Tag maintenance

DIY Center at Elkridge branch with a container full of racks ant other yard care implements.

Springtime at the DIY Center

alexpyryt Leave a comment
Elkridge DIY Center: stacks of ladders and a wheel barrow stacked against a white wall, with a blue tile floor.
DIY Elkridge Branch

by Alex P.

Beautiful spring weather and fair temperatures are here, making this the perfect time to tackle the outdoor work that it’s been too cold to attempt.

As you ready your garden for vegetable crops, or get your lawn in shape, you may have to clear some debris. You can get it done with a variety of rakes that the HCLS Elkridge Branch’s DIY Collection has for different lawn areas and applications, or perhaps with one of our leaf blowers. We also have tree limb saws, pruners, and pole saws to help prune errant limbs on the variety of trees you may have around your lawn, so you can keep your area safe and keep your trees healthy.

One necessary but demanding task you may wish to tackle is clearing your gutters. The DIY Collection has a variety of ladders that can help you get the job done. We have various step ladders, such as the multi-position ladder, that are suitable for single story homes, and 20- or 24-foot extension ladders for two-story homes. From there, you can access your gutters with ease, so clear, flush, and adjust away! Check our catalog or come to Elkridge Branch for a list of our ladders and the average vertical reach you can expect while using them.

Car maintenance is also easier to do now that it’s warmer. Make sure you have enough engine oil and check your tire treads to see if they’re worn. If you need an oil change or are replacing a tire, the DIY Collection has an automotive jack and stands kit so you can lift your car safely for easy access. While your car is up, you can check your brake pads to see if they need replacing too. You can use our socket set, breaker bar, and torque wrench to get tires on and off your vehicle.

DIY is your place to tackle spring cleaning, planting veggies in your garden, and so much more. Borrow the tools mentioned above and stay tuned for exciting new additions to our collection soon.

Community Plant Swap
Sat, May 10 | 2 – 3:30 pm
HCLS Central Branch
For adults.
Calling all plant lovers and the plant-curious! Join us for the second HCLS live plant swap. Have an abundance of healthy seedlings, cuttings, bare-root or potted plants? Bring them to the Take-a-Plant area so they can find a new home. Bring a box or other container(s) to gather and take home new plant friends.

A woman wearing a blue shirt walks toward the camera, with a toaster under one arm and a broken lamp in the other.

Repair Cafe at the Library
Sat, Jun 14 | 1 – 4 pm
HCLS Elkridge Branch
Instead of throwing away broken items, bring them to a Repair Cafe where volunteers will do their best to give them a new life. If you are interested in how things work, or have a favorite item that needs repair, join us to see what’s possible. Clothing, jewelry, small electrical appliances, toys, furniture. (No smart phones or computers, or gas powered devices.) Volunteers evaluate and fix as many items as they can and offer their expertise for things too large or not possible to bring in.

Alex Pyryt is a DIY Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch.  

Local Bike Rides

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The photograph depicts a bike trail road sign in green and white against a blurry background of yellow fall leaves. The bike is beneath a green arrow pointing to the right.

By Eric L.

Autumn is wonderful time, and it’s my favorite. I always enjoy how the humidity fades and cooler air takes its place. As my bio reads, I do really enjoy being outside in nature. Numerous studies show that it is healthful just to be outside.  

I’d recommend that if you’re able, get out there on a bike. Maybe you have a neglected one around the house, or could borrow one to try it out. You do not need an expensive bike and spandex to have fun – just a bike, a helmet, and some comfortable clothing. Start slow, just take a short ride around your neighborhood away from traffic.  

Speaking with people at bike shops, I’ve discovered they’re short on bikes to sell and appointments for repairs and maintenance. Therefore, I’d encourage you to watch this short video I made for the library about how to perform some simple maintenance and change a flat tire. You can borrow, via contactless pickup, a bike tool kit, a pump, and even a professional bike repair stand at the DIY Education Center at HCLS Elkridge Branch.  

After that, you can do a quick internet search on all the great spots to cycle in the Baltimore metro area. I’ll give you a few of the ones I like, all of which provide a nice scenic autumn ride. Find a friend (I think biking is more fun with company), but you may want to avoid any tandem bikes as a beginner and with social distancing guidelines. 

The BWI loop is a paved trail that essentially goes around the airport; it’s about 12.5 miles and does have some hills. It has a nice playground on the loop, if you’re with little ones and an observation area to watch planes.  

The B&A Trail, connected to the BWI loop, is a smooth, fully paved trail which goes all the way to Annapolis. It’s a very pleasant ride, and you need not do the entire thing, just whatever is in your comfort range. There are numerous spots where people get on and off the trail.  

The Grist Mill trail in the Avalon area of the Patapsco Valley State Park was closed for long period of time, but is open (as of now) and is a very smooth and scenic ride. It passes by a swinging bridge and where the Bloede dam was removed (which I find pretty cool to view). What’s more, if you’re more adventurous, the Patapsco Valley State Park has miles of great trails for mountain biking. To be sure, it’s not for beginners (the DIY center can lend you trekking poles if you’d prefer to take a nice long walk to see the park instead). 

My personal favorite of late is the NCR trail, which begins in Timonium and goes all the way to York, PA. This trail is mostly gravel and thus requires a hybrid, mountain, or basically a bike with anything other than super skinny “road” tires. I ride it frequently from Monkton Station to New Freedom, PA. The NCR is slightly uphill (you don’t even notice at times) heading north and thus a slight downhill on the return south. 

You will encounter some folks, as these trails are more popular than in previous years with many looking for socially distanced activities, especially on the weekend. But don’t be intimidated, just let those riding fast pass on by, and stay on your side of the trail. And again, keep in mind to just have a good time and enjoy the beautiful season! 

Eric is a DIY Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge branch. He enjoys reading, films, music, doing nearly anything outside, and people.