March is a busy month for gardeners in Southern and Central California – especially if you grow food plants. This is when many of us are pruning avocado trees, fertilizing citrus trees, amending the soil in our raised garden beds, refreshing mulch around our plants, pulling the tomato cages out of the shed, and replanting our gardens for the spring growing season. 

I am particularly fond of growing herbs and root vegetables and am a big fan of succession planting. March is the perfect month for all of this – plus, it is still cool enough outside to enjoy working in the garden – so this is one of my favorite growing seasons. 

In case you might be in need of a bit of spring gardening inspiration, here are six of my favorite things to plant in March. 

1. Potatoes – I have been known to line an entire fence with fabric pots planted with potatoes and sweet potatoes. I love to eat them, I love to grow them, and I love how easy they are to add to the garden. In fact, they are so easy to grow that I have volunteers that start coming up every year around February or March. Check out my column from October 2023 for a guide on how to grow organic potatoes even in the smallest of garden spaces. 

2. Carrots – Carrots are easy to grow from seed, require little care, and are perfect for succession planting. If you plant all of your carrots at the same time, they will all be ready for harvest at about the same time. If, instead, you plant about one-quarter or your carrot seeds every three weeks for the next 12 weeks, you will be able to harvest fresh carrots from your garden for months to come.

3. Beets – This is another root vegetable that is good for succession planting. Plant one-quarter of your crop every two weeks to extend the months that you will be enjoying fresh beets this year. 

4. Radishes – Radishes are easy to grow and ready to harvest in as few as 30 days, which makes this a great backyard crop for beginner gardeners or kids learning how to grow their own food. Plant a row each week to keep the fresh radishes coming into early summer.

5. Greens – Arugula, spinach, and many lettuces are ideal for succession planting. Plant rows or pots of spinach and most leafy lettuces about one week apart and arugula seeds about two weeks apart to make sure you will be enjoying fresh salads from your garden into summer. 

6. Herbs – I love growing culinary and medicinal herbs in my garden. Right now, my chamomile is in bloom, the sages I cut back a few months ago are filling in again, and my parsley and rosemary are thriving. This month, I am planning on planting more mint, cilantro, and oregano. If you are planning on adding mint to your garden, remember that it will take over if you let it. Plant it in a border or pot where there is a physical barrier keeping it from running amok. 

Aside from these March favorites, I will soon be planting tomatoes, basil, peppers, cucumbers, and squash.

Local nurseries are the best place to purchase seeds and seedlings. This is the best way to ensure you are buying food plants that will thrive here, while also supporting local farmers, the environment, and, of course, your local nursery. 

Living in an older home in Ojai is often the very thing that draws many people to our valley. They love the history, craftsmanship, and sense of place that you often don’t find in homes build after the 1970s (with the exception of some custom builds).  

And for many buyers coming from Los Angeles and Orange County, that authenticity is exactly the appeal. These buyers are most often looking for a slower pace, a simpler life, and a place that can really feel like home. 

If you are preparing to sell (or simply want to refresh your space), focus on highlighting your home’s character and charm, making it feel clean and functional, and adding or emphasizing modern comforts and conveniences – without erasing its age. 

Older Ojai homes often have elements that create coziness, warmth, and charm that are difficult to replicate:

• Hand-finished wood floors
  
• Exposed beams or unique ceiling lines
• Original windows or doors
  
• Plaster walls with subtle texture
• Built-ins or architectural niches
• Features that are custom and maybe a bit quirky
• Original hardware

These are not flaws – they are assets that tell your home’s story and can increase its appeal to buyers. 

Whenever possible, retain these features that make your home unique. Sometimes, these features just need a good cleaning, refinishing, repairs, or good lighting. Touches like original hardware (or era-appropriate replacements if originals are not available) are seen as soulful, not outdated. 

One of the easiest ways to make an older home feel fresh is to focus on light and simplicity rather than following fast-moving design trends that may feel out of place in Ojai.

Simple updates that work beautifully here:

Warm, neutral interior paint colors
Updated lighting that feels clean and understated
Removing heavy drapery to let natural light in
Streamlining furnishings so the architecture can stand out

In Ojai, buyers tend to respond more to warmth, space, and a peaceful feel than bold design statements.

