Congrats to our winner of Trivia Night Friday! That was super fun! Our lucky winner is getting a $25 gift card to Fire on the Mountain! See how you can support local restaurants by visiting Rally for Restaurants. We hope to see you at our next Trivia Night!
Hi! How are you and your family? We're back and thinking about you! We miss our community and would like to invite you to join us for a fun evening of trivia! If you've never used Zoom, it's free and easy! You'll need to download the app, which you can do through the link below. That link will also take you to the event - Friday 7/10 at 6 PM. If you're not available at 6, that's ok! Join any time.
If you're inspired to wear a fun hat or costume, please do!
We will read the questions and you can answer by typing into the shared chat screen.
If you'd rather just watch and chat that's fine too!
Grab a beverage of your choice and settle in for some laughs and silliness.
The winner will get a $25 gift card for Grub Hub or your choice of local restaurants.
We hope you can join ♥
~Eric, Shanan, and Diane
Nurture Realty is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Trivia Night!
Time: Jul 10, 2020 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88978167614
Meeting ID: 889 7816 7614
June 1, 2020
With landfills filling up and this planet crying for help, there’s no better time than now to start giving back to Mother Earth. One great way is to start a home composting system. Instead of pitching your kitchen waste in the garbage can and forgetting about it, why not recycle it into soil for your yard? You’ll reduce the amount of landfill waste and turn that biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich compost that you can use as free fertilizer for your garden or flowerbeds. It’s like turning your garbage into gold.
Composting isn’t just for serious gardeners anymore. We have some great tips to get you started on your own easy, at-home composting routine. Composting is not only an eco-friendly family project, but it also reduces your carbon footprint. Composting isn’t complicated, and your plants – and the Earth – will thank you.
Composting is the organic breakdown of waste into soil. It’s nature’s perfect recycling system. You only need a few materials, in the right amounts, to create this precious dirt. You’ll need biodegradable “green” items (like coffee grounds, unused veggies, green grass clippings and discarded fruit or veggie peels), and “brown” bulking agents like leaves, newspapers and paper. Add some air, a little water, mix the pile occasionally, and that’s pretty much it.
Nature will take care of the rest, and your payout is the perfect mix of nutrients for your vegetable or flower garden or even your lawn. You may never need to buy environment-harming chemical fertilizers again.
Food waste makes up about 30 percent of the trash that ends up in U.S. landfills. Composting not only reduces the amount of garbage leaving your property, but it also cuts down on the production of landfill methane gases from rotting food. Methane gas is a major contributor to global warming.
Why not turn that waste into something good for the environment? Your own natural, composted material is a better fertilizing source for your soil and even helps soil retain water. Compost-fed
plants are healthier and resist pests better, so you can reduce bug-killing chemical applications. When it’s ready for use, completely broken-down compost looks like dark brown potting soil, crumbly and smelling like the earth.
Where Should It Go?
Let’s get started on this earthy journey. The first thing you’ll want to consider is where to put your compost bin or pit. If you’re building it directly onto the ground, look for a well-drained, semi-shady spot. Since your compost might be aromatic at times, you may not want to place it close to the house or along the fenceline, which might not please your neighbor. A convenient, yet not in-view spot is perfect. If you choose the bin system, the patio or deck may be a bit too cozy for both cookouts and compost. Try a little farther into the yard. You’ll want it near a water source, though, since you’ll be adding moisture occasionally.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to how you construct your composting system. Some systems are super simple: pick a location, pile organic debris, cover it, and turn it over every couple of weeks. However, if you have pets or live in areas with wildlife, this composting method leaves your system unprotected.
You could repurpose wood or concrete blocks to build a 3ft by 3ft enclosure around your future compost pile to contain the material and keep some critters out. You can add chicken wire or snow fencing around it and build the compost pile upward, too. The main goal is to contain the material as it breaks down while letting some air in.
Placing your compost pile directly on the ground encourages an exchange of nutrients and aerates the ground underneath. It also encourages earthworms to help in the breakdown process. However, don’t want too much rainwater on your pile, so you’ll need to maintain some kind of rain cover. Soggy piles don’t decompose well.
