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Footrest may vary by model

MARCH

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook.

F E AT U R E S

D E PA RT M E N T S

9 | Throwback Photos

4 |

Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. celebrates 80 years with vintage photos of electric co-op milestones.

6 |

12 | Grow Your Own

8 | 10 |

With a little bit of know-how and a sunny place, enjoying the bounty of your own labors can be fun, rewarding and tasty.

14 | Gardening Help

16 | 16A |

No matter where you live, access to fact-based gardening information is merely a click or phone call away.

17 |

19 | Can I Recycle That?

18 |

20 | Yearlong Garden Harvest

CO M M E N TA RY

Mission always possible E N E RGY W I S E

No-till gardening T H E P R E S I D E N T ’S P E N

Awaiting spring showers and flowers YO U R LO C A L CO - O P N E W S

Important info from your co-op C RO S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

Spring will spring

YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

Seed starting

Get a jump on your garden.

24 |

Catch up on the latest canning and food preservation basics.

22 | Accentuate the Positive

JORDAN CROSSINGHAM BRANNOCK

A RO U N D K A N S A S

More events as weather warms

Warmer days around the corner.

Find your way through the rules of recycling by thinking like a sorter, a local and an accountant.

Americans have dealt with exponential amounts of stress, depression and loneliness. Do you view recent challenges as a constant struggle or as something to value?

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Co-ops = innovation

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Rapture of rhubarb

Arrival of rhubarb heralds spring.

26 | 28 |

29 |

M A R K E T P L AC E

Barns, chicks, weed killer SAFETY

Ergonomics of gardening M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Salads to desserts

A variety of dishes to try.

ON THE COVER Time to plant, dig and grow your own produce. GROW

ON! MARCH 2021 | BROUG HT

MARCH 2021

Research-

No Tillin’

Save energy,

time

Gardening Based Advic help around e the corner Foo Enjoy fruitsd Gardenin g Fun (and veggies) of your labor

TO YOU BY LANE-S COTT

ELECTR IC

CO-OP | WWW. KEC.CO

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Co-ops: Innovative in the Best Interests of Consumer-Members

(ISSN 0091-9586) MARCH 2021 VOL. 71, NO. 3 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC. 2021 WWW.KEC.COOP

Lee Tafanelli

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes

Director of Communications, Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Shaylee Arpin MOST OF OUR READERS

will receive this month’s issue polybagged with three advertising pieces inside. We are testing this new advertising application as we look for ways to attract additional advertisers interested in reaching our audience. By packaging ads in this way, we are able to maintain a good portion of editorial space within the magazine for feature articles while still offering advertisers an opportunity to present their products. Our goal is to balance quality editorial content with valued advertisers to help keep our costs down and readership up. If you have any concerns or questions about the polybagging of this issue, please contact me by email at editor@kansascountryliving. com or call me at 785-228-4630. I’m happy to answer your questions. If you are a Bluestem Electric Cooperative consumer-member, your magazine this month includes a special cover announcing that the issue includes your co-op’s annual report in the middle section of the magazine. It’s an innovative way for some co-ops to deliver important information to their consumer-members while realizing cost savings in printing, postage and staff time.

Speaking of innovations, 12 Kansas electric co-ops announced in November 2020 a partnership to procure more than 20 MW of solar to reduce their peak demand. This unique cooperative program, the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program, includes a series of solar farms developed by Today’s Power, Inc. designed to harvest renewable energy in Kansas for those participating co-ops. This method of generation makes it possible for these cooperatives to increase the production of renewable energy year-round and reduce peak demand, enabling each co-op to provide financial stability to its consumer-members while also reducing their carbon footprint. Some of these projects are in the engineering process, others have broken ground, with all projects taking place in phases this year and throughout 2022. Individual projects for participating cooperatives will be announced as initiated and completed. “Stay tuned” to your co-op’s local pages beginning on Page 16A for updated information on this and other innovative ways Kansas electric co-ops work in the best interests of their consumer-members. KCL

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

Multimedia Communications Specialist Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Terry Hobbs

President

Teresa Miller Vice President

Kirk Thompson

Secretary

Jim Christopher Treasurer

You receive Kansas C ountry Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: 4 Rivers, Lebo Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DSO, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington TCEC, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.58 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554. Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

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THROUGH MARCH Grant Writing Workshops, Virtual. Throughout March, local K-State Research and Extension units will host online grant writing workshops. All are welcome to attend any class virtually, no matter where you live. ksre.kstate.edu/community/events. THROUGH MAY 2 Run! Jump!

THROUGH OCT. 31 F lying Free: 25 Years

of Grassroots Art Exhibit, Lucas. T he Grassroots Art Center in Lucas is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an exhibit featuring unique and original works by 121 Kansas artists and 19 artists from around the country. The Art Center, 213 S. Main, 785525-6118, grassrootsart.net.

Fly! Adventures in Action Exhibit, Manhattan. T he Flint Hills Discovery Center’s new exhibit encourages visitors to get physically active, trying activities that may be new. Adventure scenes include surfing/ snowboarding, kung fu, a climbing canyon, fly cycles and more. 315 S. Third St., 785-587-2742, flinthillsdiscovery.com.

MARCH 1-31 Parade of Quilts, Yoder. T ake part in the

21st Annual Parade of Quilts viewing hand-stitched creations of all patterns, colors and sizes displayed at participating businesses throughout town. Pick up your parade route brochure and enjoy the self-guided tour. 620-465-2220, YoderKansas.com. MARCH 3 Best Plants for Beginner's Landscapes,

Virtual. C hoosing the right plants for your landscape can be daunting, especially for the beginning gardener. Learn from a K-State horticulture agent what tough plants are recommended and work well for Kansas gardeners of all levels. Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/ info-center/k-state-garden-hour-webinar-series/k_state_ garden_hour.html. MARCH 11-14 Quilt Retreat, Concordia. P attern is magic

squares with instructor Christina Bloom. Preregistration is required and retreat includes room and board. 323 E. 5th, 785-243-4428, mannahouse.org. MARCH 13 25th Blarney Breakfast, Topeka. POSTPONED UNTIL Sept. 18, 2021. H elp support the Capper Foundation at their 25th Blarney Breakfast from 7-10 a.m. with a contactless, all-you-can-eat Irish breakfast. Drivethru option is available. Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant, 785-272-4060, capper.org/events.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

MARCH 13-14 Boot Hill Model Train Show, Garden City. V endors will be selling model-train related items. Held 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Finney County Fairgrounds Western Pavillion, 610 Lake Ave., Henry Turner 620-271-4306, hat9@cox.net. MARCH 13-APRIL 25 Crossroads: Change in Rural America Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition, Alma. T he Volland Store will build on the exhibit telling the history and culture of Wabaunsee County. 913-522-6270, thevollandstore.com. MARCH 17 Pruning Like a Pro, Virtual. P runing is both

an art and a science, which means there are ways to do it correctly and poorly. Every snip, clip or cut can affect your plant. Attend this webinar to learn how to prune like a pro! Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/ info-center/k-state-garden-hour-webinar-series/k_state_ garden_hour.html. MARCH 18-20 3i Show, Dodge City. T he 3i Show is a

three-day salute to agribusiness sharing industry, implement and irrigation knowledge and products. COVID-19 protocols have been put into place to ensure safety for all. Search 3i Show on Facebook for updates. MARCH 21 Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia Spaghetti Dinner, Concordia. D rive-thru or carry out dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Reservations required by March 12. Annual silent auction to be held online at

hansenonlineauction.com. Nazareth Motherhouse, 1300 Washington, 785-243-2113 ext. 1225 for tickets, Csjkansas.org. APRIL 7 Raised Bed and Container Gardening Webinar, Virtual. T here are multiple ways to enjoy flowers and vegetables, wherever you call home! Take advantage of any space using raised beds and container gardening. Join a K-State Extension horticulture agent as he shares how to successfully grow flowers and veggies in a raised bed or container garden. Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/k-state-garden-hourwebinar-series/k_state_garden_hour.html. APRIL 17-18 Auditions for Theatre at the Ruin,

Alma. A true community collaboration, this play was based on interviews and real-life experiences of the people of Wabaunsee County. Audition in April for the live production in June. Beth Wunstra, bwynstra@babson.edu.

APRIL 21 Gardening in the Shade Webinar, Virtual. L earn how to grow plants successfully in limited light. Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/ info-center/k-state-garden-hour-webinar-series/k_state_ garden_hour.html. APRIL 24-25 Shoot like a Girl Home of the Brave Tour, Wichita. A t a Shoot Like A Girl event, women ages 16 and older will be afforded the opportunity to shoot inside Shoot Like A Girl’s semitractor-trailer mobile range. Attendees gain experience in handling and shooting handguns, long guns and compound bows using state-ofthe-art technology. shootlikeagirl.com. KCL

Kansas Country Living publishes events free as space allows. Send event information by the fifth of the month prior to publication to events@kansascountryliving.com. To guarantee placement of your event, contact advertising at 785-478-4554 or ckimberlin@kec.org.

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

12/15/20 2:04 PM

C O M M E N TA RY

Headlines May Change but KEC’s Mission Remains BY L E E TA FA N E L L I

SOME OF THE FIRST HEADLINES READ:

f Chopped Hay Dryer Saves Labor f Single Phase Motor Powers Silage Blower f Find a Pen Pal Through Kansas Electric Farmer f Top Honors For 4-H’ers in Electric Awards f Who Owns Kansas’ Third Largest Lee Tafanelli

Electric cooperative consumermembers have always had a voice in cooperative governance.

Electric System?

f New Technique for Angel Food Cake

their consumer-members and rural communities throughout the decades. Electric cooperative consumer-members have always had a voice in cooperative governance. This takes many forms including electing your board members, completing member satisfaction surveys, participating at co-op meetings, and probably most popular — talking with board members and co-op leadership in your communities, whether at the grocery store, gas station or school sporting event. Following my testimony, Energy Chair Joe Seiwert (R-Pretty Prairie) presented KEC with a House Tribute “in recognition for the electric co-ops’ commitment to power homes, businesses, and dreams.” It was an honor to represent the electric co-ops and the consumer-members they serve. KEC and KCL’s missions remain steadfast; it’s simply the times that have changed. Recurring headlines now promote the need for high-speed internet in our rural communities, engaging with your electric co-op, which now produces its own local pages in this magazine to keep you informed, and energy-saving ideas for your home and comfort. And, of course, recipes introducing new ingredients and techniques. KCL

