Green things

Why I love Backyard Bowls

Why I love Backyard Bowls

By Stephanie Young on January 5th, 2012
I can’t believe I waited SO long to try Backyard Bowls! I’m completely into healthy food, but I guess I hesitated because I thought the prices were a little high for a bowl of fruit that seemed like a simple thing to make at home. Well, I was WRONG! I finally got to experience their delicious fruit/granola/yogurt ... [Continue Reading]
What is that new County building on Cathedral Oaks Road?

What is that new County building on Cathedral Oaks Road?

By Marie Sue Parsons on September 30th, 2011
Last week I had the privilege of touring the new Office of Emergency Services for Santa Barbara County located at 4408 Cathedral Oaks Road. The building tour was led by Michael Harris, Emergency Operations Chief, who is obviously proud of his new “home” which will serve the County for decades to come during various emergency ... [Continue Reading]
Ever heard of a “food forest” in a Santa Barbara neighborhood?

Ever heard of a “food forest” in a Santa Barbara neighborhood?

By Marie Sue Parsons on September 28th, 2011
Ever heard of a “food forest”?  I hadn’t.  But I was treated to a display of one while on one of my recent walks through a Mountain View School neighborhood. A food forest is a human-designed forest, which mimics a natural forest, yet not only takes care of itself, but also takes care of us. ... [Continue Reading]
Santa Barbara Real Estate: New Listing with green features!

Santa Barbara Real Estate: New Listing with green features!

By Stephanie Young on November 7th, 2010
This beautifully remodeled 4 bedroom home (plus a bonus room that could be used as a 5th bedroom) has been upgraded with the kind of “green” enhancements that today’s homebuyers are looking for.  Energy Saving upgrades include: tankless water heater energy efficient appliances dual pane windows recessed lighting with CFL lights Drought tolerant landscaping with drip irrigation ... [Continue Reading]
Signing Santa Barbara Real Estate Contracts the Greener Way

Signing Santa Barbara Real Estate Contracts the Greener Way

By Stephanie Young on July 13th, 2010
Have I mentioned that I love, love, love DocuSign? This is the thing I have wanted for years and am now enjoying. If you are from my generation (Gen X or Y), you appreciate all things GREEN. I was one of the first in my field in Santa Barbara Real Estate to jump on the “scan” ... [Continue Reading]
How Technology is Making Home Buying and Selling Greener

How Technology is Making Home Buying and Selling Greener

By Marie Sue Parsons on April 13th, 2010
When I started selling real estate 33 years ago, we wrote offers on a single sheet of paper.  Over the years, our purchase contracts became longer and longer amounting to piles of paperwork for each transaction.  Today, we are moving back in the direction of less paper as we utilize more and more technology to handle ... [Continue Reading]
Plant your Spring Garden and Get a $1000 Rebate

Plant your Spring Garden and Get a $1000 Rebate

By Stephanie Young on March 30th, 2010
If you are considering making changes to your landscape this year such as planting new plants, adding mulch, or upgrading your irrigation system, you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000 through the family of Santa Barbara County Water Providers.  Rebates are given for the following changes to your landscape: planting water-wise plants ... [Continue Reading]
Sustainable Landscape with Santa Barbara’s Owen Dell

Sustainable Landscape with Santa Barbara’s Owen Dell

By Stephanie Young on March 16th, 2010
I had the pleasure of attending a great presentation the other day by landscape architect Owen Dell on the benefits of sustainable landscape.  He discussed how to make your yard work better for you in order to: spend less time on maintenance save money on the cost of replacing plants use less water eliminate the ... [Continue Reading]