Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
School Gardens are for Everyone
Go now. Do not delay, go and read this article. It is just wonderful. And best of all, pictures to illustrate.
School Gardens are for Everyone | Kidsgardening.org
Towards the bottom, the article links to an accessibility audit. It's quite good, and I like how it incorporates students/kids into the questions and discussions. Maybe if more of today's kids grow up thinking about universal design concepts they will age more gently than my generation will.
I remember the day our Master Gardener class went to tour our counties show case gardens. Part of the goal of the presenters was to recruit newly minted master gardeners to adopt a part of the garden to maintain. I listened to it all. Then, of course I'm a bit catty, but I really did try to be nice. I stuck my hand up and said: "I can't volunteer to work here because the conditions are not safe for me. The gardens are not accessible. I will volunteer to do an accessibility study for you". Now, keep in mind that I am talking to somebody who is a good 15+ years older than me. He blew me off. Not interested. Ha-ha. Give him another 10 years, a hard fall, or an unwanted accident and perhaps he will change his mind.
I wish I could have found this school gardens are for everyone article before I started my first veggie garden. I knew a few things from previous gardening experience along with learning to be a gimp. But, well ... trial and error. Gosh, has it really been almost a year since I wrote Empowering the Garden? I continue to learn. Lesson's learned this past year? Even with access on both sides and vertical in the middle - 5' is one foot too wide. Absolutely love, love the sitting ledges. Going to be changing most of the beds in the front over to this in time. With or without sitting ledges, need grab poles. A small water garden is going in this fall/winter. Probably 40 gallons. Quick and easy access to a pitcher of water for some dry plants? Win. Frequently used garden tools (pruners, scissors, string & trowel) hanging out in the garden? Win. Double win for saving the knees and reducing precious time spent walking back and forth for tools.
I like the questions in the accessibility audit. If you have never stopped to think about how you would get around in your gardens if you suddenly found yourself non-ambulatory it is a great start. Lets add a few more important things:
The more I see of planting tables designed for wheelchair users to roll under, the less impressed I am. The accessibility garden in the Idea Garden at Leu Gardens in Orlando is underwhelming. The planting tables were at chin height to me. I think most chair users will find it easier to pull along side a garden. Not to mention the plants are bound to be happier.
Love this photo of this young man. He shows just how easy it can be to work in a garden from a chair. And notice how he uses the vertical ledge as a leaning ledge?
Also, take note of the different heights of the raised be he is at and the raised bed behind him.
I just love the photos from this garden. It is truly lovely and well thought out. It would be wonderful if one of the public gardens around here would create such a demonstration accessible garden.
Regardless of your ability or age, getting out and gardening is good for you.
Getting out in a garden is good for everyone!
All gardens [should be] for everyone.
School Gardens are for Everyone | Kidsgardening.org
 |
| Multi-tiered Raised Beds |
I remember the day our Master Gardener class went to tour our counties show case gardens. Part of the goal of the presenters was to recruit newly minted master gardeners to adopt a part of the garden to maintain. I listened to it all. Then, of course I'm a bit catty, but I really did try to be nice. I stuck my hand up and said: "I can't volunteer to work here because the conditions are not safe for me. The gardens are not accessible. I will volunteer to do an accessibility study for you". Now, keep in mind that I am talking to somebody who is a good 15+ years older than me. He blew me off. Not interested. Ha-ha. Give him another 10 years, a hard fall, or an unwanted accident and perhaps he will change his mind.
 |
| Vertical Teepee |
 | |
| Garden Seats |
- Is there anything like branches overhanging the pathway?
- Are there any loose or catty-wompas stepping stones?
- Can you grab a watering can of water or pruners, scissors or string without leaving the garden?
- Are grab poles available in key locations?
- Is there someplace to sit out of the sun?
- Is it quick and easy to reach into the garden for something?
- Can you squish a lubber without face planting a bean plant?
- Is a low maintenance weed control system in place?
- Are there secure paths and footing to all regularly traveled areas?
Love this photo of this young man. He shows just how easy it can be to work in a garden from a chair. And notice how he uses the vertical ledge as a leaning ledge?
Also, take note of the different heights of the raised be he is at and the raised bed behind him.
I just love the photos from this garden. It is truly lovely and well thought out. It would be wonderful if one of the public gardens around here would create such a demonstration accessible garden.
Regardless of your ability or age, getting out and gardening is good for you.
Getting out in a garden is good for everyone!
All gardens [should be] for everyone.
Blink and it's gone
Summer 2012
It came, it was horribly hot and humid, and now it is on the way out.
Fall is in the air. Hard to believe as hot as it still is. Leaves are turning and starting to drop. There is the slightest hint of cool in the early morning and late evening.
I didn't try too much this summer. Some southern peas, lima beans, okra, peppers and sweet potatoes. I didn't TRY with the eggplant, but I got so many I gave it up.
I am ready for salad and tomatoes from the garden. Now would be good. Well, maybe in a month or so???
I've started in the NE Garden taking out the summer stuff and getting ready for fall and winter.
Here is how the garden looked labor day week end. Not particularly show quality, but considering how much attention (none) it has been getting the past month, I can't really complain. And neither can the neighbors. PS - that is NOT my shade canopy in the background.
I pulled out the experimental test patch of Sweet Potato first. I'll report more on that later. I wanted to get that bed (raised bed closest to the street) prepped and planted for fall first. The next bed is the center rectangular raised garden. The one that is overflowing with sweet potato vine. Note that none of the vine was planted this year, and I didn't think I left any bits of tubers when I cleaned it out last fall. I have this bed targeted to start work this weekend. I'm remaking the frame, going from 6" to 12" with a sitting ledge on the two path sides. I was planning to build out the frame for the oblong bed on the left side of the garden for this fall. Now, I'm not so sure. While I would love to have the usable space, and the convenience and ease of the 12" raised beds plus sitting ledges - this OINK (zero income no kids) thing has me a bit cautious.
Oh, and I am done with the grass path. It served it's purpose in the beginning of the garden by lending some continuity to the space. Now, I am tired of fighting the explosion of weeds and grass in the summer. And I can't edge the darn thing. So either hubs will transplant the bahia to the backyard or I'll cover it all up with newspaper and mulch. Actually, I really really want hubs to transplant the bahia (and he does have plenty of time right now after all) so that I can create a french drain type contraption down the center of the path to help hold water in the soil.
The top two tiers of the garden have been planted. At the very top is a Better Boy tomato. Along the path edge is a strip of radish seed. The middle ledge is Johnny's Seeds Happy Rich mini broccoli with turnip seeds intermixed. The pan handle has Purple Graffiti Cauliflower and the narrow tier along the path will be planted in onion sets for green onions.
In the strip bed along the opposite side of the path I scattered seeds for mixed crop of callalloo and broccoli. And the seeds have already sprouted! I have plats started of mixed salad greens and more Happy Rich broccoli. The redone rectangular raised bed will be seeded with lettuce. And I need to get some more plats started.
While anxiously awaiting cooler weather.
It came, it was horribly hot and humid, and now it is on the way out.
I didn't try too much this summer. Some southern peas, lima beans, okra, peppers and sweet potatoes. I didn't TRY with the eggplant, but I got so many I gave it up.
I am ready for salad and tomatoes from the garden. Now would be good. Well, maybe in a month or so???
I've started in the NE Garden taking out the summer stuff and getting ready for fall and winter.
Here is how the garden looked labor day week end. Not particularly show quality, but considering how much attention (none) it has been getting the past month, I can't really complain. And neither can the neighbors. PS - that is NOT my shade canopy in the background.
Oh, and I am done with the grass path. It served it's purpose in the beginning of the garden by lending some continuity to the space. Now, I am tired of fighting the explosion of weeds and grass in the summer. And I can't edge the darn thing. So either hubs will transplant the bahia to the backyard or I'll cover it all up with newspaper and mulch. Actually, I really really want hubs to transplant the bahia (and he does have plenty of time right now after all) so that I can create a french drain type contraption down the center of the path to help hold water in the soil.
The top two tiers of the garden have been planted. At the very top is a Better Boy tomato. Along the path edge is a strip of radish seed. The middle ledge is Johnny's Seeds Happy Rich mini broccoli with turnip seeds intermixed. The pan handle has Purple Graffiti Cauliflower and the narrow tier along the path will be planted in onion sets for green onions.
In the strip bed along the opposite side of the path I scattered seeds for mixed crop of callalloo and broccoli. And the seeds have already sprouted! I have plats started of mixed salad greens and more Happy Rich broccoli. The redone rectangular raised bed will be seeded with lettuce. And I need to get some more plats started.
While anxiously awaiting cooler weather.
School Planning Day One
On Sept 7 we are planning on having the two special needs kids classes plant seminole pumpkin seed and pull some weeds.
Seminole
Pumpkin, or Seminole Squash is a winter squash that is native to
Florida. Historically, it was found growing in several different places
in Florida, but the most prevalent location was in the Florida
Everglades. The Seminole Indians grew this squash in such a way that it
climbed up into trees and palms. Seminole Squash is a very easy to
grow squash, it is very vigorous (grows really fast and far) and is
pest and disease resistant. The squash are relatively small, but very
good tasting.
Since the Seminole Indians relied so much on squash as part of their diet, history could be a part of the learning component.
Squash seeds (as well as beans) are some of the easiest seeds to use for teaching kids about seed germination. The seeds are big and as they germinate it is easy to see the parts.
And what does this squash look like and grow like?
Like all plants that fruit and/or seed, bees are needed for pollination. Did you know that there is a serious decline in the bee population? Without bees and other pollinators our choices for fruits and vegetables become slim. Bee decline (bee colony collapse) is so serious in England that major endeavors are underway to restore the bee population.
Pollination Game: http://www.doc.govt.nz/
The Beauty of Pollination (a movie): http://youtu.be/MQiszdkOwuU
Pollination, Plants and Insects (a movie by Hila Road - advanced): http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Urban Bee Gardens School Outreach Notes: http://nature.berkeley.edu/
The sensory garden is, of course, a pollinator haven. We will be trimming back several of the plants in our half-circle section, but I still think it would be good to teach kids good 'sharing with mother nature' skills. In the time I've been in the sensory garden, I have not seen any aggressive bees or angry wasps. Generally speaking, a bee that is feeding on pollen is a bit, umm, shall we say 'intoxicated'? And isn't going to notice much of anything going on around it and it's pollen bar. Most of the bees I saw Wed do not even sting. So, in short - leave the bees to their pollen and don't mess with them and they won't mess with you. That is the lesson for the kids to learn before we head off into the garden. And why do we need bees? So that our squash plants can make baby squash that will grow up into yummy pumpkins!
I will plan to meet with the two of you at 9:30
in your classrooms. I will bring a seminole pumpkin to see and taste
and seeds to plant. I will have about 50 pre-soaked seeds and a bunch
of spares to cover any 'oopsies'. I will also bring potting mix,
hopefully it will be enough, if not there is some in the garden closet.
YOU will provide a large, clear plastic solo cup for each student. I think the size is around 15 oz. You will need to make several holes in the bottom of each cup. Holes can be made by punching with a knife, drilling, heating a nail over an open flame, or using a hot knife. Holey Moley is good. You can always ADD water but it is hard to take water away. The holes in the bottom of the cups are to drain away excess water. Speaking of water! You will want something to water the seedlings with. It doesn't need to be anything super special, around my house I tend to reuse plastic bottles. If you have any kiddos with spastic issues, you might want to consider getting in a stock of these bottle top waterers: http://www.leevalley.com/US/
You will also want permanent markers to write the kids names on the cups. Along with the date started, and the seed planted (squash). I will let you all decide if you want the kids to fill the cups with dirt or for the leaders to fill the cups.
I have already started a seedling. Depending on germination times, I hope to be able to bring with me several examples of different stages of the germination progress. I've never tried timing the germination response, so we shall see how this works out.
During class time on Friday morning, we plant the seeds, then head out into our garden patch and pull some weeds. And, that will be a wrap for week one!
For week two. IF we have all the planting boxes and buckets ready, then we can plant tomato, pepper, lettuce and onion seeds in the planting boxes, buckets and pots. IF we don't have planters ready, I can supply you with at least two dozen sweet potato baby tubers that can be planted in the ground around the sensory garden. And even over in the shade on the opposite side of the spot we are putting the raised planting boxes. This is really not the season for growing sweet potatoes, but it should be fun for the kids. And, next spring they can have the thrill of watching their babies take off. Hmm, that brings to mind; we will be wanting to get two mini-shovels. I think these are the type shovels the wheelchair kids can use to dig a hole in the ground. I have seen mini-shovels on discount recently at Tuesday Morning and at Big Lots. See following picture of mini-shovel. Note to self, get picture of mini-shovel in use from a wheelchair!