(special instructions included for using an electric mixer) The year was 1952. The month was August. Those were a few of the articles published in the first edition of the Kansas Electric Farmer, the precursor to Kansas Country Living (KCL) magazine. Since January, we’ve been celebrating Kansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s 80th anniversary, which officially takes place on Aug. 18 this year. This electric cooperative publication itself will celebrate 70 years in 2022, and I thought it would be a good distraction to take a quick trip down memory lane to see how far we’ve come while never straying from our mission. In its inaugural editorial, the editor wrote: “Kansas Electric Farmer is not intended to take LEE TAFANELLI is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka. the place of existing publications or supplant the well-established services of extension specialists, county agents, and electrification advisers. Rather it hopes to bring you money-saving, income-producing ideas — ideas that enhance the value of the membership you hold in your electric cooperative.” I believe the publication, as well as KEC (its publisher), has not only maintained that mission but expanded it to meet the modern needs of our electric co-op consumer-members. I had the honor of testifying Feb. 11 at the Kansas House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications to share KEC’s mission with the committee. I explained the foundation KEC CEO Lee Tafanelli (center) accepts a tribute from the Kansas of the cooperative business model — House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications member control — and how electric with Vice Chair Mark Schreiber (left), Committee Chair Joe Seiwart (right), and ranking member Annie Kuether (on screen). co-ops’ self-governance has served

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

KEC CELEBRATES 80 YEARS WITH THROWBACK PHOTOS This month, we celebrate Kansas Electric Cooperative’s, Inc. (KEC) 80th anniversary with more throwback photos. 1.

Dedication of KEC’s building on Sunday, Aug. 12, 1990.

The dedication and ribbon cutting at KEC’s new headquarters began as a nice weather day and then suddenly it began raining cats and dogs. Included in the photo are from left: Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden, the governor’s Chief of Staff Rick Kready, and KEC Executive Vice President Lester L. Murphy Jr.

Harold Shoof of KEC, Bob Phillips, Charles Ellis, CEO/manager of C&W (now Bluestem Electric), and Charles Ross, general manager of KEC, stand behind Gov. Robert Bennett upon signing the measure updating the Kansas REC Model Act on March 27, 1978.

KEC Vice President of Management Consulting Services Doug Shepherd (left), stands with Mike Peters, KEC general counsel at the time, and Jon Miles, C&W Electric Cooperative general manager and chairman of the KEC legislative committee. Photo taken in 1992 at the Kansas State Capitol.

Gary and Carol Paddock, first runner up couple for the statewide title “Kansas Young Farmer and Farm Wife.”

5 MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

E N E R GY W I S E

Tips for Planting an Efficient, No-Till Garden

BY PAT K E E G A N A N D B R A D T H I E S S E N

D E AR PAT AN D B R AD :

J A C K I E C A S E R TA

D E AR LE AN D R A: We’re glad you asked! One approach to gardening we’ve been excited about lately is no-till, also known as no-dig. No-till gardens have been gaining ground with farmers in recent years, partly because of the energy savings. The principles No-till growing can be done on commercial farms as well as home gardens. behind no-till gardening work well for large farms, keep weeds from growing. But tilling can bring as well as smaller home gardens. No-till can be weed seeds that are deep in the soil to the top done without chemicals. Research shows that this where they can germinate and grow. Tilling also approach can produce more fruits and vegetables destroys microbes in the soil that bring nutrients within a few years, and they get better over the to the plants. long term. Best of all, this approach to gardening The second idea is to spread thick layers of takes less time and effort — and you won’t even compost and other mulch on top of the soil. When have to fire up the rototiller! compost and other mulch are spread on top, they Two ideas are at the heart of no-till gardening. feed the soil from above, the same way leaves in a First, don’t break up the soil. We usually think that by breaking up the soil and mixing it up, we forest fall to the ground, decompose and turn into rich soil over time. When you build up the soil by spreading layers of compost and other mulch on top, the weed seeds are kept dormant. Mulch keeps the soil moist, so less water is used to irrigate, which means less electricity use for pumping water from your well or community water system. Your no-till garden can be planted at groundlevel or in raised beds. Start by laying weedblocking material on top of the old dirt. Sheets of cardboard are often used because they will decompose over time. Then spread at least 4 inches of weed-free soil or compost on top. If the soil under the cardboard is reasonably loose, you can probably start planting right away. Your garden may be less productive the first year, but will grow healthier and have less weeds every In most no-till gardens, paths covered in wood chips provide easy access to planting beds that are covered in compost.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

USDA

It’s almost time to plant our garden, and we’re wondering if there are steps we can take to save energy when planting. How can we make our home garden more efficient? – Leandra

N R C S / S W C S P H O T O B Y LY N N B E T T S

season from then on. If the ground is heavily compacted or clay, you may have to till in some compost or healthy soil before laying down the cardboard and give it a year for the new mix to get looser. In the fall, you can cut the dead plants at ground level and leave the roots in the ground to decompose over the winter. You may also want to plant a cover crop, like peas, fava beans or barley late in the growing season. Setting up a no-till garden takes a fair bit of work, but it will require less maintenance in the future and get healthier every year. If you’re ready to try your hand at planting a no-till garden, many colleges and universities offer extension classes for folks who are not enrolled as students. You can also watch a variety of videos online that can guide you through setup and long-term care. Here are a few additional tips that can help you reduce energy use related to gardening:

Cereal rye is one of many cover crops that can be planted in the no-till garden over the winter to help build soil health.

f Drip systems lose less water

to evaporation.

f Timers are a convenient way to

control irrigation, but be sure to override the timer and shut off watering cycles when a rain shower can do the job.

f Consider purchasing a rain barrel for

energy efficient watering.

f Learn how to store your produce to

reduce waste.

f Make sure your freezer is

energy efficient.

We hope these tips will help you prepare for a more energy efficient garden this season. Happy planting — and eating! KCL This column was co-written by PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on surprise energy hogs, please visit: www. collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips. MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

JOEGARDENER .COM

Joe Lamp’l is founder of joegardener.com.

