The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Winter garden still producing

Kale, collards, and some Swiss chard are still alive in my winter garden.

With two nights below freezing, I was surprised to see anything standing today.

The turnip seeds I planted didn’t do well. Some bugs or slugs have really chewed on the plants. I planted the seeds in September. Turnips are one of the few things you can plant that late here for a winter garden.

Different bugs loved the cabbages I planted. The leaves look like Swiss cheese.

I harvested a large bowl of kale and cut a couple of the cabbages.

We’ll see what the freezing weather does to the rest of the garden. Snow is predicted for Saturday night.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to do with green tomatoes

This year, I constructed a raised bed garden, and it produced wonderful vegetables, including about 50 pounds of tomatoes.

However, as is typical in the Pacific Northwest, most of the tomatoes didn’t ripen.

The first tomatoes I ripened in my kitchen and ate them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner sliced as a side vegetable. They weren’t as tasty as vine-ripened garden tomatoes. The tomatoes tasted like the ones you buy in the store.

In mid-October, I picked all the tomatoes because it was cold and rainy here. They weren’t growing anymore, and I was worried they’d freeze.

After the next five pounds ripened, I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce and added the tomatoes. It worked well. The sauce I made was great, and the added tomatoes from my garden didn’t detract from the sauce.

The following five pounds I added to Chicken Vegetable Soup. These tomatoes weren’t as ripe as the previous batch. I often have turnips or parsnips in my homemade soups, but this time I had on hand carrots, Swiss chard, and zucchini. The soup tasted weak, but I added salt and it was fine.

I have a huge pot of soup, and it’s lasting for days.

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Since it’s mid-November and I still have green tomatoes, I decided to look up some recipes for how to use them.

I tried Brenda Hyde’s Broiled Tomatoes from the Old-Fashioned Living Web site. You cut tomatoes in half, put them on a baking sheet, add a toping of cracker crumbs, spices, and oil, then broil.

The Broiled Tomatoes were tasty.

Than I decided I’d try Fried Green Tomatoes. I’ve heard so much about them I was curious. I even bought bacon because Mary Lucile Jordan, county extension coordinator with the Etowah County office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said if you want that real “Southern” flavor, fry in bacon grease.

The Fried Green Tomatoes weren’t as good as the Broiled Tomatoes.

A couple of weeks ago, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of the radio program The Splendid Table which airs on National Public Radio, raved about green tomatoes and made them sound luscious. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the recipe she talked about on her site.

I’ll do further checking to see if I can find it.

Be sure to allow plenty of circulation around your green tomatoes as you wait for them to ripen. I put some of mine in two flat boxes with newspapers on top. However, I put one box on the top of the other. The tomatoes in the bottom box developed mildew, and I had to throw them away.

Here are more resources for using green tomatoes:

“We Love Green Tomatoes” – OregonLive.com

“What to Do With Green Tomatoes” – domesticsluttery

“Too Many Tomatoes?” – Farmgirl Fare

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

It’s time to plant your winter garden

If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to get your winter garden planted.

I planted kohlrabi, broccoli, kale, and collard seedlings. I also planted a row of turnip seeds.

For the first time in many years, I made a big effort to grow my own food.

I had problems with mildew and pests in my garden this year. My daughter Mona, Ph.d., botanist, suggested I use straw in my garden. Some type of ground cover helps to keep diseases in the soil from splashing up on the plants when plants are watered. I'm allergic to beauty bark, so I'm trying straw.

See my post “Growing Your Own Food Proves Challenging” for details.

For tips on winter gardening, check out my article “What to Grow in a Winter Garden?”

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to repot your houseplants

My houseplants have needed attention for some time. So when I had some extra potting soil from my garden, I repotted all my plants.

Here are steps for carrying out the project:

1.    Examine your plants.

Put all your plants on a big table. It’s likely each will need a larger pot. Some may need to be divided.

