Recently we were asked to help with an event at San Rafael Oakmont Senior Living Center. We had originally thought of just doing a repotting demonstration, but then somebody (the marketing team) had the brilliant idea to do fairy gardens instead. Our marketing team was dispatched post-haste and turned out three separate gardens. This blog goes through the materials and steps they used to create one fairly normal fairy garden, one found planter garden, and one…well we did say it was the marketing team right?

Supplies:

(clicking the picture will take you to the Acehardware.com page for that item.

Not all items were Ace products. Check with our garden guru about those.)

1 flower pot

1 small bag of horticulture sand

1 small bag of pea gravel

1 small bag of miracle gro potting mix

1 pair of  leather palmed garden gloves

1 trowel

1 spray bottle filled with water

1 chalk pen

1 terrarium bowl

1 small plastic watering can

1 sheet of vinyl letters

1 Exacto knife

-various decorative items

-plants(types in the specific instructions below)

Fairly traditional fairy garden

We used a self-draining pot for this so we did not need the full layer of rocks for drainage that we did for the other two.

First, we filled the pot a little over halfway with potting mix, stopping halfway to spritz the mix as we put it in.

For this garden we wanted something blooming and traditionally pretty. So we chose a six-pack of purple Alyssum for our lower coverage and a 4” tall flowering Argyranthemum (Marguerite Daisy) for our taller element.

Gently we dropped the Daisy from its pot and started teasing apart the roots. Often when you buy a fully flowering plant it is going to be slightly root-bound because of the amount of time it has taken to flower.  Take the time to untangle those lower roots before planting it and the plant will grow better.

Plant the Daisy up to the bottom stem. Then we used three of the Alyssum and spaced them evenly around the front of the pot leaving room in the middle for a decorative element. We repeated the process of making sure the roots were gently untangled and buried up to the bottom stem. Then we spritz the entire pot until the top layer of soil was moist.

We then added our decorative elements. For this one we kept things simple, a pair of frogs and a painted rock with a little flag. The perfect gift for a friend, a housewarming, or for your sweetheart.

We did spritz it once more after the elements were in place and after it had dried a little to make sure that it had plenty of water.

Found container garden

For the second garden, we wanted to do something different. We found a small plastic watering can that was dirty and disused. We cleaned it up and using our chalk pen we marked where we wanted to cut it.

Using a sharp box cutter we were able to safely remove the sections we wanted to remove, however, an Exacto knife is a safer option.  We added six drainage holes to the bottom. The actual planting surface was very shallow so we did not want any chance of standing water.

Once the holes were done we put a 1” thick layer of pea gravel evenly across the bottom. It’s important that the gravel does not fully cover the drainage hole. Make sure that no one stone is fully covering a hole.

When the gravel was even we added three inches of potting mix. We had decided that we wanted this one to be a windowsill herb garden.

For our found container we selected Rosemary, Sage, and Oregano. The plus side to using these three is that they were all traditionally assigned special properties. Rosemary ensures that you will not be forgotten, Sage is a purifier, and Oregano promotes joy. You can make an amazing spaghetti sauce and bring some much-needed happiness to your kitchen all at the same time.

As above we pulled each plant separately and gently untangled the roots. Because the container was so shallow we took extra care to make sure the roots were spread and covered evenly. The Sage and rosemary were buried to the bottom stem. The Oregano was split into one larger plant and one small runner to be used in the spout of our planter.

We spritz the soil until it was wet for these, then added a little more soil and spritz it until moist.

This container would also do well for strawberries as they, like the oregano will creep quite happily over odd angles.

That other garden.

The merchandising team tells us that when they saw the ants in our garden section that this image immediately came to mind.

The glass terrarium was chosen to simulate an ant farm.

Succulents were used to mimic the Mojave Desert

The vinyl letters were used in case normal people didn’t know what they were looking at.

Anyway, first we filled the entire bottom stem of the terrarium with gravel.  We then added another ½” of gravel above that. We mixed about ¼ cup of the horticulture sand into about 4 cups of potting soil. We spritzed that with water lightly. We then added a thin layer of horticulture sand before deciding where our succulents would go.

As stated these plants were chosen to simulate the flora of the American southwest desert landscape. So miniature succulents were used.

We chose:

Pebble Plant, Haworthia Coarctata (Zebra Plant), and Gasteria

The succulents were why the leather palms on the gloves were important. When we are not working with sharp and pointy plants we generally use a neoprene glove when gardening as they give protection as well as flexibility. But when potting or pruning, cactus, roses, or anything else like that there is really no substitute for thick leather gloves.

As with the other gardens, we gently pulled the succulents out of their pots and untangled the roots before planting them up to the base of the plant.

Once the plants were in place a little more sand was added to the unplanted sections to create the levels required for the diorama that was planned.

The ants were then added and we told the marketing department that they were not allowed little people to the ant’s mandibles.

The terrarium was then spritzed lightly. There is a myth that succulents don’t need a lot of water, and that is true once established, but when you are first transplanting them they will need more water than normal to help them establish. It’s recommended to do a cup of water the first week and gradually decrease the amount of water given.