GROW YOUR OWN:

The Fun of Food Gardening a multiple-acre plot or a patio, you can grow your own vegetables. With a little bit of know-how and a sunny place, enjoying the bounty of your own labors can be fun, rewarding and tasty. “There are so many reasons to grow your own vegetables and the flavors are ever so much better than store-bought,” says Joe Lamp’l, founder of joegardener.com and host of the nationally syndicated “Growing a Greener World,” which airs on public television in all 50 states. “Money can’t buy the kind of taste you get fresh from the garden or the satisfaction of knowing you’re eating what you’ve grown.”

WHETHER YOU HAVE

Sunlight, Soil and Water

Three components are vital to successful vegetable gardening: sunlight, soil and water. “Choose your spot carefully to have plenty of sunlight, at least 6 hours a day,” Lamp’l says. “Look for a place that’s not obstructed by trees or other buildings. Sunlight is one of the three basic components to successful gardening. The other two are good soil and having access to a reliable water source.” Many gardeners build raised beds. By elevating the growing area off the ground it’s easier to plant, tend and harvest with less bending or squatting. “Most people choose wood to construct raised beds, but be sure to consider the size,” Lamp’l says. “Use 2- by 12-inch boards to build a bed that your space can accommodate. Be sure to make it about 3 feet wide to give good access from all sides. This will make weeding and harvesting easier and you can more closely

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

BY PA M E L A A . K E E N E

inspect your plants for signs of disease or insects as they grow.” Leave enough space between beds for a wheelbarrow to pass to bring soil and mulch into the garden area. The soil in your garden is crucial for good production and with raised beds you have more control over the composition of the soil, the nutrients and the quality. “Packaged garden soil is a good choice because it’s disease and weed free, but be mindful of the quality. Cheaper is not better,” Lamp’l says. “The soil provides the main support for your plants, so it needs to have the right nutrients and the right texture. If the soil compacts too easily, it will be difficult for plant roots to thrive. Amend it with organic matter, also available at your box retailer or local nursery, to promote good growth.” Make sure a good water source is nearby to avoid constantly moving hoses back and forth throughout the growing season. “In an ideal world, drip irrigation is best, but it can be costly to install into each bed,” he says. “Consider hand watering if you have a smaller garden plot. Apply the water directly to the base of the plant to prevent wetting the foliage. Prolonged periods of wet foliage can increase the potential for plant disease.” Watering can be tricky. “Don’t water just because it’s a certain day of the week, because you run the risk of overwatering,” he says. “Check the moisture level of the soil, and water accordingly, allowing enough flow to soak the ground. Then wait until the top inch or so of the soil feels dry before watering again. Your plants will be healthier and produce better results.”

JOEGARDENER .COM

Sunlight, good soil and access to a reliable water source are vital ingredients to successful vegetable gardening.

Seeds or Seedlings

Summer vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers are generally easier to grow from seedlings, which can be purchased at a local nursery or box retailer. Look for healthy plants with several sets of leaves. They can be planted in the garden after the date of the last frost in your area. “If you want to start from seeds, back up your indoor starting time to have nice-sized seedlings by the ideal planting time for your region,” Lamp’l says. “I’m a big proponent of starting vegetable seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before planting, but you will need the proper light setup and the commitment to manage the process from seeds to moving the seedlings into the garden. Once the soil warms up, beans, squash and cucumbers are easy to plant directly in the garden. Their germination time is fairly quick. Be sure to purchase seeds packaged for the current year by finding the date stamp on the package and follow planting instructions. “Vegetable plants are heavy feeders,” he says. “It’s important to fertilize them as they start to produce. A slow-release organic fertilizer is a nice way to deliver the nutrients on a continuous basis. Be sure to follow the application instructions for best results.” Top-dressing vegetables with compost during the growing season provides additional nutrients and improves the soil.

Patio and Deck

Some vegetables are well suited for planting in containers, as long as they have ample sunlight. Again, at least six hours a day applies.

Tomatoes are available in patio and bush forms that are more compact and better suited for containers. Growers have also introduced a wide variety of peppers, from sweet to hot, plus colorful bell peppers, that grow nicely on a patio. “The key is to provide a container that’s large enough for the roots to grow and support production,” he says. “Containers also tend to dry out more often, so it’s important to keep them properly watered. Feeding regularly is important as well.” Lamp’l suggests avoiding clay or terra cotta pots that lose moisture more quickly. “Lighter-colored plastic pots work better, but make sure they have drainage holes in the bottom,” he says. “Adding a layer of mulch will help retain moisture and keep the roots a little cooler. ”

Gardening is a lifelong learning experience and Lamp’l says that no one gets it 100% right all the time.

Patience Pays Off

Gardening is a lifelong learning experience and Lamp’l says that no one gets it 100% right all the time. “Don’t get frustrated if you’re not successful in your first year of growing vegetables,” Lamp’l says. “Much of gardening is trial and error. The number of resources — YouTube, online, websites, blogs and more — is infinite and can be overwhelming, so learn to filter the sound advice from the not-so-good. “You also have an excellent local resource just a phone call or web click away, with your local extension office,” he says. “They can help solve pest and disease issues, answer your gardening questions and connect you with other gardeners. And best of all it’s free.” KCL MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

GARDENING HELP:

Right Where

You Live BY PA M E L A A . K E E N E

No matter where you live, access to fact-based gardening information is merely a click or phone call away. The Cooperative Extension System, housed at land-grant universities across the nation, provides research-based hyperlocal advice about everything from how to solve blossom-end rot on tomatoes to keeping garden pests, such as deer or insects, at bay. “Best of all, it costs nothing to contact your local extension office where trained and educated experts can help the public solve their gardening challenges,” says Doug Steele, Ph.D., vice president for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Association of Public Land Grant Universities, based in Washington, D.C. “Extension is designed to educate Americans on food, agriculture and national resources. It’s research-based and continuously updated and revised based on the latest knowledge.”

