Author: krang27

March 9th, 2023

It may feel like the winter weather will never let up, but planting season is just around the corner! And whether you have a green thumb or have never grown a thing in your life, this is the perfect year to gear up your garden with some new gardening know-hows.

An Intervention with Your Plants

Have you attempted a garden year after year with few results? Do you feel out of touch with your green thumb? Were you thinking about throwing in the towel, settling down for a summer indoors to avoid certain heartbreak? Have you tried… an intervention? Well, look no further, because if you follow these quick tips below, you’re guaranteed to finally have that overabundant harvest you’ve always wanted.

1. Always approach your plants calmly. Any sudden movements could send them into a fury or even bring on fatal plant shock syndrome. If you’ve ever had a dog or a deer run past your garden, only to find a tomato or someone else withered away the next morning, this is probably what happened.
2. Treat them with respect. Have you ever wondered how oxygen gets replenished on a regular basis? That’s right, food isn’t the only way they’re keeping you alive, so do them a big favor and be on your best behavior while in their presence. Plants thrive in a mutually respectful environment.
3. Ask your garden buddies how they’re doing. It’s difficult for some plants to open up about their feelings, so give them time. Show them your genuine concern for their well-being, and offer to listen to their problems. Don’t interrupt them, speak over them, or cast judgment onto them. Only offer advice if they ask for it because, well, it’s rude otherwise. Duh.
4. Buy presents. Using the almighty Google Firefox, look up some great species-specific gift ideas, whether that’s a tasty fertilizer supplement, a fancy watering can, or a bag of coffee grounds to ward off the unrelenting backyard ants. Remember, everyone appreciates being rewarded for their good efforts.
5. Bring up your concerns. Let your plants know how deeply you care for them, and that you just want what’s best. Ask them how you can make them feel more comfortable in your backyard and confident in their place as producers. Sometimes, when we remind our garden pals that they’re not alone—there’s actually 8 million blades of grass nearby—and that they’re cared for, they’re able to work through any problems they may have had.

Get On Your Plants’ Good Side Ideas

Did your intervention go terribly wrong? Did you chicken out at the last second and ditch your efforts altogether? Don’t worry. We have a couple more ideas below to get your gardening back on track.

1. The buy-them-new-surroundings idea. There’s nothing better than a new raised bed, a bigger clay pot, a fresh layer of mulch, or a new wall to climb. Gently remind them that a comforting new layout is meant to boost their productivity without acting like a big nag by placing pictures of your neighbors’ successful harvests nearby. This will help them to understand your mutual goals as a gardening household.
2. The sing-them-into-fruition idea. Plants love carbon dioxide and you don’t, so it’s a great place to blow some of your used up air. It’s actually the only benefit of singing to your plant unless you’ve mastered the rain dance or happen to have a corn patch nearby. Even then, corn prefers to listen to secrets, not music. Watch what you say around them. They have many ears.

March 9th, 2023

Lime Rock Bottomless Pit State Park
If you find yourself in the Seymour area and are in the mood for a scenic hike, Lime Rock Bottomless Pit State Park is a must-visit. There is a plethora of beautiful trails, but none more coveted than “Neverending Trail”. This picturesque walk leads you progressively lower and lower, showing off some of Wisconsin’s most beautiful natural forests and formations, all leading to the park’s namesake, the Lime Rock Bottomless Pit. As you draw near, you may feel your stomach sink as you have no choice but to stare directly into the gaping maw of the pit, but don’t worry! This is totally normal! As long as you don’t let the alluring draw of unending darkness engulf you whole, Lime Rock Bottomless Pit State Park provides nothing but breathtaking view after breathtaking view. (Please leave before 11:11 PM, do not bring children, do not take or leave anything, and please, please, PLEASE: Stay. On. The. Trail.)

March 9th, 2023

McDonald’s

Looking for a place to eat with fast service? How about delicious breakfast sandwiches, mesmerizing coffee smells, burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets galore? These incredible McDonald’s restaurants have free Wi-Fi as well as options to order using delivery apps.



Marinette

McDonald’s  (715/732-4840): This location is at 2291 Roosevelt Road in Marinette. There are options to dine in or drive through for your burger and fries essentials. Equipped with a disease-ridden indoor playground, this restaurant is perfect for family dinners. There is a spacious dining area that contains many seating options, including tables and chairs, a corner booth, and long benches. This McDonald’s is near Highway 41 and perfect for a place to stop after sports events because this glamorous restaurant has a nice area for large groups. Stop by to dine in at this location from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, and a two-lane drive-through available until 12:00 a.m.

