I’m an apex predator hunting for radishes, vital ingredients in a radish sandwich. I picked a couple of cucumbers while I was at it. No, I didn’t have a cat that needed scaring. I’ve never known a cat that was frightened of cucumbers. I like cucumbers. I share them with my neighbor Crandall, who misplaced his glasses and planted a packet of M&M’s instead. I was a … [Read more...]
It’s a Vine Life
By Rev. Deanna Woodward Maple Leaf Parish - United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley Several years ago I toured a garden where massive pumpkins were grown – the type people grow to compete for a prize. Remember that old rhyme “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater. Had a wife and couldn’t keep her. He put her in a pumpkin shell. And … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – St. Paul Newspaper Features Brownsville “Coldness,” Twice
A roving newspaper reporter from the Twin Cities, Earl Chapin, stopped one night in Caledonia during the summer of 1947. He borrowed from the local newspaper publisher the “History of Houston County,” by Rev. Edward D. Neill, published in 1882. While reading that night, he came upon this item: “About 1861, Mr. C. Gerhardt sunk a well and at the depth of 40 feet, water flowed … [Read more...]
Your Flying Farmer – Crunchy Parakeet?
Have you ever been to an ice cream shop with freezers as far as you can see and thought, “I wish there were more flavors of ice cream in this shop. These 47 options are not enough. I think they need just one more flavor and then I would be satisfied.” I’ve served ice cream when there is one flavor and I’ve served ice cream when people had to pick between 10 different flavors. … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – The Water of Life
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches A whole lot of being a human revolves around water. We need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and washing. We use water for swimming, gardening, farming and more. This past year living in an agricultural area, we have especially had a lot of stress around water. Last year, it was drought and not … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Water Flows Downhill; Water Flows Uphill
About 1861, at the depth of 40 feet, water flowed into a drilled well and froze, filling it with solid ice to within a few feet of the top. Summer ice was still found in it many decades later. Eventually, the opening filled in naturally. That was the most amazing well in far southeast Houston County, but not the only remarkable one. Early white settlers lived near springs or … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – Our Newest Neighbor
A brilliant, melodious song wafted over our yard. It captured my attention since it highlighted a new song that I had not noticed on the farm before. Its music punctuated the chirps of sparrows, and the tunes of robins and various other birds. The regulars in the birdy-choir making their homes on our farm greet us each morning, but our new neighbor adds a touch of color to … [Read more...]
Weekly Scouting: A Key to Overcoming Field Challenges
By Emma Heiden University of Minnesota Extension Summer Intern Year after year, farmers are faced with many different challenges in their fields. Some of these challenges may be prevented or reduced by just going out and scouting your fields weekly. Early-season scouting is crucial for identifying potential problems such as pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies, which can … [Read more...]
I Love the Smell of Wet Squirrels in the Morning
I couldn’t see a sun in the sky. It had either overslept or clouds covered it. I took a deep breath. I sucked up a couple of mosquitoes into my nose. They were small ones, about the size of robins. I said, “I love the smell of wet mosquitoes in the morning,” paraphrasing Robert Duvall, who, as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in the movie “Apocalypse Now,” said, “I love the … [Read more...]
I’ve Been to About Half of Everywhere, Man
Ouch, ouch, ouch! The water hit like thousands of tiny bricks being flung at me with incredible accuracy. I was being pelted with drops of water. It wasn’t a hard rain falling. It was hot water from a forceful shower. I’d intentionally set the showerhead to a superhero power. It was the “hurt me without doing any permanent damage” setting. Exiting the shower, I encountered … [Read more...]