Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Patrice Powers-Barker

Questions about CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

The sun is shining brightly but there is still snow on the ground in Northwest Ohio. It is the end of February and while my grocery shopping list includes lettuce and other fresh vegetables, we also eat a lot of frozen and canned vegetables right now. Considering our food shopping and gardening patterns, I can […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Powers-Barker, P.

SOURCES:

  • Local Food Directories: CSA, USDA https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5593
  • Using a Community Supported Agriculture Share to Plan Family Meals, Ohio State University Extension FactSheet https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5593
  • What's In Season? Ohio Farm Bureau https://ofbf.org/whats-in-season/

Lessons from a Flopped Pie

Usually, we can anticipate certain life events and traditions every year like celebrating at birthday parties, or joining cookouts in the summer, or hosting gatherings for holidays. Because of Covid-19, this year has not followed typical expectations. When families experience significant unexpected events, they are called nonnormative transitions or unanticipated transitions.  Examples include job loss, […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County and Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Patrice Powers-Barker

SOURCES:

  • Brinkman, P. (2016). Eating Healthy During Stressful Times. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5244
  • Eva, A. (2017). Why we should embrace mistakes in school. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_we_should_embrace_mistakes_in_school
  • Heer, C. & Rini, J. (2016). Stress Coping Methods. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5242
  • Leonard, J. & Cofer, J., (2020). Pumpkins: Not Just for Jack-O-Lanterns and Pies. NC Cooperative Extension. https://randolph.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/pumpkins-not-just-for-jack-o-lanterns-and-pies/
  • Lindberg, E. (2019). Practicing gratitude can have profound health benefits, USC experts say. University of Southern California. https://news.usc.edu/163123/gratitude-health-research-thanksgiving-usc-experts/
  • McGinnis, D. (2018). Resilience, Life Events, and Well-Being During Midlife: Examining Resilience Subgroups. Journal of Adult Development. 25(3): 198–221. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105201/
  • Mindfulness Practices. Wexner Medical Center. Ohio State University. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/integrative-complementary-medicine/resources/mindfulness-practices
  • Myers-Walls, J. & Willis Hepp, B.(2019). Overview and Introduction. NCFR Report: Nonnormative Transitions. Winter 2019. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/winter-2019
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2015). Spilt Milk – To Cry or Not to Cry. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/spilt-milk-to-cry-or-not-to-cry/
  • Tonseth, C. (2018), Anticipated and Unanticipated Transitions as Triggers for Adult Learning. Creative Education. 9(2). https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=82379

What Mindfulness App Should I Try?

The research on mindfulness apps is very new. One 2018 article stated, “research began in earnest only about four years ago.” At best, the research on mindfulness apps is new and therefore limited. At worst, there have been examples of some apps making, “health claims with no research to back up their programs.” Because the […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fairfield County

REFERENCES:

  • Clarke, J., Draper, S. (2020). Intermittent mindfulness practice can be beneficial, and daily practice can be harmful. An in depth, mixed methods study of the “Calm” app's (mostly positive) effects. Internet Interventions, Volume 19, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2019.100293
  • Finding and Evaluating Online Resources (2020). National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 09/16/20 from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/finding-and-evaluating-online-resources
  • Flett, J., Hayne, H., Riordan, B., Thompson, L. & Conner, T. (2018). Mobile mindfulness meditation: A randomised controlled trial of the effect of two popular apps on mental health. Mindfulness. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-018-1050-9
  • Hendricks, D., Lavery, M., Bouillon, L., & Gotfried, R. (2020). Evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness app among academic advisors. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science volume 5, pages149–155(2020)
  • Huberty, J., Vranceanu, A., Carney, C., Breus, M., Gordon, M., & Puzia, M., (2019). Characteristics and usage patterns among 12,151 paid subscribers of the Calm Meditation App: Cross-Sectional survey. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, https://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/11/e15648
  • Let Me Google That: Finding Valid Health and Wellness Information Online (2019). Clemson Cooperative Extension. https://hgic.clemson.edu/hot-topic/let-me-google-that-finding-valid-health-and-wellness-information-online/
  • Mani, M., Kavanagh, Hides, L.,& Stoyanov, S. (2015). Review and evaluation of mindfulness-based iPhone apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Jul-Sep; 3(3): e82. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4705029/
  • Newman, K. (2018). Do mindfulness apps work? Research on mindfulness is limited, but here’s what we know so far. Greater Good Magazine, Berkeley, University of California. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_mindfulness_apps_work
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2016). Introduction to Mindfulness, Ohio State University Extension Factsheet. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5243
  • Tlalka, S. (2016). The trouble with mindfulness apps: When your favorite mindfulness app says it’s based in science, check twice. Few actually are. Greater Good Magazine, Berkeley, University of California. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_trouble_with_mindfulness_apps

Good-bye Clutter!

