News Release Distributed 04/23/08
MONROE – The Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community heard about life lessons to be learned from family activities, gardening and finding happiness at the group’s statewide meeting April 16.
The volunteer program, whose members used to be called extension homemakers, is a project of the LSU AgCenter. Gov. Bobby Jindal has proclaimed April 27–May 3 as Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community week.
Without volunteers, many agencies would not be able to function, and many tasks would not be completed, said LSU AgCenter professor and volunteer adviser Dr. Karen Overstreet.
Today’s LVFC clubs continue the original intent of combining social events with learning how to improve our families and communities, according to Overstreet.
Nearly 1,300 members can be found across the state, and about 150 attended the conference. Membership is open to anyone interested in making a difference in families and communities.
Terri Crawford, LSU AgCenter agent, suggested ways for families to spend meal times together, and Sheila Haynes, also an LSU AgCenter agent, put on a program on how to be happy for no reason.
Master Gardener Teresa Morris discussed herbs, which she has been growing for 15 years, four years commercially. “Make your own herbal vinegars,” she said. “Why put coleus in when you can put in basil that you can eat off of?”
Morris said symmetry in a garden is fun, but whimsy can make it different. She plants dill in a zigzag pattern. She also saves wine bottles and plants them upside down as a border.
She said chives and roses are perfect companion plants and that cardoons (from the artichoke family) can be under-planted with pansies.
Morris said butterflies love sweet fennel and that lemon verbena provides aroma for hair rinse or in a vacuum cleaner bag.
She discussed herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes and in cooking, citing yarrow for wasp stings and feverfew for headaches and lavender lemonade and ice cream for consumption.
Crawford said children can learn valuable life lessons as a result of preparing for and being involved in family meals.
They can learn by watching adults use correct table manners, socializing and
taking responsibility in setting the table, preparing food and cleaning up.
If you don’t have time to make elaborate meals or if you seem to always be on the run and need simple, quick ideas for family meals try these ideas that Crawford presented.
– Pack a picnic dinner to eat together at the ball field either before or after the game.
– When you cook, make enough for leftovers.
– Have healthy, portable snacks or sandwiches ready.
– Learn to use the slow cooker.
– Serve breakfast for dinner.
In her talk on happiness, Haynes said there is a happiness setpoint, or certain level that people go back to. “People tend to rebound, but that doesn’t work well with the death of a spouse, chronic unemployment or extreme poverty,” she said.
People who are happy for bad reasons include those taking drugs or alcohol or eating “to feel good.”
Happiness-building foods include fresh and whole foods. “Shop the outer aisles of the supermarket,” she said.
Haynes said happiness blockers include advertising and statements such as “I’ll be happy when…”
Haynes said guiding principles to happiness include starting with a foundation. “Take ownership of your happiness. Sing in a traffic jam. Change your response.”
She added, “Don’t believe everything you think. We have 60,000 thoughts a day. Ninety-five percent are the same as yesterday.”
Incline your mind to joy, focus on gratitude and practice forgiveness, she said. “It doesn’t condone the behavior.”
She also suggested cultivating nourishing relationships. “Shower the people you love with love.”
At the concluding banquet, Grady and Sue Nelson of Tangipahoa Parish were named Great Louisiana Family of the Year. Grady is on the Council on Aging board of directors, and Sue has been president of the Tangipahoa Extension Homemakers Council three times.
Cindy Hendrix of Morehouse Parish was guest speaker. “Volunteers are so important to our communities and families. You influence 10,000 people in your lifetime,” Hendrix said.
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Contacts: Karen Overstreet at (225) 578-6709, or koverstreet@agcenter.lsu.edu
Terri Crawford at (318) 435-2903, or tcrawford@agcenter.lsu.edu
Sheila Haynes at (318) 428-3571, or shaynes@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer: Mary Ann Van Osdell, (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu