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September 2021
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Choosing the Best Child Care
The Buy
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Therapeutic Gardens
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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contents
September '21
FEATURE ARTICLES
12
Choosing Child Care Local, longtime child care experts sound off on choosing the best child care for your little one.
18
The Buy Nothing Project Buy Nothing Project groups are building community and preserving the environment through a spirit of proximity and generosity.
24
Therapeutic Gardens Finding holistic health and healing among the flora.
12 IN EVERY ISSUE
18
6
Editor’s Notes
8
Couve Scoop • Give More 24! • COVID-19 School Guidelines • Voodoo Coming to Vancouver
10 Mosaic Family Voyage
24
The Messerschmidt family prepares for the voyage of their lives: sailing the open ocean south to Mexico.
30 Calendar of Events & Activities
ON THE WEB • Surrogacy Stories: Amanda's Seed
8 4
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
It’s your moment. The moment you decide to start a family, your journey to parenthood begins. PeaceHealth is here for every moment along the way. The first step is choosing an obstetrician as your pregnancy partner. Michael Farber, MD, is known for his compassionate bedside manner and great communication to help patients reach their best health possible. Partnering with Dr. Farber also brings peace of mind knowing your bundle of joy will be delivered at PeaceHealth Family Birth Center – named one of the best maternity hospitals in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine two years in a row.
Learn more at peacehealth.org/obgyn or call 360-727-0848.
Michael Farber, MD PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
5
Photo by Marie Pham Photography
EDITOR'S NOTES
Love is Action
“The capacity to be connected in meaningful and healthy ways is shaped by our earliest relationships,” writes Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD in his new book, “What Happened to You?” (Flatiron Books, 2021) co-authored by none other than Oprah Winfrey. “Love, and loving caregiving, is the foundation of our development. What happened to you as an infant has a profound impact on this capacity to love and be loved.” We, as parents, love our children. And most of us want to have that “profound impact on their capacity to love and be loved” as they grow. But it’s not always easy to express, or enact, that love. Babies, in particular, are completely dependent on us, and caring for them can be consuming. But the good news is that, unlike older children, whose needs can get complicated, babies’ needs are fundamental and straightforward. For babies, Dr. Perry tells us, love is communicated by meeting the most basic of human needs. “To the newborn,” Dr. Perry tells us, “love is action; it is attentive, responsive, nurturing care that adults provide. A parent may truly love his child, but if he is sitting at a computer posting on social media about how much he loves his child while the infant is in another room, awake, hungry, and crying, the infant experiences no love.” Ouch. Most of us have experienced moments like this. But each day we have the opportunity to deliberately improve our actions of love in concrete ways. “To the infant, skin-to-skin warmth, the smell of the parent, the sights and sounds of her caregivers, the attentive and responsive caregiver’s actions—that becomes love. The thousands of these loving, responsive interactions shape the developing brain of the infant. These loving moments literally build the foundation of the organizing brain.” Even if we didn’t receive the active love in our own childhoods that Dr. Perry describes, we each have the opportunity to break cycles of neglect and abuse in favor of bonds of trust and affection. In this month’s issue, learn from local, seasoned child care professionals about finding a positive child care environment that will be the best fit for your family (page 12). Plus, learn how interacting with nature and gardens can have a profound impact on healing (page 24), and check out a movement called The Buy Nothing Project that is building community and preserving the environment, all through generosity between neighbors (page 18).
www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com
Volume 20, Issue 9 Publisher
Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762
Editor
Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762
Associate Editor
Sarah Mortensen Sarah@vancouverfamilymagazine.com
Graphic Designer
I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com
Ad Designer
Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com
Contributing Writers
Claire Curtis, Kristen Flowers, Rachel Messerschmidt, Sarah Mortensen
Ad Sales
sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2021. All rights reserved. No portion of Vancouver Family Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC and staff do not recommend or endorse any service, product, or content represented in this magazine or on our website. The sole purpose of this publication is to provide information on available services and/or products. It is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of information given. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC, and/or Julie Buchan and Nikki Klock and staff do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this magazine or on our website. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
On the Cover:
Three-month-old Elijah of Vancouver loved making cute faces at the camera during his photo shoot with Mandy of Tiny Times Photography.
Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Photo by Mandy Marie tinytimesphotography.com tinytimesphoto @TinyTimesPhotography
6
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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BUYING OR SELLING Education should always be the first step. Not ready for a class? Educational blogs & videos available on the website for those not ready for a class.
We’d like to introduce: Gideyn DeMars with ReMax Equity Group. He's a 2nd generation realtor and can be reached at: 360-601-0868 (cell) GideynD@gmail.com (email)
Tracie DeMars REMAX Equity Group traciedemars@aol.com We would love to be the ones you call when you are thinking about buying, or selling, or refinanciang, and we hope that you will. However, the classes are non-promotional, and informational only.