In the mean time, can you tell me a bit more about your kids? I know of course about the wheel chair kiddos. Are their any kids who are blind or deaf? If so, we would want to plan to have an extra supply of things they could hold, touch and feel. How about dexterity? I grabbed all of the coated seeds I could spot in the seed boxes, but generally speaking the tomato, pepper and onion seed is really, really small. An option for planting really fine seed with dexterity issues is to make 'shaker' jars with the seed mixed with a bit of sand. Is this something we should start working on for week two? Sensory issues? Anybody going to hate the feel of dirt? Not tolerate the sun? Kids with eating issues? If so, we could create a day of feeding the plants - maybe get creative with weaving in the importance of food to plants and food to humans.
I asked to be put on the list for some of the pea seeds. This is another food crop that is super easy to grow in Florida. These peas as well as the squash are plants the kids could take home and plant in the ground and have a relatively high chance of success. Provided it doesn't freeze over this winter. But, I digress. The purpose of the pea seeds is for a rain out day activity. In case we get rained out one day, we can have a handy-dandy lesson plan and activity around planting peas! In preparation for this activity, you will want clear plastic solo cups again; as well as a bunch of pinky finger width branches and/or bamboo and a spool (or two) of natural twine. The branches and twine is to make a teepee for the bean vines to grown on. You might want to be on the look out for some suitable size branches to collect. They should be roughly 18" long and about the diameter of your pinky finger.
There will be a small group of us working on your special garden on Wednesday morning. Feel free to drop by, or drop me an email here if you have any questions and/or suggestions!
Three of us went down and took the chop hammer to the overgrown butterfly garden. We had some super helpers for about an hour that bagged up a lot of what we chopped. I can not believe I failed to get a before picture. Duhhhhh ...
Oh, and last but not least - making garden signs - a coloring and/or painting activity for the kids.
Since the Seminole Indians relied so much on squash as part of their diet, history could be a part of the learning component.
Seminole History: http://www.flheritage.com/
Seminole Indian Dolls: http://www.floridamemory.com/
Squash Named from an Indian Word: http://aggie-horticulture.
Seminole Indian Dolls: http://www.floridamemory.com/
Squash Named from an Indian Word: http://aggie-horticulture.
Squash seeds (as well as beans) are some of the easiest seeds to use for teaching kids about seed germination. The seeds are big and as they germinate it is easy to see the parts.
Teaching Kids about Planting with Seeds: http://www.thekidsgarden.co.
Seed Germination: http://kids.britannica.com/
Seed Germination: http://kids.britannica.com/
And what does this squash look like and grow like?
Growing Winter Squash: http://www.rosalindcreasy.com/
Growing Seminole Squash: http://www.cowlickcottagefarm.
Growing Seminole Squash: http://www.cowlickcottagefarm.
Like all plants that fruit and/or seed, bees are needed for pollination. Did you know that there is a serious decline in the bee population? Without bees and other pollinators our choices for fruits and vegetables become slim. Bee decline (bee colony collapse) is so serious in England that major endeavors are underway to restore the bee population.
Pollination Game: http://www.doc.govt.nz/
The Beauty of Pollination (a movie): http://youtu.be/MQiszdkOwuU
Pollination, Plants and Insects (a movie by Hila Road - advanced): http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Urban Bee Gardens School Outreach Notes: http://nature.berkeley.edu/
Bees for Kids: http://www.bbka.org.uk/learn/
The sensory garden is, of course, a pollinator haven. We will be trimming back several of the plants in our half-circle section, but I still think it would be good to teach kids good 'sharing with mother nature' skills. In the time I've been in the sensory garden, I have not seen any aggressive bees or angry wasps. Generally speaking, a bee that is feeding on pollen is a bit, umm, shall we say 'intoxicated'? And isn't going to notice much of anything going on around it and it's pollen bar. Most of the bees I saw Wed do not even sting. So, in short - leave the bees to their pollen and don't mess with them and they won't mess with you. That is the lesson for the kids to learn before we head off into the garden. And why do we need bees? So that our squash plants can make baby squash that will grow up into yummy pumpkins!
I will plan to meet with the two of you at 9:30
in your classrooms. I will bring a seminole pumpkin to see and taste
and seeds to plant. I will have about 50 pre-soaked seeds and a bunch
of spares to cover any 'oopsies'. I will also bring potting mix,
hopefully it will be enough, if not there is some in the garden closet.
YOU will provide a large, clear plastic solo cup for each student. I think the size is around 15 oz. You will need to make several holes in the bottom of each cup. Holes can be made by punching with a knife, drilling, heating a nail over an open flame, or using a hot knife. Holey Moley is good. You can always ADD water but it is hard to take water away. The holes in the bottom of the cups are to drain away excess water. Speaking of water! You will want something to water the seedlings with. It doesn't need to be anything super special, around my house I tend to reuse plastic bottles. If you have any kiddos with spastic issues, you might want to consider getting in a stock of these bottle top waterers: http://www.leevalley.com/US/
You will also want permanent markers to write the kids names on the cups. Along with the date started, and the seed planted (squash). I will let you all decide if you want the kids to fill the cups with dirt or for the leaders to fill the cups.
I have already started a seedling. Depending on germination times, I hope to be able to bring with me several examples of different stages of the germination progress. I've never tried timing the germination response, so we shall see how this works out.
During class time on Friday morning, we plant the seeds, then head out into our garden patch and pull some weeds. And, that will be a wrap for week one!
For week two. IF we have all the planting boxes and buckets ready, then we can plant tomato, pepper, lettuce and onion seeds in the planting boxes, buckets and pots. IF we don't have planters ready, I can supply you with at least two dozen sweet potato baby tubers that can be planted in the ground around the sensory garden. And even over in the shade on the opposite side of the spot we are putting the raised planting boxes. This is really not the season for growing sweet potatoes, but it should be fun for the kids. And, next spring they can have the thrill of watching their babies take off. Hmm, that brings to mind; we will be wanting to get two mini-shovels. I think these are the type shovels the wheelchair kids can use to dig a hole in the ground. I have seen mini-shovels on discount recently at Tuesday Morning and at Big Lots. See following picture of mini-shovel. Note to self, get picture of mini-shovel in use from a wheelchair!
In the mean time, can you tell me a bit more about your kids? I know of course about the wheel chair kiddos. Are their any kids who are blind or deaf? If so, we would want to plan to have an extra supply of things they could hold, touch and feel. How about dexterity? I grabbed all of the coated seeds I could spot in the seed boxes, but generally speaking the tomato, pepper and onion seed is really, really small. An option for planting really fine seed with dexterity issues is to make 'shaker' jars with the seed mixed with a bit of sand. Is this something we should start working on for week two? Sensory issues? Anybody going to hate the feel of dirt? Not tolerate the sun? Kids with eating issues? If so, we could create a day of feeding the plants - maybe get creative with weaving in the importance of food to plants and food to humans.
