CBJ Lure 9.10.18

LURE
home. style. local.
Backyard
Beauties
Container
Abode
History
Steward

FROM THE EDITOR
Enjoying the Beauty of Fall
After a steamy summer, who is ready for sweatshirts, apple orchards and football games?
I know I am. And I can’t think of better place to be in the fall than Eastern Iowa.
The trees’ vibrant colors provide the perfect backdrop for picking apples and
pumpkins or going on a hayrack ride. Oh, and there’s plenty of football games around
here to sport your favorite sweatshirt.
In this issue, we offer up some favorite apple orchards and pumpkin farms (page
39). Most of these agribusinesses have stores selling products made with their produce
as well as specialty items. Some even have activities for kids and
adults, such as corn mazes and haunted houses.
Whether you’re at Kinnick Stadium or a local high school
football game, there likely will be a waft of smoke coming from
grills cooking up brats and burgers. Tailgating can vary from
basic grilling to elaborate spreads. We asked several area culinary
experts to share their favorite recipes and they came up with
everything from cookies to chili. Check them out on pages 34-36.
For those who prefer taking in fresh air away from large
crowds, peace and tranquility can be found right in their own
backyard. Last fall, Lure featured “man caves” where men can
relax in their own environment among their favorite things. In
this issue, we take a look at “she sheds” – backyard havens where
women (and men) can surround themselves with their favorite
gardening supplies and accessories (pages 4-10).
A new flower shop in Iowa City also offers a quaint, inviting space to take in nature’s
beauty. Willow & Stock (pages 30-34) puts a unique twist on the buy local movement as
it sources its flowers, stems and greenery from local suppliers. Owners Angie Barnett
and Amber Neville even bring in items from their own yards and gardens.
The homes featured in this issue fall on opposite ends of the style spectrum. On the
historical side, Bobby Jett saved a home originally built in 1853 over an 18-month period
(pages 20-29). The property known as Stone Wall Acre had fallen into disrepair over
the years until Jett purchased it in 2016. He painstakingly rejuvenated every inch of the
property, clearing the overgrown trees and renovating the 1,600-square-foot home with
modern touches while preserving its historical qualities.
On the modern side of the spectrum, a group of builders in Cedar Rapids who call
their venture CARGOHAB (short for Cargo Habitat) constructed a new home out of four
shipping containers. It’s believed to be the first of its kind in the Corridor, if not the entire
state of Iowa. The long, narrow industrial-looking abode is actually a high-end custom
3,000-square-foot home with artistic features.
Although we’re excited about the fall season, it’s never too early start planning for the
holidays. If you have holiday decorating ideas for the next issue of Lure, please drop me a
line at angela@corridorbusiness.com.
Until then, get out enjoy the beauty of fall, pick a few pumpkins and take in the big game.
FALL 2018
Chief Executive Officer
& Publisher
John F. Lohman
Vice President
Aspen N. Lohman
Chief Operating Officer
& Associate Publisher
Andrea Rhoades
Magazine & Special Projects Editor
Angela Holmes
Writers
Tricia Brown
Cindy Hadish
Angela Holmes
Photographer
Brian Draeger
Graphic Design Manager
Becky Lyons
Graphic Designer
Julia Druckmiller
Magazine Media Consultant
Judith Cobb
Chief Content Officer
Adam Moore
CBJ Media Consultant
Kelly Meyer
Events & Social Media Marketing Manager
Ashley Levitt
Event Media Consultant
Rhonda Roskos
Marketing & Distribution Manager
Jean Suckow
Angela Holmes
Editor
Contents are registered to Corridor Media
Group. Reproductions or other use, in whole
or in part, of the contents of the publication
without permission is strictly prohibited.
LURE
home. style. local.
ON THE COVER
2345 Landon Road, Ste. 100
North Liberty, IA 52317
319.665.NEWS
www.corridorbusiness.com
Backyard
Beauties
Container
Abode
History
Steward
This unique home in southeast Cedar
Rapids was built from four cargo shipping
containers. The owners, CARGOHAB (short
for Cargo Habitat), designed the home to be
high-end and artistic to add to its mystique.
See more, starting on page 12.
2 LURE FALL 2018

CONTENTS
4
Backyard Beauties
"She Sheds" provide tranquility
12
Custom Container Abode
High-tech meets high-style
20
History Steward
The transformation of Stone Wall Acre
4
30
Blossoming Business
Flower shop sources local
34
Time to Tailgate
Recipes for football season
38
Fall Fun
List of things to do this fall
12
20
LURE FALL 2018
3

BACKYARD
beauties
Sheds
not only
provide
storage,
but also
tranquility
BY CINDY HADISH
PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
Rebecca Mueller built her rustic
potting shed with her husband over a
weekend at their acreage between
Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
4 LURE FALL 2018