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Meet Ester tvc.org/meet-ester Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
7
Notable News, Events & Efforts in Clark County
SEPTEMBER 2021 There are more than 1,500 nonprofits in Clark County, and one local event offers donors the chance to find, support and celebrate more than 200 of these vital community organizations. Give More 24! is a 24-hour, online giving marathon dedicated to Southwest Washington causes. This year’s event takes place on Thursday, September 23. On that day, thousands of people who want to support local nonprofits will visit GiveMore24.org to donate. When they do, their gifts will literally "give more" because every donation has a chance of helping nonprofits win matching funds and cash prizes. The website tallies every donation in real time, allowing donors to watch the giving add up and to track the progress of their favorite charities. Visitors can also read about the cash prizes available to nonprofits and help their favorite organizations compete for these awards. It's a fun, friendly competition where everyone wins because every effort advances the common good. Participating nonprofits represent causes from animals and the arts to veterans and youth development and everything in between. With so many unique missions to support, everyone can find a way to make a difference in their community that is personally meaningful. There are a multitude of ways to give as well. Donating to a participating nonprofit is the most important. Another way is to bring awareness to a cause or organization by using social media to encourage others to give to the campaign. For the most dedicated champions of a particular cause, there's even an option to create a personal fundraiser and rally your family and friends around a specific nonprofit. The regional giving day is in its eighth year of operation and is organized by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. Part of this organization's mission is to inspire a culture of giving, and Give More 24! is a perfect example of what this looks like. Last year, the event engaged more than 6,000 individual donors and raised just over $2.9 million for local charities. This year, participating nonprofits and sponsors are hoping to raise $3.2 million. The Community Foundation says this goal and so much more is possible. The key is community involvement, which only grows when people make an extra effort to encourage their friends, family members and colleagues to give something more to local causes. Because all the giving happens online, gifts come in from across the region and even around the world. Historically, nonprofits have hosted community events on the giving day as well. Last year, many of these became virtual as a result of the pandemic, so this year may include a hybrid of both in-person and online events for people to choose from. A full listing can be found at https://www.givemore24.org/info/events.
8
Nonprofit organizations all over Southwest Washington will celebrate a day of community giving on September 23, 2021. Photos courtesy of Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
Masks Required in Schools, Regardless of Vaccination Status On July 28, the Washington State Department of Health issued a statement outlining K-12 public and private school health requirements for the 2021-2022 school year related to COVID-19. The statement reflects recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for students in grades K-12 aimed at minimizing transmission of COVID-19 while also maximizing inperson
instruction.
Most
notable in the statement is a mask mandate: “All staff and students must continue to wear face coverings/masks, regardless of vaccination status.” indoor
This
applies
to
environments
only. Face coverings are not
required
outdoors,
regardless of vaccination status. The document does leave open the possibility of masking becoming optional for vaccinated individuals at some point in the future. Also updated from last year are quarantine requirements for vaccinated students. “Fully vaccinated students and staff who do not have symptoms do not have to quarantine when exposed to COVID-19 and may not require COVID-19 testing.” Adjustments to health requirements are expected to change as the school year progresses and regional COVID-19 cases are assessed.
VOODOO DOUGHNUT COMING TO VANCOUVER Have you noticed a large dose of pink near Vancouver Mall? A building on Vancouver Mall Drive that previously housed a Chase bank branch is being transformed into Vancouver’s first Voodoo Doughnut location. The Portland landmark is coming across the river, giving Clark County residents the chance to enjoy the treats and the vibe, without the drive south across the bridge. Since 2003, Voodoo has grown from its Portland roots to open shops in Colorado, Texas, California and even Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. The Vancouver store will be its 12th location, and is currently scheduled to open in November. Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
9
MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE
By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.
Preparing for
the Big Voyage
After our epic orca encounter this last summer, we wrapped up our spring and summer cruising in the San Juan Islands and crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca south to Port Townsend. There, we celebrated our daughter’s 7th birthday and put the boat into a marina for the weekend so that we could take our kids down to Vancouver for a couple weeks to visit grandparents.
The amazing team at the Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-Op took on the big repair project to replace the large chunk of our teak toerail which had been ripped out in an anchorage accident last summer. They did a fantastic job. Now I definitely feel the pressure to take the time for the cosmetic work of sanding the rest of the original toerail back to some semblance of its former glory.
My husband, Brenden, and I returned to the boat for some good old-fashioned physical labor. We both took two weeks of vacation from our jobs so that we could have the boat hauled out of the water to complete some important projects before we leave to sail the open ocean south toward Mexico.
We also completed lots of smaller projects on our to-do list such as rigging an attachment point for our removeable staysail stay, replacing our anchor rope rode with new line, and also switching the anchor chain around so that the opposite end will be the new more-commonly used section.
We learned how to lay up fiberglass and repaired a soft spot in the foredeck of the boat. The patch job isn’t pretty, but the underlying structure is stronger than before, which is what counts. We also used our new fiberglass skills to reattach one of the main bulkhead walls inside the boat to the underside of the cabin top—another structural support repair to help ensure the boat is safe for our journey down the West Coast.
