Did you buy Mums this season?

No matter where you bought your Mums, Marc Britton with Epic's Harvest program has given some advice to take care and get the best out of your Mums.

If you plan to keep your Mums in a planter outside, you should be aware that these hardy plants will not survive over the winter. This is due to the fluctuations in temperatures in January and February. These fluctuations cause the plants to dry out. Additionally, Mums are not the best house plant because they need the cold period to rest.

For Mums to survive the winter they need to be planted in a well draining (sandy) soil. Preferably located in an area that receives 5 or more hours of direct sunlight and covered with 2 to 3 inches of organic Mulch.

For bigger blooms it is best to use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus. You can determine the amount of phosphorus in your fertilizer by reading the back of the bag. All bags are marked with three numbers. The first number represents the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer, this helps with the amount of greenery in the plants. The second number represents the amount of phosphorus in the fertilizer, it promotes steam growth and blooms. The last number represents the amount of potash the fertilizer contains. Potash ensures that plants get enough potassium to maintain functions like synthesizing plant sugars.

If you are looking for Mums to add to your garden EP!C is still selling Mums. Please give Marc Britton with EP!C Harvest a call, at 309-689-3706.

Once PARC, Now EP!C

Hey everyone! Happy transformation Tuesday! I'm sure many of you know that I write the blog for a place that goes by the name of EP!C. What many of you may not know is that it hasn't always had the same catchy name. You see, up until fairly recently, we went by the name of PARC. Both names are acronyms, meaning that each letter in the name stands for something. We went by PARC for many years. The only problem with the name was that the "R" in the name stood for a word that we no longer use as it has been deemed politically incorrect. So a few years ago, PARC got a makeover, including a name change.

Although we are now known as EP!C, we still carry on the the beliefs and morals that our founders always had. EP!C sounds way cooler anyways. And it has an excellent meaning that the world needs to know. EPIC stands for Empowering People Inspiring Capabilities. The name is a perfect fit as each of the four letters has significant meaning to all that we stand for. That's what EP!C has always done and will continue to do - empower people to do their very best each and every day and inspire the capabilities of everyone associated with us. There is no substitute for encouragement from others. This place is full of people with a smile on their face empowering individuals to give 110% day in and day out. 

Make sure you give us a like on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates regarding all things EP!C. Stay EP!C, everyone!

EP!C Respite

This week, I have a more serious topic to tackle. This isn't usually my strong suit but I'll do my my best. Over the past few weeks, there has been talk about the state of Illinois making budget cuts in several areas, including one that could potentially greatly impact the lives of many individuals associated with EP!C, including myself.

There are many people with physical or developmental disabilities who rely heavily on others to assist them with day to day tasks. I have a progressive disease that slowly weakens my muscles over time until there is nothing left. I've needed nurses to take care of me for well over ten years now. One important lesson I've learned from my situation is that we don't truly realize what we have until it's gone. It's easy to take these things for granted, so I try to be as thankful as possible. 

Simple tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning or eating lunch can cause so much frustration for me if I don't have anyone to assist me. Life with a any sort of a disability isn't easy, but who said this whole life thing was supposed to be easy? I'm usually a pretty laid back guy but, I can honestly say that I'm genuinely concerned about the well being of those with disabilities in Illinois. 

The EP!C respite center allows families to take care of their every day needs such as shopping and running errands. Families are strengthened and stress is greatly reduced because they can be 100% sure that their loved one is in good hands.

This is just another quality that makes EP!C such an awesome place.  This place continues to amaze me with the amount of love and support from the staff and volunteers. EP!C truly cares about the well being of all of their individuals. 

Make sure you give us a like on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates regarding all things EP!C. Stay EP!C, everyone!

Happy 4th!

As everyone knows, Independence Day is right around the corner. With that being said, I felt it was necessary to write a post entirely dedicated to the 4th and how some individuals with EP!C celebrate our country's 239th birthday.