To thwart a disease outbreak and prolong the life of your feeder you need to both choose the correct feeder for your yard and your ability to care for it.  Then you need to keep it and the environment around it neat and clean. Don’t worry we have, of course, made a list for you:

-For Easiest Cleaning

multi-use bird feeder cleaning brush, Ace number 8405318

-Choose plastic or glass feeders (Some are even dishwasher safe)

-Rubber gloves protect you from salmonella amongst other things

-Make sure you have the appropriate brush to ensure all parts of the feeder is clean

-Seed feeders

       -At least once every two weeks-

seed feeder copper/glass Ace number 8206179

-Dump old seed

-Take apart and hand wash with dish soap and warm water

-Once a month use a 1part bleach to 9 parts hot water to sanitize

-Rinse thoroughly

-allow to fully dry

-refill and rehang

-Nectar feeders

     –Once every 3-5 days- 

Hummingbird feeder ace number 8028526

-dump old sugar

-Wash with warm water and a bottle brush

-Do not use soap

-allow to dry thoroughly

-refill with fresh sugar mix

-rehang

-All feeders

-Keep the ground under the cleaner neat and clean

-refresh mulch/ground cover periodically to cover bird droppings

-Keep the area around the feeder clear of any detritus.

-Keep birdbaths clean as well, if they do not have running water, they will also need to be cleaned of stagnant water and scrubbed down once every two weeks.

-multiple feeders can feed more birds AND keep the populations down at single feeders lowering the chance of birds getting each other sick (Social Distancing works for birds too!)

Goal Zero was founded with the powerful mission to: Empower people with a bright, safe, connected, and sustainable future by delivering smart, portable power solutions designed for everyone, everywhere.

We are proud to offer a large line of products including the Yeti Portable Power Stations. All power stations can be recharged either by plugging them into a standard electrical port or with a compatible solar panel.

The largest generator can power:

-Fridge for up to 50 hours

-32” LCD TV for up to 30 hours.

-over 50 full laptop charges or

-over 150 smartphone charges.

As we have all learned from previous fire/PSPS seasons the ability to keep a fridge running, or a T.V. on can make all the difference especially with kids at home. And now with SIP and online school, it’s even more important to have the ability to stay connected no matter what PG&E’s next move is. Check out their website for more information here.

Go Bags:

If the mole people should pop up in your back yard you will want to get out of your house and to a safe area as quickly as possible. So what should be in your go-bag?  We’ve broken it up into what should already be in your car. What should be beside your bed, and what should be at the front door. (For a handy checklist .pdf try this one from Ready.gov)

In your trunk:

–Water a gallon per person/day. We know that is a lot of water to carry around. We actually put one gallon per in our trunk and leave the rest in a place close to our front door.

– Food. We keep a box of protein bars in our trunk. We also remember to replenish them every once in a while because we always forget to eat before we go to the gym.

–First Aid kid. Band-Aids-disinfectant-butterfly closures-instant ice packs-aspirin-ibuprofen-allergy medication (including a fast-acting like Benadryl for bee stings etc. and a normal for seasonal allergies)-gauze pads-medical tape-eye wash-eye patch-small scissors-tweezers-tampons (good for personal hygiene and for large wounds to curb blood loss)-hand sanitizer-laxatives/anti-diarrhea meds-antacids

Pre-packaged first aid kits are a good start.

–Blanket. We like the space blankets for go bags, but we also always carry at least two normal blankets in our car. They are great for emergency warmth, and emergency beach trips (We hear the mole people don’t like the ocean).

–Map/Atlas. As anyone in Northern California can tell you cell phone towers can burn. And Mole people would know this and use it against us, so don’t just rely on your cell phone. Paper maps are not reliant on Wi-Fi or cell reception. One great thing to do would be to pick different routes out of your area on the map and drive them every now and again so that if you are evacuating you are not suddenly in new territory. Another great thing about paper maps is that you can write notes on them so if you find something on your non-emergency travels that will help you in an evacuation (i.e. where the nearest gas station is) you can note it on the map.

–Power bank. Yes, we all have car chargers now. Most power banks can use the car charger port…but you might need to access things like your laptop. You might need to charge your digital camera to take pictures of the invading mole man army, or you may need to recharge your portable lantern/radio.

This power bank is portable and can be recharged with a solar panel.

–At least one change of clothes including socks/underwear. Not only is this helpful for Mole Men invasions, but it’s also honestly a piece of mind at any time. We have all been caught in a sudden downpour or spilled that coffee all over us on the way to work.

–A flashlight. If you have a multi-function flashlight that can also double as an emergency flasher and a lantern that is best because it means less space needed in your trunk. Also, Mole Men hate emergency flashers we are told.

Good multi-purpose light is handy in an emergency.

-Basic tool kit. Hammer/mallet-Allen wrench set- adjustable wrench- adjustable screwdriver-duct tape-multi-tool/pocket knife-small folding shovel-work gloves-a roll of plastic- rope- zip-ties. Also put an extra house key and an extra car key in your tool kit.

–A deck of cards or another small portable game. Yes, you want to keep abreast of where the mole men are, but we get exhausted quickly when constantly bombarded with all the information our phones provide to us. Keep something around that you can use to distract your mind every now and then.

Uno is a good choice of card games for evacuations

-a small fire extinguisher.

On/in your nightstand:

-A pair of easy to put on running/tennis shoes. Your instinct in the middle of the night (when the mole men show up) will be to run barefoot or to put on slippers/sandals but we have all seen horror movies where people would have been okay if they had been wearing real shoes. Make sure these are shoes that you can actually wear for a long period of time. No brand new vans or hiking boots that will give you blisters. These should be broken in and ready to go.

–Spare glasses/medications. Mole men love bathrooms. They might dig up there. Or in an Earthquake, you might not have time to get to wherever you normally store these. Keep some in a bag together in your nightstand where you can reach them in a hurry.

-An Extra house key and an extra car key.

