We’re all stuck at home for the foreseeable future. And we’re trying to limit our grocery shopping outings. Right now is the perfect time to plan for your long game by planting a patio or container garden!

Plant a Patio Garden to Harvest Fresh Produce All Summer

Planting a small garden on your patio or balcony can help you to add more fresh herbs or veggies into your diet, while also reducing your spending on produce.

Just think about how much you’ll spend on tomatoes alone this summer!

Planting your garden in containers or raised beds makes things easier to manage. You can also control just how many plants you raise and how much space you take up with your fun stay-at-home project.

Get Set for Gardening Success

Before you go hog wild at the nursery, you’ll need to set yourself up for success.

1. Scout your yard, patio or balcony for a sunny spot
2. Measure the area
3. Decide which plants you’re going to prioritize; look for easy care plants
4. Choose your containers – long rectangles, big pots, hanging pots, raised bed
5. Do a little research into your ideal plants to see what they like – sun/shade, soil type, best planting times for your climate zone
6. Sketch out your ideal garden using graph paper to keep things neat and organized

It’s important to take these steps before you start actually planting things. It would be such a bummer to buy tomatoes and then realize that you’re not in the best set-up to grow them!

Another great tip is to keep your containers, whatever they might be, easy for you to access while also providing ample space for plants to grow. For square planters, stick to about 4’x4′ to keep all your plants within arms reach. Round or oval planters should err on the side of being bigger instead of a bunch of very small containers. This will give growing plants space to spout and help you avoid multiple repottings.

You can grab all your pots and containers on Amazon, along with your seeds. For living seedlings, best for herbs, broccoli and tomatoes, you’ll need to dash into the nearest gardening center or home improvement store.

While you’re there, pick up your soil. Lowe’s has a handy calculator to help you figure out how much soil you’ll need to buy.

Planting for Maximum Produce

No matter how much you love beans, if that’s all you’re planting you might end up getting sick of them before you finish your harvest.

Instead, diversify your garden with several types of plants. Before you buy, keep the actual space you have in mind. A giant pumpkin, for example, isn’t ideal for a teeny, tiny patio. They need lots of space to spread out – something you might not have.

Instead, try these plants for the space you have:

• Tomatoes: use stakes or tomato cages to keep everything under control
• Eggplants
• Peppers
• Beans: grow on a trellis or fabric netting stretched vertically
• Greens, like lettuce, kale, Swiss chard
• Radishes: grow in a deeper pot for these root veggies
• Herbs
• Cucumbers: use cages, netting or stakes to help train these vines to take up the least space
• Squash: train these vine-y plants up or over on a trellis

To increase your harvest per square foot, you could follow the pairing method of planting or the square foot gardening method.

Farmers Almanac recommends planting crops of different heights with various harvest times but that have complementary soil, sun and nutrient needs. Some good partners are:

• tomatoes + basil
• peppers + basil
• corn + beans
• cucumber + peas
• radishes + leafy greens like lettuce and kale

Another high-yield planting plan is the square foot gardening method. Instead of planting in rows, this method uses 1’x1′ squares that are then divided up into smaller squares.

Different plants require different amounts of space. For example, one tomato plant can be planted in a square foot, but 16 carrot, radish or turnip plants can be planted in that same space.

Maintaining Your Crops

Now that you’re a gardener and your crops are planted, you’ll need to keep a watchful eye to ensure their growth and success.

Making sure that your plants are watered is the first step. Next is weeding out, well, weeds.

Pull plants that are unwanted, like dandelions and grass, from your gardening containers. Using the paired planting or square foot method helps you to see which plants are yours and which are “extra.”

Last, watch for bugs and pests. Tomatoes are prone to aphids and big green worms. You can use natural deterrents, like marigolds or strategic planting pairings, to avoid some of the problem. You may still need to physically remove pests or bugs. Treating your plants with a pesticide or all-natural spray is another way to keep them healthy.

What are your best small-space gardening tips and tricks? Sound off in the comments.

We’re all trying to stay 6-8 feet apart to prevent the spread of coronavirus through our communities. However, with so many people out of work and needing support, we still want to support others through the pandemic.

Help Others While Staying Socially Distant

Helping people is second nature for many in the military and veteran community. We thrive on supporting people in times of need. But right now we also need to keep our distance to prevent infection with COVID-19.

You can do both! Try these simple ways to help others with staying socially distant!