You can also design what’s called a “sheet composting system.” Pick a flat spot of ground or dig a trench and add material like newspapers and cardboard, fall leaves or pulled-up, disease-free fall garden plants. Layer next with organic matter or green grass clippings. Then, add nitrogen or some organic fertilizer to boost the process. You can then walk away and let it compost from fall to spring, tilling if needed. This type of composting is good in garden spots, as it helps replace critical nutrients in the soil.
If you prefer a “prettier” home composting system, consider turning a plastic bin or trash can with lid into a compost bin, or buying tumbler composting bins that are already made. Tumbler bins are easier to use and many include a rotating system so you don’t have to manually turn the materials with a shovel. Pre-made compost bins are more expensive, but they’re more visually appealing. They’re also more secure if you have night-time foraging critters like possums, raccoons or rodents. These systems also help regulate rain and odor better than open compost bins or pits. Enclosed bins generate more heat, too, so your material can compost faster.
Yet another form of recycling waste into soil is called worm composting, letting happy worms do the breaking-down work in plastic totes or other types of bins. This is a composting system that’s great for teaching kids and they love to participate in.
There are lots of websites online that show you how to make your own home composting system so you’re sure to find the best method for your individual needs.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Before you build a grand pile of compost, a word of caution: a bigger pile doesn’t mean a faster breakdown. Often, smaller piles or bins of compost break down more easily than a huge heap. Some methods of composting are more low-maintenance than others, but every kind needs to be maintained to encourage the decomposing process.
Patience
Composting isn’t a next-day gratification activity. In fact, it could take six months up to more than a year for materials to completely decompose and reveal rich, recycled compost. So, have some patience and enjoy the learning process and eventual beneficial results. You won’t need to babysit your compost pile every day, so it doesn’t take a lot of effort.
Build it Up
Once you have your composting bin set up (trench, pile, rotating bin or whatever method you choose), it’s time to start adding the fun stuff! There are composter recipes online and in books or you can try it on your own.
Think about items you throw away that break down naturally. These will do well in your compost bin. Food scraps, paper items like mail, newspapers, napkins, even pizza boxes (remove the grease stains before composting) work great. Don’t add anything that contains dairy, or is animal-based like meat, bones, fat or seafood, or starchy foods like potatoes. Those items tend to attract more pests and are trickier to compost safely.
If you use fertilizer or pesticides on your lawn or garden, do not use those grass clippings or plant material in your home compost pile. This introduces harmful chemicals into your compost. Also, you may be tempted to dispose of your pet’s “yard gifts” in the compost, but don’t put any meat-eating animal’s manure into the compost pile. Manure from herbivores (plant-eaters) is good, though.
Whenever you add material to your compost, try to chop it down into smaller chunks or crush it. The smaller the pieces are, the faster they’ll decompose. Big pieces, like branches or entire banana or citrus peels, take much longer to break down.
Greens and Browns
When you’re layering your compost pile, think “greens” and “browns.” The “greens” are nitrogen-rich items that add moisture and decompose fast. This process generates necessary “heat” to your pile. Examples of “greens” (not necessarily only green colors) are banana and citrus peels, crushed egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, vegetables too old to eat, corncobs, green grass clippings, green hedge trimmings, and more.
“Browns” are another crucial element to the balance of your composting process. “Browns” are carbon-rich materials. They aerate your pile (bringing oxygen) and add substance to your compost bin. However, they break down more slowly than “greens,” so be sure to add them already in small pieces.
Browns include old newspapers, paper towel or toilet paper rolls, dried leaves, non-glossy junk mail, school papers, non-coated cardboard, pine cones, small twigs, straw, paper egg cartons (never styrofoam!), brown paper bags, carpentry wood shavings (make sure it’s not treated wood), and more.
Balance is the Key
To keep your compost pile balanced and actively breaking down, you’ll need more carbon (brown) than nitrogen (green). Try for a balance of 2/3 brown to 1/3 green. If your mix has too much green, it’ll become smelly. The ratio of nitrogen to carbon maintains a healthy composting balance and helps speed the breakdown process. Layer the greens and browns with some of your existing soil (to help encourage heat and keep smells down), and add some water for moisture. You can continue this layering a few inches at a time until your pile is a foot tall, or up to a few feet tall if it has supporting sides. Now, walk away from your new creation.
