I didn’t start out collecting houseplants. I just wanted a few to decorate my kitchen windowsill. Then I found that I enjoyed the challenge of helping the plants thrive, and my collection began to grow.
One of my favorites is my basil plant. I love the smell of the herb and the flavor it adds to the dishes I make. Another favorite is my Stromanthe Triostar plant. I bought one as a wedding gift for a co-worker, and in the few days I kept it at my house, I decided I needed one for myself. I love the burgundy-colored leaves and the plant’s regal appearance. It makes me happy, along with my miniature potted gardens, which nurture my home.
The Ohio State University Extension Live Healthy Live Well Team will explore how we can nurture our homes to nurture our mind, body and soul by hosting a four-part webinar series in September. Each session will focus on a different area of the home and how to nurture that area to feel our best.
“We spend most of our time at home and work, so it makes sense the surroundings of our home can directly influence our mood and wellness — both physical and mental,” wrote Zoie Clay, a family and consumer science educator in Lawrence County, in a LHLW blog post. “Air quality, structure and design, neighbors and accessibility can affect the impact our homes have on our health.”
On our part, we can do things to ensure our homes support our health and wellness, such as checking the batteries in smoke detectors, clearing up clutter, testing for lead and creating more time for family.
The free webinar series will run every Wednesday in September from noon to 12:30 p.m. Topics are as follows.
Week 1: From Sheets to Showers — Wellness in the Bed and Bath
The LHLW team will discuss how to prioritize rest, mindfulness and personal care by creating a supportive bedroom and bathroom environment. The session will offer practical tips to create a more calming, health-focused start and end to each day.
Week 2: Nurture Your Nest: Creating a Kitchen that Cares for You
This webinar will explore ways to help ensure your kitchen and pantry are working for you and your lifestyle. Presenters will offer tips and strategies to create a space that cares for you and your needs so you can enjoy your food preparation and dining experience more.
Week 3: Wellness for Family Life: Inside and Out
This session will explain how to transform your family and outdoor areas into a sanctuary of wellness for the whole family by creating healthy, connected spaces. Learn about simple changes and habits that support connection, movement, play and overall well-being — both inside your home and out.
Week 4: Nurture Your Nest: Managing Your Home Workspace
The team will focus on ways to create a more functional, supportive home workspace — whether for remote work, studying or household management. Learn strategies to organize better, focus, reduce stress and support tasks like managing finances, schedules and important documents with ease.
All sessions are free, but registration is required. Register at go.osu.edu/lhlwwebinars.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu.
