All Posts in "Contributing Author"

 

Gardening is one of those activities that is low-impact, reduces stress, and improves your overall health and well-being. It is, however, possible to overdo it and strain muscles, joints and even end up with lightheadedness. There are some quick and simple ways to enjoy your gardening tasks without taxing your body too much, giving you all the benefits of this outdoor activity:

Pick the right time.

The middle of a hot summer day, with the full sun beating down on your head, is not the ideal time to start weeding. Early mornings or the early evenings are much better times to get down to the harder tasks in gardening. Leave the middle of the day to enjoy your space from the comfort of a swinging hammock or a patio set, complete with an umbrella and a cool drink.

Pick easy plants.

Just like people, some plants are high-maintenance. Roses, for example, require a lot of tending, protection from the elements, disease and insects, pruning, and so on to remain beautiful year over year. Skip those at the garden center and instead focus in on a few plants and shrubs that will be easy to maintain.

First off, go for perennials. They come back every year, saving you the effort of replanting. Depending on where you are in the country and what hardiness zone your area is in, you can look at some of the following for beautiful color and ease of care:

  • Yucca plants. This is lovely green foliage that grows to up to five feet in width, taking up a good chunk of space, leaving you with needing fewer plants to manage. In particular, the red flowered yucca has been known to double in size in a season and is very hardy in a range of planting conditions, in addition to having beautiful red blooms.
  • The blooms on this plant are gorgeous and can last all the way until first frost, returning the following spring.
  • Ornamental grasses. While not a bloom, these are excellent in raised garden beds or even containers, creating a textured backdrop to whatever other plants are in with them.
  • Campsis climbing vines. This is the kind of no-fuss plant that anyone with the least green of green thumbs can grow. Set it up near a trellis and point it in the right direction. It will do the rest.

If you’re worried about plants seeding and spreading, choose sterile cultivars (unable to provide or spread viable seeds) such as “blue chip” buddleias. These are easy to plant and will take care of themselves.

Pick manageable growing areas.

If you’re not up to raised beds and widespread planting, consider alternatives like container gardening. Multiple large pots and urns can be filled with herbs, flowers, grasses, and even placed in front of a trellis or next to an arbor, to allow the climbers to flourish. You can access the container more easily than ground level growing, using a stool if you prefer, rather than getting on your knees.

Another great option is called a vertical garden. This is a popular option in smaller gardens where growing beds and other planting areas are more difficult to manage. All you need is a series of rods, creating a hanging area, on which you can attach planters. You can have multiple rows, from the ground upwards. Fill your planters with veggie plants, herbs and flowers and you’ve got an instant privacy wall if you need it and more space for your hammock!

Pick the right tools.

A few tools that will make getting the gardening done easier and more pleasant:

  • Long-handled tools that will allow you to manage your weeding and hoeing without kneeling. Look also for ergonomic handles, which are kinder to the joints, in all your tools but particularly in a shovel, which should also be lightweight, to avoid strains. The only tool where you want to avoid lightweight materials is your garden spade: this should be a solid tool that can handle the harder soils.
  • Add a water wand to your hose to create a long handle when you need to reach higher levels, like hanging plants. An easy-to-squeeze trigger handle is a must.
  • A garden cart will make it easier to transport your soil from the car, or your plants around the garden. Some even come with a seat, so it can double as a gardening stool.
  • Knee pads for those times when you absolutely must get down to ground level.
  • Power tools for the bigger tasks. A manual mower is a nice idea but can be very tiresome after a while. There is nothing wrong in deciding that a power mower is more your style.

For any tool that cuts, make sure that it is sharp. Dull pruning shears or garden scissors will make it that much more difficult to get the job done.

Small adjustments to your choices and purchases will make your gardening activities that much more enjoyable.

Don’t forget your hat, water and sunscreen. Even if it’s overcast out, dehydration and sun stroke are real causes for concern at any age. Above all, enjoy your time in the garden.

 

Rhianna Miller, who wrote this article, is a home garden design expert for Rubber Mulch (rubbermulch.com), a mulch product made from recycled rubber and used in gardens, playgrounds and sustainable landscaping.

Contributing Author by — August 7, 2018 in Lifestyles

(Mark Lindquist, who wrote this article, is Pierce County’s prosecuting attorney.)

