Residential Applications of Biophilic Design

Jake Kruse is a dog breeder in Salem, Iowa, who enjoys outdoor hobbies like fishing and boating. Similarly, Jake Kruse's profession as a landscaper demonstrates his fondness for the outdoors.

The concept of humans desiring a connection with nature is called biophilia. It extends beyond cultivating plants indoors and involves incorporating building materials that invoke nature with all the senses without sacrificing function. Examples might include using natural stone countertops and floors or marble bathroom fixtures.

The biophilic design relies on the premise that homes should take advantage of what suits humans’ biologically. A prominent example is using light sources that emulate how humans used light before inventing artificial sources. Some ways to increase exposure to natural light include installing larger windows and skylights and selecting minimalist window treatments. Simulated natural light sources include diffuse light sources which emit light via surfaces like walls, task-based sources which only illuminate necessary areas, and lights with time-sensitive colors, like white light during daytime and no blue light at night.

The Infield Fly Rule in Little League Baseball

Jake Kruse is a dog breeder in Salem, Iowa. In addition to his work as a dog breeder, Jake Kruse has extensive experience in the landscaping industry. Outside of his professional activities, Mr. Kruse enjoys supporting the local community as a youth baseball coach.

Youth baseball coaches are responsible for teaching young players the ins and outs of the sport, including the pop fly rule, also known as the infield fly rule. The rule was developed so that fielders cannot intentionally drop easily catchable balls in order to facilitate double or triple plays.

The infield fly rule is only applicable in certain situations. To start, the rule can only go into effect if there are runners on both first and second base or in a bases loaded situation. Second, the ball must be caught or in the reach of an infielder, meaning balls hit beyond the infield do not qualify for the rule.

Umpires invoke the rule when a batter hits into one of the situations described above. If the hit is a pop fly that can be caught with ordinary effort, the batter is immediately called out, regardless of whether or not the ball is actually caught. The ball is not dead, however, and runners can attempt to advance if they chose. In fact, runners do not necessarily need to retouch their bases and then advance, as they would after a normal fly ball was caught.

A ball that would otherwise qualify for the infield fly rule that is hit into foul territory is treated as a normal foul ball, meaning a fielder must make the catch.

 

Creative Uses for Pavers in Landscape

A dog breeder and landscape designer in Salem, Iowa, Jake Kruse has more than 17 years of experience designing and installing landscape elements for commercial and residential clients. Alongside his work as a dog breeder, Jake Kruse heads K&E Landscapes in creating outdoor elements such as patios and paver walkways.

Made of materials such as clay, concrete, or natural stone, pavers are a versatile way to add visual interest and practical function to outdoor spaces. In addition to traditional paver walkways or patios, homeowners might choose to implement pavers into their plant beds. The elevated spaces make gardening more convenient by eliminating the need to bend over while complementing colorful flowers and plants.

Pavers can also create winding walkways throughout a property, sectioning off specific lawn areas and making garden access easier. Geometric patterns and varied colors provide an alternative to a traditional path. For hilly properties, pavers in vertical lines can create both functional and aesthetic terraces.

Guide for Landscape Maintenance

Jake Kruse is a professional who executes commercial and residential landscaping projects and enjoys working as a dog breeder. He has an associate in science degree in Landscape Horticulture Studies and has proceeded to work as a landscaper, concrete laborer, and dog breeder. Jake Kruse is the CEO of K & E Landscapes Inc., a company that maintains landscapes.

Landscape maintenance is an important way to create a comfortable and aesthetically appealing place for people to live and work. It requires hard work and the ability to pay attention to details. Landscapers clear weeds and undergrowth, mow the lawn and trim the hedges to maintain the environment. Here are some important tips to help you maintain a landscape.

When you have flowers in a landscape, you can promote the beauty of the landscape when you maintain them properly. You can plant flowers during the proper season. For example, plant perennial flowers during fall and annuals in spring. Examine the flowers well, so you know when they need to be watered, plucked out, or trimmed. When flowers bloom, they make the landscape aesthetically pleasing.

The benefits that trees bring to a landscape are many. They add beauty to the landscape, release oxygen into the atmosphere, can reduce air pollution, and their branches can also serve as shades. You must properly manage them so that they don’t become hazardous. Trim and prune them when necessary to improve growth.

Weeds are unwanted plants that steal water and nutrients from your plants, so you must clear them regularly. You can use your hand to uproot weeds or weeding tools when there are many. While clearing the weed, ensure that you don’t uproot shrubs and vines. The best season to clear weeds is in spring.

Finally, the most important landscape feature is the lawn. When you maintain the lawn properly, it improves the pleasure and comfort people get. Keep the lawn healthy, use mowing machines, and partition the walkways and driveways. Rake fallen leaves regularly, so it looks tidy. You can also fertilize the lawn frequently to improve growth.

