Venture Outdoors Stews Hike 2013 at Harrison Hills Park

The Venture Outdoors Stews Hike, hosted by the Friends of Harrison Hills on 26 January 2013, had a great turn out. Thanks Rex Rutkoski for the awesome spotlight in the Tribune!

Twelve enthusiastic participants, accompanied by VO trip leaders Nick and Kathy, and led by a local couple Spencer and Grace Clark (that's us!) hiked a total of 5 km while taking in the beautiful winter sights at the Harrison Hills Park. 

We hit many of my favorite spots in the Park, mostly following the Scout Trail (red blazes). Here are a few photos of our excursion.

The youngest participant in the VO Stews Hike, Carver Clark, sprints along the trail

Group pic at the peak of Ridge Trail

From back to front: Ellen's Chicken Stew with Biscuits, Sue Vertosik's Famous
Vegetarian Chili, and Grace's Hearty Five Grain Dinner Rolls (recipe HERE)

For more photos click HERE

Hope to see everyone at the next hike!

Free Compost at Harrison Township

Summary of post
Few things in life are free... and this is one of them. The 'compost give-away program' available all year provides free leaf compost for the lucky folks at Harrison Township, PA.

An open secret
I was skimming through the Harrison Township Recycling Calendar, noting the recycling days, when I saw this notice 'Compost Give-Away Program: Free leaf compost... Please come ... and help yourself'. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is big on recycling, according to the news release from www.state.pa.us, "..reycling a record 4.86 million tons of municipal waste, saving consumers and industries nearly $263 million in waste disposal costs and providing businesses with materials valued at $577 million". This free leaf compost is the end result of all the bagged leaf and garden residues left out by Harrison Township folks for curbside pickup.

Home composting
Composting is the way to go to reduce pressure on landfills, lessen organic matter leachate from landfills into our rivers, and return valuable nutrients to our soils. Instead of spending money buying compost, I compost household vegetable scraps and other garden residues. Composting at home is simple and doesn't take a lot of time. There are plenty of guides on composting techniques out there, but the recipe that has worked well for me follows a 3:2:1 ratio. I use 3 parts of dry carbon-rich matter (e.g., dry leaves) to 2 parts of nitrogen-rich matter (e.g., animal poop) to 1 part of good soil or ripe compost as a starter. I layer these ingredients one of top of the other, making several layers and eventually get to a 1 x 1 x 1 m pile. The idea behind composting is to provide the best possible environment for the aerobic decomposers (bacteria and fungi) to do their thing. With the base 'food' available to these little guys, a correct ratio of oxygen to moisture (water just enough to keep moist), you'll have compost in 3 - 6 months. The colder it is, the slower the process. Turning the pile helps to aerate and mix all the good stuff together.

Harrison Township Free Composting Service
While veggie scraps and some garden residues go down well in a home compost pile, other organic materials such as branches and woody stuff would take years to rot. It's nice if you have a wood chipper or shredder, but most people don't. This is where the municipal services come in very handy. You can bundle with string all the branches with diameters of 4" and smaller, and leave 'em bundles curbside according to calendar. If you don't feel like making compost, you can give all your leaves and garden residues up for this composting service. They even provide special paper bags for you to fill up with leaves, at a nominal price.

Dig in!
I've helped myself to two truckloads of this free compost so far (Spencer is unloading a truckload in the pic below). It is dark, rich, crumbly, smells earthy, and is loaded with earthworms. We estimate that this compost would have cost over $500 if we had gone to a garden center to buy it.

The best things in life are free!




xo Gracie

Goodwill at Natrona Heights

I could probably do a review of thrift stores in the United States because I have been to all of them. Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) are some of the big ones close by.

In my opinion patronizing a thrift store instead of buying new, is one of the best ways to tread lightly on our planet. You know the motto "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"? If we cut back on acquisition of Stuff (Reduce), we minimize our carbon footprint. If I were to get Stuff that I need, I always try to acquire used goods (Reuse). At least then I'm not adding to the demand for new goods. And if there's Stuff I no longer need, I always try to sell, recycle or give away, so that someone else can continue to use it or so that it can be turned into something else that's useful. We buy so much Stuff here in the US, probably because Stuff is so cheap. Then after just one season this stuff particularly clothing is donated to Goodwill. Only 20% of goods donated to Goodwill are successfully sold. The rest end up in the landfill.

