Prime May 2020

MAY

2020

A MAGAZINE FOR MATURE ADULTS

2

STARRY NIGHT SHELTER

4

OLD GUYS, POLITICS AND BATHROOMS

5

MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM

A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N T H E B O Z E M A N D A I LY C H R O N I C L E

2 I May 2020 PRIME

A note from the editor Do you know a senior who should be featured in a future edition of Prime? Email your suggestions to Hannah Stiff at hstiff@dailychronicle.com.

Starry Night Shelter. . .........................................................................2 Old Guys, Politics, and Bathrooms.. ................................................4 Old Guys, Doctors, and Lawyers......................................................5 OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO… without leaving home................6 Meals on Wheels program................................................................7

STARRY NIGHT SHELTER

Fumbling in the Dark. . .......................................................................8

By Hannah Stiff

My House, My Home...........................................................................9

Local couple enjoy endless camping in three-sided nature shelter

Hints for the Beginning Vegetable Gardener.. ......................... 10 Watch Out for Financial Scams Related to Virus...................... 10

EVERYTHING YOU WANT, MORE THAN YOU EXPECT

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Respite Care Call 406-414-2008 today to schedule your tour.

HillcrestLivingBozeman.com

I

n Montana, many like to camp. A few nights in the great outdoors each summer helps us recharge and reconnect with nature. But what about 100 nights spent in an outdoor shelter?

That’s how many nights (give or take a few) that Doug and Ruth Rand spent outside stargazing last year. The couple isn’t posted up in a tent, but an open-faced shelter built of corrugated greenhouse paneling and wood. The shelter looks something like a greenhousedugout combination. Its design allows for open-air nature viewing from the front and stargazing through the clear roof paneling above.

The wavy corrugated material “multiplies the stars,” Doug says. When it rains, the material also multiplies sound, which Doug and Ruth say they

don’t mind a bit. The openness of the shelter means the Rands must adapt to the rhythms of nature.

“When the sun comes up, it forces you into a natural cycle,” Doug says. “You go to bed early because you know you have to wake up early.”

The shelter’s cedar steps and decking lead to a platform big enough to comfortably fit a queen-sized bed. Doug and Ruth have also added all the trappings for a perfect night outdoors: headlamps, bear spray, binoculars, and a framed Peanuts comic strip with the adage, “In life, it’s not where

PRIME May 2020 I 3

you go – it’s who you travel with”.

(Left to right) Doug and Ruth Rand, and Issac and John Helvey celebrate the completion of the Starry Night Shelter

There are even two solar electronic-device chargers in the shelter, allowing power to be filtered to modern accessories like e-readers or cell phones loaded with podcasts and playlists.

The idea for the Rand’s shelter is borrowed from wooden lean-to structures common in the Adirondack Mountains.

The three-sided rustic shelters were originally set up in the 1800s when guides took eager outdoorsmen on overnight treks into the wilderness. The guides recognized the need for permanent shelters that could offer a reprieve from the elements.

The solid log roof and walls on the Adirondack lean-to provide shelter while allowing hikers to remain in nature. It’s the very idea that Doug and Ruth wanted to capture in their own shelter.

The Rand’s south-facing

structure is situated on the couple’s Gallatin Gateway property and offers mountain views winding up the canyon to Big Sky. Gazing out from the

structure, you see Ted Turner’s land to the right, replete with cows, coyotes and other critters.

To the left, a few dirt roads lead back to the main road where travelers can head north toward Gallatin Gateway or south to Big Sky.

The Rands shelter was constructed by local builder John Helvey and his son Isaac. John says framing the structure was the most time-intensive aspect of the project. Next came painting the cedar wood a sea-mist shade Ruth picked out. Though John and Isaac say they haven’t built anything quite like the starry shelter before, they were taken with the idea when Doug approached them. Doug, an

architect, drew up the plans and shared the vision for his natureensconced bunker.

Now that the vision has been brought to life, John and Isaac joke with the Rands that they wouldn’t mind spending a night or two in the shelter, seeing all those stars multiply. Doug and Ruth say they hear that same sentiment from friends often.