Whether you call them
potting sheds, garden
houses or "she sheds"
– the female equivalent of a man
cave – these outdoor sanctuaries
are growing in popularity for
homeowners, not only for practical
purposes, but for entertaining and
aesthetic appeal, as well. Take a look
at several of these backyard beauties
in the Corridor for inspiration in
creating your own.
Rustic Chic
When Rebecca Mueller needed a space for her
gardening tools, she took matters in her own hands,
building a shed that's equal parts rustic and chic, with
vintage windows, a flea market find for a door and
other recycled items.
"I wanted to build something unique with
repurposed materials and this is what I came up
with," said Mueller, 31, who lives on an acreage
between Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids with her
husband and their menagerie of animals, including
chickens, miniature donkeys, dogs, cats and rabbits.
Their 25-by-25-foot garden, where tomatoes,
onions, potatoes and other vegetables thrive, is a good
distance down a path from their home and garage, so
she wanted to have her shovels and other tools stored
closer on their 7-acre wooded property, not far from
the Cedar River.
An old tie rack serves as a garden tool holder on the
wall, shelves ensure full use of all of the space inside
the petite 8-by-4-foot building, and the windows – a
Craigslist find – allow ample sunlight into the structure
to help spur growth for seedlings in the spring.
The exterior walls, supported by two-by-fours,
were salvaged from a horse barn near Dundee, with
remnants of a mural still visible on the outside.
Mueller estimates the materials cost just $400, with
the majority of the shed constructed in a weekend.
"It really went as planned," she said. >
Rebecca Mueller
decorated her
rustic-yet-chic
potting shed with
flea market and
other recycled finds
such as clay pots,
vintage windows
and tin cans. Her
chicken, “Silkie,” is
one of the many
animals that live on
the property.
LURE FALL 2018
5

He-Shed, She-Shed
If she had her preference, Jeanie Geers would up the scale in decorating the potting
shed she shares with her husband, Jerry, outside their Marion home. But because
they both use the 12-by-20-foot space, Jeanie doesn't exactly consider the structure
a "she shed."
"It's a working shed," she said, noting that at the height of their business, Dry
Creek Hostas, she would spend entire days in the outbuilding potting hostas and
more. The two have since retired and are winding down their hosta growing, which
takes up much of their 2-acre, shaded yard.
Their cabin-like shed, with a 7-by-20-foot porch, was designed by Jeanie, 65,
and built nearly 20 years ago by Jerry, 67, with about $7,000 in materials from
Menards, including cedar siding.
"I'm the visionary and it if involves building, he makes it happen," she said,
noting that her husband at first was skeptical about constructing a porch on the
shed. "He couldn't understand why. Of course, our customers always sat there and
he sits there all the time. Now he gets it."
The couple built their shed as large as they could to fit their property and use it
not only as a potting shed, but for storing tools, birdhouses, containers and other
items for their gardens. Their dogs and grandchildren also hang out on the porch,
which includes whimsical finishing touches, such as an old mailbox and frogshaped
door handles.
"I wanted it to fit the space," Jeanie said, pointing out boulders at each end of the
structure, with a backdrop of trees. "It nestled in there quite perfectly." >
Jerry and Jeanie Geers enjoy their potting shed outside their Marion
home with their granddaughters, Haylee and Rylee. Because they
both use the cabin-like space that has a front porch, the don’t exactly
consider it a “she-shed.” The area has whimsical finishing touches such
as a wheelbarrow garden and frog-shaped door handles.
6 LURE FALL 2018

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LURE FALL 2018
7

8 LURE FALL 2018
Blueprint-Free
Lisa Hinzman Howard sketched the concept for her garden shed on a
napkin. Once her vision came to fruition, she found it indispensable
for storage, entertaining and more. The 12-by-12-foot structure, with
a 5-by-12-foot porch, was constructed by family members with about
$3,800 in materials purchased at Menards.
When she first moved to her home in northwest Cedar Rapids,
the landscape was bare. A Linn County Master Gardener since 2011
who now operates her own gardening consulting business, Midwest
Garden Gal, Hinzman Howard, 47, has created a backyard haven
with perennials, vegetables, herbs and other plants, combined with a
series of arbors, stones and pathways.
The garden shed stores much of what she doesn't use in the
off-season, including trellises and large rain barrels. Cross-beams
become cubbyholes for holding small essentials, while peg boards
and wall hooks are used for hanging garden tools and more.
"You name it, it goes in the shed," she said.
While she is all about functionality, the porch offers a spot for
kicking back after working in the garden or relaxing over a drink
with neighbors, with a firepit nearby.
"We come out here all the time to sit with a beer or margaritas; it
all happens on the porch," she said. >

Potting
Shed Tips
Lisa Hinzman Howard, of
Midwest Garden Gal, offered
these suggestions for creating
the perfect potting shed:
LEFT: Lisa Hinzman
Howard enjoys
her backyard
haven in
northwest Cedar
Rapids that
includes a 12-by-
12-foot she-shed
surrounded by
many plants,
vegetables and
flowers, including
a purple clematis
over the arbor
and a yellow
daylily.
RIGHT: Potting
sheds can be
spruced up
with a variety of
whimsical signs
and decorations
often found at
flea markets.
n Go big. You’ll always have
more items to store, so build
the largest size shed that can
fit in your space.
n Stay neutral. Using beige
or another neutral exterior
color offers a blank palette
for colorful signs and other
decorations.
n Think outside the shed. Have
a plan for landscaping
around the structure, to
provide a finished look for
the area.
n Get organized. Go vertical
with storage, using hooks
and pegs for hanging
garden hoses and tools.
n Be personal. Decorate your
garden shed with signs and
art that strike a chord and
make you smile. “Trespassers
will be composted” is among
the messages on one of
Hinzman Howard’s signs.
For more gardening tips, visit
www.midwestgardengal.com
LURE FALL 2018
9

