The Quick-Thumb Gardener

The Quick-Thumb Gardener

New time-saving techniques are transforming the green thumb's art

The average American adult has a third less time for leisure than 30 years ago, according to a recently published book, The Overworked American, by Juliet Schor. But what free time there is, is increasingly being devoted to gardening. According to a number of surveys, three out of every four American households participate in some type of regular gardening, making it the leading leisure-time activity in the United States.

As with everything else, however, time pressures are transforming the way many backyard gardeners are pursuing their avocation. Shor-cuts are in much demand today, giving rise to what one gardening writer recently called “quick-thumbe gardening”. The object of these new techniques is to keep maintenance low, yet still get beautiful results.

The first principle of quick-thumb gardening is to star out small. Work up to larger gardens and beds once smaller ones are self-sustaining.

Careful with plants that are drought tolerant, disease resistant, and suited to your climate. More and more gardeners are turning to native plants because they are likely to thrive in their climate and region without chemical fertilizers and sprays. Your local public garden, agriculture extension agent, or state native plant society can tell you which plants are indigenous to your area.

Hurried gardeners should avoid “high-maintenance” plants such as hybrid roses or fruit trees that require lots of fertilizer, water and spraying to keep the healthy. Plants that need staking and continual  deadheading like dahlias, hollyhock and delphinium also are impractical.

Select shrubs and trees that don't have fruits or nuts to rake up. If you must grow high-maintenance plants, group the together so that they can cared for a single place.

If you don't want to spend time planting and pulling out annuals every spring and fall, hardy perennial flowers are a natural alternative. Although they will need to be divided every three years or so, they still save time and money in the long run.

Probably the most tedious of all gardening jobs is weeding, so all garden beds and pathways should be mulched one or twice a year to keep down weeds and keep soil moist, which also saves time on watering. In addition to organic mulches like compost, pine bark, and pine needles, there are new products that can virtually eliminate weeding without harmful chemicals. These synthetic landscape fabrics are spread out in garden beds and completely block weed growth. Unlike regular plastic mulches, they have microscopic holes that permit air and moisture exchange, keeping plants and soil healthy.

To cut down on lawn-maintenance time, many people are decreasing or even eliminating traditional grass lawns and instead installing low-maintenance plantings such as native trees, shrub borders, hardy ground cover, and native perennials, and brick, stone, or concrete patios.

Where the growing zones fall. Most plant catalogs specify the regions in which perennial plants thrive. The standard zones are defined by the minimum temperatures each region reaches in an average year. There are 11 zones in total in the U.S. Photo by Elena.

Watering chores can be reduced by using drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of watering by hand or lelying on overhead sprinklers. Soaker hoses are set down at soil level near plant roots. They save on water because water is emitted directly where it is needed and not lost to evaporation. You can cut down on regular fertilizer feedings or plants by using slow-release pellets that last throughout the growing season.

For people with limited space and time, raised bed gardens and container plantings are popular. They are easily planted and watered, and stay virtually weed-free. If you have a sunny back-door area, plants in containers right outside the door can be easy to water or harvest.

Look for tools and equipment that can save time, too. For example, a mulching lawn mower will save raking grass clippings, and some new mowers allow you to time and fertilize as you mow.

For the truly hurried person, there's even a gardening trend called “ungardening”, which promotes the idea that weeds, faded flower heads, and unpruned shrubs enhance a garden's charm. Nature isn't perfect, so why should your garden be?

Where the growing zones fall. Most plant catalogs specify the regions in which perennial plants thrive. The standard zones are defined by the minimum temperatures each region reaches in an average year. There are 11 zones in total in the U.S.

To cut down on lawn-maintenance time, many people are decreasing or even eliminating traditional grass lawns and instead installing low-maintenance plantings such as native trees, shrub borders, hardy ground cover, and native perennials, and brick, stone, or concrete patios.

Watering chores can be reduced by using drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of watering by hand or lelying on overhead sprinklers. Soaker hoses are set down at soil level near plant roots. They save on water because water is emitted directly where it is needed and not lost to evaporation. You can cut down on regular fertilizer feedings or plants by using slow-release pellets that last throughout the growing season.

For people with limited space and time, raised bed gardens and container plantings are popular. They are easily planted and watered, and stay virtually weed-free. If you have a sunny back-door area, plants in containers right outside the door can be easy to water or harvest.

Look for tools and equipment that can save time, too. For example, a mulching lawn mower will save raking grass clippings, and some new mowers allow you to time and fertilize as you mow.

For the truly hurried person, there's even a gardening trend called “ungardening”, which promotes the idea that weeds, faded flower heads, and unpruned shrubs enhance a garden's charm. Nature isn't perfect, so why should your garden be?