Unless your home has significant structural concerns or floor plan issues, you probably do not need a full remodel. If your home feels dated, has deferred maintenance, or is lacking in expected, modern features – like air conditioning, updated appliances, or energy- and water-efficient elements – then this is where you will want to focus. 

Projects that often help older Ojai homes with these concerns: 

• Updating kitchen appliances
  
• Updating bathroom fixtures to water-efficient options
• Installing one or more new HVAC systems
• Updating countertops with natural materials that lean into your home’s character
• Updating faucets and lighting fixtures
• Improving natural light (and views, if you have them)
• Refreshing doors, drawers, and windows with new hardware for smooth operation
• Improving flow both with the interior floor plan and between indoor and outdoor spaces

Ojai homes are deeply connected to their surroundings, and that connection is part of the value.

Many buyers coming from other areas are drawn here for the mountain views, community feel, quiet mornings, slower rhythm, natural surroundings, and year-round outdoor living. It’s also why many of us who grew up here – or chose to move here years ago – continue to call this valley home.

To emphasize these at your home, make sure to:

• Clear pathways to patios or gardens
  
• Keep landscaping natural and low maintenance
• Clean outdoor living areas and update with new textiles
• Trim trees and bushes to accentuate views

If you are doing your own staging, remember that you are staging for a lifestyle – not a showroom.  Create moments that invite pause – a chair under a tree, a small table outside for morning coffee, a bench on the front porch to enhance the community feel. 

This is where it can get challenging, right? Knowing how best to update your home and where to draw the line can be difficult. This is partly going to depend on your budget, your needs, and what you are hoping to achieve. 

Avoid overly modern finishes that clash with the architecture, removing charm in favor of uniformity, and renovations that aren’t going to return their cost or make your home significantly more comfortable and functional. 

So, when you are considering home improvement projects, think: If it improves livability, it is probably worth doing; if it removes personality, it probably is not. 

Every older home is different, so what makes sense for one property may not make sense for another. If you are wondering which updates will truly add value to your Ojai home without taking away its character, Nora is happy to offer perspective rooted in this market and the buyers drawn to it. 

If you have questions about your home’s worth, how to increase its value with thoughtful updates, or how to sell an older home in Ojai, reach out – Nora would love to talk through it with you.  

My partner and I just got back from visiting her parents in Atlanta where I was reminded that folks in other parts of the country commonly have a usable attic, basement, or both. Her parents have both. Their basement is the same size as the other floors of their home, and their attic is a whole additional floor with real stairs. Can you imagine having so much extra usable space? If more Californians had basements or full attics, we might actually park our cars in our garages. 

Since this is not the case, storage space continues to be a challenge for most of us. I am always looking for ways to increase storage in my home, so I thought I would share some of the ideas that have worked for me or that I have seen work in clients’ homes. 

Create an attic storage area with pull-down stairs. 
Check your attic space to see if it is possible to create a storage area. We discovered that there was enough space in the attic over our garage to install shelves with a walkway. We are now working on finishing a portion of the attic over our house and garage with plywood flooring, shelves, and a pull-down ladder. The finished project will create about 400 square feet of storage for holiday décor, camping gear, and other items we would like to get out of the garage. 

Install overhead storage racks. 
If you have a garage, consider installing overhead storage racks. I easily added 32 square feet of storage by adding one storage rack over a spot where I have a refrigerator and shelves in the garage. Next, I plan on installing one over the washer and dryer to get another 32 square feet of storage. 

Consider other ways to better use vertical space. 
Bookshelves over doorways, floor-to-ceiling cabinets, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are great for maximizing vertical space in almost any room. 

Add a storage shed to your backyard. 
If you have space for a storage shed, this is an easy way to add more storage for yard care tools, patio cushions, pool toys, or storage bins. This one is not very creative, but it works.

