LIFE ON THE FARM: Lesson #1

POISON IVY - If it looks like poison ivy rash and it feels like poison ivy rash…. Don’t wait to go to the doctors office! Last Wednesday night, four days after mowing down the jungle weeds, Farmer Dave arose from the couch at 11:23pm and proclaimed “WOW! Look at my foot, I think it’s bigger than the other one!”.

Yep, genius had spoken! Farmer Dave made the dreaded doctor trip Thursday morning and was diagnosed with a severe case of poison ivy rash. One prescription and a can of anti-itch spray later and we’re back in business! After much “googleing” we’ve determined the best way to clear poison ivy is:

1. Purchase and apply “Ivy Block” available at CVS

2. Wear a long shirt, socks, pants & gloves (or a hazmat suit with duct taped wrists and ankles)

3. Wait for a rainy day or soak the area

4. Using a plastic bag–turn it inside out and grab ivy at the root

5. Place bag & ivy contents inside bag lined garbage can

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until area is cleared.

P.S. If you break the root keep an eye on the area for re-growth and repeat steps 1-6. Also, pouring vinegar on the broken root may kill it as well. For safety measures — we’ll be doing BOTH!

CLEAN UP:

Don’t let this happen to you… AVOID the dreaded “Farmer Dave foot”!

Step 1: Rinse all of your person & clothing with cold water (not warm water, not soapy water, not scalding hot water, not bleach water) just cold water.

Step 2: Wash clothing in washing machine (including shoes and laces — special note shared by fellow poison ivy victims Laurel & Tom).

Step 3: Wipe everything you may have touched while contaminated (ie steering wheel, car door handle, pop can, cooler lid, radio knob, door knob, car keys, house keys, kleenex box, the dog, cigarettes, etc).

Step 4: Shower as usual.

YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES FROM THE TIME OF CONTACT TO CONTAMINATION!