2.    Determine how many new pots you’ll need to buy.

Make a list with the approximate sizes. Remember to include enough room for the plants to grow. Be thinking about what color pots you’d like and whether you want glazed or unglazed ones. Watch the newspapers for sales. Check the Internet for coupons.

3.    Go to several garden supply stores, if you have the time.

Compare the types of pots, colors, and costs. Check out the potting soil and see which store has the best price.

4.    Buy pots and soil.

Be sure to purchase pots that have holes in the bottom so that they’ll drain.

5.    Repot the plants.

Find a large surface you can work on, preferably outside. Fill a new pot about two thirds full with potting soil. Dig out a space for the plant.

Gently remove the plant from its pot using one hand to support the plant while the other hand turns the pot over. If the plant doesn’t come out, tap the pot on the table. Divide the plant if necessary. If the plant is root bound, loosen the roots.

Carefully place the plant into the space you’ve made in the soil. Add soil around the roots and to about a half inch from the top. Firmly press the soil around the plant. Water, but don’t soak. Repeat for each plant.

6.    Enjoy your updated houseplants.

Water the repotted plants every day for one week. Don’t put them in the sunlight until they adapt to their new environment. Your plants will be happy to be in new pots. Mine really perked up with larger pots and better soil.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Should you let your lawn die during the summer to save water and money?

In the Pacific Northwest, more people aren’t watering their lawns in the hot weather months due to concerns about water conservation and costs.

The problem is when you don’t water your lawn and it turns yellow, the weeds take over. Then, you might be tempted to use pesticides to kill them. Pesticides are harmful to your health and the health of your children, grandchildren, and pets.

A friend of mine doesn’t water his lawn during the summer months, and his lawn isn’t healthy. It’s dry with lots of tall dandelions.

The key things that need to be done to have a healthy organic lawn are:

• Mow high. Tall grass encourages a thicker lawn that will prevent weed seeds from getting to the soil. Also, with thicker higher grass, the blades crowd out weeds by taking their sunlight.

• Leave the grass clippings on the lawn. It provides fertilizer.

• Give the lawn about an inch of water per week. Water deeply and infrequently. The morning is the best time to water. Avoid lawn disease by not watering after 3 p.m.

• Remove weeds by hand rather than using pesticides. Studies show that children and pets have higher rates of cancer when pesticides are used on lawns.

If you’re not convinced, here are some guidelines from PureLawn-Organic Lawncare Experts on letting your lawn go semi-dormant:

The lawn needs about an inch of water per week. During the spring and fall rain usually provides this. During the summer or dry periods, you can either let the lawn naturally go semi-dormant or provide the inch of water with your sprinkler system.

Lawns are resilient, but still need an inch of water per month or they will die. During droughts, like in 2007, make sure the lawn is getting at least an inch of water per month so it will bounce back in the fall.

I hope this helps with the great yellow lawn debate.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: Black & Decker string trimmers/edgers

About 200,000 Black & Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP string trimmers/edgers are being recalled, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Manufactured in China by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md., the trimmers/edgers’ spool, spool cap, and pieces of trimmer string can come loose during use and become airborne projectiles.

This poses a serious laceration hazard to the user, as well as bystanders, according to the commission, adding the trimmers/edgers can also overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

At the time of the original announcement in July 2007, Black & Decker had received more than 700 reports of incidents, including 58 reports of injuries.

The firm has received more than 100 additional injury reports – 10 that required medical attention and minor injuries such as bruises and lacerations. There also were reports of minor property damage, including broken windows.

The Black & Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP string trimmers/edgers are electric-powered.

Trimmers/edgers with date codes 200546 through 200645 – representing manufacture dates of November 14, 2005 through November 6, 2006 – are included in this recall. The date code is located on the underside of the trimmers/edgers’ handle.

Only trimmers with black spool caps are included in the recall. Those with orange spool caps aren't included.

