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Growing Employee Benefits
The United States is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world. Lifestyle challenges, including obesity and physical inactivity, have contributed to increased utilization of our health care system. Moreover, scientific advancements ensure that Americans using the health care system are living longer. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 75 percent of an employer’s health care costs and productivity losses are related to employee...
Read MoreGardeners On the Go!
Horticulture Magazine’s first online magazine—Gardeners On the Go!—has arrived! Horticulture understands that busy gardeners are looking for easy-to-digest ideas and inspiration to complement their more in-depth print issue of the magazine. Gardeners On the Go is an online-only, quarterly supplement to Horticulture‘s print issues, and I’m sure you’re going to love it. Click on over to read about Horticulture’s exciting new giving garden project that I am proudly...
Read MoreSucculent Savvy
Succulents are plants that store water during wet periods to use in dry periods. There are two main types of succulents–those that store water in their leaves, and those that store water in their stems. These plants are not all cacti; although all cacti are succulents. Succulents normally have thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves may also feel waxy or hairy. This texture helps to reduce water loss. Low Maintenance Care Succulents need at least half a day of direct sun in order to...
Read MoreGardening is an Activity to Enjoy for a Lifetime
Second only to walking, gardening is a favorite home-based leisure activity for older adults in the United States. Researchers from Texas A&M and Texas State Universities surveyed adult gardeners and non-gardeners on their perceptions of personal life satisfaction and levels of physical activity. The study suggests that gardening can improve energy levels and quality of life for older adults. I feel as though I inadvertently conducted my own study and arrived at the same conclusion,...
Read MoreGardener’s Elbow
It is common for gardeners to experience muscle soreness after a long afternoon in the garden. General muscle soreness disappears in a few days, but many gardeners complain about chronic elbow pain. Gardener’s elbow can occur on the inside or outside of the elbow, presenting symptoms similar to tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. The primary differences between these conditions are the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused...
Read MoreSauteed Swiss Chard
I’m not sure what took me so long, but the first time I planted swiss chard was the summer 2010. What a treat! Chard is definitely one of the easiest plants to care for and I discovered several different tasty recipes. Win-win! The first recipe is extremely simple. Try this “go-to” sauteed side dish. Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 1/2 small red onion, diced 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves coarsely chopped (due to...
Read MoreBike to Work Week
For fifty-five years, National Bike Month has been the perfect time for new or returning riders to get back on the saddle and ride their bike to work. The League of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month (May), and this year Bike to Work Week is May 16-20 and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20. Why all the fuss and who actually benefits from Bike to Work events? EMPLOYERS benefit from a healthy, active workforce. In addition to missing less work due to sickness,...
Read MoreGardening with a Heart Rate Monitor
Ok, I know you’re thinking that asking you to warm up before heading out to the garden is already pushing it, let alone suggesting gardeners wear heart rate monitors. I promise it won’t slow you down or be an overwhelming process, I’m here to walk you through the Fit to Garden benefits. You don’t have to be a hardcore athlete in training to benefit from wearing a heart rate monitor. Whether you’re monitoring your physical activity to control weight, tone...
Read MoreVermiculture Tutorial
There is no denying the fact that worms are Mother Nature’s ultimate recyclers—ingesting waste and churning out black gold. I enjoy composting outdoors and couldn’t wait to get involved in vermiculture (worm composting). After all, critters and insects are no big deal. Huh? Are you new here? Let me reintroduce myself. Stacy Walters here, I’m a hopeless nature lover…but WORMS? Well, I’m pleased to report that worms are about the only crawling...
Read MoreRakes & Pains
In many parts of the country the beauty of autumn is unfolding with breathtaking foliage. The pleasant cool air, the smell of warm apple cider, and the colorful leaves floating down are all reasons why autumn is my favorite season. Unfortunately raking those colorful leaves is another story though; especially if you suffer from an injury or other limiting condition. Here are Stacy’s six common sense ideas to make garden clean-up raking less of a painful chore and more of an...
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