The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Using native plants in your gardens saves time, water, money

A friend of mine loves native plants. Her yard is wonderful. In the front of her home she planted native shrubs. In a few years, they grew more than six-feet tall, providing a barrier between her home and the street.

Birds and animals love her yard. She selects native plants to draw birds and butterflies to her gardens.

My oldest daughter is a botanist. She works in the hot California sun doing rare, native plant surveys. She also works with groups in the state to educate people about native plants and how to stop the spread of non-native, invasive plants.

We all can work to help reestablish native populations by planting native plants in our yards. Native plants are being destroyed as part of the development process as subdivisions and office and commercial buildings spread across the countryside.

Unlike lawns and gardens, made up mostly of non-native species, native plants don’t require fertilizers, pesticides, and large amounts of water to keep them alive. They’ve adapted to the climate, geography, and animal populations of the area. Native plants provide habitat to and are a source of food for animals, such as birds, butterflies, and mammals.

Native plants also:

• Attract beneficial insects that prey on pests and eliminate the need for pesticides.

• Reduce air pollution, improve water quality by filtering contaminated runoff, and reduce soil erosion by stabilizing soils with deep roots.

• Don’t require the use of lawn maintenance equipment, which contributes to air pollution and is a source of climate change gases.

Your ecosystem will determine what plants to select for your property.
 
Open grassland, woodlands, wetlands, and upland bluffs each have plants communities that are native to its ecosystems. Each species has its own requirements: the need for shade, sun, high moisture, or a specific soil type.

Don't dig up native plants from the wild and put them in your yard. You can buy them at some greenhouses, and native plant groups often offer plant sales.  Also be sure to avoid buying invasive plants, species which spread from human settings – gardens and agricultural areas – into the wild. Once in the wild, invasive species may continue to reproduce and displace native species.
 
You can do research to find out what native plants will work in your area.

The native plant society in your state is one good source of information. The Native Plant Conservation Campaign’s Web site offers a listing of a number of the societies in the United States. Extension programs of land grant universities also often provide information on native plants. Some examples are provided below.

Here are some references to help you get started growing native plants:

“Creating a Bird Garden” – The New York Botanical Garden

“Directories: Nurseries, Community Service, Professionals” – PlantNative

“Gardening With Native Plants West of the Cascades” – Oregon State University Extension

“How-to Articles” – Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

“How to Choose Native Plants for Your Garden” – 5min Life Videopedia 

“How to Naturescape” – PlantNative

“Links for Using Native Plants in the Landscape” – University of Illinois Extension

“Mid-Atlantic Region Green Landscaping: Using Native Plants” – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

"Native Plants" – California Native Plant Society

“Native Plants” – Gardening with the Helpful Gardener

“Native Plants for Western Washington Gardens and Restoration Projects” – Washington Native Plant Society

“Why Grow Native Plants?” – Florida Native Plant Society

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

A new way to think about lawns

Is it getting more difficult every year to drag out your lawn mower and get the mowing done? Are you questioning the amount you’re spending on fertilizer and pesticides as the budget get tighter?

You can reduce the time and money you spend on your lawn dramatically. All you need is a new way to look at your lawn and how you manage it. You can:

• Reduce the amount of lawn you have. The vacated areas can be filled with flowers, shrubs, vegetables, or drought-resistant native plants that require little upkeep.

• Create an organic lawn without using pesticides and fertilizers. Cut the grass high, leave the clippings on the grass, water deeply and infrequently to create deep roots, and allow clover, moss and other plants to creep in. Pull dandelions by hand with a sharp tool, if you don’t like them. They’ll be gone in about one year.

• Let part or all of your lawn revert to a meadow.

Ecologist F. Herbert Bormann urges people to consider having a “freedom lawn.” It allows for the natural growth of grasses, clover, wildflowers, and other broad-leafed plants. Freedom lawns are better for the health of people and the planet, Bormann, author with others of the book “Redesigning the American Lawn: A Search for Environmental Harmony,” told me in an interview. 

Industrial lawns, loved by Americans for decades, surround most homes. The industrial lawn is a carpet of green lawn with grass species only, cut short and maintained by use of large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides.
 