-Extra mask(s). Put some extra masks everywhere. But also keep some in the bag with your glasses and meds. When you get away from the Mole people it would be a shame to get the Rona.

fabric masks won’t keep the smoke out, but it will keep Covid at bay. Don’t forget sanitizer too.

-A piece of paper with a copy of your i.d. and the phone numbers for your out of state contact and any local emergency numbers you might need (vet, local hospital, insurance agent, Mole handler) Remember that you might not have reliable cell coverage.

-A small flashlight

-A small multi-tool or a pocket knife

A good multi-tool checks a lot of boxes in the tool kit.

-A whistle- to signal for help in case you are trapped when anti-Molemen troops (or search and rescue) arrives.

-Cash- Not a lot, enough for some gas or a meal. Hopefully, the banks are still working, but mobile banking might be down, and you have food and water in the car (right) But you never know and a little cash can go a long way in an emergency.

-A family picture- Your phone won’t erase pics just because the cell tower is down. You can replace any that you have saved on it. But having at least one family picture can be a great mental health boost when the Mole Men are rampaging through town.

Near your emergency exit point (Whatever is closest to your vehicle):

-Water one gallon per person per day for 3 days

-Food enough canned/dried/preserved food to last 3 days (Check the expiration dates regularly)

-Camping Stove/Portable Grill/Camping Cookware and Mess Kit

-Flashlights/Lanterns.

-Extra batteries for radios/flashlights/etc…

-Gas shut-off wrench

A gas shut off wrench is key if you have natural gas.

-Extra fuel for your camp stove.

-Personal hygiene items (t.p. soap, toothpaste, shampoo, tampons, razors, baby wipes, etc)

-Manual can opener

-A fire-resistant safe with important papers. Insurance docs/birth certificates/Social Security cards/Bank Account information/Passports etc.

Keep important papers in a fire resistant safe.

-Extra phone charger (One per phone! It cuts down on fighting and it’s good if one gets lost).

-Fire extinguishers (you should have more than one. But don’t rely on them they are for small fires not to save your whole house from mole people with torches. Things are replaceable you are not!)

-Battery or hand-crank radio (assume that the internet will be spotty at best. Radio frequencies are harder to crack into for mole men. ALSO before the mole men arrive find out what frequency your best local source of news is. )

-Full first aid kit (like the one in your car, but with more supplies. We like the First Alert prepacked kits)

A prepacked emergency kit is a great way to start

If you have Kids Add:

–A map in your home kit and in their backpack with pre-determined meeting locations on them.

-An emergency contact list also in the home kit and in their school backpack.

-Extra clothes (More than the one full outfit change recommended for adults)

-Diapers/wipes/extra formula/extra bottles (You already have a baby go-bag ready you just call it your diaper bag. Just always make sure when you take something out that you replace it).

-Extra snacks that don’t taste like protein bars. Fruit snacks/granola bars/etc.. Kids will need their energy and with mole men, after us, none of us have the strength to do the “eat it or go hungry” fight.

-If they have a Linus item (i.e. a blankie or favorite stuffed toy) be sure to grab it if you need to leave. Mole men love to take Linus items and kids are easily traumatized these comfort items are needed in an emergency).

-A handheld gaming system. Don’t invest in a new one, use a Gameboy or something. The point is a distraction, not the newest item. (Don’t forget batteries)

-Headphones (If you have kids you already know why headphones are important when you are cooped up together)

-Non-electronic distractions. Coloring books, board games, crayons, puzzles.

-Children’s versions of medicines. Tylenol, cough meds, allergy meds. And any prescriptions the children might have (like inhalers!)

If you have pets add:

-Transport options. Cat carriers/leashes/harnesses/Lizard boxes/portable bird cages w/covers

–A portable food and water bowl

-Any special needs like a heating pad or heat lamp

-A sealable container of extra food. (Do not just assume you are going to be able to wrestle your 50lb open bag of dog food away from the Mole Men)

-Any medications they might need

-A toy for each.

-Make sure dogs/cats are chipped. Put your contact name and number on housing for other animals.

                                              -For more information about making sure your fur babies are ready for an emergency check out the American Humane Society’s animal prep factsheet here.

Knowledge:

                Before the Molemen invade is the time to learn things like: 

-CPR (Check out your local Civilian Emergency Response Team training to help you and your neighbors here)

-How to locate and shut off your natural gas and electricity

-Basic First Aid (Get certified with the Red Cross. For more info check their website here)

-How to use your camp stove

-Where your local emergency shelters are

-What your child’s school policies are in case of an emergency

-What evacuation zone you live in.

-How to cook and eat mole men (this one may not be as relevant)

                If you have kids:

-Teach them the evacuation plan.

-Teach them where supplies are and how to utilize them (I.e. how to use that manual can opener)

-Teach them the route to the local emergency shelter.

-Make sure there is someone you trust close by that they can go to if you can’t get back to the house right away. And that they know how to get there.

                                                                -For more info on getting kids ready for emergencies check out the Ready Gov page on Ready Kids here.

And there you have it. Basic prep for a Mole Man apocalypse or an Earthquake/Volcano/Cyclone/or anything else that 2020 hasn’t thrown our way yet.

Stay Safe!

Ever Wonder what a tourist brochure would sound like if it told the truth:

South Beach in the Pt. Reyes National Seashore during the Camp Fire

Hello, welcome to the Bay Area! It’s September so that must mean, why yes! The air is hazy with smoke from fires burning here and there, the power is sketchy because our local power utility has too many lawsuits pending already, It’s really hot, and this year we have the added bonus of not being able to do things like head to our local beaches for relief (Because you know Rona)! It’s paradise!

Seriously though, we all love our Bay Area Home, but all locals know that September/October is when our Mediterranean climate really heats up and with the heat and the last few months of our dry season comes fires. Along with the constant threat of “The Big One” on the San Andreas, fires are part of the price we pay to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. But we don’t have to just accept that fire is inevitable, we can take steps to actively discourage fires from coming near our homes. We also can take active steps toward keeping ourselves and our family safe before, during, and after a natural disaster.  Read on for part one of six of your yearly reminder on how to prep for fire/flood/earthquake/zombie outbreak/or whatever is left on your Apocalypse Bingo Card that 2020 hasn’t sent to us yet!

Home (the building):

-Make sure you have your 100’ of defensible space. Remember that fire needs food to continue. You can help starve a fire by,

–Removing all dead/dying vegetation

–Planting fire-resistant plants (A lot of local plants have evolved to be fire resistant and drought tolerant for a list check out the fire safe Marin page here)

Native plants like California Poppy’s are both fire-resistant and good for pollinators.

–Making fire breaks that also double as decorative elements in your landscaping like gravel paths, Stone walls, Stone/concrete patios, and driveways, And make sure to use rock or mulch in flowerbeds to keep weeds down and to help halt fire.

–Planting hardwood trees like pine or fire as they are less likely to ignite. Also, remove overhanging branches over your roof.

-Check your house for the following:

–Is it time to re-roof? Switching out wood or shingles with a composition, metal, or tile roof will make the most fire vulnerable part of your house safer.

–Are your vents covered with wire mesh and not plastic? Plastic will melt and then burn metal won’t.

–Is your Chimney clean and properly covered? If you have a wood-burning chimney you should get it cleaned yearly before you need it.

–Dual paneled windows especially when one pane is tempered will help keep the windows from breaking during the heat of a fire and help keep embers out of the house.

–Decks need to be built of fire-resistant materials. Remember that storing flammable objects like gas cans or piles of wood under a fire-resistant porch defeats the purpose of building a porch as a fire break. Keep that space clear.

A fire-resistant deck is great for defensible space and a cool fire pit.

–Clear those gutters. It will make the rainy season easier on you anyway and will keep old dry leaves from igniting on your roof.

-Fences and driveways. Use fire-resistant materials. They are great opportunities to build in fire breaks.

–Water supply. Make sure you have enough hoses and water sources to cover your home if necessary. If you have a well that runs on an electric pump invest in a generator. If you have a pool or pond invest in a pump that can get water onto the house if needed

Product recommendation List:

-Generac 1600 watt Bluetooth Generator (our sku 3002292)

-General 2 hp Iron water pump (our sku 4001096)

– Ace Flexogen Premium Grade hoses 100’ (our sku 72054)

– Orbit 1 pattern metal gutter cleaning wand (our sku 7399538)

– Quickrete all-purpose gravel 50lbs (our sku 5419049)

-Ace brown western Bark mulch 2 cu. Ft. (our sku 7094212)

-Stihl tools for easier landscaping (various skus)

Further reading/more information:

https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/

https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Prepare/Building/

Next Week Part Two (Before Family and Pets)

Updated 1/8/2022. All older content is left for clarification. Updated/corrected content will appear in red.

Please note that this blog is merely for informational purposes and should not be taken as an endorsement of any specific product or in lieu of the advice of a medical professional. 

FFP (Filtering Facepiece Respirators), Covid-19, and You.

-What-

KN95 are masks made in China (as are a lot of N95 masks) that have passed the stringent Chinese GB2626-2006 performance standard.

-Are They Good Masks-

The CDC² lists KN95 masks as a “suitable alternative to provide protection during the COVID-19 response when supplies (of N95) are short”

-As of July 6, 2021, the FDA had revoked their endorsement of the masks because “Access to FDA-authorized and NIOSH-approved N95s Increases Nationwide” however this endorsement was always for healthcare situations where the standards are more stringent. It does not invalidate the KN95 masks merely makes them unusable by healthcare officials. 

3M³ the manufacturer of many N95 masks has also issued a comparison between N95 and Kn95 stating that “respirators certified as meeting these standards can be expected to function very similarly”.

3M further states that “China KN95…as ‘equivalent’ to US NIOSH N95 for filtering non-oil based particles such as those resulting from…bio-aerosols (e.g. viruses)

-However-

Originally, in spite of the endorsements of 3M and the CDC the FDA refused to approve the KN95 stating:  “They have not been selected by the FDA¹ as an approved FFP appropriate to protect health and safety”.  Their reasoning was tht they had not passed the American NIOSH 42CR84 Approval. But, many were of the opinion that the reason was more political than scientific⁴.

Whatever the reasons, on 4/3/2020, the FDA started giving approvals for specific manufacturers of the KN95 mask.  In their press release they explained why they chose to change their minds saying: “…in response to this evolving public health emergency and continued concerns about filtering facepiece respirator availability, FDA concluded based on the totality of scientific evidence available that certain product classifications for imported disposable FFR’s that are manufactured in China and not NIOSH-approved and for which data exists that supports the respirators’ authenticity are appropriate to protect the public health or safety…”⁵

Regardless of the FDA’s motives what is important is that the KN95’s are available for general use and provide a level of protection for our community, meaning that the NIOSH approved N95’s are at the hospitals where they belong.

