Sunday, February 27, 2011

Chicken Soup w/3 Variations


this soup sounds easy and delicious, furthermore it has 3 additional ways of making it. i found it in the most recent woman's day magazine, march 2011, page 148.

4 oz of medium egg noodles
1/4 bunch fresh dill
4 bone in chicken breast, split, about 3 lbs
6 carrots, sliced 1/4" thick
4 celery stalks, sliced 1/4" thick
2 medium onions, quartered and sliced crosswise 1/4" thick
10 cups low sodium chicken broth or water
kosher salt and pepper

1.) cook the noodles according to directions.
2.) meanwhile, tie the dill together with a pice of kitchen twine or thread and place in large pot along with all other ingredients, except noodles. bring to boil. reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked thru about 20 to 25 minutes.
3.) discard the dill. transfer the chicken to a bowl and when cool enough to handl, shred meat, discarding any bones. stir the chicken and noodles into soup.

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Pozole - omit noodles and dill. add two 28 oz cans of diced tomatoes (drained) and 1 tbspn ancho chili powder with the vegetables. add 2 cans 15 oz hominy beans rinsed, along with the shredded chicken and simmer and heat thru.

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup - omit the dill - add one 2 1/2 in piece of ginger (sliced) along with vegetables. before returning the shredded chicken to the pot, add two 14 oz cans of light coconut milk and bring to boil. stir in chicken, noodles, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice and 1/2 cup roughly of fresh cilantro (chopped)

Chicken, Chickpea, & Couscous Soup - omit the noodles - add 2 15 oz cans chickpeas (rinsed) along with the shredded chicken and simmer thru. cook one 10 oz package couscous; fold in 3/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 cup chopped flat parsley. spoon couscous into bowls and top with the soup.
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cold cures - woman's day - december 2010

vitamin c - (one of my personal favorites - i once rode the bus from winthrop to east boston everyday with a nurse from mgh and she said you cannot od on vitamin c, when a cold comes on keep pumping them, you may need to go to the bathroom a few more times than normal, but that is actually good, and i have taken vitamin c as directed ever since - and i have stayed pretty healthy).... prevent a cold, but only if you take before exposed to the virus, says kathi kemper, md, chair for the center for integrative medicine at wake forest university. one study found that athletes who took vitamin c slashed their risk of developing a cold in half. try 500 mg twice daily during cold season.

ginseng - works to prevent a cold but like vitamin c, you have to take it well ahead of time. cold-fx, which contains an extract of ginseng was found to reduce the incidence of colds by 25 percent when taken twice daily over a four-month period.

echinacea - works to - shorten a cold's duration and possibly prevent you from catching one. try one 500mg capsule daily as soon as symptons arise or whenever someone around you gets sick, says lynne david, nd, a naturopathic doctor at the center for integrative medicine in washington, dc. to ensure quality, look for the american herbal pharmacopeia (ahp) or nsf international seal.

zinc - works to shorten a cold's duration and make symptons less severe. studies suggest sucking on a lozenge every 3 to 4 hours, starting as soon as you have symptoms.

vitamin d - works to - keep your immune system strong. if your levels are normal, then taking extra d is unlikely to help, but since so many people are lacking, it's a good idea to ask your doc for a blood test.

if you decide to take any supplements, discuss with your doctor first.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

4 legal document wills for later years


My parents are getting older, I'll be old one day, sooner than I think, everyone should read this found in Woman's Day - March 2011 - pg 36 -

will - regardless of age and assets, everyone should create a will. if there is no will to indicate a person's wishes with regard to his or her home, car, etc. upon the person's death, the court will step in and distribute the property according to the laws of the individual state. if th person has no apparent heirs and dies without a will the estate/assets will go to distant relatives.

living will - this tells the doctors what kind of care the person does and does not want to receive if he's terminally ill and incapacitated. (some states, including kentucky, minn, ok, or, sc, va & wy, combine the living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare in the same form).

durable power of attorney for healthcare - this document allows the person being cared for to identify who will make medical decisions if he or she becomes mentally incapacitated. (this is also known in some states as an advance directive or healthcare proxy.)