Industrial lawns have a high environmental cost, he said. Mowers pollute the air and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Clippings fill already crowded landfills. Chemical pesticides threaten human and animal health, and fertilizers threaten water supplies and use scarce fossil fuels.

Americans spend $40 billion annually tending 60 million lawns, according to an article in the Chicago Sun Times.
 
More than $2 billion worth of pesticides are sold for use on American lawns annually. Homeowners use 10 times more pesticides per acre than farmers do, Bormann’s book reports. “Chemical pesticides used in lawn care are designed to destroy or control living organisms and may therefore pose a threat to many forms of life, including humans and their pets,” he said.

About $1.7 billion is spent on lawn fertilizers lawns annually. Costly fertilizers often can only be partially used by plants and the nitrogen is lost as a gas or in drainage water, Bormann said. These releases contribute to greenhouse gases or cause water pollution. 

“We can have freedom lawns at a much lower environmental cost,” he said. In “Redesigning the American Lawn,” Bormann lists the advantages of freedom lawns. They:

• Provide a home for many species of plants, animals, and microbes.

• Clean water before it returns to streams and groundwater.

• Reduce global warming by net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.   

• Have no impact on local landfills. 

• Have no impact on global fossil fuel supplies.

“With freedom lawns, the bothersome things about industrial lawns would be lessened,” he said. “We as individuals want a better and cleaner life. A responsibility goes along with that. The responsibility is to be more clever about how we manage lawns.”

Bormann, a botanist who enjoys observing plants of different colors and shapes proceed through the life cycle, says freedom are more interesting and fun.

Here are resources to help you with lawn care:

“Fertilizers and Pest Control” – Safelawns.org

“30 Commonly Used Pesticides” – National Coalition for Presticide-Free Lawns

“Lawns, Grasses, and Groundcovers, Vol. 1” by Lewis and Nancy Hill – Rodale Press 

“Poisons in the Grass” – Natural Therapies for Chronic Illness & Health Maintenance

Tomorrow's post on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will offer comments on Using Native Plants in Your Gardens Saves Time, Water, Money.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Green gardening, lawn care promotes good health

Growing up in Central Washington’s apple country, I saw massive amounts of pesticides being used on the orchards there. As a child, I was sprayed with pesticides from airplanes. As a teenager, I thinned apples in trees that were dripping with pesticide residues.

My father, an apple farmer, died at age 80 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is linked to pesticide exposure.

When I bought my house in 1995, I decide to have a pesticide-free yard.

I started by getting brochures from the Washington Toxics Coalition. The brochure on pesticide-free lawns said it would take one to two years to rid a lawn of dandelions pulling them by hand. I was lucky. The dandelions were mostly gone after about one year of hand weeding.

My yard came with 40 rhododendrons. I received help from Washington State University Extension on how to deal with pests and diseases without pesticides and herbicides.

I learned how to have an organic lawn. Cut the grass high, leave the clippings on the lawn for fertilizer, and water the lawn adequately during the summer so weeds don’t choke out the grass.

When I grow vegetables, I grow them organically.

I buy any fertilizer I need for my lawn and gardens from a local organic gardening store.

If you’re interested in having a green lawn and garden, here are resources to help you:

“Lawn and Garden Chemicals – Why Be Concerned?” – Washington Toxics Coalition

“PAN Pesticides Database” – Pesticide Action Network North America

“Growing Techniques” – Organic Gardening

"Affiliates" – Native Plant Conservation Campaign

Tomorrow’s post on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will discuss A New Way to Think About Lawns.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomers love to garden

Baby boomers enjoy gardening because they like making their homes attractive and it helps them relax. Gardening also provides a form of exercise for health-conscious boomers.
 
A survey by the National Gardening Association found that boomers make up about 64 percent of gardening retail sales, according to an Associated Press article.
 
With spending down for do-it-yourself gardening, the industry is targeting sales to boomers. Sales were $34 billion in 2006, a decline from 2005 and below 2001's figure of $37.7 billion, according to the association.
 