Maximize the storage space you already have. 
Maximize the space in your closets by installing closet systems with adjustable shelves, double hanging rods, or built-in drawers or baskets. To maximize the space in smaller linen closets or coat closets, consider adding a set of shelves at the back of the closet and a rolling shelving unit that can be stored in front of the installed shelves and rolled out when you need to access the back shelves. I use this system in one of my hall closets, which allows me to have gifts and gift-wrapping supplies on the back shelves and games and puzzles on the wheeled shelving unit. 

You can maximize cabinet space by installing pull-out shelves that allow you to easily access items stored in the back of the cabinets. When I did this for my lower cabinets in my kitchen, it was life changing.  

Look for furniture with integrated storage. 
For patio storage, look for a storage bench that serves as both a deck box and seating option.  For storing throw blankets in the living room, consider a coffee table with a removable lid. I know storage furniture is not always the most attractive option, but I have a round, hammered metal coffee table that is perfect for storing blankets and throw pillows, and I love the look of it.

Install toe-kick drawers. 
I don’t have these in my kitchen – yet – but I have seen this ingenious way to reclaim wasted space used in clients’ homes, and it is amazing. 

Finding more storage without sacrificing living space can be challenging, but if we get a bit creative, we can come up with workable solutions that can maximize the space we have.

According to Statista (statista.com), the most popular resolutions this year will be exercising more, saving more money, eating healthier, spending more time with family and friends, and losing weight. Though saving more money approached the top of the list for 2025 and 2026, these other top-ranking resolutions are essentially the same every year. 

A recent Forbes Health survey (forbes.com/health) found that most resolutions are abandoned sometime in March or April. According to research published in PLOS One (journals.plos.org), we are more likely to abandon our resolutions when they focus on subtracting things from our lives and more likely to be successful when our resolutions focus on adding things to our lives. 

With this in mind, here are six resolutions to consider that focus on abundance and bring positives into your life. 

1. Get to know Ojai and Oak View better. 
No matter how long you have lived here or how long ago you were born here, there are always new things to learn about and try around the valley. Maybe this is the year when you try a new hiking trail, go camping in Rose Valley, decide to try every restaurant in town, check out a different park, take the historic walking tour offered on Saturday mornings, or explore the Ojai Valley Museum to get to know your hometown better. For example, did you know that Cluff Vista Park has six different gardens? I didn’t, and I was born in the Ojai hospital 51 years ago this month. There is always more to learn and explore!

2. Increase your community involvement. 
This might include volunteering with a community organization, joining community groups, becoming more active in groups you are already part of, or supporting the local economy by shopping local and hiring local contractors.

3. Set up a monthly donation for a local organization. 
Monthly donors help sustain non-profit organizations so they can continue their important work of providing services, resources, and assistance locally. Even with a regular donation of just $5.00 each month, you can help make a difference in the lives of people and animals with whom we share the valley. So, if your budget allows, look for a local organization with a mission that is in line with your values. Some local examples include HELP of Ojai, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Turtle Conservancy, Secure Beginnings, and FoodShare.

4. Donate clothing and household items to a local organization. 
If decluttering your garage or closets to give yourself more space is on your list of resolutions for 2026, you can clear your clutter and help your neighbors by donating clothing, tools, and household goods locally. For example, if you donate items to 2nd Helpings Thrift Store, you are helping increase access to lower-cost necessities while supporting the work of HELP of Ojai. 

5. Expand your idea of self-care. 
Making more time for self-care is standard fare for new year’s resolutions, but if you are already pretty good about scheduling massages and remembering to meditate, it might be time to expand on the concept. Think outside of the spa and consider other self-care activities that could significantly improve your life. Examples include protecting your peace and your time by spending more time doing things you want to do and less time doing things you just feel obligated to do, lowering your inbox stress by unsubscribing from all of those email lists, or starting a new tradition that brings you joy. 

6. Improve natural disaster preparedness. 
Depending on where you live in the valley, you may be affected by fires, earthquakes, floods, or the occasional hurriquake. Improve the defensible space around your home to reduce the risk of wildfire damage, take steps to prepare your home for an earthquake, and get your go bags ready for you, your family members, and your pets. Thinking about the potential for a natural disaster is never fun, but, as the adage goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2026 be filled with love, good health, joy, and adventure for you and your loved ones

It may not be possible to completely earthquake proof your home, but those of us who have lived in California for any length of time know the importance of doing all we can to be prepared for this type of natural disaster. 