Elena Murillo and her
daughter, Monica
Morley, enjoy their
multipurpose shed in
their garden in northeast
Cedar Rapids. The area,
dotted with fairy gardens
and relaxing places to sit,
overlooks a koi pond.
Nature Watch
A "Lake House" sign on their garden shed is an apt description
for the multi-purpose building in the gardens of Monica Morley
and her mother, Elena Murillo, in northeast Cedar Rapids.
The shed and seating area, which overlook a koi pond teeming
with fish, serve as a feeding station for the koi, a spot to drink
coffee in the morning and as storage for the nets, containers of
koi food and other items used for the pond and gardens.
"I don't consider it a regular shed," said Morley, 62, noting the
position of the building down a path serves as a focal point in the
yard. "This gives the illusion that it's a kind of a getaway in there."
The custom-made shed cost about $6,000 when Murillo,
Morley and her husband were creating the design for their
backyard more than 15 years ago. While they wish it could be
a bit larger, they have found it to be a vital component in their
outdoor space.
"I didn't want a shed that looks the same," said Murillo, who,
at age 95, gardens daily during the growing season.
The seating area offers a prime spot for taking breaks
to watch the koi and multitude of birds and other wildlife
attracted to their gardens.
"I've learned so much being out here to actually see this
little bit of nature," Murillo said. |
10 LURE FALL 2018

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LURE FALL 2018
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11

CUSTOM
CONTAINER
ABODE
12 LURE FALL 2018

Container home takes urban living to a new level
BY ANNETTE JUERGENS BUSBEE PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
This modern home in southeast
Cedar Rapids, constructed out of
four cargo shipping containers,
features a light and airy main floor
with maple wood flooring and
structural beams on the ceiling.
LURE FALL 2018
13

IIt’s a one-of-a-kind home in the
Corridor and, most likely, in the entire
state of Iowa.
The new-construction, single-family
residence located in southeast Cedar Rapids
has a plethora of custom and high-tech
features. And it’s constructed out of shipping
containers – four to be exact.
The two-story house is a venture of five
Cedar Rapidians who own CARGOHAB, which
is short for Cargo Habitat. The partners are
Fred and Joann Zehr, retired Rockwell Collins
employees; their son, Justin, chef at Local
Pour; John Armon, vice president at Kerndt
Brothers Bank; and Casey Cornwell, owner of
Cornwell Homes & Design.
The group liked the idea of recycling and
transforming cargo containers for housing.
When a deep, narrow lot became available
for sale at 527 30th St. Drive SE, it seemed
perfect for a single-family home built out of
long, narrow shipping vessels.
The group spent several months working
on an architectural plan. The final design
is a hybrid one. The core of the home
incorporates the 45-by-8-foot “K” Line
America containers purchased from A-1
Storage in Manchester. The two-stall garage
and stairwell are stick-built.
Fred Zehr said the goal was to create an
environmentally friendly, high-end custom
home with artistic features.
“We wanted a piece of art when we were
done. And I think we got close to it,” he said.
Many of the artful custom features
incorporated into the interior were created
by Cornwell. They give a tip of the hat to the
industrial container structure in a stylish,
yet, cozy presentation. >
The kitchen and dining
room flow into the
main living area and
have amenities such as
wooden rectangularshaped
light fixtures,
granite countertops and
custom wood cabinets.
14 LURE FALL 2018

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The nearly 3,000-square-foot home has four
bedrooms, four full baths and two laundry rooms.
A color palette of gray, silver, black and white
flows through the three levels. The flooring
consists mostly of maple wood and gray carpet.
The light and airy main floor holds a living
room, dining area, kitchen and drop zone cubby.
Zehr said the floor is designed so guests can move
easily around the space and to the backyard deck
and patio.
The patio features a stone waterfall set against
a backdrop of panels of container steel that also
provide privacy to the outdoor area. Adding
to any social gathering is a speaker system to
provide music indoors and out.
On the main floor, several decorative features
make striking statements. In the living room, the
TV and a spalted maple wood mantel are framed
by floor-to-ceiling, 16-by-16-inch, dark metal
squares. In the kitchen, pieces of the red “K” Line
containers accent the base of the kitchen bar and
cubby in the drop zone space.
The ceiling also offers glimpses of the cargo
vessel, painted gray, in between panels of
reclaimed hardwood and structural steel beams.
Some of Cornwell’s custom touches are seen
in the home’s light fixtures. For the dining room
chandelier and kitchen bar pendants, he used
configurations of wooden rectangles, reflecting
the shape of the cargo containers.
The kitchen has amenities that will please
cooks of all kinds, including GE smart wireless
appliances, a gas stove, a fill pot faucet, granite
countertops and custom wood cabinets. >
1737 Boyson Rd.
Hiawatha, IA 52233
319-393-9147
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LURE FALL 2018
15

16 LURE FALL 2018
Fred and Joann Zehr, partners of the home’s
builder CARGOHAB, love to show off unique
features such as the red light fixtures made
of salvaged auger head shields from Marion
Iron Company and the master bathroom that
contains a walk-in closet.
RIGHT: Columns of windows fill the stairwell with
natural light. A spalted staircase maple post
secures the steel railings.