They wouldn’t mind sharing their shelter, either. But it just so happens, the Rands will be spending all summer out there.

And as Spring settles in, Doug and Ruth are already transitioning from their heated home back to the open-air starry shelter. The rhythms of nature await.

4 I May 2020 PRIME

Somebody else decided to comment.

“I think you fellows are right,” another in the old guy group remarked.

“I heard that the President decided to run when his wife said she wanted to remodel the tower. It was a smart move to campaign for office so that he wouldn’t have to deal with carpet samples and plumbing fixtures. It’s rumored that she was waffling between brushed nickel and oiled bronze faucets and that was the final straw in his decision to enter politics.”

OLD GUYS, POLITICS AND BATHROOMS

He continued, “I also heard that a couple of the other big names in the race were against the blade with drapery samples, cabinet hardware options, and blues versus earth tones. They decided they were better off running for president than getting involved in that scrap.”

Finally, one of the quiet members of the old guy group commented.

Grumbling about home renovation projects

by Jim Drummond (and friends)

T

here was a pretty large crowd that afternoon at the old guy waterhole on a Friday at the end of winter. Most of the g roup was just anxious to get out of the house. A few were there because drinks and nachos are half price until 6.

One of the group members came in the door and sat down as if he had a story to tell. Eventually somebody said, “OK, talk to us before you explode!”

The first old guy eagerly responded, “I’ve decided to run for a political office.”

One from the group politely coughed. Another sighed and looked at the ceiling.

Someone finally asked, “Why the heck would you want to do that?”

The first old guy was barely able to contain his enthusiasm.

“Well, my wife has decided to remodel the bathroom. She has had me looking at counter tops, wall tiles, tubs, sinks, flooring, fixtures, drapes and sample wall colors. I’m worn out with all the options. I figure that if I

run for some office, I won’t have nearly as many serious decisions to make and life might be more normal.”

A few of us who have been through remodeling projects admired his thought process.

“What office would you run for,” somebody asked.

“I’m not sure,” was the response. “But I’m leaning toward governor.”

“Don’t you think being governor would be harder than remodeling a bathroom,” somebody else queried.

“Probably not,” said the first old fellow. “If I was governor, I would get a big office, and a large desk, and a comfortable chair. All day long people would bring me papers to sign about issues that have already been decided.

And at the end of the day I could go to a banquet. They have really good desserts at banquets. I’m positive that being governor wouldn’t be as challenging as a bathroom remodel.”

Another from the old guy group weighed in.

“You know, he may have a point,” he

said. “My wife has been talking lately about redoing the kitchen. She has started coming home with cupboard samples and flooring options. If we go through a remodeling project, I might have to move away. But if I were elected county commissioner or clerk and recorder, it would get me out of the house and away from the decisions. She would have to pick her own colors.”

One of the old guys at the far end of the table moved the topic back to the governor’s race.

“Aren’t you worried about electability,” he asked. “You would be up against all sorts of younger people who use Facebook and Twitter and look good in front of a camera.”

“Not really,” was the response. “Old guys are doing pretty well in politics this year. You just need to have three important talking points. Then talk about them over and over. Besides, gray hair makes you look distinguished, and a large midsection causes you to appear affluent, and a bad knee gives you a serious and businesslike facial expression. Old guys are pretty photogenic.”

“I once thought about running for sheriff to get out of a remodeling project,” he said. “Then I figured out a different solution. When my wife shows me three tile options, or two faucets, or five carpet samples and asks me what I think, I just ask her what she thinks. Then I thoughtfully rub my chin, and silently count to twenty, and then agree with her. That strategy has worked well. We are still married and I’m not the sheriff.”

The first old guy had been listening to the discussion and finally responded.

“I suppose I better give the bathroom remodel one more try before throwing my hat in the ring for governor,” he said. “I won’t get to go to banquets, but if I go along with my wife on her recommendations, she might just cook me a good dessert.”