The sudden nature of earthquakes is what makes them so dangerous and, while earthquake predictions have saved thousands of lives around the world, this imperfect science has not yet yielded a warning system on which we can rely.

According to the Earthquake Country Alliance, Californians are facing a 99.7% chance of experiencing an earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude (or larger) at some point in the next 30 years. That statistic, alone, is probably enough to turn some folks into hardcore preppers, but it should concern all of us at least enough to spend a couple of weekends making sure our homes are as prepared as possible. 

Taking these steps is particularly important when you consider that most injuries are not caused by the shaking; it is falling objects, crumbling chimneys and other debris falling from buildings that cause the most harm.

Here are 15 things you can do to limit property damage and help ensure your family's safety:

1. Learn how to shut off your utilities, including electricity, water and gas.

2. Move heavy items to low shelves to avoid damage or injuries from falling objects.

3. Secure televisions and tall or heavy furniture to the wall. 

4. If you have an older home with a crawl space, make sure the walls in the crawl space are shear plywood and not older cripple walls. 

5. Store flammable liquids in low, latched cabinets in your shed or garage.

6. Install latches on all cabinets to keep contents safely inside during an earthquake.

7. Make sure your home is properly bolted to the foundation, particularly if it was built before 1935. 

8. Hire a professional to make sure your chimney is stable and in good repair, particularly if your home was constructed prior to 1960.

9. Secure your water heater with an earthquake strap.

10. Make sure you have flexible connections attaching your appliances to your gas lines.

11. Secure knickknacks and picture frames with adhesive tabs or museum putty.

12. Hang mirrors, art and picture frames using adhesive tabs or closed hooks.

13. If your yard slopes, consider installing a retaining wall or landscaping to manage erosion and stabilize the slope.

14. Move beds away from glass doors or windows and place them near interior walls.

15. Hanging plants inside or outside of your home should be on closed hooks to prevent them swinging off and causing damage or injuries.

Since most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes, you might also want to consider purchasing earthquake insurance to protect your investment

Natural stone products -- like travertine, limestone and marble -- are incredibly popular but often get a bit of a bad rap when it comes to caring for them. It is true that they require some special love to ensure long-lasting beauty, but it really is not all that bad once you know what not to do. The most important thing to remember is that you are dealing with natural stone, which means most conventional cleaning products may etch the surface, oils will be absorbed and leave stains, and acidic substances can cause damage quickly.  

First, for the sake of all that is good and holy -- or at least for the sake of your sanity -- seal your travertine. Some folks might tell you this is optional, but if you have ever lived long term with travertine counters or floors, you know this is a must. While polished travertine is pretty stain resistant on its own, most of us are using honed or tumbled travertine in our homes, which can benefit greatly from regular sealing. I had my installer seal my travertine floors twice with an impregnating sealer (to retain the natural appearance of the stone), and after living on them the first year with a Marine, a dog, four cats and regular house guests, I was very happy that I did. Now, 10 years later, I still have it sealed regularly and don’t regret this choice. 

The next step is taking that whole ounce-of-prevention thing to heart and investing in rugs to put near doorways, trays to hold all those oily beauty products on your vanity, and trivets, coasters, and placemats to protect your travertine from food and drink spills.  

Sealing and protecting your travertine makes spills and such less concerning, but cleaning still must happen, so the next step is stocking your cleaning basket with the right supplies for the job. We already know we are not going to use conventional cleaning products on natural stone, but even popular, natural products can be a problem. Abrasive and acidic products of any kind can etch travertine, so that means forgoing all those lovely, natural cleaning products we use in other areas of our homes, such as vinegar, lemon, orange and even mild abrasives. 

Your best bet for daily cleaning is to simply wipe down your travertine surfaces with a soft cloth or a dry mop. You can use a little water, if needed, and when deeper cleaning is necessary, use an eco-friendly, non-toxic, pH balanced cleaner designed specifically for natural stone. 