The gardening industry is selling tools that appeal to boomers, the article reports. They’re colorful; easier for aging eyes to see. And they’re ergonomic; delivering results for less muscle. The new tools are cushion-gripped and streamlined.
 
In another gardening trend, boomers are interested in going organic, according to a Washington Post article.
 
Traditional chemical applications remain popular. However, over the past five years the organic market has doubled to about 10 percent of the market for fertilizers and pesticides, Bruce Butterfield, research director of the association, said in the article. Boomers are well educated and not convinced about better living through the use of chemicals, Butterfield said.

Tomorrow's Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will provide information on Green Gardening, Lawn Care Promotes Good Health.

Copyright 2008 Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Find qualified provider for testing, fitting before you buy hearing aid

Huh?

What did you say?

What was that?
   
If these words are creeping into your conversations more frequently, you may need hearing aids.
   
Scared at the thought?
   
Millions of boomers are. They have hearing problems, but don’t do anything about it.
   
Begin by seeing a medical doctor. He or she can tell you if your hearing loss could be caused by a medical problem such as earwax, fluid behind the eardrum, or an infection.
   
About 5 percent of hearing problems can be treated medically or surgically, Danette Wagner Jackson, audiologist for Integrity Hearing Services, told me in an interview.

Next, choose a qualified, experienced hearing aid dispenser or audiologist. Find out what the licensing requirements are in your state. Make sure the hearing aid dispenser or audiologist meets state requirements.
 
You can also ask family or friends for recommendations and check with your local Better Business Bureau.

The American Academy of Audiology offers lists of audiologists in cities throughout the United States.

Before you have a hearing test, find out what type is offered, what it will cost, and how it will be conducted. You don’t want a quick test in a noisy room for this important evaluation.

Make sure test results are explained to you, says Wagner Jackson. “It’s very important. A lot of decision are based on what the hearing loss is.”

Find out if you can take the test results with you. That way, you can compare hearing aid prices and buy from a firm that charges less.

Hearing aids cost $1,000 to $4,000. Some firms may charge two times or more than others.

Many states recommend or require that consumers get at least a 30-day trial period to determine if the hearing aids will work for them. The dispenser or audiologist usually charges a service fee of 5 to 20 percent of the purchase price if the hearing aid is returned during that time.

You should work closely with the dispenser or audiologist during the trial period to get the hearing aids adjusted properly. It takes time to get use to hearing aids. Even when they are properly adjusted there may be initial discomfort in sound levels.

“People don’t really know what to expect,” Wagner Jackson said. They feel something in the ears, and their voice sounds different to them. And the biggest, most difficult change is all the sounds in the environment, she said. “The brain needs to be retrained.”

Digital hearing aids can be programmed with a computer to make adjustments to fit individual needs.

“Little things going wrong can be fixed,” Wagner Jackson said. Pointers are given on how the hearing aids can work better, and tips are offered on listening techniques.

Discuss options with your dispenser or audiologist on what’s best for your hearing loss. Don’t just get the smallest hearing aids or what your friend has.

“It’s not like going to the grocery store and buying lemons,” she said.

Wagner Jackson says people shouldn’t be scared about wearing hearing aids. “Hearing loss is more noticeable than hearing aids.”

For details on how to buy a hearing aid see:

"Sound Advice on Hearing Aids" – Federal Trade Commission

"Selecting Hearing Aids" – The American Academy of Audiology

Copyright, 2008 Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Hearing loss a serious health issue for boomers

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.

The annual event is designed to raise awareness and promote treatment of communications disorders. These disorders include hearing loss, Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), difficulty with swallowing or balance, stuttering, delayed language, or voice problems.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association sponsors Better Hearing and Speech Month.

Although many boomers have serious hearing problems, they're reluctant to take action.

Half of the U.S.'s 76 million boomers are experiencing some degree of hearing loss, a study by The EAR Foundation and Clarity® shows.

The survey reports that hearing loss is significantly impacting boomers' lives at work, at home, and while traveling. More men (62 percent) are being affected than women (38 percent).

