If you use both Facebook and Instagram, either personally or in the conduct of your business, then a recent Facebook announcement regarding interoperability will make you smile. The company has been working for years toward the goal of greater interoperability among all of its core services and this is a huge step in that direction. Best of all is the fact that there's nothing special you have to do as a user of either of those services. If you're logged onto Facebook or using the Messenger app, you now have the option of sending a message directly to an Instagram user without requiring them to download and install the Facebook messaging app. It will simply appear in their Instagram interface. Naturally, the reverse holds true as well. Inst…

Heart disease is a broad term that includes several types of heart conditions. The most common examples are coronary artery disease and heart attacks. However, heart disease is more common in men than in women.In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men. According to studies in 2017, about one of every four men will die from heart disease.While all this information may be overwhelming or scary, you don’t have to panic. Heart disease is treatable and preventable. Symptoms of Heart Disease Heart disease is sometimes called the silent killer. This is because it isn’t always noticed or diagnosed. To give you an idea of just how undetectable it sometimes is, consider the following fact: Roughly half the men who suddenly die from…

Irrigation systems are a great way to automatically water your garden or yard. Using sprinklers and pipes, these systems evenly distribute water and are set on a timer, giving the plants what they need and saving the property owner money. Unfortunately, irrigation systems are commonly forgotten about and can cause a lot of damage if not addressed before the cold weather arrives.  What happens to an irrigation system during cold weather? During an extended period of freezing temperatures, the ground can be much colder than on the surface. It’s recommended that property owners drain the irrigation system in the Fall. Water expands when it freezes, so it must be removed from pipes in cold weather because it could cause them to crack or burst.…

Join us on Saturday, October 24, 2020 for a Pumpkin Painting Contest! Contact us at (503) 399-8066 if you have questions. See you there!

If you’ve felt confused and stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a good chance that your child is feeling just as flustered. Last year, they went to school five days a week and had the chance to learn from their teachers and talk with their friends. Now, they’re being told that they have to stay home all day and talk to their teacher through a computer screen. It can be a little overwhelming for both parents and children. Here’s some advice on supporting your child’s education while they’re at home. 1. Set Aside a Place for Them to Learn One of the best things about going to school is getting to leave the house and learn in a fresh but familiar environment. To keep your child in the learning spirit, set aside a place in…

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You love spending time with your family. But now that your child is learning at home, you’re spending more time with your family than ever. Sometimes, you likely feel that everyone’s expecting you to be the “perfect parent” who can hold down a job and stay home with their kids at the same time. Feeling stressed? Here are some tips on avoiding burnout while you’re at home with the kids. 1. Take Some Time for Yourself Staying home to help your kids with their virtual classes adds a lot of extra responsibilities onto your plate. You’ve got to keep them focused, answer their questions, figure out how to use the platform, and more. It’s understandable to need a break once in a while. Don’t be afraid to tell your children that you’re all going to…

Autumn is almost here! Unfortunately, our climate is anything but the usual clean, crisp air we have come to expect as the entire West Coast deals with smoke from nearby fires.  Eventually, things will get better and we can get back to decorating our homes with pumpkins, mums, and Halloween decor. During this time, it’s essential to prep your home and garden. Our Green Acres Landscape Maintenance Manager, Juan Asencion, actually wrote about a similar topic (falling leaves) in the Salem Business Journal. Read it here:  In addition to falling leaves, there are many maintenance requirements you need to prepare for. When the weather changes, you don’t want to be dealing with heating issues or a water-logged roof. With that in min…

You can make a difference to those devastated by wildfires. Below is a list of the many programs that are supporting fire relief efforts. 1. Oregon State Fair Foundation  The Oregon State Fair Foundation is collecting donations to help aid The Oregon State Fairgrounds which are accommodating displaced animals and sheltering thousands of people who have lost their homes. For more information, call (971) 701-6573.  If you would like to support these efforts, please donate to the Oregon State Fair Foundation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_donations&business=jeanwp%40comcast.net&currency_code=USD&source=url&Z3JncnB0= 2. The United Way Mid-Valley Wildfire Relief Fund The United way Mid-Valley Wildfire Re…

The period immediately preceding your child’s birth is an exciting but potentially stressful time. Several actions must be completed, such as arranging transportation to a medical facility, remembering to bring items necessary to ensure your health and comfort, and notifying the appropriate individuals of the impending birth.On a far more serious note, such arrangements might also include specific information about your medical history. This information could prove critical if you possess any specific health conditions or have experienced any pregnancy complications that could render the labor or delivery process additionally challenging. Issues That Birth Plans Should Address The document can address whatever topics you feel are important…

School buildings are closed and our Klosets aren’t open right now, but we know the need continues in our community.  The Keizer Community Foundation chose to give $300 for school supplies to each of the schools participating in the Klosets program and each of the principals/counselors couldn’t have been more grateful!  Your continued support to the Keizer Community Foundation makes a difference, thank you!