Remember, donating is a 100% contactless way to support others and provide relief for our most vulnerable communities.

Help the Global Community

People around the world are suffering under the pandemic. You can help by supporting charities through targeted giving.

• Doctors Without Borders: supporting communities in need
• Red Cross: providing needed medical relief and supplies for communities around the world
• Save the Children: supporting kids in need by providing medical care, education materials and food
• World Health Organization: the WHO has been on the frontlines responding to the pandemic since the early stages – you can support that mission

Charitable Giving in the US

Keep your donations closer to home through donations to US-based charities that provide support to vulnerable people.

• Donate blood: use America’s Blood to find a blood drive near you (note: this is not a contactless donation)
• Boys & Girls Clubs: help keep kids from going hungry by donating to your local chapter or the national organization
• CERF+: support artists and craftspeople who are impacted by lost income due to canceled events or those who have fallen ill
• DirectRelief: help them deliver needed protective equipment and supplies that medical professionals needs to keep operations going
• Feeding America: helping by providing food boxes, supporting food pantries and keeping local operations running with grants
• No Kid Hungry: supporting children who rely on school to provide nutritious meals and children in food insecure households
• Meals on Wheels: help senior citizens eat with a donation to this essential organization
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: supporting the families of critically ill children with housing and meals; currently repurposing some spaces for doctors and medical professionals who are on the frontlines of the pandemic

Give Support in Your Community

While helping on a global or national scale is definitely needed, there are lots of ways to donate in your own backyard. Remember: giving your money or in-kind donations if often contactless!

• Donate to your local food back, either with monetary support or non-perishable goods
• Check with the local school districts to see if they need support
• Call senior centers and nursing homes to find out what they need
• Contact animal rescues and shelters to find out more about fostering an animal or supporting in another way
• Contact the local chapters of the Red Cross, No Kid Hungry or similar groups to offer your donations
• Coordinate with homeless shelters or other support organizations to help pack kits of supplies or donate in another way

If you are stuck for ideas, search online for:

your community + coronavirus + donate

More Personal Ways to Help Your Hometown

If you don’t or can’t donate money, consider donating your time and energy. You can still help your neighbors in large and small ways during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Sew masks out of fabric
• 3D print masks
• Run errands for those in quarantine or who are at high risk of infection
• Mow lawns and weed gardens
• Walk dogs for overwhelmed parents, as well as elderly or ill neighbors
• Take part in community scavenger hunts, like stuffed animal safaris or rainbow hunts
• Offer your services for free, via online booking systems
• Read children’s stories out loud on YouTube or Facebook LIVE
• Surprise your loved ones with letters or postcards

Helping in the Military Communities We Love

Military families might be facing extra strain during this time, especially since the “normal” flow of our lives has been disrupted in different ways.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is providing support for Marines and sailors who have hit financial hardship.

The Air Force Aid Society is also providing support for airmen and their families during the pandemic.

You could also connect with the chaplains for your unit or at the nearest base. Ask about on-post food banks or ways to help.

Contact the CDCs on-base to see if they need supplies or protective equipment. Many child care centers are remaining open to provide care for essential military and civilian personnel.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is providing guidance and support for veterans throughout the pandemic. They are offering grants and monetary support for eligible veterans facing unemployment due to coronavirus.

VFW posts around the country are finding ways to support local veterans and the greater communities they serve. Contact your local VFW to learn about their work and how you can help.

How are you supporting others while staying safe? Sound off in the comments.

Before D-Day and the Pacific island hopping campaign, the Greatest Generation learned the hard way how to get through the toughest of times. Many who served in World War II, as well as those who waited on the home front, had already survived the Great Depression, a time of massive unemployment and food insecurity beginning in 1929 and lasting right up to the start of the war.

Channel the Greatest Generation to Grit Through the Pandemic

As we face our own great test, the coronavirus pandemic, we should be modeling ourselves after the gritty men and women who made the best of what they had.

Facing an Uncertain Future

The Greatest Generation lived their formative years and early adulthood under the strain of economic depression. Families scraped by on what little they had and work was often scarce.

Jobs were uncertain. Food supply was uncertain. Life was a roller coaster.

Then, the world was plunged into a violent war across two oceans and continents. Even survival wasn’t guaranteed for the troops; loved ones lived with the knowledge that loss was likely imminent.

And yet, they survived. Many thrived. They lived to, literally, fight another day.