Blot spills immediately, and try not to use a wiping motion, which can push the substance deeper into the porous surface. If you have an acidic spill, such as coffee, wine, tomato sauce, fruit juice or soda, it is even more important to clean it up quickly. Once you have successfully blotted most of the liquid, bring out your natural stone cleaner to finish the job. 

If it is an oil stain you are dealing with, you will need to apply a poultice-like product to pull the oil out of your travertine. Local hardware and home improvement stores carry this product, or you can order it online. 

Seal your travertine annually and use these everyday cleaning tips to protect your investment and keep your travertine surfaces looking their best for many years to come. 

As I write this, I have a holiday movie playing in the background. It is the nineteenth holiday movie I have watched so far this season, and that does not count the ones I watched for Christmas in July or just randomly throughout the year. I love holiday movies. If you are wondering how I know this is the nineteenth one I have watched this year, it is because I keep a spreadsheet with notes so that I can check off which movies I watch each year and can determine which movies are worth watching again in the future. I mean, who doesn’t do that? 

This year, my month-long movie marathon got me thinking about how much fun it would be to host a themed movie night in my backyard complete with a screen, projector, comfy seating, and party favors. Because, as some of you know, I love to host a themed gathering just as much as I love holiday movies and spreadsheets. 

So, I thought I would share my winter backyard movie night party plans with you in case you might also want to create a fun, cozy get-together this winter. 

1. Set up an outdoor movie theater. 

The first step is to set up your backyard movie theater. My setup includes a pull-down movie screen on my covered porch and a portable projector that I bring out for movie nights and store in the garage when not in use. There are lots of options for both screens and projectors, so you could also install a drop-down projector on the ceiling or have a permanent screen that is always ready to go. Test your system before your guests arrive to make sure it is set up correctly and that you know how to use it. Most projectors are easy to use, but some can be a little tricky.

2. Consider seating. 

Next up will be considering seating. If it is a small group, which most of the best get-togethers are, then you might have enough comfortable patio furniture to accommodate your guests. If not, you can bring out furniture from inside, dust off your camping chairs, or invest in comfy, outdoor floor cushions. If you plan on hosting your movie night on your lawn, be sure to turn off your irrigation system that day and check the forecast to make sure it is not going to rain, since mud and wet grass are not going to improve your party. 

3. Keep your guests warm. 

Outdoor movie nights need to take place after dark, which means it will likely be cold. Prepare to keep your guests warm with baskets of throw blankets, portable or permanent patio heaters, and setting up seating near fire features. To treat your guests even more, you might consider also setting out cozy slippers and mittens, which could even be party favors. 

4. Set up a hot beverage bar. 

My ideal hot beverage bar for a movie night would be a hot chocolate bar with cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, chocolate chips, marshmallows, toffee bits, peppermint chips, and chopped nuts. 

Of course, you could also set up a hot adult beverage bar with hot toddies, mulled wine, mulled cider, or coffee and hot chocolate that can be spiked with vodka, tequila, whiskey, or kahlua. You can set out an assortment of ceramic mugs, travel mugs, or thermoses for your guests to use or to use during the party, and then take home with them, which is my top choice for party favors for this soiree. 

5. Set up a popcorn and candy bar. 

Nothing says movie night like popcorn and movie theater candy. You can either buy the small boxes of candy like those sold at theaters or fill bowls and baskets so that your guests can create their own movie candy mix. Depending on just how committed you are to being the most amazing party host ever, you can buy bags of pre-popped popcorn, pop and bag homemade popcorn before the party, or rent or buy a popcorn machine. 

Winter home maintenance reminder: If you have not yet changed your HVAC filters and cleaned your gutters, now is the time. We can expect lower temperatures and more rain in the coming months. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it is also a good idea to have your chimney cleaned and inspected before you start using it this winter.  

Chemical pesticides are an easy, quick way to achieve bug-free outdoor living spaces, but is it really worth having your family, pets and guests exposed to toxic chemicals when you can achieve this goal with natural methods?

