Lessons from Sandy

Here's a great to-do article from NJ Family Magazine:

I’m still not at the point where I can think about anything other than Hurricane Sandy. We had a huge tree topple over in our yard that ruptured our water line and knocked out ours and our neighbor’s power lines. We woke up to water gushing in the big hole where the tree had been, but no running water in the house.

While it’s been a huge inconvenience (we got back power, but we’re still without water!), I know we’re among the lucky ones, and my heart goes out to those who suffered serious losses. If you’d like to donate to or volunteer for an organization that’s helping victims of Hurricane Sandy, check out FEMA’s website on the subject.

If you’re keeping notes about how to prepare for the next “perfect storm” (Heaven forbid!), read on.  I’ve compiled some sanity-saving advice you won’t find in a PSE&G email. Unfortunately, I learned most of these real-life disaster-preparedness lessons the hard way.

• Know where your water valve is. When the water company came to turn off the water, they asked me where the shut-off valve was. I had no idea. They said they couldn’t go lifting tree parts looking for the valve, but if they knew where it was, they could clear the spot. Since I didn’t know—and since the water company was completely unhelpful (but that’s a different story)—it took a full day before they were able to shut the water. (FYI, our valve turned out to be underground. If yours is, too, ask the water company to locate it for you and unobtrusively mark it for future reference.)
• On the day of a disaster, wear something with pockets and keep your cell phone on your person at all times. After I threw my cell on the coffee table to run like a banshee after the water company truck, it became clear that a certain 5-year-old had made off with this key communication device. In fairness to said 5-year-old, when I asked, “Can you please tell Mommy what you did with her cell phone?” he really appeared to think about it for a minute before responding, “I forget.” It hasn’t been spotted since. If only Mommy had been wearing pockets that day, she would have thrown the phone in one of them before commencing her sprint down the street.
• Bring along a surge protector when you go somewhere to power up. We went to charge my husband’s phone at Wegman’s supermarket, where there were waiting lines for outlets. Our showing up with a surge protector not only catapulted us to the front of the line, but also made us heroes, since it meant everyone in the line could power up at the same time.
• Write down important phone numbers (like the plumber’s). Even if you have a smart phone, who wants to waste precious battery life googling stuff like that?
• Make a hotel reservation in advance if you can afford to. By the time we discovered we had no power and no water, it was too late. If it turns out you don’t need to stay at a hotel, you may or may not be able to cancel for free; ask about the policy beforehand.
• Do laundry on the day or two leading up to a big storm. Everyone’s laundry.
• Stock up on hand sanitizer. And baby wipes. And I don’t mean for just the baby.
• Remember that you are your only advocate. Don’t sit around waiting for the water company/Public Works/power company if your problems are severe. Be a nuisance and call often. Better yet, go in person when possible. I didn’t get anywhere with my town until I physically walked to the Public Works office and got the right person. (Note: Having a couple of scared, crying kids in tow doesn’t hurt. Just sayin’.)
• Think out of the box. (I’m actually fond of the box. It’s cozy in there. And it usually exists for a reason. But a big storm knocks it over.) When we couldn’t find an available hotel room anywhere nearby—and all of our relatives were without power—my husband said, “If we can’t find one nearby, why don’t we go far away?” Such an idea had never occurred to a box-lover like me. But it turned out to be just the thing we needed. We went to Baltimore for a few days and tried to make it as much like a vacation for the kids as we could. Of course, it was a vacation riddled with frantic calls to utility companies, but it was better than staying in a cold house and knocking on the neighbor’s door every time nature called. Plus, our home insurance policy includes a “loss of use” provision that covers hotel and related expenses. Boo-yah!

I’m sure most, if not all, of you endured your own trials and tribulations as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Please use the Comments section below to let us know what you learned that could help others in the future.

Do you have any tips?  

Gobble, Gobble! 13 Fun Family Thanksgiving Activities

Turkey Day is upon us.  And, that means the whole family is going to be cooped up in your house (or your favorite Auntie Mildred's house) for a real, loooonnng time.  Sure, football helps.  But, in case you need a little bit more to fuel the day, here's 13 Fun Family Thanksgiving Activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Oh, and then you could squeeze in some time for that football, too.  :)

• Creative Thanksgiving Traditions
  Does your family have any unique and creative Thanksgiving traditions? You can share them here and read about other family's traditions.
• Recycled Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
  There are a variety of recycled Thanksgiving crafts for kids and adults to make. Check out this long list of Thanksgiving crafts that you can make by recycling items you might normally throw away.
• Creative Travel Activities
  Do you travel for the holidays? Here are my top picks for great ways to keep everyone occupied on long trips.
• Harvest Blessing Snack
  Make this tasty snack mix and print out the bag tag that explains the meaning of each ingredient.
• Native Crafts By Maxine Trottier
  This is an educational and fun book for all ages. The First People of North America relied on items found in nature to make everything from clothing to toys.
• Thanksgiving Bead Patterns
  Check out all these free Thanksgiving related beaded safety pin patterns! Featured Thanksgiving designs include a pilgrim hat, turkey, football, and many more.
• Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
  Print out these free Thanksgiving pictures and create your own holiday coloring book!
• Homemade Thanksgiving Table Decorations
  Make everyone feel special at your Thanksgiving dinner this year. Find mant creative ways to make your dinner table festive!
• Thanksgiving Party Printables
  If you are planning an Thanksgiving party or special holiday dinner, you can use some of these free, printable supplies to help with your preparations.
• Thanksgiving Talk
  Take some time to talk to others about Thanksgiving at the Holiday Family Fun Forum.
• Thanksgiving Trivia and Treats
  How much do you know about Thanksgiving history and lore? See if you can answer the questions below correctly and then try some fun, related craft projects by exploring the Thanksgiving Index!
• Turkey Crafts
  Try these free Thanksgiving holiday craft patterns and projects. Use many creative techniques and supplies to make a variety of turkeys and related crafts.
• Thanksgiving Turkey Tidbits
  Enjoy these fun turkey facts and crafts and have a great Thanksgiving!

