Summer Grass Cutting Sign-Up

Now that school’s out, you probably don’t want to stay cooped up inside all day long. Are you looking for some part-time work? Lawn work in your neighborhood is a great way to get some exercise and provide some much-needed and much-appreciated community service.

If you’re interested, register for the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh’s Summer Grass Cutting.

Summer 2013 Grass Cutting Sign-Up

As in summers past, the school is soliciting volunteers to help with the summer grass cutting and weed whacking.  Please consider signing up for a week or two this summer to help with this effort.  During the week you’ve signed up, you will not have to cut the entire property.  Instead, you’ll only need to work for an hour or so to address the areas of the property that are in most need of attention.  The week before you’ve signed up, the school’s facilities manager will contact you to arrange a day and time to work, and direct you to the areas requiring attention. 

Please sign up using this link:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkpEiu-4JiYEdG5VOUVadjJQU2FCaDM4SGQ4V0hzbFE&usp=sharing

Deterrents for Women in Technological Jobs

An article on CNN Money explores the various deterrents that women encounter in technological jobs. A recent survey by Elance gathered answers by about 7,000 U.S. freelancers.

Overall, both genders showed optimism for women in tech in the future. However, both genders agree that one of the main deterrents is the lack of female role models in the tech industry. According to the article, only 18 companies from last year’s Fortune 500 list had women CEOs. Of that number, eight were in the top 100, four of which were tech companies. But another deterrent is encountering and trying to overcome technology and programming stereotypes.

However, Elance also discovered that salaries from women freelancers are growing 20 percent faster than men’s earnings. Elance CEO Fabio Rosati commented on this finding. He said:

"For women in tech, online work is a level playing field. It provides access to jobs purely based on merit and results and really, in some ways, neutralizes some of the gender discrimination that exists around the world."

Elance boasts a 45 percent female user base. Of the almost 3,000 women who were surveyed, 74 percent of them said that sites like Elance help to eliminate stereotypes and discrimination by removing factors like location, gender, and physical appearance in applications.

Follow this link for more specific findings and statistics from the survey.

Father Runs Marathon Blindfolded

Those of us who train to run marathons know how hard it is to stick to a schedule and meet the distance goals. It’s enough for us to train and successfully finish the marathon. But Pittsburgh father Mike Bruno took it a step further. Along with hundreds of others, he recently ran the full Pittsburgh marathon.

But he did it blindfolded.

His goal wasn’t just to finish the race. He also wanted to raise awareness and money for his 7-year-old daughter, who is congenitally blind, and specifically the Vision Research ROPARD Foundation (VRRF). Those of us who saw him running at the event got goosebumps.

On his website, he explains why he took up the cause. He said:

“Like all fathers, I want to be able to help guide and direct my children though life. Having a vision impaired daughter obviously has added additional challenges and tribulations to my duties as a parent. This year, I decided to knock the 20 years of dust off my running shoes and run the Pittsburgh Marathon.  However this time with a caveat—I am going to deprive myself of the primary sense of vision by blindfolding myself.  My friend and co-worker, Jim Irvin will be my sighted guide. My intentions are to raise awareness and money for Vision Research ROPARD Foundation (VRRF).  More importantly, I hope to gain a better understanding of what Cassie deals with on a daily basis. I hope this blindfolded journey through the “Burgh” will ultimately make me a better father to guide Cassie through life. Your support is greatly appreciated.”

Mike also included the Vision Research ROPARD Foundation’s mission statement. It states:

“The Mission of the Vision Research ROPARD Foundation is to support research, programs and services designed to prevent, treat and/or provide adaptive resources to patients of all ages affected by vision threatening retinal disease and their family members. We carry out this mission through clinically relevant research, educational programs for patients, family members and general public, physician educational programs, and community support programs; such as, the Children’s Low Vision Resource Center.”

Click here for more information.

Spring Flowers and Planting Tips

More and more people are planting gardens these days. The flowers provide excellent spectrums of color with which to decorate your house or apartment windowsill. And for those who prefer vegetables, growing your own is often much cheaper than store-bought vegetables, and much more flavorful. Regardless of which kind of garden you prefer, below are some tips to follow in order to be plentiful.

And if you’d like a great selection of spring flowers from a local business, check out Kards Unlimited in Shadyside for its Scatter Gardens. These kinds of gardens are great because all you have to do is rake up the dirt, scatter the seeds, cover them, and keep them out of the sun and wind. The plants will take care of the rest! You can learn more about it from Kards Unlimited’s Facebook page, or stop into the shop itself!