Everyone at the old guy waterhole nodded at his wisdom.

Jim Drummond is a new contributor to the Prime section. Look for more of his witty repartee in upcoming editions of Prime.

PRIME May 2020 I 5

needed a place to live quickly. We found a nice home that offered us a comfortable place to live as we started this new chapter.

Silly me. The house we bought had been planted on its foundation for over 100 years.

“We finally own something older than we are,” my husband remarked.

MY HOUSE, MY HOME THE ENDLESS HONEY-DO

LIST AT MY HISTORIC HOME

By Lois Stephens

M

y house means a lot more to me than just a place to sleep and store my belongings. I consider my home my sanctuary, a place of calm and serenity that allows me to shed the chaos of the day. My little abode permits me to relax and rejuvenate from whatever the outside world chooses to hurl at me during the hours I spend away from the place I consider my refuge.

The best jobs I ever had were those that allowed me to work from home, manage my own schedule, select a snack from the fridge, and take breaks when I needed them (not when company policy dictated).

Consequently, the idea of making any renovations or changes in my dwelling has always caused me distress. Thinking about the furniture that needs to be moved or rearranged makes my heart beat faster. The clutter and disorganization that arises with any sort of improvement project makes me uneasy just thinking about it. Even removing pictures from a wall so I can repaint bothers me.

I have been known to delay a project

for years before I got to the point that I was willing to roll up my sleeves, grit my teeth, and tackle the job.

At least I know my idiosyncrasies when it comes to home projects. So, throughout my adult life, I have always purchased homes with an eye on how much work they did NOT need. When I was in the market to purchase a new home, I walked into a house, looked around, and if it felt like home, had a layout I liked, and didn’t need much work, the house soared to the top of my list.

I only misjudged once in my quest for a new home. That little error occurred when we first moved to Virginia City. We

Older houses demand attention. They are adept at sucking up financial resources, no matter how well maintained their previous owners had kept them throughout their century of existence. I figure an old house is equivalent to a black hole: things (in our case, money) disappear into the black hole (in this case, our home), never to be seen again.

Our new, (but very old) acquisition in Virginia City did have modern plumbing and wiring, a newly remodeled bathroom and master bedroom, and a new propane heater. But due to its centenarian status, it needed other work. My husband ripped out a derelict gravity heater. The thing had been sitting unused, obviously for years, in the dining room. And for years it seemed no one felt the inclination to remove it.

This of course entailed that he mend the resulting hole in the wall, whereupon we discovered the distressing lack of insulation in that particular wall.

As my husband remarked, when you start a project in an old house, that one little project very often leads to eight other have-to-do-tasks that need attention.

Those eight other tasks must be completed before you can begin to finish the original problem. The removal of the gravity heater caused mess and disorder, but it turned out better than I expected.

In another episode of our old home saga, my husband ripped out a closet that ran the length of a room I used for my office. This little project of course required moving furniture, tripping over scattered belongings and generally inconveniencing both of us.

Whoever designed and built that useless monstrosity of a closet hopefully never picked up a hammer and nails again. It looked like something I would have built.

My father always chided me because I used sixteen nails when three would have

sufficed, but I wanted to make sure my creation held together. I think this so-called carpenter felt the same way. That closet had more nails and paraphernalia holding it upright than I would guess one could find in the entire rest of the house.

These little improvements sound like nothing to those who enjoy renovating and seeing a new room come to life. But for me, that was more than enough fixing. But it wasn’t the end of the honey-do list. The house also needed a paint job. It needed a new roof (which we contracted out, as both of us are far too old to be scampering around on a rooftop). It needed painting – both inside and out. The house also required a host of other small odds and ends done to it to keep it habitable.

Finally, it came time to solve that little fixer-upper problem once and for all. We sold that old money pit and bought land outside of town. We had a cabin moved onto our new site and I had it done right.

The cabin interior has pine tongue-andgroove walls – no painting or wallpapering required. It has hardwood floors, which means I just toss a nice rug on the floor.