Turn, Turn, Turn
Every two weeks or so, turn your compost by mixing the layers with a shovel or pitchfork. Try to bring the inner layers to the edges, and the layers along the edges back into the center. This not only adds oxygen and balances the pile, but also gives you a good chance to examine it and amend it with more greens, browns or water. Look for earthworms, always a good sign.
Keep it Covered, Keep it Hot
If you have a homemade compost pile, keep it covered with plastic like a tarp, metal, even a discarded piece of carpet – something that will help keep the moisture and heat in. It also will help keep excess water out if you live in a rainy climate.
Your compost pile needs heat to help it more quickly break down organic materials. The heat also helps kill weed seeds that may have come from garden or yard clippings. At times – depending on your climate and time of year – you may see steam rising up from your compost. This is good! You can continue adding fresh material, keeping in mind the proper green to brown ratio. When you do add items, turn the new material into the composting material and add a bit of water if needed.
Feed Your Compost Bin
After establishing your home composting system, you don’t have to run outside with every discarded orange rind or carrot peel. Keep a container with a lid under your sink and place the compostable items in there instead of disposing in your regular kitchen trash. When your smaller compost trash bin is full (or aromatic), take it outside and dump it in your compost bin. Just remember to turn the pile so the new is mixed in with the decomposing stuff.
The more you work with your compost pile, the better you’ll become at recognizing what works (decomposes) and what doesn’t. For instance, you’ll soon learn that if your compost pile starts stinking, it’s either too wet and needs more browns added, or it needs more air, so you’ll need to “turn” the pile with a shovel, pitchfork or rotation (depending on your chosen composting system).
If the breaking-down process seems to have stalled, try adding more greens. And if you don’t get the balance just right, that’s OK, too – the great thing about composting is you can always change things up by adding one or the other, more water or less, or turning more often or less often.
Adding Activators
If you find your compost pile just isn’t breaking down or you don’t have the proper nitrogen/carbon/moisture combination, you may need to add a commercially made compost activator. This product can help balance nitrogen and carbon in your “percolating” pile so the process moves along more quickly and efficiently.
So, you’ve turned, added, and at times ignored your compost bin. One day, those leaves, twigs, lemon rinds and apple peelings have transformed into marvelous, loamy, rich dark soil brimming with the nutrients your plants crave. How can you use it?
Mix your finished compost into your existing soil, whether that’s in a flower or vegetable garden, patio pot or landscaping. Sprinkle it onto your lawn and water it in. Compost helps balance your existing soil, which is probably depleted. Compost also helps retain ground moisture so you won’t have to water as often.
Your journey in composting has just begun, and it’s a rewarding learning process. With a surge in people wanting to grow their own food, encouraging and informative sources for composting are all around. Talk to members of local gardening clubs, visit garden centers, or join social media gardening and composting groups. Experts at your local cooperative extension service can provide soil testing and advise you on the best composting systems for your particular climate.
You’ll make mistakes while composting, and that’s OK. The pile forgives you. Once you go through this process a time or two, you’ll get the hang of it, and the composting process will become easier and faster as you connect with nature. You’ll love how composting benefits your flowers, garden and yard with the exact, recycled nutrients they need. It’s a natural, recycled bon appetit for your yard.
Be sure to check out Nurture Realty’s referral directory for quality, trusted professionals in landscape design and maintenance! Not finding what you’re looking for? Give us a call at 503-389-0016, we’d be happy to chat about your plans and match you with a service provider!
Hell of a fun night playing bingo with Peachy Springs! Congrats to our winners! Nurture Realty will be matching the donations made so our community raised over $600 for New Avenues for Youth! Go team and thanks so much Peachy Springs!
The team at Nurture Realty would like to invite you and your guests to a fun filled evening of Bingo! Our new friend, Peachy Springs, will be hosting and it is sure to be a hoot! We hope laughter and cash prizes will lighten your heart in this stressful and uncertain time.