If you want to know if the manufacturer of the KN95 mask you are looking at is on the list of approvals check the Appendix listing them it was last updated 4/13/2020 as of this writing and hopefully, it will keep growing so that everyone has access to protective gear.  The list can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/media/136663/download

Since the introduction of the KN95’s into the market, there have been imposters of course.  The pandemic is worldwide and many people tried to counterfeit their way into a quick profit. If you have questions about the mask you are thinking of buying, the simplest answer is to buy a NIOSH-approved N95 since these are now widely available. However, if you want to see if your mask was tested by the CDC during the emergency order and how it performed the archives of those tests can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respirators/testing/NonNIOSHresults.html

The CDC has issued the following advisement about non-Niosh approved masks (as of 1/8/2022):

Some respirators are designed and tested to meet international standards. These respirators are labeled to tell you what standard they meet. Respirators approved by NIOSH are evaluated by NIOSH against a specific US standard that includes a quality requirement. International standards do not often have quality requirements.

The most widely available respirators that meet an international standard are KN95s.

Other examples include 1^st, DL2, DL3, DS2, DS3, FFP2, FFP3, KN100, KP95, KP100, P2, P3, PFF2, PFF3, R95, and Special.

DO Not Wear

• If you have certain types of facial hair
• International respirators with exhalation valves or vents
• If hard to breathe
• If wet or dirty
• As a replacement for NIOSH-approved respiratory protection when required by your job

How to wear

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to wear, store, and clean or dispose of the respirator properly.

-Sources-

1. Imported, Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators EUA. Issued March 28, 2020. Accessed March 31, 2020 https://www.fda.gov/media/136403/download
2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html Page last reviewed: March 17, 2020. Accessed: March 31, 2020 Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases
3. Comparison of FFP2, KN95, and N95 and Other Filtering Facepiece Respirator Classes Technical Bulletin issued: January, 2020 Accessed March 31, 2020. https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1791500O/comparison-ffp2-kn95-n95-filtering-facepiece-respirator-classes-tb.pdf

4. Coronavirus Cases Have Surged, But The US Is Refusing To Take The World’s Most Available Masks (Bensinger, Ken) Buzzfeed.News  March 29,2020. Accessed March 31, 2020  https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kenbensinger/coronavirus-kn95-masks-us-wont-import-china

5.Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators Manufactured in China Issued April 3, 2020. Accessed April 14, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/media/136664/download

6.  Accessed 1/8/2022 https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/revoked-euas-non-niosh-approved-disposable-filtering-facepiece-respirators#imported

7. Accessed 1/8/2022 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html

1. Get Organized

We know we say this every year as well.  But did you know that a cluttered space increases your stress levels? According to an article in Psychology Today (you can read it here), clutter can overstimulate us, lead to feelings of guilt, and can cause frustration. Now we do not advocate the whole “throw everything away” form of de-cluttering.  Especially after the recent fires we know that things mean something, and really we couldn’t survive with under 30 books. But luckily we have the solutions you are looking for:

a. Shelves make a difference

We have stand-alone shelves, wall shelves, and the ability to special order more shelves. When you have a place for everything it automatically looks less cluttered. We also have shelf bins that can go on open-faced shelves to hide the contents.  This is great for everything from your socks that you store in the closet, to the legos in your kid’s room, to those “treasures” that you can’t quite get rid of in the living room, but are tired of trying to explain to people.

Ace number 6794085 (click here to see info)

b. Make drawers more efficient

Again, when everything has a specific place that it belongs, it is easier to conquer clutter.  Drawer organizers from Interdesign come in various sizes and configurations. You can get your cutlery neat, de-tangle your jewelry, or make sure that your lotion doesn’t come into contact with your toothpaste (again).

Ace number 6295166 (click here  for info)

Ace number 6199384 (click here for info)

c. Seasonal storage is the way to go

We know the Christmas tree/Menorah have their Rubbermaid tubs that they live in when it’s not the season.  But there are four seasons.  That flannel blanket over the couch is going to be too hot in July, but the crocheted throw won’t be heavy enough for December.  Rubbermaid bins will keep your seasonal stuff safe until they are needed again.

2. Check your Safety

Don’t wait until the next disaster to make sure that you are safe! No, seriously, we had too many disasters last year and we care about our community, so before the end of January:

-Check the batteries in your smoke alarm/CO2 alarm

-Install CO2 alarms if you do not have them next to every bedroom

-If you have a second story, make sure you have a way out. If there is no fire escape consider buying an escape ladder.

– Make sure that you have copies of all important documents somewhere safe (like this fire-resistant safe)

Ace number 9300591

-Have at least a week’s supply of food, water, sanitary products, and medication on hand at all times.  We will always do everything possible to be open, but we don’t stock your heart medicine (or your pet’s meds don’t forget them)

-Look for possible dangers around your house. Here is a partial list to get you started:

-Clean your lint trap

-Make sure the dryer exhaust is also clean of lint

-Have you had your chimney swept recently?

-If you have a heater, have you changed the filters, and made sure there is no dust build-up?

-Do you need a new surge protector?

-Are there any exposed wires on your lamps?

3. Breathe Easier

-Again we had too many disasters last year not to address this one:

Now is the time to change air/heater/vacuum/range filters.

-Buy an air purifier, now while they are not in high demand.  We like this little one for our office:

Ace number 6286751 (click here for more information)

-Stock up on N64 masks.  They won’t go bad, and if you never need them it’s still not a waste because at least you won’t be worried about having to find them.

-Buy some house plants. Not only do they break up the drabness of January, but they also help scrub the air even in the worst of smoke and smog.  We’ve shared it before but here is the list that NASA recommends.

-Get a humidifier. We live in a relatively dry climate (as long as you don’t live on a houseboat) and our air can get really dry when it’s cold. A humidifier will help balance that out and make your home a more comfortable environment until the sun returns.  We like this one the best for our home:

Ace number 4812681 (Click here for more information)

That’s it, 3 easy things to get your home ready for a new year!

By now we have all heard the term #PSPS.  In case you were wondering it is what a certain utility company is calling their widespread power shut-offs throughout Northern California.  The initials stand for Public Safety Power Shutoff and are called for during high fire risk events.  We know that there is a lot of controversy about this and we understand, but we are in the business of helping people so instead of using our forum for debates, we want to use it to make sure our communities are prepared for the inevitable return of one of these #PSPS events.  So follow along and see how we as a community can get over our fear of the dark. Using 5 basic steps, that we will borrow an acronym for…how about #PSPS

#-Communication

P-Prepared

S- Safety

P- Purchases

S-Sustainability

#Communication

This one is all about being prepared to lose power, and knowing what resources are available.  Here are some things to think about:

-Telephones

-Do you have a traditional landline? If so will it have service if your internet provider goes down? Many providers lose power during a power outage because they do not have enough generators to keep their towers running. Be prepared with a backup plan should you lose your phone service, a fully charged cell phone or being on good terms with someone who lives close to you who you can trust to check-in is a must during these times.  Remember rescue personal cannot get to you if you can’t call them

-Do you have a cell phone?  It might seem like a silly question in this day and age, but some people still don’t. Other people use their device solely as a handheld computer and don’t necessarily have phone service on it.  This is fine if you are running on wi-fi but in a power outage, your home wi-fi is going to go down.  Make sure before the next outage that you have data on your phone and that your phone is fully charged.  Also, do not assume that the outage will be over before you lose charge on your phone.  Buy or borrow an emergency charger.  We carry these in all of our stores as do most stores that sell cell phone accessories.  An emergency power bank can be left charging somewhere, and grabbed when needed.  You can also buy/borrow solar chargers, and hand-crank chargers that usually come as part of an emergency radio.  Another alternative is to know where your car charger is or to have a friend who has one that will let you charge your phone when they are done.

-Radios

-Radios seem antiquated to us in our day to day lives.  Most of us don’t even listen to the actual radio in the car anymore, choosing instead to stream playlists or podcasts.  However, radio has one big advantage over every other form of communication we depend on, it works when the power is out.  As we said above, your wi-fi is not going to work during a power outage.  Your television will not turn on and for the most part, the news it will be broadcasting is not up-to-the-minute.  Your favorite streamed I heart Radio station syndicated out of New York or Los Angeles is not going to be able to give you real-time information about your situation anyway.  Buy a radio. You want one that is battery operated or better yet solar/hand-cranked powered.  The Red Cross hand-crank radio also has a USB charging port to keep your phone going as well. In times of crisis, information is key.  Find your local radio station that will be broadcasting news and switch it on.

-Social Media

-We have to keep harping on this, but most people will not have internet access during a #PSPS, however, if you do then social media is a great place to not only check the status of power and/or crisis but it is a fast and easy way to check in with friends and loved ones.  Many apps exist solely for this purpose, however, we like to keep things simple and have a group chat on Facebook set up for emergencies to let everyone in our community of family and friends to check in directly.  Regardless of what app you use, have a plan and if someone does not check in voluntarily follow up. Community is the key to keeping everyone safe when things go dark.

-That Utility Company/Nixle Alerts

-Sign up for alerts from that utility company to make sure you know when a PSPS is coming, and subscribe to your area Nixle or emergency notification alerts.  We know it can get annoying, but it can also save your life.

Prepared

There are things you should have in an emergency kit no matter what.  The CDC recommends the following regardless of the emergency (Find the printable checklist here):

-Water- one gallon per person, per day  (Two Weeks Supply)

-Food- Non-perishable, easy to prepare (Three Day supply)

-Flashlight (Plus at least one set of extra batteries

-Radio (As mentioned above, battery or hand-cranked powered)

-First aid kit and reference book

-Medications (seven day supply)

-Multi-purpose tools (wrench, pliers, plastic sheets, duct tape, scissors, waterproof matches)

-Sanitation/personal hygiene products including bleach.

-Paper copies of all important documents

-cell phone w/ charger

-A paper copy of important people/contact information

-Cash (enough to fill your gas tank, and buy food for 3 days)

-An extra blanket, set of shoes, change of clothes per person

-Paper maps (remember no wi-fi means no Google maps)

-Infant/child supplies (diapers, bottles, baby food, toys, games)

-Pet supplies (carrier, leash, collar, extra food, portable food/water bowls)

-Extra set of important keys.

Being prepared also means being educated on how to use these items.  For instance, did you know that improper use of a generator can cause the very fire that the #PSPS is supposed to be protecting us from?  There are many different classes/workshops to teach things from basic first aid/CPR (like these Red Cross links) to more advanced Citizen first responder classes (like CERT).  Also, if you are looking to buy a generator, come to us and take advantage of our Kron/PSPS Pre-Planning Special where if you buy a generator from us we will give you free out of the box training, a free gas can, and the first load of oil for your generator so you can rest assured that you will be able to use your generator safely (Here is the link to the CDC version of what we teach).

Safety

Our own Nick Bonilla talks about the safety of Generator Do’s and Don’ts with Kron 4 news.

It’s dark here are safety do’s and don’ts

Do: use lanterns Don’t: use candles unless absolutely necessary

Do: pack your freezer with frozen food and ice  Don’t: open it, this will keep food fresh for up to 72 hours.

Do: use propane to cook outside  Don’t: use propane heaters inside (if you have a natural gas stove and an electric starter, be very careful lighting a burner)

Do: remember that dark stoplights are stop signs Don’t: Assume that you don’t have to stop

Do: use candles only in appropriate candle holders in occupied rooms Don’t: let a candle continue to burn if you leave the room.

Do: Check that your neighbors are okay Don’t: ignore the rest of your community, you might have the thing they need to get through the night and vice-versa.

Do: hook up only absolute necessities to a generator Don’t: Use a generator if you don’t know how.

Do: pre-choose a place to evacuate too if you need additional help Don’t: wait until the middle of the power outage to try and find help.

D0: If you are on a well either put your pump on a generator or buy bottled water Don’t: Wait until everyone else is buying water.

Do: Fill your car (and generator) up with gas at least the day before Don’t: assume that you will be able to find fuel anywhere in the power outage zone.

Do: Be patient and compassionate, none of us want to be dealing with this. Don’t: Be a jerk (no really this is a safety issue if you are the jerk and run out of water, who are you going to go get it from? Who is going to check in on you and take you to the hospital if you fall down the stairs in the dark and couldn’t make it to your cell phone? think about it)

Purchases

Okay, this is kind of like being prepared, but it is a good thing to think about as a separate thing.  We have now all learned the hard way that certain things are going to be hard to come by during a #PSPS.  These items should then be bought in advance and added to your disaster kit:

-Water

-Coolers (we recommend Yeti as they will keep your food coldest for the longest time.  They can be a bit of an investment so that is another reason to think ahead)

-Ice (Even if you have an ice maker, buy extra. Everyone was out of ice in Marin County during last weeks PSPS)

-D batteries (We all have a full drawer of AA but they are not going to power a lantern strong enough to let you see well)

-Lantern- battery operated.

-N95 masks- This is not necessary for a PSPS, but since they are enacted during high fire danger it is best to be prepared.  During a fire event not only will we and other stores run out, but we will also be forced to allocate masks to try and help the most amount of people possible.  If you buy these before an emergency you can buy by the case and know that you have enough for you and your family/friends.

-Gas Can even if you don’t have a generator, without power gas pumps don’t work.  When you get your final fill up before the power outage, also fill a gas can the extra one or two gallons can help out in an emergency situation to get you to the next area with power and gas.

-Generators, They are an investment. They also disappear fast when the power goes out, don’t wait. We had three people running all over Northern California picking up generators and still could not meet demand, don’t be caught in the dark.

Sustainability

 In the long run, none of us know how long we are going to have to live with these #PSPS events.  It is best to “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”. Check expiration dates on food/medications/etc in your emergency kits and rotate as needed.  Set up and maintain an emergency network of friends/families that can be relied on in an emergency.  Make sure that you keep your first aid/CPR skills current.  We do truly hope that you never have to use anything in this blog.  But we are Californians, and we live in one of the most beautiful and volatile areas in the world, so we know that being prepared in the long run is the best sort of stability we can give ourselves and our loved ones.

More Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/co/generatorsafetyfactsheet.html

https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readywrigley/documents/pet_emergency_kit_checklist.pdf

https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/public-safety-power-shutoff-faq.page

PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS – RESOURCE GUIDE

It’s November, which means that most of us are preparing for that calorie-filled, family invasion known as Thanksgiving.  Most people will do some sort of carving the turkey at the table, but even those of us who prefer to serve prime rib or ham or even Tofurkey all have one thing in common, we need a sharp knife.  It seems counterintuitive, but a very sharp knife is less dangerous than a dull knife. A sharp knife needs less force and fewer cuts to accomplish the job.  It also promotes better cutting techniques which leave you less likely to have a knife slip.  Also if you do cut yourself a sharp knife will leave a cleaner cut which is easier to deal with than the more jagged cuts from a dull knife.  All in all, just remember that no matter what you are cutting it is a good idea to make sure your knife is sharp before you start.  We sell a variety of knife sharpeners from the traditional sharpener that looks like a long metal pole to sharpening stones, which are usually used on more industrial blades, but are excellent if you know what you are doing.  For those of us who do tend to need a few band-aids every time we try to sharpen a knife we also offer in-house knife sharpening services.  Just remember that November is a busy month, so if you need us to sharpen up your thanksgiving arsenal, bring them in early.

Aka why we dislike Lavandula

Recently we have been asked a lot about what plants will do well outside versus inside. We were interested in this question, especially when our Garden Guru (yes, we have a Garden Guru, his name is Owen) told us that depending on the climate there is no difference!  This blew our minds a little and so we decided to investigate and then to share with you, our readers.  So buckle up for the ultimate fight:

Indoor Plant vs. Outdoor plant!!!!

Okay, that picture is a little silly especially since all plants are outdoor plants. They all were originally discovered and then cultivated from some plant that someone found and thought was cool (Yes, unless it’s a hybrid but even then it’s parents were outdoor plants). Really, the argument is more about where we live and what grows here natively, versus what can grow here with cultivation, and what can’t grow here so it has to live in the house with us. So first things first:

What is a Native plant and why does it matter?

Native plants are what they sound like if you had gotten here before there was contact with the outside world and walked around San Rafael you would have seen Oak trees, and tall reeds. There would be no green lawns as we know them.  There would have been scrub on the hills and some pines, but not apple trees, or rose bushes. There would have been mint, but no lavender.