Tax Free Savings Account

Tax Free Savings Account

In Quebec, since 2009, anyone over eighteen years of age can open a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) (majority age varies for the rest of Canada).

The funds of the account are invested and the profit gained is tax free, as are those on withdrawal from the account.  Withdrawal use is unrestricted and does not influence candidate eligibility for federal governmental programs. The amounts taken out can be recontributed indefinitely in time and the additional earnings from the investment similarly accumulate.

The plan is registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency and allows one to contribute up to $5 000 per year. In twenty-five years, those figures could have nearly quadrupled. Non-contributed funds can accumulate over the years. Great way to save for a car, a vacation or additional education.

The account can coexist with other plans such as the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), and investments can be stocks, bonds, GICs and cash. Contributions to RRSP are tax deductible and unused portions also carry on indefinitely. Unlike the TFSA, the RRSP is tax-free interest while the funds are in the account but if one cashes them out then they become taxable.

RRSPs can also be spousal or grouped. In the former, the spouse with the highest income contributes in the other’s stead.

In the latter, the arrangement is made between an employer and employees. All the profits made inside this account are tax free in addition to contribution room carried forward indeterminately. If one has money to invest, it is better for many reasons, including the possibility of fraud. Just like is counter-advised to activate a credit card over a wireless phone; investment accounts are safer than regular ones.

In those cases, an investment representative would manage the account in the group’s sake.

Tax Free Saving Account. Photo by Elena.

Gothic Darkness

Gothic Darkness

Quoth the raven: “Nevermore!” – Edgar Allan Poe

Condor Gothic. Photo by Megan Jorgensen.

To say that something is Gothic has come to instantly trigger the darkness association. Perhaps, many imagine a group of Goths, all dressed in black and at times seeming to adhere to provocative relationships. Still, the adjective could be thought of as an umbrella term, covering the entire range that is Gothic: from its origins with the Ancients, to Medieval religious monuments and influences (Christian, Celtic, Pagan) to the modern Goth subculture.

Witchcraft and the supernatural in general pertain to Gothic mysticism. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

Thus, Gothic applies to many time periods. Usually, when used in reference to architecture it relates to the Dark Ages, and therefore, the famous Medieval cathedrals. As a brief aside and to illustrate the claim of cumulative background, the Morrigan (perhaps a predecessor to Morgana, through the link of the Old Religion and Druids), is associated with shape shift, black color and supranatural powers. With all the amplitude of Gothic literature (fantasy, romance, science-fiction) and expression, art and the horror genre, one can easily see that the dramatic that is often exhibited by the longstanding phenomenon, interested many a mind throughout the ages.

A gorgeous Gothic (Dark vs. Light) elf. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

Thus, to reiterate, Gothic history is long and remarkably resilient. For example, the pseudoarchaic term Gothick is Germanic (more detail given later in the text) and has since its invention come to rhyme with a sinister, gloomy feel. Further, defining the concept seems like a daunting task, since there appear to be no clear definition, although unifying characteristics and features have certainly been established, especially for convenience in academia. Due to its cultural impact and presence, the area is difficult to define narrowly. Nevertheless, criticism of what fails to fit the ‘true Gothic’ category, on which there are disagreements in the literature and in subcultural demonstrations, abound. Given how immense and international, at least superficially glamorous, specific clothing and accessories, customs and symbolism vary according to cultures and subcultures, groups and subgroups – but as a whole remain engraved in the public psyche across times and nations, despite fluctuations in the ideological inner Zeitgeist. Such diversity and cultural persistence, has resulted in multiple facets, and multidisciplinarity due to borrowings from other genres.

A gorgeous Gothic (Dark vs. Light) elf. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

Gothics? German Romanticism Although Gothicism and Romanticism are two distinct categories, they do share some trends. Some expressions of German Romanticism have been considered Gothicized. In addition, Romantic, Fantasy and Anime art have all touched upon subjects and components generally attributed to Gothic art. The appeal of such artwork is often symbolic, romanticized, sophisticated while blending beauty and despair, albeit entrenched in the past.

The spell (fictional!). Image by Megan Jorgensen.

Anime may be construed as a dark and somber animation genre to begin with, but there exists a specific darker version referred to as Gothic anime. Gothic personages and sceneries often make their way into cartoons, as evidenced by many film adaptations, including stop-motion full-length cartoons Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas and 3D animation productions, such as the remarkable 3D animation – Coraline.

A winter cemetery. Photo by Elena.

Another related cinematographical undertaking is The Crow, where Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee, plays Eric who mysteriously comes back to life and avenges unspeakable injustice done to his fiancée with the help of a supernatural crow. Aside from movie theaters, regular theaters also showcase Gothic plays.