The trimmers/edgers were sold at major home center and hardware stores nationwide from November 2005 through January 2007 for about $70.

Consumers should stop using the string trimmers/edgers immediately and contact Black & Decker for a free repair kit.

For additional information, contact Black & Decker at 888-742-9158 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.blackanddecker.com.

To find out about other recalls, see www.Recalls.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were the best and worst consumer experiences you had this week?

Recently, I launched a best and worst consumer experience feature on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

I think looking weekly at our best and worse experiences as consumers will help us learn from our successes and mistakes.

Each week, we have dozens of consumer happenings, some good and some bad.

Here’s one each of mine for this week:

My best consumer experience – Eating vegetables from my garden

Although I ran into some problems trying to figure out how to build a raised bed garden, I finally was able to get it constructed with help from a friend.

That was six weeks ago. Now I’m eating vegetables from my garden – Swiss chard, kale, and crookneck squash.

It’s terrific. I’m making a big effort this year to grow more of my own food to cut my grocery bill and reduce the amount of energy it takes to ship food.

My worst consumer experience – Failure to resolve a billing dispute with Comcast

When I signed up for Comcast, I received a bundled “deal” of $33 for high speed Internet, $33 for phone service including long distance, and $33 for cable television.

When the deal ran out, I was able to get it extended. However, the amount the Comcast supervisor told me to pay on my bill was wrong.

When I received my next bill, it had extra charges on it for $34 that hadn’t been properly credited.

I talked to a customer service representative who said impolitely that the bill was correct. No credit could be given. I asked to talk to his supervisor. The supervisor wasn’t available, but was to call me back. It never happened.

Several days later, I called again. Another representative, again impolitely, insisted nothing could be done about the bill. I asked to talk with the supervisor.

The supervisor listened politely, but wouldn’t adjust the bill. I told her how impolite the customer service representatives were. She said she would speak to the one I had just talked with.

Then I gave up. It wasn’t worth spending any more time on it. A disappointment.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to grow your own food

Today, I ate the first serving of vegetables from my newly planted garden: Swiss chard.

It was tasty and thrilling. It’s the first time I’ve planted seeds in the ground in about 20 years.

I’ve had container gardens every year since the mid-1990s, but I only planted seedlings.

My garden is doing well. In addition to Swiss chard, my beans, crookneck squash, and tomatoes look good.

I'm making a concerted effort to grow food this year to save money and cut down on the energy it takes to ship food. Little did I know that it would be such a big challenge.

After spading the hard, clay-type soil in my garden, I decided it would be good to make a raised bed garden. However, I didn’t research the topic carefully. I went to the local organic gardening store, and the owner told me to use cinder blocks.

After having 40 heavy cinder blocks and six bags of sand to make them level delivered, I was discouraged. I wrote “How Not to Make a Raised Bed Garden.”

I wish I’d used composite lumber for the sides instead.

Then I got lucky. A fellow blogger, Deane Rimerman, who is editor of Forestry Policy Research, helped me build the raised bed. I wrote “How to Build a Raised Bed Garden – With a Lot of Help From a Friend.”

I had so much fun planting the garden. It’s been exciting to watch the seeds come up and the seedlings grow huge.

As I walked around my neighborhood and drove through other neighborhoods, I took photos of other raised bed gardens. I wrote “Raised Bed Garden Successes.”

Although I struggled with my food-growing project, it’s turning out well.

As Colleen Vanderlinden commented about my dilemma:

What a pain! You definitely have some work ahead of you. On the upside, your concrete block raised bed will be completely indestructible once it’s finished.

How are your efforts going this year to grow food? Is this a new project for you? Have you been gardening for years? Have you run into problems? What are your successes?

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to buy a baby boomer dad for father’s day

About 17 million baby boomers are fathers.

I e-mailed six boomer dads and asked what they’d like to receive for a Father’s Day present.

Computer gadgets and a Sirius satellite radio were two of the requests.