I asked to be put on the list for some of the pea seeds. This is another food crop that is super easy to grow in Florida. These peas as well as the squash are plants the kids could take home and plant in the ground and have a relatively high chance of success. Provided it doesn't freeze over this winter. But, I digress. The purpose of the pea seeds is for a rain out day activity. In case we get rained out one day, we can have a handy-dandy lesson plan and activity around planting peas! In preparation for this activity, you will want clear plastic solo cups again; as well as a bunch of pinky finger width branches and/or bamboo and a spool (or two) of natural twine. The branches and twine is to make a teepee for the bean vines to grown on. You might want to be on the look out for some suitable size branches to collect. They should be roughly 18" long and about the diameter of your pinky finger.
There will be a small group of us working on your special garden on Wednesday morning. Feel free to drop by, or drop me an email here if you have any questions and/or suggestions!
Three of us went down and took the chop hammer to the overgrown butterfly garden. We had some super helpers for about an hour that bagged up a lot of what we chopped. I can not believe I failed to get a before picture. Duhhhhh ...
Oh, and last but not least - making garden signs - a coloring and/or painting activity for the kids.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Backyard Conservation
Whether you have rural acreage, a suburban yard, or a city lot, you can help protect the environment and add beauty and interest to your surroundings. Ten conservation practices have been scaled down for homeowners. Tip sheets offer "how to" steps and helpful hints:
How cool is that! 10 tip sheets currently, with really good information. Much more than just short blurps.
And then there is this:
Backyard Conservation Lesson Plans
A series of lesson plans to teach students about Backyard Conservation through hands-on studies that promote field investigation and action. Lesson plans are available for elementary grades 3 to 5, middle school grades 6 to 8, and high school grades 9 to 12.
This is really a neat go to website. Check it out.
Go Grow Gang
Goldsboro Elementary in Sanford is quite an innovator with school gardens in Seminole County. The spearhead of the group is Mary Lynn Hess. I had the chance to meet her back in March when I went down for a clean up day in the sensory garden. The sensory garden is beside the new vegetable garden. This was my first out and about gardening venture with the Master Gardener program and I was a bit nervous about the logistics of being a gimpy gardener.
The trip started with my typical parking confusion. Where to park to get me and my stuff out and to have enough room to get me and my stuff back in when it is time to leave. I ended up down at the end of the parking lot and walking in with kids getting off the school buses. I noticed one young man in a nice manual chair who was actively engaged with folks.
I made my way through the front office and sign in, and on out to the back towards the gardens. I was using my walker/rollator with tools in the walker basket and my go to gardening bench perched on top. Walking in, the sensory garden is very well established, and has a nice semi-solid pathway. The sensory garden received an award from IFAS in 2008, you can read all about it here. Beyond the sensory garden is the new veggie garden. The Seminole Master Gardeners have been very active in the design and construction. It is a lovely raised garden, and everybody is very excited about it. The second thing I noticed is that it isn't wheel chair compatible. You can read about the veggie garden here and here.
During part of the sensory garden clean up, there was some discussion about changes and improvements in the sensory garden. I mentioned the central hub of the sensory garden might be a good place to put in some garden space for the special needs kids. And that I would be interested in assisting if it took off. Well, yesterday I got a message that the school asked for me specifically for the special needs kids. They have two classes, about 12 per class and two kiddo's in chairs full time.
I am very excited! And in keeping with the adults and teachers leading by example, I am going to go in my chair. Mostly as showing and leading by example, and also because it is probably the safest place for me to be around a big group of kids. I am really hoping I will be able to incorporate both gardening as well as nature into the volunteer work I'll be doing. Woot! Oh, and it has not escaped my inner ironic and sarcastic yelping box that it was United Healthcare that refused to pay for my wheelchair. You know, 5 years ago, because surely I could just have a rental for a short while. So I will be volunteering in a garden sponsored by United Healthcare to improve healthy living using a wheelchair that helps me to keep active and thereby more healthy. That same wheelchair that UHC refused to pay for.
So now I am compiling ideas and suggestions. I had originally thought to work with plants that grew from big seeds, like lima beans, winter squash and such. But the teachers are going with a 'Taco Garden' theme. Hmm, can you say itsy-bitsy tiny seeds??? And actually, tomatoes and peppers should have been started in July. So, hmmm. Maybe I should go start another few flats of tomatoes and peppers! Actually, I am thinking that Everglades Tomatoes might be a good choice. Plant the whole little tomato! And some kind of mild pepper. Definitely not datils, no matter how local. But hey, don't you need something sweet to go with your tacos? Maybe Pastelillo de Calabaza? Pumpkin Empanadas! Of course. Maybe also some chayote? Now that is a plenty big seed to handle and sprout.
I have been thinking about this for awhile now. Once I realized that special needs kids were frequently left out of the nature trips I started my own little mission. A few of the bullet points I've got in mind so far:
- everything and every part must be edible in the sense that it cannot be poisonous or an irritant
- different textures & smells
- playing in the dirt and water is FUN!
- moving water with sound and wet stuff
- watering by carrying water from the water feature to the planter bed
- feed the plants with fertilizer mixed with sand and/or clay
- touch, see, feel, engage
- be a seedling fairy - the overnight fairy that shows up and exchanges the seed with a seedling
- try to incorporate parts of the IEP into the time in the garden & nature
- have planter beds at different heights - to adjust for standers, sitters and rollers
- kid sized hand trowels with easy to grip handles
- water, hand towels & wipes for kids with sensory issues (thanks Barbie)
- sun hats
- grow seeds inside in clear plastic cups that kids can take home (southern peas, lima beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin)
I personally don't expect all the special needs kids to learn 'where does food come from'. I'm just keen to provide everybody, regardless of mobility or lack thereof, the chance to get outside and experience nature. I
So yes, reading, researching and collecting ideas. Ideas from parents of special needs kids would be really great.
Sources of additional information:
Gardening with special needs
Humpty Dumpty House
Pompano School Sensory Garden
Pioneer Education Center's Garden for Special Needs Kids
Gardening with Children with Special Needs
School Gardens are for Everyone
The trip started with my typical parking confusion. Where to park to get me and my stuff out and to have enough room to get me and my stuff back in when it is time to leave. I ended up down at the end of the parking lot and walking in with kids getting off the school buses. I noticed one young man in a nice manual chair who was actively engaged with folks.
During part of the sensory garden clean up, there was some discussion about changes and improvements in the sensory garden. I mentioned the central hub of the sensory garden might be a good place to put in some garden space for the special needs kids. And that I would be interested in assisting if it took off. Well, yesterday I got a message that the school asked for me specifically for the special needs kids. They have two classes, about 12 per class and two kiddo's in chairs full time.
I am very excited! And in keeping with the adults and teachers leading by example, I am going to go in my chair. Mostly as showing and leading by example, and also because it is probably the safest place for me to be around a big group of kids. I am really hoping I will be able to incorporate both gardening as well as nature into the volunteer work I'll be doing. Woot! Oh, and it has not escaped my inner ironic and sarcastic yelping box that it was United Healthcare that refused to pay for my wheelchair. You know, 5 years ago, because surely I could just have a rental for a short while. So I will be volunteering in a garden sponsored by United Healthcare to improve healthy living using a wheelchair that helps me to keep active and thereby more healthy. That same wheelchair that UHC refused to pay for.
So now I am compiling ideas and suggestions. I had originally thought to work with plants that grew from big seeds, like lima beans, winter squash and such. But the teachers are going with a 'Taco Garden' theme. Hmm, can you say itsy-bitsy tiny seeds??? And actually, tomatoes and peppers should have been started in July. So, hmmm. Maybe I should go start another few flats of tomatoes and peppers! Actually, I am thinking that Everglades Tomatoes might be a good choice. Plant the whole little tomato! And some kind of mild pepper. Definitely not datils, no matter how local. But hey, don't you need something sweet to go with your tacos? Maybe Pastelillo de Calabaza? Pumpkin Empanadas! Of course. Maybe also some chayote? Now that is a plenty big seed to handle and sprout.
I have been thinking about this for awhile now. Once I realized that special needs kids were frequently left out of the nature trips I started my own little mission. A few of the bullet points I've got in mind so far:
- everything and every part must be edible in the sense that it cannot be poisonous or an irritant
- different textures & smells
- playing in the dirt and water is FUN!
- moving water with sound and wet stuff
- watering by carrying water from the water feature to the planter bed
- feed the plants with fertilizer mixed with sand and/or clay
- touch, see, feel, engage
- be a seedling fairy - the overnight fairy that shows up and exchanges the seed with a seedling
- try to incorporate parts of the IEP into the time in the garden & nature
- have planter beds at different heights - to adjust for standers, sitters and rollers
- kid sized hand trowels with easy to grip handles
- water, hand towels & wipes for kids with sensory issues (thanks Barbie)
- sun hats
- grow seeds inside in clear plastic cups that kids can take home (southern peas, lima beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin)
I personally don't expect all the special needs kids to learn 'where does food come from'. I'm just keen to provide everybody, regardless of mobility or lack thereof, the chance to get outside and experience nature. I
So yes, reading, researching and collecting ideas. Ideas from parents of special needs kids would be really great.
Sources of additional information:
Gardening with special needs
Humpty Dumpty House
Pompano School Sensory Garden
Pioneer Education Center's Garden for Special Needs Kids
Gardening with Children with Special Needs
School Gardens are for Everyone
Saturday, July 28, 2012
DIY Floating Islands
A few experiments that did not work include: floppy frisbees, pipe foam insulation in a laundry bag, styrofoam. Pictured are a few small floating islands made with a form and Great Stuff expanding foam. Another possibility is polystyrene foam: pool noodles and/or cello foam insulation board.
The first photo above is going to be an elevated atoll island; in other words for a plant whose roots do not stay submerged. I will use a sharp serrated knife to carve out the section for the plant. Then I will spray it with adhesive and coat the wet adhesive with beach sand.
These two islands were made for plants that tolerate constantly wet roots and crowns. Such as the impatiens islands you see at Epcot.
Once your island has completely cured, you can decorate it many ways. Use pond paint to paint the surface black or use adhesive to attach crushed coral or sand. Light sand and crushed coral can also be applied when the expanding foam has sit for an hour or so and is still tacky.
My latest project is a floating fairy island toad house. I will be sure and include a picture of the final island!
Oh! You can anchor your floating island by tying a rock to the form.
Home Grown ... of the swimming kind
The next generation of bug snatchers is growing up. Ahhh, how cute. About the size of a silver dollar.Can you spot it hiding down there on the floating island?
And here is one of the folks earlier this spring.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Garden Sketching for Geeks
I can not draw a straight line without a straight edge. I can not sketch to scale. I can't freehand in perspective. I can see it in front of me, I can see it in my mind. Between my mind and my hand, something breaks down. I remember back when in school using tracing paper and a light table to get what I needed for papers and such.
These days?
Never fear! Geek is here!
Step the First: Using your handy dandy digital camera take a photo of what you are after. Pay attention to perspective and angle.
Step the Second: Upload the image to your computer.
Step the Third: Use your imaging software to size the photo to match the size of your sketch paper.
Step the Fourth: Hold (or use painter's tape) the sketch paper over the photo image on your monitor
Step the Fifth: Use a soft pencil and light hand to trace the portion of the photo you want to sketch
Step the Sixth: With the photo image on the monitor and your sketch pad back on your desk (or lap), proceed to complete your sketch using any combination of pencil or ink you desire.
Step the Last: Use your digital scanner to scan and upload your finished sketch work. Supplement or annotate with image editing software as desired.
Last but not least, use your final sketch work in whatever project you are working on.
Here is my latest Geek Sketch. This is the 'concept' illustration in the project plan and proposal for my in service portion of my Master Gardener Training. Fun times. Learning all sorts of new things!
These days?
Never fear! Geek is here!
Step the Second: Upload the image to your computer.
Step the Third: Use your imaging software to size the photo to match the size of your sketch paper.
Step the Fourth: Hold (or use painter's tape) the sketch paper over the photo image on your monitor
Step the Sixth: With the photo image on the monitor and your sketch pad back on your desk (or lap), proceed to complete your sketch using any combination of pencil or ink you desire.
Step the Last: Use your digital scanner to scan and upload your finished sketch work. Supplement or annotate with image editing software as desired.
Last but not least, use your final sketch work in whatever project you are working on.
Here is my latest Geek Sketch. This is the 'concept' illustration in the project plan and proposal for my in service portion of my Master Gardener Training. Fun times. Learning all sorts of new things!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Is now a good time?
This latest in rants from an Imp will eventually get around to gardening. I promise. If you stick with me to the end, you will find something garden related.
This is the latest installment of: "Surprise! Today is not like Yesterday"
Last Friday I started the big batch of fall seeds. Sunday I worked on my Master Gardener garden project at the extension office. Monday I mowed the front and back lawn. Tuesday I got up with plans to take care of various low hanging projects around the garden; including driving the drain pipe under the sidewalk.
Waking and getting up Tuesday started as normal. Sitting out on the front porch enjoying my coffee and planning my day and I noticed a sharp pain in my left abdomen. I felt a bit gassy and bloated. Nothing a good morning session in the reading room won't cure; I think to myself.
The effort of walking down the driveway and the unrewarding visit to the reading room tuckered me out so I stretched out on the couch to hopefully work the kink out of my side. Three hours later I woke from an unheard of daytime nap in decidedly bad straits.
Over the next few hours, I talk to my G.P office, call DH out of work, get the wheelchair aired and loaded (because I am very wobbly by this point), head over to Florida Hospital Emergency Room and get poked, prodded and imaged by the truly wonderful medical staff.
Doc comes into the room, leans against the wall and says - "You have acute diver - mumble - mumble - itis. You need to be admitted and treated with IV fluid and antibiotics." After miraculously surviving the topsy tervy event of 2006 I of course agreed with his recommendation.
I am propped up on the ER table with my iPad, trying to figure out how to spell, let alone pronounce 'diver - mumble - mumble - itis' and just exactly why it requires a hospital bed visit. In walks a slightly pudgy, cheap clothes rack attired young woman carrying a clipboard, pen and sheaf of paper. Admissions I think.
Wrong!
Recall that I am not feeling very good, and this was many days ago, so I'm sure I will mess up some of the retelling of this story. Suffice to say I believe I will convey the intent.
Ms Cheap Clothes Rack waves around a piece of paper and says to me:
Tomorrow, I mumble. Tomorrow my husband is coming and we will see the GI doctor and will know more about what is happening. Now is not a good time.
I get moved into a bed on the surgical ward about the same time night shift has started. The night shift are wonderful. They help get me settled in, connected to IV's, pain and nausea meds administrated and figure out the logistics of the mobility impaired using the rest room. The following morning the day shift nurse Ella is just short of wonderful. She tells me a bit of what is going on with my gut and that I will be in hospital for another several days. After caring for me awhile, she also tells me that I am going through menopause and that is why my temperature regulation is all over the place.
I do a lot of sleeping. Sleep for several hours then read a few minutes about acute diverticulitis. I am starting to realize that this is not going to be something quick and easy to repair. The door to my room is open (see hot flashes temperature regulation discussion) with the privacy curtain pulled. Visiting people knock on the door and come in. I groggily reach for my glasses. After all, I am anxious to see the GI doctor.
A beautiful olive skin petite young girl in well-made plain attire walks into my room holding a clip board, pen and sheaf of papers. Ms Well Made consults her notes and says to me:
Even though I have been sleeping non-stop, I am feeling decidedly better and have my wits about me a bit more than the previous evening. I ask her if she is an employee of the hospital or an employee of a debt collector? She tells me she is a hospital employee. Just recently I read about proposed legislation that would prohibit debt collectors from working in a hospital setting. I was appalled at the time of reading and more so after reading the referenced NY Times article about abhorrent practices by collections agencies passing themselves off as hospital employees and with access to personal information.
I tell Ms Well Made that I have read these news articles and before discussing anything I want to know I am talking to a hospital employee. She hands me a business card. This doesn't really assure me that I am talking to an employee and not a contracted debt collector. I tell her that I know the terms of my insurance and that she is quoting me out-of-network terms. Florida Hospital is in-network I tell her. You have your information wrong. I go on to tell her, furthermore I only have $5 with me. She starts to tell me I can just sign something or another. I interrupt and tell her I'm not signing anything that has $$ figures on it. How on earth can you expect me to sign for an exact liability when I haven't seen the doctor yet, don't know what treatments and test to expect and you can't even get my insurance right? Now is not a good time.
She leaves and I go back to sleep. People are in and out of my small room all day. The Florida Hospital Medical staff are just wonderful. I worry about which of these special tests, services and physicians will be out-of-network. It is quite sneaky the way these medical groups get around the insurance. One common thing is to have a group of medical doctors who are employed by some group that is not the hospital. The hospital can be in-network and the doctor employees of this other group might work full time in the hospital but get away with charging whatever they like because they are out of network. It is a practice I absolutely abhor. One of the many reasons the US healthcare system needs a massive overhaul.
I spent a lot of time in Florida Hospital Orlando (downtown). A whole bunch of months. I think the sun rises and sits with Dr. Dean Cole, so of course I also think the best of Florida Hospital. When my GP told me to head for the ER we went to Florida Hospital. No question in my mind, we passed the closest ER and drove the few more miles to Florida Hospital. Of course, I wasn't really thinking I had an emergency ... but still. I go to Florida Hospital for everything.
I can't fathom these bill collectors in my hospital room. All of the time I spent downtown and I never talked to a bill collector. Of course, all that time downtown was because of the great topsy tervy event of 2006 and I was covered by our group health insurance and the state victim of felonies (uninsured drunk driver) insurance. Am I coming up red-flagged because of 2006? I really don't know.
The nursing staff are fantastically amazing. I get to shower. My every need is met. Frankly, I get quite spoilt. The nurse manager even rounds to personally inquire about the details of my visit. I tell her honestly that her staff is fantastic. She asks me if I'm sure I don't have any complaints. Well, just those darn bill collectors coming around I say. I tell her I really don't understand and the worry that some outside debt collector is messing around in my personal information and holding their hand out for monies I know good and well I have insurance coverage for is not exactly conducive to rest and recovery.
Kenneth Ursin, the corporate director of patient financial services for Adventist (Florida Hospital) states in 'Is Price Transparency More than Just a Pipe Dream' that it's [Adventist] time-of-service collections went up by 13% in 2011. He attributes this to price transparency - an estimate of the cost of charges given to patients. I was not given anything verbally or in writing with an estimated cost of charges. How could an estimate be done while tests are still being run? I however do have point-of-service air" Insurance Specialist air" people trying to collect money or to get me to sign a promissory note.
Mabel, the manager of the Insurance Specialist at Florida Hospital Altamonte assured me that most patients appreciate the explanation of their liability. I can see this, if the discussion included total estimated charges and real insurance coverage amounts. I told her, I do not understand how you can expect to collect from me before you even know the total hospital charges nor have submitted the bill to insurance. More and more this is looking to me like an example of the Accretive Health legal charges brought by Minnesota Attorney General. Strong arm tactics to collect money from patients while they are at a time of physical weakness and mental stress.
Mabel called me in my hospital room while I was waiting for discharge. I was feeling much better and my normal catty mouth and sharp wit was making a recovery. I told her that the actions of the money mongers coming to my room were far more strong arm collection tactics than insurance coverage discussions. It worries me to no end to image these strong arm collections on somebody like my husband or my mother-in-law. They would give over all their money or sign their life away before allowing the smidgen of a question of bad debt. I have no reason to trust the 'Insurance Specialist' at Florida Hospital.