Gothic Life. Photo by Megan Jorgensen.

Originally, Gothic literature was prominent among British, German and American writers. Customarily, the genre is defined with the classic Gothic novels originating in the 18th century, the first being The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (1764). Followed The Monk by Matthew G. Lewis (1796), The Italian by Ann Radcliffe (1797), and Edgar Alan Poe’s poem The Raven (1845) as well as other works. Notwithstanding, many consider Gothic the established romantic horror tale Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley. Moreover, Gothic literature diversifies into subgenres, with Gothic poetry, Gothic science fiction and Gothic romance.

Witchcraft and the supernatural in general pertain to Gothic mysticism. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

Gothic elements can be traced back as far as the Greek mythology work Orpheus and Eurydice, however the aforementioned writers are deemed the classic Gothicists (Gothic novelists, canon: 18th – early 19th century), with mysticism-ridden manuscripts and interesting personal biographies. Prolific Writer Edgar Alan Poe – is perhaps one of the best known, with his quintessential poem The Raven. Crichton, Stevenson and Wells are others.

Gothic City. Photo by Megan Jorgensen.

The Gothic science-fiction subgenre is a literary mix of two genres (Gothic, sci-fi). Image: magicphotodesign.com

Surprisingly, some characters are comedic, as famous figures like Morticia Addams from the filmed, televised and animated Addams Family series, or personas such as Elvira – The Mistress of the Dark (a television horror midnight movies show host). By the same token, Elvira is likewise the name of an important character in The Monk (classic Gothic novel, as outline above). Is all horror Gothic? Not necessarily, but Gothic horror does represent vampires, werewolves and all kinds of monsters, and is renown for being particularly somber and horrifying.

A Gothic Wall from another dimension. Photo by Megan Jorgensen.

Although much of the genre is in fact based on horror, at least as Gothic novels go, a fundamental component is the mixing of infatuation, lust or more noble feelings with inevitable doom and decay. The trend is visible with The Bride of Frankenstein) and other monsters and ghosts falling in love and seeking companionship. For instance, the rock formation Rammstein’s video for their song ‘Du Riechst so Gut’ (German for ‘You Smell So Good’) satisfies Gothic criteria from this standpoint.

A dark Gothic forest. Photo by Megan Jorgensen.

Clearly, many horror movies doubtless fit the description, a fact widely recognized by cinematography. For example, aside from notorious Gothic films, Gothika is a horror motion picture starring Halle Berry in a ghost tale set in an asylum. Attraction to the occult is equally visible in popular culture, with the Twilight saga, Vampire Diaries, True Blood and other works intermingling love stories and the paranormal (particularly, and a priori, of an evil nature or on the dark side) – a prevalent trait of Gothic literary subgenres.

A mythical being. Animated spell (fictional!).In addition to werewolves, there are also legends about Lokis, a sort of werebears. Lokis is a novella by Prosper Merime about these half-human shape shifters, but in relation to bears. Tragically, during the Middle Ages, innocant animals have suffered due to these human superstitions. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

With Goth bands such as Bauhaus, the underground music scene is booming. With designations such as Punk, Emo and Goth, musical preferences similarly continue to shift. In the media, a funny representation are the ‘Goth Kids’, the non-conformists of South Park. The theme is evident in many performances, be it musicians, lyrics or surrounding graphics and illustrations. Throughout history, the Gothic genre has left an imprint on several shows, concerts, operas and even musicals. Of course, artists like Marilyn Manson, who could be considered a Goth style icon, and who also dated a Gothic model, reaffirm dark glamor.

Horror often involves psychological struggles. Image: Megan Jorgensen. Given that sexuality is an instinct is traditionally defined as a hereditary behaviour unique to a species, varying little from one member to the next, the variety of our sexual tastes is curious

While contemporary Goths are part of a youth subculture, concerned with existential matters, dress code, conferences and theme parties, the Ancients fail to be fictional. Ancient Goths lived in the time of the Classics. Not affiliated with the present day youth culture, the 4-5 centuries BCE Goths, were a feared tribe near the end of the Roman Empire. Their existence provided the first evidence of the East Germanic language, or any Germanic language at all, for that matter. Coincidentally, ‘Gothic’ may have been initially used with pejorative connotation akin to signifying ‘barbaric’. Still, today’s era Goths dress all in black and are thus easily distinguishable from other ‘crowds’. A riddle surrounding superficiality: If black is the absence of light, is it really meaningful to distinguish shades of black? In any case, accessories comprise collars, corsets, and other items at times reminiscent of BDSM (many shared parallels and characteristics: chains, piercings, tattoos and other body art, interpersonal dynamics).