When? Friday, June 5th at 7 PM PST
Where? In the comfort of your home via ZOOM!
Please click on the link below to register. Once registered you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the game and the details of how to play.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6psmNCcxSF6bMReAEC3b3g
Our friends at New Avenues for Youth are struggling right now with funding shortfalls due to COVID-19. We'd like to dedicate this event to them. Portland has a desperate homelessness problem. The debate on how to fix this problem is complicated and exhausting. We, at Nurture Realty, feel the best way to solve homelessness in our city is to prevent it, starting with the young people that are at risk. This is the mission of New Avenues for Youth. While there is no charge to play the game and all are welcome, we are asking for donations in lieu of an entry fee. If you are able, we'd suggest $15 per registration. If you can donate more please do! If you are also experiencing financial strains, no donation is required and please join us with gratitude for your presence. For those that cannot join us for Bingo but would like to support NAFY, please venmo Shanan here. @Shanan-Batson
All of those who donate will be entered into a raffle for a private beer tasting for up to 6 guests with Jeremy Herrig, Ambassador Board Member at New Avenues for Youth and beer aficionado. Jeremy will be sampling an array of beer in style and origin from his extensive collection!
We can't thank you enough for your support and introductions. Please share this invitation with friends and family! We love growing the Nurture community with people who are important to you so that we can continue to support each other and organizations like New Avenues for Youth, who share our vision of strong community and personal achievement.
So many people are downsizing or joining households to save expenses with roommates or multigenerational living dynamics. So, what do you do with the extra stuff?! Take a look at this excellent guide to Portland storage facilities!
Safety Features Every House-Hunting Senior Should Seek
Article by Hazel Bridges of agingwellness.org
Buying a home makes sense at any age, but it is easy to get excited and overlook certain safety features that will lend well to your quality of life. This is especially true for seniors. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you go from room to room during your house-hunting quest.
In the kitchen
Look for a home with slip-resistant floors. This will reduce the possibility of slips and falls due to wayward pools of water. Cabinet doors should be outfitted with handles instead of knobs, which are easier to grasp. Countertops of varying heights will allow you to prep your meals in the most comfortable position. Make sure there are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in close proximity to the kitchen.
In the bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home for the 65-and-up crowd. According to Consumer Affairs, more than 200,000 people are seen in ERs across the country for bathroom injuries each year. You can lower your chances of having an accident by looking for a home with grab bars installed in the bath and next to the toilet. Seniors with mobility issues may want to consider only homes that have low sidewall tubs or a bathroom that can be retrofitted with a walk-in bathtub.
Hallways and common areas
Dimly lit hallways are an open invitation for trouble for older adults who may miss hidden obstacles such as uneven transition strips or subtle step downs. Hallways should have at least one outlet to allow for a night light. Throughout the home, doors that are at least 32” wide will make it easier to navigate with a walker or wheelchair.
In the living room, dining room, and other frequently used areas, carpeting should be tucked tightly from wall to wall and free of bulges and snags. Torn or loose carpeting creates an uneven surface to walk, and buckling carpet is a major hazard for people of all ages. Don’t forget to check the height of the toilet; most seniors are more comfortable on an ADA-compliant toilet that sits at least 17” from the floor.
Bedrooms
If at all possible, stick to a single-story home, or at least one that offers lower-level living spaces, including the master bedroom. Take note of the configuration of the room to ensure that your furniture will fit in a way that won’t restrict your movements. Your nightstand and/or television stand should sit close enough to an outlet so that electrical cords are not stretched in walkable areas.
Yard
The outdoor space should not be overlooked as uneven pathways and poorly leveled yards are also falling hazards. Look for indications of a mole infestation, which can make the ground unexpectedly soft and increase your risk of injury while gardening or mowing the lawn. Ideally, your new home will be fully fenced to keep out potentially aggressive animal intruders.
Neighborhood
While it may be tempting to get away from the city and live out your Golden Years in the country, you must take into consideration access to emergency care and proximity to neighbors. Ambulance response times are, according to a study by Qual Saf Health Care and published by the National Library of Medicine “a challenge for the area which has a dispersed rural population and long journey times….”