Green Bay

McDonald’s (920/429-2026): This McDonald’s is located at 2600 Packerland Drive in Green Bay next to the Austin-Straubel Airport. Although dining inside is not an option, I have visited this location, and the line moves quickly, especially during breakfast time. Another advantage is the patient customer service, which makes curbside pick-up easy. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11:00 p.m. on the weekend.

March 9th, 2023

— © 2023 by Jasmine Puls

Jasmine Puls is a sophomore at the main campus of UWGB. She is currently thinking of majoring in Psychology and minoring in Communications. She has been writing poetry from a young age and greatly enjoys English and writing. Jasmine says she found her passion for poetry from her mother, and the love only grew stronger while attending Renaissance High School for the Arts.

Submit your poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction to the 2023 Northern Lights! Click here for more information.

Humanizing Our Professors:
Keith West, Ph.D., Natural Science

Some might find fulfillment in a job that provides financial stability and lifetime experience. For Professor West, however, why have one exciting job when you can have several? Over the years, Professor West served as a National Park Ranger, oversaw an ice rink and bowling alley, served as a museum educator, and taught in every grade starting from third grade all the way to high school. He considers his crowning achievement to be his time at Marinette campus. As Professor West said, “The 20 years I spent on the Marinette campus have been the most rewarding of my career.”

West is a professor of natural science at the Marinette campus with many educational accomplishments. He got his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Western New Mexico University, followed by a Master of Science in Geography at the University of Idaho, and finally, his Ph. D. in Geography at the University of Milwaukee.

With his two decades of experience at the campus and years of working in K-12, his biggest advice to teachers is to not let materials or methods get stale. Try new things without exiting your comfort zone. For the classroom environment itself, he advocates engaging with students and never being afraid of leaving behind old methods and trying new ways to interact with your students!

Whenever Professor West is not traveling; investigating landscapes, battlefields, and old buildings; or just reading a book by a stream, he is working hard on his career and his research. Currently, he is focusing on how environmental education can be more accessible to a wider range of people. For his work in Natural Science, one of his favorite parts of his subject is maps! They always grab his attention and can provide a plethora of information. Yet there is one thing about his field that always interested him. As he said, “I’ve always been fascinated by how certain groups of people come to identify so strongly with a particular place that they feel that it is necessary to defend it.”

No matter if he is driving around on a Zamboni or walking through the forests as a ranger, Professor West has been a profound influence on students over his decades of work. Yet, for Professor West, there is always more to learn out there. His favorite quote comes from a Shakespeare play Hamlet’s titular character. “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” His own wisdom is just as incredible. As he said about the quote, “The universe is a much bigger place than any of us can conceive. Never believe that there isn’t anything more you can learn.” There is way more out there. Never stop learning.

March 9th, 2023

Form a Self-Care Action Plan

UWGB’s Spring Break is March 13-17, and even if you have to work instead of sitting on a sunny beach in the Bahamas, it’s important to take advantage of the lack of classes and practice some self-care. You’ll need to rejuvenate so you are ready to finish the second half of the semester as strongly as you can. (Without saying “finish strong,” because that’s grammatically incorrect. Rant over.). According to Lifehacker.com, “Self-care helps prevent burnout, reduces the negative psychological and physical effects of stress, and helps you focus on what is true and important.”

It might be tempting to just agree to vaguely practice self-care over break, but maybe you need more of a push to actually do something for yourself. You might benefit from a Self-Care Action Plan.

Take a few minutes to write down all of the things you could do over break that would help you relax, rest, and repair. Here’s the start of my list:

• Take a hot bath with your favorite music and a good book.
• Use any self-care amenities available at your gym, such as a sauna, a hot tub, or a red-light therapy room.
• Make a hair appointment. Put your phone down during the appointment and just relax as you chat with your stylist.
• Work in more exercise, especially rejuvenating methods like yoga or Pilates. There are plenty of free videos on YouTube and Amazon Prime to get you started!
• Try ten minutes of daily meditation. YouTube and Spotify have plenty of free sessions, and the Calm app has a few nice ones in its free version. If you make a pact with yourself to put aside ten minutes every day during break, you might be well on your way to forming a healthy habit by the time classes start again.
• Buy yourself a favorite snack. Sit somewhere pretty and enjoy it.
• Go to a movie in the theater. Put your phone away and get lost in something happy and/or ridiculous. (I’ve heard Cocaine Bear is a hoot, and the bear doesn’t die at the end. Sorry for the spoiler, but who wants to see an innocent bear we’ve followed for two hours get offed, cocaine-fueled rage aside?)
• Go outside. It’s second winter, so you might be able to try some cross-country skiing or, at least, take a soggy hike. UWGB-Marinette’s maintenance staff built and installed some lovely benches in Runnoe Park, the small park on the bay across from campus. Just a quick walk across the street to stare at the water can help fill your soul. And if the snow starts to melt, you might be able to build a snowman when the snow hits that sweet spot for packability.
• Create an art or craft project. Grace Desotell and Ariel Rutten have some nifty ideas in the Ultimate Hobbies section.