The exterior space around your home is where your children and pets play, where you grow vegetables to feed your family, where you steal away for a peaceful moment of meditation or yoga, and where you gather with friends to celebrate holidays and milestones. Even if green living or eco-friendly yard care isn't your thing, I'm sure you want your yard to be a safe place where your family and friends will not be exposed to unnecessary, harmful substances -- particularly if almost everything you need for pest-free outdoor living is probably already in your pantry.

If you want to avoid using chemicals where your kids and pets play, try these nine easy, inexpensive, natural methods to rid your yard -- and home -- of unwanted pests. 

1. Salt – Sprinkling salt around the borders of your garden will ward off slugs and snails. Just remember that salt is not good for your soil or desirable plants, so use it with caution. 

2. Garlic – Garlic can deter cockroaches inside and ants outside when hidden under cabinets and in the cracks of decks. 

3. Bay Leaves – Bay leaves tucked into cracks or under chairs will help keep ants, fleas and cockroaches away.

4. Cucumber – Save those cucumber peels and strategically place them in areas where ants are a problem.

5. Rosemary, Sage and Marigolds – Plant one of these insect repellant plants to beautify your yard and keep pests away. Burning a little sage or rosemary on the grill will also help keep mosquitoes away during cookouts.

6. Eucalyptus Oil – Flies tend to steer clear of eucalyptus oil. Place a few drops on pieces of cloth to place around your outdoor living spaces.

7. Birdhouses and Bat Houses – Okay, this one probably isn't in your pantry, but they are easy enough to find at home improvement stores or online. Letting birds and bats know they are welcome in your yard will encourage them to hang around and keep your pest population down.

8. Mint – Mint will take over your entire garden if you let it, but if you keep it confined in containers or behind borders, it can still be an effective insect repellent to ward off ants and other pests.

9.  Lady Bugs – Not all bugs are bad; in fact, beneficial insects – like lady bugs – can help you keep your garden free of aphids. 

AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, and green living. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.  

 Fall is here, which means sweater weather, evenings around the fire pit, switching from iced to hot lattes, and maybe finally getting some rain. It also means it is time for some seasonal home maintenance tasks to keep your home safe, functioning properly, and well maintained. To help you make your to-do list for this season, here are 10 fall home maintenance tasks to consider adding.

1. Service your HVAC system. 
It is just about time to start using our heaters, which means it is time to at least change the air filters in your HVAC system. If your air filters are accessible, this is an easy task you can do yourself. If not, you may need to call in a professional. You might also want to schedule a local HVAC professional to clean your ducts or service your furnace if you have not checked these off your home maintenance list recently.

2. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. 
Annual chimney inspections are important to keep indoor fireplaces functioning properly and safely. The easiest way to accomplish this task is to schedule a local chimney cleaning company, but some handy homeowners might want to take this task on themselves. If so, be sure to look for damage or wear on the chimney, flashing, crown, cap, adjacent walls, and firebox. You also need to check for creosote buildup and make sure the flue is free from obstructions. 

3. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. 
Testing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is usually as easy as the push of a button, so this is an easy home maintenance task that you can do yourself. If you do not have five- or 10-year batteries in your detectors, you should also change the batteries. 

4. Replace weatherstripping and door sweeps. 
Improve energy efficiency and save money by adding or replacing weatherstripping and door sweeps around drafty doors and windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this can save between 5% and 30% on annual energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy also has a handy page with everything you need to know about different types of weatherstripping and how to apply it. 

5. Inspect and upgrade your irrigation system. 
Critters love to chew through irrigation lines to get to the water inside, so regularly inspecting your irrigation system is an important part of reducing leaks and conserving water. This is also a good time to make sure sprinkler heads are aligned with your watering needs and that your drip system is free of clogs. If you do not already have a rain sensor, consider upgrading your system with one to make conserving water even easier. 

6. Inspect fire features. 
You will likely start using outdoor fire features more often now that the weather is cooling off, so this is a good time to make sure your fire pit or patio fireplace is clean and functioning properly. 

7. Inspect your roof. 
Check your roof for missing shingles, nails that are sticking up and no longer flush with the surface, and any other type of damage. If you find damage that is beyond your skill level, hire a local roofing company to complete the repairs or do a tune-up on your roof. As part of your roof inspection, you should also look for tree limbs that could become an issue if there are heavy winds, rain, or fire. 

