Just past the Northwest YMCA, off 21st Street, Via Christi West sits on 120 acres surrounded by open pastures, overlooking the Mohr family barn, listed on the National Register Of Historic Places. The location will appeal to rural patients who don’t want to come to the “big city,” yet it’s still close enough to serve Wichita, Maize, Goddard, Clearwater and beyond.

Recently I had an opportunity to tour the new hospital. From an immediate aesthetic perspective, the first thing I noticed about the hospital was, well, it didn’t feel like a hospital. From the lobby to the third floor, large windows bathe the facility in sunshine, letting natural light fill the space. Using a new biophilic concept, the hospital is decorated with natural materials and better acoustics, all designed to make the patient feel more comfortable.

Currently the hospital has 68 private rooms and 4 ICU rooms, with plans to expand in the future. Inpatient amenities include nonstick flooring in the bathroom, high-tech beds that can automatically weigh patients, and hospital meals made to order within 30 minutes. One of the best features of the room has to be the multi-function remote control. In addition to classic functions like adjusting television volume and bed position, the new remotes open and close window blinds and with the push of a button, allow patients to call their nurse for specific reasons such as bathroom, pain medication, etc. Tying the remote features to smartphones allows nurses to prioritize patient needs.

In addition to a private OBGYN clinic, the hospital’s New Life Center boasts four labor and delivery suites, C-section room, mom/baby recovery rooms with queen-sized beds and a small, though well-equipped, pediatric NICU.

While touring Via Christi West, it’s easy to see a common-sense approach was taken in the design. The areas seem to flow seamlessly from one unit to the next, particularly around the emergency room. The emergency area is flanked on each side by full-service laboratory and imaging departments. Patients who require further testing or diagnostic studies need only walk a few feet rather than combing a large area or leaving the floor entirely.

My favorite part of the tour was the operating room. I’ve been inside a few on occasion as a patient and just outside a few as a worried mama, but I’ve never had a chance to stand inside one for the sole purpose of education. A member of the OR team was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy afternoon to share a few details with me.

Each operating room has its own intranet router, allowing vital patient information to be projected on large, high-definition monitors located throughout the room. This new technology is especially handy when a second opinion is needed. Information can be shared from one operating room to another. The surgeon giving the second opinion never has to scrub-out or leave the patient he’s working on. Other innovations include using LED lights to spotlight the surgical field rather than halogen lights, which often become hot enough to change the patient’s core temperature.

On the subject of lights, visiting surgeons will notice a green hue in the Via Christi West operating rooms. During surgery, a soft green light is used to bathe the room, cutting down on glare while allowing other operating room personnel to walk around without fear of bumping or tripping in a darkened room.

The new Via Christi on West St. Teresa is a nice mix of intimate care and high-tech innovation. The hospital is open to the public in August. For more information including directions, physicians and other detailed information, visit the Via Christi website.

(Image courtesy of Maria Loving)

Related posts:

1. [think] East vs. West: Long Live the Wild West Side
2. [do] Cheap Date: Palace Theatre West
3. [help] Low-Cost Health Care in Wichita

But I do have a few preferences: no music, no watch, no machine. This third preference refers to the treadmill. Stationary running just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I acknowledge its use when the weather is hazardous or when working out seems dreadful without the TV’s distraction.

Even though the weather may sometimes be hazardous due to July’s heat index, I encourage you to leave the luxury of air conditioning and explore some of Wichita’s best running paths. I should really refer to these routes as running/walking paths. It’s the middle of the summer in the ICT; who am I kidding?

The best time to run is at dusk or dawn. Not only will you beat (the worst of) the heat, you’ll also be able to enjoy the natural lighting of the setting or the rising of the sun. So grab a water bottle and bug spray and hit the ground running.

College Hill Park is my home field. I’ll admit that I’m a bit biased and know the area far better than any other. I sometimes follow a counterclockwise loop, avoiding the sidewalk paths and staying along the far edges of the park, which is an estimated half mile distance. For example when I enter the park from English Street, I start by veering to the right and running up the hill, and then I continue to run long the edges. But when that hill looks a bit too daunting, I stick to the sidewalks and don’t worry about exact distances.

Harrison Park (1300 S. Webb Rd.) is similar to College Hill but with a loop along the edges that is about one mile instead of a half mile. I prefer to avoid the sidewalks so I can run this route along the edges. I also prefer to run on grass; it’s easier on your legs.

Chisholm Creek Park at the Great Plains Nature Center (6232 E. 29^th St. N.) is a wonderful place to run. Although the paths of concrete, asphalt and wooden bridges are manmade, the surroundings make me feel like I’m running through a picture of undisturbed nature. I love running through the trees, seeing the baby ducks in the pond and catching a glimpse of a deer. This place is a reminder of why I always prefer to run outside. The route that I am familiar with is the Cottonwood Trail, which is a 1.7-mi. loop. A kiosk north of the nature center lists the distances of the other trails, including loops of .5 mi., .9 mi. and 1.1 mi.

North Chisholm Creek Park at 34^th and Woodlawn is also a picturesque area, especially for a former cross-country runner. I say this because the area makes me nostalgic for my high school running days; the grassy paths surrounding the fishing pond remind me of a cross-country course. I’m not sure about distance measurements here, but I know a wide loop around the perimeter is more than a mile (I didn’t have a watch or fancy measuring device with me).

Lakepoint is just an east-side ICT neighborhood, but the curvy sidewalk extending between Central and 13^th St. can be a convenient running path for nearby neighbors. Running alongside a pond, the sidewalk extends about 1.5 mi.

I know there are many other parks and paths that are favorite spots for the ICT runner/walker. For example, my west-side friends tell me Sedgwick County Park (6300 W. 13^th St. N.) is a favorite. I know some people (myself included) prefer just to run along the streets in their neighborhood. Please feel free to sound off and let others know about your go-to places to run throughout the ICT.

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [move] Running Just As Fast As I Can: Week 3
2. [move] Running Just as Fast as I Can: Week 8
3. [move] ‘Til I Collapse: Week 2

It was hot.

Really hot. As in, people were so drenched with sweat they looked like they’d just crawled out of a swimming pool.

Despite the B.O.–inducing heat, music lovers flooded the Commerce Arts District June 19 to partake in Wichita’s first LIV Music and Arts Festival. They were rewarded with live performances by local artists and plenty of Tallgrass beer.

“We should have had tents, we should have had misters,” festival organizer Adam Hartke said, laughing. “Next year, we won’t repeat those mistakes.”

As advocates of all things live and local, my friend and I joined the sweltering ranks on that steamy Saturday eager to see what a non-Riverfest festival in Wichita might look like. And it looked, well, like any good Commerce Street event. Beefy motorcycle men mixed with flowing-skirted hippies, and the party girls of Old Town mingled with hipster boys whose vintage shorts showed off way too much pasty leg. Stereotypes swirled as everyone gathered under the lure of live music.

LIVfest, the brainchild of Adam Hartke (president of Hartke Records), took its name from the Roman numeral for 54 as a tribute to Highway 54 (aka Kellogg Avenue), which runs over the south end of Commerce. LIV also stands for “Live in the Vortex,” a reference to Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Wichita Vortex Sutra.” Enlisting the help of folks at The Anchor, Rock Island Live and a handful of other Wichita music venues, Hartke organized an all-day, two-stage event featuring solely regional talent and local vendors.

The lineup engaged a wide variety of listeners, featuring artists such as indie boys Hot Air Balloon Trauma, hip-hop groups A Squared and Mannish Law, and bluegrass kings Split Lip Rayfield. As far as I’m concerned, though, Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy stole the show; they braved the scorching mid-afternoon heat and gave a smart-mouthed, fast paced performance. Although the majority of the crowd sought sanctuary in the shade, several of us were so infected by their energy that we couldn’t help but turn the sunny south end of Commerce into a full-fledged dance party.