And of course, this week is a great time to connect with friends and family, especially those you haven’t seen while you’ve been busy with classes. Have a wonderful break, and we’ll see you soon!

March 9th, 2023

Crochet Kits

Do you need a quick and cute gift for a friend but want it to be homemade? Try crochet kits! These individual sets sell cheap, so the only real thing you’ll be spending is your time and heartfelt effort. And who wouldn’t love that?

• What is it? An already pre-determined crocheted project by Needle Creations. There are other companies that sell beginner kits, but for the sake of this article, we’ll be sticking with just this specific one. Feel free to explore your options!
• What do you need? The kit comes with everything you need outside of basic sewing supplies. It includes yarn, polyester fiberfill, a plastic crochet hook, plastic needle, and the easy-to-follow instructions.
• How do you do it? As previously mentioned, the kit comes with step-by-step guidelines for how to make your creation. It also has a key that clarifies what the terms mean in the patterns.
• What can you make? There are a variety of crochet kits that you can buy. Gnomes, bees, cactus, cows, cats, etc! The finished project should be around the size of an eight-week year old kitten. If that seems like a weird measurement, just trust it should fit snuggly in the palms of your hands (8” x 6 ½” x 1 inches).
• What is the cost? Depending on where you buy it from, the kit costs anywhere from $5-$10. I found quite a few on sale at my local arts and crafts store.

March 9th, 2023

Everyone has that one thing they enjoy more than anything to pass the time. It might be knitting, clothespin art, or even painting. For those of you looking for new or more challenging hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve picked out ultimate, step-it-up activities to push your perseverance and boost your creativity.

Steel Models

One night while at my family’s house for dinner, my brother presented a project to my husband; he’d purchased a steel model kit from our local crafts store, a tank, but figured out shortly after that it was more work than he thought it would be. My husband accepted, having put together a few already, including a replica of an old Farmall tractor, a train set, and a mail truck. The process is more tedious than difficult, but it’s well worth the shiny little display piece.

Model toys became something of a big deal in the 1930s when the perfection and wide-spread availability of plastic came into play, according to Modelkitpro.com. Plastic injection-mold technology made previous balsa wood models inferior, and to save on production costs, pre-built designs became self-assembled projects for customers. And somewhere down the line after years of success, companies like Fascination’s Inc. began producing buildable steel models from flat, four-inch by four-inch sheets.

Metal Earth® models consist of a few steel sheets with perforated, pre-cut parts. To put them together, you simply snip them from the cut-out and bend the tabs into place, creating a 360° replica of anything from a Transformer to the Golden Gate Bridge, both of which will surprise you with their stunning detail. And unlike the plastic models of today, these are highly affordable with costs ranging from $5 to $30. So, if you’re ready to make this your ultimate hobby, I advise you to pick up a pair of tweezers. Your fingers will thank me later.

For a closeup look at the detail and complexity of building Metal Earth® models in specific, see this YouTube video.

March 9th, 2023

It may feel like the winter weather will never let up, but planting season is just around the corner! And whether you have a green thumb or have never grown a thing in your life, this is the perfect year to gear up your garden with some new gardening know-hows.

Gear Up Your Garden: Potatoes

If there’s one plant someone can grow by mistake, it’s a potato. All you have to do is forget about it for a few weeks, and the next thing you know, there’s more eyes in the room than you can hide from. Whether you want to capitalize on your mistake or simply grow them on purpose, here are some tips you don’t want to forget.

1. Choose a source. If you don’t want to buy a bag of seed potatoes, you don’t have to. The term “seed potato” simply means they’re sold to use as seeds. You’ll get the same results if you purchase potatoes from the supermarket and leave them in a cool, dark place. If you choose to buy normal potatoes, be sure to wait until they have sprouted to use them in the garden.
2. Maintain ideal soil conditions. Potatoes prefer sandy and rich, well-drained soil in order to grow and spread out easily without the threat of disease from excess moisture. It’s best to avoid rocky or clay ground types. After planting, your tubers should be watered every four or five days for the first six weeks and every other day after that.
3. Mound determinate varieties. Indeterminant potatoes (Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac, Russet Burbank) grow in bushy layers along the ground, able to produce in as little as four inches of soil. However, determinant potatoes grow up and down and require the dirt to be mounded around them multiple times—as often as it takes to cover the roots and young spuds and for the stems to stay upright without snapping off.
4. Observe closely for pests and disease. As hardy as this vegetable is, it can still become infested by potato beetles, blight, or other molds and fungi. In a matter of just a few days, the whole crop may be lost. If your plants look hole-filled, overly dry, yellow, or spotted before harvest time, there’s a good chance something is wrong. It’s best to know the signs and how to come to your potatoes’ rescue long before you ever need to. For more information, visit Sustainable Market Farming.
5. Harvest after the bush has died. Sometimes, your plants will take more or less time to mature than the projected days on the seed bag. If the greens are drying up, turning yellow then brown, and it’s not due to moisture levels, prolonged heat, or disease, then they’ve likely finished early. To maximize production, let the greens die off completely before harvesting (unless the soil is overly wet, which would cause rot to set in early).

