The Bookworm Sez

It’d be just your luck. “In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now You Get Hit by a Bus” doesn’t overlook You’re outside, enjoying a nice sunny day and, like Wile E. Coyote, a piano falls on your head. Or a car for When You’re Not Around Later” by Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer with Gene Newman c.2021, Workman Publishing any part of American life, in an effort to ensure that your anxiety is eased some. Schneiderman, Seifer and Newman do a completely thorough job with crashes through the wall $17.95 / $23.95 Canada that, and they admit up-front that not onto your bed. Or treeclimbing wasn’t such a good 244 pages everything is mandatory. This lends a sense of “ahhhhhhh” right away. If you it’s probably not in a safe deposit box). Then think hard. Include all your most important passwords, safe combinations, and 4-digit codes in your documentation. You want to make it as easy as possible for a loved one to find any appropriate information in an emergency. Remembering your time-limit, mindwalk yourself through your home and write down anything someone might need to know: alarm codes, maintenance schedules, garbage day, and the names and contacts for repair contractors. While you’re doing this, you’ll inevitably think about the kids and your pets, so keep a running list of don’t-forgets for them, too. Document your doctors, insurance policies, and benefits you’re entitled to receive. Note your Power of Attorney idea. Stuff happens. And “In Case You Get Hit by a Bus” by Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer, with Gene Newman, helps your family to know what to do. Why is it that the document you need is never where it’s supposed to be? That’s bad for you, so imagine if a loved one was looking for that document in panic mode. That’s the kind of thing Schneiderman and Seifer are trying to stave off in this book. As the founders of Everplans, they know that saving all your information in one place is “liberating” and comforting. And it’s not that hard to do... First, in every step inside this book, give yourself ten minutes and don’t stress. Start by looking for the 15 documents you’ll need most often, scan them, and decide on the most convenient, best place to store them (hint: THE BOOKWORM SEZ By Terri Schlichenmeyer don’t have Document X, don’t sweat. Still, hints on how to find the top 15 most-needed docs and a few more worksheets might’ve been nice. Be scared by reading “The Big CloseOut.” Be comforted by skipping directly to tips on memory-making. Use what you need here. Flexibility is key to Everplans’ plans and to this book, and you know how many “what-ifs” you’ve thought about in the past year. Now, you’ll always think about them. And since you’ll need a book like “If You Get Hit by a Bus,” you’re in luck. Look for the reviewed book at a bookstore or a library near you. v (POA) and medical POA. Name an executor. If you’re a business owner, make a succession plan. And Soil testing for lawn, garden of its mobile and ever-changing chemical forms in the soil. However, recomST. CLOUD, Minn. — As the temperatures continue to warm and frost finally, remove the skeletons from your closet while you can. One way or another, you’ll be glad you did. Eventually. Eventually, you’ll be glad you did everything that’s inside this book; but doing so will take a year’s worth of 10-minute sessions. Indeed, “In Case comes out of the ground, many of us are mendations are given based on lawn Spring seminar set for April 15 itching to spring into lawn and garden work. One of the first things on your care practices, plant or crops being grown as indicated on the form. ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Join the Benton County Extension Master Gardeners for the annual Spring Seminar on April 15 at 7:00 pm. This session will take place via Zoom. ment, and what we can do to be a part of the solution to minimize the spread of invasive species. There will be time to ask questions. This seminar is free and open to the to-do list might be getting a soil test done. This time of year, I get numerous phone calls about fertilizers and other soil additives. Sending a sample of your soil to a qualified lab can remove the More than one sample may need to be collected and analyzed in your yard and garden. For example, one sample from your vegetable garden and a second from your lawn should be collected. The soil test form provides instructions

The featured speakers will be Monika public. You must register in advance to guesswork out of fertilizer recommen- on how to collect a sample. Chandler and Mari Hardel from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Specialist team. The evening will include information on what invasive plants are, how they are introduced and thrive in the environreceive the link to join. To register you can visit https://z.umn.edu/ SpringSeminar or call (320) 255-6169. This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v dations. This not only makes good economic sense, but also helps ensure fertile soils without excess fertilizer application. Excess fertilizer can result in undesired vegetative versus fruit production growth and contribute to polluThe University of Minnesota Soil Testing Laboratory completes soil analysis for farm or for home and garden. A local private lab may also be an option for you. tion in the environment. The standard soil test from the MATHIOWETZ CONSTRUCTION 30676 County Rd 24 Sleepy Eye, MN. 56085 www.mathiowetzconst.com office@mathiowetzconst.com 507-794-6953 Results of the soil test include data on soil fertility, pH, and organic matter. In addition, fertilizer recommendations are provided according to the soil test University of Minnesota will cost $17. Additional testing can be added for small fees but starting with the basic test is usually recommended.

In All We Do, Farm Friendly Since 1924 data. A standard test from the Most county Extension offices have

We Do It Right! University of Minnesota Soil Testing the submission forms and soil testing – Aggregates – Grove Removal Laboratory will include soil texture, bags. The information can also be found – Building Pads – Hauling organic matter, phosphorus (P), potasat http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/test– Demolition – Site Grading sium (K), and pH. The most common ing-services/lawn-garden. – Ditch Cleaning – Terraces fertilizer used for a fertility program is This article was submitted by Katie – Farm Drainage – Equipment Sales & Service nitrogen. Nitrogen (N) is not common- Drewitz, University of Minnesota An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer ly included with the test results because Extension. v