Tag: nature

Once a cheater, always a cheater…or is that really the case? It turns out there might be a scientific basis to the reason a person becomes a cheater. Are you the type of person who would cheat? You just may be…if you’re in one of these groups.

Those With Ages Ending in 9

It’s been said plenty of times that those who cheat partially do so because of insecurities. While it’s easy to brush this sort of statement off as, “Excuses, excuses,” there is something to be said about an increase in one’s insecurity as they get older. Just look at every romantic comedy you’ve ever seen wherein a woman nearing the end of her thirties begins panicking about her age.

Well, if you’ve ever been cheated on by someone on the crux of a new age bracket, whether they were 29, 39, 49, etc., the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences might have identified said ages as the common link.
According to their abstract, it’s this period of life that leads “adults [to] undertake a search for existential meaning … which leads them to behave in ways that suggest an ongoing or failed search for meaning…”

These potentially “life-altering choices” can include cheating, as well as the decision to change the way a person works out, among other things.

Women Who Teach

Sure, there’s the ever-present stereotype of the demure and innocent teacher—especially when it comes to women who teach. It’s likely that most of us are guilty of these assumptions, that the women who teach are automatically just a bit more…immune to the ills of the world than the rest of society.

Rather than being confronted with the chore of social media, they’ve got their noses stuck in a book as they spend their nights crafting lesson plans instead of taking selfies for Instagram, or binge watching salacious series. Right?
On the contrary, if a woman is cheating, it’s probably a safe assumption that she’s in the education field. According to a survey that polled over 5,000 women, 65 percent of those who cheat do so at their place of business.

In a turn of irony though, 85 percent of said women advise against having intimate relations with a coworker.

Tweeters

Some people are always seeking approval online through their various profiles. Social media obsession can be a huge red flag to look for when committing to a serious relationship: As you’ll see in the video below, people who spend the most time on Twitter are more likely to be unfaithful.

The Quiet Ones (IT-ers)

Sure, the stereotype is that just about any guy who works in the IT field—or any technology field—is quiet, unsuspecting, and a bit of an outcast. We assume he’s lacking in social confidence and, as a result, frequently passed over as a potential mate.

This applies to the concept of cheating as well, as it’s rare to think of the nice, innocent, guy in IT seeking out a potential affair. Another survey actually appears to prove the opposite though.
So if you know that you have a particular weak spot for those who are a bit more technologically savvy or do that for their career, then you might want to be a bit more wary before you get involved in something serious.

Just because he spends his days repairing other people’s mishaps on their computers and company networks doesn’t mean he isn’t also juggling a couple of women at the same time.

Tall Men

Height is one of the few physical attributes which can be agreed upon by most women looking for a man. It’s pretty common to seek out a taller man, at least in the West. This is a preference that women might want to reevaluate from here on out though.

An infidelity site conducted a survey that concluded that a man’s height—specifically, if he’s 5’10” or over—actually directly correlates to his likelihood to cheat.
It’s not that men over 5’10” are genetically engineered to cheat and those who are shorter aren’t. Rather, a man’s height oftentimes corresponds to his confidence. Given societal standards, it isn’t shocking that a taller man tends to be more confident than his shorter peers.

While confidence is a pretty attractive trait, it just so happens to be the downfall of men exceeding this height bracket and tends to lead them to have a wandering eye.

Wayne

Believe it or not, the fate of your significant other (current or future) might have been decided for them long before they ever had a chance to decide what sort of person they wanted to be. In fact, their tendency to cheat might be linked to their name.

According to a couple of thousand women who were surveyed, the name Wayne was actually deemed the most suspect when it comes to the world of romance.
According to another cheating site, which reached out to over 4,000 men and women—more than a couple of thousand of each—it seems that Nathan might be the most popular name of cheating men, while Megan is the one to watch out for with women.

It isn’t just men who are incredibly susceptible to cheating though, in spite of what many of us believe. According to psychologist, Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, over half of all married women are bound to cheat on their significant other eventually.

Blondes

Talk about judging a book by its cover, right, people? Well it turns out that it just might save you a lot of time and pain in the long run if you ignore the adage and do that, according to a survey.