8. Exclude rodents. 
Rodent populations are often at their highest in late summer and early fall, which is when many people will notice an increase in activity. This can become even more evident when they start looking for cozy places to live as the weather gets colder, since those cozy places might be in your attic, walls, or kitchen. To keep rats and mice at bay, inspect the exterior of your home for any holes, gaps, uncovered vents, or missing door sweeps where they can squeeze in. 

9. Test your home for radon.
We are more likely to keep our windows and doors closed in fall and winter, which makes this a good time to test radon levels in our homes. Radon is a clear, odorless gas, so there is no way to know if the levels in your home are unsafe except by testing for it. If your budget allows, you can hire a professional to test for radon and other air quality issues. California residents can also purchase a low-cost, DIY radon test kit. Information is available on the California Department of Public Health website.

10. Clean your gutters. 
You didn’t really think I was going to forget to mention cleaning your gutters, did you? I think this might be the single-most recommended home maintenance task in this column, but it is for good reason. It is one of the simplest ways we can reduce fire risk – which is why I mention is so much – but it is also important for fall home maintenance, since we might finally start getting some rain. One of my clients just had to repair the eaves at three corners of their house because of leaking gutters, which was a good reminder that it was about time I mention this to you again. So, clear any leaves and debris, make sure your downspouts are clog free, and make sure your rain barrels are ready for action.  

Plastic products can change – and even save – lives, so they certainly have their place, but much of the plastic we use in our everyday lives is just for convenience. It is so ubiquitous in consumer products and packaging at this point that most of us don’t even realize how much plastic we use. 

Because of this, there are hundreds of big and small ways we can reduce plastic in our lives that include such simple changes as buying reusable sandwich bags and making our own salsa. 

Here are 10 of the easiest ways you can start reducing your plastic consumption today.

1. Reusable shopping bags – I think almost everyone is already doing this one, but it is worth mentioning, since it is such an easy way to quickly reduce your plastic consumption. 

2. Reusable produce bags – These have not caught on quite as well as reusable shopping bags, but I am starting to see them a bit more when shopping in produce and bulk sections. These inexpensive, mesh bags can be used for fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts. 

3. Reusable water bottle – There are still a lot of people regularly using single-use, plastic water bottles. Switching to a glass or stainless-steel water bottle that you can refill on the go encourages you to stay hydrated and saves you money while also reducing the demand for plastic bottles. 

4. Reusable coffee cup – The hardest part about this one is remembering to bring it with you when you head to the coffee shop. Most coffee shops use paper cups with plastic lids, and most folks who go to coffee shops go regularly, so more of these folks bringing their own travel mugs would significantly reduce waste. 

5. Glass food storage containers – Plastic food storage containers are common, but glass options are so much more durable that your children and grandchildren can inherit them and continue reducing the demand for plastic long into the future. 

6. BYO to-go containers – Once you stock up on glass food storage containers, bring a couple with you to pack up the leftovers when you go out to eat instead of using the to-go containers at the restaurant. 

Between running all over the county when I’m working and road trips with my partner, I end up eating on the go quite a bit. Rather than use the plastic cutlery that comes with to-go orders, I carry reusable cutlery sets in my purse. I prefer metal, and that is what I carry daily, but I also have a bamboo set for when I fly or know that I am going to the courthouse that day. 

8. Bar soap – Bar soap gets your hands just as clean without the plastic packaging that comes with liquid hand soap and body wash. If you want to go a step further, there are also shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and lotions bars. 

9. DIY body powder – Body powder and baby powder are so easy to make that there is really no reason to be purchasing powders that come in plastic containers. I mix one-half cup cornstarch, one-quarter cup arrowroot powder, and one-quarter cup baking soda to make my daily body powder. For home use, I use a glass sugar shaker from the dollar store. For travel, I use a glass spice jar. 

10. Trash can inserts – Invest in a few affordable trash cans with removable inserts for your bathrooms and stop using trash bags. You can easily remove and dump the inserts, which makes trash bags a waste of plastic and money.