We bought jerry jugs for holding extra diesel for the journey, in case the winds don’t cooperate and we need to motor some of the distance down the coast. We bought lots of new clothes for ourselves and the kiddos since we’ve been neglecting our wardrobes, and last year’s outfits were getting threadbare. Oh, and of course, we bought food and provisions for the journey and worked out last minute details with our crew. continued on next page
Top: Bottom:
10
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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Two weeks of hard work in the boat yard flew by and we took a week to again drive south to Vancouver for our own time visiting with family before leaving. Despite everything we’ve done to prepare, especially lately, it really came as a bit of a shock to me when I realized that our journey— this adventure we’ve planned for literally over half a decade—is upon us. We’re moving to Mexico. We’ve never been there. We don’t speak the language (or, at least, certainly not very well). And we’re just up and going? Are we crazy? I hope not.
Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives living and cruising full time aboard their sailboat, Mosaic. Currently traveling from the Pacific Northwest, down the west coast of the U.S., and onward into Mexico, Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www. mosaicvoyage.com. She shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.
Photos: Page 10, Top: Highly skilled woodworkers from Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-Op work on replacing the teak toerail on the author’s sailboat, Mosaic. Bottom left: The author’s daughter got a chance to celebrate her birthday with family in Woodland and Vancouver. Bottom right: The author and her husband worked on many of the projects themselves to get their boat ready for potentially treacherous offshore sailing. Page 11, Top: Mosaic, the author’s sailboat and home, is lifted out of the water and stored on dry land for some serious projects before their passage down the west coast. Bottom grid: An ability to learn new skills, such as how to lay up fiberglass and repair a boat's flexing deck, is paramount to being successful in maintaining a boat when living on a strict budget.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
11
Feature: Choosing Child Care
Choosing Child Care:
Advice From Clark County Experts
All photos courtesy Kiddie Academy Salmon Creek
By Kristen Flowers
Like we do every day, my husband
and I arrive home from work to find our 2-year old daughter, Lilly, playing with our babysitter. During a quick update on the day, the sitter explains that they played with Play-Doh, watched Blue’s Clues and built a fort that Lilly’s panda was not allowed in. It sounds like a typical day for our sitter, who watches our daughter each day so we can go to work. But after the rundown, the mood shifts. Our sitter’s eyes drop to the floor. We know
what’s coming because it’s happened twice before. She has decided to go back to school and can’t watch Lilly anymore. We smile so as not to show our disappointment. This is a big step, and we ask our babysitter about what dreams she wants to accomplish. If she ever needs to put us as a reference, we tell her, don’t hesitate to put us down. Despite the smile plastered on my face, the tears threaten to come. We are going to have to find another babysitter. Again.
Since having Lilly, finding a long-term babysitter that will show up on time and engage with my child has been the most stressful period of my life. You want someone who will love your child just as much as you will. Sadly, getting someone like that is a rare find. At least, that’s been my experience. That’s why, after placing ads, interviewing, having mock playdates and training what continued on next page
w what you want o n K “ .” t i ] n g r o looking fo [t he d n a avis, d i rector and teach J u l ie D e r at
12
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
A Pe
o th M acefu l Pa
s ntes
o ri
continued from previous page
you think is the perfect replacement, it’s utterly devastating to have them leave you. It’s a bit like a love affair, but unlike in romance, you have no choice but to try again if you need two incomes in your house. Luckily, there are more options for child care in Southwest Washington than ever before. Lindsay Childers, the director of education at Kiddie Academy of Salmon Creek, agrees: “I believe that we are pretty lucky to live in a time where there are lots of care options for young children.” As two working parents in a family become the norm, child care is a necessity, not a luxury. Still, the act of finding a facility to suit both the child’s and the parent’s needs is complex and incredibly tedious. Before touring and interviewing dozens of child care facilities, Julie Davis, the director and teacher at A Peaceful Path Montessori in Vancouver, says there is something parents should do first. “I would really like them to discuss with their partner, if [they] have one, what [their] criteria is going to be. Do they want hands-on? Do they want [a center] with a lot of outdoor time? If they
don’t know that before going in, it makes it harder to remember. Know what you want and [then] go looking for it.” Davis says finding the right fit in a school is all about knowing your child. “If my child is really into the outdoors and dancing, finding a school whose focus is making sure kids can write their ABCs might not be a good fit,” she suggests. “[You will want to] ask them how physicality will come into play for the child’s learning.” If knowing your child’s needs is step one, then step two, Davis believes, is sitting down with educators to ask the tough questions that you might be afraid to ask. “I would ask questions like, how do you discipline your [students]? Why did you become a teacher? What’s the most important part of the curriculum to you?” While inside the child care center, look around and see if your child’s interests are represented. If your child is into music, make sure that there are instruments available and ask the instructors if your child can freely play with them or only during a structured time. If reading and learning ABCs are the priority, look for
materials that the child can interact with to teach those lessons. Liz Luda, a Vancouver mom, knows she’s looking for “a school with a lot of options” when it’s time for her 4-year old to attend child care. Luda hopes that the school she chooses will have many different things her son can try before they look for a singular focus. Luda moved to Southwest Washington early last year from across the country for new employment positions. While her job started right away, her husband’s work was put on hold due to the pandemic. It made the child care question an easy one to answer: Her husband would stay home with their son while she worked full time. It’s was a tough decision for Luda, but turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”He’s learned so much while he was home with his dad because there was a lot more oneon-one time.” While her son has had tremendous growth, it hasn’t been without its challenges. “It was harder on my husband than it was on me because I was still able to have some continued on page 14
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
13
Feature: Choosing Child Care (cont'd) continued from page 13
form of adult interaction every weekday versus he was home with our son every day.” Luda laughs at the idea of this being a permanent situation, though. Her husband has expressed that he doesn’t want to do it long term. It worked for them in the pandemic, but they both enjoy what they do, and he’s anxious to get back to his fulltime job. Davis understands their situation and says parents who were their children’s only adult interaction can benefit significantly from child care facilities, “especially, if you have an only child. I think it’s really beneficial to interact with other children in a way where they have to wait and take turns and learn different personalities of other children.” Childers says it’s a great positive experience for children to learn to trust and have confidence around an adult who is not part of the family. “For many of our students, we are the first nonfamily member to spend any time with them.” She further explains that the positive experiences coming out of a class are invaluable. “There is great power in waiting and empathy. Waiting for your classmate to be heard and then for you to be heard.” At Kiddie Academy of Salmon Creek, parents can check in any time through the live stream video being broadcast in the classroom. They can watch who they are playing with, see if there was any separation anxiety after they left and how the educators respond to it. Most importantly, they can learn who their child is during school. At the end of the day, there is also a daily report covering what they ate, bathroom updates, pictures of them engaged in activities, and even continued on page 16
14
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
Captions
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For more information or to subscribe, call 360-882-7762 or visit www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com.
