An Educational Youth & Families, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Newsletter for Residents of York County

September-October, 2006

Articles
 
4-H Youth Use the Arts To Support Cancer Patients
York County 4-H is piloting with York Hospital a new program that will train 4-H teens to use art as a way to support cancer patients and their families.  The program is being funded, in part, by the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation.

Art has been used for centuries as a healing tool. Modern medicine now recognizes the important role art can play in the healing process. The creation of art taps into individual strengths, and allows for the exploration and expression of thoughts and feelings.

The York Hospital/4-H program is based on research that shows that art therapy is a useful complement to traditional forms of medicine involved in healing.

What does art therapy involve?  Art therapy is based on the idea that a creative act is therapeutic and part of the healing process.  Patients are given tools to paint, draw or sculpt and are encouraged to engage in a creative, expressive, independent art project.

How is art therapy thought to improve wellness and optimize overall health?  Proponents of this therapy believe that the uninhibited expression of feelings and emotions through art may help to release the fear, anxiety and anger many cancer patients experience.  Art can also be viewed as a distraction to the pain and discomfort of disease, allowing patients relief from stress and increased well-being.  By relieving stress, the body’s immune system and, therefore, resistance to disease may be heightened. 

What has been proven about the benefit of art therapy?  There is little research available about the benefit of art therapy, but because of increasing patient interest, art therapy is frequently offered as a rehabilitation option through many medical centers.  Some neurophysiologists report that art, prayer and healing are all associated with similar brain wave patterns and stem from the same body source.  Art therapy's proponents believe that the creative energy stimulated by the project contributes to the healing process.

How much does art therapy cost?  Costs will vary depending on where this therapy takes place.  Art therapists work in hospitals, out-patient facilities, clinics, private offices and art facilities.  It is also easy to practice art therapy at home.  Patients must purchase supplies, which can be found at any art supply store.

The York Hospital/4-H partnership will involve 4-H’ers ages 12-18 who will be invited to participate in this innovative new program.  See the Programs portion of this newsletter for more information.  Also, an informational meeting for parents and youth will be held at the Wells Urgent Care facility (a branch of York Hospital), on October 11 at 6:30 pm. 

For more information and to be placed on a mailing list to receive the program brochure, contact the Extension office, 1-800-287-1535.

Don’t Let the Weeds Get the Best of Your Garden 
Large, healthy plants with lush green foliage, plump red-ripe tomatoes and perfectly purple eggplant, pollinators and beneficial insects hard at work and not a weed in sight.  You are in a garden paradise. Suddenly, you are shocked back into reality as you are standing in the middle of your garden where the weeds definitely outnumber the large, luscious plants with the scrumptious fruits and vegetables.  How will you be able to control the weeds and reclaim your garden?

By definition, a weed is any plant growing in an area where it is not wanted.  What for one may be a lovely violet patch, for another is a dreaded pest.  Weeds share many characteristics which make them a nuisance and difficult to control.  They compete with favorable crops for light, moisture, space and nutrients; they can harbor plant diseases and insect pests; they may cause allergic reactions or be poisonous to humans or animals; and most produce a tremendous amount of seeds.  Like our preferred garden plants, weeds are summer or winter annuals, biennial or perennial. 

Summer annuals complete their life cycle in less than one year.  They germinate in the spring, set seed and die in the fall.  Winter annuals germinate in the fall, overwinter as seedlings or small rosettes and mature, set seed and die the following spring or early summer.  Biennials complete their life cycle in less than two years with germination and overwintering rosette of leaves occurring during the first year.  Flowering, seed production and death happen the second year.  These weeds are easiest to control during the first year.  Lastly, perennial weeds live for more than two years and are difficult to control because of their relentless root systems.

There are a number of things you can put into practice to keep the weeds at bay.  Start by removing as many weeds possible (hand pulling is best).  Hoeing is effective for controlling annual weeds.  Perennials often resprout from the roots after the tops are removed.  It is easier to remove the weeds from damp or wet soil than from dry soil.