durable power of attorney for finances - only necessary in some instances, this document designates who'll handle the finances and money decisions of the cared-for-person.
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websites which might be helpful

www.eldercare.gov - is a public service of the administration on aging. that connects older americans and their caregivers with information on senior services in their area. just type in your zip code and type of information you are looking for. or call 1-800-677-1116.

www.naela.org - national academy of elder law attorneys - find an elder or special needs attorney in your area using the search function on this not for profit site.

www.ncoa.org - this non-profit advocacy group works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits. improve their health and live independently. it also offer an excellent free booklet "use your home to stay at home" that gives an overview on reverse mortgages in an easy to read format. go to the site and click on "news & NCOA publications" at the top, then scroll down to the bottom of the page for the download link.

www.medicare.gov - the single best place to learn all about medicare. includes up to the minute changes as well as help wqith the benefits eligibility and enrollment. or call 1-800-medicare

www.longtermcare.gov - this site is a clearinghouse for long -term care presented by the u.s. department of health and human services. you'll find a lot of good information here - from how to assess your need to what to look for in long term health insurance policies.

these websites were also found in the same woman's day magazine.
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these people can help you get healthier - woman's day - march 2011 - pg 102

patient advocate - consider one if you need extra guidance navigating the healthcare system.
what they do - help fight health claims disputes with your insurance company. what type of care to consider after a new diagnosis, and give advice on what to do if you have a health condition that is affecting your ability to do your job. who are they - nurses who previously worked in a hospital or doctor's office, social workers and professional case managers, attorneys and other experts. where to find - at the patient advocate foundation's website (patientadvocate.org) case management services are free or at (advoconnection.com) fees usually range from $40 to $200 per hour.

health insurance brokers - consider one if you're trying to purchase health insurance for yourself and your family on your own. what they do - help you compare costs and benefits and figure out the right plan - who are they - licensed brokers trained in health insurance coverage (they must pass state and federal exams) services usually free, but since brokers get commissions from insurance companies, ask if they're paid by just one company (means they're an agent and not a broker) where to find - at nahu.org/consumer/find-agent2.cfm (the national association of health underwriters site lets you search for a nearby broker) wants to compare options on your own? ehealthinsurance.com

wellcoaches - consider one if you want help developing a multifaceted approach to improving your health. what they do - work with you to create an overall healthy lifestyle by focusing on factors such as diet, sleep, stress, exercise. for example, stress can cause poor sleep, which then leads to low energy and bad eating choices. a wellcoach can help you address issues collectively. who they are - health, fitness or mental health professionals (such as personal trainers, psychologists and nutritionists) who launch a second career as a certified wellcoach (program endorsed by the american college of sports medicine) where to find - at wellcoaches.com ($40 - $100 per session)

wash a wool sweater


wash a wool sweater - woman's day - march 2011 - alison gootee l.l. bean - llbean.com

i have been washing my cashmere sweaters for years. i have also been purchasing a good many of them second hand. i wash mine on the hand wash cycle of my washer, i hang dry them on padded hangers. I have never had an issue with wrinkles, i smooth the sweater out before hanging.

but my aunt washes hers very similar to the article below and has had equally as good luck....

step 1 fill a basin or sink with cool water and add 1 tbspn of mild detergent that's free of bleach, such as woolite extra delicatesx care; swish the water to create suds. place the sweater into the water and swirl it ournd until its completely wet. don't scrub or stretch the sweater, which can damage the shape and fibers. let sit for 10 minutes while the detergent breaks down the soil.

step 2 gather the sweater in your hands, lift it out of the water and gently press a few times (don't wring) to remove excess water. empty the soapy ater and refill the basin or sink with the cool water. submerge the sweater and swirl around to rinse. empty and refill the basin again with fresh water, repeating the swirling process until no detergent remains in the water.

step 3 gather the sweater, gently press and remove water and lay in on a white or colorfast towel that has been spread on a flat waterproof surface. spread another white or colorfast towel on top so that the sweater is sandwiched between the towels. starting from the top, tightly roll the towels downward together - they'll absorb most of the moisture in the sweater.

step 4 unroll and pick up the sweater, lay in on the third white or colorfast towel that has been spread on a flat waterproof surface away from sunlight and heat (to keep the wool from becoming brittle). gently reshape the sweater, extending the arms and buttoning, if necessary. let dry. to touch up wrinkles turn inside out and iron on low heat with steam (but first, test on small area).

Safely Store Household Hazards


Ladie's Home Journal - February 2011

safely store household hazards - the average home contains 3 - 10 gallons of hazardous waste. clear your garage of what you don't need, then cut your risk with these storage tips.

pesticides - they kill bugs and can be hazardous to people and pets too. store them on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet and follow the advice on the package for safe disposal.

leftover paint - some paint products are flammable, but if you must keep them for touch-ups, seal the cans tightly, covering the top with plastic wrap before closing the lid. since paint can freeze, keep cans on a high shelf indoors, not in the garage.

gasoline - store extra fuel in an approved container with a tight sealing lid and a safety lock feature. keep it out of sunlight and away from heat sources. clean your garage floor regularly to get rid of oil and fuel tracks.

car products - antifreeze, brake fluid and motor oil are all poisonous if ingested. keep them in locked cabinets and out of reach of pets and kids.

air it out - some new furniture made with particleboard or fiberboard and wall-to-wall carpet (as well as the padding and adhesives used to install it) emit VOCs. to help limit exposure, leave windows open and run a fan for 48 hours after you've had carpet installed or furniture delivered to remove chemical vapors.
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5 ways to clear the air - ladies home journal - also feb 2011 - pg 58

scary but true - the air inside your house is up to five times more polluted than what you breathe outside. use these strategies to improve the air quality.

don't let anyone smoke. secondhand smoke contains hundreds of carcinogenic and toxic chemicals. research shows they linger in furniture, carpets, and drapes and mix with indoor pollutants to form dangerous carcinogens.

ventilate - crack a window and run exhaust fans (make sure they vent outdoors and not into other parts of the house). move furniture away from outside walls for better air circulation.

switch paints - most paints release volatile organic compounds even after they've dried. these gases have been linked to cancers, memory loss, developmental damage and reproductive problems. cut your exposure with low VOC paints.

rehab your closet - use toxin free moth repellents like cedar chips and take plastic off dry cleaning before putting clothes away.

keep moisture down - mold and mildew can aggravate allergies and asthma. to keep them from infiltrating, regularly check your roof, foundation and basement for leaks or evidence of moisture problems.
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6 spots your cleaning routine might miss - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 58

dirt alert! twelve percent of surfaces in the home that look clean are actually crawling with germs. remember to give these hot spots some extra attention with disinfectant.

doorknobs
light switches
refrigerator door handles
telephones
remote controls and
video game controllers
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5 steps to a healthier Bathroom - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 60

close before flushing - studies have found that bacteria filled mist can travel several feet every time you flush, so get your family in the habit of putting down the toilet lid. telling them this fact may help!

rearrange toothbrushes - if your toothbrushes touch one another they can spread germs. keep them separated, buy new ones every few months (or after you have been sick) and rinse thoroughly after using.

change your shower curtain - plastic curtains are likely to contain phthalates and other plasticizers, chemicals that have potential hormone-disrupting effects. instead of a pvc liner, go for a fabric one.

switch to a safer toilet cleanser - some traditional toilet-bowl cleaners may contain odor-killing p-dcb a potential carcinogen. try healthier alternatives from clorox green works, seventh generation or method, among other brands.

discourage mold - turn on an exhaust fan to remove humidity, and let it run for 20 minutes after you shower, to keep mold spores from growing. scrub tiles with mold killing borax or hydrogen peroxide to keep grout lines clean, and change towels and rugs frequently to avoid moisture buildup.

Make Your Own Dog Treats


Ladies Home Journal - February 2011

Great Christmas Present

peanut butter snaps - preheat oven to 290 degrees. mix 2 cups oat flour and 1/2 cup potato starch in mixer. in separate bowl blend 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla, 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup canola oil; slowly add to dry mixture. add 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 mashed banana; slowly add cold water until dough begins to stick together (if it gets too sticky, add more flour). remove dough and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. cut with cookie cutters; place on ungreased baking sheet. bake 50 min, turn off oven and leave treats inside for 2 hours to harden.

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I thought cookie cutters in the shape of a cat, gingerbread man, or a dog bone might be cute!