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15
Feature: Choosing Child Care (cont'd) continued from page 14
details of challenging parts of the day. It’s truly a marriage between technology and child care. Knowing the right questions to ask and watching your child’s interactions in realtime is excellent, but it’s the training behind the scenes that make places like Kiddie Academy of Salmon Creek and A Peaceful Path Montessori run.
she’s made throughout her years as an educator: “I really learned that children don’t need a lot of fancy, expensive things to get their developmental needs met.” That can be the message most parents need to hear, because no matter what route parents decide to go down with their children’s care, they can trust that they know their child best.
At Kiddie Academy of Salmon Creek, teachers are only considered if they have a four-year degree in education or a likeminded field. The instructors also go through many other training disciplines, including CPR/First Aid training, food handling and pathogens training. Not only do the teachers have to be highly trained, but the school itself also needs to be licensed and up to code. At A Peaceful Path Montessori, the school holds different certificates, must show that their yard is safely fenced and that the school has developmentally and age-appropriate toys among many other requirements. When it comes to child care, there are so many different routes to go down that it can get overwhelming for parents. We all want to make the right choice, whether it’s with an in-home nanny, a structured child care facility, or having a parent stay home with the child. But whatever the decision turns out to be, your child can thrive. Davis shares a significant observation
16
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, www. AccordingtoKristen.com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her new Cricut maker.
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Feature: The Buy Nothing Project
The
BUY
N
THING By Claire Curtis
Where can you find a couch, a fire truck-themed bed, a gear bike and a little red adventure wagon all for free? The same place I did: your local Buy Nothing group (currently found) on Facebook. I’ve been a member of three different Buy Nothing groups in two different Washington counties and have experienced astonishing generosity from my neighbors and kindness that can’t be quantified.
How It All Began
A walk around Bainbridge Island, Washington in 2013, is where founders, Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller conceived the first Buy Nothing group. “As of July 2021, the Buy Nothing Project has at least 4.25 million participants in 44 countries, with over 6,500 communities
led by more than 13,000 volunteers,” says Rockefeller. “The Buy Nothing Project is an ongoing experiment. It was clear within hours of setting up our first online Buy Nothing community that this sort of gift economy had [a] deep resonance with our neighbors.” Buy Nothing is a hyper-local network that “offers people a way to give and receive, share, lend and express gratitude through a worldwide network of local gift economies in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors,” explains Mike Tribe, a handyman and one of the administrators of his Buy Nothing Group based in North Clark County. “Hyper-local refers to a neighborhood size that is small enough to foster relationships
G iv e
Fr ee ly,
Share
C reatively
between its members. It also refers to the ability to interact with group members without driving great distances.”
Reducing Waste
Buy Nothing is saving hundreds of items from landing in the landfill by simply changing owners. This includes everything from furniture to appliances, from hand-me-downs to art supplies, from food to toiletries. “The Buy Nothing Project is all about the constructive R’s,” explains Rockefeller. “Some of our everyday favorites that we see embodied each day around the Buy Nothing world are: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, Rethink, Reconnect, Rejuvenate, and (build) Resilience.” Julia Paddison, a member of a Buy Nothing Group in the Salmon Creek area is “always singing its continued on page 20
Mike Tribe of North Clark County has repaired dozens of lawnmowers, yard equipment, furniture, music boxes, ceramics/pottery, toys and more for his neighbors. The items come to him through his local Buy Nothing Project group, which he helps administrate. Photo courtesy Mike Tribe.
18
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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19
Feature: The Buy Nothing Project (cont'd) continued from page 18
praises. Not only does [Buy Noting] help others, but it helps reduce a lot of waste,” she says.
