 1,000-square-foot covered pavilion.

Caston-Miller found that students were grateful to have this option. For some people, returning to a yoga studio wasnt appealing.But what was comfortable was practicing outdoors, socially distanced, Caston-Miller said.

Since The Ranch Houston was built during the coronavirus, putting safety protocols in place was part of the blueprint.

Because of COVID-19, we had to slow down and think everything through, Caston-Miller said. We had to consider all the risks. Everything had to be intentionally done.

She believes that attention to detail will pave the way to success in the long-run. This isnt the only time that disease is going to happen; we can build safety into our design, she said.

The pandemic also reinforced what Caston-Miller realized in the Andes - the need for health and wellness, the importance of de-stressing and being outdoors.

I want people to see this as a home not just for yoga but for complete wellness, Caston-Miller said.

Clients can wander through the garden, watch a plant they started as a seed grow, before settling into a yoga class on the lawn.

Caston-Miller said being close to nature is therapeutic especially in the midst of an uncertain time and increased anxiety.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Can yoga fix a community wrecked by persistent flooding? Wharton aims to find out.

No matter how difficult life is, growth is still happening, she said. Life is still happening. We just lean in and shift with life.

Caston-Millers yoga community was made-up of Heights and Uptown residents before COVID-19. Now, they trek a little further south to The Ranch.

Its right inside the Beltway, but when you get there its like, am I in Houston? Its acres of land, said Heights resident Crystal Sellers, who was one of the first to visit the property. Its been really great to have this experience.

Sellers has been practicing yoga with Caston-Miller for years and was drawn to the instructor for her approach, which was more focused on the philosophy of the practice.

When Caston-Miller moved online during the lockdown, Sellers enrolled. Still, she missed being in community. So when Caston-Miller mentioned The Ranch, Sellers jumped at the option.

It literally provided me with a moment of escape, Sellers said. You drive 20 minutes, and it feels like youre in a different world. Its amazing.

She remembers, on that first trip, kicking off her shoes and running into the grass. It was so grounding, she said. The Ranch just offers this comfortable repose.

Caston-Miller has also been a source of solace, Sellers added.

Its a combination of who she is, how welcoming and caring she is, being able to connect with her, be outside and continue this practice, Sellers said. The icing on the whole experience is Tamika and her wife, how theyve chosen to show up for everyone who shows up here.

As the weather gets cooler, she plans to continue classes outside, only with heaters. She continues to offer courses online, too. Eventually, Caston-Miller plans to host retreats at The Ranch, as well as events, like yoga and arts festivals, workshops and teacher training.

Already, she has offered virtual field trips for children and hopes that after the pandemic, students can come in person to learn about sustainability, gardening and nutrition.

Looking back at the past year Caston-Miller reflects on her original vision, the strides she has made and how now she is offering an oasis in the midst of the pandemic.

I think I did a pretty good job, she said with a laugh. You dont need to catch a flight to get away from it all. Just come on over.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.

Read more from the original source:
Lean in and shift with life.How an urban ranch combines yoga and plant cultivation to heal Houstonians - Houston Chronicle

On the parishs edge, adjoining Viverdon Down and overlooked by Kit Hill, a 10-acre enclosure of wet ground is reverting to a wilder state, steered by new owners. The 1840 tithe map shows six small plots here, all called moor, although two of the three tiny fields then used for crops were named as Brick Moor perhaps a reference to the rich brown earth or the clayey subsoil. A concrete culvert, draining water from the nearby main road, has damaged much older field drains lined with slabs of indigenous chert; use of heavy machinery for silage making has also caused collapses, so the land is prone to seasonal waterlogging and surface runoff.

Just after last Christmas, swathes of saplings were planted, staked and guarded against browsing deer and rabbits. Rutted ways from adjoining arable fields have been blocked off, and previously flailed bushy growth on hedgebanks will now be left to thicken up to provide some shelter from wind and occasional spray drift. Gnarled thorns, ash, holly and oak line the stream on the eastern side; the lowest, rough and boggy ground, difficult to access, is overhung by sturdy branches of willow, and brambles creep out, fostering regenerating scrub.