1) Make Compost

Short version: Mother Nature never throws anything away.

Longer version: Composting is the rare silk purse from sow's ear, something for nothing, win-win. You start out with kitchen, yard and garden debris and wind up with two benefits: 1) a great soil amendment, and 2) many green points for avoiding the landfill.

It's easy to fall into thinking that compost's last name is bin, and that careful layering and turning are part of the deal. But piling shredded leaves in a corner counts too. So does "trench composting," handy for those with little garden space, and so does bringing your kitchen scraps to a place (try the nearest community garden) that will compost them if you can't. See the three simple steps to making compost.

2) Use Compost

Spread it around plants to ward off disease; put a bit in your potting mix to add slow-release micronutrients; top-dress beds with it to improve soil structure no matter what kind of soil you have; use it to help restore life to soil that's exhausted from years of chemical abuse. Sprinkle it on the lawn spring and fall to encourage the shallow grass roots... It's almost impossible to use too much.

3) Plant Crops in Wide Beds

Crops are anything planted for harvesting: vegetables, cutting flowers, shrubs on hold to be transplanted... keeping these grouped as tightly as possible in beds that are not trod upon cuts down on weeding, conserves water, allows the compost to be concentrated where it will do the most good and improves soil structure year upon year as the layers of organic matter pile up. These beds are frequently raised or at least corralled neatly by boards or — I saw it once and am still impressed all these years later — by long slabs of granite. Aesthetics aside, the primary virtue of this tidiness is easier path maintenance. From the soil and plant point of view it's the special treatment that matters.

4) Mulch

Mulch clothes the soil in a protective barrier that moderates temperature, conserves water, helps keep soil-borne diseases from splashing up and helps keep soil itself from splashing up — on your lettuce, for instance. Almost any organic mulch that will rot down into the soil is almost always preferable to landscape fabric with some kind of icing, but choosing the right mulch for each job is worth the extra effort.

Straw for instance is inexpensive, but it's untidy compared to wood chips and it breaks down a lot faster. That suits straw to the vegetable patch while the chips win under shrubs. (The specialized mulches for warming soil and/or reflecting back just the right light upon your vegetables are seldom biodegradable. My experiments with them are ongoing so all I can say at this point is: Remember that they work only when light falls on them; the more your garden resembles a jungle — no names, please — the less effective they will be.)

5) Feed the Soil, Not the Plants

Short version: Junk food, including organic junk food, has plenty of calories and may include added vitamins. But it's not great long-term nourishment, for many reasons we've learned and others we can so far only observe. Our bodies know the difference between eating a carrot and taking a capsule of vitamin A. Same deal with the soil.

Longer version: Plant health depends on healthy roots; healthy roots depend on healthy soil for air, water and nutrients delivered in forms plants can use. Soil rich in organic matter — compost! — is generally rich in nutrients and in the teeming life (fungi, bacteria, worms, etc.) that makes those nutrients available to the plants.

Ornamental plants in good soil seldom need added fertilizer, and crop plants that do need extra food need less of it when it's released slowly by friendly soil from things like rock powders, kelp and green manures. For an example of how this works with nitrogen, one of the most important nutrients, here's a Rodale Institute Research Report.

6) Share Something

If you've got a garden, you're rich.

Got seeds? The Seed Savers Exchange isn't just about vegetables; there's an affiliated Flower and Herb exchange, too. Got flowers? Hospitals won't take them anymore (allergies), but group homes, soup kitchens and — why not? — your neighborhood hardware store might be delighted with a bit of brightening up. Got produce? There's a national umbrella campaign for vegetable gardeners who want to plant a row for the hungry, and many food banks, farmers' markets and community gardens have set up organized donations. But there's no law that says you can't just give your extra beans to anyone who genuinely wants them. Hunger isn't always physical.

The garden itself is worth sharing too. Garden tours are popular fundraisers so if you're up for the attendant stress, it's likely there's a cause that's looking for locations. In my experience with these things there's always a lot more preparation than I've allowed for... but also a lot more given back in new friends, new ideas and gazillions of pats.

7) Be There

Whether Lao-Tse actually said it or not, it's true: The best fertilizer is the shadow of the gardener.

Follow this link for more information.

Pittsburgh Marathon is Around the Corner

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a little differently this year. The Pittsburgh Marathon is on May 5 this year. Although the main marathon, half marathon, and relay events are sold out, you can still register for the 5K, children’s marathon, and pet walk.

Also, race directors are joining forces to create a blue Boston Strong wristband for anyone who donates to the "Boston One Fund." You can choose between two wristbands: "#Run for Boston" or "Boston Strong." Runners can display their solidarity all the way to the finish line in support and honor of Boston.