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The metal and wood elements on the main
floor are carried out in the open staircase.
Custom-made steel railings come together at
spalted maple posts, while more reclaimed
hardwood is used for the stairs.
Upstairs, the master and guest bedrooms
each have a balcony – perfect settings for a
morning cup of coffee or an evening glass
of wine, Zehr said. The guest room balcony
looks over the backyard; the master’s, the
tree-lined neighborhood street. In addition,
the master bedroom has an en suite
bathroom and walk-in closet.
The lower floor holds two more bedrooms
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LURE FALL 2018
17

Energy Efficient
Technology-wise, the home has been pre-wired for
Wi-Fi. Comfort-wise, there are seven temperature
control zones that can be set by the individual
thermostats or a smartphone app. Pocketbook-wise,
the home’s average energy costs should make any
future owner happy.
A rooftop solar panel system provides, on average,
about half of the structure's power consumption.
That, in addition to other energy-efficiency measures
taken by CARGOHAB, earned the house a Home
Energy Rating System (HERS) number of 42.
“The lower the number the better, and Alliant
Energy said this is one of the best in the area,” Zehr
said. “We’re proud of that.”
This new home is listed for $429,000. Zehr said
the extensive labor involved in moving and cutting
the steel containers, plus the custom-design features
were factored into the price.
“This home has a lot of amenities, and it’s
virtually stormproof and fireproof,” he said. “It can
suit of lot of people’s lifestyles.” |
The guest room balcony
overlooks the back yard which
includes a deck and a rock
sculpture at the property line.
18 LURE FALL 2018

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LURE FALL 2018
19

history
STEWARD
The
transformation
of Stone Wall
Acre
BY TRICIA BROWN
PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
Each morning, Bobby Jett
gets up, starts cooking his
oatmeal, then takes a cup
of coffee and his Hungarian
Vizsla, Etter, outdoors to “do
a tour” – a walk around his
fenced three-quarter acre
property along Iowa City’s
Foster Road.
20 LURE FALL 2018
He checks on the dozens of trees and
arborvitae he’s planted over the last two
years, including rare species such as
the Dawn Redwood, once thought to be
extinct. He watches intently from day to
day to see what new growth or blooms
emerge from the expansive perennial
beds, where one-of-a-kind day lilies, poppies
and roses line the east perimeter.
He may spy a newborn spotted fawn
burrowed beneath a Green Giant arborvitae
or look over his shoulder and see the
prayer flags – hung among the branches –
waving in the breeze.
This sense of peace and tranquility represents
an 18-month project completed
with painstaking care. It represents Jett’s
devotion to historic preservation in the
town in which he grew up, and to being a
steward of the land. >

Bobby Jett, and his
Hungarian Vizsla, Etter,
relax at Stone Wall Acre,
Jett's renovated historic
home along Foster
Road in Iowa City.
LURE FALL 2018
21

Labor of Love
In 2016, Jett purchased the property that, at
the time, was home to what he says was an
overgrown forest and a small, dilapidated
house originally built in 1853, the same
year Iowa City was incorporated. The transformation
that occurred over the ensuing
months, until he moved in in fall 2017, is
nothing short of spectacular.
It was a project during which every stone
was, in fact, overturned. The place is named
Stone Wall Acre.
“One day on social media, one of my
friends posted a picture of this place and
commented that it would be a great fixer-upper,”
Jett said. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have
to do it because I love Iowa City history.’”
Jett’s research led him on a journey of
the property’s history since it first was purchased
by three brothers from Ohio – Jacob,
John and Henry Erhardt – who came to Iowa
from Ohio in the 1850s and purchased 120
acres, including the property where Jett’s
home now stands. Henry Erhardt built the
home in 1853 for he and his wife, Mary, who
died of dropsy only eight years later. Henry
later remarried and moved to a home near
Hills, where he’s buried in a country cemetery
that bears his name.
The property changed hands five or six
times, Jett’s research shows, until it was purchased
by Bud and Betty Louis in the 1950s.
The Louises lived in the home until Betty’s
death. A daughter then took possession and
it sat vacant until a bank eventually took
possession. The only parcel remaining of the
original 120 acres was the three-quarter acre
lot where the home fell into disrepair and
trees overtook the property. >
Iowa City resident Bobby Jett transformed a
run-down structure originally built in 1853 into a
modern home true to its original footprint. A new
breezeway connects the home to a two-vehicle
garage that also includes unfinished space for
an apartment on its second level. The yard is
Jett’s favorite aspect of the property, reflecting
his love of flowers, trees, and meditation as he
has hung prayer flags on northwest edge.
22 LURE FALL 2018

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LURE FALL 2018
23

24 LURE FALL 2018
Country Stone Masons
dismantled an old stone wall
surrounding the property
and transformed it piece
by piece into a dry-stack
wall. Built with no mortar, the
wall is built by placing rocks
and chipping them on-site
so they fit tightly together.
Then, heavy capstones are
placed on the top.

