Hi, My husband and I adopted and older child who is cognitively challenged or developmentally delayed. These are the correct words but mentally retarded will work just fine also. He is going to hang out at the age of 8-12 for the rest of his life. What are the benefits of gardening to special needs children and adults... the same as for you and I. Granted the material must be presented in an "age" appropriate manner and reasonable accommodations must be made but these differently abled gardeners derive the same substantial benefits from gardening that you or I or any child does. Currently, Raymond (our oldest) is helping create habitat brush piles. I have helped him understand the need for habitat and have explained to him that animal houses need to be safe just like people houses. We have made terrariums, cacti planters, and have planted seeds in between glass so that he could see the roots grow. We talked about how his plants were using nutrients from the soil as energy. We talked about the sun. We have grown sweet potatoes by suspending them from toothpicks in glasses of water. We made a scarecrow and plant vegetables in a garden and he has learned how to pull weeds in rain. He has helped me burn buckthorn and he understands this is a plant that "cheats" native plants out of having a fair chance to live. we talked about God and how winter sowing seeds was the way to go as the plants were turned over to Him for better or for worse. He helped me prepare the soil and helped me place saran wrap over the winter sowing containers. When our tomatoes grew big and juicy last year, we set aside half to give to the food pantry for those less fortunate than us. And, he cut his own tomatoes and grilled his very first open faced cheese sandwich using slices of his own home grown produce. We use binoculars and regularly watch the birds who visit the birdfeeders we made and eat the berries off the trees we have planted. We have made our own suet to feed the birds using lard, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds from sunflowers we have grown. We have taken many walks and I have let him feel the difference between a conifer and a deciduous tree. We look for critters and it is a game to see who can spot the most as animals can camouflage themselves in foliage. He has containers of strawberries that he must remember to water or they will not survive. He now knows what goes into a composter and why. He has used the soil from our composter. He is going to help me pot up an aquatic plant for our fish pond this weekend and with a window box. Is he capable of doing any of these projects on his own- no. But half the fun of doing them is the togetherness. What has he learned? More than we could have ever imagined. He is making connections every day that we never dreamed possible. Gardening has helped him accept responsibility by enabling him to learn from natural consequences, ie: if you do not remember or take the time to water strawberries you will not have any to eat as the plants will die. It has allowed him to enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Many people commented on his terrarium and how nice it was and he did do the majority of it himself. He decided to try to cook so that he could use HIS own tomato. He had never expressed an interest before. Little steps toward independence and self sufficiency are so necessary as increasingly, these children are mainstreamed into society. Gardening is a phenomenal self esteem builder. There is pride associated with completing a task and doing your best. Granted, his best is different from yours or mine but it is his best and that in and of itself makes a statement. I hope you pursue that garden plot. I can see nothing but goodness growing up from it. My only suggestion would be to chose plants wisely. Sunflowers are a great choice. Tomatoes, beans, carrots, spinach, and French marigolds that repel insects around the perimeter might be something for you to consider. Who knows... you may even get a kid to try a spinach salad just because he/she grew it him/herself. The possibilities are endless. In addition to parenting the child mentioned above, I am also a Cub Scout Den leader for my 8 year old and his group comprises differently abled kids with disabilities ranging form legally blind, to hearing impaired, to ADHD, to oc disorder, to learning disabled. These kids can do everything other children can do they just need a little bit of extra assistance form time to time. Please feel free to contact me privately.

When I have a few green beans, I freeze. When I have a huge amount, then I can them. I have no problem using a commercial can of tomatoes in a recipe, but I like to have my own home canned salsa. I like corn on the cob, but it really takes a lot of freezer space which I would rather use for beef and pork. I freeze broccoli and asparagus. Some things I only use fresh from my garden, and will continue to buy them fresh when they are not in season here. I buy fresh through a co-op in winter. I have found that I can grow salad greens into December with just a small amount of protection. I save all of the fresh onions that I will use for about four months, and I chop and freeze the rest in half-cup size portions. I chop peppers and freeze them in gallon bags and just shake out what I need. I make some bags with just sweet peppers, then I make others with a spicy mix of sweet and hot. In the fall when I have lots of red, green, and yellow peppers, I prepare at least a gallon in the freezer cut in strips to use in fajitas during the winter. I have a friend that dehydrates vast quantities of cherry tomatoes, but I haven't mastered that process yet. I do like dried apples, but when I have apples, I usually make Apple Pie Jam, apple pie filling, apple sauce and butter, and apples for cooking. I love hot pepper jelly. If I have extra okra, I like to freeze it. I only grow enough potatoes for "new" potato usage, and I don't have room for corn, either in the garden or in the freezer. Last time I had corn, I canned corn relish. Jars and canning supplies are not cheap, so if canning doesn't give you what you like to eat, then eat it fresh or freeze it. Each to his own.

You can get a statement from SS as to what your benefits will be when you retire. At 62 or at full term. I retired at 59 and took early SS at 62. I got and get only 1/2 of what I would have received if I had waited until 65 to take the SS. I think whatever you have built up stays in your account until you actually take the SS. It depends on whether you claim SS early or wait the full time. But give the office a call I found they were very helpful.

Greetings again, folks, And when did you ever see a G I C ... ... produce any growth? The only return that they'll produce ... is produced now ... and taxed now ... at top rate. The stock that I bought 45 years ago for about $4.20 or so was paying about 10 - 12 cents annual dividend ... which was taxed then at low rate, plus for the latest six years at an even lower rate. In June of '07, when I could have sold it for $107.00, it was paying me $3.08 per year, at that even lower tax rate than earlier, and the annual payment increased to $3.48 later that year. Their involvement with the U.S. financial fiasco resulted in the price of the stock sslliding tto $40.00 - but they maintained the dividend at $3.48. The price has recovered to about $75.00 now ... and they recently increased the dividend to $3.60. That current income is taxed at a much lower rate than interest that I might earn. And I haven't had to talk to the income tax people about the increase in value of the asset, during all of those years. I don't have to report to the income tax people until I either sell the stock ... or die ... neither of which I plan to do, this week or next. When I sell the stock, I deduct the $4.20 that I paid from the, e.g. $74.20? proceeds of sale, to produce a capital gain of $70.00 ... and I pay tax at regular rate on half of that amount. But not until I sell, or die - nothing till then. However - if I transfer the stock to a charity, I get a tax-deductible receipt for the full amount - and I pay no income tax on that increase. And didn't pay about 2.5% of the value annually to a management company, as I'd have to with a mutual fund. You figure it: 45 years at 2.5% of the ongoing value of the fund ... comes out to about 112.5%, doesn't it? No wonder few mutual funds grow faster than the segment of the market in which the manager operates! Looks like a good deal, to me. ole joyful