Branches of Horticulture

Salem resident Jake Kruse is a dog breeder who enjoys watching sports and coaching youth baseball during his past time. Jake Kruse is also an expert landscaper specializing in shrub installation, general landscape maintenance, and more. He graduated from Kirkwood Community College, where he studied landscape and horticulture studies.

Horticulture refers to the cultivation of garden crops within an enclosed space. It derives from the Latin word Hortus, which refers to an enclosure or garden, and culture, which translates to cultivation. Generally, horticulture includes cultivating vegetables, fruits, flowers, plantation crops, and spices.

As horticulture deals with various crops, the field divides into several branches depending on the crops produced or cultivated. These branches include the following;

-Floriculture.

Otherwise known as ornamental horticulture, this branch prioritizes cultivating, managing, and scientific study of flowering and ornamental crops.

-Olericulture.

This branch deals with cultivating, managing, and scientific study of vegetable crops. It is more concerned with processing, storing, and marketing the edible parts of crops like leaves, fruits, roots, and others, usually cultivated for human consumption.

-Pomology.

This branch of horticulture is concerned with the growth and management of fruit crops grown for their edible portions.

-Landscape horticulture.

This field of horticulture designs maintains and builds landscapes for homes, open spaces, and schools, among other things, with plants and other crops in mind.

Paver Options in Landscape Design

A dog breeder in Iowa, Jake Kruse has also served as president of K&E Landscapes since 2002. Jake Kruse leads the company in creating landscaping features such as retaining walls, patios, and paver walkways.

A popular hardscape option, pavers are durable, attractive, and versatile. Not only can pavers be designed to fit a space; individual pavers can be easily replaced in the event of damage. Homeowners can choose from various materials, depending on preference and budget. Brick pavers, made of clay or a concrete mixture, create a traditional, natural look while resisting stains. A sealant can help prevent fading over time.

Concrete pavers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Typically made of a paste/aggregate mixture, they are durable, particularly when sealed to protect their color. Finally, stone pavers fit well with a natural landscape. With options such as limestone, granite, or flagstone, pavers require little cleaning or upkeep.

Hardscape Ideas to Make a Small Yard

A graduate of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jake Kruse works as a dog breeder and landscape designer. Since 2002, he has served as president and owner of K&E Landscapes, providing functional outdoor designs for commercial and residential clients. In so doing, Jake Kruse focuses on installing low-maintenance and attractive hardscape elements.

Hardscape refers to the addition of materials such as stone, concrete, or bricks to a landscape design. These elements can increase home value and maximize space. Properly designed, hardscapes can create different levels to provide the illusion of more space. Adding pots to stairways or installing trellises for vines to climb will add upward growth and visual interest.

Even if you have a small backyard, there is usually sufficient space for a patio. Situate a table, chairs, and a grill on raised pavers or a concrete slab to carve out a cozy dining corner, then add lights to illuminate the perimeter. A small water feature such as a fountain creates a relaxing environment and can be integrated into a flower bed or placed directly on grass. Instead of using fences or walls for boundaries, use objects such as a bench or flowerpots to create barriers.

Things to Do at the Pinicon Ridge Park

An established entrepreneur, dog breeder Jake Kruse also maintains a private landscaping company where he meets the needs of commercial and individual clients. Jake Kruse is a Salem-based dog breeder and a lover of outdoor activities such as boating and fishing.

Fishing, a common pastime amongst Americans, is popular in Iowa. The topography of the state makes room for several water bodies. One of the best spots to fish in Iowa includes Pinicon Ridge Park.

Located in Linn County, Pinicon Ridge Park is popular amongst the locals for its many attractions, including fishing access at the Wapsipinicon River. Anglers in Iowa regularly visit this spot to fish the various species found in the lake. At any time during the year, anglers can come across the bigmouth buffalo, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The Iowa DNR recognizes the Wapsipinicon River as a premier fishing location in the state.

Aside from the fishing access, Pinicon Ridge Prak offers hiking trails, camping, wildlife exhibits, and watercraft concessions.

Benefits of the Outdoors

A dog breeder in Salem, Iowa, Jake Kruse is also a landscaper. In his free time, Jake Kruse enjoys boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Spending time outdoors can have tangible physical and mental health benefits. The word biophilia refers to humans’ desire to connect with nature. Edward O. Wilson is credited with propagating biophilia to a wide audience in his book of the same name in 1984.

Studies in succeeding years found evidence supporting the existence of biophilia. Multiple studies discovered that exposing participants to nature lowers their levels of cortisol, the hormone most heavily associated with stress. Other studies found that exposure to nature heightens creativity, improves productivity, and increases happiness.

Companies and architects can incorporate biophilic design in many ways, great and small. Creating buildings that use eco-friendly, organic materials, such as reclaimed wood, can remind employees of the outdoors. Strategically placing plants throughout a workspace can add nature to a work environment. Integrating large windows to let in abundant natural light, and perhaps even allow wind to blow through the office, can bring in the benefits of the outdoors, even in urban locations.