Let’s Find the Silver Lining
Dozie Herbruck
Helpful Things To Do While in Isolation
Being housebound is hard. Not having a schedule is even harder. Missing out on SLGC meetings is the hardest of all. (Just kidding!) In this time of isolation and worry, we need to focus on the positive things we can do while in quarantine:
Get exercise
Photo by Wilder Child
Walk around neighborhood – Enjoy the fresh air and marvel at the new growth in trees and plants. Look closely at the tree buds and try to identify them. (Click on photo on the right to enlarge.)
Take a bag with you to pick up trash and improve the environment for everyone. You’ll be surprised at how many people will thank you and how virtuous you will feel.
Pump up the bike tires and head out to see what other people have been doing in their gardens and yards. When you get home, you will feel much better about your own garden and yard.
Take out your camera or iPhone and go for a walk around the neighborhood, practicing your photography skills. Heads up: People’s Choice Photography Contest will be announced in the May newsletter!
Build up your Immunity
Make your own kefir
Kefir (made either with milk or with water) is a probiotic beverage linked to various health benefits, including improved immunity and even protection against certain types of cancer. It is a fantastic source of many nutrients, has many more probiotics than yogurt, has potent antibacterial properties and can improve bone health. Contact me if you would like some ‘grains’ to begin making kefir in your home.
Learn to bake sour dough bread
Sour dough bread baking is much easier than baking yeast bread. No kneading, it can do its thing while you sleep, and is filled with vitamins and minerals, pre- and probiotics, and protein. Not to mention taste: no comparison! Contact me if you want some ‘starter’ for a remarkable new journey.
Keep your brain stimulated
Learn a new skill – try knitting or crocheting
SLGC has many expert knitting and crocheting afficionados who will be happy to share ideas, patterns, and probably even yarn and needles or hooks (sterilized, of course). Suzy Hartford, Jane Ellison, Mary Bruce Rae Grant, Dozie Herbruck, Betsy Stueber are all happy knitters. Anyone else?
Learn how to set up a web page or on-line newsletter.
I will be happy to give an introduction (online, of course) to Squarespace or MailChimp, the platforms SLGC uses for its communications. Learning new things is a known hedge against Alzheimers. Contact me.
Find your Happy Place
Start seeds – It’s that time again.
Check out these helpful articles:
Seed Starting Timetable by Suzy Hartford
Starting Seeds Indoors for your garden by Margaret Ransohoff
Basic Plant Propagation booklet by GCA
Spring is in Sight by BYGL at OSU
Weed the garden
Research shows that gardening is a healthy activity, improving your endurance, strength, mobility and flexibility. Gardening also helps you relax and reduces stress levels, which, in turn, builds your immunity.