Monday, September 4, 2000
I stand on the roof of our workshop holding the end of a rope. My husband has tied the opposite end around his waist so he doesn't slip as he hammers nails into our new metal roofing. Although I am alert to the danger
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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Friday, May 24th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
30
Should consumers have to pay sales tax on online purchases?
End of the Season
Comments
By Virginia CooperMonday, October 2, 2000
It’s been a great gardening year, a little wet for a while, but still quite beautiful when we count our successes and not our failures. This is my last column for the season. I hope everyone has learned something new this year. In every article I have tried to stress the importance of fertile soil as being the key to a healthy garden.
Fertile Soil
Fertile soil is a soil rich in organic matter or humus. Humus is basically the same thing as compost, broken down organic material. This organic material can be anything from raked leaves, straw, pulled weeds, kitchen waste like your coffee grounds, egg shells or potato peelings. If it comes from the plant kingdom it can be composted. Some serious composters will even seek out commercial sources like the leftover corn waste from ethanol production. But in order for this organic material to be available to your plants it must be composted.
Making Compost
This can be as simple as just having a pile in the corner of your garden where you throw pulled weeds, spent plants and the occasional kitchen scraps. It can be a bin of some sort to help keep the pile from spreading out all over or a fancy thing from a garden catalog. You can build a pile all at once or add a little at a time all year.
My grandfather always had three piles going. Three bins lined up made of scrap wood. One was for woody scraps, as they take longer to decompose, and the other two were non-woody materials, one was currently being added to and the other was full and cooking.
It is important that your pile be made up of a variety of materials, ideally a mix of ‘greens and browns.’ Moisten the materials as they are placed into the pile or bin. Oxygen and water are critical elements in the composting process. Research suggests adding soil or compost starters is not essential, as the organic matter naturally contains the decomposing bacteria. Avoid over chopping composting materials or packing of the pile, which restricts oxygen infiltration. Active compost will heat to 120 to 160 degrees in the center of the pile. This desired heat stimulates the bacterial process and helps sanitize the interior of the pile. In Minnesota, avoid turning compost piles in the fall. This allows valuable heat to escape, and may stop the processing as we move into the cold winter. Small piles, which freeze in the winter, may need turning in the spring to start the .....
[Read the Rest]
It’s been a great gardening year, a little wet for a while, but still quite beautiful when we count our successes and not our failures. This is my last column for the season. I hope everyone has learned something new this year. In every article I have tried to stress the importance of fertile soil as being the key to a healthy garden.
Fertile Soil
Fertile soil is a soil rich in organic matter or humus. Humus is basically the same thing as compost, broken down organic material. This organic material can be anything from raked leaves, straw, pulled weeds, kitchen waste like your coffee grounds, egg shells or potato peelings. If it comes from the plant kingdom it can be composted. Some serious composters will even seek out commercial sources like the leftover corn waste from ethanol production. But in order for this organic material to be available to your plants it must be composted.
Making Compost
This can be as simple as just having a pile in the corner of your garden where you throw pulled weeds, spent plants and the occasional kitchen scraps. It can be a bin of some sort to help keep the pile from spreading out all over or a fancy thing from a garden catalog. You can build a pile all at once or add a little at a time all year.
My grandfather always had three piles going. Three bins lined up made of scrap wood. One was for woody scraps, as they take longer to decompose, and the other two were non-woody materials, one was currently being added to and the other was full and cooking.
It is important that your pile be made up of a variety of materials, ideally a mix of ‘greens and browns.’ Moisten the materials as they are placed into the pile or bin. Oxygen and water are critical elements in the composting process. Research suggests adding soil or compost starters is not essential, as the organic matter naturally contains the decomposing bacteria. Avoid over chopping composting materials or packing of the pile, which restricts oxygen infiltration. Active compost will heat to 120 to 160 degrees in the center of the pile. This desired heat stimulates the bacterial process and helps sanitize the interior of the pile. In Minnesota, avoid turning compost piles in the fall. This allows valuable heat to escape, and may stop the processing as we move into the cold winter. Small piles, which freeze in the winter, may need turning in the spring to start the .....
[Read the Rest]
In the Lands of the Pte Oyate
Monday, September 25, 2000
Sunlight shimmering, my wife Connie and I wrestle with the wind as we set up our campsite. Howling out of Nebraska, the stiffly blowing southern gale threatens to rip the ground cloth from our hands while we fumble w .....
[Read the Rest]
Sunlight shimmering, my wife Connie and I wrestle with the wind as we set up our campsite. Howling out of Nebraska, the stiffly blowing southern gale threatens to rip the ground cloth from our hands while we fumble w .....
[Read the Rest]
Assignment: Manhattan
Monday, October 2, 2000
It’s not every day that I’m given an opportunity to go to a star-studded gala at Radio City Music Hall filled with famous celebrities and rock n’ roll stars. But a couple weeks ago, such an invitation came my way, and t .....
[Read the Rest]
It’s not every day that I’m given an opportunity to go to a star-studded gala at Radio City Music Hall filled with famous celebrities and rock n’ roll stars. But a couple weeks ago, such an invitation came my way, and t .....
[Read the Rest]
Soybean Dust
Monday, October 9, 2000
My family and I went on a short shopping trip last Saturday. It turned out all right despite having to go into stores and having to buy things. Our almost-sixteen-year-old son tried on navy blue blazers in several store .....
[Read the Rest]
My family and I went on a short shopping trip last Saturday. It turned out all right despite having to go into stores and having to buy things. Our almost-sixteen-year-old son tried on navy blue blazers in several store .....
[Read the Rest]
A revolutionary idea
Monday, October 9, 2000
"Are you going to watch the debates tonight?" someone asked me last Tuesday.
"No, I don't have a dog in that fight," I responded, using a George Bush, Sr. analogy for "No, I'm not going to watch the debates."
[Read the Rest]
"Are you going to watch the debates tonight?" someone asked me last Tuesday.
"No, I don't have a dog in that fight," I responded, using a George Bush, Sr. analogy for "No, I'm not going to watch the debates."
[Read the Rest]
Sam’s bath
Monday, September 18, 2000
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, a day that you might expect to enjoy in June rather than September. My dog, Sam and I took a walk through the woods while my wife was entertaining some of her friends out on the d .....
[Read the Rest]
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, a day that you might expect to enjoy in June rather than September. My dog, Sam and I took a walk through the woods while my wife was entertaining some of her friends out on the d .....
[Read the Rest]
Journal Profile # 80
Name: John Goutcher
Home: Preston
Age: 60
Profession: Retired High School Educator/Administrator
Family: Wife Shirley, Son
Jeff, Daughter Jennifer
Personal Hero: Moses, he took a large grou .....
[Read the Rest]
Home: Preston
Age: 60
Profession: Retired High School Educator/Administrator
Family: Wife Shirley, Son
Jeff, Daughter Jennifer
Personal Hero: Moses, he took a large grou .....
[Read the Rest]
Buttered Squash Bake
1/3 cup soft margarine
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups cooked squash
• Place in greased 7x11 in pan. Bake, uncovered, 45 mins.
Topping:
1/2 cup Rice Krispies
2 tablespoons marga .....
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1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups cooked squash
• Place in greased 7x11 in pan. Bake, uncovered, 45 mins.
Topping:
1/2 cup Rice Krispies
2 tablespoons marga .....
[Read the Rest]