How It Works
To begin participating in a Buy Nothing community, a member puts a post on Facebook in their local Buy Nothing Group page—either a gift or an ask. If it is a gift, the poster is giving something away and other members can then request the item. Sometimes multiple members wish to be gifted the same item. When that happens, the gifter chooses one individual to receive the gift. Sometimes it’s a flash gift (the first request gets the item) and other times it’s luck of the draw. The gifter and the receiver then set up a time and place for pick up. During COVID, these exchanges have mostly been a porch pickup where the gifter leaves the gift on the doorstep for the receiver to pick up. Asks work in the opposite way; the poster requests something they need, and people within the group reach out to give of their excess.
Creating Community Through Generosity
“Participating in a Buy Nothing Project community empowers people to take concrete and meaningful steps that are also a fun [way] to improve a variety of things [such as]: build more resilient neighborhoods that are connected through a web of sharing; reduce carbon footprint by giving and receiving close to home; develop meaningful roles as Giver and Recipient; reach across historic divides to equalize access to shared abundance by all people; [and] build an inclusive and welcoming gift economy culture in which each person is valued for their Gives and Asks and gratitude,” stated Rockefeller. Local kindergarten teacher Cathy Greenwood thinks “Buy Nothing helps in a couple of different ways. It helps us feel more connected as a community because we get [to] know people in our neighborhood. It warms my heart to give something I have to someone who
wants or needs it. And it’s nice to get something for free. I rarely ask for items but sometimes when an item is offered, I’ll ask for it. I’m a kindergarten teacher so I’m always on the lookout for toys and items for my classroom.” Buy Nothing “helps our neighbors who may need an item or service but can’t afford to buy it. It helps members get rid of unwanted items while providing something to a neighbor,” asserts Tribe. “Buy Nothing builds relationships within your community through the act of selfless and unconditional giving and receiving.”
Turning Trash Into Treasure
One of Candice Vlas’s favorite gifts required a little elbow grease. “My favorite [gift was] a garden bench I got to re-do during quarantine. It was red and worn. I pressure washed it, sanded [and] stained the wood. Then [I] spray painted the metal a bright yellow. It makes me happy and adds some color year-round to my backyard.” Greenwood has also benefited from rebeautifying gifts. “I received this porch swing and bought new cushions. I received the table, which originally had a butcher block finish. It has a couple of deep scratches on the top so I filled those in and painted it white to match my chairs.” Paddison received a “nearly new pressure washer. It just needed a new carburetor, an inexpensive fix. What a helpful gift!”
Giving and Growing
To stay hyperlocal, occasionally “sprouts” within groups become necessary. “There comes a time when the membership within a group grows so large that it becomes difficult to maintain a connection with other people within your neighborhood due to post strings becoming too large,” informed Tribe. “Buy Nothing guidelines suggest that a group that exceeds 1,000 members is ripe for downsizing. A sprout continued on page 22
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
Top: Candice Vlas’s favorite gift received through her local Buy Nothing Project group was an old, worn garden bench that she restored to place in her own backyard. Photo courtesy Candice Vlas. Bottom: The author’s kids play in a red wagon received through her local Buy Nothing Project group. Photo courtesy Claire Curtis.
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21
Feature: The Buy Nothing Project (cont'd) continued from page 20
is simply a split of a large group into two (or more) smaller neighborhood groups. Our group sprouted this year. Although it may mean that we no longer get to interact with some friends and neighbors who go to another group, we get the added benefit of becoming closer to the neighbors who stay in the same group.”
Gifts of Time and Talent
Gifts of time and talent are also a part of the Buy Nothing plan. Vlas provided her talent as a professional chef to serve “over 200 family meals since last September (2020). These meals are supposed to be shared and sometimes even have leftovers.” Vlas invited others in her Buy Nothing Group to donate ingredients for her next meals. She asks, “if you are interested in helping provide ingredients I can PM (private message) you a list of things I’m missing.” One friend baked up delicious treats to go with the meals. “I love that I had this opportunity to help my community through food during some challenging time for some families affected by quarantine and COVID.”
Tribe also enjoys the service aspect of the Buy Nothing mantra. “Someone was gifting a broken lawnmower a couple of years ago. I felt I could fix it and re-gift it to the group. That repair and re-gift worked into a repair/repurposing service within my group. Since then I’ve repaired dozens and dozens of lawnmowers and yard equipment as well as many other things such as furniture, music boxes, ceramics/ pottery, toys, etc. I’ve become our local fixit guy. It’s a fun hobby, keeps me busy and it helps people.”
Starting Your Own Gift Economy
Want to start your own Buy Nothing gift economy either on or offline? “We have everything people need, and we add more resources as quickly as we can create them!” offers Rockefeller. “Visit our Buy Nothing Project website to access all of our Freesources. Many are [at] https:// buynothingproject.org/freesources/ where people can find links to our Buy Nothing Public Library and our free online Buy Nothing Academy. Our Buy Nothing Groups on Social Media section has a host of resources for people who want to set up or improve a Buy Nothing community group on any social media platform.”