Central to the whole enclave, a mature, lopsided oak leans away from prevailing westerlies; it used to shade the dairy herd when it was turned out for summer grazing. This autumn, red admiral butterflies and hornets bask in late warmth on the sunny side of the furrowed trunk; a barn owl hunts regularly across surrounding tussocky grass and has prospected the new owl box. Seeding knapweed, plantain, dock, rush and thistle attract charms of foraging goldfinches. Recently dug ponds now retain spring water and slow runoff, and, as soon as the largest filled, it became a focus for gathering swallows; mallards and a heron have already dabbled and waded in the open water.

A new, rudimentary shelter has been named Larkrise Halt in the hope that skylarks will come here; it also reminds that this land had been on the proposed route of the Callington light railway towards Saltash. That venture was abandoned; if it had gone ahead, the area might have been built over by now and become a suburb for commuters travelling towards Plymouth.

Here is the original post:
Country diary: a waterlogged world reverting to the wild - The Guardian

The Section 1 field hockey playoffs start Monday.

There are always playoff upsets.

But this season, maybe the biggest upset is that Section 1 has made it this far -- or at least most of Section 1 has.

Lakeland field hockey players jump onto goalie Celeste Pagliaroli after the final buzzer in Lakeland's 2-1 victory over Greeley at Lakeland High School Nov. 5, 2020. (Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

In a switch from past practicein which the Section 1 field hockey championships were really full-fledged championships in classes A, B and C, every team, regardless of record, has qualified to play for these regionalized titles.

Qualified doesn't mean will play, however.

The exception are those teamsfrom schools that haveshut down all or parts of their sport programs due to COVID cases/potential exposure.

That means for the field hockey playoffs, no Brewster, no Rye, no Ursuline and no Harrison. The list, unfortunately, could expand before the scheduled finals (Dutchess and large southern Westchester schools on Wednesday and everyone else on Friday).

And Section 1 officials are also aware Albany could cancelall interscholastic sports at any time, given the surge in statewide COVID rates.

But, for now, the games are on.

Below is a listing of today's games with some brief notes about the brackets.

Note: As of this early Monday morning posting, Section 1had not assigned times to the games. Also, its fan policy will continue through playoffs: No visiting fans allowed and two fans allowed per each home player.

If any region has reason to grouse about these playoffs it's Dutchess. Yes, it's great that anyone is playing this fall, no less this late in the season. But it would have been nice if it these four teams could have been included in with Northern Westchester/Putnam, since Dutchess squads played those teams during the regular season.

As it is, the final will likely be No. 1 Ketcham vs. No. 2 John Jay-East Fishkill.John Jay-EF won their first of two regular-season encounters 2-1. Recently, Ketcham won 3-1. Translation: Flip a coin.

Monday's games

No. 4 Lourdes at No. 1 Ketcham: Lourdes hasn't won a game. This won't change Monday. Ketcham should romp.

No. 3 Arlington at No. 2 John Jay-East Fishkill: Arlington has a shot but JJ-EF should win this.

Large division

Greeley's Grace Arrese (4) during game against Lakeland in field hockey action at Lakeland High School Nov. 5, 2020.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Greeley at 10-1 (its lone loss coming 2-1 toLakeland in a game it at times dominated) is the odds on favorite here, although JJ-CR should give it a decent game.The absolute shame of this season is there was no Greeley-Mamaroneck game. Greeley is currently No. 3 in the rankings and Mamaroneck No. 1. In normal times, these teams would no doubt have met for the Section 1 Class A championship. Monday, Greeley has a bye. All other teams in this division are in action.

