Goodbye Sunshine
Our slow send off to the sun begins Sept. 23, the autumn equinox. Daylight hours will start to dwindle, which means it is time to start thinking about what needs to be done before winter arrives.
Tick Alert
Tick season continues as long as the temperature stays at 4 C or higher. While different tick species are more active at different times of the year, you need to be mindful of ticks any time before it’s freezing outside. Beware of blacklegged (deer) ticks, which carry Lyme disease and are most active in the fall as they search for hosts for the winter.
Here are some tips for avoiding ticks:
- If you don’t have to, don’t walk in tall grass and brush. Ticks attach to mammals that come close or rub up against whatever they are sitting on. They cannot jump.
- Wear light-coloured clothing that covers as much of your body as possible, including your feet. This makes ticks easier to spot and keeps them off your skin. Another good tactic is to tuck your pant legs into your socks and shirt into your pants.
- Use tick prevention options on your pets. Animals can contract Lyme disease, too.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors. This will help wash off unattached ticks and make it easier to spot ones that are attached to you.
- Use insect repellent with at least 10 per cent DEET or icaridin. These ingredients are the only ones that have been proven to be effective in repelling ticks, as well as mosquitoes and other insects. A Canadian Paediatric Society Report has more useful information about this topic.
Be sure to check yourself, other people and any pets that have accompanied you outside for ticks. Finding and removing ticks within 24 hours of attachment reduces the likelihood of disease transmission. Go to etick Canada for tips on identifying and dealing with ticks.
True or False?
Q: Letting mushrooms sunbathe can increase their vitamin D content by 100 per cent.
A: True
Research has shown that mushrooms synthesize UV rays from sunlight into vitamin D. White button mushrooms grown using UV treatment had 118 per cent higher vitamin D concentrations than those grown without UV exposure. Other mushroom types were found to have similar increases in vitamin D concentrations.
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin. It is a nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, both critical for bone health, and has other benefits. Getting enough vitamin D can be difficult – especially as the hours of sunlight decline in the fall.
To boost the amount of vitamin D in whole or chopped mushrooms, place them gill side up near a window. Leave them there for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes. The longer they sit in the sun the more vitamin D will be created. Since they’re absorbing the UV rays and not the light, this can be done effectively even on cloudy days. One serving of sun-charged mushrooms can fulfil your daily requirement for vitamin D. The concentration of vitamin D will depend on the type of mushroom, UV intensity and length of UV exposure.
Source: U.S. Mushroom Council
Wetter and Warmer
Autumn weather in Essex County is changing. Precipitation in the fall has increased 51 mm since 1950 and the first frost day is 10 days later.
Source: Climate Atlas of Canada
Fall Fire Prevention
National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8-14, is observed in Canada and the United States. Each year the campaign raises awareness about how to stay safe in case of a home fire and encourages people of all ages to plan ahead. This includes ensuring your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors work. See the Ontario’s Fire Safety at Home page for more fire prevention and safety tips.
Typically, wildfires occurred in the spring and summer, but wildfire season now extends into the fall. The two causes of wildfires are lighting and human activity. Much like in the home, prevention is the best way to fight wildfires. One way to do this is in the autumn is by clearing away fallen leaves that could fuel a fire.
Leaf litter can be mowed into your lawn, composted or used as mulch. If you don’t want to use the leaves on your property or you just have too many, you can bag them to be picked up during municipal yard waste collection days.
If you are considering burning leaves, first check with your municipality to find out if there are restrictions and whether you need a permit. Ontario has laws relating to outdoor fires and provides tips for safe outdoor burning. Also, keep in mind that burning leaves produces carbon monoxide and particles that can be harmful when humans and animals breathe them in. These include particles of mould, animal excrement and poisonous plants – like poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak. Whatever method you choose for leaf management, ensure that it is safe for you and the environment.