This one found that blondes make up 42 percent of the population of unfaithful women, with redheads following right behind at 23 percent. Next were brunettes at 20 percent. Women sporting black hair appear to be the “safest,” as they come in at just 11 percent.
On the contrary, men with brown hair are more prone to cheating than those without—they came in at 40 percent. Those with black hair made up 23 percent of the population, with blondes making up 20 percent, and redheads just 5 percent.

One thing to be considered though is that the study didn’t take into account whether a person was balding or dyeing their hair. So maybe there’s still hope?

Shopaholics

While it might be unfair to automatically ascribe a woman’s tendency to cheat to a love of shopping (come on, there are just some things that we can’t help but buy), a survey— conducted by, you guessed it, a site promoting infidelity—would say otherwise.

In fact, over 52,000 women were surveyed and what might be even more shocking than the shopping connection are the favored clothing brands of this subset of women. At the top of the list is none other than Banana Republic.
This tendency to shop might not be a cause of the cheating, but rather, an effect, given that a good deal of the women “said they spend more on their appearance since they started cheating.”

Victoria’s Secret has, unsurprisingly, been cited as the default pick for underwear for 69 percent of women in this situation. Other brands that struck their fancy included, but were not limited to, J. Crew, Macy’s, and H&M. Quite the gamut there.

With the warmer months upon us, the tick population is out in full force. Although ticks are around throughout the year, they tend to be more active in the warmer weather. Ticks can be active on winter days when the ground temperatures are about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ticks are commonly thought of as insects but are actually arachnids, like scorpions, spiders, and mites.
Many believe that ticks fly or jump onto their victims from a tree branch. The reality is that ticks cannot fly or jump, they crawl. They wait patiently for someone to brush by tall grass or a shrub and then transfer onto their host. When you find a tick higher up on your body it generally means they climbed all the way up.
There are many types of ticks out there, but the deer tick is of concern since Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by the deer tick.
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There are several ways to protect yourself from tick bites without the use of harmful insecticides.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
“Blacklegged ticks (the ticks that cause Lyme disease) live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through leaf litter or near shrubs.”
A simple way to avoid ticks is to walk in the center of trails and avoid walking through tall bushes or other grassy areas.
Sticking to sunny spots will dramatically reduce the risk of tick bites. Tick nymphs can’t survive in the sunshine since they need environments with at least 80 percent humidity to survive. They tend to hang out in leaf piles and other shady, humid environments.
If the weather isn’t too warm, take the time to cover up. Wear clothing that covers up most of your skin to prevent ticks from latching on.
Check your clothing for ticks after spending time outside. Ticks can easily end up on your clothing, especially shoes and socks. Once they make their way onto the lower portion of your body they then start making their way up your body to a warmer spot.
Taking a shower after being outside is a great way to prevent tick bites. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease. This is also a perfect time to do a full-body tick check.
Performing a full tick check after being near tick-infested areas is critical when trying to prevent tick bites. Check the entire body fully, including hair, ears, belly button, underarms, and behind the knees. Ticks like finding these warm spots for their next meal.
Also, take the time to check your shoes and other equipment for ticks along for the ride. If they’re brought inside, ticks can later attach to people or pets.
Throw your clothing in the dryer with high heat to kill any ticks that manage to make their way indoors.
If you do find a tick, don’t panic! Here’s info on tick removal.

Now that the weather is finally beginning to warm up it’s time to start planning that first camping trip of the year. After all, what better time to be fully immersed in nature than when the leaves are budding, the flowers are blooming, and the wildlife is becoming more active too? But spring can also bring some unexpected challenges, which is why you should plan your outing carefully and be as prepared as possible when you set out for the backcountry. Here are a few tips to help make that process a little easier.

Check Your Gear Before You Go 

Chances are your tent, backpack, sleeping bag, and other assorted camping gear have been in storage for most of the winter. That means that you may have forgotten the condition it was in when you last used it. Before leaving home, give all of your essential items a thorough examination to make sure they’re in working order. Repair or replace anything that isn’t in tip-top condition. Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than being unpleasantly surprised by gear that doesn’t perform up to your expectations. You can avoid that by inspecting all of your equipment ahead of time.

Watch the Weather Closely 

Spring weather is notoriously fickle—wonderful one moment and incredibly bad the next. During the spring, temperatures can fluctuate wildly, and high winds, heavy rains, and other dangerous conditions can arrive at unexpected times. Before you leave on your camping trip, be sure to review the forecast so you know what you’re getting yourself into. If conditions look particularly bad, perhaps it is best to delay the outing for a few days while you wait for things to improve. If you do go, use a smartphone or other connected device to keep an eye on the forecast. That way you can avoid any unexpected surprises.