Monday's games

No. 5 Somers at No. 4 Mahopac: Could be the game of the day. Somers had a tougher schedule. If it wins, it won't be much of an upset. But Mahopac is enjoying a big resurgence in its field hockey program and won't want to see the season end this soon and on home turf. Making Somers a slight favorite.

No. 6 Fox Lane at No. 3 Carmel: All Carmel here. The Rams are toofast andtoo skilled for the reguilding Foxes.

No. 7 Yorktown at No. 2 John Jay-Cross River: The Wolves aretoo deep for Yorktown. JJ-CR, one of the section's better teams, will win and it could be a blowout.

Small schools

Lakeland's Keirra Ettere (7) during game against Greeley in field hockey action at Lakeland High School Nov. 5, 2020.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Speaking of grousing, North Salem would have been the favorite this year to win the Section 1 Class C crown and, in all likelihood, go to the state championships.

Now, it's lumped into a division for these makeshift playoffs with Class B Lakeland, a team that just won its 24th consecutive league title, only recently saw its more than 200-game unbeaten streak in Section 1 play snapped by Mamaroneck and has won 10 state titles in the last 11 years.

Forget that Lakeland, which has a quarterfinal bye Monday,isn't quite as good as some of those (or maybe all of those) state championship squads it had. This is still a superb field hockey team that can beat anyone on any day.

So, this is the Hornets' division to lose and don't bankon that happening.

Monday's games

No. 5 Panas at No. 4 Hen Hud: Panas beat Hen Hud by one last month. But Hen Hud has played well lately. Figure Hen Hud in a tight one.

No. 6 Putnam Valley at No. 3 Croton: Seedings are meaningless here. Yes, Croton beat Put Valley during the regular-season. In fact, that was just Friday. But Putnam Valley outshot Croton, despite Croton getting the 1-0 win. Croton is a favorite here but a very slight one. This is one of those games that could go to OT.

No. 7 Byram Hills at No. 2 North Salem: All Tigers on this one. Very good team that is especially impressive, since it's one of the few that practices and plays at home on grass and then somehow still wins on artificial turf.

Large division

With COVID taking programs out of the playoffs, this division has only four schools. There's a lot of talent here. But Mamaroneck should own this title. No teamfrom Section 1 had defeated Lakeland in 12 years until the Tigers did so earlier this month. As noted above, it's a shame it didn't get to play Greeley, the team that beat it by a goal for the Section 1 title last year after years of trying. Mamaroneck wanted redemption. COVID prevented its shot at that. But unless COVID shuts down sports beforeWednesday evening, figure the Tigers willwin with this consolation prize.

Monday's games

No. 4 White Plains at No. 1 Mamaroneck: Yes, White Plains is very good. It's having its best season in recent memory and defeatedboth Bronxville and Scarsdale. It also lost just 2-0 to Mamaronecklast week, despite White Plains' leading scorer, Alexa Donahoe, sitting that game out with injury. That was a huge turnaround from its opening-day 10-0 loss to Mamaroneck. Could White Plains win this game? Despite its seeding, it probably would have the best shot of any team in this division of beating Mamaroneck. But figure Mamaroneck will double-team Donahoe and White Plains' other star, Julia Hricay, just as it did in their first match-up. Deny them the ball and you pretty much deny White Plainsthe game. Simply, as good as White Plains is -- and it does have good talent beyond its two stars--it doesn't have Mamaroneck's depth. Mamaroneck is strong at every position and it has something no team in Section 1 has: Samantha Maresca in net. She has recorded 49 shutouts over her careerfor Mamaroneck and will play for Division I Sacred Heart next year. To beat Mamaroneck, you have to beat Maresca. That's asking a lot -- probably the impossible. Mamaroneck is ranked No. 1 overall. Figure that won't change this season.