When I get tired of the rug or it wears out, I cart it outside and bring in a new one. I will take no part in tiling, laying linoleum, replacing carpet, or other odious tasks that require subjecting my little haven to chaos.

The cabin has a metal roof, and the color is guaranteed to last longer than either of us will. So, all is well.

I love my cabin home. I know that very little in the way of renovation or repair will be required. That makes me smile. I can now hunker down and enjoy my sanctuary.

I don’t give a thought to changing anything about it whatsoever, because I learned to buy “turnkey.” And that’s a lesson I learned the hard way, the fixer-upper way.

Lois Stephens brings personal experience of the aging process to Prime Magazine.

She enjoys writing about her observations of becoming a member of the senior citizen age group. She lives and works in Virginia City.

6 I May 2020 PRIME

OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO… WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

By Nancy Ruby

T

he last book that Dr Seuss published in his lifetime was “Oh! the Places You’ ll Go.” Do you remember it? It ’s a lovely stor y about life and how there are ups and downs and opportunities, and that things are going to be awesome and amazing! Except when they aren’t. And sometimes, well, they just aren’t.

Yet we keep going, we keep progressing, we keep swimming through this amazing experience called life. None of us are immune to the challenges; however, neither are any of us held back from the opportunity to grow, make personal progress, try something new.

With all of us staying home for the greater good, this can also be a time to explore something new and greater

within ourselves. Our true nature has an innate desire to play, to be creative, to live in the moment, to enjoy life. What are you doing to bring joy into your life today?

What new and creative ways are you fulfilling your passion? What do you love to do but are not doing because you haven’t had the time? Well, my friends, now is the time.

Take out the paints, sit down at the piano, bake a pie, write a love letter, launch into that book, start a yoga practice, take a course online. Whatever your heart’s desire is prompting, allow creativity to rewire your brain towards happiness, compassion, and gratitude.

It has been scientifically proven that when we continue learning and growing and experiencing something new, our brains remain clear, alert and, therefore,

youthful throughout our lifetime.

This ability of the brain to change form and function based on incoming stimuli is called neuroplasticity. Your brain is shaped by its own experience. It’s without a doubt, a boon to your health to keep on learning.

You have the choice to navigate your thoughts away from problems and toward solutions. If you catch yourself going down the path of fear, negativity, hopelessness, don’t just do something - sit there! Sit, breathe deeply and evenly, observing your own thoughts, emotions and physical sensations. Watch, listen, feel and you will come to know what is truly real and reliable in yourself.

You can literally rewire the neural pathways that regulate your emotions, thoughts, and reactions. This means we can create new neural pathways - high-

ways in your brain - that lead to compassion, gratitude, and joy instead of anxiety, fear, and anger.

When you exercise, you engage your muscles to help improve overall health. The same concept applies to the brain. You need to exercise it with new challenges to keep it healthy.

Choose now to exercise your brain and you’ll also benefit by strengthening the wellbeing of your heart and soul as you learn more about YOU! And oh, the places you’ll go, without ever having to leave your home.

Nancy Ruby runs YogaMotion Wellness Academy in Bozeman and describes herself as an educator, joyologist and lifestyle engineer. She has been sharing her teachings in yoga and wellness education for the past 40 years. Ruby currently specializes in supporting the health and wellbeing of Baby Boomers and beyond.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE HEALTHCARE HEROES

who are on the front-line every day, especially those who are helping our older adults.

Thank you also to all the volunteers who are sewing, making cards, being pen pals and asking “how may I help?” We can’t do this without you.

From our family to yours – thank you and be well.