Some of the key findings from the report:

• Almost one-fourth (23 percent) of those surveyed said their hearing loss is impacting their success in the workplace, while 25 percent said hearing loss is affecting their earning potential. Areas of work most impacted are hearing and understanding phone calls and conversations with co-workers.

• Forty percent of people who reported having a hearing loss said that it has affected their home life in many ways, including having conversations with loved ones. Sixty-five percent said they have trouble hearing television. Watching TV with others and social gatherings are the areas that boomers with hearing loss avoid most.

• More than half (57 percent) of those with a hearing loss said they often have difficulty hearing on a cell phone.

See the Clarity Web site to obtain information on the study, which has 2004 and 2006 phases.

Clarity®, a Division of Plantronics Inc., is a supplier of amplified telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices, and other communications devices for the hard of hearing and deaf.

The Ear Foundation, founded in 1971, is an organization that educates the public and the medical profession about hearing loss and ear diseases. It sponsors research into hearing and balance disorders. EAR stands for education and auditory research.

My next post on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will discuss the need to "Find Qualified Provider for Testing, Fitting Before You Buy a Hearing Aid."

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Mortgage fraud skyrockets; be wary if you're making any kind of mortgage deal

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a new report stating mortgage fraud is increasing dramatically. Consumers need to be aware of scams involving mortgages, according to an article by consumeraffairs.com.

The report describes a 176 percent leap in mortgage fraud investigations in the past five years. That includes a 47 percent increase of these investigations from 2006.

Scams include:

• Builder-bailout schemes.

• Foreclosure rescue frauds.

• Identity theft.

• Identity theft used to drain home equity.

• Seller-assistance scams.

The top 10 hot spots nationwide for mortgage fraud in 2007, according to the FBI, were: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, California, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, New York, Colorado, and Minnesota. The north-central region had the largest share of mortgage fraud, followed by the west and southeast regions.

For more information about mortgage fraud, see the FBI's Web page, Mortgage Fraud: New Analysis of a Rising Threat.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

In two to three weeks, you can change your habits, achieve better health

If you're looking for ways to improve your health, a doctor of naturopathy suggests five things you can do that will add years to your life. Naturopathy is a method of treating disease that uses no surgery or synthetic drugs but employs special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc., to assist the natural healing processes.

Eileen Silva, N.D., says in her blog that it generally takes 14 to 21 days of repetitive behavior to form a new pattern in your brain. The behavioral response becomes automatic after the pattern is formed.

Silva believes the new healthy habits below will improve your health:

1. Eat five small meals a day.
2. Climb the stairs instead of using elevators.
3. Laugh it up.
4. Drink eight glasses of water every day.
5. Unwind with meditation.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What are your boomer housing needs?

Recent trends show that boomers are looking for housing that:

• Is green.

• Offers choices in living styles, including space for parents, teens, or visiting grandchildren.

• Provides healthy living programs.

• Allows them to age in place.

What are your housing needs now and what do you think they'll be as you age?

Here are four articles that discuss boomer housing demands and how they're impacting what's being built.

Ground-floor master suites meet the requirements of personal mobility and family flexibility -- Boomers fuel demand for downstairs bedroom suites, and builders respond

Boomers influence next generation of senior housing

Moving to Nextville

Builders aim for boomers who seek to go green

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How are you going to spend your rebate check?

A survey conducted for the National Retail Federation shows consumers plan to spend 39.9 percent of their tax rebate checks, providing a $42.2 billion boost to the economy.

Consumers will also use the money to:

• Pay down debt – $28.1 billion.

• Save – $20.1 billion.

• Invest – $3.4 billion.

• Pay medical bills – $4.9 billion.

• Other ways – $6.9 billion.

For those who'll be spending their rebate checks, the survey estimates people will be spending all or part of the rebate checks as follows:

• 17.2 million – gas.

• 21.2 million – food.

• 2.7 million – Furniture.

• 2.4 million – vehicle.

• “Me” time at a salon or spa – 2.9 million.

Let me know if you'll be spending your rebate check on necessities such as food and gas or other items, or if you'll be using it to pay credit card or other debt, for retirement, or in other ways.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist