As it is springtime, there is no better way to exercise mindfulness than through a beautiful floral gift. Inspired by Scandinavian influencer and TikTok icon, Matilda Djerf, flowers are a simple way to brighten a physical space as well as one’s personal mind space. The wellness activity of using fresh cut flowers to brighten a room is proven to increase serotonin levels and lift spirits. When we purchase a bouquet of flowers, there is a conscious understanding in the activity that a traditional display of affection is being shown toward ourselves. That is, when we give ourselves an intentional present for the purpose of relaxation, we can experience true happiness. Having a living plant to take care of and nurture is a tangible illustration of the tender caretaking of our minds in wellness activities. The visual of the flowers creates a perfect metaphor for growth, strength, and new life born in light.

The author, Thomas Starr King, writes that “the spirit of a person’s life is ever shedding some power, just as a flower is steadily bestowing fragrance upon the air.” Flowers are vastly unique, presenting distinct fragrances and color patterns that shine in a room like a kaleidoscope of magic. There is a reason that brides are traditionally decorated with flowers; or tombstones are adorned with loved ones’ favorite roses. Flowers are the wondrous universal language gap. When we don’t have enough words to express sympathy, adoration, and gratefulness, the gift of a flower conveys all. Each petal and stem work together to create a harmonious symphony of beauty, boosting up the minds and smiles of all who are nearby.

Flowers are a powerful mindful tool to add towards a wellness practice. Whether it be for yourself or shared with family and friends, the gift of a flower secures anxieties and stress like no other, encouraging our minds to breathe in the sunlight and watch as peace and beauty prosper.

Five Signs it’s Time to Repot:

1. Root-bound
2. Roots coming out of the bottom or top
3. Yellow leaves
4. Loss of leaves
5. Stagnation of growth

The growth of your household plants continues based on the nutrients available, and repotting your plant gives your green some new and fitting nutrients. In varying times your plant will outgrow their containers, so depending on the plant, you may need to repot each spring or every 2 to 5 years. The plant’s roots are likely to be the first to indicate a need for more nutrients. This could be shown in roots extending past the bottom of the pot, or the roots may take the shape of your container, making the plant “root-bound”.

A root-bound plant is identified by the roots encircling the top or bottom of your pot, showing the roots need more room to grow. Additionally, the plant could be asking for a larger living space, if its roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot. The best way to check, each spring get your hands a little dirty and gently investigate the interior of your pot. 

The roots aren’t the only source the plant may use to show its needs. The leaves of a plant turning yellow can indicate overwatering or a lack of nutrients, or maybe both. If the leaves of your plant are dying off frequently, or the plant isn’t growing any new leaves (or stems dependent on the plant) the plant could be craving more nutrients. The leaves or flowers can’t grow if the plant is overcrowding its living space. The combination of yellowing, or loss of leaves and over-grown roots are strong indicators it’s time to move. 

What’s Next?

1. Repot and Re-soil
2. Trim and Refresh

There are two options this spring if your plant has outgrown its space. First, you can repot and continue the growth of your household plant, verifying with a safe source the type of soil or fertilizer your plant needs moving forward. In contrast, if you’re happy with the size, there is still work to be done so plants can live in your ideal sized pot. Learning the language of your household plants includes understanding when to repot. If the goal is to grow, change its size. If you want to maintain, trim and refresh. The best time to repot is Spring, so before the season is over make sure you’re doing what’s best for your potted plants.

Fast Facts in Repotting

1. Your Ivy plants need to be repotted every 1 to 3 years
2. The household snake plants need to be repotted every 3 to 10 years
3. Succulents need a repot every two years
4. Spring is the best time to repot (or trim)

Partnership Between City of Durham, Durham County, and Commute with Enterprise Welcomes

Corning Life Sciences as First Employer to Take Advantage of New Program

DURHAM, N.C. – Durham commuters interested in saving up to 75% on their commuting costs versus driving their own personal vehicle can now take advantage of discounted vanpools thanks to a new subsidy from the City of Durham Transportation Department’s Way to Go Durham program.