I love Goodwill and have found many things that I needed there. I know of folks who make a living by picking up stuff from Goodwill and reselling it on eBay. I once sold a digital oven thermometer for $75, which I bought for a buck then figured i didn't need it.

Goodwill in Natrona Heights is right next to Walmart on Freeport Road. The place is clean and doesnt smell stuffy, selection is decent and so are the prices - shirt for $3, kids clothing is cheaper. The staff are friendly and helpful too. Donating is easy - just pull up to the back entrance and someone will come out immediately to unload the goodies.

Happy Shopping!

Meals on Wheels Natrona Heights

Mission: End Senior Hunger

Meals on Wheels at  965 Burtner Road, Natrona Heights delivers hot meals to 100 - 150 mobility-limited senior citizens, three times a week. 

The Volunteers

A huge team of 60 volunteers keeps the wheels turning. Many are drivers, who send the meals directly to the doorstep of recipients, while others help cook, portion and ready the meals for delivery. 

Almost all the volunteers are retirees. They range in age from 56 to 95 years of age. Yes, there's a 95 year old lady who helps out. Volunteers help in whatever capacity and as their schedule permits. Some come once a month, some every other day. 

Volunteers are always needed.

A Morning at The Meals on Wheels Kitchen

I've helped out on occasion, filling in for the regular volunteers who could not make it. Last week I went to fill in for Shirley who had to accompany her husband out of state. 

I arrived at 7 am. Those of you who know me, know that I am no early bird. 

However, Audrey had been working since 4 am. She is a long-time volunteer who went full-time a few years back. She practically lives there. She prepares the menu based on what foods are received from the Food Bank and what was bought cheap or on sale (often using coupons). She also cooks all the food.  Audrey is amazing!

The modern food preparation facility with two three bowl sinks, commercial ovens and gas ranges, walk in freezer and fridge, food prep tables.  That's my dream kitchen right there.

Drivers (the men) help pack the food if they arrive early. Awesome volunteers!

Cold food is kept in coolers and delivered directly to the mobility-limited senior citizens subscribed to the meals

To find out more about how to participate in this worthwhile cause, visit Meals on Wheels Association of America.

The Harrison Hills Park at Natrona Heights

In my opinion, this is one of the best things about where I live in Natrona Heights.

I LOVE the Harrison Hills Park (map here).  It's a nature lover's haven, and I love the trails. There are 14 miles of color blazed trails to run, bike or ride horses on and I've run all of them and attempted to mountain bike a few too. Some parts of the Green Trail don't get a whole lot of traffic or maintenance (, which is done by volunteers), so these can sometimes be overgrown with poison ivy.

The Green Trail Blazer - wait is that poison ivy hehe

On the 500 acre park there are old growth woodlands, open meadows, streams and ponds, which form several different natural habitats for wildlife, and are wonderful to explore. There's decent fishing at the Pond along the Pond Loop.

There's a soccer field, picnic areas with gazebos (some have electric and water) that can be booked for parties and gatherings (book with the Allegheny County Parks Department).  Bookings for shelters or groves are super affordable, starting at $25!

The Friends of Harrison Hills Park maintains an awesome Environmental Learning Center 'ELC' that houses a neat collection of specimens (birds, small mammals, insects, etc) and is the epicenter of activity especially in the summer months, with programs held every week for all the family. You can sign up for their email list to be sent the schedule of events for the year. I give lectures on bugs and volunteer to lead bug hikes every year.  It's a lot of fun!



Well, hope to see you at the Park!

World Earth Day 2012 at Harrison Hills Park

We had a low key but memorable celebration of World Earth Day this year at Harrison Hills Park. The Friends of Harrison Hills Park organized various events including an invasive species clean up hike, sprucing up the outdoor classroom, and trail cleanup.

I was surprised and tremendously encouraged to see so many people turn up. Entire families with kids showed up in full force despite the dreary weather.

Spencer and I joined Joe and Paul in trail maintenance. I think the guys did a great job.

After that we helped Patrick lay some pavers in the outdoor classroom.

Finally we fortified ourselves with cookies, ice cream and tiramisu. :)

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Peace.