Kenneth Ursin and Trans-Union make online statements such as:
While pursuing TransUnions website, I found this tidbit:
I am beginning to see what transpired. The remaining piece of this medical emergency gone haywire is that our group health insurance has been fouled up for the past few months. Yes, months I said. We thought it was all straightened out until hubs came home from the pharmacy spitting sharp knifes because our insurance company is adamant we have been mail order pharmacy only. First, this is not true; second I would never agree to mail order only and last but not least: I need these antibiotics NOW to continue the care I've just received over 4 days in the hospital. Hubs paid cash - full price.
Stick with me now ... an ah-ha moment. I get flagged for admission while in the ER at Florida Hospital. The wonderfully integrated TransUnion system starts its magic behind the scenes. The system connects to my insurance carrier who erroneously reports I am receiving care from an out of network provider. Therefore my self-pay portion of the bill is going to be very high. Well in excess of $10k. Next, the TransUnion system finds my credit score and determines I am the ideal sick patient sitting in the ER to target for a signed bank promissory note. Instant point of service collection. Instant zero days in accounts receivable. No bad debt risk. Great news if you are the hospital.
If however, you are the sick patient lying there is the ER wondering what the heck is wrong with you and what is involved to getting well and going back to your normal everyday life and getting the fall garden in? Not so great.
This strong arm money mongering doesn't belong in the midst of a medical emergency.
I can not find Kenneth Ursin's email address at Adventist Health Systems. I will send my carefully crafted catty commentary by carrier to contactus@ahss.org
If you have stuck with me to the end, you will remember I promised something garden related. Well, it seems that:
This is the latest installment of: "Surprise! Today is not like Yesterday"
Last Friday I started the big batch of fall seeds. Sunday I worked on my Master Gardener garden project at the extension office. Monday I mowed the front and back lawn. Tuesday I got up with plans to take care of various low hanging projects around the garden; including driving the drain pipe under the sidewalk.
Waking and getting up Tuesday started as normal. Sitting out on the front porch enjoying my coffee and planning my day and I noticed a sharp pain in my left abdomen. I felt a bit gassy and bloated. Nothing a good morning session in the reading room won't cure; I think to myself.
The effort of walking down the driveway and the unrewarding visit to the reading room tuckered me out so I stretched out on the couch to hopefully work the kink out of my side. Three hours later I woke from an unheard of daytime nap in decidedly bad straits.
Over the next few hours, I talk to my G.P office, call DH out of work, get the wheelchair aired and loaded (because I am very wobbly by this point), head over to Florida Hospital Emergency Room and get poked, prodded and imaged by the truly wonderful medical staff.
Doc comes into the room, leans against the wall and says - "You have acute diver - mumble - mumble - itis. You need to be admitted and treated with IV fluid and antibiotics." After miraculously surviving the topsy tervy event of 2006 I of course agreed with his recommendation.
I am propped up on the ER table with my iPad, trying to figure out how to spell, let alone pronounce 'diver - mumble - mumble - itis' and just exactly why it requires a hospital bed visit. In walks a slightly pudgy, cheap clothes rack attired young woman carrying a clipboard, pen and sheaf of paper. Admissions I think.
Wrong!
Recall that I am not feeling very good, and this was many days ago, so I'm sure I will mess up some of the retelling of this story. Suffice to say I believe I will convey the intent.
Ms Cheap Clothes Rack waves around a piece of paper and says to me:
Your charges so far are over $6000 of which you are responsible for about $2000. Is now a good time to discuss how you want to settle this? Or would tomorrow be better?I am a bit confused. We have insurance. Insurance that we pay over two grand a month for. In order to save ourselves at least some money on the darn monthly bill, we converted in March to a high deductible plan. I know I have met at least 2/3 of my 3K deductible. I am actually more than just a little confused. I am very confused, and being Ms Susy Smart Pockets came to the ER with the very barest of essentials. I brought my phone, iPad and a whopping $5 dollar bill. I wonder if she would take my fiver for full payment?
Tomorrow, I mumble. Tomorrow my husband is coming and we will see the GI doctor and will know more about what is happening. Now is not a good time.
I get moved into a bed on the surgical ward about the same time night shift has started. The night shift are wonderful. They help get me settled in, connected to IV's, pain and nausea meds administrated and figure out the logistics of the mobility impaired using the rest room. The following morning the day shift nurse Ella is just short of wonderful. She tells me a bit of what is going on with my gut and that I will be in hospital for another several days. After caring for me awhile, she also tells me that I am going through menopause and that is why my temperature regulation is all over the place.
I do a lot of sleeping. Sleep for several hours then read a few minutes about acute diverticulitis. I am starting to realize that this is not going to be something quick and easy to repair. The door to my room is open (see hot flashes temperature regulation discussion) with the privacy curtain pulled. Visiting people knock on the door and come in. I groggily reach for my glasses. After all, I am anxious to see the GI doctor.
A beautiful olive skin petite young girl in well-made plain attire walks into my room holding a clip board, pen and sheaf of papers. Ms Well Made consults her notes and says to me:
Your deductible is $3000 and you are responsible for 50% of the charges over $3000. And your maximum out of pocket is $11000 something. Is now a good time to discuss how you want to settle this?
Even though I have been sleeping non-stop, I am feeling decidedly better and have my wits about me a bit more than the previous evening. I ask her if she is an employee of the hospital or an employee of a debt collector? She tells me she is a hospital employee. Just recently I read about proposed legislation that would prohibit debt collectors from working in a hospital setting. I was appalled at the time of reading and more so after reading the referenced NY Times article about abhorrent practices by collections agencies passing themselves off as hospital employees and with access to personal information.
I tell Ms Well Made that I have read these news articles and before discussing anything I want to know I am talking to a hospital employee. She hands me a business card. This doesn't really assure me that I am talking to an employee and not a contracted debt collector. I tell her that I know the terms of my insurance and that she is quoting me out-of-network terms. Florida Hospital is in-network I tell her. You have your information wrong. I go on to tell her, furthermore I only have $5 with me. She starts to tell me I can just sign something or another. I interrupt and tell her I'm not signing anything that has $$ figures on it. How on earth can you expect me to sign for an exact liability when I haven't seen the doctor yet, don't know what treatments and test to expect and you can't even get my insurance right? Now is not a good time.