Between acts, festivalgoers fueled up with burgers, bottled water and pints of Tallgrass beer. It was sponsors like Tallgrass that kept LIV Fest afloat; no project is complete without a few major mishaps, and the organizing team definitely felt the blows as several other sponsors rescinded their offers. With revenue deficits of $6,000 two weeks before the festival, the crew began advertising discounted VIP passes. Hartke described the swell of community support as tremendous.

“Schane at The Anchor sold tickets three-for-the-price-of-two out of her pocket,” he said. “She seriously would sell two and pay for the third herself. Alex from Kirby’s gave $1,000. We had donors everywhere. That gave us the confidence to go through with it…we had the greatest pre-sell of any show I’ve ever done.”

It was the sudden discount that convinced us to mark LIVfest on our calendars. Only $20 for two meals, three drinks and after-party access: what wasn’t to love? And thankfully, scores of other music-loving Wichitans shared the sentiment. According to Hartke, selling about 600 passes would have allowed the organizers to break even, so as total attendance reached somewhere between 750-1,000, community interest proved overwhelming. Around 9:30 p.m., I snuck backstage in hopes of a good photo opp. When I turned around, it wasn’t just Split Lip Rayfield jamming on a gas tank that had me cheering; equally as awesome was the sight of the rowdy audience. Stretching from the northern end of Commerce almost all the way down to the Fisch Haus Gallery, their shouts and applause were deafening, and it was clear that LIVfest was a huge success.

Though he claims that plans for next year’s festival won’t begin until August, Hartke has already hinted at a promising 2011 installment. He made no comment about next summer’s lineup, but he did stress the intent to include a greater number of vendors, healthier food options and access to recycling bins. Hartke found inspiration in the considerable turnout of the first annual LIVfest, as well as the waves of positive feedback.

“Wichita has its ups and downs, and sometimes I get down on it just like everyone,” he said. “But this festival proved what this place is made of…I enjoyed it even more than some huge concert with Tom Petty headlining. It was more genuine. It had more passion.”

Related posts:

1. [listen] Wichita Jazz Festival
2. [listen] Holiday Music Doesn’t Have to Suck
3. [listen] Local Musicians: Balancing Acts

What exactly is a party bus?
Generally, it’s a bus that’s been converted to accommodate a more social, fun atmosphere. The rows of seats are removed and new seating is installed along the edges of the bus, leaving room for walking and dancing. The sound and lighting are upgraded, and handles and poles are installed to increase your chance of successfully walking and dancing while the bus is moving. Bottom line: The purpose is to get all of your friends in one vehicle with a designated driver, hit the locations of your choice, and have a good time.

What do I need to consider if I’m a passenger on a bus?
First and foremost, you’ll need to bring your own beverages, adult or otherwise. An experienced passenger (and drinker) knows cold beverages don’t stay cold on their own. So pack a cooler. If you plan to walk around or dance, you need to plan to spill, especially if you’re drinking out of an open cup. In fact, it’s best to make peace with getting spilled on before you board the bus. And due to all the aforementioned spilling, expect a somewhat slippery floor. And finally, a disclaimer: I’ve been in situations where passengers (including myself, ahem) aren’t back on the bus at the designated time. In these cases, the person renting the bus will have to choose between you and paying another hour for the bus. In most cases, you’ll be hitching a ride home.

Where and how often will the bus stop?
This is up to the person who pays for the bus. The bus will take you wherever you want to go. You can stop 10 times, you can stop twice. I personally like a lot of time on the bus for three reasons: First, drinks are cheaper on the bus than in bars, and you don’t have to wait for them. Second, my friends are in close proximity, listening to music we choose. Third, if you have a lot of people on the bus, sometimes loading your friends back on the bus isn’t the timeliest transaction. So it’s easier to pick two or three choice destinations.

