Nicole Bailey

All this rain has me thinking about my garden.

This year I'm dreaming of huge pumpkins to sit on the front porch this fall. Crazy shapes and rich orange colors. My son carefully turning them towards the sun.

I will plant tomatoes, zucchini, hot peppers and tomotillos, lavender for the bees and honeysuckle for the hummingbirds.

Bay Friendly Gardens and UC Berkeley/urban gardens both recommend bee-friendly plants and drought tolerant California natives perfect for planting this season.

Drought Conditions Reinvigorate the Greywater Debate in Berkeley

Greywater:
Waste water from lavatories, showers, baths and sinks only. This water can be stored in special equipment and may then be used to water lawns, gardens or other relatively benign non-potable uses such as groundwater recharge. Water from toilets is called black water; it must be properly drained to the sewer or septic system.

It makes so much sence to re-use the mostly clean water from hand washing in bathrooms and from the kitchen sink, but getting a working plan through the City permitting process can be tricky business. This has caused a water underground to form, that eschews the permitting process altogether, which has inadvertantly contributed to the problem of non-cooperation in the planning department. Concern over renegade greywater contamination is one of the strongest arguements against making greywater systems simple and widely available to average consumers. If you get the chance, tell your city councel person that you are in favor of greywater and you vote!

Safety tips for using greywater:
1. Use greywater from bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, and washing machines and avoid greywater from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, and toilets.

2. Don't use liquid fabric softener or harsh detergents. Look for biodegradable, low-sodium detergents without phosphates, brighteners, boron, borax, enzymes or bleach. You can find Oasis biocompatible soaps at Berkeley Bowl.

3. Avoid storing greywater.

4. Apply greywater directly to the soil, not by spraying.

5. Root crops that are eaten uncooked should not be irrigated with greywater.

6. Don't use greywater on young plants or plants that like acidic conditions.

7. Water from laundry that includes diapers should not be used.

8. Don't use greywater when members of the household have a communicable disease such as staph or hepatitis.

Think the market has slowed down for the holidays?

Think again!
My listing at 51st was advertised for the Open House from 2-4:30 and the agent holding it open didn't get out of there until after 6:00pm!

The news about the possible first-time homebuyer mortgage rates of 4.5% is bringing out swarms of buyers. If you have been on the fence about listing your home, this could potentially change your thinking! Call to find out more about the program and for my list of qualified mortgage brokers! ~Nicole

If Seamless Service is the goal why is it so rare?

I spent the Thanksgiving Holidays on the world tour of Southern California Shopping Malls! My husband is a buyer for Nordstrom and like a groupie, I followed him around to his regular stomping grounds.

Looking for a Peet's or Starbucks to plug in and work, I couldn't find a wireless connection anywhere, just a food court. What I did find was an amazing tea shop, with free sample sips and friendly staff, encouraging a purchase. I found a tea I wanted to try and ordered a cup. I was a bit surprised when it turned out to be $4.99 for the cup, and I watched others walk out without their tea after measuring out a pound. The price of the rare teas adding up to much more that they expected. What was missing? Friendly staff, engaging service, great selection...
Client education!

I loved the tea! The client that marched out without her purchase had been engaged and eager to try it. Missing was the information that a canister of tea was $27. I have noticed in my own business in real estate, small mis-communications can result in extremely unhappy customers. I try to overcommunicate as a rule, but occationally when extremely busy, something slips through the cracks. It is so much easier to overcommunicate than clean up the "spilled milk."

Weather Proof Your Home!

There's nothing like cold weather to remind you about the cost savings of energy proofing. During the spring and summer months when the temperature indoors is similar or cooler than the temperature outdoors, we tend not to notice the relative draftiness of our homes. Particularly in our area, where most housing stock is more than fifty years old, taking a close look at weather proofing for both summer and winter months can make a big difference.


I was showing a Berkeley Historic home the other day. The weather was cold and clear. When we got inside the house, the radiant heat from the sun beating down on the west facing windows made the home comfortable if a little warm, but when we stood in the foyer and chatting about the home, the gaps under the heavy front door and around the hinges were leaking lots of cold air inside. In this case, sealing the door could be remedied for about $5.00 with weather stripping material.


This is BEFORE the heat is turned on. When you use the furnace, leaky ducts are the cause of lots more lost heat. If a new furnace isn't in the budget this year, have your ducts checked for leaks and heat your home with confidence.

Visit PGE's Smart Home Site to get more information about saving energy!