Dress in Layers 

Because spring weather is so unpredictable, it is best to dress in layers. That way you can remove or add articles of clothing as needed. When the winds start howling, and the rain begins to fall, a wind and a waterproof jacket will prove very helpful as well. The bottom line is that during the spring, you’ll probably need to carry more clothing with you since it’ll be much harder to predict what you’ll need.

Don’t Forget Your Rainfly 

Spring showers can be a common occurrence, but they don’t have to ruin your camping trip. Just remember to pack the rainfly for your tent; it could save you from some long, wet, uncomfortable nights. Pack a tarp to throw on the ground too; it’s is a cheap and easy way to prevent moisture from seeping through the floor of your tent.

Stay Hydrated 

Just because spring weather can be cooler and wetter than other times of the year doesn’t mean that you don’t need to stay hydrated. Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water or have some method for treating water that you find in the backcountry (e.g., water filtration systems, iodine tablets, or something similar).

Be Prepared for Insects 

Early spring typically means that insects aren’t a major concern, but as the season goes on they’ll begin to become more of a concern. Pack insect repellent to help keep the biting bugs at bay. They may not be out in large numbers just yet, but they can still be very annoying all the same.

Follow these handy tips to get your camping season off to a great start. With a bit of planning and preparation, it can be one of the best times of the year to be outdoors.

When people first started talking about biofuels—especially bioethanol, which is made from plant material—they had grand plans. Biofuels were supposed to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, help fight climate change by producing fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels, and reduce poverty in the developing world by providing employment for farmers. Unfortunately, a few decades into the biofuel revolution, many experts are saying that plant-based fuels aren’t living up to their promise. In fact there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that they’re actually making things worse.
Here are just a few examples:

• Biofuels are taxing the world’s water resources by using massive amounts of water for irrigation. In many places (particularly in the Midwestern United States) that water is being taken from nonrenewable aquifers. The process of turning plants into fuel is also very water intensive.
• Because biofuels were billed as the magic cure-all for the world’s problems, land that previously had been used to provide food for humans is being diverted to biofuel production. With less land available for growing human food, there’s less of it available. That has driven up the price of food—particularly in developing countries. As a result, people who were already poor are being pushed further and further into poverty.
• It turns out that instead of reducing greenhouse gasses, biofuels pump just as much pollution into the air as oil and gas. In other words, the carbon footprint of biofuels is just as massive as that of fossil fuels.

That’s not a terribly optimistic scenario, is it? It’s true that corn and other crops aren’t working out as sources of cheap energy, but we shouldn’t give up on biofuels just yet. There’s one plant that may be able to live up to biofuel’s original hype—without falling into any of the traps we just discussed: prickly pear cactus. Sounds a little crazy, but here’s how it works.
First, cacti primarily grow on land where rainfall is unpredictable. Since food crops generally require regular rainfall, cacti won’t be competing with food crops. Currently about 18 percent of the world’s land could support cactus production but is not suitable for hardly any other crop.
Second, because cactus farming would use currently unusable land, it would provide income-producing agriculture jobs in many parts of the developing world where all the available arable land is already occupied. Aside from being able to thrive in the desert where it’s unbearably hot, prickly pear cactus also has the amazing ability to survive in below-freezing temperatures (as low as –15 degrees C/5 degrees F). That opens up even more unused land for possible cactus harvesting.
Third, cacti are different from most plants in the way they carry out photosynthesis. By hoarding water during the day, cacti need only about one-fifth of the water that traditional plants do. And to produce one unit of dry biomass (using that measure we can compare apples to apples, or more accurately, cactus to corn), cactus takes only one-tenth of the water that the usual plant-based biofuels do.
The next time someone offers you a great deal on some landlocked desert property, think twice before you turn it down. You might just miss out on the next big thing.

Did you know that the United States is one of world’s largest producers of trash? Trash is generated at an alarming rate of 1,609 pounds of trash per person per year. Over the past 30+ years the national recycling rate has headed in the right direction, with a reported rate of about 34.5 percent of households, but there’s still room for improvement.