Molting & More



I subscribe to a number of magazines, and I'm rethinking how I get them, ebay or thru the library, I simply can't afford the luxury anymore! Everything keeps going up but my pay!
I get them, I read them, I tear pages out and one day....... So my newest idea is to incorporate them into this blog.

About 3 years ago, I bought 6 chickens from my use to be neighbor. She had a 100 and sold them all and moved. My other half built a wonderful chicken coop. We really know nothing about raising them. We now have 4, we lost one to a raccoon and one to the heat. I found this article in Hobby Farms - January / February 2011. I thought it might be worth sharing.

"some of my chickens have been losing their feathers, and they don't seem to be growing back. is something wrong, or can it be fixed? what should i do? ... many backyard chicken owners assume their chickens are molting when they lose their feathers. but i would look at other reasons for feather loss first. it can be difficult to tell if backyard chickens are in molt, because many of them molt at different times and in different ways. some lose their feathers a little at a time and grow them back a little at a time. some lose all their feathers and stay naked for four or five months. if we can rule out everything else, then we can blame the feather loss on molting.

if your problem is flock-wide, and all of your chickens have lost their feathers, parasites or fowl pox could be the cause. chickens can be infested with lice, mites and fleas. lice have to live on the body, so look for lice at the base of feathers. fleas and mites don't have to stay on the body. red mites, for instance, will feed during the night and hide during the day. you will see a powder puff - it looks like white cotton - on barn floors or walls where the mites hide. if you can't see parasites on the chicken, look for signs of damage, such as scratches and bite-like-lesions on the skin. you can part the feathers and look for parasite feces, or "dirt" usually around the belly or the tail. if parasites are your problem, clean the coop and remove any cobwebs, and treat the coop and the birds with a poultry insecticide dust or spray.

fowl pox looks like pimples - big angry ones with bleeding and scabbing. it's usually on the unfeathered portions of the skin - face, vent, sometimes where the unfeathered portion of the leg joins the feathered portion. there is no treatment for pox, as it is a viral disease. the lesions can be kept clean and free of flies. if they are in a sensitive area such as around the eyes. pox can be prevented by vaccination.

one more cause of flock-wide feather loss is significant reduction in protein intake or change of diet. feathers and their point of origin, follicles, rely on high protein. flock nutrition is crucial to plumage health.

if the feather loss in some birds and not in tohers, it's most likely feather-pecking. chickens, by nature, are aggressive to other chickens, no matter their space or housing. the closer the breed is to the original jungle fowl, the more aggressive the birds. a chicken exerts its dominance by getting on the back of another chicken, grabbing the neck and back feathers with its beak, and removing feathers with its toenails. this is also the way the roosters mate with the hens.

if the skin isn't broken and you aren't too upset by the feather loss, you can just let it go. if the skin is damaged or you want the pecking to stop, tree-pruning sealer works great. it acts as a second skin while the feathers grow back and the skin heals. it's cheap and can be found at any garden center or hardware store. because the tissue under the skin or damaged skin is moist, you might have to layer it on pretty heavily. it will stain your skin and your clothing, so wear old clothes. the other benefit is that the sealer is black, and chickens aren't attracted to black. but if a chicken does peck, the sealer will stain its beak, and you will know who the aggressor is.

blinders work very well for stopping aggression. available at poultry suppliers, blinders sit on the bird's nose and are secured by a pin that goes through the nares (nasal holes), from one side to other. the nasal septum is really thin in a bird, so its not painful. the blinders are red, and the color makes the birds less aggressive - by patricia wakenell, dvm, phd, associate professor of avian diagnostics/comparative pathobiology, cohead of avian diagnostics at purdue university in west lafayette, ind.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Winter is Officially Over - Got Our 1st Egg of The Season!


Who says there is 6 more weeks of winter! My chickens have officially declared winter is over. One of them has layed an egg!

I started my seeds this week, well some of them. And I have chosen to try a different approach. I am putting the seeds between paper towels that are wet and then into a baggy, labelled and dated, stored on the top of the refrigerator and will check every couple of days. I will only transfer those that actually germinate.

Happy Seed Starting......