No. 3 Scarsdale at No. 2 Pelham: This is a very tough one to call. Scarsdale had a rough season with COVID putting it on ice early for a prolonged period. When it returned, it lost to teams it didn't normally lose to. But it also showed flashes of its old self. It recently rebounded with a one-goal win over White Plains after losing to the Tigers by a goal earlier. Pelham isone spot above the Raiders in the overall Journal News/lohud rankings and recently destroyed small-school top seed Rye Neck 9-1. It has been solid throughout the season. But we're going with a small upset here: Scarsdale

Small schools

Bronxville, last year's state Class C champion, did a nosedive at the end of the season. Once a top-five team overall, it's now not ranked at all in The Journal News/lohud Section 1 top 10.

The Broncos havethe second spot in this division behindRye Neck. Both teams have byes on Monday and won't play until Wednesday's semifinals.

But forget Section 1's seedings here. And forget the Broncos' skid. Anything less than Bronxville winning this division will be an upset. It fell just 1-0 to No. 5-ranked Rye last week. Yes, it has had trouble scoring and, of late, winning. But the Broncos are still tops in this grouping.

Monday's games

No. 5 Pleasantville at No. 4 Hastings: These teams didn't play this season. Both did play No. 2 Putnam/Northern Westchester-seed North Salem, however, Pleasantville falling 2-0 and Hastings falling 4-0. Give Pleasantville a slight edge here in this quarterfinal match.

No. 6 Valhalla at No. 3 Irvington: Once a doormat, Irvington is moving northward at a pretty quick pace. It's 4-5-3 this season and is probably better than its record. It should beat the Vikings but will have a tough time getting past Bronxville in the semis.

Everyone is one in Rockland. No big and small divisions. This championship will be a true Rockland County championship, which, in a way, is pretty cool.

This division isn't as black and white as others.

The top seed is Clarkstown South at 8-1-1 and should win it all. But the emphasis is on should. Pearl River tied the Vikings 3-3 Nov. 9. And second-seeded Suffern split a two-game series with South during the regular season.

How close these teams are is also clear from No. 3-seed Pearl edging No. 2-seed Suffern by a goal during the regular season.

Chances are good several of the Rockland games, beginning with Monday's quarterfinals, will be decided by a single goal.

Monday's games

No. 8 Albertus Magnus at No. 1 Clarkstown South: Vikings all the way on this one.

No. 5 Nanuet at No. 4 Clarkstown North: Want to talk close? These teams tied 2-2 last month. Going with North here but a Nanuet win would not be a shocker.

No. 6 North Rockland at No. 3 Pearl River: North Rockland has had a down year but fell by only a goal to Pearl River Saturday. Still, Pearl is the better team and should win this one.

No. 7 Nyack at No. 2 Suffern: Down year for Nyack, solid for Suffern. Mounties should be the easy winner here.

PLAYOFFS ARE HERE: Field hockey: Here are the seedings for the Section 1 tournament

REMARKABLE RUN ENDS: Field hockey: Mamaroneck ends Lakeland's historic 12-year Section 1 unbeaten streak

HORNETS SURVIVE: Field hockey: Lakeland scores early and hangs on to extend 12-year Section 1 unbeaten streak

Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track &field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at both @HaggertyNancy and at @LoHudHockey.

The rest is here:
Field hockey: Predicting the Section 1 playoffs - The Journal News

The vessel will be used to transfer different types of solid waste from Dalma Island in Al Dhafra Region to Ruwais landfill on a regular basis.

The first marine waste vessel in Abu Dhabi with the capacity to transfer 200 tonnes of trash per week has been launched in Al Dhafra region.

The Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) introduced it as part of its continued efforts to enhance the collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste.

The vessel will be used to transfer different types of solid waste from Dalma Island in Al Dhafra Region to Ruwais landfill on a regular basis.

The first-of-its-kind facility in the emirate of Abu Dhabi articulates Tadweers continued efforts to protect the environment and ensure the public health and safety in line with the highest international standards.