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LURE FALL 2018
25

Just days after Jett purchased the property in
2016, Total Tree Care removed the dead trees and
Country Stone Masons began work on the dry-stack
limestone wall on the south border of the property.
“It is called Stone Wall Acre because there was a
stone wall here, and supposedly these stones were
salvaged from the Old Capitol,” Jett said. “I saved all
of them and they’re all around the bottom of the
fence and in the new dry-stack wall.”
On his travels to Kentucky, Jett saw many drystack
walls lining horse farms and loved the look.
Built with no mortar, the walls are built by placing
rocks and chipping them on site so they fit tightly together.
Then, heavy capstones are placed on the top.
Jett also began working with Neumann Monson
Architects in Iowa City on his vision for the home.
His goal was to stay as true to the original 1853
footprint as possible.
“Even though it wasn’t insulated, there was no
foundation, the roof was falling in, rodents were living
in it, there was no kitchen, the bathroom was falling
apart, it would either be ‘fix it or let it fall down.’ That
would have been it,” he said. “A developer would have
torn it down and built condos. The alternative was I
could do this and save as much history as I possibly
could and still make it modern and livable.” >
TOP: The original fireplace was maintained as the focal point of
the living room, which Jett outfitted with vintage mid-century
modern furniture. Perhaps the most spectacular feature of the
home is the giant Nanawall, encompassing nearly the entire
west wall of the living room.
CENTER: The kitchen features modern appliances, a farmhouse
sink and a white marble backsplash. The windowsills throughout
the home are made of the same white marble.
BOTTOM: The iron and oak spiral staircase, made by Walker
Welding in Tiffin, is suspended between the first and second levels.
26 LURE FALL 2018

Country Feel in the City
At just more than 1,600 square feet, the home is interesting,
charming and right-sized. It’s a piece of history
with a modern flair.
So many aspects of the property make it unique.
First is the iron fence that surrounds the property
on all sides, made and installed by hand by Tim Linden,
a metal fabricator from North Liberty. It’s a piece of art
in itself that makes the home feel quiet and secluded in
a dense and busy neighborhood.
Inside the home, the oak floors are original. Every
board was removed, every nail was pulled out, and
Gray’s Hardwood Flooring in Cedar Rapids took them
back to the shop and sanded them, piece by piece. A
foundation was built and poured and a geothermal energy
system was installed under the southeast portion
of the yard.
The exposed brick walls also are original, thanks to
Ken Gilbaugh of Gilbaugh Masonry in Coralville.
“He took off each brick, took them out into the yard,
cleaned them off, and reset each one perfectly back in
place,” Jett said. >
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LURE FALL 2018
27

Placed among the original bricks are two of the
original beams from the home, with visible axe
marks and burn marks from a fire that is said to
have once damaged the structure.
The iron and oak spiral staircase, made by Walker
Welding in Tiffin, is suspended between the first and
second levels.
“This was the hardest part of the house,” Jett said.
“They had to figure out how to get the stairwell to
the second floor and they came up with this ingenious
hanging staircase.”
A hydraulic trap door in the floor near the back
entrance opens to reveal a staircase leading to the
basement, where, tucked into the southeast corner
is the original barrel ceiling root cellar, said to have
been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
“People always want to see this,” Jett said. “It
sounds cooler than it really is.”
The kitchen is the epitome of modern country.
Jett’s favorite feature is the cast iron farmhouse sink
surrounded by a gleaming white marble backsplash
that doesn’t stop until the ceiling.
The main living space is a throwback to a more
recent era, featuring Jett’s collection of mid-century
modern furnishings. Most of the pieces came from a
shop in Winter Park, Florida, where Jett would select
items from photos sent to him by the owner, Renj Reichert,
have them shipped to Iowa and put in storage.
“I had this place furnished before it was even
built,” he said.
On the south wall, facing the original fireplace, is
an expansive set of built-in shelves that house Jett’s
book and vinyl collection, as well as unique pieces of
art — each with a significant meaning.
“My other love is books,” Jett said. “It’s all arranged
and each section means something to me. It
was very important to me to have a place to display
my books.” >
TOP: Jett’s collection of books and mementos from his
travels are displayed on an expansive wall of built-in
shelves in the living room.
CENTER: Etter relaxes in the TV room adjacent to the main
living room. An original beam of the home is exposed
above the windows.
BOTTOM: Windows in the master bedroom give the room a
treehouse feel in the summer, and in the winter when the
leaves have dropped, Jett can see the Iowa River.
ABOVE: The original key to the home was found during the
remodel. Jett framed it and displays it in the kitchen.
28 LURE FALL 2018