We all celebrate a little differently and I was curious to listen to what others had to say about how they celebrate on this day. So, Brittany and I caught up with a few individuals here to see if they have any particular annual traditions to honor the 4th of July

 In my opinion, this is the one day of the year that's brings us all together most. Not just family, not just friends, but all of us as a country. I've always been a pretty outspoken guy. I like to meet new people. I remember when I was just just a little tyke waiting outside for the fireworks to begin. It took so long to get dark enough to start them, so to pass the time I always lit a sparkler and drove my wheelchair up to random people and asked them a question or two about how they celebrate or what they love most about the 4th

Yes, I've wanted to be a journalist for many years now, so this was my way of practicing I suppose. Anyway, whenever I brought up the topic of the 4th of July, I was surrounded by nothing but smiles. Everyone was very transparent with their family traditions. One individual told me they got to Six Flags every year to watch fireworks. Another told me they just hang out at home, have a barbecue and create their own firework display. 

The grand finale of the 4th is obviously the fireworks. That's what everyone waits for. My hope is that no one forgets what this day is about. The pyrotechnics are cool, but at the end of the day, we have to realize that we wouldn't even be watching those fireworks without the men and women who have fought or are fighting to keep us all safe. I live in the greatest country in the world and have the upmost respect for those who keep it that way. 

Make sure you give us a like on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates regarding all things EP!C. Stay EP!C, everyone!

What's up everyone? I'm doing my best to keep everyone up to date with all things EP!C, so this week I want to write a little about EP!CASSO. I've always had a passion for art, so this is kind of my specialty.

 For those of you who might not know, EP!CASSO is the only program in the area that offers extensive arts education and exploration to adults with both intellectual and physical disabilities. The program gives everyone an equal opportunity to to express themselves through art.

 Over the years, they have collaborated with many notable local artists to create masterpieces such as the stunning pendant presented at this years Bon Appetite event. All items are 100% handcrafted by individuals involved in the day program. 

Funds for the EP!C program are provided by donations, EP!Casso market, sales and grants from the community foundation of Central Illinois. 

Make sure to like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter! 

Over & out!

All About Harvest

Have you ever been standing in the produce aisle at the grocery store and wondered a little about where all this food came from? With the EP!C Harvest, there's no need for that to even cross your mind. EP!C is truly an incredible place. There are so many unique things going on all the time, one of them being the EP!C harvest.

We have a wide variety of fruits and veggies that are grown right in our backyard. This includes collar greens, kale, green onions and broccoli which are all available at this very moment. As the year goes on we'll have plenty of other options. What makes the Harvest so special is that everything is 100% naturally and locally grown right here at EP!C.

 This year, we plan to have more options to choose from than we've ever had before. Much of our produce is showing up at various local restaurants including Table 19 in Peoria, which truly speaks to how important locally and naturally grown produce is to chefs in the area. It's safe to say that this is important to all of us.

 I've always believed that it's good for the mind to be curious and wonder, as it is a good "workout" for the brain. But one thing none of us want to worry about is if our food is sanitary and where it came from. With absolutely no artificial fertilizers or sprays of any sort, EP!C Harvest is the obvious choice for someone who wants nothing but the best natural produce in their kitchen.

That's all for now, over and out!

We're Back!

What's up everyone? The blog is back and so am I and I give you my word, I am never going away. There's a lot going on at EP!C these days and I'll do my very best to keep all of my readers up to speed with everything.

First things first, I'm not the only writer anymore. So, without further ado, I'd like you all to meet my partner in crime, Brittany Street. She's currently a senior at Bradley University studying marketing with a concentration on social media.

She's a die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan. I'm a Ducks fan so we butt heads every now and again. She's likes sushi. I despise sushi with a burning passion. But it's all good. We're buds. Anyway, She'll be in control of all things social media. As always, I'll be keeping my extraordinary talents with the blog. At this point in time, our mission is to get EP!C's name out there like never before.

I'm talking fundraisers, new events, more social media posts and weekly blog posts. In the near future, we're hoping to complete a 2015 calendar featuring photos of some of our individuals here at EP!C. Also, we're working on a quarterly newsletter to help advocate against the recent Illinois budget cuts. They've affected the lives of many, including individuals here. The EP!C harvest is thriving as usual. More and more local restaurants are using the produce in their restaurants. That's all I have for now, over and out!