How is it legal to drink on a bus but not in a car?
Buses are similar to limos in this aspect. And from what I understand, the companies have a liquor license. Much like a school bus, passengers stay away from the driver. And because you’re not allowed to have an open container in public, open containers aren’t allowed off the bus.

What should I consider if I’m going to rent a bus?
First, determine the date of your party and how many people will be attending. Buses come in different sizes and have varying amenities (such as air conditioning) you may want to consider. Second, determine your pickup and dropoff point(s). I’ve found it’s generally easiest to have one pickup and dropoff point for all passengers. But if the final destination isn’t a home, the third thing you need to consider are alternative driving plans. For example: Safe Riders. Those of us who plan to drink with reckless abandon will appreciate a reminder to call and reserve our ride before we’re standing in a parking lot at 2:30AM. And finally, a good driver might be something you wouldn’t initially think of but is the key to the best night. If you’ve never rented a bus, ask around. I’ve only had one bad experience with a driver, but it was one too many. But when you get a good driver, as most are, encourage your passengers to throw in a tip at the end of the night.

How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the company you pick, the specific bus type, the time of day, the day of week, the number of hours, etc. The two bigger companies in Wichita are Unified Party Bus and Party Express. I believe there are other companies in town, but I’ve never been on them and my attempts at research didn’t return much. So if you know other companies, feel free to put their information in the comments section.

Otherwise, what was your most memorable (or most embarrassing) party bus experience?

Related posts:

1. [do] Planning a Bachelorette Party in Wichita
2. [do] Planning a Bridal Shower in Wichita
3. party [snap] – Heartspring’s Lights on the Lake Preview Party

I consider arena football a cross between football and hockey. You move a soccer game indoors, and it’s faster-paced. Same thing happens with football. But because the game’s high-contact, you get the “impact” of a hockey game. Only the walls don’t go all the way up. And if a pass goes out of bounds, a fan is the lucky owner of a football. Plus, sometimes catches are attempted over the wall. I respect this kind of flip-over effort. And I don’t care who you are; watching grown men slam each other into a (padded) wall is always exciting. Unlike stadium football, you’re sitting close enough to appreciate how hard the hits are.

The field itself is half the length (50 yards instead of 100) of a stadium football field, and about half the width (at 85 feet instead of 150). The game has 15-minute quarters and a 15-minute halftime. The clock doesn’t stop except for in the final minute of play, aside from things like timeouts, injuries or change of possession. And teams are allowed a 35-second play clock between the end of the previous play and the start of the next one. This is all an attempt to make the game move quickly and be more exciting.

The walls on the field are about waist-high. Teams sit behind the end zone, leaving prime seating for the fans. The first row even holds the first down markers. Players will even talk to fans and give high fives after big plays. Kids seemed to have a great time, especially those sitting right up close to the action. And some over-zealous adults who got a hold of a cowbell seemed to have equally as much fun.

Seating is a little tight unless you sit in one of their “lodge boxes” at the top of the stadium. The boxes have four seats a piece, more leg room, and access to extra amenities such as hors d’oeurves, a private bar and a separate entrance. Even though the box seating is at the top of the arena, everything’s so close that you still get a good view of the game.

If you’re like us and sit in the cheap seats, you can probably find seats for your group with enough room to stretch your legs to the next row or move around when an impromptu dance party breaks out. Hey, you can’t blast fun music between every play (after giving us beer) and not expect there to be dancing!

We bought our tickets at the box office the night of the game, but you can also buy online. When I looked, there appeared to be a fee of $2.50 associated with each ticket, which we didn’t pay the night of the game. There is also a parking fee ($5 per car), which we also didn’t have to pay. But we arrived after the game started, so that might be why. Tickets range from $5 to $15. The box seat prices weren’t listed, but my brother-in-law said they paid $30 for theirs.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Hartman Arena (in Park City, located at I-135 and 77th Street North).

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [move] A Rally Call for Shocker Football
2. [play] Five Free Flash Games That Don’t Suck
3. [meet] Ask verb: Who Do You Want to See at Intrust Bank Arena?

Because the Red Cross adheres to strict standards regarding who can give, only 38% of the population is eligible. Of that percentage, only a small amount have actually ever given. I didn’t know that tidbit of information when I volunteered to donate. I just thought it was a great cause and would be an interesting experience.

Before donating, I spoke to Collections Manager Laquita Ireland. She said that during the winter months, people are more apt to donate because they feel charitable. In the summer, they get busy and simply forget, even though the need for blood is always there. That’s why the Wichita chapter holds its Zoo Blood Drive each summer.

Finally, the time had come for me to donate. No more stalling. Time to muster all my courage and march my tiny veins in to the donor room. I was feeling a little nervous until the sweetest volunteer I’ve ever met, Ellen Riggs, greeted me. Ellen has been with the American Red Cross holding various positions for over 30 years. She’s so kind and supportive, it’s like having your Nana with you when you donate. Once I read through the preliminary literature and assured Ellen I was confident I met the requirements, I was on my way.

My sister wasn’t available on this particular day, but I was still able to request a particular phlebotomist, Dana, and you can too. Dana took me in to a private room, entered information from my driver’s license, performed a mini health exam consisting of checking basic vital signs, and tested a drop of blood from my fingertip to check my iron count. Once I was cleared for the next level, I was left alone to answer a series of health history questions. Some of the questions are very personal and a few made me giggle, but they’re simply safeguards to make sure you meet all the criteria for donation.

Once Dana gave me a gold star on my health history questionnaire, she guided me to an oversized chair and examined my puny veins. Though she admitted they were “quite tiny,” on the second try she was able to snag an elusive vein. After a quick “pinch” of the needle, I was chatting away while my blood flowed in to the bag. A mere six minutes later, I had donated my pint and the needle was removed. Dana said most donations take about 10 minutes.

A few minutes later, after asking me how I felt and making sure I was able to walk, I was sitting in the Recovery Area happily munching on Nutter Butter cookies and drinking water. I still can’t believe something I feared most of my life took a mere six minutes to conquer. Those six minutes may have saved someone’s life.

As if saving a life isn’t incentive enough to give blood, this weekend the American Red Cross is kicking it up a notch with the Red White & You Community Blood Drive at the Wichita Sedgwick County Zoo. Come to the Zoo between Thursday and Saturday, donate blood and the Red Cross will reward you with a commemorative T-shirt, ticket for free admission and $4.00 entry per person to the Zoo for immediate family members. Discount tickets may be used through July 5. For more information, visit the American Red Cross website.

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [do] Take a Shot of Espresso Theater
2. [meet] Ask verb: Where Do You Donate?
3. [win] it! 2 Tickets to the Red Cross’ “Ride for the Red”

The first stop on my list was Theorosa’s Bridge, a remote area around Valley Center where, according to legend, a Native American woman named Theorosa lost her baby when white settlers snatched the child and threw it into the rushing water. Theorosa’s ghost reportedly haunts the bridge, appearing whenever passersby summon her with the words “Theorosa, I have your baby!” Unfortunately, Theorosa’s Bridge seems to have lost its fright factor over the years. According to reports from previous investigators, this landmark once consisted of a rickety wood and iron bridge accessible only by a long hike through dark, empty fields. However, the original bridge burned down — twice — in the 70s, and the replacement is a far less intimidating concrete structure. Graffiti covers almost every surface; there is almost more artificial color visible than blank concrete. Depicted as a “place of great sadness” by almost every website I could find, Theorosa’s Bridge is more properly described now as a place of great boredom. Drive out on a Friday night, and it’s likely that the only specters you’ll find haunting the bridge are crowds of Valley Center teenagers. Any possible eeriness will probably be driven away by country music blasting through the speakers of someone’s pickup truck. The creepiest part of the journey is undoubtedly the drive to the bridge; empty, unlit gravel roads make for an uncomfortably horror movie-esque setting.