Compared to traditional methods, the vessel can accommodate large-sized waste containers, doubling the centres capacity to transfer huge amounts of waste from different areas of the island.

The 79-tonne vessel is approximately 26 meters long, and is operated under the supervision of a permanent crew comprising six members, including two captains, a mechanic, an electrician and two assistants.

The vessel will operate six times a week, carrying a total 200 tonnes of waste in a highly professional and environment-friendly manner.

Dr Salem Al Kaabi, director-general of Tadweer, said: The opening of our first marine waste vessel comes as part of Tadweers continued efforts to develop an integrated waste management system to address the challenges posed by the increasing amounts of waste. Such efforts contribute to achieving Abu Dhabi governments objective of promoting environment sustainability and minimising the adverse effects of pollution on the environment.

We launched this facility to provide the highest standards of waste management services in Dalma Island and to ensure its aesthetic appeal as a destination that boasts many tourist attractions and natural treasures.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

Original post:
Marine vessel to carry 200 tonnes of trash every week in Abu Dhabi - Khaleej Times

The Loudoun County Health Department is tracking at least three outbreaks of COVID-19 resulting from Halloween parties put on by kids, said Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend.

Goodfriend told county supervisors on Nov. 17 that those were among a number of outbreaks in Loudoun over the past several weeks that were preventable.

COVID-19 cases in Loudoun continue to climb, with the Health Department reporting the latest seven-day rolling average of new cases as 65.7 new cases a day as of Nov. 18. While cases are climbing, they have not reached the peak of new infections Loudoun saw at the end of May, when there were more than 100 new cases a day.

That puts Loudoun in a better place than the state at large, which has already far exceeded the first surge of COVID-19 cases and is setting new records for the viruss spread, with an average of 1,761 new cases a day across Virginia.

Loudoun so far is also more fortunate than some other areas of the country; in some areas, some hospitals are already nearing capacity. That has meant hospitals in the DC region are absorbing patients from other areas; HCA StoneSprings Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Amy Paratore said that hospital has been getting patients transferred in from southwest Virginia, Spotsylvania, and West Virginia.

So far Loudouns healthcare systems are not yet stressed, Goodfriend said, but he warned winter weatherand its accompanying surge in respiratory diseases of all typesis not yet here.

Right now, were a relief valve for some of the other areas that dont have capacity, Goodfriend said. As opposed to what was going on earlier in the year, this is a national problem right now, so as we get over overwhelmed, there really arent many places to offload cases to out of the National Capital Region.

He said the best thing to do now is try to keep COVID cases as low as possible, away from people who are most likely to be hospitalized with it.

As opposed to April, May and June, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Goodfriend said. Thats vaccination. But theres going to be unfortunately, significant darkness before we get to that light, and we really need everyone to participate in these next couple months.

But one bright spot, Goodfriend said: Currently health officials are not aware of anyone who contracted COVID-19 by voting in November. He commended Loudouns elections officers, who worked together with his office to make the election as safe and smooth as possible.

This is the time when folks really need to take those steps, as was mentioned by the hospitals, of keeping your distance, wearing your mask, and if youre at all feeling sick, stay home and get a test, Goodfriend said. []Lets learn from Halloween. If we dont have to travel at Thanksgiving, lets not, and lets not put on parties.

Related

Read the rest here:
Halloween Parties Caused at Least 3 COVID-19 Outbreaks - Loudoun Now

When news of the coronavirus hit in early February and businesses starting closing their doors in March M.J. Taylor was worried. Today she is busier than ever.

GREENSBORO, N.C. If you own a business you want to be busy. More calls and customers are better than no calls and customers. While many businesses are thrilled to be operating at 50% capacity, some are doing more work than before.

We are very busy. Every single person I talk to in the business is in the same boat, M.J. Taylor said.

The owner of MJ Design Build does everything from a remodeled bathroom or kitchen, to building a new home from the ground up.