She leaves and I go back to sleep. People are in and out of my small room all day. The Florida Hospital Medical staff are just wonderful. I worry about which of these special tests, services and physicians will be out-of-network. It is quite sneaky the way these medical groups get around the insurance. One common thing is to have a group of medical doctors who are employed by some group that is not the hospital. The hospital can be in-network and the doctor employees of this other group might work full time in the hospital but get away with charging whatever they like because they are out of network. It is a practice I absolutely abhor. One of the many reasons the US healthcare system needs a massive overhaul.
I spent a lot of time in Florida Hospital Orlando (downtown). A whole bunch of months. I think the sun rises and sits with Dr. Dean Cole, so of course I also think the best of Florida Hospital. When my GP told me to head for the ER we went to Florida Hospital. No question in my mind, we passed the closest ER and drove the few more miles to Florida Hospital. Of course, I wasn't really thinking I had an emergency ... but still. I go to Florida Hospital for everything.
I can't fathom these bill collectors in my hospital room. All of the time I spent downtown and I never talked to a bill collector. Of course, all that time downtown was because of the great topsy tervy event of 2006 and I was covered by our group health insurance and the state victim of felonies (uninsured drunk driver) insurance. Am I coming up red-flagged because of 2006? I really don't know.
The nursing staff are fantastically amazing. I get to shower. My every need is met. Frankly, I get quite spoilt. The nurse manager even rounds to personally inquire about the details of my visit. I tell her honestly that her staff is fantastic. She asks me if I'm sure I don't have any complaints. Well, just those darn bill collectors coming around I say. I tell her I really don't understand and the worry that some outside debt collector is messing around in my personal information and holding their hand out for monies I know good and well I have insurance coverage for is not exactly conducive to rest and recovery.
Kenneth Ursin, the corporate director of patient financial services for Adventist (Florida Hospital) states in 'Is Price Transparency More than Just a Pipe Dream' that it's [Adventist] time-of-service collections went up by 13% in 2011. He attributes this to price transparency - an estimate of the cost of charges given to patients. I was not given anything verbally or in writing with an estimated cost of charges. How could an estimate be done while tests are still being run? I however do have point-of-service air" Insurance Specialist air" people trying to collect money or to get me to sign a promissory note.
Mabel, the manager of the Insurance Specialist at Florida Hospital Altamonte assured me that most patients appreciate the explanation of their liability. I can see this, if the discussion included total estimated charges and real insurance coverage amounts. I told her, I do not understand how you can expect to collect from me before you even know the total hospital charges nor have submitted the bill to insurance. More and more this is looking to me like an example of the Accretive Health legal charges brought by Minnesota Attorney General. Strong arm tactics to collect money from patients while they are at a time of physical weakness and mental stress.
Mabel called me in my hospital room while I was waiting for discharge. I was feeling much better and my normal catty mouth and sharp wit was making a recovery. I told her that the actions of the money mongers coming to my room were far more strong arm collection tactics than insurance coverage discussions. It worries me to no end to image these strong arm collections on somebody like my husband or my mother-in-law. They would give over all their money or sign their life away before allowing the smidgen of a question of bad debt. I have no reason to trust the 'Insurance Specialist' at Florida Hospital.
Kenneth Ursin and Trans-Union make online statements such as:
- improve point of service collection
- reduce bad debt
- [patients] prefer to know their financial responsibility prior to healthcare service
- [hospitals] create a culture of collections through education, scripting and technology
- [collections] prioritize self-pay accounts by ability and likelihood of payment
- [collections] reduce days in accounts receivable
While pursuing TransUnions website, I found this tidbit:
Along with:
Couple this solution with TransUnion ClearQuote to determine an estimate of the patient payment for service alongside the patient’s ability-to-pay – right at the point-of-service.
- Step 1:
- Patient identity information is sent to TransUnion Healthcare via a standard HL7 feed from your registration system.
- Step 2:
- TransUnion compares the patient registration information against multiple data sets and uses the patient’s credit report to calculate financial estimates, including probability of financial aid and likelihood of collections.
- Step 3:
- Easily set tailored thresholds, like Federal Poverty Level (FPL) percentage cutoffs, that correspond to decision messages, such as “Pursue Payment Arrangement”.
- Step 4:
- Alert messages are displayed in front of the user’s registration screen with the financial estimates and color-coded decision messages based on the thresholds you’ve set.
Verify insurance eligibility and benefits before delivering services at the point-of-service.
- Step 1:
- Patient identity and insurance information is sent to TransUnion Healthcare via a standard EDI transaction from your patient registration system.
- Step 2:
- A benefit eligibility inquiry (HIPAA ANSI X12 270) message is transmitted to patient’s insurance company.
- Step 3:
- A benefit eligibility response (HIPAA ANSI X12 271) message is returned by insurance company.
- Step 4:
- Coverage and benefit information is integrated into your patient registration system via a standard EDI process. In addition, coverage and benefit information can be viewed via the MedConnect portal if integration is not available.
I am beginning to see what transpired. The remaining piece of this medical emergency gone haywire is that our group health insurance has been fouled up for the past few months. Yes, months I said. We thought it was all straightened out until hubs came home from the pharmacy spitting sharp knifes because our insurance company is adamant we have been mail order pharmacy only. First, this is not true; second I would never agree to mail order only and last but not least: I need these antibiotics NOW to continue the care I've just received over 4 days in the hospital. Hubs paid cash - full price.
Stick with me now ... an ah-ha moment. I get flagged for admission while in the ER at Florida Hospital. The wonderfully integrated TransUnion system starts its magic behind the scenes. The system connects to my insurance carrier who erroneously reports I am receiving care from an out of network provider. Therefore my self-pay portion of the bill is going to be very high. Well in excess of $10k. Next, the TransUnion system finds my credit score and determines I am the ideal sick patient sitting in the ER to target for a signed bank promissory note. Instant point of service collection. Instant zero days in accounts receivable. No bad debt risk. Great news if you are the hospital.
If however, you are the sick patient lying there is the ER wondering what the heck is wrong with you and what is involved to getting well and going back to your normal everyday life and getting the fall garden in? Not so great.
This strong arm money mongering doesn't belong in the midst of a medical emergency.
I can not find Kenneth Ursin's email address at Adventist Health Systems. I will send my carefully crafted catty commentary by carrier to contactus@ahss.org
If you have stuck with me to the end, you will remember I promised something garden related. Well, it seems that:
[treating diverticulosis] Eating a high-fiber diet is the only requirement highly emphasized across the medical literature.I need to get over this and get the fall garden in. And restart some of the seeds from last week. And buy a mulberry tree. Need lots of fresh fruit. Thankfully it is raining as I finish this. I tried to water this morning and wimped out. Fortunately, the garden mostly took care of itself while I was away.
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