They did it by living in gratitude for what they had. This generation enjoyed simple pleasures and treasured their families.

Communities pulled together to get by during those challenging times.

Here’s how we can use the lessons of the Greatest Generation today:

• love your family well
• enjoy what you have today
• be grateful for what you have
• share what you can, when you can
• tell your loved ones how you feel
• save what you can for the future

Missing Loved Ones

During the Depression, many husbands and fathers needed to move away from their families just to find work. Then all able bodied men and many women joined the fight in World War II.

Missing someone they loved was a fact of life.

Here’s how the Greatest Generation made it through:

• writing letters
• sending pictures
• keeping diaries
• phoning when able
• making the most of the days they were together

Use those tips with a modern twist:

• send emails instead of, or in addition to, writing letters or postcards
• start a shared photo album or add new photos to a digital photo frame
• use a shared Google Doc to write down your experiences daily
• connect via video chat
• play games virtually via video chat
• watch a move together, separately with Netflix Party
• make plans for fun with friends and family post-pandemic

Essential Food Shortages

Before the current pandemic even started to really hit the US, stores saw their entire stock of toilet paper get wiped out. Now, we’re seeing shortages of food essentials like flour, milk, bread and eggs.

This wouldn’t have been unfamiliar to the WW2 generation. They lived through the Depression, when many food items were simply too expensive to buy frequently. And then the War brought food rationing to help keep the troops well fed.

They learned how to cook with smart swaps, like using applesauce for eggs or oil. We can use some of these recipes today!

What they couldn’t buy, they often learned to grow themselves! Almost every family had a victory garden in their yard, on their patio or as part of a larger community garden. You can still see victory gardens in Boston.

You can use these tips from the Greatest Generation to handle food shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• grow your favorite veggies at home in containers or raised beds
• plant herbs in tin cans and place in a sunny window
• join a CSA or farm co-op in your area to support local farmers and grab fresh produce
• use pantry staples to cook filling meals
• bake your own bread, if possible
• learn how to can or pickle

Limited Travel Options

During World War II, gas was rationed, as were rubber tires. Both materials were desperately needed to supply the troops overseas.

This caused travel to be very limited. No long road trips!

Today, we are all mostly limited to socially distant outings in our immediate area. We can’t cross state lines for fun or adventure anymore.

In addition, flying for any non-essential reason is frowned upon. Cruises are floating petri dishes, too.

Vacations are basically canceled for the foreseeable future.

Channel the Greatest Generation to have fun in your own backyard:

• explore a local hiking trail
• take a walk in your neighborhood
• garden
• play games outside
• sit outside and read
• treat your town like a tourist – explore outside locations

Note: all activities in public spaces should be outside and observing the 6-8 foot social distancing guideline. Avoid crowded places, playgrounds and indoor activities in public places.

How has coronavirus impacted your daily life? Sound off in the comments.

If you’ve never been a homeschooler with schools around the country going to distance learning; you are now a military family homeschool. You may be lucky like I am with a school that anticipated a scenario where students would be at home and fully implemented a digital school plan. We finished regular school the week before and started distance learning the following Monday. Many aren’t so lucky. So here is a guide to help you out.

The most important thing to know is that a homeschool day is much shorter than a normal school day which is what appeals to those that homeschool full time. Most children work well independently and can complete their schoolwork by lunchtime. Create a schedule and if you want the school day longer you will have to plan for it. Consider adding art, music, virtual library time and P.E. to extend the day.

Create A Schedule

This is the number one most important thing you need to do. Treat each weekday as if it is a school/work day and follow a set routine. Children function much better when they know what to expect each day. Plan the day to mimic a school day. A simple routine:

Early morning – Wake children up at their normal weekday time. Have everybody get dressed, eat breakfast and complete any morning chores such as making their beds.

Morning – School begins at a set hour. Make sure you review requirements from your children’s school. They may have requirements to be online at a certain time. This is a good time to review what work they must complete for the day.

Lunch – Everyone in the household takes the same lunch break. Have time to eat and then have the kids get outside for a bit.

Afternoon – Finish up any work not completed in the morning. The afternoon should be devoted to electives like art, music, PT etc.

Dinner –

Evening – Free time, evening chores homework and then a set bedtime each night.

This routine is super simple and sometimes that is the best. Lindsay Power, @NoShameParenting has some great advice on Raising Kids During the Coronavirus and not being so stressed about being the perfect homeschool parent.

