Warmer Temperatures Bring Us Out to the Picnic Table

The first truly warm days of April are priceless. It's a great time to wipe down or throw a cloth over the picnic table. Now...what to put on that table? How about starting with a little fruit dessert that is incredibly healthy and, at the same time, a quick fix. Who wants to spend lots of time in the kitchen on these days? Dice up an apple, a pear, and a kiwi. Add some grapes and blueberries. Drizzle a little honey over the fruit and add some pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds. What could be easier, tastier, healthier or simpler? Let's get into practice of creating some easy yet healthy foods...there's too much good weather coming to not be outside. Enjoy!

Walk a Mile in My Shoes...Better Yet, Walk a Mile in YOUR Shoes

Some of us remember the old song, "Walk a Mile in My Shoes".  The basis of the song is one of commiserating with the singer and the hard times he has experienced. He's pretty well down and out. And, he'd like us to experience that as well to better understand his mood.


That song just never did it for me.


How about we just all put on our own shoes and literally walk a mile?


The recent health study on Pike County shows that in the area of morbidity, we rank 91st out of 92 counties. Yikes. What does morbidity mean? This particular study looked at  areas that comprise their definition of morbidity, namely  poor physical health days and poor mental health days.


What to do--what to do?


Let's start with the simple. It's pretty out today and will, more than likely to be pretty more than it's not considering it's April. Besides that, like it or not, it's not really dark until nearly 9:00 p.m. these days. So... when you get up, or get in from work, or take a general notion, put on some comfy shoes and walk a mile in them. Can't do that much at first? That's okay. Set your sights on half a mile--a quarter mile--up and down the driveway. Anything will suffice as long as you're moving. One down--that pesky poor physical health days measure.


If your health is currently in jeopardy, of course you'll want to first check with your doctor. 


People tend to burn themselves out with grandiose notions of jogging a mile or five. Recent studies have shown what people for generations have know--walking does wonders. And, it's cheap. A decent pair of shoes and you're on your way--truly.


Research on humans and their moods has shown conclusively that when we're engaged in something we enjoy, our mood is elevated. We feel happier, or at least more content. Get up and moving about tends to have that effect. When you have a goal--no matter how small--and you accomplish it, you feel better. Another natural mood enhancer. Two down--less poor mental health days.


Give a trip around the block a try. Time to go out, get some fresh air, look at all the green that's appearing everywhere. Your mood will get better and maybe the next time you walk your body will be more willing, too.

Before Turning over the Soil, Turn the Page of a Resource Guide

It's getting greener out there; it's tempting to want to grab a shovel and start planting something. But, in reality, it's still a bit early--the soil hasn't had a chance to warm up much yet. That's okay. There's some prep work that needs to be done before the soil is turned. 

There's a great resource right in Otwell that can help you with gardening know-how--the local library. The nice folks there will be more than happy to help you find the type of gardening book you're looking for, be it a container or patio garden or something larger.

Another resource that's very helpful is the Evergreen system of library loaning throughout the state of Indiana. I put in a quick search for "gardening" on the site and over 15,000 sources were offered. To find Evergreen, go to http://evergreen.lib.in.us/opac/en-US/skin/default/xml/index.xml  Just put in your topic; pick a keyword, i.e. subject; and pick the type of materials you'd like. Click go! and, after a short amount of "thinking" it will give you a nice amount of options from which to choose. You can order the book on line if you have an Evergreen card. (If you don't have a card, drop by the  library and get signed up.) The Otwell Library will then call you when the book arrives, and you can pick it up on-site. If you have any questions about how the Evergreen system works, the phone number at the library is 812-380-0066.

The best way to a successful garden, no matter how small or how large, is knowing what you're doing. Use the local resources, and you'll have a happy success story come summertime!

90th??? Let's Get Something Started!

I, along with countless others I'm hoping, read with a sense of disbelief that our county ranked 90th out of 92 counties in Indiana in a recent report http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/indiana/pike

I do believe it's time to Eat Well, Live Well Otwell...


Let's look at the first two items on the chart:


1--As a county, we rank 89th in premature deaths--only three counties in the state have more premature deaths than Pike County


2--Morbidity Rates--22% of Pike Countians of all ages rate their health as fair or poor. 4.5 out of every 30 days are seen as "sick" days with health problems. 4.8 out of every 30 days are seen as mentally unhealthy days. 10.1% of all babies born to Pike County citizens are low birth weight--4% higher than the national average.




I suggest we get a little revolution of our own going. I know of a fine blogger in the Winslow area that is an excellent writer and very dedicated to the area. Rose...are you with me? That takes care of 2 of the towns in the county. Any bloggers out there from the Petersburg area? Hop on board. Let's get this ranking up in a year. We can do it. 


Let this be the challenge to all the churches, the schools, the community organizations, the community centers, the health professionals...everyone. We can all do a small part to get our county out of ICU...we are in critical condition and this needs to change. The sooner the better.


I encourage anyone to sign on as a follower of this blog and any other blogs that are related to this cause. Let's get the good ideas going in the comments sections...let's start thinking about turning some dirt over this spring and planting a few plants to share with others so we can all have healthier diets. Let's get out and walk, walk, walk. We don't have a lot of facilities, but we have a lot of acreage around here and walking is pretty cheap.


Are you with me?


90th out of 92 counties is unacceptable. We have to do something. Let's start now...ideas, anyone?

Come Spring...Think About Turning a Spade of Dirt

Today holds great promise; as I write this it's nearly 67 degrees outside, the sun is shining brightly, and there's a gentle breeze. As I went for a walk around the yard earlier, I picked the first daffodils. 
It's a little mushy out there right now; I can see the river easily from our house, which means it's pretty far out of its banks. Certainly not a time for planting anywhere, even on the high banks of Highbanks. But that doesn't keep one from thinking about it.


As I walked past the raised bed in the yard, I visualized it freshly tilled with the first glimpse of lettuce, radishes, and scallions peeking through the soil. A nice vision indeed.


Do you keep a little patch in your yard as a garden? Perhaps a container or two? A big part of living sustainably is as simple as turning a spade of dirt. Growing a few things locally and eating them will do many things to help you and your immediate area. It will:

• keep you healthier--exercise from growing the vegetables (even in a container) will help you by using large and small muscle groups, by getting out in the fresh air, and by de-stressing when instead of fuming and re-running the days' events you're concentrating on the care of what you've planted
• help with keeping your pocketbook less depleted--when you grow some of your own vegetables, you make the initial investment in seed, some fertilizer, and, perhaps (depending on the size) either a container or some basic tools for cultivating the soil. A good idea for containers is using something as simple as the bottom half of a gallon milk jug. Put some small rocks in the bottom for drainage and then put the soil on top. (Keep in mind that potting soil will dry out faster than regular dirt--water accordingly.) Another suggestion--share tools with neighbors. If four houses are keeping small garden spots, more than likely not every one needs to buy a hoe, a spade, a garden rake, etc. Pool resources which will keep expenses of equipment down to the minimum
• build a sense of community. If you plant lettuce, your neighbor to the left plants radishes, and the neighbor to your right plants scallions, just the mere act of sharing gives three houses nice salads. Grow a bit more of one particular vegetable and have neighbors do the same. Share and reap the benefits not only of one vegetable, but a table full!
• healthier eating. By harvesting fresh vegetables and using them straightway, you are keeping the nutrients fresh and not wasting away in a warehouse, on a truck, or plane flying thousands of miles to sit at a supermarket. Just the smallest amount of freshness at the table will give you better health and, after eating the fresh vegetables, you'll enjoy the freshness and "real" taste

So...think about turning that spade of dirt or creating that container garden this spring. Talk it over with your neighbors about perhaps having community tools and sharing the bounty of the foods grown. Sustainability isn't a difficult thing to do; we just kind of forgot how to do it. Let's get back to it, and in turn, teach our next generations to make it a natural part of life.

For more information on the container growing or starting a vegetable garden, you can contact the Extension Office at the Court House in Petersburg. You can also contact a Master Gardner. Additionally, the local library in Otwell will have books, guides, and use of computers for you to do your own searches.

Live well, Eat well, Otwell!

The Healthy Village---One Step at a Time

The Village of Otwell has some really good things going for it these days. A strong school, good churches, hard-working civic organizations, wonderful volunteer fire department, comfortable housing for our seniors, a lovely little library, a delightful mercantile, a full-service gas station top the list of attributes for the "good" column. The village is small in number, so it's a perfect place to do things on a more "micro" basis. Small groups, small projects, small goals are very approachable. Therefore, let's take all the successes that are already in place and work to keep tackling those things to make the village a better and better place to live.


Those of us who are generational in the village and the surrounding area remember a time when there were stores (not store, but stores), a full-sized restaurant, a car dealership/garage, several gas/service stations, etc. Commerce, on a small scale, was alive and well. Slowly, time took its toll...change became not the friend all the time in the village's well-being. The stores, garages, gas stations, barbershop all disappeared. The village took on the look of just another economically depressed little town. Those of us who remembered the "good 'ol days" mourned the loss. There have been many conversations over the years lamenting how a town can slowly fall into disrepair. 


The good news is that, as stated before, there are some strong and good things that are keeping the village at a low hum. The better news is that there are some simple things that we can do as a small town to improve ourselves even more. Many are free and only involve a little time and effort for some fantastic high-return results. 


This site has been created as a village meeting place for those who would like to bring back the spirit and joy that makes small towns the jewels they are. The current tidewave of the economy is getting people thinking in more conservative, lower-key terms...a good thing indeed. This is when the villages shine...wonderful ideas can come in small packages!


Stay tuned for further updates as the site grows. We're currently building in the background to establish an email connection for your ideas, getting some pictures taken of the village itself, and putting together some links that you will perhaps find helpful.


Time to make the village a healthy place once again--in mind, in body, and in spirit.