2632 Catron Street I Bozeman 406-556-8000 I TheSpringsLiving.com

PRIME May 2020 I 7

Though the deliveries have been

sliced to a single day, Wetsch said

seniors can request up to six frozen

meals, in addition to their hot meal,

to help them make through the

week. Currently the senior center

MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM HITS THE ROAD EVERY TUESDAY TO FEED AREA SENIORS By: Hannah Stiff

S

enior centers, like so many other beloved gathering places throughout the state,

are now closed. T he usually bustling Bozeman Senior

Center is quiet these days,

except for the kitchen, where the center’s cook and volun-

teers busily prepare meals to

deliver to seniors.

tor for the Bozeman Senior Center,

“We are trying to limit our expo-

says the center has cut down the

sure to keep everyone safe,” Wetsch

Wheels to Tuesday only. The effort

they don’t get to see smiling faces

masked volunteer at their door

volunteers who miss seeing our

normal daily delivery of Meals on

ensures seniors are only seeing one each week.

says. “Participants hate it because

every day. It’s been hard on the

participants, too.”

is preparing 105 hot meals to serve

each Tuesday and 420 frozen meals

to deliver. But Suzie Turczyn, who

helps in the center’s office and

kitchen these days, says they have more capacity.

“We can do more meals,” Turc-

zyn says. “We are trying to get the

word out.”

Wetsch echoed the sentiment,

saying the usual Meals on Wheels guidelines have been relaxed dur-

ing the pandemic. Seniors 60 and older who live in Bozeman city

limits are eligible to receive Meals

on Wheels, Wetsch says. There is a suggested donation of $4 per meal,

but no one will be turned down for

an inability to pay.

“We just don’t want anyone over

60 to go hungry,” Wetsch said. “A

lot of our people are shut ins. They can’t drive or don’t have a car and

Meals on Wheels isn’t a new

they need more food than we can

help agencies around the country

Senior centers throughout the

program. Senior centers and other

have long used the program to

provide hot, nutritious meals to

homebound seniors. But under the current stay-at-home orders, the

program is a vital lifeline for se-

niors who cannot get out and shop for groceries or to-go meals.

Kristi Wetsch, marketing direc-

give them.”

valley are also continuing their

Meals on Wheels deliveries. To

find out more or be added to a list, contact the senior center nearest

you. The HRDC also runs a senior grocery delivery service. More

information is available at thehrdc. org or by calling (406) 587-5444.

8 I May 2020 PRIME

FUMBLING IN THE DARK

By Lois Stephens

O

wls have amazing eyesight and night vision. They lurk in trees at night, look below them, see a dark rodent running across equally dark ground, swoop down, and unerringly make a catch. Talk about the ability to see in the dark.

I wish I had it so good. My eyes have never provided me with crystal clear sight. My daylight vision leaves a lot to be desired, never mind navigating at night. I can’t blame this on older age, because even as a child, I never saw particularly well, whatever the time of day.

Darkness and shadows really presented problems. I had difficulty distinguishing objects in the dark and I tended to crash into whatever happened to be in my path rather than successfully maneuvering around these obstacles. Judging distances after sunset also could not be called one of my strong points.

Now that I am a woman of a certain age, the situation has gotten completely out of hand. In spite of bifocals and handy dandy little prisms in my glasses that are supposed to properly align my eyes, so the left one doesn’t roll up while the right one rolls down (yes folks, my eyes resemble those of Bozo the Clown, you know, where his eyes roll around in their sockets at random, and he looks totally, well, clownish). I still can’t read fine print without a magnifying glass. Thanks to the prisms, a straight line doesn’t look straight when I stare at it dead on, I can’t

hang a hat without missing the peg unless I stand directly in front of the cursed hanger, I look down when I walk because otherwise I trip over pebbles, twigs, and other innocuous looking objects in my path. I figure I will be eaten by a bear before I realize he was standing in the path in front of me, looking for a scrawny little old lady to munch on. Most distressingly, I really can’t see at all in the dark.

I really notice this poor vision when driving after sunset, a daunting proposition that I avoid at every possible opportunity. I can’t see anything but blackness all around me, and judging distances becomes impossible. After I drive awhile after dark, I sometimes think I see movement along the side of the road. These ghostly shadows I see flickering along the side of the road could be lurking deer just waiting to commit suicide and ruin my truck in the process, or perhaps what I think I see in reality doesn’t even exist, or maybe these objects are fence posts, or perhaps axe murderers, waiting for me to stop my vehicle and investigate. I have no idea. I just know I can’t see well enough to feel comfortable driving in the dark.

Oncoming lights from other vehicles

add to the confusion. Blinded by the light would be an understatement. I sometimes feel I’ve landed in one of Stephen King’s horror novels. You know, surrounded by alien beings determined to mess with us mere mortals, peppering us with eerie lights, shadows, and unwelcome distortions and unnerving movement.

Snow and blowing snow compound the problem, convincing me that I really do not have to leave home after dark for any reason whatsoever. Actually, I won’t drive in snow or blowing snow during daylight hours if I can possibly avoid it, and I generally make sure I CAN avoid it. Driving in snow and blowing snow at any time of the day or night makes my eyes cross and I cannot focus properly, just one more reason why I decide to stay home and toss another log in the wood stove. I’d rather watch the snow than try to navigate a vehicle through it.

Walking my dog after dark has also become somewhat of a daunting proposition.

Stones, twigs, and numerous other objects all lie in wait for me, licking their chops in anticipation of sending me into a spill or stumble of some sort or another. My dog can disappear into the blackness of night within two steps, and it is only by the sound of her dainty footsteps or her excitement at discovering a rabbit in the vicinity that I can figure out her location.

Even in the house, under artificial nighttime light, when I drop something on the floor, I have to find it by feel, rather than by spotting it with my peepers. My eyes just don’t work the way they used to or the way they are supposed to.

I’ve accepted the fact that I will never be Eagle Eye Fleagle; I never was, and I never will be. I know it will take me more time to accomplish a task after dark. I know I make appropriate arrangements, so I don’t need to slide behind a wheel after sunset, and I stick to known walking routes after dark. I know my eyesight will not improve in this lifetime. As my eye doctor so kindly reminded me a few years ago when I complained bitterly about my inability to read fine print, I’m not getting any younger, and eyesight does diminish with age. So, I guess I can shut up about it and just make the adjustments I need to make in order to continue to function after the sun goes down.

Lois Stephens brings personal experience of the aging process to Prime Magazine.

She enjoys writing about her observations of becoming a member of the senior citizen age group. She lives and works in Virginia City.

PRIME May 2020 I 9

OLD GUYS, DOCTORS, AND LAWYERS

By Jim Drummond

A

t our last old guy waterhole, just before the “Shelter in P lace” was issued, one of the g roup members was a bit crotchety.

“What the heck is the matter,” somebody finally asked.

“My doctor retired,” came the response.

We all nodded our heads sympathetically, recognizing the reason for his gloom.

“Not only that,” the crotchety member replied. “My accountant, my lawyer, and my plumber have also retired this past year.”

Our old guy group agreed that our friend was having a string of bad luck. Old guys generally cher-

ish working with the same doctor, lawyer, accountant, and repairman – year after year. We don’t appreciate change or being compelled to develop a working relationship with a new or younger professional.

Old guys find it quite confounding to explain medicine to a young doctor, or to teach a newly minted lawyer the law, or train a fresh accountant to do a tax return. Young professionals who have replaced our retired advisers often believe that they know more than us old guys.

One of our group members responded to our complaining friend.

“It seems that you are going to need a new doctor, and new doctors are much too thorough,” the group member instructed. “My old

doc would look down my throat and make me say, ‘ahh,’ then hit my knee with a rubber mallet, and then pat me on the back and send me on my way. He wouldn’t talk to me for a year until my next physical. My new doctor pokes and prods and sticks me with needles.

He instructs me to exercise more and eat less, then he wants to schedule follow ups. I just don’t understand this new generation of doctors.”

Another of our group weighed in.

“My doctor retired last year, and I was assigned a new and younger model,” he said.

Somebody asked how that was working out.

“Well,” the offended group member said. “He seems to know his

business, but his fingers are much fatter than old doc’s fingers.”

We all cringed.

Somebody else weighed in.

“I never have a physical,” the watering hole regular remarked. “If I have a problem, I’d just as soon not know. My brother was feeling fine.