Military One Source is a great resource for military family homeschoolers because it also lists resources available on military installations. Here are their suggestions for planning your homeschool week:

• Consider your child’s age. Transitioning to home-based learning will be very different for a preschool student than a middle or high school student. Discuss your expectations for learning at home and go over any concerns so you are on the same page.
• Set and follow a weekday schedule for starting and ending the school day and going to bed. All children benefit from structure, even if they try to resist it.
• Build in flexibility to accommodate your own work and other responsibilities. You may be teleworking, for example. See if you and your spouse, partner or another adult in your household can share some of the teaching. It might also help to set aside time in the evenings to check over assignments or work together on reading and other skills.
• Take breaks. Schedule time during the school day for lunch, snacks and age-appropriate breaks. Think physical education, recess, etc.
• Build in time for creativity. Make time for music, art and other creative subjects. This may include time for your child to practice an instrument, draw, paint, try their hand at drama or develop other skills. Have younger children practice counting by stacking blocks, or build a fort from sheets.
• Help your child safely connect with friends and relatives. Connecting with friends and family members outside your household is important. Work with your child’s school, their friends’ parents and others to help them stay in touch. Consider taking turns leading virtual lessons or hosting virtual play dates. Have your child write letters to people they care about while practicing handwriting and grammar.

Preschoolers

A note on preschoolers. This can be a real challenge as not every state has preschool as part of the school system. The National Head Start Association which specializes in preschool education has a wealth of free resources to Learn at Home. I found their information on Noggin from Nickelodeon to be very helpful. They are offering three months free and have hundreds of read-aloud e-books, games, songs and other content geared to preschoolers. The platform also has a weekly series of play activities to do offline. Perfect for getting out all that toddler energy.

School Age Children

Make sure to tap into all the resources available through your child’s school. Most schools are going to digital learning with virtual lessons and online assignments. Help your child log on and if needed read instructions together to help them understand the requirements. Reach out to teachers or counselors for any help you may need. Also keep in touch if you have any issues regarding technology or if your child falls behind in the work that is do.

Electives

Integrate the arts and physical activity into each school day. You may also want to consider offering life skills and teach your children how to cook and do laundry. I once worked at a wilderness education program and we taught children math by planning and cooking meals.

Installation Resources

Each installation has homeschooling resources. Reach out to the school liaison officers to find out what is available on your base. If you are stationed overseas check out the Head Start/Sure Start programs . Did you know Military OneSource has Education Consultants? Call 800.342.9647 to make a one-on-one session to discuss your child’s education. They can help you find resources in your area.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Digital Library has tons of free online resources for children, teens and adults. In addition to e-books there are educational resources such as ScienceFlix which has hands-on projects. Videos and other interactive features to help teach science concepts and ideas.

Art, Music and Physical Education

Art can be anything from simple art projects. Pinterest or Michael’s are great resources for ideas. Look for your favorite art museum online. While they are closed many are offering special activities for children. The National Gallery of Art (NGA) kids app for iPad is an immersive experience giving children the opportunity to explore more than 300 years of art history. Animation and audio features make learning fun.  The app covers: Portrait, Landscape, Seascape, Still Life, Action Painting, Exploring Color, Color Field, Collage, Sketchbook, and My Art Gallery. This is a great resource. A fun activity is to have children pick a favorite famous painting and recreate it for sharing on social media.

Many music teachers that have military family students offer virtual lessons so a student can continue with the same instructor even after they move. Gen Mayo, is a veteran homeschool mom and a music teacher for over 25 years. On her blog, Music In Your Homeschool she shares Six Ways to Teach Music in Your homeschool. A very good resource. If you don’t want to get too technical, have an afternoon dance party. Introduce your children to different genres of music and explain what you like or dislike about each one.

Physical Education – For many families the military member is working from home now too. What a great resource to lead family PT each day. This is a good opportunity for the service member to connect with their children while giving the spouse a break. Mary Ann Kelley, has managed a homeschool website for more than 20 years. Read her Ideas for Homeschool PT.  Childcare Extension has some useful tips on integrating motor development and fine motor skills into play and learning. They also recommend a variety of resources.

Other Resources

The QNS website offers so many websites and resources. The COVID-19 Shelter in Place rules will be lifted before you have checked out everything listed on this site!

This is a tough and challenging time for everyone.