Reliable Information

Can I grow blueberries in my backyard? Why aren’t my daylilies blooming? When is the best time to prune my holly shrubs? My maple tree is dropping leaves in the summer; what’s wrong? What can I do to attract more butterflies and pollinators to my yard? What kind of perennials grow best in my area? These and countless other questions can be answered by local extension office staff or on your state’s extension website. “When you have questions about your landscape or your garden, that’s the time to reach out to your local extension office,” Steele says. “Many typical problems that occur when growing plants, garden and landscape can be prevented by planning before planting. “We call our local extension agents ‘curators of information on the front lines’ for farmers, ranchers, gardeners and communities,” Steele

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MARCH 2021

Master Gardeners

Many local extension offices offer formalized community education through Extension Master Gardener programs. Open to private citizens interested in garden education, volunteerism and community service, candidate Master Gardeners attend classes taught by experts. “While formal programs vary in duration and number of classes from state to state, the objective is the same,” Steele says. “The focus is to train community members to assist the local extension office with horticulture education and to provide a strong volunteer resource in the area. Master gardener groups conduct youth programs in schools, create educational community gardens and sponsor annual plant sales. They offer public seminars and speakers for garden clubs and church groups. Candidates must apply for the annual course; most states have online applications. There is a nominal cost to participate, which includes class materials. Once they complete their studies and pass exams, they become certified Extension Master Gardeners. To maintain their active status,

AHS

says. “Through our national network, these on-theground agents are among the first to learn of new technologies and techniques and bring them to their local areas.” For instance, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, regularly funds grants to university scientists and specialists who research crop varieties, diseases, pest control or sustainable growing. This research is shared throughout the extension network and each state’s land-grant universities, who then adapt it for local application. Local extension agents generally hold either bachelor’s or master’s degrees in agriculture, horticulture or a related field. While they may specialize in crop management, turf grasses or animal science, they are trained to educate the public and provide reliable and understandable knowledge. “The internet is filled with all kinds of gardening and plant advice, but when people call their local extension, they’re assured of getting the latest information from a tested, peer-reviewed and reliable source,” he says. Statewide extension websites maintain detailed publications on hundreds of topics, written in easy to understand language and plenty of diagrams. They are free to download.

The American Horticultural Society educates children and youth on the benefits of gardening. they are required to spend a proscribed number of hours volunteering in the community. “The Master Gardener program is a critical link to the work of the extension,” he says. “It helps us reach even further into the community and extend the educational mission of extension.”

Grassroots Community Benefits

Land-grant universities were created by the federal government in 1862 to address various needs of the public related to agriculture and technical topics. In 1914, the U.S. Department of Agriculture formalized its partnership with these institutions to further address rural and agricultural issues. Today, there are 112 land-grant institutions in the U.S. and territories that oversee extension offices in approximately 3,000 counties. The mission has been broadened to embrace agriculture, nutrition and home economics. Through national 4-H initiatives, extension trains young leaders. Since the pandemic, the interest in home gardening has surged. People are interested in growing their own fruits and vegetables, partly to know where their food comes from but also as a safe outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by all members of the family. “Information from extension is far-reaching and freely available to the public,” Steele says. “With the resources of your local extension office, you have a pipeline to gardening success. If you’re perplexed about an issue or simply want to know the best way to start a home garden, just ask your local extension office. They’re here to help.” KCL

MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

THE PRESIDENT ’S PEN

Awaiting Spring Showers and Flowers

Terry Hobbs

I look forward to what lies ahead as rural electric cooperatives engage in new ideas, know-how and technologies.

WHILE WRITING THIS, Kansas is experiencing one of, if not, the most frigid months in history. I continue to think if we can just make it through this or whatever the latest new normal is that it will be smooth sailing. I reminisce, as I often do, and this recollection takes me back to school days. I could never grasp or comprehend many things, but one thing in particular was Shakespearean literature. I wish I would have paid a little more attention to many of the subjects offered instead of listening to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones on my transistor radio. I do remember the most famous line taken from a play written by William Shakespeare titled “Julius Caesar.” In that play, a soothsayer or fortuneteller told Caesar “beware the Ides of March.” This phrase has led me to more concern and consternation as we await spring rain showers, green grass, and blooming flowers. The Ides were an indicator to the Romans that it was the middle of the month. When Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed on March 15, it made the date and the saying infamous. While this is surely just “much

BY T E R RY H O B B S

ado about nothing,” smooth sailing is always imminent. There will always be perilous predictions and times of change and transition. Changes and new developments seem to be coming at us faster and faster however. For a thousand years horses and oxen provided power and transportation. Then beginning in the 20th century the internal combustion engine began powering the world. Today, renewable energies and battery storage are growing significantly in their share of available power and energy. It will be so interesting and exciting to see where this ride takes us. Ironically there was a band named The Ides of March that had a big hit song titled “Vehicle.” That vehicle “would take you anywhere you want to go.” With new and developing technologies we can absolutely go anywhere we want to go. I look forward to what lies ahead as rural electric cooperatives engage in new ideas, knowhow and technologies. KCL TERRY HOBBS is the board president for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. He is also a member of Western Cooperative Electric’s Board of Trustees in WaKeeney.