There are so many reasons to recycle. Recycling allows us to reuse materials, which in turn conserves natural resources. It also saves water and energy, improves air and water quality, lowers pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and preserves landfill space. 

City and town recycling programs each have their own set of rules for preparing your recyclables before placing them in the recycle bin. Following your city or town’s guidelines is imperative, because facilities’ equipment and capacity vary widely from location to location.

Here are a few general guidelines to follow for recycling.

Glass

Glass bottles filled with liquid need to be emptied and preferably dried before being placed in your bin. It’s important in most communities to clean out containers and jars that contained food and grease. A simple trick to help with the cleanout process is to fill a jar with a small amount of water, place the lid back on and give it a few shakes. Once you dump the water out, the jar will be reasonably clean. This works especially well with jars used for pasta sauce.

There’s no need to remove labels on glass containers since the recycling process will take care of this.

Cardboard

To recycle cardboard it’s important to remove all other materials from inside the box, such as plastic wrap, polystyrene peanuts, and other packing materials. All cardboard boxes should be broken down before being placed in the recycle bin. Cardboard should be dry and free of food scraps.

Paper

There is a long list of paper products that can be recycled, including: magazines and catalogs, telephone books, direct mail, brochures, pamphlets, and booklets. Also recyclable are cereal, cake mix, and cracker boxes. Be sure to remove the liner and all food from boxes. Flatten the box before placing it in your recycle bin. Tissues and waxed and carbon paper are not recyclable.

Plastic

Check the bottom of the plastic container for the recycle triangle symbol to make sure the container is recyclable. Rinse plastic containers with water and crush, if possible, before adding to your recycle bin.

Not all locations require the rinsing of containers, but a problem can arise in areas that do require rinsing when the rinsing doesn’t happen. When recyclables are dirty their market value substantially decreases. This creates a vicious cycle because it reduces the amount of money the recycling service provider is able to earn, thereby decreasing the amount of money they are able to reinvest and improve their existing services.

It’s important when recycling to check the regulations at your local waste management facility before placing items in the recycle bin.

As the national recycling rate continues to rise, it’s crucial that we take the time to recycle properly to ensure that items don’t unnecessarily end up in the landfill.

There is no escaping social media in today’s world. According to the Pew Research Center, virtual connection has become a common part of our cultural milieu, with 59 percent of internet users posting on at least one social networking site. From social media to online dating, we have landed in an online world of social interaction well beyond what we’re psychologically prepared for. 

There are no rules and no specific forms of etiquette to follow when it comes to social media, leaving all of us vulnerable to a broad spectrum of online posting behavior and the psychological aftermath that comes with witnessing certain content. While we are able to control the content that comes into our feeds on some level, we cannot control what other people decide to share on any given day. Sometimes it’s intriguing or enjoyable, but there are times when we question the quality of what we’re seeing.

Facebook has been linked to depression and also has been described as a haven for narcissists. Instagram, and the widespread use of “filtering,” has raised concerns about how these digitally altered photos leave many people feeling envious or bad about themselves. 

While there are no statistics yet on why any given social media user chooses to post what they do, we can generalize and say that the majority of content is impulsively shared without reflection. The main motivation is to “share” a particular idea, picture, story, or experience, but what would happen if we took a mindful pause before sending a post out into the universe? What if we really considered what we’re posting and why we’re posting it?

Most of the things we do on a daily basis are either habitual or impulsive. We wake up, have coffee, go to work, schedule an appointment, eat a meal, and check our phones all without thinking too hard. Social media use has become part of this way of functioning. The most impulsive population are young adults aged 18-29 who use social media more than any other age group. Some 93 percent of teens use the internet, and more of them than ever are treating it as a venue for social interaction with a minimal capacity for reflection due to their underdeveloped brains. Being the biggest users of social media combined with having the greatest tendency toward impulsivity leaves this population even more vulnerable to mindless posting.

One of the ways I help people who are presented with a decision–and often the urge to act impulsively–is through teaching them the idea of pausing. Taking a moment for reflection before jumping into a choice leads to less regret and a more satisfactory outcome. We have to create the space between the thought and the action because that moment doesn’t organically happen for many of us. In life, there are some choices that can be reversed, but there are also many that are irrevocable; social media posts fall somewhere in the middle.