Research has shown that there is a downside to living and working with too much clutter. It can cause emotional stress, conflict between household members, and distraction. Clutter can waste time and money. It can affect indoor air quality and increase accidental falls and trip hazards! On a positive note, there is also research that […]

Fall Vegetable Gardening for the Win

If you have never grown a fall vegetable garden before, now is the time to start. Some of the common benefits of planting a fall vegetable garden include: Many Ohio vegetables grow well in cooler weather Insect and disease pests may be less compared to earlier in the growing season A few vegetables like collards […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Melissa J. Rupp, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fulton County and Amy Stone, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Powers-Barker, P. (2020)

REFERENCES:

  • Handling covid-19: Guidance for community gardens. (2019, April 21). North Carolina State Extension. Retrieved 07/08/20 from https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/COVID/OSU_Community%20Gardens_COVID-19_042120.pdf
  • Grow what you know. (2018). Ohio State Insights. Retrieved 07/08/20 from https://insights.osu.edu/food/recipe-gardens-work-you
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2020). Gardening as a self-care practice. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University. Retrieved 07/10/20 from https://go.osu.edu/gardenselfcare
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2020 updated). Planting a fall vegetable garden. Ohio State University. Retrieved 07/08/20 from https://u.osu.edu/powers-barker.1/2019/07/24/planting-a-fall-vegetable-garden/
  • Voyle, G. (2012). Fall vegetable crops for your garden. Michigan State University Extension. Retrieved 07/08/20 from https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/E3172_-_Fall_Vegetable_Crops_for_your_Garden.pdf
  • Woods, A. (2017). A walk in the woods. Live Smart Ohio, Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved 07/08/20 from https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/woods-485osu-edu/a-walk-in-the-woods-2/

Gardening as a Self-Care Practice

Self-care can be as basic as daily routines like brushing your teeth or staying hydrated by drinking enough water. While it might be easy to list daily tasks that support personal care such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and connecting with others, it is not uncommon that stressful times can upset a self-care […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Roseanne E. Scammahorn, PhD, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Darke County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Powers-Barker, P. (2020)
  • Stone, A. (2019)

SOURCES:

  • Dockrill, P. (2016). Just looking at photos of nature could be enough to lower your work stress levels. Science Alert. Retrieved 06/16/20 from https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-nature-could-be-enough-to-lower-your-work-stress-levels
  • Elrer, E. (2019). Will you give me some tips on how to propagate houseplants from cuttings? A Question of the Week. University of New Hampshire Extension. Retrieved 06/15/20 from https://extension.unh.edu/blog/will-you-give-me-some-tips-how-propagate-houseplants-cuttings
  • Ensle, K. (2012) Mindful eating for better health. Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Retrieved 06/15/20 https://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/message/message.php?p=Health&m=221
  • Jo, H. Song, C., and Miyazaki, Y. (2019). Physiological benefits of viewing nature: A systematic review of indoor experiments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (23): 4739. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6926748/
  • Kennelly, S. (2012). A scientific reason to stop and smell the roses: A new study suggests people are happier when they take time to appreciate the good things in life. Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley. Retrieved 06/16/20 from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/a_scientific_reason_to_stop_and_smell_the_roses
  • Pollinator Week: Pollinators, Plants, People, Planet. (2020). Pollinator Partnership. Retrieved 06/15/20 from https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2017). Infused Water with Ohio Local Foods, Ohio State University Extension, Retrieved 06/15/20 from https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5363
  • Roudabush, C. (2020). Self-Care for Youth and Families. South Dakota State University Extension. Retrieved 06/15/20 from https://extension.sdstate.edu/self-care-youth-and-families
  • Schmidgall, V. (2018). Mindful Monday: Try the “Five Senses” Mindfulness Exercise, Physical, Wellness Tips & Wellness Articles. University of Vermont Medical Center. Retrieved 06/15/20 from https://medcenterblog.uvmhealth.org/wellness/physical/mindfulness-mindful-monday-exercise/

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