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Mainely Gardening - Happening in Maine




The biggest thing that I have learned is LOCAL, buy and support your local economy. Try to buy seeds that are from your area, seeds that have been tested and tried and adapted to fit your area, by all means organically or by the all natural process but never modified.

Until I started this blog I had only heard of "johnny's seeds" located in Maine and I never heard of the others in our great State, so I asked my buddies and they wanted a copy:

allensterlinglothrop.com - allen, sterling & lothrop - falmouth, me - specializes in seeds adapted to the climate in northern new england. maine's oldest seed company.

fedcoseeds.com - waterville, ME - We are a cooperative, one of the few seed companies so organized in the United States. Because we do not have an individual owner or beneficiary, profit is not our primary goal. Consumers own 60% of the cooperative and worker members 40%. Consumer and worker members share proportionately in the cooperative’s profits through our annual patronage dividends. This seed company is right in my own back yard and I didn't even know it until this blog. I will be looking at their catalog a little more closely, again I truly believe we should stick to local for the bulk of our product,if not the saving of our own seeds.

http://www.lookfar.org/agriculture.html - teltane farm - monroe, me - Teltane Farm Produces; certifiable grade & Maine nursery licensed Seed & Tablestock Garlic. We also serve the midcoast Maine markets and pre-order direct to consumers with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Rather than certify, we prefer to "Green Pledge" all of our crops based on non-toxic and lasting soil fertility practices which focuses on soil and crop nutrition using composts, rock powder minerals, and biologically enhanced foliars.

johnnyseeds.com - winslow, me - my personal favorite. I think everyone should find a local seed company, a garden shop, in your area and befriend them. Not only does it support your local economy but who knows best as to what grows in your area than they do. They are full vegetable, herb, flower seed catalog and internet store.

This is on my bucket list of things to do.

Johnny's Farm Tours

Johnny’s farm is located on Foss Hill Road in Albion, Maine, a farm community 10 miles east of Waterville, Maine. Our trial fields are open to guests for self-guided tours from July through September. The farm is open daily, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Johnny’s provides an informational, self-guided tour packet complete with a map to help guests navigate.
Download self-guided tour guide here (.pdf).

Or, if you wish to arrange a guided group tour of our facilities, please call our Retail Store at 207-861-3999.

http://www.mainepotatolady.com - the maine potato lady - guilford, me - organic seed potato, fingerlings, onion sets, shallots and garlic.

https://www.superseeds.com/ - pine tree garden seeds - new gloucester, me - container seeds, herb seeds, flower seed, grass and cover seed, tobaccos and sprouting seeds.

http://www.sweetpeagardens.com/ - sweet pea gardens - surry, me - specializes in sweet peas, annual and perennial.

http://www.veseys.com - vesey's seeds - calais, me - specializes in short term growth season, certified organic products, custom seed packages, flower seeds, herb seeds, vegetable seed.

http://www.woodprairie.com/ - wood prairie farm - bridgewater, me - organic potato, vegetable, cover crop, herb seed, organic grains and flowers, organic baking mixes, organic aged cheese and more!

----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP

Sunday, March 27, 2011
12-4 pm

MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity

There is no admission charge though donations are always welcome and benefit our Heritage Orchard.

The Maine Tree Crop Alliance, the Maine Seed Saving Network, Fedco and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will host the eleventh annual combined Seed Swap and Scionwood Exchange, in MOFGA’s Common Ground Exhibition Hall in Unity.For gardeners and orchardists, it’s like the most wonderful flea market in the world. Not only that but most of the best stuff is free!

Please bring any seeds, scionwood, or cuttings you have to share freely with others. Last year we gave away scionwood from well over 100 fruit varieties. These contributions are what make the day a success. We’ll supply the labels and tape and markers. On sale will be T-shirts, books, grafting supplies and rootstock.

2010 Presentations

12:30 pm Building a Food Forest
by Lauren Buyofsky & Bill Errickson
Lauren and Bill will be discussing the permaculture methods
of designing, establishing, and managing an intergrated perennial food system, including dynamic accumulators, soil building, pollinator plants, water features, etc. They will show vivid pictures of installations/techniques, existing plantings/gardens, and less familiar
plants.