With financial support from the Durham County Transit Plan, Way to Go Durham, Durham County, and Commute with Enterprise have partnered to provide discounted vanpools for groups of four or more commuters who pick their route, schedule, and pick-up points in a vehicle maintained by Commute with Enterprise. The program contributes up to $1,500 per month toward the cost of new vanpools starting and/or ending in Durham County. The subsidy will cover all of the program’s costs, excluding fuel, for the majority of the commuter groups and includes maintenance, insurance, and 24-hour roadside assistance.

“Our Way to Go Durham program is committed to exploring innovative options that support our equitable engagement initiatives to help ensure Durham residents have access to job opportunities as well as less stress in commuting,” said City of Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal. “Way to Go Durham is leading the charge to reduce the number of people who drive alone to work throughout Durham, and provide access to those who do not own vehicles. I’m grateful that Durham County has partnered with our Transportation Department on this work to develop the vanpool subsidy program. Expanding mobility options symbolizes our commitment to innovation, equitable access to opportunity for all residents, and our continued focus on decreasing our carbon footprint.”

Vanpool commuters drive themselves to and from work and design their personalized route and schedule. Passengers in a new vanpool also have access to a free Emergency Ride Home program in case the vanpool driver has to leave unexpectedly, if a passenger or a member of their family gets sick, or if anyone has to work unexpected overtime. Each vanpool program is customized to the specific needs of its four or more vanpoolers. Participants can choose a qualifying vanpool vehicle from Enterprise’s selection of makes and models, including crossovers, SUVs, minivans, and ample passenger vans. Vanpoolers may decide to upgrade their vehicles with optional high-end features such as satellite radio, in-vehicle Wi-Fi service, and power ports for individual seats. As part of Enterprise’s Complete Clean Pledge, Commute with Enterprise provides best practices for cleaning and Complete Clean Starter Kits for new commutes.   

“Durham County continues to make significant investments to maintain and grow our local economy. Transportation should never be a barrier to any resident seeking employment and educational opportunities, and the County has prioritized providing access to these jobs by financially supporting Way to Go Durham’s subsidized vanpools in addition to emerging on-demand services like GoDurham Connect and RTP Connect as well as other innovative transit options,” said Durham County Board of County Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton. 

Employees at Corning Life Science’s Durham Campus are the first group to take advantage of the new subsidy. “Being a part of this vanpool campaign shows that we are committed to helping our employees save time and money and reduce the stress of commuting while decreasing our carbon footprint,” said Human Resources Manager Amy Poli. “We’re excited that our employees are the first group to use the subsidy, and we hope that other companies in this area will follow.” According to Senior Process Engineer Medie Weledji with Corning Life Sciences, the current high fuel costs were the tipping point for his participation in the vanpooling program. “We learned about the opportunity to use the subsidy to help save us time and money commuting to and from work,” Weledji said. “The current gas price increase is a big driver in my decision to participate, and I am excited to begin commuting to work in the vanpool because now, as a passenger, I can read a book or catch up on my favorite TV shows.”

Durham commuters interested in joining the Way to Go Durham vanpooling subsidy program may visit the program’s websiteor send an email to learn more.

About the City of Durham Transportation Department’s Way to Go Durham Program

The Transportation Department remains steadfast in its commitment to providing and maintaining quality, multimodal infrastructure to improve mobility, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for current and future Durham residents, businesses, and visitors. The department also works with its regional partners to create and identify cost-effective solutions to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips. These solutions are part of a program, Way To Go Durham, that aims to make individuals and employers aware of commuting choices and resources in and around Durham. To learn more, follow the program on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Released: May 6, 2022

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Whether you’re planning to hike, picnic, or barbecue, today’s gadgets can help you save money and energy, sustainably. In America, the average carbon footprint for each person is 16 tons, but buying from a trusted source and reducing overall consumption is a great way to make an individual impact. Not sure where to start? A non-profit that helps to verify trusted sources for consumers is B Lab, an organization that certifies companies with a “B Corp Certification”. A company awarded the B Corp Certification must follow three criteria; they “demonstrate high social and environmental performance,” remain “accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders,” and exhibit “transparency by allowing information about their performance” x. A certification that verifies a corporation’s care for its employees and consumers and follows a structure of sustainability before profits. We can follow that structure in our own purchases.

For our picnic and barbecue lovers, look to switching to reusable plates and utensils or save your extra food in a reusable food-storage wrap. Using beeswax instead of plastic reduces your carbon footprint and saves you money, as the washable wraps last for a year. Plus, before you throw them away, you can use your old food storage as a fire starter for your next barbecue. 