 

Mr. Villegas’ life savings began to dwindle under the control of his daughter. He was 81 years old with dementia and early Alzheimer’s. Frugal, he lived on a modest income. His savings were nearly $200,000, primarily from the sale of his home, but his daughter drained his account to almost nothing over the course of a few years.

Without money, Mr. Villegas could not afford the assisted living he needed. Luckily, Mr. Villegas’ son Robert became aware of the situation and intervened. Mr. Villegas’ daughter went to prison for the theft and Mr. Villegas moved in with his son, where he was properly cared for.

In 2011, I formed an Elder Abuse Unit to protect elders and vigorously prosecute those who take advantage of vulnerable adults. We recognized that as our population ages, there are more elders who need more protection. Since then, our Pierce County prosecutor’s office has been a leader in the prosecution and prevention of elder abuse, whether it’s financial exploitation, physical abuse, or neglect.

Initially, our Elder Abuse Unit was a one-woman team with deputy prosecutor Erika Nohavec. Yes, as Erika sometimes joked, there can be an “I” in team. Our team subsequently expanded to include two deputy prosecutors, two victim advocates, and a legal assistant. The Pierce County Council recognized the vital work we were doing and provided the additional staff.

We aim to be leaders in the prosecution and prevention of elder abuse just as we have been leaders in reducing gang violence and removing career criminals from our streets. We innovate, we collaborate, we excel. In 2016, we won a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice of nearly $400,000 — we were one of only nine counties in the country to receive this award. The funds are being used to coordinate a comprehensive approach to protecting elders and other vulnerable adults.

One major component of this comprehensive approach was the formation of the Coordinated Community Response Team. This group includes prosecutors, law enforcement departments, the attorney general’s office, Adult Protective Services, the Korean Women’s Association, and other stakeholders.

Our vision is to create a safe community for vulnerable adults. Our mission is to effectively respond to the needs of older victims, hold abusers accountable, identify and bridge the gaps in services available to victims, and improve coordination between service providers through multidisciplinary collaboration. This collaboration also helps us hold offenders accountable.

Working with multiple agencies, our office successfully prosecuted a caregiver in 2016 for a shocking case of neglect. Mr. Carter was found non-responsive in his bed and was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital. Several large and deep pressure ulcers were discovered on his backside, the worst of which was 8×13 inches and went down to the bone.

His paid caregiver packed the wounds with paper towels and Neosporin. This led to a serious infection, which ultimately killed Mr. Carter. Doctors and nurses said it was the worst example of neglect they had seen in their careers. This was the first murder conviction in Washington premised on a failure to seek necessary medical care for a vulnerable adult.

We prosecute and we prevent. Raising awareness and educating people on how to protect themselves, their friends, and their family members is part of how we reduce crimes against the vulnerable and keep them safe. If you know of a group that would benefit from hearing from us, please let us know. Deputy prosecutor Sven Nelson, the current supervisor of the Elder Abuse Unit, is happy to speak with community groups. And so am I.

We are committed to keeping our community safe for everyone.

 

Contributing Author by — August 7, 2018 in News

It seems the older we get, the more time we spend looking back on how life used to be when we were young and spry. It seems life has passed us by, and to some extent it has. Today’s world with its Internet, Facebook and other technical innovations can be confusing, strange and at times unnerving. It moves too fast for some of us. Gone are the days of coal oil lamps, Sears Roebuck and Co. catalogs (1896-1993), underwear made from flower sack material, morning and evening milking, and the long walks to and from school in all kinds of weather. Growing up in those days was hard, but it didn’t kill us. What it did do was make us appreciative for what we did have, tough and determined. Those characteristics are some of the reasons why today’s seniors are called the Greatest Generation.

Because money was tight and mostly non-existent, today’s seniors learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of life at an early age: Church events, local dances and family gatherings, to name a few, that even today remain in our memories.

Fishing has always been part of rural living — and urban living, as well, although maybe not as much. It was and is a recreational activity that cost very little and for the most part pays off handsomely. Because of restrictive accessibility and the potential for injuries, river and stream bank fishing in not feasible for many seniors. However, lake fishing is another story, especially if those lakes have easily accessible fishing docks or piers that meet the needs of individuals with physical disabilities.