Prepare your garden beds in ways that prevent weed growth:

• New beds – lay down a 10-20 thick layer of newspapers over established turf, then pile several inches of organic matter onto the paper (putting coarsest material on the bottom).  For the top few inches use compost mixed with top soil.

• Established beds – if more than 30 percent of the garden is covered with weeds, you might want to use the layering method described above.  If the weeds are scattered and less than 30 percent of the garden is covered, remove the weeds either by digging or hand-pulling.  Then till.  Keep in mind that tilling too deep (more than 2 inches) will allow dormant seeds to be exposed and possibly germinate. 

• Cover the beds with black plastic before planting in the spring to heat the soil and kill off any early sprouting weeds.

• Lay down black plastic or landscape fabric around plants to keep weeds from emerging or cover the beds and poke holes in the areas where you want to plant.

• Mulch after planting to help keep weeds at bay.

• Plant a cover crop on an unused beds helps to suppress weeds.

• Planting wide-canopy or leafed crops (closely planted broccoli or squash) can block weeds as their leaves prevent light from reaching the soil.

• In the fall, till or loosen the top 7 inches of soil with a shovel.  Add any amendments (such as compost).  In two weeks, rake the surface to overcome any weed seedlings.

• Make sure to remove any weeds that come in on your nursery bought plants.

• Promote healthy growth of desirable plants with proper watering and fertilizing techniques.

• Weed seeds can be transferred by the wind or animals, so it is important to keep sites adjacent to the garden tidy.

Use herbicides only as a last resort.  You will need to correctly identify the weed in order to select the appropriate herbicide.  Keep in mind the growth stage of the weed (most herbicides are designed to work in a specific time frame); the risks of the herbicide to the environment and valuable plants; and the cost?  Many persistent weed problems can be eliminated by using alternative strategies.   Always read the label of the herbicide to determine crops registered, weeds controlled and safety precautions. May all your future gardens be weedless!

Amy Witt, UMCE Home Horticulture Professional, Cumberland County

Hazing is Still Widespread
Despite frequent news stories and the increased attention to hazing on college campuses in recent years, this serious problem continues to be widespread.  And we know that it doesn’t start at the college level.  Young people, parents, teachers and coaches in communities around Maine, are also very aware of reports of violent and humiliating initiation rites for new members of sports teams and clubs on our high school and middle school campuses.

University of Maine research professors Dr. Elizabeth Allan and Dr. Mary Madden released the findings of the pilot phase of their nationwide study this spring.  By surveying 1800 students at four New England Colleges, they found that: 

· Hazing was widespread in social groups from marching bands, athletics, fraternities and sororities, and other recreational clubs.

· Drinking games were the most popular form of hazing. Also common were sexual, violent and other humiliating acts.

· One in twenty students participating in the survey told researchers that they had been hazed in college.  One in 10 said they were hazed in high school.  However, more than 20 percent reported participating in activities consistent with the researcher’s definition of hazing.  Many didn’t consider themselves to have been hazed because “nothing happened to me that I didn’t agree to” or “It was all in fun.”

· Forty percent of students who reported being involved in hazing say that a coach or organization advisor was aware of the activity.  Twenty-two percent report that the coach or advisor was involved in the hazing.

· Two of every five students say they are aware of hazing behaviors occurring within organizations and groups on campus.  More than one in five report they have witnessed these behaviors.

Only 28 percent say they were told about anti-hazing policies when joining a team or organization and few students knew where to turn for help, if hazed.

Professors Allan and Madden define hazing as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.”

The consequences of hazing for individuals and institutions can be immediately damaging and have long term repercussions, according to Allan and Madden.  In addition to physical and psychological harm, students often report a decline in academic performance and often cite hazing as a major factor for dropping out of higher education altogether.