Growing Ideas

1. The Cozy Bucket Method. What would gardening be if we couldn’t downsize it to fit our growing needs, especially as the desk-cramped professors, faculty, and students that we are? Due to obvious space reasons, it’s not recommended to place potatoes in a gallon-sized bucket, but a five-gallon bucket can provide for two plants. Be sure to keep the soil within the same parameters as you would an in-ground garden, and punch holes in the bottom of the container for draining excess water. Leave them somewhere sunny and watch the magic happen!
2. The Wilderstead Potato Tower Method. Homesteaders from the YouTube channel Wilderstead walked their viewers through an interesting space-saving method.  Using a four-foot tall, small-squared wire fence, create a circle two or three feet in diameter. For stability, you can ziptie the tower to a metal T-post. In the center, place a 2” wide plastic abs pipe. They recommend a blend of topsoil, compost, and peat moss to fill the tower, watered down before using. Next, alternate layers of dirt with potatoes and straw around the abs pipe. Don’t worry about packing the layers down as they will compact naturally. Then, watch as the greens sprout from the sides, allowing for maximum use of your gardening area.

March 9th, 2023

Gift Shops

Looking to shop locally? Discover delicious treats, drinks, and souvenirs that are made right here in Wisconsin at these wonderful gift shops!

Marinette:

Seguin’s House of Cheese (715/735-9091): Located off Highway 41, this gift shop offers fresh, locally made products, souvenirs from both Michigan and Wisconsin, and a significant selection of winter outerwear. There is an inviting atmosphere in this gift shop, including an ice cream counter that serves a variety of brands plus some flavors that are made in Wisconsin, like the Peanut Butter Mackinac Isle Fudge. I tried a scoop of Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone, and it was delicious! Whether you are looking for winter gear, gifts, or clothing to show your support for fellow cheese lovers, then Seguin’s is the place for you.

Some of the locally produced items:

• Alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor)
• Cheese: wheels, strings, and spreads
• Meat: sausage, beef jerky, and summer sausage
• Pie filling, fruit syrups, and maple syrup
• WI salsa and other condiments, such as salad dressing, barbecue sauce, and pickles
• Honey
• Door County Coffee
• Soup mix (Including WI Booyah)
• Amish Country: popcorn seeds, canola oil, flavored popcorn salt

There are unique characteristics of this gift shop that set it apart, including fun dairy facts that are posted throughout the store. There is also a mini book display that has copies of The Firestorm at Peshtigo for sale, which is a nonfiction title that showcases local history. This shop not only shows support to local vendors, but it also provides a welcoming atmosphere and everyday items that are great for thoughtful gifts.Stop by Seguin’s House of Cheese every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Green Bay: 

LoCo WisCo: Locally Crafted Wisconsin Goods (920/489-8122): Located downtown on N. Washington Street, this local gift shop provides Wisconsin-made products and souvenirs. In addition to the cheese products, drinks, and clothing, there are other items that contribute to the wide selection of locally made treasures including bath products, home décor, and kitchenware.

Here are some of the locally produced items:

• Alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor)
• Cheese: blocks, spreads, and cream cheese
• Meat: beef sticks, sausage
• Soda: Point soda (Steven’s Point), Sno-Cap Root Beer (Green Bay)
• Door County caramels
• Salsa, barbecue sauce, and mustard
• Jam and maple syrup (Sturgeon Bay)
• Snacks: brittle, pretzels, nuts, and gourmet popcorn
• Candles, bath bombs
• Puzzles
• Signage, home décor
• Handcrafted jewelry
• Kitchen utensils, fridge magnets
• Custom-made cutting boards
• Clothing and WI sports apparel

Featured in the photo (above), there is a chalkboard in the store that is labeled “Welcome to Green Bay: Tell us where you are from” that has signatures from visitors from all over the U.S. I thought it was neat that this wall displayed the many visitors that had the chance to explore Green Bay and leave with Wisconsin-made mementos. Another characteristic that displays the overall local support are the signs that are located next to some of the products, which share a description of the company that made it, their mission, and their location in Wisconsin. This down-to-earth store is welcoming and shares the love of buying local, plus helpful customer service. Visit LoCo WisCo Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.