Then he scheduled a physical with a new doctor. He ended up having a toe removed, 10 inches of colon taken out, part of his ear lopped off, and now he can only eat steamed vegetables. He probably would have felt better if he had simply stayed home.”

Somebody else agreed: “I bet his old doc would have just left him alone.”

We all nodded again.

From the far end of the table somebody commented.

“My old lawyer retired, and now I have to find a new one,” the end-of-table commenter remarked.

“The new lawyers I interviewed are young and don’t have the same experience as my old lawyer. None of them have any idea how to represent an old guy.”

Somebody asked, “I thought you already had a will, so why would you need a lawyer at your age?”

“It’s possible that I might meet a young cutie and end up needing a prenuptial agreement,” the end-oftable commenter replied.

We all glanced at him sideways.

One in the group looked him up and down and finally broke the silence.

“Trust me on this, you’re never going to need a prenup,” the truthteller remarked.

Jim Drummond is a new contributor to the Prime section. Look for more of his witty repartee in upcoming editions of Prime.

10 I May 2020 PRIME

Yes!

HINTS FOR THE BEGINNING VEGETABLE GARDENER

We are still open!

9AM - 5:30PM North 19th at Springhill Road 587-3406

By Jan Cashman

B

ecause of the stay-at-home directive, we are finding more people than ever interested in vegetable gardening, some for the first time. Vegetable gardening is an

1. Learn by reading books and magazines, the internet. Or ask neighbors who are successful at gardening or the staff at your local garden center for advice.

2. Plan out your garden on paper before you start. Keep this plan for your records and jot down ideas throughout the season for next year’s garden.

Choose short-season vegetables for our short growing season— “days to ripening” is usually listed on the seed package. Or ask an experienced gardener which varieties they prefer.

3. Start small. Make the size of your first garden manageable so you won’t be overwhelmed.

4. Consider gardening in raised beds.

Raised beds are easy and productive…their height makes them easier to plant, weed, and harvest; weeds pull easily in the loose soil, and their soil warms up quicker in the spring.

Whether in the ground or raised beds, rotate your crops every three

inexpensive, fun activity the whole family can enjoy together.

It isn’t difficult but it is good to know a few hints from some of us that have been doing it for years…

years or so.

5. Amend your soil, whether you are growing in raised beds or in the ground, with generous amounts of organic matter such as compost, peat moss, or well-rotted manure.

Our heavy clay soils lack sufficient organic matter.

6. Know when and how much to water.

A drip system or soaker hose keeps water off the leaves, which is important for leafy crops like lettuce. Drip watering methods don’t waste water.

Watering in the morning is best.

Water deeply, not daily. A general rule, unless our weather is unusually hot and dry, is 1 inch of moisture a week for most plants. Learn to recognize signs of stress in a plant from not enough water or too much.

7. Fertilizer is a must! Whether you use organic or chemical fertilizers, your garden will grow better if you fertilize it. We fertilize our vegetable garden twice each season, once when

the seedlings are a few inches tall and again when they are half grown.

Corn and leafy crops need fertilizers high in nitrogen; the rest of your vegetables will do well with any tomato and vegetable food.

8. Don’t let your weeds get out of control! Weeds are a lot easier to pull when they are small, and your soil is moist. Avoid chemical herbicides on edible crops. Some gardeners mulch or use newspapers or black poly between rows to keep weeds down.

9. Protect from deer, rabbits, voles and other pests. These pests can ruin all your hard work. Many of us have deer in our yards. Our whole vegetable garden is fenced with a 6-foot fence to keep deer out. Use smaller gauge wire to keep out rabbits. Voles are hard to control. But traps, repellants and poisons are available. Net raspberries and strawberries from birds. Use rotenone or row covers to protect broccoli, cabbage, and cauli-

CashmanNursery.com

1998590

flower from cabbage worms.

10. Use tricks to keep frost at bay—such as Wall-o-Waters for tomatoes, hot caps, frost blankets, even old milk jugs or 5-gallon pails. Turn on your sprinklers when a frost occurs after tender vegetables are up.