Next time you share a post ask yourself these five questions and see if it shifts your decision to share that particular content, picture, or thought.

1. Why this?

Ask yourself why you’re choosing to share before posting. What is the intention behind the post? It might be to share an important idea, or it could be to make an old boyfriend jealous. Taking a brief pause and really doing some self-inquiry before posting will slow down your process, which is a great practice for being more mindful and less impulsive. 

2. Who will see this?

Taking a moment to reflect on who will see your post will help you to discern whether the post is appropriate or beneficial to your social standing. You may have to consider whether your accounts are private or public, or whether it’s a business or personal profile. A post that’s intended for family will also be seen by all of your other followers, so you’ll want to be aware of this before sharing.

3. Would I want this on the front page of the New York Times?

As much as we trust the internet and social media, when you post something it’s out there. If you make the presumption that everything you post could potentially be front-page news, you can really get a sense of what you’re willing to expose. We are a sensationalized culture, and anything shared online is considered fair game. Don’t live in denial that a private account is truly private.

4. How will others feel when they see this? 

This is a great question for tapping into a moment of empathy or for being more sensitive. We often post without realizing that there are many people seeing what we’re sharing beyond the people we are holding in mind. Becoming aware of how your post will affect the broader culture may shift what you share.

5. What do I expect?

One of the most depressing moments for many social media posters is not getting a “like.” If you’re expecting people to approve or value your post, then be prepared for disappointment. Getting clear about your expectations before posting is another great way to discern between valuable posts and posts intended for improving your own self-worth.

Ben Armitage, an optometrist in Hobart, Australia, was recently confronted with a 14-year-old patient who had shined a laser pointer directly into his eyes for only a brief period of time. Despite the brevity of the occurrence, the boy’s vision was decreased by 75 percent. “The laser burns are basically areas where he’s not going to be able to see ever again,” said Armitage.
Sure, it’s fun to make your pet chase laser beams, but beware: The more powerful the laser, the more damage it can do. Lasers can pop a balloon, light a match, cut through plastic, ignite steel wool, or even, as in the case above, cause immediate and permanent blindness.
The word laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Ordinary light is made up of many different colors. Laser light is made up of just a single color. Because it’s amplified, laser light is focused and extremely bright. And it comes in a variety of colors and powers.
Laser power is measured in milliwatts (mW), and those that put out less than 5 mW are generally considered safe. Our eyes have a built-in blink reflex that makes us close our eyes or turn our head away when we’re exposed to a bright light. That reflex typically happens in a quarter of a second, which is fast enough to minimize any damage the light might do. But we can override that reflex by deliberately shining a laser directly into the eye. When that happens, the laser can burn a hole in the retina. Lasers that put out more than 5 mW of power are especially dangerous, because they can start burning the retina before the blink reflex kicks in.
Color plays an important role as well. Our eyes are naturally more sensitive to red light than to blue or violet, so while we might turn away from a 5 mW red laser, we might not turn away from the same power blue or violet one. Our eyes are even more sensitive to green light than to red, but green lasers also emit radiation that we can’t see, which makes green lasers even more dangerous than red ones.
Unless you’re using a laser for some kind of industrial purpose, there’s no reason for you to have one that’s any more powerful than 5 mW. In fact, the FDA has proposed a ban on handheld lasers (such as laser pointers) over that threshold. However, it’s still extremely easy to get lasers 10 or 100 or more times more powerful on the internet (and no, we aren’t going to tell you where).
So here’s the bottom line: Lasers are not toys, even if they’re rated at 5 mW or fewer. Never, ever shine one at anyone else or directly into your eye (that includes bouncing the light off of a mirror or shiny surface into your eye). And never allow a child to play with a laser. Theoretically, it should be easy to tell whether a laser’s power is low enough that you can use it safely. Unfortunately, in one of the few examples of products over-delivering on the promises made on their label, the ratings on laser devices routinely underestimate their actual power. Often by a lot.
If a laser pointer runs on tiny, button batteries, it’s probably okay. However, the pointer you’re considering may be stronger than 5 mW if it runs on AA or AAA batteries, or if it claims to be “military grade,” “powerful,” or advertises a range of several miles.