If you’re interested in registering or attending the event, check out the information below. Also, you can find the course map here. And of course, if you want to be involved but can’t run, why not volunteer your time? The race is still looking for volunteers, and there are perks to the position!

Time:	8:00 AM
Registration Fees*:	$35 through April 12, 2013
	$40 race weekend, if available

Age Requirements:	14 and over may run on their own
	5-13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
	(child and parent/guardian must both be registered)

 Participants will receive a shirt and a medal.

Spectator Guidelines

• ---

  Spectators are not permitted inside the start line corrals, on the course or inside the finish line chute area. Only those with official race numbers or credentials will be permitted in these areas.
• VIPs may view the start of the race from the stage along Liberty Avenue by 2 PNC Plaza
• Backpacks and duffle bags are discouraged in the finish line area and finish line festival and will be subject to inspection.
• Backpacks, duffle bags, bags, may not be left unattended at or near the start line, finish line, Point State Park and any spectator area. 

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

• ---

  Volunteers under 18 years of age on race day must have a parent or legal guardian complete the registration waiver. Volunteers under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Due to the length of most shifts and the unpredictable nature of the event, children under the age of 12 are not permitted to volunteer or accompany registered volunteers.
• Each volunteer will receive an official Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon volunteer t-shirt. Please note that sizes are not guaranteed.
• Some volunteer positions are more physical than others. Be sure to read the job description before signing up to volunteer.
• Due to the unpredictability of race day, please understand that some volunteers may need to be reassigned at check-in to fill more critical areas. 

VOLUNTEER PERKS

---

The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon needs YOUR help! Volunteer positions for 2013 race weekend are now available; everything from race number distribution to finish line support is available now! 

Every registered volunteer receives:

• Official Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon volunteer t-shirt
• $10 Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificate
• Invitation to the annual volunteer appreciation party on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 PM 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

---

We're happy to announce a new partnership with Volunteer Local. It's important to know that with this new system, an email address can only be used once:

• If you share an email address with a spouse or family member(s), only 1 person can use the email address. All others can register separately, but they must click the box "Check here if you do not have an email."
• You can register for multiple volunteer jobs with the same email address, but they must be done at the same time. If you'd like to add another volunteer job at another time, just click the box "Check here if you don't not have an email' when registering for your additional job to ensure that your previous information is not deleted.
• Click here to confirm your volunteer shift(s).
• All volunteer questions can be emailed to volunteers@pittsburghmarathon.com.
  
  

Spectator Guidelines

• ---

• Spectators are not permitted inside the start line corrals, on the course or inside the finish line chute area. Only those with official race numbers or credentials will be permitted in these areas. 

VIPs may view the start of the race from the stage along Liberty Avenue by 2 PNC Plaza
Backpacks and duffle bags are discouraged in the finish line area and finish line festival and will be subject to inspection.

Backpacks, duffle bags, bags, may not be left unattended at or near the start line, finish line, Point State Park and any spectator area. 

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

• ---

• Volunteers under 18 years of age on race day must have a parent or legal guardian complete the registration waiver. Volunteers under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Due to the length of most shifts and the unpredictable nature of the event, children under the age of 12 are not permitted to volunteer or accompany registered volunteers. 

Each volunteer will receive an official Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon volunteer t-shirt. Please note that sizes are not guaranteed. 

Some volunteer positions are more physical than others. Be sure to read the job description before signing up to volunteer. 

Due to the unpredictability of race day, please understand that some volunteers may need to be reassigned at check-in to fill more critical areas. 

VOLUNTEER PERKS

---

The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon needs YOUR help! Volunteer positions for 2013 race weekend are now available; everything from race number distribution to finish line support is available now! 

Every registered volunteer receives:

• Official Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon volunteer t-shirt
• $10 Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificate
• Invitation to the annual volunteer appreciation party on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 PM 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

---

We're happy to announce a new partnership with Volunteer Local. It's important to know that with this new system, an email address can only be used once: 

If you share an email address with a spouse or family member(s), only 1 person can use the email address. All others can register separately, but they must click the box "Check here if you do not have an email." 

You can register for multiple volunteer jobs with the same email address, but they must be done at the same time. If you'd like to add another volunteer job at another time, just click the box "Check here if you don't not have an email' when registering for your additional job to ensure that your previous information is not deleted. 

Click here to confirm your volunteer shift(s). 

All volunteer questions can be emailed to volunteers@pittsburghmarathon.com.