Get your children involved. They might be persuaded to eat their vegetables if they grow them themselves. Have fun with your vegetable garden and enjoy the nutritious, delicious fruits of your labor.

Jan Cashman has

operated Cashman Nursery in Bozeman with her husband, Jerry, since 1975.

PRIME May 2020 I 11

WATCH OUT FOR FINANCIAL SCAMS RELATED TO VIRUS

O

n one hand, the coronavirus has brought out the best in us.

People across the country are pitching in to help others, from providing protective masks to health care workers to holding video chats with confined residents of assisted living homes to simply buying gift cards to support local businesses.

On the other hand, a small number of bad actors are taking advantage of the situation to try to defraud people. How can you guard against these virusrelated scams?

For starters, be aware of three common scams connected to the coronavirus: • Websites claiming to help and track the pandemic – Look out for websites that claim to help you work remotely or provide financial resources to the afflicted. These sites may try to trick you into giving up personal information, donate money or load malware onto your computer. Don’t trust

information technology (IT) “helpdesk” agents you don’t know. And check out any obscure organization claiming to help virus victims. You can easily find many legitimate groups that actually work to alleviate suffering, and that deserve your support. To find these reputable organizations, go to an online clearinghouse, such as charitynavigator. org, which rates thousands of groups on their financial health, accountability and transparency.

• Products claiming to prevent or cure the disease – When there’s a real treatment or vaccination for COVID-19, it will be big news, and you will hear about it. Until then, ignore any claims for pills, potions, prescriptions or other products that promise “miracle” cures.

Not only will they waste your money, but, if you click on attachments from “phishing” emails advertising these fake treatments, you could end up supplying crooks with sensitive data, such as your online account logins, passwords, and credit card and bank account details.

You can find a great deal of health information on the virus at the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov), of course, but if you or your loved ones are feeling ill, please contact a physician.

• “Risk-free” or “guaranteed” investments – The coronavirus has caused two separate, but related, areas of stress.

The first is the health concern, and the second is the financial/investment component. The enormous volatility of the financial markets has caused much concern among investors, and scammers are seizing the opportunity to offer “risk-free” or “guaranteed” investments “perfect” for this particular time. Again, responding to these types of offers can bring you nothing but trouble. All investments carry risk of one type or another, and they typically don’t come with guarantees, although some do offer significant protection of principal. In these turbulent times, your best move is to stick with a long-term investment strategy based on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

Here’s one more suggestion: Warn your elderly relatives about the increased potential for scams. The elderly are always the most susceptible to fraud, and now, when they may be more isolated than before, they may well be even more vulnerable. So, make sure you’re talking to these loved ones, and urge them not to make any sudden, out-of-the-ordinary financial moves.

Even in normal times, it’s regrettable that we have to be on the alert for scam artists – and it’s even more unfortunate during a period of national crisis. However, by being reasonably vigilant, and by taking the proper precautions, you can avoid taking on the “collateral damage” that can occur in this environment.

Nathan M. Kirby Edward Jones

Financial Advisor

Are you invested properly?

Get a second opinion.

A lot has changed since you were a new parent.

Nathan M Kirby

Financial Advisor

edwardjones.com 2007501

424 E Main St #202-C Bozeman, MT 59715 406-585-1141

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BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM

WE ARE STANDING WITH YOU —

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has established a $500,000 grant fund to assist locally owned businesses during this challenging situation. As a family owned business, we understand what you are going through and have stepped forward to support our community.

HOW DOES THE GRANT WORK? —

The Chronicle will provide $500,000 in matched advertising during the months of April, May, and June of 2020.

HOW DO I APPLY? —

Simply fill out the application online and we will reply within 48 hours.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS —

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle will grant $500,000 in matched advertising to locally owned businesses during the months of April, May, and June 2020.

To be eligible to receive funds from the grant, businesses must complete the grant application and be approved.

This fund has been established only for locally owned and operated businesses.

The minimum grant match that will be awarded is $500 per business for the eligible grant period.

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