These are just a few Thanksgiving ideas...you got any good ones?  We'd love to hear 'em!  

4 Ways Eating Organic Reduces Your Kids' Pesticide Exposure

From Beyond Pesticides.

The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) has weighed in on the organic food debate recognizing that lower pesticide residues in organic foods may be significant for children. The Academy also notes that choosing organic is based on larger environmental issues, as well as human health impacts like pollution and global climate change. This is the first time the AAP has made a statement on organic foods, concluding that the most important thing for children is to eat a wide variety of produce, and that pediatricians should talk to their patients about the potential health and environmental benefits of choosing organic.

Here's 4 places where organic helps reduce your kids' risk to pesticides: 

1. On Nutritional Content
In its analysis, the AAP notes that research comparing the nutritional value of conventionally grown produce and organic produce is “not definitive,” citing that nutritional content is affected by various factors including geographic locations, soil characteristics and climatic conditions. The report finds that better quality research that accounts for these many variables is needed to make accurate comparisons, and concludes that at this time, there is no convincing evidence of a substantial difference between the nutritional content of organic and conventional foods.

2. On Milk and Meat
The AAP also notes here that due to variability in cattle breeds and genetics, comparisons of milk composition must be “interpreted with caution.” In reviewing the scientific literature, AAP finds little significant differences in compositions, but organic milk does have slightly more protein than conventional milk, and milk derived from organic and non-organic low input systems yield milk higher in conjugated linoleic acid. AAP also notes that hormone supplementation, which is prohibited in organic, does not adversely impact nutritional composition of conventional milk, but the “biological effects in humans, if any, are unknown.” Furthermore, AAP states that studies are needed to investigate the risks to women who eat hormone-treated animals and the development of breast cancer. The AAP calls for large, well-designed, prospective cohort studies that directly measure environmental exposures, such as estrogen at low levels, to understand the impact of hormonal exposure of children through milk and meat.

3. On Antibiotics
On the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock, AAP notes that the evidence is clear that the use of these agents can promote the development in drug-resistant organisms, which can then spread through the food chain. Organic farming, which prohibits the use of nontherapeutic antibiotics, therefore reduces this threat and, by extension, lowers the risk of human disease caused by drug-resistant organisms.

4. On Environmental Impacts
Organic farms use less energy and produce less waste, have soils with higher organic quality and water retention. A review of studies found that organic systems can have comparable productivity to conventional fields, while using less pesticides and reducing environmental pollutions.
health effects resulting from their use.

Fore more information
For more information on the benefits of organic agriculture, see Beyond Pesticides’ Organic Food program page.

Stay Jersey Strong - NJ Family Resources After Sandy

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy
It's been awhile since we've posted in our blog.  In the wake of Sandy, so much has happened here in NJ - and to our friends across the East Coast.  From all of us at Natural Turf, we sincerely hope everyone is staying JERSEY STRONG.  It's usually challenging times that bring out the best in us - and Sandy is no different.

In the JERSEY STRONG spirit, here's a great resource from NJ Family Magazine for local families to get back on their feet.  Stay JERSEY STRONG.

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From NJ Family Magazine:

As the superstorm Sandy left devastation in her wake, many of us across New Jersey were powerless, literally and figuratively, to locate any kind of information regarding the current state of New Jersey, as well as our own municipalities. If the past few days have taught us anything, it's that in a significant, widespread power outage, it is difficult to collect and share information on where to get help, where to offer help, how to donate, how to find out about when school districts planned to resume classes, or which grocery stores opened their doors...

Our faithful following of Facebook fans spent the past few days scouring the nets and connecting with each other, and us, to share timely, relevant resources to help us get through some dark days, and we've begun to compile it all here for you as a resource. Please comment below to offer any updates and we'll revise our content accordingly. We're all in it together!

• The State of New Jersey's Hurricane Sandy Resource Center
• From FEMA: "There are reports that FEMA is paying $1,000 to go to New York and New Jersey to clean up debris. This is False." Visit here for information on how to volunteer and assist with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.
• Ice and water stations, courtesy of First Energy Corp.
• Games to play in the dark with your kids, courtesy of CNN.
• Where can we take our children with cabin fever? We have tons of activities listed on our calendar but we URGE you to call ahead. Not every place has its power back yet.
• Gas rationing took effect on Monday. For folks looking for gas in NJ, you can follow @NJgas on Twitter and the hashtag #NJgas. There's lots of good info being shared. #goodluck

We are grateful to everyone who posted information on our Facebook pages; you really helped out a lot of New Jersey families.  And, finally, we send our sincere, heartfelt thanks to everyone out there making today better for someone else.