Buy Nothing in the Future
What does the future look like for the Buy Nothing movement? “The BuyNothing app is currently being beta tested by a group of communities around the world. We are working towards a global release later this year,” says Rockefeller. “It’s an entirely different structure than Facebook and other social media platforms. It’s an app built from the ground up to nurture Buy Nothing gift economy connections and community with each other.” While the app is still in the research and development phase, the loyal and local members of Buy Nothing are creating community, reducing refuse, and finding friendships . . . one post at a time.
Claire Curtis is a Vancouver stay-at-home mom of three. She graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Utah State University where she met her sweetheart of 12 years. Claire has lived in California, Utah, Idaho and Washington. In her free time, she likes to scout out new parks, read, quilt, ride her bike and visit with friends. You can follow her on Instagram @threekidsandapark.
Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com/Buy-Nothing to see a map of Buy Nothing Project groups in Washington state.
Professional chef and Buy Nothing Project group member, Candice Vlas, has provided over 200 family meals through the group since September 2020.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
23
Feature: Therapeutic Gardens
A
therapeutic gardens Holistic Health & Healing
core element of Pacific Northwest culture is enjoying the outdoors. Rain or shine, you will find kids and adult alike playing or working outside. Home gardens are abundant and it’s not uncommon to have a master gardener in your neighborhood. Talking with your green thumb friends you may hear them say,
By Sarah Mortensen
Gardeners have known the emotional and physical benefits of tending to plants for centuries, but modern medicine is now catching up. Some doctors now routinely prescribe horticultural therapy by registered horticultural therapists to supplement treatment for a variety of conditions, and there is real data to back up this “alternative” medicine. The field of horticultural therapy is both new and old. The earliest form can be seen when
ancient Egyptian physicians prescribed walks in a garden. In the 18th century, greenhouses and planting fields began to be used as treatment for psychiatric patients. According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), “A significant historical point in the use of horticulture as therapy came after World War II with the veterans returning from war and the establishment of the Veterans hospitals,” explains Leigh Anne Starling, the immediate past president
“Gardening is cheaper than therapy... plus I get tomatoes“.
of American Horticultural Therapy Association. “Volunteers and garden clubs began working with the veterans using plants and plant-related activities. Today, horticultural therapy programs are conducted in many settings including hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Research has documented the benefits of having gardens, greenhouses, and interior plants and has led to the medical community integrating therapeutic gardens into hospital design and programs.” Lori Weston of Vancouver is currently on her way to becoming a registered horticultural therapist through the Horticultural Therapy Institute of Colorado State University. She originally completed a bachelor of science degree in horticulture with a design emphasis from Brigham Young University in 1996. Weston has always enjoyed having a garden at home and made it a priority for her family to spend time outdoors when her kids were continued on next page
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
Coming This Fall
3000 SE 164th Avenue Unit 111, Vancouver WA 98683 continued from previous page
growing up, “I think that’s pretty normal in [our area] where we appreciate nature and take care of our environment,” she says. As
a mother, she saw the benefits to her own family as they gathered outside; having flowers and vegetables in the yard made
Therapeutic Garden Program volunteer, Natalie, stands in the Legacy Salmon Creek gardens. Photo courtesy Meghan McKiernan.
it a pleasant and welcoming place to be. Yet, she also knew there were others who stood to gain the most by being outdoors which is what drew her new career. “There are communities [everywhere] that would benefit from more contact with hands-on activities in horticulture,” she says. “For example, working with elders, I may help them stand at a raised bed to care for plants. This may help as they are under care of a physical therapist for strengthening exercises after a hip surgery. The activity of caring for plants helps them to have their minds on something other than the pain while still building muscle strength.” The breadth of the field was also attractive to Weston. “Other horticultural therapists may work in a vocational program in correctional facilities or helping veterans dealing with PTSD.” Her coursework has covered ways to assist the elderly, youth of all ages, the blind and developmentally disabled. “There is a wide range of work for horticultural therapists.” continued on page 26
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
25
Feature: Therapeutic Gardens (cont'd) continued from page 24
Here in Clark County, Legacy Salmon Creek hospital includes therapeutic gardens for both staff and patients to enjoy. Meghan McKiernan, BS, HTR coordinator of the Therapeutic Garden Program at Legacy oversees the Salmon Creek garden as well as the other twelve gardens Legacy hospitals have designed into their architecture, in addition to seeing patients. She receives referrals mainly from recreational therapists but also from physical therapists, occupational therapists and even speech and language pathologists. “Being on a team of therapists, I work with all disciplines to help patients meet their rehab goals,” she explains. “Part of my work is teaching patients adaptive gardening skills and connecting them with adaptive gardening resources. All my work is guided by the patient’s specific interests related to gardening and what their rehab goals are. [Then], I create horticultural therapy programming that is unique to the patient’s needs and goals.” Any provider at Legacy is welcome to treat patients in the garden
as “they are intended to be used across disciplines to support patient recovery and well-being.” McKiernan adds.
for the well-being of our employees, patients, families, and community,” echoes McKiernan.