For more information:  www.hazingstudy.org   and  www.stophazing.org

The Value of Traditional Neighborhoods
The traditional neighborhood - a place where people of all ages can live, meet their daily needs, and spend their leisure time, all within walking distance; a place where kids can walk or bike to school and play with close friends; a place where people are brought together in their day-to-day lives, creating a sense of shared community. Maybe you remember a neighborhood like this. Or maybe you live in one like it today. But in many places this kind of neighborhood is hard to find. In an age of spread out suburbs, some with local zoning ordinances that may prohibit this kind of environment from being built, traditional neighborhoods are the exception, and most often associated with times past.

Yet surveys by the Maine State Planning Office indicate many Maine homebuyers are looking for features often associated with older, traditional neighborhoods. Just as every community is different, every neighborhood is different. If your community is looking for alternative ways to accommodate growth, consider these traditional neighborhood features.

Walkability: The ability to walk or bicycle to where you need or want to go is at the heart of a traditional neighborhood. So sidewalks and bike paths/lanes are key design features. Both of these amenities help ensure that walking and bicycling are convenient and safe alternatives to the car. Compact development and an interconnected street network are also important to walkability. The desirable size of a walkable neighborhood is an area that can be walked in about 10 minutes.

Proximity to Services and Amenities: The traditional neighborhood provides a mix of uses (i.e. housing, retail, civic, recreation) in close proximity. The goal is to provide for daily needs within walking or bicycling distance. A compact pattern of development, with a mix of uses, services and amenities, allows people to stay in the neighborhood to meet their needs.

Community Gathering Places and Identity: Traditional neighborhoods promote community. They encourage people to interact, gather and socialize with one another. By providing features such as a town square, a green, centralized civic buildings (e.g. library, school, town hall, community center, etc.), and neighborhood parks, people are encouraged to come together. These features also create a distinct core to help give the neighborhood an identity.

Diversity: Social, economic, cultural and architectural diversity provide opportunities for variety in the day-to-day lives of people. Traditional neighborhoods encourage diversity through different types of housing, businesses, uses, landscape and building design.

Connection to Nature: Trees, parks, and access to nature add to neighborhood livability and the quality of neighborhood life. These spaces also have a proven track record of enhancing property values, regardless of their size. Tree lined streets and walkways, small-scale parks within the neighborhood boundary, and larger adjacent open spaces such as fields or woodlands provide a connection with nature. 

Sense of Privacy and Quiet: People need both the public realm and privacy in their day-to-day lives. This is one of the most important elements of neighborhood design. It is related to human-powered mobility, personal interactions, and freedom from high traffic volumes, etc. It is something that is needed on every residential lot.

Limited Traffic: Streets give the neighborhood its shape. Streets also carry traffic that presents both safety and noise issues for neighborhood residents. To address both issues, neighborhood street design should direct commuter or through traffic around, not through, the neighborhood. And the streets within a neighborhood should be designed to discourage high speed, high volume cut-through traffic. To further help reduce traffic, streets should also be designed to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists to promote alternatives to driving a car.

If you are thinking about your community’s future character, consider whether traditional neighborhood designs might help achieve some of your goals. Are there opportunities to expand/improve existing neighborhoods or create new neighborhoods with some of the concepts mentioned above? Traditional neighborhoods offer features that many people are looking for when deciding where to live and they could be one of Maine’s best tools for balancing a community’s needs and desires for future growth. For more information on tools that can be used to address these issues, see the “Resources For You” section

Adapted from the “Tools and Information for Citizen Planners” series of briefs developed by GrowSmart Maine www.growsmartmaine.org.

Programs for You!

4-H Community Angels – Art H.O.P.E.
Informational meeting
Wednesday, October 11, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Wells Urgent Care Facility

Parents and youth encouraged to attend to learn more about the program.

4-H Art H.O.P.E. Training
October 21, 10 am – 2 pm
Wells Urgent Care Facility

Teens will be trained to attend and participate in up to 9 monthly art/support meetings with patients, families and friends.

The Art H.O.P.E. program is a collaboration between York County 4-H and the York Hospital Oncology Department.  4-H youth (“Community Angels”) will receive training in the arts and supporting cancers patients and their families and friends.  They will then be invited to use the arts in monthly support art classes/support meetings with patients, families and friends.  The resulting art projects will be placed on display at oncology units in South Berwick, Wells and York.