My next goal was to investigate the Vickridge Children Statues. Urban myth holds that a robber once broke into a house in east Wichita’s Vickridge neighborhood, and the children living there (home alone at the time) bolted from the house, attempting to escape over the wall surrounding their backyard. However, the robber shot and killed them, and their parents, mad with grief, erected statues of the children that mimicked their last panicked moments. Although the house is not rumored to be haunted, the statues are apparently chilling to see: the look on each child’s face is of complete terror. In my quest to find these statues, however, I was disappointed to learn that they were recently taken down, most likely due to overly curious neighbors and strangers (like me)
trying to sneak a peek.

My final phantom chase took me out to Bel Aire, where the water tower reportedly houses the trapped ghost of a man who attempted to climb the tower during its construction. The man fell to his death, and when the building crew discovered what had happened, they had two options: dismantle the project, remove the body and start over, or continue from where they had left off the day before. They chose the latter, and visitors can now hear the ghost tapping on the walls of the tower, trying to alert someone to help him escape.

The Bel Aire water tower won the creepiness competition hands down, but its success was more closely tied to the area’s surroundings than to the actual ghost story. Driving toward Bel Aire in the middle of the night was like driving into oblivion. A few houses dotted the scenery, but there wasn’t a soul in sight after my sister and I got off the highway. The roads, similar to those past Valley Center, were narrow and empty. Once we entered city limits, the tower loomed alarmingly close on our left. Its bulbous white body stood out starkly against the cloudy sky, a red airplane light topping what was easily the tallest structure around. We approached the tower and waited, but heard no tapping. On the contrary, it was the absence of sound and life that had us so jumpy. There was no one else out that night. We were alone, and terrified of unknown company. A line of trees borders the dirt road that leads to the tower, creating a perfect hiding place for shifty strangers and creations of my paranoid brain. Pre-storm winds rustled through the branches, muting any possible tower-related noises. A threatening bolt of lightning suddenly illuminated the sky, and we took the oncoming storm as permission to flee the premises.

I could have expanded my research to include Resthaven Cemetery, where numerous visitors have reported hearing children’s voices and seeing vague white apparitions. To be perfectly honest, however, I was too chicken to confirm or disprove these rumors myself. An old bridge? Okay. A water tower? No problem. But a pitch-black graveyard, with countless rows of headstones and coffins underfoot? I don’t think so. Anyone who spends the night in a cemetery is a) completely out of their mind, b) renting a room at the White Glove Motel, or probably c) both. I’m not overly superstitious, but these stories hint at more preternatural activity than my nerves can handle. If you want to play Ghost Busters in Resthaven, folks, you’re on your own.

The fear factor of my investigations proved 100 percent psychological, zero percent paranormal. However, I’m still open to the possibility of supernatural events—if someone can provide actual evidence. Have you encountered anything otherworldly in Wichita? Did the lights flicker in your Broadview Hotel room? Did doors mysteriously open and close during your classes in WSU’s Wilner Auditorium? We want to know!

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. daily [snap] – Slippery Escape
2. daily [snap] – Foot Bridge
3. daily [snap] – Snowy Bridge

On Saturday, June 19, the sixth annual Ride for the Red will take place at  the American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter, 1900 E. Douglas. As the largest event of its kind in Wichita, Ride for the Red annually raises more than $60,000 that directly benefits the greater Wichita area served by the Midway-Kansas Chapter. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., riders will enjoy acrobatic pancakes, scenic highways and byways, and the chance to win the grand prize, a trip for two to Las Vegas. Click here for more information.

To win two tickets to this event (a $20 value – includes T-shirt, breakfast and trip drawing entry), simply leave a comment on this post with a valid e-mail address. Feel free to share a story of how the Red Cross has helped someone you know, or tell us about the last time you gave blood.

Winners will be chosen at random using the Random Number Generator. The deadline to enter is this Friday, June 18, at noon. Good luck!

Related posts:

1. [win] it: 2 Tickets to Joan Rivers at the Orpheum!
2. [win] 2 Tickets to Gridiron, Wichita’s News Parody Musical
3. [win] it: 2 Tickets to Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction Benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

On the tiny balcony of my one bedroom apartment, I’ve begun to compost. I started about four weeks ago, and the broken down contents of my improvised bin are already smelling earthy and rich. Whenever I step outside to churn it up I am impressed by how quickly kitchen rubbish is becoming lush, black, fertile dirt. When the compost starts looking consistent enough, I’ll begin mixing it into the soil of some of my balcony plants, and they will thank me with fragrant blossoms and irresistible fruits. What is left will be given to a farmer friend of mine, in exchange for a bag of okra or a few sun-soaked tomatoes at a later date.

What I love about this little exercise in hobby gardening is what it’s done to my trash can. The poor thing has been rendered useless, as I am now producing only handfuls of trash every week. In fact, I decided it was taking up too much space in my kitchen and got rid of it all together. No more overflowing can of empty boxes, wrappers, and reeking spoiled food. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

In all honesty, it’s incredibly easy to do. If you have a single plant growing in a pot, or a friend who could use some help with their vegetable patch, you have no excuse not to compost.

To help convince you that it’s ludicrously simple, and encourage you to try it for yourself, here is a little composting how-to guide for beginners:

Find a Bin: It needs to be breathable, and it needs to hold compost. Other than that, there are no limits to the possibilities here. I used a five gallon bucket with punched-out air holes. You can try a laundry basket, a ventilated planter box, a milk crate, chicken wire or, if you must, a store-bought composting bin.

Add Compostable Ingredients: Vegetables, fruits, herbivore feces, coffee grounds, tea leaves, filters, cardboard, paper, lawn clippings, leaves and twigs are all very good. Don’t add things like meat, omnivore or carnivore feces, paper products with too much ink or print, or anything that has been chemically treated. You want a good balance of carbon and nitrogen, usually 30 parts of the former to 1 part of the latter. This isn’t something to worry about though, as most of the ingredients listed above are already sitting at the 30:1 ratio.

Turn the Compost: Shaken or stirred? Once a week, give your rubbish salad some air. You can do this by pulling everything out and putting it back in again, by stirring it with a stick or rake, or by picking your bin up and tossing the contents around. Ultimately, it’s up to you how to prepare your compost cocktail.

Bake a Slice of Steamy Compost Pie: Pasteurizing your potting soil is a smart precaution you can take to prevent the spread of disease. To do this, just use an old aluminum pan you won’t mind sacrificing, and bake the compost at 160°F for 30 minutes in your oven. This easy step will keep all of last years’ cooties away from this years’ bounty.

Add it to the Garden: There is some debate as to how you should balance out your final potting soil. Some say a quarter compost, three quarters dirt. Others say half and half. I think that you should determine how starved and pathetic your plants are looking, and decide for yourself how much compost they need.

Enjoy the Fruits of your Fruits: It could have been scratched off into your trash can, where it would sit in your kitchen for a week stinking up the house only to be put out by the curb and hauled off to a landfill. But thanks to you that apple core is now rich, nutritious soil helping your now bountiful, beautiful garden flourish.

The bottom line is this: If you had a pile of garbage that could magically turn into a handful of gold, wouldn’t you want to know the spell that would make it happen? And now that you know it, aren’t you ready to cash in?

Related posts:

1. [think] Easy Ways to Change the World
2. [go] Garden City, Kansas
3. [nest] Container Gardening

Fellow verb [ICT] mama Andrea Anglin and I have compiled a list of popular Wichita attractions and the specific programs/activities they’re offering up for summer family fun.

Sedgwick County Zoo – There’s more than just gawking at the giraffes this summer with the Kids Club. Kids ages 3-11 can sign up for free to win prizes and participate in special zoo programs and events. A favorite at our house is Wet-n-Wild Days, every Friday from June 11 to Aug. 6. Kids can wear their swimsuits and play in the water and mud like, well, animals! Regular zoo admission applies, but members get in free with their ID.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park – Wednesdays get pretty wild at Tanganyika. From June to August, the park will be open until dusk with a live band playing in the pavilion from 6-8 p.m. Best of all, every paid adult admission gets you a free child admission.

Wichita Art Museum – Kids’ Workshops take children and their parents on a scavenger hunt through the museum and then settle back in for a special art project. This is a great way to expose your children to the museum in a fun and creative way. Times and dates vary; check the website for signup information.

Starlite Drive-In – As one of the last drive-in theaters in the nation, the Starlite is a must-have summer experience for any family. Cheaply priced at $8 per adult, $2 for kids 5-11 and free for kids under age 5, it’s a fun, nostalgic memory your family will cherish. And the pickles are good too. Check their website for showtimes and a Starlite Drive-In jingle ringtone.

Wichita Department of Parks and Recreation – Though Leslie Knope is nowhere to be found, the Parks and Rec department in ICT put together an interesting schedule of classes for people of all ages, especially kiddos:

• g2g Outside Play in the Park events: Simply show up at one of the listed parks at the designated time and g2g staff will have organized games to play in addition to the traditional swingsets and teeter-totters.

• Another interesting offering is the “Hook a Kid on Golf” program, held Aug. 9-13 for kids ages 8-15 who have never played golf before.
• Other classes include Hip Hop Dance, Spanish for Youth, Cheerleading and various Pee-Wee sports.

Wichita Public Libraries – We all know the library is a great place to check out books and keep the kiddos reading this summer, but did you know libraries across the city are offering up hundreds of other fun things to do? The best part, it’s absolutely FREE! Parents like free, we really do! From puppet shows to Wimpy Kid trivia contests, craft projects, magic, storytellers, science theatre, dance parties, tea parties and yo-yo tricks, there over 50 options for kids to choose from at a variety of locations. Grab your calendar, head over to the library’s website and see how much fun FREE can be.

All Star Sports – Fore! Work on your putting skills this summer with Tee-Off Tuesday. For $12 per person, you can enjoy unlimited mini golf and then retreat to the air-conditioned building for arcade fun with 30 game tokens, also included. This offer is good at both East and West All Star Sports locations.

Wichita Children’s Theatre – Once again WCT, is offering up its Summer Picnic series with The Three Little Pigs, Peter Rabbit and Cinderella. Come to the Cookie Show at 10 a.m. or the Pizza Hut pizza/Cookie matinee at 11:30 a.m.. Don’t worry about the Kansas heat or rainy days, because picnics and performances are held inside the air-conditioned theatre at 201 S. Lulu. The first show begins June 10.

Crown Uptown Theatre – In addition to the adult comedies, the historic Crown Uptown Theatre is offering up a children’s series. This summer, kids can enjoy the classic tale of Jack And The Beanstalk. Included in the price is a buffet stocked with kid-friendly choices like hot dogs, French fries and even a cookie for dessert.

Christian Youth Theatre – If your budding thespian wants to be the star of the show, check out the CYT Summer Camp for kids and teens of all ages. The camp will be located at four different churches across the city, but enrollment is open to the public. Plays include Godspell, Hats Off To Dr. Seuss and Peter Pan. During the one-week camp, students will learn lines, songs and choreography for the play they’re working on. In addition, they’ll participate in group activities and games. Camp is starting soon and there is limited enrollment, so act fast on this one. For information about age groups, dates, and enrollment fees, call 619-9690 or visit the CYT website to download an enrollment form.

The summer scrapbook will look much better with pictures of your kids feeding a lemur at Tanganyika or posing with Cinderella rather than watching “SpongeBob Square Pants,” so pull the plug on the video games and television, grab this list and get inspired.

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [do] Family Activities for Spring Break
2. [watch] Wichita Children’s Theatre
3. [win] a Family Fun-Pack from All Star Sports West!