One such place is Spanaway Lake. One of south Puget Sound’s most popular recreational lakes, Spanaway is located a half-mile west of Spanaway off State Route 7. Containing perch, small and large-mouth bass, brown bullhead, and trout, the lake is frequently stocked with 15,000 to 30,000 rainbow trout, averaging 10 to 12 inches, by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The lake, open to fishing year-round, has a boat launch with a newly renovated boat ramp, fishing pier (wheelchair-accessible), handicapped-accessible bathrooms, a new picnic area by the south swimming beach, and for those so inclined, boat rentals, including canoes and paddle boats.

Bud Herlitska, manager of the Spanaway Boathouse, is a senior citizen himself. He said the frequent gatherings of seniors on the fishing pier are “more like a community meeting. While fishing is the main focal point, a cross-section of viewpoints, ideas and information are commonly shared. Current and past health issues, as well as federal, state and local politics are also common themes. There is a wealth of information and experience among those groups, and politicians would be well-advised to listen to their concerns and suggestions. After all, those seniors have live through the good and bad times, and most near and dear to their hearts, is the well-being of this country.”

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, there are now more Americans 65 and older than at any time in U.S. history. They make up 13 percent of the nation’s total population and that number is expected to increase rapidly over the next decade as more baby boomers start to turn 65.

 

Drop a line from a dock or launch a boat at places like Spanaway Lake to get your fish on.
Contributing Author by — July 25, 2018 in Spotlight

Turn up the heat and add a bit of spice to your meals with these winning hot peppers. Add them to your garden, flower borders and containers for added beauty and easy picking.

Your biggest challenge will be narrowing down your choices. Let All-America Selections (AAS, all-americaselections.org) help. This non-profit organization tests new edible and ornamental varieties nationally for their suitability to home gardens and containers.  

Grow a few cayenne peppers if you like Mexican, Cajun and Asian cuisine. They also add a bit of zip to dips, stews and marinades. Brighten your meals and garden with the brilliant red and tasty fruit of Red Ember. This 2018 AAS winner is pretty enough for flower gardens or containers. You’ll be harvesting earlier and longer, providing more time to use and enjoy them. For a mildly spicy option with the same great flavor, try Cayennetta. Its heat and cold tolerance makes it a great choice no matter where you garden.

If you like it even hotter, include a few habaneros in the garden. Then add heat and flavor to jerk chicken, chili, jam and other recipes. For those who like the flavor of habanero but can’t stand the heat, try Roulette habanero.  It looks and tastes like a habanero in every aspect except it’s not hot. Roulette is the perfect solution for families with different heat tolerances.

Add a full spectrum of color to containers and small space gardens with the early ripening Hungarian Mexican Sunrise and Sunset wax peppers.  The conical-shaped fruit transition from green to yellow, then orange and red. The fruit can be harvested and eaten at any stage. But the longer it is on the plant, the better the flavor. Mexican Sunrise is semi-hot, while Mexican Sunset is for those that like a bit more heat. Both can be eaten fresh, stuffed, baked, grilled or pickled.

Grow a few Aji Rico peppers to add warm heat with a hint of citrus to your dishes. Eat them fresh or cook into salsa and hot sauces. Control the heat with the number of seeds left in the fruit. The more seeds that remain; the greater the heat.

Roast them, use them fresh, or string a few Giant Ristra peppers together to dry and use throughout the winter.  Don’t be fooled by its appearance. This seven-inch chili pepper looks like a sweet Marconi but has the spiciness of a cayenne.

For those who want to crank up the heat, try Emerald Fire at 2,500 Scoville units. Not the hottest pepper on the market, but this jalapeno is certainly one to respect. The deep-green fruit resists cracking and matures to red. Use them fresh, stuff with cream cheese, grill or can for later use.

If your taste lies on the other end of the heat spectrum, start with Chili Pie and work your way to some of these hotter varieties. These miniature bell peppers are mildly hot when the fruit turns red. Be careful not to mix them in with your sweet bell peppers. Heed this warning when growing and using any hot peppers. Clearly mark or better yet grow your hot peppers away from sweet peppers to avoid an unwelcome surprise. Keep your hands away from your eyes when working with hot peppers, and wash them thoroughly when done.

Most importantly, have fun growing and using hot peppers in your garden, containers and meals. These beauties combine nicely with other vegetables, herbs and flowers to create stunning garden beds and containers. And their spicy flavor is sure to help you create memorable meals this season.

 

Melinda Myers, who wrote this article,

Growing and eating hot peppers brings varying degrees of heat to your meals.

is a gardening expert and author. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Contributing Author by — July 25, 2018 in Food, People