Into summer activities with more movement? Off-set your carbon footprint while moving with a backpack made from the plastic in our oceans. The plastics used in the backpacks were ocean-bound, mostly taken from the 1000 lakes that contribute 80% of ocean plastic. Solgaard sells packs in hopes of reducing our impact now and into the future, saving 229 plastic bottles from entering the ocean with any product. So, while you hike up your next trail using your solar-powered, plastic-saving backpack to charge your phone and keep your water cold, you can feel the weight of your carbon impact lifted from your back(pack). 

While a third of Americans enjoy hikes, half start their day with a cup of coffee y. Yet, as we start each day with coffee, coffee production actually emits more carbon than processing chickens, regardless of the following activities. Our solution: Overview Coffee. With regenerative agriculture, Overview prioritizes the health of the soil while maintaining high standards for animal welfare and worker fairness. Or well priced, Peace Coffee is a B Corp Certified company with a variety of coffee flavors.

Don’t need these products? Great, reducing our consumption is an excellent step towards sustainability, but when you do need your next pool floaty or a s’more stick, buy from a company you can trust. So, while you enjoy the outdoors or the indoors, you can know you’re helping to sustain our hikes and picnics and beach days for now and the future. 

References 

https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification/

https://dealsonhealth.net/coffee-statistics/

Here are a few simple and economical ways to make a great project for you and your family.  Try growing any of the veggies on the list below and see how easily they produce. 

• Celery– After you have used the stalks and leaves on your celery, save the base end of the plant and place it in water to root or in small pot of soil and watch it regenerate new stalks. Celery is also an easy vegetable to grow indoors.
• Sweet Potatoes– Cut a third of a potato with a few eyes (the natural dimples on a potato) remaining.  Bury it in a deep pot of dirt and new shoots will bud from the eye of the potato creating new plants.
• Onions / Garlic– Got an onion sprouting in the bin?  Place it root side down in a pot of soil exposing part of the bulb. As the green tops or scallions grow, snip and use as desired.
• Tomatoes– Slice the tomato in round circles exposing the seeds.  Place each ring on of top the potting soil, cover it with a small layer of dirt, and spritz it with a little water each day until it sprouts.  Transplant when it reaches 5-6 inches tall where it can grow in a larger space.  Note: Seek out heirloom varieties because hybrids seeds may not regrow.
• Romaine Lettuce– Just like the celery, save about two inches over the base end.  Either place it in a shallow bowl of water to root or upcycle a produce clamshell* and let it regrow there.
• Herbs –Many herbs can be rooted from the stems if placed in a small jar of water such as cilantro, basil, oregano or sage.
• Carrots– It’s amazing how easily root vegetables like carrots can propagate themselves if you place the tops in a shallow plate of water. Once they develop new roots, transfer them to the soil to produce new plants.
• Peppers– Save the seeds from your pepper plants and tuck them into the soil to sprout, or you can start the seeds in an old egg crate. Transplant to a larger container when it reaches 3-4 inches tall.

What You’ll Need

• Banana Peel– I got this idea from watching a movie, but discovered that banana peels delivers a dose of potassium and other essential nutrients to the soil that feeds hungry plants.
• Orange Peels– This citrus scrap not only adds nutrients to the soil, but it also deters small animals from trespassing into your garden.
• Crushed Egg Shells– Dried egg shells when crushed are a great source of calcium for the plant while warding off those creepy crawly pests.
• Coffee Grounds/ Used Tea Bags– Love your java or herbal tea in the mornings?  Coffee grounds and tea bags are compostable as well as a great source of nutrients for acid loving plants.
• Potting Soil – If gardening indoors, use a good organic potting soil for vegetables.  According to Better Homes & Garden, the nutrients in the soil will give the veggies more flavor.  But if outdoors, you can mix compost, top soil, and a good fertilizer to create a good foundation for your plants to thrive.
• Cayenne Pepper & Dish Soap–For outdoor gardens, this solution mixed with water can also keep insects and rabbits off of your vegetables.
• *Produce Clamshells –These are those hinged clear plastic containers that salad greens are sold in.  Instead of tossing these out, they make great mini greenhouses to help sprout new seedlings.
• Egg Crates – Also great for starting seedlings.
• Large Plastic Storage Bins / Kiddie Pools – Both are quick and economical ways to create large containers for your patio garden.  Just be sure to add a few vent holes for water drainage.
• A Sunny Spot Indoor/Outdoors for Everything to Grow – Plants get their energy from lots of natural sunlight. Look for a spot where they can get around 6-8 hours of direct sun.