Earlier this year, following the start of the pandemic, Taylor was worried her business would take a hit. Several clients put scheduled jobs on hold as many were worried about job security and uncertainty in the future.

I was really worried, I thought, 'what am I going to do', Taylor said.

Any delay in business she had was short-lived as most clients called back a month or two later wanting to reschedule.

Calls started pouring in as more and more people wanted to refurbish or remodel their homes.

I probably get calls three to five times a day, Taylor said.

Many builders are so busy that sub-contractors are being scheduled for up to 10 weeks out because of high demand. Many sub-contractors are also canceling or delaying some jobs if a bigger one comes along.

Carl LaBonge and his wife recently hired MJ Design Build to remodel some bathrooms and a couple of rooms in their home. The couple is now working from home full-time and figured the timing was right.

LaBonge said now with being home it would be a great time to tackle some at-home projects.

As many people are staying home more than ever before, many are looking to turn a spare bedroom into an office. Other people are looking to remodel the kitchen as more people are eating at home rather than dining out.

The other possible explanation for this sudden remodeling boom is that money not spent traveling this summer can be spent toward home improvements.

We were going on an Alaskan cruise in early August, so the fact we arent going to pay $5,000 or $6,000 (for the cruise) helped, LaBonge said.

How long this sudden rush of businesses will last is anyones guess. Taylor is just trying to do as much work now as she can figuring at some point it is bound to slow down.

More:
Home remodeling business booming during the pandemic - WFMYNews2.com

Instead of sending your old kitchen to he landfill, consider recycling it while aiding a good cause. ... [+]

Steve Feldman was a veteran rock and roll disc jockey who, in 1998, left radio to raise money for addict recovery programs. A self-proclaimed recovering addict, Feldman had one important donor in Greenwich, Connecticut who, in 2001, lost $30 million in that years market crash.

Fortunately, opportunity was literally next door, Feldman says.

My donors neighbor was Farah Pahlavi (the Queen of Iran). I saw a sign in the Queens driveway: Demolition in Progress. So, I drove up to her 10,000 sq. ft. Rockefeller Mansion and it was gone. The idea struck me why not earn the money, rather than asking for it, by selling donated kitchens, fixtures and furniture out of demolished mansions.

Thus, Renovation Angel was born. After a four-year successful pilot project, Feldman established Renovation Angel in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2012, the organization expanded nationwide.

Our mission is protecting the Earth, creating new recycling jobs, and helping those in need. In 15 years, we have recycled over 7,000 kitchens, diverted over 40 million pounds from the landfills, created over $25 million in jobs, and distributed $2.3 million to charity.

The concept is simple: owners donate unwanted luxury kitchens and other household goods to Renovation Angel, who provides a Net Value Estimate, which shows estimated tax and removal savings. As part of its service, Renovation Angel provides free white-glove removal, without disposal costs. At project completion, the donor receives documentation outlining their tax deduction from a referred 3rd party independent appraiser, required by the IRS for tax deductions of over $5,000.

Renovation Angel sells the donated goods via its network of customers or in its 43,000 square foot retail outlet in Fairfield, New Jersey. Removal, transportation and resale of these items creates numerous construction, logistics and retail jobs. Proceeds earned from selling recycled luxury creates support for outreach programs in the areas of youth-at-risk, addiction recovery, job creation and social entrepreneurship.

A kitchen donor is often the buyer of a property after a real estate transaction, Feldman explains. Sellers usually donate furniture. They feel great because they kept the kitchen and furniture out of landfills, recycled them, and it was for a good cause. Ours is the most financially savvy and sustainable renovation and remodeling solution available.

An average luxury kitchen donor saves $10,000 to $50,000 on their project. A donor contributing a full house of furnishing saves $100,000 or more.

The wasteful, often unnecessary renovation of kitchens fills landfills with metal, ceramics, wood, glass and other materials that do not easily decompose. But, especially at the upper end, new, of-the-moment kitchens are de rigueur when a home changes hands, when styles change, or when new innovations come to the market. Thus, the 100,000 luxury kitchens annually torn out and sent to the landfill are usually quite functional and can have a second lives in other homes.