Think about the ergonomics of the activity before beginning. Injuries occur when people begin to work outside their capacity. Gardening shouldn’t hurt. It takes the right tools to maintain the energy required to work outside and remain injury-free. The Right Tools

f Always use gloves to provide padding and prevent cuts and scrapes. Gloves should be form-fitting and thin. f Consider handle diameter, size and weight when contemplating your tool options. Use what fits your body best. f Ensure proper maintenance of tools. Sharp blades require less effort and force to complete the job.

Stay in your “Comfort Zone”

f The comfort zone is as close to the body as possible to eliminate or reduce unnecessary movements. It’s similar to a baseball strike zone. Do not reach your arms further than your knees to shoulders, and keep them close to your body to avoid strain. Brought to you by the electric cooperatives of Kansas.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

f Work with wrists in a neutral position — in line with the forearm and thumbs up.

Source: EHStoday.com

Spring will Spring Across 1

Kansas state flower

Mixologist's workplace

Renaissance

Rose's beauty

It hangs from a rim

Nut from a tree

Memo start

Kansas City team starting their new season in spring

Walks a trail

__ , senor!

Pedicurist's concern

Kansas City gardens

Walking or biking areas

Light metal symbol

"Why, __ be a pleasure!"

Color of spring

"Me time" resort

Preserve life

"Bald" bird

Down 1

Time for new blossoms

Key point

Caterpillar

Bird of spring

Small stream

Wanders

NBA equipment

Small shoots

Number to tango

Walks in water

Very important

Mountain chain

Angler's need

Climb, as a mountain

Brazilian city

Thin green vegetable

Everyone

Student score (abbr.)

Colorful pond fish

Performer's fellowship

ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 26 MARCH 2021

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YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N

Early Spring Gardening Begins with Seed Starting

BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

Seed starting indoors can be a fun and more affordable way to begin the garden season.

THOUGH WE HAVEN’T QUITE ESCAPED the risk of frost, some cool-season flowers such as pansies, calendulas and snapdragons and vegetables including beets, spinach and kale are ready to be seeded in the ground. More fragile plants can be started indoors in anticipation of the impending growing season. Follow these tips for a successful crop of seedlings and get your garden started right. As with growing in the ground, beginning with healthy soil is essential. To establish seeds, the soil must be loose to allow proper drainage. Of equal importance is ensuring the soil is free from diseases. This means that recycled soil should be sterilized. Another option is to begin with fresh soil which you can mix yourself or purchase prepackaged. Using healthy soil from the start minimizes the risk of diseases such as damping off which is more common in already unhealthy seedlings. Ensure the containers used for seed starting are also sanitized prior to planting. Some plant varieties, such as poppies (Papaver sp.), and sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), have more fragile roots and don’t handle being transplanted well. In these cases, peat pots are a good option for planting. Peat pots are biodegradable. They allow adequate drainage and can be planted directly into the ground when the seedlings are ready. This prevents the roots from being damaged. If you have ever started seeds indoors you may be familiar with the struggle to provide adequate light. While some plant varieties, such as lettuce and other leafy greens, can do well with the light provided in a bright window, other varieties will not. Seedlings that don’t receive enough light can become elongated and will flop over to the ground when transplanted. To overcome this problem fluorescent lights can be used to provide supplemental lighting for 14 to 16 hours each day. Monitor the seedlings as they grow and raise the lamps as needed to avoid burning the leaves. Another reason you may notice seedlings growing leggy stems is due to temperatures getting too high. Keep the temperature in the growing area between 60- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit during the night and up to 70 degrees during the day. Keep the soil moist but never in standing water. Soilless mixes have little, if any, fertilizer so for

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MARCH 2021

best growth apply a houseplant fertilizer at halfstrength to the seedlings one week after germination. Continue the fertilizer regimen according to the package instructions as the seedlings grow. Seedlings will be ready to transplant when the first set of true leaves have matured. True leaves are the ones which develop after the cotyledons (primary leaves). They have the same shape as the adult leaves though they will likely be smaller. At this point in the spring, it is likely still too soon to plant outdoors so seedlings can be transplanted into larger containers and continue to grow indoors. Dig up the seedlings with caution to avoid tearing roots. As you replant keep the seedlings at the same soil depth. If the seedlings were grown in peat pots, thin them out so there is only one plant per container. Most of the seedlings will be ready to be moved outdoors within four to six weeks. Time your seed starting to account for the weather. The move outside will need to be done gradually to avoid causing shock to the plants. Seed starting indoors can be a fun and more affordable way to begin the garden season. KCL CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

Remember to label your seeds as you plant to avoid confusion when the seedlings emerge.

