Manahawkin, NJ

Who isn't looking for new ways to save money? Here in the Garden State (New Jersey), what better way to save some cash this summer than a vegetable and/or herb garden.

While it's still a little early to get vegetable plants in the ground here at the Jersey Shore, it's not too early to prepare.

For example, this year I'm planting tomatoes (if you haven't tasted a Jersey Tomato you don't know what you're missing), oregano, basil and maybe some peppers.

The first step in starting your garden is choosing an appropriate size and site. Here's a graph to help determine what will grow best in the garden area you select. You can also sketch out your garden and select the types of plants.

No matter what you grow, the most important consideration is the amount of sunlight. A successful vegetable garden should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight daily, but more is better! Some crops such as lettuce and cucumbers benefit from partial shade in the mid afternoon during the hot summer months. But generally for most vegetables, the more sun, the better.

Also try to locate the garden away from trees and shrubs which not only block sun but rob the soil of moisture. Make sure the area has good drainage.

After selecting a site for your garden, the next step is preparing the soil. It's likely the sandy soil of the NJ Pinelands and the Jersey Shore will need some help to produce a great vegetable garden.

There are many soil additives and fertilizers you can incorporate into you garden that will not pollute our wetlands, rivers and Barnegat Bay.

Please keep in mind the delicate ecosystem of Ocean County, NJ when choosing fertilizers or pest repellents for you lawn and garden.

This is when the Rutgers University Master Gardeners can help. The Master Gardeners of Ocean County, for a small fee, will not only provide soil analysis but they can recommend eco friendly additives for your garden and lawn. They even have information on birds and bugs that are garden friendly!

Cool weather vegetables can be planted now, if you've prepared you garden plot. Those include cabbage, peas, lettuce and spinach.

If you're looking for a home with a great garden in southern Ocean County, give me a call or email me!

Ocean Ice Cream in Manahawkin

Is Now Open for the Season!

It's that time of year again when the well known Ocean Ice Cream opens for a new season of homemade ice cream delights.

They are open EVERY DAY from 12-8.

(Hours will expand during the summer months)

Come and try one of their many delicious flavors of their homemade ice cream. They also offer soft ice cream along with flavor burst. You can turn any of these into sundaes, banana splits, and much more. For those looking for a lighter dessert, they offer low fat frozen yogurt in several flavors and sugar free ice cream also.

Ocean Ice Cream

Owner: Dick Knowles

Rt. 72 West in Manahawkin, NJ

609-597-3440

Jennifer Kipila

Muldowney Family Team

Van Dyk Group

There are many reasons we love the month of March here at the Jersey Shore. Among them, we're very close to beach badge season and that means summer's almost here.

But there's another reason, it's Girl Scout cookie season!

Unlike the days when I sold cookies door to door, we now have booth sales. This way the girls have supervision to keep them safe. Even better, you get your cookie on the spot! If you're jonesing for Girls Scout cookies, here are the booth dates in Barnegat, Manahawkin, and Tuckerton!

Manahawkin, NJ Girls Scout Cookie Sales

Barnegat, NJ Girl Scout Cookie Sales

Tuckerton, NJ Girl Scout Cookie Sales

Money raised through the cookie sale helps underwrite the cost of programs and trips. Each box costs $3.50, with the cookie sales crumble is as follows: $1.84 for the council to provide programs to girls; 87 cents to the baker, and 67 cents to the troop selling cookies. The remaining 12 cents per box goes toward recognitions, financial aid and travel funds for the girls.

I've only pictured my favorite Girls Scout cookies, click here to meet all the cookies!

Click here if you’d like more information on the Jersey Shore Girl Scout Council or if you’d like more Girl Scout Cookie Booth locations, click here!

IT’S COOKIE TIME!

Keller Williams Atlantic Shore

Laura Giannotta 609-384-6121

Laura@JerseyShoreView.com

In reading the Most Recent post by Jim Crawford-
Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO

Buying the Listing! Understanding Deceptive Listing Techniques. -

I needed to follow up as he sparked a controversial subject and one that it seems to be the in my own area seems to be the practice-,It amazes me when I look at the daily updates posted on the MLS board. I can pick out immediatly who the culprits are- It's the Same Agents- From the Same Agencies- Over and Over Again-

They are making false promises to sellers about the current market and what They can sell their home for- only to have the home sell 6 to 8 months later for 30% Less.

What are these agents thinking?

My question to them is:

Do you really need the signs out on non saleable inventory? Do you think that to list 20 homes is a contest of abilities? It isn't. A professional agent is the one conducting the interview to see if they are taking on a salable home into their inventory. A professional Real estate agent, will in fact turn a listing away and in some cases encourage a seller Not to sell.

What we as Real Estate professional must remember is: Overpricing can result in lawsuits- Overpricing can often cause hypocrisy- Overpricing can cause a stale reputation-Overpricing can help your neighbor sell their home-Overpricing often misleads sellers-Overpricing can frustrate selling sales associates Overpricing can frustrate brokers and sales managers-Overpricing can frustrate sellers-Overpricing can frustrate buyers-Overpricing can result in NO showings-Overpricing can result in losing listings Overpricing usually results in NO SALE-Overpricing can result in the termination of a Sale

The Professional listing agent's goal is to see if the seller:

•1. Is motivated to sell a home

•2. Understands what the current sales that have taken place in the last 3 months

•3. The seller is willing to price the home at a market price or below.

•4. Realize they'll have to make concessions on price, and contributions toward buyer's closing costs.

•5. Is aware that appraisal may have limitations.

The Pricing a home has never been more important than it is today-because of the harsh market we are in, Our Pre- Foreclosure market is 2 in every 5 homes on the market- Short Sales are over running our market, with Sellers just walking away from their obligations, The last thing we need to do is make promises we can not keep- We need to be totally honest and ethical to the public we serve. We are doing a total injustice and breaking the law-

It was sort of a gray day at the Jersey Shore today...fog, snow and a chill in the air! Nonetheless, fresh snow on the pines is beautiful...

This is a photo from the Park just up the street from my house in the Ocean Acres section of Manahawkin, NJ. Everything looks great with a little snow!

I'm sure the kids weren't happy the snow came today, when they already had a holiday! (Snow days are still my favorite!) The kids are behind me sledding and sliding down the hill (actually it's a small slope, but that's the Jersey Shore)!