Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Page 28 - shelby shopper & info - 704/484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Thursday, April 4-April 10, 2019 704-487-4141 *Subject To Credit Lending Policy Jump Into Spring! If You Need... If You Need... Vacation Money, Home Home Improvement, Improvement, Car Repair Car Repair Call or Come by Today! Call or Come by Today! & Loans Loans of of Shelby Shelby,Inc. ,Inc. 409 S. LAFAYETTE ST., SHELBY, NC 28150 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-5:30 • Closed Sat & Sun *Loans available on approved credit. Established 1930 WE CAN HELP! * YES! YES! WE FINANCE... WE FINANCE... Mowers, Mowers, Generators, Generators, Chainsaws, Chainsaws, Blowers and Blowers and other smaller other smaller ticket items. ticket items. & "Family Owned & Operated Since 1974" 704-482-2847 PROTECT YOUR HOME TODAY! WE OFFER PROTECT YOUR HOME TODAY! WE OFFER QUALITY FOUNDATION WATER PROOFING SERVICES WATERPROOFING ©CommunityFirstMedia hhpci.com Pest Control, Inc. & RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL FREE ESTIMATES! RESULTS GUARANTEED We Can Help! Shelby 704-471-2077 2019 E. Marion St. • Beside Cleveland Mall M-F 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-12pm MAYSE MFG. CO., INC. www.maysemfg.com www.maysemfg.com Metal building's Metal building's starting at starting at $ 1025 1025 ©Community First Media Community First Media We Finance & Rent To Own Storage Buildings, Gazebos, Carports, Garden Flags, Man Cave Decor, Concrete Statuary, Concrete Steps, & Poly Outdoor Furniture! We are a We are a Big Green Egg Distributor Big Green Egg Distributor. . Grills • Accessories • Supplies Grills • Accessories • Supplies Now offering carports/garages Now offering carports/garages up to 60 ft. wide & 20 ft. walls up to 60 ft. wide & 20 ft. walls How urban gardeners can lower the risk of contact with soil contaminants C ity dwellers may once have thought that gardening was a hobby for suburbanites or those living in rural areas. But urban gardening has grown in popularity as more and more city folk have looked for ways to increase their access to healthy, low-cost produce. Urban agriculture may seem like a relatively new idea, but National Geographic notes that it actually dates back to the 19th century, when Detroit mayor Hazen Pingree devised a plan to help the city's unemployed laborers during a period of economic crisis. Mayor Pingree developed an idea to use acres of vacant and idle lands throughout the city to create subsistence gardens. Begun in 1894, the program would peak in 1897 with the participation of more than 1,500 families. The program would taper by 1901 as the economy improved, but there's no denying the relative success of the mayor's program. Urban gardens can be just as benefi cial today as they were in Detroit in the late 19th century. However, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that some sites that are now home to urban gardens were once occupied by industrial and commercial operations. That's a signifi cant concern for those who want to start urban agriculture programs in their cities, as the soil might be contaminated. But the EPA says the possibility of contamination should not keep prospective urban gardeners from going forward with their plans. Rather, the EPA recommends gardeners take various steps if they determine the soil where they hope to plant an urban garden has been contaminated. • Consult your local and state environmental agencies. Local and state environmental agencies can help would-be urban gardeners connect with professional site cleanup specialists. These specialists can recommend various ways to reduce high levels of contaminants. • Build raised garden beds. The EPA notes that raised beds are the most common way to reduce the risk of coming into contact with soil contaminants. Raised beds use clean soil that couples with materials necessary to build the beds that serves as physical barriers between the plants and potential contaminants in the ground soil. • Employ soil amendments. Soil amendments can be used to bind contaminants so they are no longer mobile or bioavailable. A thick layer of organic material also serves as a barrier against potential contaminants. • Replace contaminated soil. Replace contaminated soil with soil that has been tested and confi rmed as contaminant-free. Phytotechnologies are another way to clean up contaminated soil, though the EPA notes that this approach can take years and won't necessarily prove effective against every contaminant. Urban gardening gives city dwellers a chance to enjoy a wonderful hobby. When soil contaminants are effectively addressed, city residents can enjoy access to fresh, affordable produce grown right in their communities. T he groundwater table plays a role in home construction, foundation stability and home comfort. Because the groundwater table is so signifi cant, it behooves homeowners to understand how it works. National Geographic defi nes a water table as the boundary between water- saturated ground and unsaturated ground. Well beneath the ground, at various depths depending on geography, topography and weather conditions, pockets of water, called aquifers, exist. The water table marks the boundary between that available water and the dry surface. Ground water is impacted by precipitation, irrigation and ground cover. It also may be affected by land use and tides. The water table can fl uctuate with the seasons and from year to year because it is affected by climatic variations, as well as how much water may be drawn from underground, advises Encyclopedia Britannica. The water table where one person lives may be several inches or feet below the surface of the ground and follow the topography of the land. For others, it may be much higher, even coming above the surface of the soil. The water table as well as local soil conditions and drainage can impact homes and their foundations. If soil drains effi ciently and there is a relatively low water table, it may not be problematic. However, if soil is dense and absorbent and the water table is high, the ground around a home may swell and become saturated. This can exert signifi cant pressure against the foundation walls, states Rytech, a water damage and mold rehabilitation company. In areas where a local water table rises near the surface, water can push against the underside of the foundation in a condition known as "hydrostatic pressure." This may cause water to infi ltrate through the bottom of the foundation — even permeating solid concrete over time. If hydrostatic pressure is severe, it could lift certain portions of the foundation out of the ground, but this is very unlikely. But it could cause shifting of foundation walls and structures like fencing and decks. Even if ground water does not cause foundation cracking or shifting, it could lead to humidity issues, resulting in rust, bacteria and mold. Wood structures in a home may be compromised by a high level of humidity. Certain steps may need to be taken to protect against damage from a water table and abundant ground water. Basement and foundation waterproofi ng professionals can help homeowners develop a plan to mitigate water damage. This can include grading changes and the installation of drains and pumps to move water away from the house. Special paints and sealants also can protect the foundation. Ground water can be a hindrance when it affects the home, but homeowners who learn about it can be in a position to confront any ground water issues. What is the water table, and how does it affect homes?