Can I

Find your way through the rules of recycling

That? BY PA U L W E S S L U N D

my mail with the stapled paper and plastic bin and let the workers sort it out. They would do that — for envelope windows? Do I need to break down cardboard boxes a price. You can help keep recycling costs low by following the before putting them in the recycling bin? Or should I just give rules listed below. up on recycling because it’s way too complicated? If you want to take the next step in recycling, think about Three of every five U.S. households have curbside recycling the big picture — the point is to reduce the waste from your pickup, according to a study by the Sustainable Packaging home into the world. First, reduce — if you don’t really need to Coalition. Another 14% have curbside service available but do buy something, don’t buy it. Second, reuse — bags and wrapping not subscribe. paper, for example, can have more than one life. Reasons to recycle are both environmental and financial. Remember, recycling helps our environment but can also Recycling 10 plastic bottles, for example, saves enough energy to reduce the cost of local waste management programs. Check power a laptop computer for more than 25 hours, according to with your local waste management program to learn more about the Environmental Protection Agency. specific recycling rules in your community. KCL Recycling can also help out with your tax bill. Local governments pay for disposing home and office waste, traditionally by PAUL WESSLUND writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. burying it in a landfill. But if some of that waste could be sold for reuse, the income would reduce the cost of the waste management program. The list of recycling rules is long and complicated, but a way to help master them is to try three different types of thinking: THINK LIKE A SORTER: When your M AI L : With one exception, all mail can go in curbside bin gets emptied, it’s taken to a Materithe bin. Staples and plastic windows get sorted als Recovery Facility where it is dumped onto a out by the machinery. The exception is magazines conveyor belt where workers pull off items that will wrapped in plastic — that kind of shrink wrap is gum up the next step in the process, a large screen better handled by supermarkets, which specialize that jiggles items into a different bin. Think about in recycling bags and other plastic “stretch wrap” items that might cause problems with sorting. around food, paper towels and other products. THINK LOCAL: There are about 300 MateriFO O D CO N TA I N E R S : When you’re done with the peanut als Recovery Facilities around the country, and butter jar, no need to rinse it out. It can go right in the bin. many of them have different equipment, meaning CA R D BOA R D BOXE S : The only reason to break them down every community has its own set of rules for what is to save space in your bin. They’ll get well crushed in the truck that picks can be recycled. them up. Find out who handles recycling in your community, and they will have a list of what can be PI Z Z A CA RTO N S : Don’t leave crusts or garlic butter containers in recycled. And of course, there’s an app for that. Two them, but most recycling equipment now handles greasy pizza boxes just fine. popular apps are Recycle Coach and ReCollect. Just P L ASTI C BOT T L E CA PS : Screw the lid back on, and recycle type in your zip code to learn how your local recyboth the bottle and cap. cling program treats individual items. THINK LIKE AN ACCOUNTANT: You L A B E L S : You don’t need to remove them. might be thinking, it sounds like I’m doing the work P L ASTI C ST R AWS : Can be recycled, but smaller items tend to for the recycling program. And you are. You could fall off the conveyor or through the screen sorters and onto the floor, where just dump anything and everything in your recycling they get swept up and hauled off to a normal landfill. MARCH 2021 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 19 CAN I RECYCLE

MOST-WONDERED-ABOUT RECYCLING RULES:

N AT I O N A L C E N T E R F O R H O M E F O O D P R E S E R V AT I O N - U G A

All Year Long B Y PA M E L A A . K E E N E

than using home-canned tomatoes in an Italian recipe or pulling out a quart of fresh-frozen peaches to make a bubbly cobbler. However, if the only thing you know about food preservation is your grandmother’s jam-making on a hot summer afternoon, you’ve got a whole lot of catching up to do. “People have been preserving food for centuries, but as we learn more about foodborne illness and spoilage, and changes in our food supply and developments in canning equipment take place, recommendations are updated frequently

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER

to provide reliable ways to safely reap the bounty of our garden’s harvest,” says Elizabeth Andress, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation and food safety specialist with the Georgia Cooperative Extension. “Food preservation knowledge and techniques need to be based on sound food science for safety; we’re still targeting the same bacteria in canning as we have for a long, long time.” From the garden to the table, food handling and kitchen hygiene standards are crucial to successful food preservation. Because ongoing research reflects updated methods, Andress strongly suggests that consumers use the most recent information available.

N AT I O N A L C E N T E R F O R H O M E F O O D P R E S E R V AT I O N - U G A

Canning Basics

Elizabeth Andress measures the head space of a canned item.

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Preserving food by canning presents several options: pressure canning, water-bath canning and steam canning. Different equipment is required for each. “Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but in any case, it’s important to follow the instructions exactly and familiarize yourself with each before attempting to can at home,” Andress says. “An important consideration for choosing the proper canning technique depends on the acidity of the food you’re canning. For instance, higher-acid foods like fruits can be processed in a water-bath canner. But foods with a lower acid content, such as meats and soups,

freeze them individually,” Andress says. “Then pack into freezer-safe containers, label and store.” Fruits such as blueberries, cherries, grapes, fresh sliced peaches and strawberries can simply be placed on cookie sheets and allowed to freeze individually before packing. Remove as much air as possible before sealing. “Fruits can be frozen with or without added sugar or liquid, depending on what you plan to use them for,” she says. “Freezing can be an When canning use a tested recipe from a reliable easy way to preserve food. source to ensure a safe, quality product. However, the same safehandling guidelines apply. Keep your work surfaces clean, wash your hands often and carefully label the packages with the date processed and the contents.”

Freezing

Canning and freezing have long been used to preserve food. Today’s conveniences have made it easier to enjoy the rewards of growing your own food long after the harvest is over. “Because of the pandemic, more and more people are turning to home food growing and preservation,” she says. “Just be certain to follow all the guidelines and recipes exactly. Don’t take any shortcuts or change ingredients or timing. The recipes we provide through the National Center for Preservation have been extensively tested. The key is to be meticulous, whether you’re canning or freezing. That way you can be assured of the freshest flavors and the safest results.” KCL

Certain foods freeze better than others. “Many vegetables are not suited for freezing, such as cucumbers, radishes, raw potatoes or onions,” Andress says. “On the other hand, vegetables like green beans and asparagus, and fruits like blueberries or peaches are easy to freeze.” Green beans, corn, carrots and broccoli need to be blanched — submerged in boiling water for the prescribed time on the recipe — before freezing. Then they can be transferred to an ice bath for rapid cooling, drained and packed into containers. “Once they’re blanched and drained, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and

Herbs Can be Frozen as Well

“If you grow basil or oregano in the summer, just chop the fresh leaves and put them into ice-cube trays covered with water,” she says. “Once they’re frozen, package them in a freezer-safe container, then when you need some herbs for soup or a sauce a recipe, take out the frozen cube and add it to the sauce. You can also do this for smaller quantities of hot peppers or onions.”