Reduce Your Trips to the Grocery Store

Earth Day and warmer months are coming up so with a little patience and plenty of sunshine you can start your new plot and be kind to the planet.  When I’m out at the local nursery or home improvement stores, I’m noticing more people giving thought to food they can grow at home. Creating that renewable garden not only reduces your grocery bill, but it’ll save you a few trips to the store.  Besides, there’s nothing like having the convenience of fresh produce right at your fingertips when you’re ready to make that BLT sandwich or that next batch of spaghetti sauce. 

Tell us in the comments below what you’re growing in your garden!

As a member of the NC State Women’s Basketball team for four years, Billie earned a degree in Sports Management. After a successful college tenure, she had the opportunity to play professionally in the European league in the Netherlands. Billie is living life to the fullest and being a role model has come naturally. Whether she is inspiring another young girl from a small town to follow her dreams on the basketball court or in the fashion industry, she always makes sure that her life can help encourage others to press forward and never give up. Her healthy and positive lifestyle has already been commended by many friends and family.

Billie aka The Vegan Model (TVM), is the perfect representation for healthy living. The Vegan Model’s decision to change her entire lifestyle now almost 4 years ago was an easy decision. For TVM, her family history was the number one reason. Her mother and maternal grandmother are both breast cancer survivors. She ultimately lost two aunts to pancreatic cancer. Changing her diet and learning about the things that she puts into her body came very easy for her. She also chose a vegan lifestyle to preserve animals and prevent cruelty. As many of us have seen, there are dozens of videos that show how animals are birthed, caged, raised, and then slaughtered for humans to eat. After serious research on the topic, TVM couldn’t see herself eating food that was raised in inhumane conditions. If you sit and think about it, there is no way that the types of farms can produce anything healthy to humans other than meeting their demands of the simple need.

The Vegan Model’s purpose isn’t to bash or disrespect meat eaters. Her overall goal is to encourage people to be the best they can be. Her way of living happens to be vegan, so that is the platform she uses. She understands that everyone’s idea of a “healthy lifestyle” doesn’t line up exactly with hers, but she still can attract these types of people through other examples such as exercising, better quality of foods, meditation, and education.

This past May, she completed her first Meatless May Challenge. Over 25 friends, family, and a few strangers committed to not eating meats, poultry, or seafood for the entire month of May. Throughout this challenge, TVM coached many individuals daily by posting information on “The Vegan Model” Facebook page. Over 87% of the participants stuck with it the entire month and at this time, many have decided to continue becoming full on vegetarians and vegans!

From growing up in a small town, earning a college basketball scholarship and graduating with a bachelor’s and master’s degree, unbeknownst to many, Billie has always had her sights set on modeling. She is extremely passionate about everything that she does. Her determination and willingness to succeed has already paid off; helping her become a fresh new face in the modeling industry. Billie has completed several projects. Billie was the principal talent for a health and wellness company for over a year, Total Life Changes. She was also the lead role for Dixie and the YMCA. She also modeled clothing for a local establishment, Proverbs Clothing Company, LLC. In addition to print work, she has walked in runway shows for Elizabeth Kennedy, Christian Siriano, and Ebony Fashion. TVM knows that in the modeling industry her body is her number one brand so all of this just makes sense to her. Being healthy.

TVM can also be known as the health ambassador for her family and friends. She leads workout groups, creates personalized workout plans, meal plans, grocery lists, live cooking demos, positivity and encouragement, free of charge to anyone who feels they need it or whom she can help.

Billie is looking forward to being a continual beam of light for those around her. She doesn’t do it for praise but for the simple pleasure of helping the next man be a little bit happier and healthier. Sharing, mentoring, and motivating is her life mantra in all aspects. I hope that she has done that for you.

Website:              Billiemcdowell.com

Facebook:           The Vegan Model

Instagram:           Billie413