Simply put a native plant is a plant that has adapted to the particular climate and specific region that it is found growing in.  How these plants spread here, and when is a matter for Paleobotonists, and not we mere blog-writing mortals.  But what is important is that we know that plants native to our region will do just fine outside. The conditions that make them flourish will be easy to create as they have adapted to here.

What is a non-native plant?

There are other types of plants that are not native but can be grown with cultivation.  We mentioned lavender above as it seems to be a universal plant in this area.  There is even a large lavender maze up in Santa Rosa. Lavender is a hardy plant that can grow in many climates, it is native however to the old world.  It naturally grows from Europe to southeast India and down to mid-Africa. That is a lot of land and the widespread nature means that it has acclimatized to many different areas.  It is easy to cultivate, and as long as you have a plant that is “hardened” to your area then it will also do fine if you just plop it outside. But here’s the thing, Lavender will also do well inside. It does well due to its versatility. It is an unfortunate truth that our numerous micro-climates produce less hardy plants and plants like lavender have no issue invading space that out more sensitive native plants would normally occupy, but now we are venturing into the world of the Ecobotonist and we really need to stay on track.

What Do People usually mean by “Indoor Plant”?

When people come in and ask for an indoor plant they usually think (as we did before Owen blew our minds) that they are looking for a:

-Spider Plant

-Fichus

-Tillandsia

-Succulent

-Orchid

-Bromeliads

-Rubber Plant

-Peace Lily

-String of Pearls (the hipster know what this is)

These plants, while some might be native to a certain extent (we do have some native succulents in the Bay Area) are for the most part tropical plants that require high humidity, low nutrient soil, and specific amounts of light/dark. In other words, these plants have adapted to live in some of the hardest places to live either due to too much/not enough water/resources and if they are jungle plants a lot of competition. So when we bring these super tough plants to our balmy Mediterranean Climate with our consistent temperatures thanks to the Giant HVAC unit known as the Pacific Ocean they tend to be high maintenance.

It is not really the plant’s fault, after all, we as humans are one of the best adapting species on earth and we whine when it gets just out of our comfort zone of 70 degrees to 75 degrees. So the plants which are adapted to a wildly different climate are reacting pretty much how we would if we were suddenly dropped in the artic without a coat or the desert, in a coat.

Can I grow “outdoor plants” inside?

As before stated, all plants are outdoor plants.  But what we think most people mean is how, or can you grow something like a rose bush inside?  The answer is you can.  Like tropical plants, the key to growing a “normal” outdoor plant inside is understanding the environment that it naturally grows in.  Some plants are going to need a compromise, you will need to make sure that they have full access to natural light.  You will need to make sure to check soil conditions as the soil will not be renewing itself if it is in a pot and the plants will thus need to be fed.

However, almost all plants can be trained to be indoor plants. For proof take for instance the local cannabis trade. Cannabis is a plant native to Southeast Asia which has a wildly different climate from our own. However, by learning how to grow the plants hydroponically with sun lamps to simulate the Southeast Asian sun, a huge industry is booming by bringing these outdoor plants inside.

Cannabis may not be the best example however as it is, of course, a tropical plant, no matter how well it grows in the wilds of Humboldt county. But bonsai can be almost any tree and with careful cultivation can be grown in miniature in a pot. So, if you can grow a Spruce in a 10″ pot, then yes, you can bring your rosebush inside.  But please not the Cannabis or lavender (we are allergic to both). (By the way, Bonsai is a really cool way to grow plants with a long storied history, read more about it here.)

Why can’t I plant my Venus Fly Trap in the garden?

We know that there are carnivorous plants native to California. There are whole meadows of Pitcher plants up in the Plumas National Forest not to mention sundews that trap insects with long sticky petal-like things (that’s the scientific name for them (it’s not, we lied and are too lazy to look it up)).  So, why can’t you plant any old carnivorous plants in your garden?  Well, it comes back to the whole native vs. non-native discussion. Carnivorous plants all develop in very specific conditions where there cannot be too many nutrients in the soil, thus why they have to eat insects.  Simply put, your garden is in too good of condition for a carnivorous plant.

Even the California Pitcher Plant is native to the swampy areas of the mountains, with peat bogs, and freshwater that is not rejuvenated by tidal flow. It is true that in the bay area we have a lot of what might be seen as swampy land, but it isn’t.  We are surrounded by saltwater marshes and estuary.  The combination of the salt and the high level of nutrients brought by the constant tidal ebb and flow make our area unsuitable for a plant that will die if not in an area of low nutrition.

Carnivorous plants are very sensitive, and even when kept inside in perfect conditions can die. These are plants that evolved to always live right on that thin line of life and death, and when we stress them out, they sometimes just throw in the towel. (Not literally, we don’t think they own towels).

If you want a carnivorous plant, please make sure that you obtain one from a vendor that gets theirs from a local nursery where the plants would have been propagated locally. That will be your best chance of growing the carnivorous plant of your dreams (unless your dreams include du-wop and Rick Moranis because yes, most plants can actually live quite well on human blood, but that’s kinda weird(but we do sell bloodmeal though, because feeding plants with cows blood is less weird))

How do I know if something will do better inside or out?

This is down to a lot of factors, including what kind of care you are willing to give something, where you would be planting it? And where in our land of hundreds of micro-climates your house is.  We highly recommend that to take the guesswork out of it you contact the local Master Gardeners here:  or do what we do, just ask Owen!

Owen is not only a garden guru but also a bit of a macrame savant.