We have made being green and sustainable financially advantageous, Feldman says.

Since 2016, Renovation Angel has entered into partnerships with the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Walker

Zanger, a tile and stone manufacturer, and with the German appliance giant, Miele. In June 2020, Miele announced a Recycle & Rebate program with Renovation Angel. Through the program, homeowners who donate their qualified kitchens receive an instant discount on new Miele appliances and significant tax and removal savings.

Our ultimate goal, Feldman says, Is to recycle every one of those 100,000 kitchens, and, in the process, to donate kitchens to families in need.

Its a worthy goal, and Renovation Angel is well on its way to realizing it.

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Recycle Your Kitchen To Make The World A Better Place - Forbes

News

NEW YORK Lineadecor USA LLC, a kitchen furniture brand manufactured in Turkey, is hosting a display on the street level of a newly developed luxury condominium in the West SoHo neighborhood of New York,, the company announced.

The displays location, at 570 Broome St., affords viewing of the companys Luna kitchen from pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and is near Lineadecors permanent showroom, at 900 Broadway in the citys Flatiron District, the company said. Viewings at the display and permanent showroom are by appointment only. Online sales to the architecture, design, and kitchen and bath communities continue to be available.

We are thrilled to be opening this display in West SoHo and connecting with the public in this new and exciting way, said Arzu Ertas, U.S. director of Operations. We are confident that this new public view of our innovative lines in the West SoHo location will attract both the public as well as our longstanding clients in the design, architecture and construction trades.

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Lineadecor Hosting NY Condo Display - Kitchen and Bath Design News

The Kitchen Countertop Services Market By Type, By Application and By Region: Global Indust A fundamental outline of the Kitchen Countertop Services niche is presented by the Kitchen Countertop Services report that entails definitions, classifications, applications together with industry chain framework. The Kitchen Countertop Services report provides a far-reaching evaluation of necessary market dynamics and the latest trends. It also highlights the regional market, the prominent market players, as well as several market segments [Product, Applications, End-Users, and Major Regions], and sub-segments with a wide-ranging consideration of numerous divisions with their applications.

Further, the report acknowledges that in these growing and promptly enhancing market circumstances, the most recent advertising and marketing details are very important to determine the performance in the forecast period and make essential choices for profitability and growth of the Kitchen Countertop Services . In addition, the report encompasses an array of factors that impact the growth of the Kitchen Countertop Services in the forecast period. Further, this specific analysis also determines the impact on the individual segments of the market.

Note In order to provide more accurate market forecast, all our reports will be updated before delivery by considering the impact of COVID-19.

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Furthermore, the study assessed major market elements, covering the cost, capacity utilization rate, growth rate, capacity, production, gross, usage, revenue, export, supply, price, market share, gross margin, import, and demand. In addition, the study offers a thorough segmentation of the global Kitchen Countertop Services on the basis of geography [ Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Middle & East Africa, and Europe] , technology, end-users, applications, and region.

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The Kitchen Countertop Services report is a collection of pragmatic information, quantitative and qualitative estimation by industry experts, the contribution from industry connoisseurs and industry accomplices across the value chain. Furthermore, the report also provides the qualitative results of diverse market factors on its geographies and segments.

The Kitchen Countertop Services report is an appropriate compilation of all necessary data for the residential, industrial. & commercials buyers, manufacturers, governments, and other stakeholders to implement their market-centric tactics in line with the projected as well as the prevailing trends in the Kitchen Countertop Services . Apart from this, the report also provides insightful particulars of the existing policies, laws, together with guidelines.