Monthly support art classes meeting dates (always in the late afternoon):  Oct 24, Nov 28, Dec 19, Jan 30, Feb 27, March 27, April 24, May 22.  4-H Community Angels are asked to participate in at least two sessions, and may choose to be involved in as many as all eight. For more information contact Jon Prichard at the Extension Office.

Punkinfiddle at Laudholm Farm at Wells Reserve
Saturday, September 30^th, 10:00 AM – 5:00PM
Cost: $10 per carload
Pre-registration is not required 

This event is one of several that have continued to evolve through the partnership between the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Laudholm Trust. This year Punkinfiddle and a Celebration of National Estuaries Day will be combined in one event that will offer the excitement of Laudholm’s annual fall harvest festival along with environmental workshops and lectures for teachers, students, moms and dads - learning about the magical places where rivers meet the sea. Field trips to the marsh and beach will acquaint guests with the valuable natural resources that Laudholm Farm and the Wells Reserve are committed to preserve.  The fun-filled day will feature lively music, artisan demonstrations, raffles, wonderful food, a Farmers’ Market, farm animals, old-fashioned games, educational sessions including hands-on learning about estuaries, the history of Laudholm Farm and field tours.  Visit www.Punkinfiddle.org for ongoing updates about this wonderful family celebration.

Growing Great Garlic Starts in This Fall…
Thursday, October 12, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
York County Extension Office: Nasson Alumni Center, 21 Bradeen Street, Springvale, ME
Limited to 35 people
Free garlic for planting
Pre-registration is requested by calling the Extension office

Fall is the time to plant garlic for a wonderful harvest of home grown fresh garlic next July. Join Garlic Enthusiast Extraordinaire, York County Master Gardener – Dave Gardner who will share his trade secrets for growing a bumper crop of hardy garlic including bed preparation, fertility, planting, mulching, harvesting, curing and more. Don’t miss this opportunity for an enjoyable evening and a chance to go home with some free bulbs for planting this fall.

York County Farmers Network:
Join the Commissioner of Agriculture
The Season Behind Us: What Worked Well and What Didn’t…..
Thursday, November 9, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
York County Extension Office: Nasson Alumni Center, 21 Bradeen Street, Springvale, ME
Potluck Supper
Pre-registration is requested by calling the Extension office

This end of the season meeting is an opportunity for York County farmers to share food, discuss with fellow farmers and the Commissioner of Agriculture what went well this season and where they had some problems. It will be an informal evening of round table discussion and a chance to interact with Seth Bradstreet, State of Maine Commissioner of Agriculture. Please join us for this engaging event in support of farming in York County.

Volunteer Training Workshops Coming: Turn Beauty Inside Out (TBIO), York County
The York County, TBIO Network will be coordinating three professional development and volunteer training workshops in the 2006 – 2007 program year in York County.  These will be held throughout the county in locations and at times to be determined in September.  If you’re interested, please call the office to be put on a mailing list, or e-mail your interest to afortune@umext.maine.edu.

Have you heard about TBIO?  Are you wondering how you can get involved in this educational campaign in York County to support healthy development and plan activities to celebrate TBIO month, in May 2007?  These workshops are for adults who work with parents and/or young people, either in a professional staff or volunteer capacity. 

What is media literacy and how does today’s media culture construct reality, produce meaning and define masculinity and femininity for young people?  How are girls and boys uniquely vulnerable?  What can we do to make a difference and support the healthy development of both boys and girls?  What are some TBIO strategies that can be adapted for my group or interest area?

Turn Beauty Inside Out, Maine is a grassroots celebration of a new cultural definition of beauty as “good hearts, great works and activism” and a celebration of media images that promote healthy development.  It is a community education and public awareness project focusing on issues of media literacy, body image, self-esteem and leadership development for girls and women, and is about education, activism and social change.

These workshops will be presented by: Aileen Fortune, Coordinator of Turn Beauty Inside Out, Maine (TBIO) at the York County Extension Office; and members of the TBIO,York County Network.

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