Another boomer dad wants Bill O'Reilly’s newest book, a stainless steel sauté pan, a new putter, and a barbecue with his two daughters.

One dad said it would be great if his two sons volunteered to work for three days on clean up activities for the family’s vacation cabin.

A boomer dad with young children wistfully envisions a nice quiet day with a tasty steak and cold beer at the end of the day.

Similarly, another boomer dad wants a day at the beach on his Hobie Cat 17 sailboat, good winds, a great lunch, lots of sun, and no work.

More gift ideas

Amazon.com suggests giving your dad CDs from the 1960s and 70s. Their Web page Great Gifts for Your Baby Boomer Dad also recommends books including “How to Retire Early and Live Well With Less Than a Million Dollars” and “Eight Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power.” A Canon PowerShot S100 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 2x Optical Zoom is another suggestion.

You can also choose from books on a list of Books for Grownups recommended by AARP and Publishers Weekly. Among the offerings are “Do-Over: In Which a Forty-Eight-Year-Old Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten, Summer Camp, the Prom, and Other Embarrassments” and “Closing Time: A Memoir.”

If you want to give your dad electronic gadgets, the article “11 Affordable Father’s Day Gifts Dads Will Want” on mint.com offers suggestions for under $100.

A different kind of gift

Probably the most unusual gift suggestion I came across in my consumer research is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In its article, “Top Five Father’s Tips From USDA,” the department recommends giving your dad a food thermometer to make sure food is safe.

Other Father’s Day suggestions the department offers are: visit a local farmers’ market, explore a local forest or park, plant your own garden, and cook a healthy meal with dad.

Father's Day spending

Americans are expected to spend an average of $91 on gifts for dad, down slightly from $95 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $9.4 billion, the Nation Retail Federation reports. 

Other highlights from the federation’s annual survey include:

• Consumers will spend the most – $1.9 billion – on a special outing such as a dinner or a sporting event. 

• Clothing still ranks high among gift givers who are expected to spend $1.3 billion on new socks, slacks, and ties.

• Others will treat dad to a gift card – $1.2 billion; electronics – $1 billion; books or CDs – $548 million; home improvement items – $522 million; and sporting goods – $502 million.

More Father's Day gift resources for consumers

“Perfect Father’s Day Gifts for Baby Boomers” – Associated Content

"Father’s Day Gifts Under $50” – NBC Philadelphia

“Father’s Day Gift the Cheapskate Can Endorse” – The Cheapskate Blog on Time

Best wishes with your search for a present for your dad and your Father's Day activities. I hope you'll be able to visit with or talk with your dad on Father's Day.

My next post will be "A Tribute to My Dad on Father's Day."

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Will you be growing food this year?

Gardening is such a good way for consumers to grow their own organic food and cut their food bills. It also saves energy because the food doesn't need to be transported to the consumer.

It’s time to figure out what I can get done for gardening this year.

My last year’s plans for gardening didn’t materialize as I’d hoped.

I’d also like to plant fruit trees in my yard. But figuring out what kinds to grow in the Pacific Northwest is tricky.

I live in Olympia, Wash. Since we have so much rain in Western Washington, fruit trees don’t grow as well as they do in Central Washington. The Wenatchee and Yakima areas are famous for their excellent apples and soft fruit.

Also, the soil is different here. I remember digging in the sandy soil when I was growing up along the Columbia River in the Wenatchee area. The soil in my yard is clay-like. Is doesn’t drain well.

I plan to have apple, apricot, fig, and Asian pear trees. But this isn’t the time of year to plant the trees.

I’m certainly inspired by Michelle Obama’s planting an organic garden at the White House.

How about you? Have you already planted your garden or will you or will you be planting it this week?

I just returned from a vacation. The rhododendrons in my yard are beautiful. I have about 40 of them.

The weather is great today, sunny and 70 degrees. A good day to visualize and plan my garden.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist