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Dementia-friendly ‘Yesteryear Kits’ available The Park Rapids Area Library is offering Yesteryear Kits, designed to aid people experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. According to a library press release, each theme-based kit contains items for the caregiver and loved ones to use together as well as resources specially selected for the caregiver. Items are selected to spark memories, start conversations and lead to positive engagement for people experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia. Photos, music, games and memorabilia can trigger memories and create a bridge to help caregivers and loved ones connect, the release says. Research shows that talking about their lives can help people affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia reduce stress and improve quality of life. To start, the kits’ themes will include school days of yesteryear, movie stars of yesteryear, farm life, fun and games. Coming soon
are kits on flowers and gardening and the Bible and gospel music. A member of the ACTION Park Rapids “dementia friendly community” action team, the library hopes to support the area’s aging community by making the kits available for checkout. Funding for the project is made possible by the Park Rapids Friends of the Library. For more information, contact Mary Niklaus SUBMITTED PHOTO at 218-732-4966 or "School days" and "fun and games" are two of the themes of yesteryear kits parkrapids@krls.org. available for checkout at the Park Rapids Area Library.
TOMATOES From Page 2
► Mulching around tomato plants controls weeds and conserves moisture. Apply 2 to 3 inches of straw, shredded bark, compost or dried grass clippings that haven’t been treated with lawn herbicides. Clippings from lawns that have been weed-sprayed can cause permanent damage to tomato plants. ► Avoid overhead sprinkling of tomato plants, because it can worsen foliage diseases by splashing fungi and bacteria from soil onto plants and from leaf to leaf. Water only the soil or use soaker hoses. ► Prevent leaf diseases by keeping water off foliage, staking plants and mulching soil. During periods of high humidity, vegetable disease preventative fungicides containing chlorothalonil can be applied before symptoms occur, or at the very earliest signs following label directions. ► Blossom end rot is a very common tomato disorder causing the bottom of the fruit to become sunken, brownblack and leathery. It’s caused by the plant’s inability to access available soil calcium because of fluctuating soil moisture, roots damaged by hoeing too close or soil that’s too wet or too dry.
MICHAEL VOSBURG / FORUM PHOTO EDITOR
Mulching around tomato plants conserves soil moisture and can prevent disease and fruit disorders. It’s worse on the first fruits of the season, and plants frequently work themselves out of the situation. To reduce the disorder, apply mulch to keep soil moisture uniform and reduce the need for close cultivation. Research on calcium sprays is inconclusive. Epsom salts are sometimes touted as a cure, but the product is definitely not recommended by university research, as it can cause magnesium imbalance. Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.
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