Better results for patients using the gardens have been well documented throughout the years. These benefits include faster recovery times, less pain medication usage and fewer complications. However the benefits of having the gardens on site extends to the well-being of doctors and nurses as well. In 2018, two years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Legacy worked with an organization called Nature Sacred to create a study that looked specifically at how hospitals can benefit from having therapeutic gardens on site. “This was the first controlled study to ever take place in a hospital setting that looked at the influence of taking work breaks in a garden and the effects on nurse burnout,” explains McKiernan. The study showed that a mere 20 minutes in nearby nature significantly reduced the rates of burnout. “It is beneficial across the board to support green spaces in healthcare environments
Some may wonder what makes gardening a therapy rather than a hobby. Does gardening in one’s own backyard qualify? “Horticultural therapy is not just planting a seed and watching it grow,” explains Starling. “Horticultural therapy programs are conducted by a registered horticultural therapist who actively involves a participant in treatment to achieve specific goals. The AHTA Horticultural therapy is an active process which occurs in the context of an established treatment plan where the process itself is considered the therapeutic activity rather than the end product.” While that mode of therapy is meant for a clinical setting, anyone can see improvements in their life when they spend time in nature. “Yardwork is a chore, but gardening is refreshing and calming. [It’s] a time to reconnect with myself and relax,” says Weston. “Anyone can find therapy in a garden whether it’s to work or to visit. continued on page 28
it’s
beneficial to just take 10-15 minutes of your day to be outside and notice the things around you.
26
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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Feature: Therapeutic Gardens (cont'd) continued from page 26
There has been research to show how humans’ interaction with nature helps us in myriad ways. With the amount of time we all spend on screens for school and work, it’s beneficial to just take 10-15 minutes of your day to be outside and notice the things around you.” McKiernan agrees: “Additionally, we know rates of heart disease, obesity, and stoke are increasing. These diseases cost the United States billions of dollars every year. Spending time in nature supports mild exercise, emotional well-being and restoration. We know from researcher Roger Ulrich’s work that simply viewing nature increases our resiliency and recovery from disease.” As COVID-19 continues to creep through our country, greater emphasis has been placed on the importance of preventative care, and taking a walk through the park or planting a few new flowers may just be the easiest and most cost-effective way to begin. Even during the initial lockdowns, with guidance from medical professionals, Governor Inslee encouraged Washingtonians to spend time outside as much as possible: “If you feel like going for a walk, gardening or going for a bike ride, we consider that essential activity,
too, for everyone’s physical and mental health,” he said. Many took this advice as the seed packets sold out just as quickly as the jigsaw puzzles. Throughout Clark County there are beautiful trails and parks open year round to everyone. For those who are interested in getting down into the dirt but may not have space at their own home, there are local community gardens always looking for volunteers. The 78th Street Heritage Farm has both volunteer plots for the food bank as well as rentable garden plots for families and individuals.
Clark County Master Gardeners are often on site and are a great resource for beginning gardeners. There are five additional community gardens operated by Vancouver Parks and Recreation spread throughout the city. If you are interested in being among flowers more than vegetables, the Wildlife Botanical Gardens in Brush Prairie are free to the public and accept volunteers as well. Lastly, a mix of both vegetables and flowers can be found at the Fort Vancouver Garden, also run by volunteers. While a registered horticultural therapist has specific training to design a therapeutic plan, being outdoors is something everyone can do as part of a simple self-care routine. But, if you do find yourself sick or in need of therapy, the get-well flowers you receive may serve the dual purpose of cheering and healing. As McKiernan puts it simply, “Nature and gardens help patients get better faster.”
Sarah Mortensen holds a degree in English and marriage and family studies from BYUIdaho and works for Vancouver Public School as a paraeducator. When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her vegetable garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate, and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Calendar
September '21
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
3 FRIDAY
Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. A fun car show for the whole family. Come show your special interest car, truck or bike or simply come enjoy the others. Food, beverages, music and vendors. Prices are $10 for car show participants and $5 for spectators. 4:30-9 pm Downtown Camas First Friday Plein Air Art Event. Art shows and demonstrations, afterhours shopping and more. 5-8 pm
4 SATURDAY
Ridgefield First Saturday: Multicultural Festival at Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave., Ridgefield. Come celebrate our diverse community at the fourth annual Multicultural Festival! The festival will include performances, crafts and activities, a 3v3 basketball tournament, First Saturday and Farmers Market vendors, and more. 9 am-3 pm
7 TUESDAY
Rainbow Reads at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas. A book club for LGBTQIA+ teens and their allies. We will be reading YA fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels that feature LGBTQIA+ characters and themes, or literature written by someone from the LGBTQIA+ community. 4:30-5:30 pm
10 FRIDAY
Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park. (See Sep 3 for more details.) 4:30 pm
11 SATURDAY
Board Game Club for Adults at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas.
of events
activities
Have a community event that you want to share? Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue.
Check out our website for even mo re local events .
Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm. All library events are free and open to the public.
