458
Highway 98 North
Okeechobee,
FL 34972-2578
Phone:
(863) 763-6469
E-
mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu
September
15, 2004
Feature
Article - for release the week of September
19, 2004
Dan
Culbert - Extension
Horticulture Agent
Just
Keep Smiling!
With
all of the “stuff” that’s blown our way over the last month, we may all
need a few ideas to keep our spirits up, get us through the hurricane
recovery tasks, and hopefully will get our lives back to some kind of normal.
Here
are a few suggestions to improve our outlook as suggested by my co-workers
here at the University of Florida Extension Service:
•
Buy
a colorful plant for your doorstep or your house.
Most landscapes have been severely damaged, nothing looks nice right now, and
the green shoots of recovery are not yet quite enough. A nice new plant
would be just the answer. My visits to our area nurseries show that they
suffered damage on their large landscape plants, but they have many potted
plants that are undamaged - and just waiting to be “adopted.”
Several of these businesses have lost their cash flow, yet their bills keep on
coming. If you can possible trade a few dollars for their plants, it
will keep these local businesses from closing for good.
Continue
to help those less fortunate.
There are still many folks without power. Seek them out; invite them in
for a good meal. If you are able, put them up for the little while they
wait to get back into their homes.
Pitch
in! If
you see debris that is blocking a view of traffic, a sign that can easily be
righted, why not take it upon yourself to move it if you are able to do so.
Don’t compromise your safety or exert yourself beyond what you are capable
of doing, but if others see you taking the initiative, this spirit of
cooperation will go a long way to moving us out of the recovery period.
Look
out for con artists.
Go for references from local persons, check to see if anyone you hire has the
necessary licenses, get a written estimate, and come to an understanding how
repairs will be paid for after the work is done. (We have a fact sheet at our
office if you want more details in this topic.)
•
Contact
agencies for assistance.
Have you called your insurance agent yet? Have you called FEMA and
registered for their help? If you are an agricultural producer,
contact the commodity organizations for help. We will be posting
additional information from last week’s meeting in Fort Pierce on who to
contact on our website - or just call our office if you need any help in this
regard.
•
Get
some rest.
We are all trying to cram too much into too little time. Grab an
afternoon nap, go to bed early, go fishing, take a visit to a favorite
place, take the phone off the hook or turn off the cell phone, put some
of the chores that will wait aside. When you’re fatigued, mistakes and
accidents happen more often.
Smile!
Seek
out some of your favorite sources of humor - be it a telephone call to that
humorous friend or relative or stop by the office of your favorite supplier.
Yes, the hours and effort have been too long, the frustrations are great, the
problems seem insurmountable, and the challenges almost impossible, but a good
positive attitude will be infectious and make life more livable.
•
Recharge
your spiritual batteries.
Talk about what you’ve gone through and what you are up against.
Don’t be afraid to seek out counseling from professionals - including the
clergy, or share with trusted friends and relatives. Pray at your house
of worship or do whatever it takes within your personal beliefs to gain some
spiritual strength to get you and your family though this rough time.
Master
Gardeners can answer your questions about your Florida Yard - call or visit
them on Tuesday afternoons here at our office. If you need additional
information on hurricane recovery assistance, visit out webpage at http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu,
or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is (863)
763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu
.
-30-
Trade
names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific
information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of
products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida
Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to
provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals
and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age,
handicap, or national origin. Florida
Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. Larry A.
Arrington, Dean. Last update: 09/17/2004
. This page is maintained by Dan
Culbert