Lauren Buyofsky & Bill Errickson
Lauren and Bill are permaculture gardeners, designers, and educators, currently managing the farm operations at Newforest Institute in Brooks, Maine. Lauren?s background in natural resources, ecology, and herbal medicine allows her to create resilient garden systems that provide for humans while rehabilitating the landscape. Bill's academic and practical studies of biology, soil science, and sustainable agriculture form the foundation for his work with regenerative and perennial food systems. Lauren and Bill both hold advanced degrees from the University of New Hampshire and Permaculture Design Certifications from Humustacia Gardens in Whitefield, Maine.

1:00 pm Tour of the Heritage Orchards
with CJ Walke (meet at the front entrance)

1:00 pm Tour the scionwood with John Bunker

1:30 pm Hand Pollination of Corn
by Pamela Prodan

One of the most commonly genetically engineered foods is corn. Learn how to grow your own corn seed using hand pollination techniques that prevent crossing with other varieties of corn and prevents contamination of the seed by GMOs. This presentation uses photographs to show the steps involved in hand pollination. You can use hand pollination to select for earliness and other characteristics such as disease resistance, insect resistance, and weather hardiness of the plants.

Using these techniques, Pamela Prodan, has been saving seed from a heritage corn grown over a hundred years ago in Wilton Intervale, a small valley in the western Maine mountains, where she lives. Will Bonsall of the Scatterseed Project named the corn “Byron Yellow Flint Corn. He collected it from the Mosher family of Wilton, which has been saving it for generations. The Byron Flint that Pamela entered in the Common Ground Country Fair in 2008 won a Judge’s Prize. Her intention is to preserve the genetic diversity of this early and tasty corn.

2:00 pm Grafting Fruit Trees by Mark Fulford

Join Mark Fulford for a 2 hour session covering all aspects of grafting fruit trees. Techniques to be discussed include: whip and tongue, summer "t" or sheild budding, inlay and cleft grafting and bridge grafting.

Mark Fulford is a well known, independent farm consultant and educator whose range of topics and expertise encompasses: Transitioning from conventional to organic and biological agriculture. Soil, crop, and forage nutrition. Preparing agriculture for peak oil, climate change and economic drift. He also teaches; non-electric water technologies, hands-on skills in organic orcharding, organic no-till crop production, commercial and small scale composting, as well as fundamental rural skills and small farm food preservation.

3:00 pm Tour of the Heritage Orchards
with CJ Walke (meet at the front entrance)


Not sure how to store your scion wood? Contact CJ Walke, MOFGA's Landscape Coordinator.
For more information, call MOFGA 207-568-4142.

----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----SEED SWAP----

Maine Seed Saving Network
PO Box 126
Penobscot, ME 04476
(207)326-0751
No web address.

Devoted to preserving and sharing heirlooms, this organization hosts an annual seed swap each spring, and serves gardeners and organic farmers in Maine and the Northeast.

---------Garden Clubs / Forums -------Garden Clubs / Forums ------- Garden Clubs / Forum --------

http://www.mainepumpkins.com We are the Maine Growers Organization. MEPGO is an organization whose mission is to unite the growers of giant pumpkins within the state of maine, to extend the sharing of knowledge and experience, and to promote the hobby of growing giant pumpkins for competition and personal satisfaction within the State of Maine and throughout the world.



Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Facebook Account For Seed Swapping

We have 4 cats, this one wants to be 5 - See her looking in - We call her "mary" - She's been hanging around since Christmas!


I am not completely focused on my blog, or my website or even my facebook account, I have to study for a test. I am presently taking courses for a certificate in Medical Office Procedures / Billing, I hope at bare minimum to get a p/t job at one of the local hospitals. Perhaps, insurance, wouldn't that be nice!

Well I have modified my facebook account to include a list for seed swapping, I was on earlier today looking for sites and I found a blog/facebook page that stating a site started to do so, but the site that I was reading from wasn't very helpful and no link could be found for that seed swapping site, but he/she had many links for their's. That is my next project, listing seed swapping sites. How green can you get when swapping seeds, I think this is a wonderful idea and every state / county should participate. rather than the old "grange" maybe we should rename, reuse, as the "seedy swappers".

Check back and I hope to have more to add, my goal is this weekend. Test is Thursday. Wish me luck!