Join a casual group of adult board game enthusiasts for an afternoon of fun! Games will vary. Some will be provided, or you may bring your own. Every second Saturday. 12-3 pm
virtual live stream is free and in person tickets including dinner are $100. 12-8:30 pm
Supper & Social: Fundraiser Dinner and Auction at Pomeroy Farm, 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd., Yacolt. Support the historic farm while enjoying an evening of the property’s beauty, tours of the historic grounds, yard games, silent auction, and drinks, delicious dinner and live auction. Tickets $75 at pomeroyfarm.org. 4-9 pm
Night Market Vancouver at Vancouver Innovation Center, 18110 SE 34th St., Vancouver. Discover local brands and shop products from over 50 local vendors. Food/ drinks available for purchase. Tickets are $5 online and $6 at the door. Kids 12 and under get in free. 4:30-9:30 pm
17 FRIDAY
Watercolor Society Art Show at the Marshall House, 1301 Officers Row, Vancouver. The public is invited to view this free Southwest Washington Watercolor exhibition, which will include artists on-site and demonstrations all day in front of the Marshall House. Over 90 watercolor and water-media artworks will be displayed for sale from SWWS Juried and Associate members. Juror Harold Walkup, Oregon, will select paintings for awards. Awards Chair Tao Zhou will present prizes on Saturday. 11 am-4 pm The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Gala 2021 at Vancouver Hilton, 301 W 6th St., Vancouver. Presenting a truly unique fundraising gala in extraordinary times combining in-person festivities and a virtual live-streamed music celebration. This event, which can be attended virtually or in person, will explore themes of collective resilience during the global COVID-19 pandemic as well as the resiliency of music. Guests can expect a day packed with virtual music performances from the VSO archive beginning at 12 pm to enjoy while bidding on auction items, donating, and supporting the VSO. The
Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park. (See Sep 3 for more details.) 4:30 pm
Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St., Vancouver. Enjoy tacos, tequila and live music all weekend long, Sept. 17-19! General Admission: $20 (entry plus 3 taco tickets and water). VIP Admission: $80 (entry plus 5 taco tickets, 2 drink tickets and tequila tasting). Tequila tasting: $50 (entry plus four different types of tequila). This is event is open to all ages. 5-10 pm
18 SATURDAY
Watercolor Society Art Show at the Marshall House. See Sep 17 for more details. 11 am-4 pm Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park. (See Sep 17 for more details.) 12-10 pm PeaceHealth Appletree Full & Half Marathon & 5K at Officers Row, Downtown Vancouver. This “Run Through History” will take you on a flat, fast and scenic course through Fort Vancouver, Officer’s Row, the Army Barracks, Pearson Airport – the oldest operating airport in the USA, the Historical Old Apple Tree, along the majestic Columbia River and many other historical vantage points. 5K sunset run on Saturday, marathon and half marathon on Sunday. Register at whyracingevents.com. 6 pm continued on next page
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
FR
S
IDAY
UGH THRO ER MB E SEPT 17
continued from previous page Photo credit: Alderbrook Park
19 SUNDAY
PeaceHealth Appletree Full & Half Maraton & 5K at Officers Row, Downtown Vancouver. See Sep 18 for more details. 7 am Tacos in the Park at Esther Short Park. (See Sep 17 for more details.) 12-7 pm
Alderbrook Park’s Cruise In is open every Friday through September 17, weather permitting, from 4 pm to dusk. Special interest cars, trucks and bikes are on display for the whole family.
24 FRIDAY
Pajama Party at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas. Hide-and-seek, games, snacks, movies. For 1st-5thgraders and parents. Bring: pajamas (yes, parents too!), blankets, pillows, stuffies, and a flashlight. Sign-up required, only 25 spots available. Register at cityofcamas.us/ librarycamas. 7-9:30 pm
25 SATURDAY
Camp Hope Discovery Day Camp at Camp Hope, 12800 NE Roper Rd., Battle Ground. Come experience a history challenge course, nature walks and hiking, horseback riding,
orienteering, archery, arts & crafts projects, woodworking, outdoor survivor skills and team building, scavenger hunts, fire starting, caving, plant identification, games, making new friends and memories. Snacks and lunch provided. $40/Camper (Regular rate), $30/ Camper (Family/Discount rate). Scholarships available! Register at camphope-wa.org/daycamp. 9:30 am-3:30 pm
advertiser index Camps & Classes Cosmic Cheer...................................................3 The Little Gym................................................25 Journey Theater.............................................19 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................27 Events Children's Festival..........................................17 Girlfriends Half Marathon, 10k, 6k..................29 PeaceHealth Appletree Marathon..................29 Scary Run.......................................................29 Financial Gevurtz Menashe...........................................15 Warner Brown Financial.................................21
Fitness Cosmic Cheer...................................................3 Healthy Kids Running Series..........................27 Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................27 Health Adventure Dental............................................27 Barnick Chiropractic.......................................29 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................2 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................21 Pacific Park Family Dental...............................3 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage...........11 Storybook Dental............................................21 Vancouver Clinic...............................................7
Legal Schauermann Thayer.....................................23 Resources Applied Team Insurance.................................19 All Families Surrogacy......................................2 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars...............7 Retail Kazoodles Toys................................................3 Vancouver Mall...............................................27 Schools, Education & Child Care St. Andrew Preschool.....................................29 Southwest Washington Learning Center........32
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • September 2021
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