His interests are vast, and include
photography, meditation and mindfulness,
roses, history and art.
Adorning the brick walls are
prints by Mauricio and Diego Lasansky,
a painting by Willy Bo Richardson,
and photography by Shelby
Lee Adams, one of Jett’s idols.
Perhaps the most spectacular
feature of the home is the giant
Nanawall, encompassing nearly
the entire west wall. The Nanawall
is a large panel sliding glass wall
system that opens the home to the
outdoors. Large pocket screens can
be pulled across to keep bugs out
or a dog in. But the effect is serene
– Jett can sit in his living room,
listen to the birds and watch the
prayer flags blowing in the wind.
“My first love is the yard. That’s
the one thing I get the most excited
about,” he said. “This allows me to
be outside all the time. I can just sit
here. That’s what I do at night with
Etter, I just sit.” |
The master bath on the second level is
outfitted in white marble and features
flooring made of stamped concrete block.
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LURE FALL 2018
29

Blossoming Business
Black-Eyed Susan Green Trick Dianthus Gomphrena Cremone
BY TRICIA BROWN PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
A year ago, Angie
Barnett and Amber
Neville jumped feet
first into a business
partnership that offers
them complete creative
license and puts a new
twist on locally-owned
and locally-sourced.
Willow & Stock, located on North Linn Street
in Iowa City, is truly a fresh take on a flower
shop – a quaint and inviting storefront, stems
and arrangements grown nearby, a place where
you won’t find baby’s breath or affiliation with a
wire service offering standardized bouquets.
A couple of brick and mortar flower shops
closed in early 2017. Off and on, Barnett
continued to chat with Neville about her
idea. Then the space on Linn Street became
available. Neville, who worked as a corporate
librarian, was ready for a career change.
“Our idea is something totally different than
what anyone else in the area is doing,” Barnett
says. “Floral industry trends follow the restaurant
industry. The trend in the last decade has
been farm to table, a natural movement.”
For Willow & Stock, that means flowers,
stems, greenery and other natural items are
sourced nearby – even from their own yards
and gardens. >
30 LURE FALL 2018

Amber Neville and Angie Barnett opened their dream
flower shop, Willow & Stock, at 207 N. Linn St. in Iowa
City last year. The shop features plants and flowers
grown locally, including from their own backyards.
LURE FALL 2018
31

FYI
Willow & Stock
207 N. Linn St., Iowa City
(319) 338-1332
http://willowandstock.com
The locallysourced
products at
Willow & Stock
go hand-inhand
with the
store’s design
aesthetic.
From Muddy Miss Farms in Iowa City, Cardinal
Flower Farm in Iowa City, Pheasant Run Farm
in Van Horne, and Echollective Farm in Mechanicsville,
to name a few, come zinnias, hydrangea,
sunflowers, larkspur, dahlias, snap dragons,
black-eyed Susans, tansy, campanula, nigella, cosmos,
butterfly bush, lush greenery, curly willow
branches and much more.
And the locally-sourced products go handin-hand
with their design aesthetic.
“All the other elements that we’ve embraced
are the seed pods and the grasses and the
things that we’re focusing on might be things
used occasionally in other shops but we’re
using them in the forefront of our design,”
Barnett says. >
Some of their suppliers…
Cardinal Flower Farm
4495 Freund Road SE, Iowa City
(319) 400-2291
www.facebook.com/cardinalflowerfarm
Muddy Miss Farms
3714 500th St. SW, Riverside
(319) 321-8838
www.facebook.com/MuddyMissFarms
Pheasant Run Farm
6925 19th Ave., Van Horne
(319) 228-8758
www.pheasantrunfarmiowa.com
Echollective Farm
879 Echo Ave., Mechanicsville
(319) 325-3910
https://echollectivecsa.blogspot.com
Salt Fork Farms
4824 Sutliff Road NE, Solon
(319) 936-5012
www.facebook.com/SaltForkFarms

Let us make
your home,Your
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The biggest surprise, the shop owners say, has
been the number of farmers and growers who have
contacted them about being part of the shop.
“It makes you feel like you made the right decision,
like the stars were aligned for you,” Barnett said. “And
even though we have some great relationships established,
people tell us on a regular basis that they’ve
got a couple of acres of land and some time, would we
want them to plant things for us. It’s cool.”
Their design aesthetic and focus on locally-sourced
products have created a solid foundation on which to
build their business. They expect to hire a part-time
employee soon.
“It’s a great neighborhood. It just feels like such a
good fit,” Neville said. “I don’t want to say it’s too good
to be true, but it’s been very well-supported and it just
feels like this time next year we have no reason to think
it wouldn’t be double what we’re doing right now.” |
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Years in Business
240 CLASSIC CAR CT. SW CEDAR RAPIDS 319-866-9816
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Fresh flowers and arrangements come
from just a short distance away, including
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LURE FALL 2018
33

TIME TO
Tailgate
BY ANGELA HOLMES
Ahh, football season. Time for big hits, dazzling
catches and of course, fabulous food. Gathering with fellow fans to tailgate before
– and sometimes after – the game is as much of a tradition as the game itself.
Tailgating ranges from simply having a few beers and bags of chips set up on a
pickup’s opened tailgate – hence the name – to elaborate parties with tents, decorations,
games and tables of endless food and drinks. Several recipes to get you started
are on the following pages.
34 LURE FALL 2018