Water is an essential component of life. After all, up to 60 percent of the human body is made up of water that’s constantly being replenished. It detoxifies the body, keeps cells healthy, and aids in digestion. That’s why it’s important to drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Although ample water is essential to optimal health, plastic water bottles are widely known as an irresponsible means of staying hydrated. That’s why scientists are looking for new and innovative ways for us to get our fill of this liquid glory without plastic.

The Problem with Plastic

Plastic water bottles come with a host of issues. First of all, plastic isn’t biodegradable, which means it doesn’t break down, and thus ends up polluting our lakes, rivers, and streams while piling up in landfills. In the U.S., 1,500 plastic water bottles are used every second. Marine species and seabirds often fall victim to our discarded aqua vessels. One dead albatross, in particular, was found with 113 discarded water bottle caps in its stomach, and a sperm whale fell victim to a water bottle lodged in its small intestine. When waste has nowhere to go, it litters Mother Nature while taking its toll on wildlife.

Plastic is also problematic because it’s made from hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) and natural gas. HGLs are petroleum byproducts made from oil and natural gas refining. In 2010, 191 million barrels of HGL were used just for the production of plastic.

Plastic also contains bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound that’s a known endocrine disruptor. BPA confuses the endocrine system and causes problems with fertility in women and birth defects in fetuses. It may also be a carcinogen. Plastic water bottles also contain phthalates, another endocrine disruptor known to cause developmental problems in children, reduced sperm counts, and tumors in animal studies.

Ooho!: An Edible Alternative

Ooho! is a new form of biodegradable and edible (yes, you read that right!) packaging invented by three London-based industrial designers: Rodrigo García González, Guillaume Couche, and Pierre Paslier. Shaped like a gelatinous blob, it’s described by the company’s founders as “water you can eat.” Made from calcium chloride and a brown seaweed derivative called sodium alginate, it’s strong, biodegradable, and once you’re done slurping it up, you can take down the packaging as well. No, you don’t have to eat the container, but it’s natural enough that if you wanted to, you could safely ingest the packaging without taking in any of the nasty chemicals listed above.

How Ooho! Is Made

The blob-like container is made through a process called spherification, which shapes liquids into a sphere and then constructs an edible gel around the liquid. The water is frozen and then the gel is formed around it. It’s like popping a blob of hydration in your mouth that is similar in consistency to an egg yoke. The membrane holds the liquid in place but then can be easily punctured and even eaten. The double membrane around the water also makes it possible to brand and label the product while keeping the water from being contaminated. When you’re done slurping the water inside, you’re left with edible packaging that resembles thicker cling wrap (though it’s not plastic).

An Inexpensive Fix

Even better, Ooho! isn’t expensive, costing just 2 cents per bottle. And since production is cheap it has the potential to even compete with plastic water bottles, which are currently a ubiquitous part of the industry. Although Ooho! isn’t in production yet, the company founders recently won a sustainability award from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for coming up with a good replacement for plastic water bottles.

The Downsides Of Ooho!

Ooho! does have a few downsides. First, it’s somewhat messy when you bite into the hydration bubble, leaving droplets of water behind. And second, it would be difficult to keep the packaging from being contaminated in commute, especially if it’s supposed to be completely edible.

Ooho! is a great invention for those who love bottled water but don’t like the unsustainable plastic water bottle that’s left over. It’s delicious hydration with zero waste.

Jeff Carlson wanted to see the view from the top of a mountain, and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him. 

Carlson was born with spina bifida, which is an incomplete closing of the of the backbone and spinal cord membranes, and has been in a wheelchair his entire life. He’s never let that stop him from living life to the fullest, though. 

When Carlson said he wanted to climb a mountain, his friend Damien Gilbert knew he had to make it happen somehow. Gilbert quickly organized a hike with 12 friends.

“Jeff and I talked about doing the adventure after a picture he’d seen of me on the edge of a cliff,” Gilbert said. “I told him ‘I’m going to carry you up there,’ so I did the next month.”

He said it was difficult to organize, but it was more than worth it. 

Carlson was able to make it up the first part of Mount McKay near Thunder Bay, Canada in his wheelchair. He powered up the walking path with impressive agility until the path became too steep. At that point, Carlson got onto a wood board that his friends carried up the mountain. Eventually, the team made it to the top of the mountain where Carlson soaked in the amazing view. 

“I am an adventurous guy,” Carlson said. “I have seen pictures of friends climbing the mountain and I thought it needed to be done.”

