Western Maine, along with the rest of the state, was not hit hard by the Swine Flu.  The H1N1 flu shots are easy to find now.  Everyone in the publi health community are relieved but still remain somewhat cautious since this new blend of flu could still rebound with more punch.  In the meantime, we’re all breathing a sigh of relief.

Healthy Oxford Hills is settling in to the beautiful old “craftsman” house just below the hospital.

We are very pleased to be making ourselves at home is this sunny historic home.

Come Visit

Folks continue to meet every two weeks to move along the Community Garden at the land donated by  Alan Day off from Whitman and Maple Streets in Norway.

The group is planning for a Workshop Day every month with a portion being education about Permaculture and also time devoted to studying and working on the land.  Sat. May 16th, from 8-noon will be the first day.

Scott Vlaun will be doing an Introduction to Permaculture presentation at Fare Share Commons from 8-9:30, and then we’ll move over to the land.  We plan to build a few raised beds, begin to analyze the state of the barn and brainstorm what work it might need, begin to layout some simple paths, and hopefully end up with a picnic lunch.

Everyone is welcome

The School Garden at the Buckfield Middle/High School is well underway. Pat Carson reports that the one acre plot has been rototilled and plans for planting are underway.

The committee had a bit of a challenge in arranging to get water for the garden since the school water supply is limited. Pat reports that they now have plans for installing a water collection systems from the school roofs. Two large tanks will be installed to catch the rain and maintenance is helping modify the gutters to facilitate collection.

Following the Avian Flu scare a few years ago, public health workers everwhere set to work planning and laying the ground work for a serious pandemic. Plans were made at lots of levels: schools, worksites, communities, counties, states and beyond.

With the onset of the H1N1 (so-called Swine) Flu a few weeks ago, all these systems set to work to monitor the situation and to implement these readiness plans.  Many parts of the Public Health System are on Full Alert.

Some think this is foolishness and hysteria; others say best to be prepared. As part of the Public Health Infrastructure in Maine, the Healthy Maine Partnerships have been asked to take part in this preparation.

While I’m hoping some of the excitement and anxiety are uncalled for, I’m reserving judgement since there are so many unknowns about this new strain of Flu.  For example, I learned today that mostly it’s penetrated the northern hemisphere, which is going into summer.  If it begins to spread to the southern hemisphere, that is going into winter, it could be much more serious, as influenzas generally are most severe in colder weather.

So, even though I’m suffering from a bad cold now, I’m trying to stay cool, and keep an eye on things.  And most of all, learn as much as I can, and help pass this along to others in the community