A few years ago, I had the pleasure of listening to a presentation at work about “happy people”-- Why are they so happy? What is it about their inner structure that has them whistling on the way to work as they pass their co-workers on the sidew
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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Tuesday, May 21st, 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]
A View from the Woods
Mon, Apr 9th, 2012
Posted in All Columnists
Posted in All Columnists
Comments
A Checkup for Our Land
When strolling in our woods, I often wonder about what story the land is trying to tell me. What has changed over time? Does evidence remain of past logging, clearing and grazing? Are current farming activities sustainable? What should the meandering course of the river tell me about erosion and flooding? Is wildlife thriving in harmony with the forest?
As a professional environmentalist, I am pelted daily with news about climate change, invasive species, water pollution and soil degradation. Everyone enjoying this spectacularly beautiful but unprecedented early spring has to be a little uneasy about what it means. I want to know, is our hundred-acre Garden of Eden real, or am I merely blind to incremental damage?
On a beautiful spring afternoon, I had the opportunity to walk our land with two conservation experts. This is a free service, of which anyone can avail themselves, courtesy of the Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District. Rick Grooters and Ryan Thesing agreed to tell me of any problems or opportunities that could be addressed. I know from my professional policy work that there are multiple programs available for technical and financial assistance.
We started at the sheep pasture on the hilltop where our garden is. Our neighbor needed more pasture for his sheep and we needed the field mowed once in a while, so a mutually beneficial arrangement resulted. The field and a pathway through the woods to his own pasture is carefully fenced in with electric tape. He monitors the grass so it doesn’t get overgrazed, and his son applied a nice layer of manure this winter, which already shows up in the vigorous green new growth. A former thicket of invasive wild parsnip is gone. No problems here.
Next we walked down through the woods to the “pumpkin patch,” a five acre field we rent to a farmer who rotates pumpkins and corn. The conservationists observed that the field was flat, last year’s corn residues were adequate to protect the soil, and the wooded buffer along the stream appears to be preventing runoff.
After being duly impressed by some very active beavers who had gnawed halfway through some two-foot trees, felled others and created several dams, we looked across the creek to another dozen acres we rent out. These corn-bean farmers use no-till, possibly the best soil conserving practice for commodity crops, because all residue .....
[Read the Rest]
When strolling in our woods, I often wonder about what story the land is trying to tell me. What has changed over time? Does evidence remain of past logging, clearing and grazing? Are current farming activities sustainable? What should the meandering course of the river tell me about erosion and flooding? Is wildlife thriving in harmony with the forest?
As a professional environmentalist, I am pelted daily with news about climate change, invasive species, water pollution and soil degradation. Everyone enjoying this spectacularly beautiful but unprecedented early spring has to be a little uneasy about what it means. I want to know, is our hundred-acre Garden of Eden real, or am I merely blind to incremental damage?
On a beautiful spring afternoon, I had the opportunity to walk our land with two conservation experts. This is a free service, of which anyone can avail themselves, courtesy of the Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District. Rick Grooters and Ryan Thesing agreed to tell me of any problems or opportunities that could be addressed. I know from my professional policy work that there are multiple programs available for technical and financial assistance.
We started at the sheep pasture on the hilltop where our garden is. Our neighbor needed more pasture for his sheep and we needed the field mowed once in a while, so a mutually beneficial arrangement resulted. The field and a pathway through the woods to his own pasture is carefully fenced in with electric tape. He monitors the grass so it doesn’t get overgrazed, and his son applied a nice layer of manure this winter, which already shows up in the vigorous green new growth. A former thicket of invasive wild parsnip is gone. No problems here.
Next we walked down through the woods to the “pumpkin patch,” a five acre field we rent to a farmer who rotates pumpkins and corn. The conservationists observed that the field was flat, last year’s corn residues were adequate to protect the soil, and the wooded buffer along the stream appears to be preventing runoff.
After being duly impressed by some very active beavers who had gnawed halfway through some two-foot trees, felled others and created several dams, we looked across the creek to another dozen acres we rent out. These corn-bean farmers use no-till, possibly the best soil conserving practice for commodity crops, because all residue .....
[Read the Rest]
More Notes from a Country Kitchen
Mon, Mar 26th, 2012
Posted in All Columnists
Posted in All Columnists
It’s time to think Easter Bunny! I remember that each of us kids had a wicker basket that we would set out on Saturday night in hopes that the Easter bunny would drop off something good. We hoped for those chocolate bunnies (that were hollow in th
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Bread, A Slice Of Life
Mon, Mar 19th, 2012
Posted in All Columnists
Posted in All Columnists
Baking bread becomes so much more than flour, yeast, butter and water. Baking bread can transport you back to your grandmother’s kitchen, to childhood at the extended family gathering, to the voice of your father saying, “Pass the rolls.” Baki
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The working mom's son
Mon, Mar 5th, 2012
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Posted in All Columnists
While mom is making supper, I thought I’d take over her column this week to set the record straight about some of the stories she has been writing. For instance, she claims that I don’t always do my chores, which is absolutely not true (in my o
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Envisioning Future Farms
Mon, Feb 27th, 2012
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Posted in All Columnists
Just about everyone wants clean, homegrown energy. Whether we are concerned about the high price of gas, dependence on foreign oil, or the environmental problems of fossil fuel extraction and use, we turn our eyes toward a future where we can
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More notes from a country kitchen
Mon, Feb 20th, 2012
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Posted in All Columnists
My last couple of articles have dealt with one of my favorite subjects -- food! Seems like you can never talk about or eat enough food. I’ve talked about beef and pork and chicken. How about “fish balls?” Did you ever have them? They came in a
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The Work Mom - 1/30/12
Fri, Jan 27th, 2012
Posted in Columnists
Posted in Columnists
How Can it Be?
After a series of very odd conversations lately, it seemed like I kept asking myself, "How can that be?" There are times we ask that question at work and there are times we ask that question of incidents you hear about on TV an .....
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After a series of very odd conversations lately, it seemed like I kept asking myself, "How can that be?" There are times we ask that question at work and there are times we ask that question of incidents you hear about on TV an .....
[Read the Rest]
More notes from a country kitchen - 1/16/12
Fri, Jan 13th, 2012
Posted in Columnists
Posted in Columnists
Some of you may remember my article on liver and beef. Many of you told me how much you enjoyed my article but not the liver!! Just didn't find too many liver eaters out there! How about cow tongue? I remember my dad getting a big cow tongue and pic
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