Breakdown Data by Type

Purposes Behind Buying Kitchen Countertop Services Report:-

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Key questions answered in this comprehensive study Global Kitchen Countertop Services Size, Status and Forecast 2026

Detailed TOC of Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Research Report 2020

1 Kitchen Countertop Services Market Overview

1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Kitchen Countertop Services

1.2 Kitchen Countertop Services Segment by Type

1.2.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Sales Growth Rate Comparison by Type (2020-2026)

1.2.2 Organic Kitchen Countertop Services

1.2.3 Inorganic Kitchen Countertop Services

1.3 Kitchen Countertop Services Segment by Application

1.3.1 Kitchen Countertop Services Sales Comparison by Application: (2020-2026)

1.3.2 Organics Dehydration

1.3.3 Organics Recovery

1.3.4 Organics Separation

1.4 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Size Estimates and Forecasts

1.4.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Revenue 2015-2026

1.4.2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Sales 2015-2026

1.4.3 Kitchen Countertop Services Market Size by Region: 2020 Versus 2026

2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Competition by Manufacturers

2.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Sales Market Share by Manufacturers (2015-2020)

2.2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2015-2020)

2.3 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Average Price by Manufacturers (2015-2020)

2.4 Manufacturers Kitchen Countertop Services Manufacturing Sites, Area Served, Product Type

2.5 Kitchen Countertop Services Market Competitive Situation and Trends

2.5.1 Kitchen Countertop Services Market Concentration Rate

2.5.2 Global Top 5 and Top 10 Players Market Share by Revenue

2.5.3 Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3)

2.6 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans

2.7 Primary Interviews with Key Kitchen Countertop Services Players (Opinion Leaders)

3 Kitchen Countertop Services Market Scenario by Region

3.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Scenario in Sales by Region: 2015-2020

3.2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Scenario in Revenue by Region: 2015-2020

3.3 North America Kitchen Countertop Services Market Facts & Figures by Country

3.3.1 North America Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.3.2 North America Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.3.3 U.S.

3.3.4 Canada

3.4 Europe Kitchen Countertop Services Market Facts & Figures by Country

3.4.1 Europe Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.4.2 Europe Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.4.3 Germany

3.4.4 France

3.4.5 U.K.

3.4.6 Italy

3.4.7 Russia

3.5 Asia Pacific Kitchen Countertop Services Market Facts & Figures by Region

3.5.1 Asia Pacific Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Region

3.5.2 Asia Pacific Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Region

3.5.3 China

3.5.4 Japan

3.5.5 South Korea

3.5.6 India

3.5.7 Australia

3.5.8 Taiwan

3.5.9 Indonesia

3.5.10 Thailand

3.5.11 Malaysia

3.5.12 Philippines

3.5.13 Vietnam

3.6 Latin America Kitchen Countertop Services Market Facts & Figures by Country

3.6.1 Latin America Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.6.2 Latin America Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.6.3 Mexico

3.6.4 Brazil

3.6.5 Argentina

3.7 Middle East and Africa Kitchen Countertop Services Market Facts & Figures by Country

3.7.1 Middle East and Africa Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.7.2 Middle East and Africa Kitchen Countertop Services Sales by Country

3.7.3 Turkey

3.7.4 Saudi Arabia

3.7.5 U.A.E

4 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Historic Market Analysis by Type

4.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Sales Market Share by Type (2015-2020)

4.2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Revenue Market Share by Type (2015-2020)

4.3 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Price Market Share by Type (2015-2020)

4.4 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Market Share by Price Tier (2015-2020): Low-End, Mid-Range and High-End

5 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Historic Market Analysis by Application

5.1 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Sales Market Share by Application (2015-2020)

5.2 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Revenue Market Share by Application (2015-2020)

5.3 Global Kitchen Countertop Services Price by Application (2015-2020)

6 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Kitchen Countertop Services Business

6.1.1 Corporation Information

6.1.2 Company Description, Business Overview

6.1.3 Kitchen Countertop Services Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin (2015-2020)

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Kitchen Countertop Services Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2026 - Zenit News