Purchasing a home is a smart choice for older adults who may need to make accommodations to the design or layout for safety reasons. Buying also provides economic stability, which is important for those on a fixed income and who want to know their monthly payments won’t rise with local housing demands.
NeighborhoodLIFT® program details*
Your income must be less than or equal to the maximum income limits defined by the program for your area to qualify.
For military service members, veterans, law enforcement officers, pre-K-12th grade teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, the program provides $22,500.
The home you purchase must be your primary residence and located in Multnomah County.
You don’t have to repay the grant if you own and live in the home for five years. (1)
You need to be approved for a first mortgage by an approved lender. (2)
If you own your current home, it must be sold before closing.
You must complete eight hours of homebuyer education through an approved agency before your closing.
Visit the Portland Housing Center for more information on the program including:
Program requirements
Income requirements
Appointments to determine eligibility
First Responder, Teacher and Military benefit information
How to obtain homebuyer education
* Must meet all program requirements.
1. The pro-rated balance must be repaid if you transfer the title, refinance, sell the property or the property is foreclosed on prior to the end of the five-year period. If you are active military and provide Official Permanent Change of Station transfer orders prior to the end of the five-year period, the balance will be fully forgiven.
2. The first mortgage can be financed by any Neighborhood LIFT program-approved lender.
It's been a wonderful year for Nurture Realty with so many things to be thankful for. As we gear up for a wonderful holiday season of friends, family, and good times we are reminded that there are so many people in our city that aren't quite so fortunate. This year we are partnering with Rose Haven to provide gifts and supplies for the more than 500 kids they play Santa for. They've made a special request for the Nurture Community to focus on their teenagers in need. Most donations they get are toys for small children which leaves the adolescents and teens short gifts each year. They have requested things like earphones, makeup, branded apparel (hats, hoodies, etc), gift cards up to $20 (Fred Meyer, Starbucks, Amazon, Movies, etc). Please coordinate drop off of your donation with Shanan or Eric through our shared office line 503-389-0016 or email office@nurturerealty.com. We'd like to have all donations by Friday 12/13. You can also bring it to the 2nd Annual Handmade Gift Social on Saturday 12/7/19 where Nurture Community members will be selling amazing, handmade gifts and offering mimosas while you shop! More details to come on that.
Rose Haven is a day shelter and community center serving women, children and gender-diverse people experiencing the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges. Rose Haven’s mission is to maintain a safe, respectful community while providing our guests with support and services to assist them in regaining stability in their lives.
Thank you so much for being part of our unique and generous community and supporting our vision of helping people reach for big goals and grow! With your help, we are making our pocket of the world a better place and we couldn't do it without you and the friends and family you bring into the community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for those introductions and cheers to a fabulous holiday season!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p1cvzn9r2jLm3R7krqfeCmcu4tfduogj/view?usp=sharing
1 hour circus class for up to 3 people! Time to join the circus!h
Look no further for your action sports gear and apparel for ski, snowboard, wakeboard, skate, surf and bike. They also offer service for you bike, skis, and snowboard and a community gathering space for all kinds of fun events! Check them out!
5 lucky winners will get a gift card to enjoy the vice of your choosing, coffee or wine?
Enjoy Dinner at their Vancouver locations or PDX, where you gotta have fun! Check out the beach shack and clever decor at the PDX location!
Jamie and Alicia Pollock of Royalwise have donated a 1 year subscription to their Mentorship Membership Portal. The winner can choose between a QuickBooks® Mentorship Membership Subscription or an Apple Mentorship Membership Subscription.
Thanks Chris Bucci for always supporting the community and our raffle! You can never have too much Heart In Oregon swag!
Megan Norton of Makai Massage & Spa has donated a gift certificate for a 45 minute massage! "Massage therapy does more than just relax your muscles. It also has positive emotional, mental and spiritual benefits."
Evolution has something for everyone! A 5 hour altitude training package, 1 hour massage with Krista Kahmann, and a free new patient appointment with Dr. Kelsey Woodland, Certified Sports Chiropractor!