Most importantly, Be Kind to Yourself. And…

Enlist your spouse to assist with homeschool duties. What are your favorite homeschool tips which are helping you get through being a homeschool teacher?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

By Marguerite Cleveland

Now is the perfect time to read a book. Military Spouses across the country are embracing the extra time they have and opening up a book to escape into other worlds. Shelter in Place means no FRG meetings or volunteer work. Homeschooling is a perfect time to read as you monitor your child’s education and are available for questions. Here are why your fellow Military Spouses are picking up a book:

• Susanna Hickman Bartee – Definitely finding more time to read with all of the after school and evening activities suspended. I find I just want to escape. Historical fiction is always my go to genre.
• Stacie Preston Pogoncheff – This is a perfect time to read a book, as it gives you the perfect place to escape the monotony of staying home and social distancing. I had set a yearly goal to read 25 books, small as we were supposed to be moving…that 25 is now my pandemic goal. I have read 3 books in the last 2 weeks.
• Tina Winn – I always read, but lately (with my teaching schedule) I’ve gravitated towards quicker, easier reads or reading novels for children to get ideas for my classroom. Knowing I am going to have a lot of time on my hands made this the perfect time to dive in!
• Kirsten Campbell – This is the perfect time to accomplish lots of things we never seem to have time to do. Now we have time to read for pleasure, read to learn something new, read with our newly homeschooled students, just don’t read any more about COVID-19!
• Jamie Lynn Blum- I’m in multiple book clubs, they keep me sane and grounded even in normal times. I’m not reading as much as I usually do now that I’m “crisis schooling” my children and doing my full-time job from home. I’ve been going for runs at night after my children are in bed (grandparents are home) and I listen to books on Audible. I’ve gone from 4-5 books a month to 3.
• Patty Hembree – I don’t feel guilty taking time to read or escaping to a quiet room to read because no one has to go to a practice, so dinner doesn’t “need” to be served at a certain time and no urgent errands to be run. I’m “reading” 2 books at once nowadays. I listen to an audible  book while I run every morning and read a book at home.
• Mary Christina Hold -This is the perfect time to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. We all desperately need an escape right now and a good book can let you travel mentally and emotionally into a different place. While my rate of reading personal books has actually gone down during this time due to my kids being home, it has allowed me to explore stories with my kids instead. We have been reading out loud together books from my childhood. These read-alongs are giving us all a much needed break from the difficult times.
• Sarah Becking – I’m actually reading less right now because I’m working from home, and working in my garden, and then I started volunteering at a food bank, because many of their regulars are high risk, and their demand has increased.

With libraries and bookstores around the country closed, where can you get your book fix?

You Have Free E-Book Options Available To You Now!

When stuck at home, download Kindle from Amazon. You don’t have to purchase a Kindle to be able to read e-books just download the software from Amazon and read on your phone, tablet or computer. And with so many companies trying to ease the stress of quarantine, they’re offering free e-books from time to time. Disney, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iBooks have all made some E-books available at no cost.

If you are a member of Amazon Prime there is a whole section devoted to free reading for Prime members. Another option is to go online to your base’s library.  The Army MWR Library, Navy MWR Library, and Air Force Digital Library are all online resources to check out ebooks as well as a variety of other media and educational digital content. The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Digital Library is a wealth of digital content for children, teens and adults. In addition to eBooks, you can access digital newspapers, listen to concerts and take online classes. Well worth checking out. Also check out your local library online. Many are now offering digital library cards and have a variety of eBooks you can check out.

Did you know eBooks were first created back in 1971 by Michael Hart? He created Project Gutenberg to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks. The project has over 60,000 eBooks that can be read using a kindle or the free Epub Reader. Most of the books are older books that are out of copywrite protection and in the public domain. The program is volunteer run and a good source for out of print books you may have wanted to read.

Invest in a Daydream

And for those titles that aren’t available for free, you deserve to read what you want now more than ever. Invest in that book you’ve been eyeing for some time. Now is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book and get lost.

Nothing Compares to a Good Old Fashioned Hard Cover or Paperback

If you’re a book lover that truly loves the feel of the pages between your fingers, we’ve got you too! You can still read the old fashioned way. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble and HudsonBooksellers.com to order physical copies of the books you can’t wait to get your hands on and have them shipped directly to your home.

Are you reading more during the Covid-19 outbreak? What is on your reading list?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com