CHEWY HONEY-PEANUT
BUTTER COOKIES
MAKES ABOUT 5 DOZEN
1 cup pure clover honey
1 cup creamy or chunky peanut
butter
2/3 cup shortening
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups baking mix
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Additional granulated sugar for rolling
In mixing bowl, beat together honey,
peanut butter, shortening and eggs
until well blended. Combine baking
mix, 1 cup sugar and baking soda;
add to peanut butter mixture and mix
well. Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll
in additional sugar; place on cookie
sheet coated with nonstick cooking
spray. Flatten slightly with the bottom
of a smooth glass dipped in sugar;
make an indentation using a footballshaped
cookie cutter. Mark the laces
in the center of the football with a
knife. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 10
minutes or until golden brown. Cool
5 minutes; remove to rack to cool
completely.
FROM “TAILGATES TO TOUCHDOWNS:
FABULOUS FOOTBALL FOOD”
BY NINA SWAN-KOHLER
SLOPPY JOES
SERVES 8 (1/2 CUP FILLING EACH)
12 ounces lean ground beef
1 large onion
2 cups finely chopped cremini
mushrooms, (about 4 ounces)
10 ounces diced canned tomatoes
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
8 hamburger buns
Crumble beef into a large nonstick
skillet; cook over medium heat until
it starts to sizzle, about 1 minute. Add
onion and mushrooms and cook,
stirring occasionally, breaking up the
meat with a wooden spoon, until the
vegetables are soft and the moisture
has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes and flour; stir to
combine. Stir in water, vinegar, chili
sauce and ketchup and bring to
a simmer, stirring often. Reduce
heat to a low simmer and cook,
stirring occasionally, until the sauce
is thickened and the onion is very
tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve warm
on buns.
To make ahead: Prepare filling and
store in freezer for up to a month.
ADAPTED FROM WWW.EATINGWELL.COM
FIRSTDOWN DEVILED EGGS
SERVES 12 (1/2 EGG EACH)
6 large eggs, hard-boiled
2 tablespoons light salad dressing
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise.
Remove yolks from eggs and place
in a small bowl. Place egg whites on
a platter.
Mash egg yolks with fork. Stir in salad
dressing, mustard, vinegar, salt, sugar
and white pepper and mix until
smooth.
Fill each egg white half with 1-1/4
teaspoons of yolk mixture. *Top each
with your choice of topping.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
*Substitute toppings for your team
colors:
Black and Yellow: Top eggs with ripe
black olives.
Red and Yellow: Top eggs with
paprika, pimiento, roasted red
pepper or half of a grape tomato.
Purple and Yellow: Top with diced red
onion.
SOURCE: WWW.HY-VEE.COM
LURE FALL 2018
35

GAME DAY HEARTY
MEXICAN DIP
MAKES 4 CUPS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
(1 cup)
1 3/4 cups mild picante sauce or
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) Mexicanstyle
diced tomatoes
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green
chilies
1 cup water (divided)
1 package (2.75 ounces) regular
country gravy mix
1/2 package (16-ounce size)
processed Mexican cheese food,
cubed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon finely chopped jalapeño
pepper (optional)
Chunks of French bread, tortilla chips
or corn chips
In 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven,
cook and stir ground beef and
onion until beef is browned; drain.
Add picante sauce, green chilies
and 1/2 cup water; heat to boiling.
Meanwhile, dissolve gravy mix in
1/2 cup cool water; stir into boiling
mixture until slightly thickened.
Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese
until melted. Stir in cumin and
jalapeño pepper. Heat through.
Serve warm with bread chunks, tortilla
chips or corn chips.
FROM “TAILGATES TO TOUCHDOWNS:
FABULOUS FOOTBALL FOOD”
BY NINA SWAN-KOHLER
IOWA HAWKEYE CHILI
SERVES 10
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 cups yellow bell peppers, chopped
and divided
3 clove(s) garlic, minced
2 pounds ground turkey, or ground
chicken
2 (28 ounces each) cans diced
tomatoes
4 (15 ounces each) cans no-saltadded
black beans, rinsed and
drained
2 cups chicken, or vegetable broth
4 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 fresh lime, juiced
Kosher sea salt, to taste
Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Shredded cheddar cheese, for
garnish
Kettle chips, for serving
In a large pot, heat oil over medium
heat. Cook onion, 2 1/2 cups yellow
peppers and garlic, 5 minutes or until
softened, stirring often. Add turkey
and cook until no longer pink, about
5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to
break up the meat.
Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth, chili
powder, cumin and sugar. Bring to
a boil; reduce heat to maintain a
simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover
and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in lime
juice and season to taste with salt.
Top chili with remaining 1/2 cup
chopped yellow pepper, cilantro and
cheese. Serve with kettle chips.
SOURCE: WWW.HY-VEE.COM
IOWA STATE WHITE CHILI
SERVES 12
8 slices peppered bacon, diced
1 cup white onion, diced
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 pound smoked pork loin, cooked
and cubed
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken broth
1 (1-ounce) packet chili seasoning
1 (8 ounces) package shredded
pepper Jack cheese
2 (15 ounces each) great northern
beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5 ounces) can chili-style beans
in chili gravy
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons water
White rice, cooked, hot, for serving
In a large pot, cook bacon over
medium heat for 5 minutes or until
crispy, stirring occasionally. Transfer
cooked bacon to a paper-towel lined
plate. Do not drain grease from pot.
In the same pot, cook onion and bell
pepper for 1 minute. Add pork loin
and cook 1 minute. Stir in half-andhalf,
broth, chili powder, and reserved
bacon pieces and bring to a boil. Stir
in cheese until completely melted;
reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
In a small bowl, whisk together
cornstarch and water until smooth;
whisk into chili to thicken. Increase
heat to high, and boil for 30 seconds.
Remove from the heat. Carefully stir
in northern beans and chili beans to
avoid breaking or mashing the beans.
To serve, spoon chili over white rice.
SOURCE: WWW.HY-VEE.COM
36 LURE FALL 2018