September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month. This annual event helps new and soon-to-be parents learn more about the importance of getting their newborns screened. Celebrate the awareness event by checking out the following three facts about this important health care task. 1. Screening Is Perfectly Normal While the process may be nerve-wracking, it’s important to know that every newborn goes through a health screening. Newborn screening is the process of testing babies for anything that could impact their quality of life down the road. During the screening, your pediatrician will test for things like hearing loss, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell disease. When detected early, most of the diseases can be treated. 2. It’s Required in Ever…

September is upon us, and with that comes the changing of the seasons, pumpkin spice lattes, and falling leaves. As gorgeous as the change in scenery is, it’s essential to be aware of the potential damage resulting from excessive fallen leaves. Aside from being an eyesore, accumulations of leaves can cause a severe amount of damage to your property. The first problem to be aware of is clogged gutters. Not only will the leaves weigh down the gutters, but they will also jam them, which limits water flow. Unfortunately, stagnant water in gutters will often seep into the house. It can damage the roof, walls, and foundation. It can also lead to mold and flooding and permanent damage to your gutters.  Leaves can also damage the roof. If left…

An underappreciated aspect of property selling, leasing, and buying is evaluating the quality and maintenance requirements of landscaping. Much focus is placed on electricity, heating and cooling, etc., but don’t underestimate the value that quality landscaping can bring to a property. Just think about it, if you saw two clones of the exact same property, but one had a gorgeous, well-manicured yard, and the other had a neglected, derelict yard, which one would you choose? While this may seem like common sense, people quickly forget what a standout yard can do for the bottom line. Here are a few things to think about in relation to landscaping and real estate. 1. A well-landscaped yard/garden raises the property value. Curb appeal, baby. Whe…

Finding out that you’re pregnant with multiples is always a surprise. You were already preparing for one baby, and now you’re going to have two or three? Pregnancies with multiples carry a higher risk of complications and require extra doctor visits, but for dedicated parents, it’s worth the extra work. Here’s what to do if you’re pregnant with multiples. 1. Consider Increased Trips to the Doctor Two (or more) babies can mean twice the effort, and the increased strain on your body can lead to more complications down the line. Talk with your physician about scheduling increased doctor’s visits so that you can ensure that the babies are healthy and happy. Your doctor might recommend visiting a specialist who’s trained in dealing with twin pre…

We have a few exciting announcements related to our Green Acres Landscape Nursery on Gaffin Road. This week, we will be having a big sale (up to 50% off many items), slightly modifying our hours, and focusing on growing our own product, just for you!  From August 25-30, we will have our biggest sale ever.  The sale will include 25% – 50% off select plants, trees, and flowers, and 25% of all cedar planters. We are beginning to adjust our inventory for the fall season, so don’t miss out on this great deal.  After the sale, we will reduce our hours, so we have more time to focus on growing and creating many of our products in-house and to prep for the fall season. For garden centers, business tends to slow down during September and O…

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An ovarian cyst is a small, fluid-filled pocket that develops inside of one of a woman’s two ovaries. Every woman has two ovaries, which are the small organs inside of a woman’s pelvis that produce eggs for purposes of fertilization and reproduction. Fortunately, these cysts are common and often disappear on their own after going completely unnoticed. In some instances, however, they can rupture or cause other complications. How to Determine If You Have an Ovarian Cyst Ovarian cysts are usually very small and don’t cause any discomfort before they disappear. Common symptoms of an ovarian cyst include pain in the pelvis and discomfort in your abdomen, including a feeling that your abdomen has suddenly become heavy or full. Unexplained bloati…

Pruning, trimming, and shaping hedges in your yard can be a much bigger and more meticulous job than people realize. Not only is it a time-consuming, physical task, but a rushed or poorly planned pruning project may seriously damage your hedges. Typically built from many shrubs planted tightly in a row, hedges are used to frame and border a yard. They can be a great natural way to provide privacy, block the wind, cut back on noise, and beautify an outdoor space. They are typically evergreen bushes (meaning they don’t drop leaves/needles in the winter), so they stay looking good year-round and aren’t too messy or require much maintenance. Popular hedge types include Laurel, Golden Leylandi, Arborvitae, Emerald Cedar, and Viburnum.   The best…

Enjoying the sunshine is a great way to stay healthy and have fun, but too much exposure can be harmful and lead to long-term consequences. Taking care of skin dramatically reduces one’s risks of developing a variety of skin cancers. It also prevents permanent and short-term damage due to overexposure, including sunburns and blisters. Here are three important steps to safeguard your teen’s youthful skin. 1. Apply Sunblock Frequent application of broad spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher is the first step to lowering your teen’s chances of skin cancer and future damage. Certain cancers such as basal cell carcinomas ordinarily show up in later years but are primarily caused by sun damage that occurred during youth. Regular use…