He also joked that he would like to get to the top of a taller mountain sometime. He’s a true testament to the human spirit.  

“I figure just because you have a disability, it doesn’t limit what you can achieve,” he said. “I have always felt that my disability doesn’t limit me to what I can do, so this just kind of reaffirmed that.”

Before you start bagging up all the excess dry leaves blanketing your front and backyard, why not consider turning them into rich compost? And it’s easier than you think. In fact, the leaves of one shade tree are worth their weight in compost gold. And in some cases, your fallen leaves can produce more nutrients for your soil than a bag of manure. What’s more, homemade compost supplemented with fallen leaves is free. This coupled with lawn and kitchen scraps, nutrient dense and widely available pumpkins, gourds, and winter squashes make for a healthy variety of garden gold just in time for spring planting. Here’s how to get started.

Create A Healthy Mix

Composting is based on a simple mix of a 4 to 1 ratio of carbon or “browns” and nitrogen or “greens”. Carbon-rich items or “browns” include fallen leaves, straw, peat moss, and saw dust. Nitrogen-rich items, on the other hand, or “greens” include kitchen scraps and lawn scraps.

Composting 101

Composting is actually quite simple and in the fall, fallen leaves make for easy composting. Start with 8 inches of leaves (your “browns”) and top with 2 inches of lawn or kitchen scraps (“greens”) to serve as a form of nitrogen. While most kitchen scraps like tea bags, fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, old spices, popcorn, seaweed, hay, and even pet hair can be composted, meat, fish, dairy, and oil scraps should not be added to your composting bin because they go rancid, don’t break down and can contaminate your compost pile.

You also need to add some native soil in between the layers. This adds in beneficial bacteria which can help rapidly break down the compost. Composting is an aerobic process that requires oxygen from either turning a more sophisticated composting tumbler or using a pitchfork to aerate your compost pile.

Additionally, in order for your compost to break down properly it must heat up to somewhere between 90 and 140 degrees F. If it doesn’t, it becomes a smelly mess and could become contaminated. But not to worry, compost heats up naturally if you have the correct 4 to 1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen, it’s properly aerated and you have enough beneficial bacteria from the added soil.

Choosing a Compost Bin

I prefer a compost tumbler stored near my kitchen back door because it’s convenient to move my daily kitchen scraps from the kitchen to the bin. It also has a neat appearance, and it’s easy to aerate. But the simplest way to compost is to create a loose compost pile in your backyard in a corner away from your house (if you have critters you may want to protect with chicken wire). Start by spreading straw over about 3 square feet of ground to help aerate your pile. Then alternate greens to browns with a layer of soil in between. You’ll want to turn your pile about every three weeks to allow aerate with oxygen to help facilitate the process. Cover with plastic sheeting if necessary to keep your pile from becoming too moist.

Pumpkins, Gourds and Winter Squashes Are Perfect For Composting Too

If you have a plethora of pumpkins left over from Halloween, gourds and winter squashes don’t throw them away. They are a perfect addition to your compost pile. First remove any artificial additions like candles, ribbons, or other remnants that may contaminate your compost bin. If you’ve painted your pumpkin, it’s best not to add it to the compost bin at all because paint can contain chemicals which can contaminate your soil. You’ll also want to remove any seeds from pumpkins and winter squashes, because although they are natural, they may germinate in the compost bin. Cut the pumpkin into small pieces and add directly to the compost bin. If you don’t have a compost bin, dig a hole in a garden bed, add the pumpkin, and top with soil. Let Mother Nature do the rest of the work.

How To Know When Fall Compost Is Ready

When it comes to composting, patience is the name of the game. Compost can take anywhere from a few months to a full year to completely decompose and greatly depends on the weather. Warmer weather will facilitate quicker decomposition where cooler weather will slow the process down. You can tell when it’s ready because it looks and smells like a rich dark soil. The end product also shrinks down quite a bit in volume and becomes super crumbly.

Roots, sticks, and other intact fruits and vegetables can be pulled from the compost pile when it’s otherwise completely broken down to speed the process along. This makes the end product more uniform.

Even though the weather is a bit crisp and even cold depending on where you live, starting a compost pile in the fall can be ideal. Not only is there tons of “brown” matter just waiting to be composted, with any luck your pile will be ready for the spring planting season.