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LURE FALL 2018
37

Fall Fun
Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the crisp temperatures and vibrant colors in
Eastern Iowa. A variety of places offer the opportunity to pick your own pumpkins or
apples and enjoy activities such as hayrack rides, corn mazes and more. Hours can
vary, so you may want to call before you head out. Here is a sampling:
Allen’s Orchard
5801 N. 10th St., Marion
August-October: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
(319) 377-1408
www.allensorchard.com
This u-pick orchard offers more than 40
varieties of apples, including Cortland,
Gala, Honeycrisp and Sweet Sixteen.
Picked apples, donuts, turnovers and pies
as well as other gifts and products can
also be purchased in the store.
Bart’s Farm and Pumpkin Patch
7307 Alburnett Road, Marion
(319) 373-2633
Open through end of October: 5-9 p.m.
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday.
https://bit.ly/2LAVojO
Bring your own wagon and pick pumpkins
from the field or choose from a variety of
already-picked pumpkins in the front yard.
Visit the animals in the barn and enjoy a
pony ride or a tour on a hayrack.
Bass Farms
1325 Highway 30 West, Mount Vernon
(319) 895-6480
June 15-Oct. 31: Tuesday to Sunday 10
a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday closed. Nov.
1-June 15: Hours vary or by appointment.
(319) 895-6480
https://bassfarms.org/
Located across from Palisades State
Park on Highway 30, this scenic farm
grows a variety of crops including sweet
corn, gourds and pumpkins. A specialty
store carries jams, jellies, chocolates and
wines from around the world. Hay rides,
educational tours and corporate or group
outings also available.
The Big Apple Orchard
1115 Highway 30 W., Mount Vernon
Open through end of October: Mondays,
Tuesdays, Fridays 3-6 p.m., Saturdays
and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed
Wednesdays and Thursdays
(319) 361-7692
http://bigappleorchard.com/
This u-pick orchard is home to nearly 2,200
apple trees with more than 20 varieties.
The Orchard Store is stocked with donuts,
fresh apple cider, honey from local hives,
ice cream and gifts.
Bloomsbury Farm
3260 69th St., Atkins
Sept. 15-Oct. 31: Monday-Saturday 9
a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
(319) 446-7667
www.bloomsburyfarm.com
If the 17-acre pick-your-own-pumpkin
patch or 10-acre corn maze aren’t
enough to keep you entertained, there
are plenty of other attractions including
a zip line, haunted house, Western town
and fully-stocked country store including a
smoke shack and pizza parlor.
Colony Pumpkin Patch
2780 Front St. NE, North Liberty
Sept. 15-Oct. 28: 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday,
10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
(319) 626-6091
http://colonypumpkinpatch.com/
This year Colony Pumpkin Patch has a
brand new hay rack to take customers to
the pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Picking
pumpkins and shopping at the store are
free but there is an admission fee for the
corn maze, barrel train and other activities.
Zombie Paintball opens Sept. 17 and the
annual fall festival begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 6.
Genoa Bluffs Farms
2168 Hh Ave., Marengo
(319) 668-8447
https://genoabluffs.wildapricot.org/
This family farm in Iowa County offers a
variety of pumpkins ranging from six to 40
pounds, gourds, popcorn, Indian corn,
decorative corn stalks and many varieties
of squash. Activities include a corn maze,
game stations, bounce house, train ride,
water pump duck races and a musical wall.
Kacena Pumpkin Farm
2510 55th St., Vinton
(319) 210-2218
This farm just off Highway 150 north of
Vinton has 20-30 varieties of squash
and an additional 10 types of gourds,
pumpkins and Indian corn. A photo
booth, walking trails and country store are
also available. At the end of November,
Christmas trees are available on the farm.
Kroul Farms
245 Highway 1 S., Mount Vernon
April-October: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
(319) 895-8944
http://kroulfarms.com/
Kroul Farms offers pumpkins and other
produce, plants and flowers and
holiday décor throughout the year.
Halloween activities include a corn maze,
spooky graveyard and photo ops with
Frankenstein. Customers are encouraged
to explore the grounds and visit the farm
animals.
Wilson’s Orchard
4823 Dingleberry Road NE, Iowa City
August-October: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
(319) 354-5651
www.wilsonsorchard.com
With more than 140 different types of
apples grown on the orchard available
for u-pick, the site also opens its pumpkin
patch to customers in October. The retail
store offers a variety of products made
from the apples including donuts and
turnovers and apple cider and vinegar.
Activities include pumpkin carving and
trick-or-treating.