Paul's Blog

New Tax Credit, Does it Really limit the $6500 to move up buyers?

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:31:01 -0600

What really does the new tax credit do? Does it give $6500 only to "move up" buyers. I hope not because in my neighborhood and so many others in Lexington many of the retired residents are more eager to "move down" than move up. If congress really only gives money to "move up" buyers as suggested in this CNBC article then the congress in my opinion made a blunder in the wording of the bill.

Our retired home owners deserve the same economic stimulus as other sellers and buyers. There are so many people in my neighborhood who are in a difficult spot. To continue maintaining a home on their limited income is difficult. If they could sell and move down to a condo they could invest the equity difference and live in a condo that has little to no maintenance. Moving up is not a choice for many of my retired neighbors.

Hopefully we will receive clarification quickly and if the wording does imply the buyers have to move up there will be rational people who change the bill.

Whare are the really good restaurants with ambiance?

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:04:28 -0600

I just finished coming back from dinner with my wonderful wife Kathy. Once again the restaurant food was good but not as delicious as my wife's cooking. My grandson Sam said to me as we were eating lunch the other day, "Grammy is a good cooker isn't she grandpa Paul?" Kathy has a knack for making everything she cooks taste so that the palette just wants to keep savoring the food.

I often ask Kathy if she wants to go out to eat because I know the effort it takes to cook. However, even she acknowledges her cooking is generally much better than retaurant food so she usually would rather stay at home.

We had a gift certificate to Appleby's. Not only was the food just "good" but the atmosphere is just too busy and too noisy. I like to be able to talk with my wife and not have to strain to hear her through loud music. I wonder, is it just my age or are there younger people who also prefer a quieter setting for their dining experience.

If you are from Lexington and know of good restaurants with great food and a quiet atmosphere would you please share that with me. Thanks, Paul

Financed and Closed in Nine Days!

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:00:03 -0500

Buyers and Sellers take note!

Yesterday I went to a closing of one of my listings in which the buyers closed with financing in only nine days. Yes, my seller accepted the offer on October 21st and the closing was on October 30th.

The buyer chose not to have an inspection which in my opinion was not a wise choice. Of course this sped the process up by probably at least a week.

So if you are thinking of buying and have been told it takes at least 45 days give me a call. I work with people who are able to get things done very quickly provided you have good credit.

First time home buyers there may still be time to get that 8 thousand dollar tax credit if you have good credit.

Sellers! The average days on the market for my last listings has been 21 days. The listings have also sold for an average of 99 percent of the listing price. So sellers give me a call if you want your house to move quickly. 859 684 5890, pcampbell@rhr.com

Leaves, Nature's Wonderfu Gift to the Gardener

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:30:27 -0500

Leaves, Nature's Gold for our Soil

Yesterday I began raking my yard and moving the leaves to the garden. I will let the leaves absorb moisture and begin to decompose for a few weeks or days depending on the weather. If it looks like we will be getting an extended time of very cold weather I will use a shovel to turn a large portion of the leaves into the soil. I have two large pin oak trees, a yellow poplar, a locust and various shrubs that will drop their treasures. This will be enough leaves to cover my 1000 square foot garden with at least 18 inches of leaves after they have settled.

Leaves are natures gift to the gardener. Last year the only thing I did to prepare my soil was put lime on my garden and work the leaves into the soil. My soil is very heavy with clay. I was amazed at how well my first year garden produced. I used all organic fertilizers at the time I planted and kept the garden weeded. So lime, leaves, blood meal, kelp and bone meal were the only additions I made to my soil. We still are harvesting peppers. All of my tomatoes were killed from the early frost but many of my peppers miraculously survived.

Leaves provide an opportunity also to introduce children to the wonder of nature. Initially my grandson was hesitant to join me in the leaf frolicking.

However he found it very funny when I I threw a rake full of leaves into the air and stated it is "raining leaves." Many joyful moments were shared in the "leaf thunder showers" and soon Sam was creating his own leaf play.

New Listing at 324 Wise Drive in Wilmore Kentucky

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:03:10 -0500

Paul Campbell | Rector Hayden Realtors | 859.684.5890

324 Wise Drive, Wilmore, KY

Very nice home with newer deck and storage building just a couple of minutes from Asbury College and Seminary. Newer deck overlooks lovely back yard.

3BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $89,000

Year Built	1988
Sq Footage	1,013
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

All electric home with a heat pump. Just a 25 minute drive to Lexington or a couple of minutes to Asbury College and Seminary. Very well kept home. The kitchen looks new. Sit on the deck and savor the beauty of the backyard.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Living room
- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

View from the street.	Photo 1
Photo 2	The eat in kitchen
The deck and storage shed	Photo 6

Contact info:

Paul Campbell

Rector Hayden Realtors

859.684.5890

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 20, 2009, 4:49pm PDT

Lovely starter home with nice backyard in Wilmore

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:04:01 -0500

I just listed a home in Wilmore Kentucky that is perfect for a young family that needs to be near Asbury College and/or seminary. Wilmore is only about 25 minutes from downtown Lexington so it is also an easy commute to the bigger city.

The newer deck overlooks a lovely back yard with an excellent storage shed.

This home is in excellent condition except it was lived in by a heavy smoker. Replace the carpets and paint and it will be just like new. In fact the kitchen cabinets look new.
The $89,000 price is very competitive.

Realtors Sharing Books With Central Kentucky schools.

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:39:24 -0500

The Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors

is in the process of giving away over a 100 copies of "Enemy Pie" to schools throughout Central Kentucky.

Realtors are invited to come to the schools and participate when the books are presented to the librarians. The first presentation is at 10:00 AM, Monday, October 19th at Saffell Street Elementary in Anderson Country. We will then travel to Robert B. Turner at 11:25 and finally to Emma B. Ward at 1:50. Invitations have been emailed to Anderson County Realtors.

This is the third year LBAR has purchased new books and presented them to the Central Kentucky Schools. It is a great way to show tangible support for our schools and to connect with the community.

"Enemy Pie" was chosen because of its strong reconciliation message and because it has a very strong Dad as the central character. We live in a culture that likes to laugh at dads and portray them as bumbling, simplistic and aloof.

If you have children or grandchildren check this book out or buy it, you will not be disappointed.

Our Infatuation With Lawns

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:36:25 -0500

Of Lawns and Gardens

Mid September is the prime time for re-seeding and planting one’s lawn in Lexington. Around the corner from our house one of our neighbors (who is a horticulturalist at UK) has torn up his front lawn and reseeded it. He planted lawn seeds and then strewed straw (nice alliteration, huh?) over the top of it to help retain the soil from any water-run off. His front yard slopes sharply to the street.

Wow – that is a lot of work. I have lawn too, but it more closely resembles a weedy patch of green stretching beneath the two large oak trees in my front yard. Last spring I tore up the bulk of the lawn to plant my garden – and I have plans to further diminish the patch of lawn still in the back yard.

What’s so great about a lawn anyway? Our grandson Sam loves to “run” as fast as his little legs can carry him across a lawn – much faster and I don’t think Kathy will be able to catch him. And the robins like to dig worms out of a lawn. But lawns are a lot of effort for very little practical profit. One cannot eat grass clippings, and we don’t graze animals that need to chomp the grass.

Lawns became popular in Europe among the rich. They had servants to do the labor intensive work of cutting the lawns, using scythes. But even the rich often used their lawns for animals to graze. Lawns became a symbol of having money to lavish on a wide swath of green outside the manor/castle. Middle class folk might own a plot of land, but they used it to grow vegetables for their families. Sometimes they would have flowers among the herbs to provide beauty. Larger plots of land were used for grazing cattle and horses. Poor people often didn’t have land around their homes at all – and whatever they did have they used for growing food. Even today much of the land around homes in Third World countries is used for subsistence farming.

In the 1830’s mowing machines were invented but it wasn’t until after the Civil War that Americans began having lawns. With the growth of industrialization came the invention of a shorter work week, as well as improved mowers and sprinklers. But even then most Americans were content for just green—if native grasses, weeds and moss filled in the area around the house it wasn’t a crime. Dandelions were not a disaster.

I worry when I see a neighbor having their lawns sprayed with chemicals, trucks trolling my neighborhood. I know their information talks about how they use pesticides and herbicides responsibly, but I have my doubts.

Blonde, Cute And Bad to the Bone

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:53:56 -0500

When You’re Blonde Enough Nothing Else Matters

Eight years ago my wife adopted a three year old blonde cocker spaniel. Kathy was won over by Abby’s big brown eyes and Jennifer Aniston haircut. Abby was, essentially, already full grown and set in her ways, but I have a hunch that Kathy wouldn’t have been much of a taskmaster. Kathy considers that having raised three pretty good kids, she’s entitled to a dog with challenging behavior. I keep telling her that Marley pioneered the acceptability of bad dogs. Kathy will only grudgingly agree that Abby isn’t exactly Lassie material.

Abby has never been terribly smart. She knows, “Want to go for a walk?” and “Want a cookie?” But any other command and Abby just blinks. Abby liked to run outside and explore our yard. With the heavy dew or rains she would come in thoroughly wet and still expect to sleep on the couch. The only sure way to get her to come was to call, “Abby! Cookie!” When we lived in Seattle Kathy regularly took Abby for walks on a long off-leash trail. Every day Abby happily jumped in the car, traveling to the trail. She would perch on Kathy’s lap. I shuddered every day thinking that Kathy would get a ticket, but she never did.

When we moved to Kentucky Abby got to come too. She rode in the backseat and would lean over to peer out the windshield. Did she wonder at all the different smells as we drove across the country? Does she miss our big backyard and the off-leash trail? One thing is certain: she no longer bears the Most Adorable Surrogate Grandchild status now that Sam and Caroline live near us.

Now Abby’s excursions are mainly walking around the block two or three times a day. She does patrol our yard for squirrels and evil cats (neither of which she has been able to scare away). She still comes (usually) with the promise of a cookie. Now her favorite place is to wait somewhat impatiently underneath Sam’s high chair, hoping that Sam will accidentally drop some of his food. Abby is very good with Sam and Caroline. Sam can throw a ball and hit Abby while she’s asleep and she just blinks and moves. Caroline can grab some of Abby’s hair and she just rolls over.

This weekend our son Andy and family will be adding a Newfoundland “puppy” (at 10 weeks old the “puppy” is already as big as Abby). Andy vows that HIS dog will be well behaved. We shall see.

Lovely home in wonderfully quiet neighborhood.

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:08:46 -0500

Paul Campbell | Rector Hayden Realtors | 859.684.5890

589 Cecil Way, Lexington, KY

Very well maintained 27 year old home on a very quite street. Two master bedrooms, one on each floor. Very quiet Bosch dishwasher adds to the tranqu

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $177,900

Year Built	1982
Sq Footage	1,990
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	8,050 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Lovely 4 bedroom two full bath home that is only 27 years old. Very well kept home with more than enough space to raise a family in a quiet neighborhood that is close to downtown.
The yard is filled with lush evergreens and deciduous trees. Sit on the patio and enjoy the foliage and the birds as you sip your coffee and tea. A wonderful place to call your home.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Living room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Swimming pool(s)

- Tennis court(s)

- Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- A very quiet home located on a no exit street. The upstairs has two large bedrooms with a full bath

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 1
Photo 2	Photo 3
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Paul Campbell

Rector Hayden Realtors

859.684.5890

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 18, 2009, 3:39pm PDT

Grean Beans, a Kentucky Treasure

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:07:23 -0500

Green Beans and Kentucky Wonders

I planted 10 feet of green bean seeds in late June. When we lived in Seattle I would have planted the bean seeds in July, with the intentions of getting a crop during late August and early September before the shortening days and damp nights cause the beans to stop flowering. I like to grow pole beans. When we lived in Seattle my favorite bean varieties were Romano (a flat Italian bean) and Kentucky Wonder pole beans. It surely is a wonder that after 35 years living in Seattle, we are in Kentucky now.

There is something wonderful about how a bean plant grows and then twines upwards along a pole. I string a net of twine to make a lattice so that the bean plants can grow up and over however they wish. It isn’t long before the beans form a wall of green. Sam wouldn’t eat green beans (or any vegetable for that matter) earlier in the summer, but now he is willing to eat many vegetables.

Here are two of our favorite ways to serve green beans. Of course the traditional Southern recipe is to boil the beans, throw in some ham and serve with cornbread. These are a little different, but wonderfully good

Roasted Green Beans The recipe below with the basalmic vinegar is so... good!

2 pounds fresh green beans

3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

3/4 teaspoons salt (divided)

2 tablespoons basalmic vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons dill weed

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Take the stems off the green beans, but leave whole. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread in ungreased pan, overlapping as little as possible. Roast in 400 degree oven for 30 – 35 min. Whisk the rest of the ingredients together. Pour over hot beans.

Green Bean and Feta Salad

1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans

1/2 c. red onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. Feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans – toasted

1/2 c. red pepper, chopped

Vinaigrette:

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon dried basil OR 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

Blanch beans in pot of boiling water for 5 – 7 min, jut until tender but crisp. Drain beans and place in bowl of iced water so that they stay crisp. Drain water once beans are cold.

Combine vinaigrette ingredients. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Whisk until thick and thoroughly blended. Place beans on servng platter and drizzle vinaigrette over. Top with red onion, feta, nuts and red pepper. Cover and chill for several hours.

We harvested the first of our beans in mid July. Every time I go out to pick them I come back with about two pounds. I keep thinking that I will see the last of the blossoms, but still the beans grow. Kathy has kept us in green beans – which are an excellent source of protein – and we have given green beans to our neighbors and our kids. Some of the green beans have been frozen. I know that they will taste great in the stews and soups that will be part of our autumn and winter menus.

But we still have lots of green beans. Our church, First Alliance, here in Lexington, has a garden table in the foyer. Gardeners bring in their excess produce and people take what they can use. Gardeners are blessed that someone can use what they’ve grown. People that take the food are blessed to get home grown produce. I wonder. Isn’t the overabundance of food like God’s grace? It is more than we can use and spills over to bless other people.

Another Tantalizing Recipe

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:57:15 -0500

Civilization and gardens

During World War II Americans turned their yards (and sometimes roof gardens) into vegetable gardens so that they could ease the strain on the food supply. These were called Victory Gardens. In 1944 about 40% of all the vegetables being consumed in the US were grown in Victory Gardens. The food certainly aided the war effort, but it also boosted the morale of the people who didn’t themselves actively go to war. The gardens promoted civilization, if you will.

Last month I dragged Kathy to the Arboretum for the monthly meeting of gardeners. It was a potluck and Kathy provided a salad that used some of the bounty of our cherry tomatoes. One lady took a bite of Kathy’s salad and said, “Who brought this? What’s in it?” (always a mark of success!)

Cornbread Tomato Salad

Combine in a large bowl:

4 c. cubed cornbread

2 c. halved cherry tomatoes

1 c. cubed Fontina cheese

1/2 c. diced cucumbers

1/2 c. chopped fresh basil

Whisk together and pour over: 1/2 c. olive oil, 6 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon grated fresh lemon peel, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss gently.

The different people went around the table introducing themselves, talking about their garden interests. I told about how I’m new to Kentucky and learning to adapt to the soil and climate here. One couple talked about how they’d converted their whole yard to an immense garden. But what they said was that they had “civilized their yard”. What an unusual phrase! But isn’t it apt? Gardening provides order and even a habitat for bees, birds (and often unwanted bugs – but a big enough garden has bounty for all). Furthermore I find that gardening civilizes me. It gives me a reason to adopt habits of diligent watering, weeding, tending and harvesting.

Gardening, Rediscovering the Joy of Work

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:59:36 -0500

Tonight I want to start a series of blog postings that I will call simply "Reasons I Garden." This may help some readers understand my passion to garden and why I think it should be such an integral part of owning a home.

When I am lonely, disheartened or just confused and bewildered with the cares of the world I find solace in the garden. In the Biblical creation story in Genesis chapter two verse 15 the text reads, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." I often hear from observers of my garden, "Isn't this a lot of work?." The word "work" is said with disdain and repulsiveness.Work was created before man chose to disobey God. The Garden of Eden was created to be a place of work. To be able to care for a garden was part of God's very early plan.

When I am in the garden I am drawn to the beauty of the the plants, the birds and insects foraging, the symetry of so many plants, the smells emanating from blossoms, the moist earth and the rich composting materials. I am drawn to the garden because it was a place originally designed for me to nurture and for the creation to nurture my soul.

Frankly it baffles me when I see so many people who would rather spend their time on a treadmill than working in a garden. Yes, it is work but it is the only work that is truly sustainable. Caring for the garden can provide healthy excercise, healthy nourishment and healthy spiritual refreshment..

It is my opinion that the desire to take "the work" out of gardening is at the core of all of the uses of chemicals to feed the plants and chemicals to kill the "pests." It is as if the serpant from the garden even today continues to tell us a lie so that we can believe "we can save ourselves from work." Rediscovering the joy of work can be the beginning of spiritual health. I am so very thankful that I get to work. The idea of retirement has no ring of joy to me. I hope and pray I can work until the day I die.

I lay a challenge before all those who have grown weary of work. Let me help you begin to garden in even a very small way.

Dig a little spot that is three by three and turn in the leaves several times this fall. Before it freezes hard cover with a pile of leaves. Now if you are not a winter gardener you can spend time on the treadmill while you brouse the seed catalogues. Go to Fedco Seeds and order their catologue. The catalogue is much more extensive than their web site and it is a joy to read information on their seeds.

One of my favorite peppers was discovered as I was reading the Fedco catalogue. As I recall the Jimmy Nardello pepper was named after somone's uncle who immigrated to the US from Italy and brought these pepper seeds on his voyage. Jimmy's are long and very dark red peppers with a mild sweet flavor. They are the first peppers in my garden to ripen.

Flippers Beware

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:39:08 -0500

I have been in the proceess of getting a home ready to sell the past three weeks. When I bought it I was hoping to have it on the market next week. Things just take longer than I usually plan and of course it costs more to make the necessary upgrades than I had planned. I do some of the demolition work and help out a bit. However, I am not a finish carpenter and don't pretend or try to be. I contract out the work that I know I cannot do professionally. .

I recently had a friend say to me, "I have been reading about flipping a house and have been reading and learning everything possible." I asked him if he was working with a realtor and he said no. I advised him to give me a call and he said he would. I see him every week and yet he has yet to call me.

It is so easy to walk into a vacant house and spot a home that someone has bought and is trying to flip. Especially if it is someone who is not a professional remodeler. Typically these homes are in need of repair to the repair. Recently I showed a home to a client where the attempted updates to the kitchen included a two piece granite top that was at least half an inch off at the seam. They had also attempted to update the kitchen without installing a dishwasher.

Often these "get rich quick flippers" also will not bother getting a home inspection. So when they try to sell the home things such as electrical problems or even worse mold problems raise their ugly head and the "flipper" ends up losing money.

Once again applying the Golden Rule is the only way to "flip" a home. If you fix it up so that you want to live in it, you are happy to pay the price you are asking and you are willing to buy a home warranty for the home then it will sell quickly. If you made a little money during the project consider yourself fortunate. Odds are the first home you flip will make little or no money however. So ask yourself, "Am I patient enough to learn from the process and willing to do some real soul searching before I do it again.

Just one last word about flipping. If you are trying to buy a bank owned home be ready to wait and wait and wait. Be aware also that the bank may be looking at more than one potential buyer and that if your bid is not high enough you may lose out on a home after waiting for weeks and even possibly months.

The Kentucky State Fair - A Very Good Time

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:56:14 -0500

Last Wednesday Kathy and I enjoyed the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.

We were pleasantly surprised that most of the exhibits, even the places for the animals were air conditioned. The memories of my youthful experiences of attending fairs in the Pacific Northwest as a boy had served to make me prepared for a very hot day. So we were delighted to spend a day at the fair and not feel drenched from the humidity.

My favorite parts are always the animals and vegetables. I grew up on a little organic farm in North Idaho. The dark purple shiney eggplant and the butternut squash are the two of the mainstays in this vegetabel display.

Watching the children show their animals brings back my 4-H days on the farm in Cataldo Idaho. Feeding and caring for that animal for about nine months provided such a good opportunity for me to really underestand the responsibilities of raising animals and later even raising a family.

Kathy's favorite part of the fair is the decorated cakes and and the quilt displays. My older sister Ramona used to decorate cakes so I have an idea of the tedious labor it takes to make a cake delightfully pleasing to the the eye. My best cakes were formed from the mud that bubbled up on a late winter day when the sun and rains melted the piles of snow.

Overall Kathy and I were pleased that the fair wasn't dominated by the commercial industries. Both of us feel as if we may be ready to return even next year. After visiting our State Fair in Washington we both felt like it may take a decade to want to return. So plan to attend next year with your children or grandchildren and have a great time learning about the vast agricultural endeavors in the Commonwealth.

Organic Supplies

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:50:42 -0500

Where do I get organic fertilizers?

That was the question Jerry left on my voice mail this afternoon. Unfortunately Jerry did not leave a number and my phone did not capture his number.

Jerry said he saw pictures of my garden on the web so I expect he is reading my blog. Hopefully you will read this this entry Jerry.

I bought the blood meal and bone meal from Fayette Seed which is located on Red Mile road very near Versailles.

I couldn't find anyone in Lexington that sold kelp meal so I ordered it from Gardens Alive in Indiana.

EvoOrganic is a new organic supply business in Lexington. I searched their site however and did not find blood meal, bone meal or kelp meal.

I hope this is helpful to Jerry and anyone else looking for organice fertilizers

Visiting with Farmers at the Market

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:49:09 -0500

Today I visited the Farmer's Market at the corner of Maxwell and Broadway. That market is open Tuesdays and Thursday. The 7:00 start time is great because there is so much parking available and the produce is so fresh.

Watching people stroll rapidly to the market with their tote bags gave me such pleasure. I imagined the good smells coming from their kitchens this evening and the enjoyment their family and friends would have sharing such healthy food.

I only had about an hour this morning and visited with three different vendors. I felt rushed even then.

I was especially intrigued with Bill Best and his tomatoes. Bill is a retired Physical Education teacher but has been farming for nearly 40 years. Having farmed and taught most of my career I felt almost an immediate kinship with Bill. Bill is the founder of The Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center near Berea. He sells only tomatoes at the market but also has an on line business selling his tomato seeds and 50 varieties of beans. I tasted a few of his Rosalita's and was most impressed with the deep rich taste. It is almost a grape sized tomato. Not real sweet but very flavorful. I usually prefer a very sweet cherry but couldn't resist buying some of the Rosalitas even though we give away about three pounds of tomatoes every day from our own garden.

Bill's web site is http://heirlooms.org/ . I learned more about heirloom beans in the half hour spent with Bill than I could have ever imagined possible. Bill is passionate about helping save heirloom bean varieties. I am very eager to visit Bill at Sustainable Mountain Agriculture.

Carl McMaine a third generation farmer from near Bybee Kentucky about 45 minutes south of Lexington grows very a large variety of peppers, cucumbers, squash and more. Carl's tomatoes got hit by the late blight.this year and he lost all of his tomato crop. The first evidence of late blight usually shows up and within less than a week your tomatoes are wiped out. A recent opinion article in the New York Times blames the widespread blight on the increase in large numbers of starter plants that are shipped without good monitoring for diseases. Read Dan Barber's article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html

Carl starts all of his own tomatoes from seed on the farm. It may be possible though that another nearby farmer or small gardener bought their plants and the disease spread to the McMaine farm.

The perils of farming can only be endured by men and women who are passionate about their work. Where would we get our good food and knowledge of how to continue growing food without the Bill Best and Carl McMaines of Kentucky? Thank you!

Buyers: How to Get a Great Price in Lexington

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:42:44 -0500

To Buyers:

Yes, there are ways to get a terrific price on a home without suffering through the purchase of a bank owned home or a short sale.

In fact, in my opinion you will get a better buy in most cases and your experience will be much more pleasant.

Here are some true statements that I have discovered recently as I have researched home sales in Lexington.
I will eagerly share the detailed research with those buyers who are willing to come to my office for a free consultation.

This research was done in three zip codes within Lexington within this past week.

The Results:
Homes that have been on the maket 100 days or more in these three zip codes sold for significantly less money than the homes that sold in less 100 days.
The higher the price of homes generally the greater loss.

Looking at the specific numbers it is quite obvious that sellers often make the deadly mistake of asking too much for their homes. When they do not sell buyers become hesitant to even look at the homes. The sellers drop the prices hoping to attract buyers but the damage is already done. Buyers become wary of homes that have not sold and the prices are dropping. In many cases the seller has no other recourse than to continue to drop prices.

They may have already relocated, they may be nearing the point of not having enough equity to pay for selling the home. There may be pressing needs such as health or the loss of a job.

There can also be other factors that make it difficult to sell. The decor of the house, the clutter in the house, the need for general upkeep, the initial appeal of the house and many other factors can be contributing to the lack of a sale. Any of these just make it much more difficult to sell the overpriced house. The smart buyer will not let these factors keep them from getting a very good buy.

Buyers, these houses are great opportunities. When you work with me I can start immediately to set up a search looking for properties that once were overpriced but now are a great value.

Of course there are also a few homes that go on the market and sell the first day because the owner is realistic and wants to get rid of the home ASAP. As your buyer's agent I can set up a search that will notify me of the houses that you are most interested in.

859 684 5890
lexingtonsgreenthumbrealtor.com

My Blog:

Blending My Passions

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:55:06 -0500

Today I begin my efforts to help the citizens of Fayette County Kentucky understand I am a Realtor Consultant that is on a mission to help anyone who works with me as a buyer or seller to become a gardener. I have experienced the value that a small garden can bring when selling a home. I have experienced the joy of seeing first time home buyers reap the harvest from their first garden.

I was raised on a small organic farm in North Idaho. I owned my own very small organic farm in Woodinville, Washington for 25 years.
When my two oldest children Andrew and Marnie ended up in Lexington and when our first grandchild Samuel was born Kathy and I began the process of moving to be near our family. I had begun helping people buy farm land while in Seattle and knew that I would want to continue in real estate in Kentucky.

Last month while harvesting tomatoes in my garden I was overcome with deep joy and gratitude.. Immediately I was reminded that a great passion of mine is to grow healthy food. The previous four months I had worked with several sellers and buyers. I had shared my joy of gardening through giving my clients a plant I had grown or sharing some produce from my garden. It just hadn't quite become clear until that morning experience last month that to be the realtor I really want to be I needed to somehow connect my two passions.

So with the help of Hugh Sims of Integrity Premier Advertising I am beginning the process of informing Lexington on my passion to help home owners and home buyers become home gardeners.

The first part of my plan is to visit local businesses that have a connection with healthy food. That includes local garden centers, local restaurants and local markets that buy and/or sell healthy grown local produce or products used to grow healthy produce. My goal is to share with these businesses my passion and desire to support their efforts to connect people with healthy food production practices. I will give each business a tote bag with my logo and 30 pens to use with their patrons.

The second step is to publish a high quality pamplet that focuses on building value into our lives and our homes through healthy gardening practices. I am considering doing a high quality quarterly pamplet that is magnetized. I want something easy to read that will inform people on gardening and remind them I am ready to help them market their home..

Short Cuts with a Garmin

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:40:01 -0500

Two Brothers, A GPS and a 4 Wheeler were all we needed to start a day of adventure.

My brother Jeff drove out from Colorado this week with his wife Teresa, daughter Chris, and grandson Jared.

Kathy and I met them at their camp site near Natural Bridge State Park Thursday and we set out in their 4 Wheel Drive truck for a day of exploring.

Jeff was not in a hurry and he likes to explore the country, so we purposefully took the back roads to our ultimate destination of Cumberland Gap.

The windy roads and elevation changed as we toured eastern Kentucky; it proved to be slow, but of great reward in scenery and historical education..

The lush growth from the abundant July rains made the occasional roadside viewpoint especially treasured. Jeff stopped repeatedly, and we viewed the Smoky Mountains even though we never entered the park.

The natural beauty was in stark contrast to the historical town of Lynch, Kentucky. The memorial to the hundreds of miners who lost their lives in the coal mines was especially sobering. Those honorable men were providing for their families in the best way they knew. There is reason to question the current practice of carving a hole out of the side of a mountain using heavy equipment while mining for coal. The priceless value of lives lost in the conventional mining practices makes scraping a mountain much more palatable.

It took us six hours to finally motor into Cumberland Gap National Park. After a quick tour of the visitors center we trucked up to the top of "The Pinnacle."

The Pinnacle is a two mile very steep drive to the crest of a hill where one can view Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. We appreciated the clear weather and we posed for numerous photos.

With our daylight dwindling rapidly we set the GPS to take us back to Jeff's campsite and proceeded onward hoping that we could make the return trip before dark.

I kept an eye on the Kentucky map that Kathy had dredged up for two reasons. The GPS is only as good as the programmer who entered the info and because old habits die slowly. I have greatly enjoyed looking at maps as long as I can remember. After traveling about an hour I glanced at the map and noticed a small paved road that appeared to shave about 10 miles off our route.

I asked Jeff if he wanted to try a short cut. From the back seat came some sarcastic remarks from my loved one, guess who?

There are a few shared life experiences with Kathy that justify her doubt about the wisdom of taking a "short cut."

Jeff was up for an adventure, and we turned on the enticing narrow road that began our "short cut" adventure. The GPS adjusted to our new route. The little paved road we navigated soon became very narrow and the GPS directed us to turn on C. Wilson Road.

C. Wilson did not own a paving company. The road was clear of grass but cluttered with baseball sized rocks. The women in the back seat, most notably my dear wife, had some additional choice comments sprinkled with nervous laughter. Less than a mile, we suddenly were confronted with a tree that had fallen across the road. Fortunately it broke into several pieces.

Jeff, Chris and I were able to swing the dead wood to the side of the road. The GPS continued to lay the favored magenta line ahead of us. Shortly we came to a small farmhouse with a very noisy dog. The dog ran beside us and barked incessantly. That agressive dog began to cause a little worry in my mind.

Jeff put dust between us and the dog and then the road curved, and dropped down into a creek. Literally, there was no bridge. Jeff put the truck in 4 wheel drive and we slowly made our way across the creek. The relief of crossing the creek was suddenly replaced with the sight of a large grass field without any road whatsoever.

The witty comments from the back seat riders were a bit terse. I noticed that the little simulated car on the GPS no longer was following a line. The backseat riders directed us to turn around. I insisted on continuing mostly out of pure stubborness. Momentarily though, I spotted what appeared to be a paved road a couple of hundred yards in front of the truck. We continued moving forward with great expectations.

Fortunately there was no fence guarding that large grass field. Jeff easily pulled the truck up onto the paved road and the GPS was once again satified to lay the magenta line for us to travel. I glanced at the arrival time on the GPS and was greatly satisfied that despite the perils of our journey, we had shaved two minutes off of our arrival time.

Reflecting upon our adventure Jeff and I were especially amazed that someone had taken the time to enter C. Wilson Road into the progamming of my GPS. Do you have a GPS story you would like to share? Please do. Paul

Racing Downtown, It Was Legal

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:25:49 -0500

Lexington's Tour de France

Last night I had the opportunity to help monitor the last stage of The Tour of the Red River Gorge held in downtown Lexington.

My task was to blow the whistle everytime a cycler approached the intersection of N. Mill and Main Streets. I was busy blowing for more than 3 hours. The first two races were very mild compared to the mad dog racing for the last 90 minutes of the 17 and 18 year olds. Fortunately there were no crashes on my watch although from my vantage point it seemed inevitable there would be. The racers would approach my corner at about 40 miles an hour. It seemed they slowed down very litte. The 75 bikers were a blur and miraculously there were no accidents. At least on my corner.

I knew nothing about this race when I answered a need for volunteers sent via email by Rick Hatcher. Rick is the executive director of the the Non Profit Organization, Bluegrass State Games.

I was fortunate enough to have parents of riders willing to humor my inquisitive converstation. It seems this race was started sometime much earlier in eastern parts of the state. It is an attempt to copy much of what happens at Tour De France. There were earlier stages of the race in the Red River Gorge and other tough spots that included winding hills and steep terrain.

There were several families including fathers with their sons who stayed for the complete race. What a wholesome fun activity. I hope the event returns next year and is publized in such a way that more families can enjoy the festivities.

Gardening and Friendships

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:48:33 -0500

Gardens Open Doors to Friendship

Growing a garden gives one so many opportunities to begin building relationships. One of my neighbor and I for a myriad of reasons were just not connecting. He is diligent about keeping his yard very neat. So while he was outside the other night I went over and immediately asked him if he liked tomatoes. I had just given all my tomatoes away to another neighbor so I hesitated just asking him but the time was opportune.

The next day I saw him in the yard greeting his wife as she came home from work. I scooped up a bag of extra tomatoes. They were delighted to get the tomatoes and we had a few minutes of really getting to know each other.

The day before that a neighbor two doors up stopped by and asked if he could see my garden. He could get a glimpse of my garden on his walks and had questions about "how I grew such a beautiful garden." I took him on a tour and then invited hime to sit and visit a while.

Growing a garden opens doors to friendship much like sharing a meal with a neighbor. Sharing a meal with a neighbor that is cooked from the fresh produce in your garden is especially rewarding. Kathy cooked a lovely meal this week that we share with another neighbor. What a great way to enjoy life and build relationships.

A Recipe to Grow For

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:31:30 -0500

My Favorite Green Bean Recipe almost as good as Basil Tomato Tart

We just had neighbors over for a garden meal. Kathy made this yummy bread tomato salad and fresh okra with tomatoes but I think my favorite is still the "Carter Green Beans." I picked the beans as they hung tantalizingly from the poles early this morning. I prefer pole beans. I really don't like bending over to pick beans and the pole beans stay off the ground which prevents rotting so common in wet and humid summers.

Just the memory of eating Carter Green Beans is motivation enough each spring to build the trellis and plant the beans. Oh, so delicious!

Here is the recipe for Carter Green Beans

1/3 cup or 6 slices of crumbled bacon

2 pounds of fresh snapped beans

Bring the Beans to a boil and boil 7 minutes or less. Do not let them get limp.

Put the beans and the bacon aside and dump the remaining ingredients listed below into a blender. Blend for 10 seconds.

1/3 cup olive oil

3 Tablespoons wine vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon salt

Pepper to your taste

3 chopped leaves of fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt or 1 clove minced

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Add the blended ingredients to the beans and bacon and mix well.

You will not be disappointed!

Successful Home Buying Strategies

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:47:39 -0500

Buyers, There is More than One Way to Get a Good Price on Your Dream Home

I often have buyers contacting me wanting to get a great deal. Initially they are determined to buy a bank owned home or a short sale home.

The radio and TV ads advertise in such a way that the public think they can just steal a home. Buyers be careful what you steal!

I recently bid on a bank owned home and was lead to believe I had an agreement with the bank. The next day the bank sent me an email stating. "Due to multiple offers we need your highest bid." My first bid was my highest bid. I had done my homework on this house. I do not buy homes to lose money.

A prudent buyer will count the cost before making a bid and will stick to that price. Otherwise you could easily be in the same situation as the previous owner.

There Are Better Ways to Get a Great Price on a Home.

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1. Know the market - work with a realtor who has access to all of the sold properties and let him/her really educate you as to what the "real market" value is in particular areas. It takes time but a realtor has the access to and expertise to determine what the "real market" value is.

        Real Time Example:
            I listed a home in Wilmore and the home sold in 12 days because it was listed at market value. I determined the value using these steps.
                1) I searched for properties that sold in the last 3 months that were in the same neighborhood development.. This is exactly what the appraisers will do.
               2) I did a comparative market analysis on those homes. That involves comparing age, bedrooms, bathrooms, garage space, etc and adjusting the price                     accordingly. This is done using monetary values that are standard for the community.
               3) I also campared the cost per square foot of the three homes. Note: The average price per square foot of the two houses that have sold is 19 dollars a square foot lower than those that have not sold..
               4) I presented these facts to the buyer and let him set the price. He wanted to sell his home and based his price on what had been selling. Not on what he hoped it would sell for, or what a friend told him he should ask, and expecially not on the average price of the other 11 homes in the development that had not sold after being listed more than 180 days It seems many people list their home hoping to sell. Hoping for a lucky day when someone will walk by and fall in love with their home and they will win the "house selling lottery." .

It is my experience in the nine months that I have lived and worked as a realtor in Lexington that homes that are priced according to the real market value sell quickly. I have listed and sold four homes and the average has sold in 59 days. I have worked with buyers who hesitated to make an offer on their "dream home" and it sold immediately afterward.

SO........ If you work with a well prepared realtor he/she will be able to find homes that are priced to sell and you can make an offer before it is too late.

2. Let your realtor look for homes that haven't sold because of other factors. One of those leading factors is that the many homes are overpriced from day one.

On July 5th I did a Comparative Market Analysis of all the homes that sold in area three the previous three months which is roughly the southeast portion of Lexington. I limited the analyis to homes that sold between $390,000 and $815,000. Twenty two of these homes sold in less than a hundred days at an average of 95.6 percent of the original listing price. Seventeen of these homes sold in more than a hundred days at an average of 87.5 percent of the origiinal listing price.

What is most interesting is the homes that sold in less than 100 days sold for an average of $44,000 dollars more than the homes that sold in excess of 100 days. I hope to have time to continue this comparison of selling prices and days on the market in other price ranges and areas of the Lexington housing market.

The price may have been dropped but it is still overpriced. Some of these homes are ripe for the plucking. You will only find out which ones by making an offer. Recently I have helped two people buy homes for an average of 83 percent of the listing price. The percentage would have even been lower if the selling price were compared to the original listing price. I have found that if you do a good job presenting the facts for what the true market value is on the home, you then have empowered the listing agent to present the offer and make it realistic to the seller.

3. Be willing to look at homes that others may skip because of poor pictures on the internet or a very unattractive front yard. It may take only a few dollars to make these "rough looking houses" into a real show place. I am amazed daily by the lack of pictures of a house and the poor quality. Don't let cosmetic issues kill a good deal. In this market the well kept homes priced right sell quickly. Conversely the home with the ugly yard may never even be looked at. So there are diamonds in the rough waiting to get snatched up by a buyer who is able to look under the skin of a house.

Bounty, Beauty and Blessed Children

Paul Campbell (Rector Hayden South, Lexington, Ky) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:23:17 -0500

Working from Home

Working From Home This Morning

I am taking care of my beautiful little granddaughter Caroline this morning while my wife attends her piano lesson and runs errands.

I loved most of the time my children were growing up but there is something different and precious about my grandchildren.

There is something so dear about the time I spend with my grandchildren. As I live out the last half of my life everything is so much more vividly precious.

Every time I walk through the garden I am struck by the beauty of the beans majestically growing up their supports.

I am overwhelmed by the early morning dew drops shouting to me from the broadleafed pumpkin vines.

The sungold tomatoes beckoning me with their grapelike trussets, and the Jimmy Nardello peppers beginning to call out with their organge tint seem sweeter and more delicious with each new summer.

Evening Now

We had zucchini with basil and mushrooms over rice for dinner tonight. What a joy and blessing to be able to pick fresh produce. Kathy is a very good cook but when you give her fresh vegetables and herbs she pleases the pallette perfectly.

My grandson Sam is here this evening bringing an astounding amount of energy. He helps me push the reel mower and so badly wants to do it himself. He continually believes he can do it alone.

I let him try and he nudges it a bit. I turn the mower over with the blade up and he triumphantly pushes the mower over the grass. Sam is only 21 months old but detemined to be a "worker man."

What a very special day to begin with Caroline and end with Sam. We are blessed.