Fashion nails changing colors.Experimenting with unconventional lipstick and nail polish colors has been popular among adherents of the Goth subculture, who were the first to opt for black in both cosmetic choices. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

The style has certainly made a fashion statement more than once. Black lace, Victorian era apparel, black lipstick and nail polish, specific make-up and specialized make-up artists, all contributed to a visible and recognizable category. Interestingly, much has been said about those preferring to dress entirely in black – that the color is flattering to everybody, that they like or dislike authority and power, that they are crying for help or that they simply want to look thinner. For enthusiasts, the opportunities to partake in the experience covers online and offline communities. Academically, Gothic studies cover mostly historical, literary, philosophical, and architectural topics. Outside scholarly realms, there are countless thematic shops, games, gamers’ societies, festivals, venues, conventions, and the list goes on…

Free as a Bird – lyrics and title, The Beatles. Image: Megan Jorgensen.

Resolutions of the hidden meaning enigma have been proposed by several schools of thought, many viewpoints and numerous opinions. Discussions have sprung among minds wandering about the significance of the Goth lifestyle. Some believe that it is a satisfactory alternative to mainstream reality for certain individuals; others attest that by facing one’s fears one gets rid of them through a process alike catharsis; yet, a divergent idea suggests that the obscure reality may be actually less frightening than the real one. Also, Goths have been at times labelled as a counterculture, marginalized and ostracized. Regardless, rebellion can in fact be showing what society values by rejecting it. Finally, what is dubbed socially unacceptable, varies and differs according to the component of the tradition, the divergence or amorality degree, and the times and historical context.

Gothic Cosmic Universe. Photo by Megan Jorgensen. Witchcraft and the supernatural in general pertain to Gothic mysticism.

Teaching Kids About Money

Teaching Kids About Money

Start Young, Give Allowance Early in the Week, and Stress Savings

Of the many required tasks parents confront raising their children, educating them about money and sound personal finance is on any list. Should you give your child in allowance? At what age? How much? What should kids pay for? Should you pay your children for doing jobs around the house? Here’s what the experts advise.

To Give or Not to Give?

Not all experts agree that children should get an allowance. Proponents say an allowance is a good way to teach kids how to handle money responsibly and to show them that they are working members of the family. Critics argue that an allowance creates a welfare system in which parents provide spending money. Most experts agree, though, that parents who choose to give their kids allowances should not offer it as payment for chores or withhold it as a punishment. Chores should be part of the child’s family duty, they say. And parents who want to discipline a child should take away privileges other than an allowance.

One Plaza, NYPD. Photo by Elena.

As the age-old debate rages on, about one-half of the kids in the United States get an allowance. Paticia Schiff Estess and Irving Barocas, authors of Kids, Money & Values, offer these tips for parents who give their kids an allowance:

• Start an allowance when a child starts elementary school. School signals the beginning of important responsibilities for children.
• Set a specific time when money is distributed and stick to it. Being late implies it’s OK to be irresponsible.
• Distribute allowance at the beginning of or in the middle of the week. Most kids spend most of their money on the weekend. Giving early in the week forces them to think about how they’ll spend it later.

Should Kids Work?

Should Kids Work?

Should kids work? Parents have long suspected that teenagers who work long hours outside the home do poorly in school. Studies confirm that suspicion, as many of them found that teens who worked 20 hours or more a week after a school got grades half a letter lower than youngsters who worked fewer than 10 hours a week.

Kids who spent more than 20 hours a work compensated for shorter hours spent on school work by cheating, copying assignments, and cutting classes more frequently. More alarming are the results of one study : Teens who worked more than 20 hours a week used drugs and alcohol 33 percent more often than those who didn’t work at all.

Make the allowance large enough so that some of it can be saved. If a kindergartner gets $1 a week and every penny is accounted for, he or she will lose the opportunity to develop the planning-ahead and saving skills of money management.

As children get older, increase their allowance and what it should cover. This gives them more experience managing larger sums of money and more opportunity to make choices about how to spend it.

New York in construction. Should children work here? Photo by Elena.

How Much Is Too Much?

What’s too little? What’s too much? The amount of allowance to give depends mostly on whether you live in an expensive metropolis or a less costly suburb. It also reflects which costs the child is expected to absorb, such as bus or lunch money, for example.

Many kids are making money the old-fashioned way : working for it.

What Do Teens Spend Their Money On?

Very little of a teenager’s money gets tucked away for the future, accroding to all surveys. Les tnah 10 percent of the students are saving most of all of their monthly income for tuition, and a mere 3 percent are using the money to help out their families.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of the youngsters spend all or most of their monthly earnings on themselves for immediate purchases.