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By Nick Haig and Jessica Wittwer
Having a septic system in your yard doesn’t mean your yard has to be an eyesore or barren wasteland of meager groundcover. In fact, plants such as turf grasses, perennials, wildflowers and native grasses are ideal cover for septic systems in Minnesota. They not only look great, but they also help insulate the system and prevent erosion.
The State of Minnesota requires that a vegetative cover must be established as soon as the topsoil has been placed over a septic system’s drainfield. Installing the vegetative cover can be done by the homeowner, a subsurface sewage treatment system professional or a landscaping company. Ideally the agreement should be in writing so all parties understand who is responsible for each aspect of the project.
A vegetative cover keeps the soil in place, helps the septic system function by removing moisture and nutrients from the soil, provides an insulating layer for winter protection and makes the area more attractive.
Turf grasses have fibrous root systems that hold soil in place, require maintenance similar to a lawn and are available in numerous varieties including shade-tolerant to suit site conditions. Perennials, wild flowers and native grasses are an attractive alternative to turf grass, while providing many of the same benefits including fibrous roots. They are low maintenance and tolerant of dry soil conditions.
But beware — planting the wrong cover can do irreparable damage to the area. Trees, shrubs or plants that have woody root systems should not be placed on or near the system. These roots can interfere with and possibly destroy your septic system. Also, don’t plant edible plants on or near the system, because a system failure will contaminate the surrounding area. Geotextile fabric should not be used as it may prohibit the exchange of oxygen, which both the system and the plants need.
Know your site conditions; such as amount of daily sunlight, your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and percent slope of the system before choosing plants to help ensure plant longevity and vigor. Using plants that thrive on natural rainfall is ideal, as a septic system should not be irrigated. Keep traffic over the drainfield to a minimum when planting and weeding and avoid planting annuals as planting increases foot traffic over the system.
Annually inspect your system for animal damage such as burrowing and tunneling before damage becomes extensive. While the plants are establishing themselves — for the first one to three years — it’s important that either mulch or erosion control blankets are used to reduce soil runoff. Erosion control blankets are typically biodegradable and staked in place with holes cut to allow for plant growth. If your new landscape needs an extra boost, a pink flamingo won’t hurt, as long as it’s on the periphery of the drainfield.
For additional recommendations on specific plants and proper maintenance of septic systems, please visit: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG6986.html or the University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program web site: http://septic.umn.edu.
By Gregory Plotnikoff, M.D., M.T.S., F.A.C.P.
Are you getting too much sun, or perhaps too little sun? Either may place your health at risk. Sunburns may cause skin cancer, but sun is the best means for your body to make vitamin D. Which is crucial for healthy bones and much, much more.
In fact, too little sun increases the risk for many types of cancer, including breast, colon and prostate. Additionally, low vitamin D increases the risk for diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, bone marrow problems and many other serious illnesses.
Who should be tested for vitamin D deficiency? People with persistent, unexplained musculoskeletal pain. Recently, researchers at the University of Minnesota demonstrated that people of all ages and races with muscle and bone pain have seriously low levels of vitamin D.
In fact, the doctors were shocked to find that of the 150 people with such pain at the University's Community Health Care Center, 93 percent were deficient in vitamin D. This included 100 percent of the African American, Native American, East African and Hispanic people with such pain. It also included five people with levels so low they could not be measured. Nearly half the women of childbearing age with such pain were severely or even profoundly deficient.
Patients with low vitamin D feel pain because a low level of the vitamin causes bones to weaken and become more rubber-like. That means that everyday stresses and strains affect people who lack vitamin D differently than they would people with strong bones.
Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide phenomenon. Even though milk in the United States is supplemented, people still aren't getting enough vitamin D.
In northern climates like Minnesota, our bodies only generate vitamin D from sunlight from April to September. So it's important to get outside in the daylight for some time every day during spring and summer to build up stores to last throughout the fall and winter. Just be careful: don't get burned.
The government recommends 400 IU of vitamin D a day, and 600 IU every day for people 70 and older. This means drinking at least a quart of milk daily. Other food sources of vitamin D are salmon or cod liver oil.
The darker one's skin, the older one is or the heavier one is, the more difficult it is to make vitamin D. Some common prescription medicines block vitamin D from working and breastfeeding provides no vitamin D to babies. They need sun, too. So everyone who lives in our cold northern climate should make sure they soak up some sun in the warmer months and, if need be, take this as encouragement to seek sunnier climates during the winter.
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Gregory A. Plotnikoff, M.D., M.T.S., F.A.C.P., is an associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. This column is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu.
By Kathleen Olson
Summer is here, and if you're the parent of a child ages nine to 12, you can bet this question is also coming from your child: “Why can't I stay home by myself this summer?” How do you know when your child is ready for this big responsibility?
Transitioning a child to stay home alone is a big step for every family. U.S. Census reports indicate that seven million of the nation's 38 million children ages five to 14 are left home alone regularly. Almost 600,000 five- to eight-year-olds fends for themselves and 3.4 million children are under the care of siblings. The national average for "home alone" time is six hours per week, and higher-income parents are more likely to leave kids unsupervised. Statistics also indicate that unsupervised kids are at greater risk of accident, harm by strangers, siblings, or friends and are more apt to commit crimes than those under the care of an adult.
It is strongly recommend that you not leave children under 10 at home alone for any extended period of time. You can check with your local Child Protection Agency to find out age guidelines for children being left alone.
Once parents have decided that it's safe to leave their children home alone, they should talk about safety issues. Parents should tell children they should never open the door for anyone. A discussion about the child's boundaries such as: Can she play outside or visit the neighbors? Can he ride his bike, go to the playground or visit friends?
It is also essential to teach children how to answer the phone and take messages without indicating they are alone. Or, they should learn how to use caller ID or an answering machine to screen calls. A plan of action is important, so parents should post emergency telephone numbers, their work and/or cell phone numbers and numbers of neighbors or relatives who could help if needed. Have a back-up plan if you can't be reached.
Work with your children to set rules to follow if they are staying home alone. Children are less likely to break rules if they are involved in setting them up. Go over rules periodically and post them in a prominent place. When parents are away, they should call home at unpredictable times to see how the children are doing and let them know they will be checking up again.
It is not a good idea to start having children stay home alone all day, every day without a couple trial runs first. Staying home alone should start with a few hours and gradually work up to more time left alone. Then, if the plan is not working, start to look for alternatives.
Hiring a reliable teen to watch your children, swapping time with a relative or neighbor and part time childcare are all manageable options. A combination of these may be an option, along with taking advantage of organized activities and camps available during the summer months. Talk to your child about what he can do to occupy the time alone and help him come up with a list of ideas to provide some structure with a mixture of chores and fun activities.
Staying home alone is a big responsibility for children. It's important for parents to give them the skills they need to be safe and to feel comfortable. Follow up is key. Parents should touch base with their child about how they are feeling when home alone, what worked and what didn’t and ask any concerns they need to talk about.
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Kathleen Olson has spent her career focusing on parenting issues and believes that most issues we face in life go back to parenting. She is an Extension Educator in Family Relations for the University of Minnesota and has two children of her own.
Find more stories at: http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/index.htm