Launching the 2013 Spring Challenge!

Launching the 2013 Spring Challenge!
What are you doing to your home? 

Let's challenge each other to do one thing that makes us feel good about ourselves, our homes, and the environment. Everyone can make a difference, no matter how small. You have until next Friday (April 5 to respond).

Vermicomposting

My family is vermicomposting our kitchen waste into something the garden can utilize. My daughters and I went on a field trip to Dr. Doug Hamilton's vermicomposting epicenter to gather the red wigglers we needed. Doug and his wife Paloma were absolutely gracious! Check it out... 

This is where the worms live. Dr. Hamilton used a molasses solution to "call" the worms up to the surface.

Hampton Sloane (age 6) getting ready to harvest the red wigglers.

Jenkins (age 10) and Hampton getting a lesson on how to harvest. Note the expression on Hampton's face :)

Jenkins after a successful harvest.

Some of our new worms! They are living in my garage in a vermicomposter. It is SO easy to do and an interesting project, to say the least.

Where does this fit on the ISSUE TEAMS?

Environment, of course! EPA estimates that food scraps represent 14% of household waste. Worms also eat shredded paper, which 28.5% percent of household waste. Worms can eat this trash and add value to our home in the form of nutrient rich compost.

For information, please visit... http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw_2010_rev_factsheet.pdf.

Thanks!
GP

Falls at home

News you can use

On Saturday, January 26, I was painting the ceiling in my husband's study (aka the cozy bear's den). I was standing on a 2-step steps tool, admiring my work. I stepped back. I missed the step. I landed (all of my weight) on my posterior on a flagstone floor. My 6 year-old daughter was with me and said, "Mom, please stop screaming. Use your yoga breath."

I managed to make it through the rest of the day. The next morning, I woke up and my hand puffed up like a ballon. I went to the clinic, and the health care professional took x-rays. They determined that I sprained my wrist and ankle, and bruised my tailbone. Needless to say ... this has not been ideal!

I fell from a step stool just like this one.

Where does this fit on the issue teams?

Safety, of course! According to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Injury Prevention Research Center 2010 Annual report, most injuries occur in a home setting. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that each yea, 2 million adults aged 65+ are treated in emergency rooms for falls (http://www.cdc.gov/features/olderamericans/). 


Risk reduction is key. A relatively quick home safety check can help eliminate hazards. In my case, I should have been more careful. In the meantime ...  We are working on a falls risk reduction pilot project ... stay tuned for more info!

Why I called 911

News you can use

You all know that I am interested in emergencies and safety. I recently had to call 911. Here's why.

It was a recent Saturday. I was at work putting some materials together, when my 10-year old daughter Jenkins called my cell phone. She said, "Mom, please come home quick. Dad is bleeding all over the place." I got my stuff and drove home (2.3 miles).

Sure enough, I went to our guest room. We had a construction project tearing out an awful built-in. My husband (Jason) was laying on the ground holding his head, and there was indeed blood all over the place! His skin was paper white, too. He was dizzy and couldn't get up, so ... I called 911. My neighbor came and got the girls and I followed the ambulance to the hospital. It turned out that he had a laceration and concussion (no damage to the bone, thankfully).

Jason at the hospital (yes, he gave me permission to take his photo).

Where does this information fit on the ISSUE TEAMS?
Safety, of course! I did not lecture Jason. He later said, "If I were at work, this never would have happened. I would have been wearing my hardhat and safety glasses." My thoughts exactly. Did this event change his behavior in a measurable way? YES! It has been a little over two weeks, and he is just now starting to feel like his himself. Never again will he work without the right PPE.

What is the disconnect between work and home? Why do we take chances at home and follow safety rules at work?

Have a great weekend.

Roomscapes, thrift shops, and heavy metals

News you can use

My 10-year old daughter and I volunteer once a month at a Stillwater thrift shop. It's lots of fun! If you've never been thrifting, consider visiting a shop near you. I have found that there is a fine line between the goods in some antique shops and those found in thrift shops.

I recently received a catalog from "The Land of Nod" with a wonderful holiday roomscape. I really like the look of the room, but it would be a bit expensive to purchase everything at once. Why not recreate the look using items found at the thrift shop in addition to items from the catalog? Decorating on a dime!

Photo: Land of Nod
http://www.landofnod.com/Catalog/View-Online.aspx?Catalog_name=1159214_329220d0_b52142f8&RFX_Res=high&n=0

Where does this information fit on the ISSUE TEAMS?
Indeed, thrift shopping can be a matter of safety. Many times, I find products that are old, from other countries, and sometimes a combination of the two. I am MOST concerned about lead and other heavy metals in consumer goods. Watch for more information about this in the near future!

Anything else I can think of that might help you in your work
I am creating a lead in consumer (household) products program complete with eye-catchinh props. Watch for it soon on D2L!

