Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor,

I want to insulate my basement. It is made of concrete block walls. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks,

R—

Dear R—

Ideally this should have been done with Styrofoam insulation before the basement was backfilled during construction. However, please don’t dig out around the basement walls to do this. Trying to backfill at this point can cause damage to the block walls.

Because I’m not sure what you’re going to do with the basement (are you trying to make it into a living area? A pantry? Are you trying to heat and cool it?), these suggestions are only general recommendations. As you probably know, if you’re trying to heat and cool a basement area, the dirt against the walls serves as a wick, drawing the heated and/or cooled air out. If your basement is high and dry, our construction consultant recommended building a stud wall 2” from the block wall. (Leaving that two inch clearance provides an air gap around the wall for ventilation purposes.) Insulate the stud wall like any other wall in your house and cover with Sheetrock. If your basement is damp and wet and prone to moisture, you’re going to have to waterproof it first. There are so many variables that can determine what type of waterproofing you use that it’s impossible to cover all contingencies in this small space. Consult with someone in your area that has experience in waterproofing basements.

Our consultant has seen people use furring strips nailed directly to the block foundation wall and then Sheetrock or paneling nailed directly to them, but this is not something he recommends. Not only do the nails used compromise the waterproofing of the wall (from holes and cracks), but they also compromise the structure of the blocks as well. Trying to nail directly to those blocks is a good way to get a running crack in your foundation wall, which is not something you want to do.

The Editor

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Dear Editor,

My neighbor has offered to give me the saplings created by her pear tree. My understanding is that most fruit trees that are planted are spliced from other trees, therefore the roots are a different species. If the sapling is created by the root it will not bear fruit because it is not technically a pear tree, but whatever tree the root is. If the sapling was created by seeds from the tree and not the root, will the new tree bear fruit? Is the fruit considered a hybrid that will not reproduce a fruit bearing tree?

Paul from Illinois

Dear Paul,

If the sprout your neighbor is giving you comes from that root stock, then no, you’re right, it won’t be a pear. It’ll be whatever that rootstock is—if the tree is a grafted tree. The house we used to live in had old homestead pear trees on it, and those weren’t grafts. First make sure it’s a grafted tree before deciding anything.

If the sprout your neighbor has comes from the seed of the fruit of the tree, then your sprout will be a fruit bearing tree. However, if the parent tree is a graft, your sapling may grow to be twice as big as what your neighbor has because your sapling won’t be a graft. The root stock controls the size of the tree grafted onto it. However, you won’t be sure what type of pear tree pollinated your neighbor’s tree, so the seed may not produce a pure strain of pear. If you’re looking for a pure strain (such as a Bosc or an Oriental), you’ll need to take a cutting from your neighbor’s tree and actually root it.

The Editor

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Dear Editor,

I was just reading the post from DH. I am a beekeeper and wanted to add some info for your readers.

The bumble bee is much more sensitive to any environmental problems, and as such, the more you see the healthier your garden/yard/farm, etc., is. Always be glad to see the bumble bee, and they get along just fine with the honey bee. My “girls” don’t mind them at all. In fact, I’ve seen a bumble bee take a short “cruise” inside one of my hives with no apparent “alarm” from my honey bees. But I have to tell you, each hive can have a completely different “personality.” I have one have that I can look in on without any protection, and they are just fine with me peeking in and checking on them. Another hive right next door doesn’t share that same casual personality, so I always have to “dress for the occasion.” J

God’s Blessings to You,

Dear CW—

Thank you for writing in. My husband calls his bees his “girls” as well! And like you, we have that one hive that just carries an attitude no matter how careful you are with them! Bees are fascinating creatures, and I enjoy ours immensely.

The Editor

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