California and Oregon help
basilcook3
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (24)
wildchild2x2
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoritamay91710
6 years agoRelated Discussions
need help with fruit trees for southern Oregon!
Comments (5)Hi, I know this is an old thread, but hoping OP (or others) have gained some experience with growing in/around Brookings. My dad spent most of my life 7 miles north of Brookings. He recently passed and left my brother and I his house and property. It's up a hill, less than a mile from the ocean. Heavily wooded, but actually often above the fog line in summer; sometime you can literally drive 150 ft. down the road and end up enrobed in fog while my dad's place is sunny. I always thought it was much colder up there than where I live (San Francisco Bay Area), as my dad frequently commented on how much more I could grow here than he could up there. However, after some research I see it's almost same USDA zone (Brookings is 9b, I'm 10a), and the same Sunset Zone 17. I have been successfully growing stone fruit, many species of passionflower, and a ton of other fruits, veggies, and flowers in my foggy, cool east bay yard. Tomatoes are a crapshoot, though cherry varieties usually fare well. I'm not clear why my dad seemed to think he couldn't grow many of those things on his land, and would love to hear from those who are successfully growing stone fruit and subtropicals in and around Brookings. Gardening and growing food is one of my biggest passions, so if the growing conditions up there are pretty much the same as what I'm accustomed to, that would probably be the deciding factor for me in keeping the property....See MorePortland Oregon gardeners needed to help!
Comments (3)Where in Portland? If on the inner east side I don't mind, maybe with a plant freebie or something :)...See MoreHelp - AC vs Heat Pump vs Geothermal in Oregon Log Home
Comments (6)Thanks Tigerdunes: Electricity use is as follows: First 1,000 kWh 6.778 â per kWh Over 1,000 kWh 7.500 â per kWh ( I use about 800 kwh without AC and 1300 Kwh with it) Propane: 2.69per gallon - usage in winter used to be approx 350-400 gallons per month! I agree that the mark ups for the Heat Pumps condensor are outrageous. The cheapest price I was quoted was $5310 for a Trane XB14 unit, or $5225 for RUUD. I started shopping in May, have had 4 contractors out here, and still see major issues with each contractor. The one I like the best is from Sky Heating, as he was the most thorough, and company got the best reviews. He had the lowest prices as well, but they are still about 3 times the wholesale cost. I have the money to pay for the more expensive systems, but I just can't find a good reason to do that. won't, on principle, as I feel they are purposefully marking them up. This kind of stuff happens to everyone, but seems to happen a bit more to single women ?!? (kind of a sexist comment, but I have noticed this to be true). Back to the subject at hand - I looked at QualitySmith.com for nationwide averages for installation on various Trane Heat Pumps - I compared it to the bids I received: Trane Installation costs (range nationwide) XR15:Install cost $4500-$10,000 (quote= $8100) XB14 Install cost = $3000-$7500 (qutoe was $5300) XB13 install cost =$2500-$6500 (quote was $6400) I noticed in another post that you were recommending a SEER 13 unit, but did not like the Trane XB13 (SEER 14-15) but not the Trane units. You specifically wrote that wrote that you would not get a Trane XB13. I was wondering if you liked any of the Trane models that I have listed? What Brands/models do you like that are SEER 13? Any suggestions for how to find a more competitive bid? I tried Bargaining with one contractor, and I could tell he was completely resistant to it- giving me less information each time I contacted him; strong arming me to come back and meet with me again, etc. Here are some other Brands I received bids for - they also seemed a bit high but are cheaper than others: : Carrier 25HBC5 Comfort - SEER 14.5 FOR $6289_ York YHJFLX series SEER 14.5 for $5869.00 RUUD 4 ton Achiever SEER 14.5 $5225 I would like to pay less than $5000 but that has not been possible. With 5000 Square foot home, and the logs not chinked, I don't envy the contractors for trying to decide what would work best. A two zone system is preferred in houses like this but the cost to retrofit is exorbitant. Desperately confused in Oregon! Thanks again...See MoreDecided to go on trip to Oregon coast this year!
Comments (15)I did the Oregon coast some years ago. I think I did 5 days of beach and 3 of Portland that year. As a Californian I just didn't fine the beaches all that impressive. I do love Astoria and the Columbia River Gorge. Seaside is the most touristy but it offers a wider expanse of beach that resembles California. Cannon beach is a good beach for hiking and walking. I had a blast in Portland one year. I happened to get on a Maritime Museum cruise. Met many of the guys who restored it and got the grand tour of all the inner workings below, while the group that booked the tour stayed up on deck doing their wine and cheese thing. One of the crew even took to a lower deck where I was stood mere feet away from the giant paddle wheel and felt the spray on my face. If you stay in Portland I recommend the Crystal Hotel. Just down the street from Powell's Books. A great little quirky boutique hotel. It has it's own restaurant, a bar with entertainment and an indoor salt water soaking pool. One of my favorite getaways northbound was to take the train up to Portland, book a couple of nights at the Crystal, live mostly off the food trucks and wander about. Spent hours at Powell's and ended up each night with a soak in the pool. . Then if I had time for a few extra days I would rent a car and visit a beach or the gorge....See MoreElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agowildchild2x2
6 years agoritamay91710
6 years agoUser
6 years agoEmbothrium
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUser
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosocks
6 years agoUser
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoLindsey_CA
6 years agonickel_kg
6 years agobasilcook3
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosheilajoyce_gw
6 years agohoovb zone 9 sunset 23
6 years agobasilcook3
6 years agoFun2BHere
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosealavender
6 years agojemdandy
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosocks
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agobob_cville
6 years agokittymoonbeam
6 years ago
Related Stories
COMMUNITYSummer 2018 California Wildfires: How You Can Help
Want to donate to fire victims in California? Here are groups assisting people affected by the 2018 wildfires
Full StoryDISASTER PREP & RECOVERYSouthern California Wildfires: How You Can Help
Want to donate to fire victims in Southern California? Here are groups assisting people affected by the wildfires
Full StoryDISASTER PREP & RECOVERYNorthern California Fires: How You Can Help
Want to donate to fire victims in Northern California? Here are groups assisting people affected by the wildfires
Full StoryDISASTER PREP & RECOVERYHow to Help California Wildfire Victims
Find out how to donate to groups assisting those affected by the fall 2019 wildfires
Full StoryDISASTER PREP & RECOVERYFall 2018 California Wildfires: How You Can Help
Here are ways to donate to help victims of the Northern and Southern California fires
Full StoryVACATION HOMESHouzz Tour: Reviving a Farmhouse in California’s Wine Country
A rickety 1800s home gets a more contemporary look and layout, becoming an ideal weekend retreat
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESRegional Modern: Northern California Architecture
A strong connection to the landscape helps define contemporary home design from the Monterey Bay to San Francisco and wine country
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Mediterranean-Italian Mansion in California
Historical tributes, Persian carpets and a coop's worth of chickens help a vast house feel like a family home
Full StoryLIFEConsider Avoiding These Plants to Help Keep Your Garden Fire-Safe
Plants that accumulate dead material, are high in oil or have low moisture content in leaves put some homes at risk
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDCollecting Rainwater and Eggs From a California Chicken Coop
See how a butterfly roof helps a hen home’s design soar into double-duty territory
Full Story
Lindsey_CA