Archive for the ‘Housing’ Category
Water Damage: 8 Ways to Dry Out and Move On
Thanks to heavy snow pack and a wet spring, many of our Missoula neighbors have been dealing with water. While severe cases of flooding will most likely require professional assistance, homeowners can take step... more
20+ Things to Do for Kids Visiting Missoula
By PAUL WHEATON. Paul has family coming to visit. He could go on and on about how great Missoula is, and this post lists some of his top attractions!... more
Building an Urbanite Retaining Wall or Path
By LISA HENSLEY. As anyone who has had to buy retaining wall stones can tell you, the cost of those projects adds up very quickly. But there’s one way to get low walls, paths and patios for nothing but sweat ... more
Reuse It . . . Vinegar and Other Household Products
By LISA HENSLEY. Although “reuse” for most people means turning something old into something new, or just using it more than once, I like to think it also applies to using things for purposes other than th... more
Waters Rising in Western Montana
Every few years or so, it seems that Western Montana is in danger of flooding. Many homeowners combat this problem only when waters start to rise but do little to actually prevent the floods from happening or ... more
Mount Sentinel: the Lushest Farmland in All of Montana
By PAUL WHEATON. Could we convert Mt. Sentinel into a lush hillside? Paul has a plan.... more
Reuse It . . . Custom Wrapping Paper
By LISA HENSLEY. While I am all for keeping selected samples of my son's artistic development, there’s only so much we can store. I feel bad though, just throwing these masterpieces away. My solution: turn ... more
Growing Good Eats in the Garden City
By KRISTEN LEE-CHARLSON. After a long winter the farmers’ market season is finally here. I love all things about local food–the flavor of the strawberries, the long wait in winter for spring’s first radis... more
Buttercups of My Spring
By VERINA PALMER MARTIN. It seems like a lifetime since I’ve seen Montana during the renewal of spring, which may be because you never really know when spring is going to arrive. It takes Montana a little lo... more
Reuse It . . . Composting 101
By LISA HENSLEY. While it feels like Spring will never show her face around these parts, it is still a great time to get going on one of the greatest re-use projects ever: compost. Why should you compost?... more
Clean, Sustainable Wood Burning
By PAUL WHEATON. The Missoula Urban Demonstration Project celebrated earth day last Sunday. I got together with the Missoula Free Cycles folks and we found a way to do a bit more than most folks for earth day.... more
The Every Day-ness of Earth Day
By RYAN NEWHOUSE. April 22 is nationally recognized as Earth Day, that one day of the year where kind-minded folks and hip organizations bring out their recycling, plant gardens and clean up parks, beaches and ... more
Protecting the Greatest Investment
Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetimes. Considering the upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a de... more
Creating Crafty Crayons
By LISA HENSLEY. You’ve probably accumulated assorted crayons that still have some life left, but aren’t necessarily in their prime. Why throw them away? You can repurpose them into new crayons that frankl... more
#1 Gyro is My Favorite!
By PAUL WHEATON. #1 Gyro is my new favorite! Their gyros and greek fries are excellent! And they easily have the best spanakopita. This post features a review of Missoula's #1 Gyro.... more
Sepp Holzer is Coming to Missoula!
By PAUL WHEATON. Sepp Holzer has done so many huge things, that his property is crawling with dozens of doctoral students doing their thesis work based on Sepp's work. And he's coming to Missoula!... more
Missoula Seeing Spring Thaw in Real Estate!
While spending is still more responsible than it was prior to the crash, consumers are beginning to feel more confident in their financial security. Folks are shopping, and eating out, and even looking for upg... more
Heirloom Seeds
By LISA HENSLEY. Living in the Garden City has inspired many people to try their hand at growing stuff. If you want to try growing some of your own food: Try Heirloom Seeds.... more
Crafty Desk
By LISA HENSLEY. When I was in the Marketing world, my mentor and I had a favorite phrase: "R & D, baby" short for "Ripoff and Duplicate!" We found something we liked and used it as a starting point for what... more
Putting Down Roots
Recently, some have suggested that home ownership is detrimental to families because it makes homeowners less mobile and hinders their ability to move for a new job. Not true.... more
Bear Wrestling and Farm Work
By CLAY SPRINGMEYER. As I sit typing this, according to my fancy computer thermometer, it is 9 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I'm quite positive this measurement isn't accounting the windchill factor from the hur... more
Can You Feel the Buzz?
Perhaps it is the chill in the air, the sunshine, or the wrap up of holiday’s spent with families and loved ones, but members of the Missoula community are experiencing an unmistakable buzz in the air.... more
All Real Estate is Local – Even in Montana
We’ve all heard the national news about housing prices plummeting and foreclosure rates soaring. Fortunately, in most of Montana, we have come through without the astounding foreclosure rates and falling home... more
The Year in the Rear-View Mirror
By RYAN NEWHOUSE. From new trails and an additional roundabout to the launch of a new streets festival and record ridership, Missoula saw lots of bikes, lots of bus riders and lots of footpaths in 2010. Here’... more
Missoula Needs Snow Angels
By RYAN NEWHOUSE. As snow has finally blanketed the streets, trails and sidewalks of Missoula, the City and the Bicycle-Pedestrian Program Manager are asking everyone to do their part to keep the sidewalks in ... more
The Need for Tweed
11/09 Blog by Ryan Newhouse. Last Sunday, about 50+ riders donned their dandiest tweed-inspired garb and rode their bikes through the gray, wet streets of Missoula for the first annual Missoula Tweed Ride. The ... more
Anywhere But Missoula, MT
11/09 Blog by Elke Govertson. If you had asked me in college where I would live when I “settled down” (is that what has happened? I have settled? Like a flat cake? Like an upset stomach? Yikes.) I would hav... more
Zoo Town Night Life
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A UM STUDENT. Blog by Clay Springmeyer. Goodbye Day Light Savings! Don't you love getting to sleep in an extra hour? Well, readers, so much has happened in the last week that I don't eve... more
A Day in the Life…
A DAY IN THE LIFE A UM STUDENT. Blog by Clay Springmeyer. I play Dungeons and Dragons in a basement on Sundays. On Sunday nights I'm Terran Crane Fist, a half-orc monk that kills zombies and skeletons with my h... more
The Evolution of Food in My Lifetime
Blog by Bob Zimorino. "Food...is good." If Gordon Gecko had uttered those words back in the original Wall Street, we would have had an entirely different movie. He went the greed route, leaving food wide open f... more
Ten Spoon Winery
Blog by Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten. Soon after we planted our first grape vines, launching the dream of a green vineyard and winery in Montana’s Rockies, excellent friend and author Deirdre McNamer g... more
Great Missoula Views – Public Art!
Art on every corner? Well, almost! If you’ve driven anywhere in Missoula the past two years, it’s likely that you’ve seen new splashes of color on various corners throughout the city. These eclectic art p... more
Governor Schweitzer says “Welcome”
Greetings, I am pleased to welcome you to Missoula, one of Big Sky Country’s most dynamic cities. Tremendous recreational opportunities available year-round and a vibrant downtown social scene make Misso... more
Pleasing Your Palate in Missoula
Hungry? You'll be able to satisfy just about any craving in Missoula! Whether it's a casual meal for the family, a fine dining experience, or dessert after a concert or play, Missoula offers a wealth of opt... more
Missoula History
The first inhabitants of the Missoula area were Native Americans from the Salish tribe. They called the area “Nemissoolatakoo,” which translates roughly to “river of ambush," and eventually gave rise to... more
Montana Natural History Center
The Montana Natural History Center helps cultivate the understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of nature through education. With a variety of programs for all ages, the Center helps both children a... more
Living with Wildlife
Residing in Western Montana means learning to live with wildlife. In Missoula, that often includes sharing your yard with birds, raccoons, skunks, deer, black bears, and even mountain lions. The Montana Depa... more
Pet Licenses
Have pets? City and county ordinances require all dogs four months and older to be licensed. Licenses are timed to run concurrently with dog’s rabies vaccinations. New residents must purchase a dog license... more
Voter Registration
If you're new to Missoula or simply need to register to vote, there are a number of places to in the city to complete your voter registration. As our national laws dictate, U.S. citizens may vote in nati... more
Volunteer Opportunities
Missoula is known for its giving spirit. On a per capita basis, Missoula is home to more non-profit organizations than any other city in the nation. That means volunteer opportunities abound. ... more
Cycling City
If you spend any time in Missoula, you'll notice lots of bikes on road. Cycling is a way of life for many residents of the city. Missoula’s biking heritage can be traced back to 1976 when a group of 4 Ohio... more
Take a Hike
The seemingly endless hiking and backpacking opportunities in and around Missoula offer thousands of miles of trails in wilderness areas, Forest Service lands, and BLM lands. Information on hiking in the bac... more
Missoula in Motion
Missoulians embrace green living and you'll find sustainable transportation options readily available in the city. Missoula in Motion aims to promote the city’s popular sustainable transportation system and i... more