Thank you,
Gina Peek

In-Service Info for 2013

In-Service Info for 2013

Educators,

Here are the specific in-services that I have created for the Safety and Environment Issue Teams. I wanted to have at least three topics for each. I have created with with other members of the Issue Teams. If you need any help at all, please let me know!

These in-services are designed to be fun and educational. Please let me know if you want something else... I will create an in-service for you. I want to make certain that I am meeting your needs!

Safety

• 13171  Bed bugs! 4-1-2013 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Stillwater, OK 
• 13191  Disaster Recovery with Focus on Finance 6-14-2013 10:00- 11:30 AM; Centra 
• 13195  Basic Housekeeping for Low Income Clients 7-1-2013 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM; Centra      

 

Environment
Energy

• 13185   Monthly Home Energy Info 1-9-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra           
• 13200   Monthly Home Energy Info 2-6-2013 10:00 - 10:30 AM; Centra
• 3202     Monthly Home Energy Info 3-6-2013 10:00- 10:30 AM; Centra
• 13204   Monthly Home Energy Info 4-3-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13206   Monthly Home Energy Info 5-1-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13208   Monthly Home Energy Info 6-5-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 3212     Monthly Home Energy Info 7-10-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13214   Monthly Home Energy Info  8-7-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13216   Monthly Home Energy Info 9-4-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13218   Monthly Home Energy Info 10-2-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13220   Monthly Home Energy Info 11-6-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra
• 13222   Monthly Home Energy Info 12-4-2013 10:00-10:30 AM; Centra

Other

• 3168    Rainwater Harvesting with a Sand Cistern  5-2-2013 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM; Haskell County
• 13177  Exploring Energy Efficiency and Alternatives (E3A) Curriculum; 15-2013 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM Stillwater, OK
• 3589   LID Field Trip to Turtle Rock Farm; 6-1-2013 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Turtle Rock Farm (Red Rock, OK). Noble County

Thank you!

Gina Peek

              

 

Disaster Prep and Hurricane Sandy

1. News you can use

Hurricane Sandy has devastated the east coast. Although Oklahoma was unaffected, we are third in the nation for the number of declared disasters. We have to be ready.

2. How can we react?

Stories of suffering filled the news. Hurricane Sandy caused people to snap into survival mode. People couldn't get down flights of stairs in the pitch black (no flashlight); no clothes, nothing to eat. etc. A three-day emergency kit can help in times of survival.

3. Housing picture

Eight counties are piloting the EDEN curriculum. We have held focus groups as part of the process. One thing that came to light: You don't have to spend a bunch of $ to be better prepared. Shop for supplies in your own home! Trade with your friends!  Here is a picture of Jessica Riggin as she began to get her supplies together.

4. Anything else I can think of that might help you in your work.

Take the Extension educators preparedness challenge! Please, all of you, shop in your own home and put your own kit together. We can lead by example! Please put your kit together by next Friday, November 9, 2012. I want to give a prize, but I can only do so if at least 20 educators participate. Please… get a kit together! The best photo entry will receive an awesome Red Cross Emergency radio! 

To enter to win, all I need is a picture of you and your kit with a brief description.

Resources:

• EDEN preparing a kit video: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/media/eden/getakit.html
• FEMA recommended supplies: http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit

 THANK YOU!

Gina Peek

High Efficiency: Gale Mills Guest Blogger

This week I am introducing Gale Mills as my guest blogger! Gale is located in Washington County, NE District. Gale has recently bought a new high efficiency (HE) washing machine, and is getting used to it.

Here are her comments on the machine thus far:

Was gone on vacation all of last week had loads of laundry when I got back.  It does cause the clothes to be extremely wrinkled, much more than the traditional washer. I also see some dirt residue at times left on the clothes.  Still wonder how clean they are. Really not crazy about it also takes about an hour for each load to finish and the towels are just as wet as with the older washer.  Have problems with towels getting musty smelling and can’t get it out.

Where does this fit in the Issue Teams?

Environment! The new high efficiency machines are designed to use fewer resources. Yes, they do take some time getting used to and the directions must be followed carefully. They use LESS water, energy, and detergent.

One of the keys to the HE machines is using the right detergent and the right amount of detergent. Using wrong detergent or amount of detergent can actually redeposit soils back onto the clothing, so they are not getting cleaned at all. Click here to see a great resource from the Cleaning Institute about HE machines: http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/assets/1/Page/HE.pdf .

Gale and I want to know...

• What do you think about washing machines? 
• We have a survey ... It will take 2 minutes or less to complete. 
• Link to survey:
  https://okstateches.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2mhTgNbpUV5AVr7

Thanks!

Gina Peek and guest blogger Gale Mills