Getting Back to Kitchen Basics

MARCH 2021

From the garden to the table, food handling and kitchen hygiene standards are crucial to successful food preservation.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

N AT I O N A L C E N T E R F O R H O M E F O O D P R E S E R V AT I O N - U G A

must be preserved using a pressure canner.” Some foods, such as tomatoes can be preserved using a water-bath, but it’s important to add citric acid or lemon juice to acidify them. Pickles, because of the added vinegar, can also be canned using a water-bath if a tested recipe is followed. “For a beginner, we suggest canning peaches or making applesauce to become comfortable with the equipment and the process,” Andress says. “Both use the water bath method, which involves placing filled containers into a large pot of boiling water that covers the whole jar and lid and boiling them for the exact time shown in the recipe. Whenever canning, we recommend using a tested recipe from a reliable source, such as the National Center for Food Preservation.” Yellow peaches can be peeled, cut into halves or slices, packed into jars then covered with water or sugar syrup before putting on the lids and placing into the boiling water. “Choose between raw pack or hot pack when you fill the jars,” she says. “With the raw pack, put the freshly peeled and sliced peaches into a clean hot jar, then cover with hot syrup. Hot-pack canning means that you cook the peaches in syrup first, then fill the jars with the hot fruit and liquid before processing.” Applesauce can be processed using a water bath as well. Use the hot-pack method for filling the jars. “When putting on the lids, be sure to wipe the jars’ sealing edges with a clean, damp cloth to remove bits of food that may prevent the jars from sealing properly,” Andress says.

Accentuate

Positive the

BY PA M E L A A . K E E N E

Reach out to friends for your well-being, stress relief

In the past year, more than ever, Americans have dealt with exponential amounts of stress, depression and loneliness. Issues such as COVID-19, job loss, economic challenges and personal issues have accelerated the emotional challenges that make life more complicated and complex.

Although some of these matters are outside your control, there’s positive news. “Few things are more important than how we feel emotionally day to day, including how we feel about ourselves,” says James E. Maddux, Ph.D., senior scholar at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. “Good mental health consists not just of the absence of anxiety, loneliness, depression and stress but also of a sense of positive well-being — the sense that I am valuable and worthwhile person and that my life has purpose and meaning.” Maddux says that the key is whether a person views these day-to-day challenges as a constant struggle or as something to value, look forward to and learn from. “The way you deal with the challenges you can control and how you approach them can make all the difference,” he says. “We know from decades of research that loneliness can be detrimental to

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TIPS FROM THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION � Identify what’s causing

mental and physical health. For this reason, one way stress and take action. to improve both is to spend time on a regular basis � Build strong, positive with people we enjoy spending time with.” relationships: Connect Extroverts and introverts have different levels of with supportive friends need for companionship and alone time. “However, and family members even the most introverted people need a few close, when you’re having a intimate relationships with other people,” he says. difficult time. “The most extroverted and social person requires some alone time to recharge. The risk is going to � Get regular exercise, the extreme in either case.” eat nourishing food and Finding a trusted friend or family member to use participate in activities as a sounding board, someone who will be candid you enjoy. yet sensitive to feelings, is an excellent way to deal with issues. Talking through a problem can help � Stay focused on the positive, and avoid negative energy. break the cycle of trying to figure out a solution on � Avoid drugs and alcohol. your own. Exercise, just getting moving, can be another � Rest your mind: Sleep, do yoga, meditate and perform relaxation exercises way to cope with daily stressors. “Exercising is an that can help restore energy. excellent mechanism for managing stress,” Maddux � Get help from a psychologist when you’re overwhelmed. says. “Taking a walk, meditating or doing yoga can positively influence your outlook.” According to a study published by the American Courtesy American Psychological Association website at apa.org. Depression and Anxiety Association, exercise leads the way in suggestions for dealing with stress. Findings show that nearly 30% of health care providers recommend walking, followed by 20% who suggest running. if you can learn to say ‘no’ to avoid getting overly committed, Eleven percent cite yoga as a good strategy for stress relief. you’ve taken an invaluable first step in managing your con“The relationship between regular physical activity and trollable stressors.” good mental health is one of the strongest of all relationIf these issues become seemingly insurmountable, Maddux ships,” Maddux says. “The research on this topic has been suggests seeking professional help. accumulated for decades and demonstrates with near cer“A sense of purpose in life and a sense of gratitude for the tainty that regular exercise can not only improve the physipositive aspects of your life are so easy to forget and ignore cal and mental health of people who are already relatively when you’re down in the dumps,” he says. “However, realize happy and well-adjusted but can also be an effective treatthat you can have control over the things that are holding ment for anxiety and depression.” you back. Exercise, meditation, getting better control over Stressors can come in many forms from family pressure to your schedule and nurturing your relationships with friends, work demands, dealing with health conditions — your own family and co-workers can help you improve your mental or those of a loved one — or simply trying to take care of well-being.” KCL everyone around you without taking care of yourself. PAMELA A. KEENE is a freelance journalist who specializes in “One of the most important words in the English language travel, gardening, personality and feature writing. She is also a is ‘no,’ but it’s also the hardest one to say, especially to a loved photographer and accomplished sailor. one or an important person in your life,” he says. “However,

Stressors can come in many forms from family pressure to work demands, dealing with health conditions — your own or those of a loved one — or simply trying to take care of everyone around you without taking care of yourself. MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Stalking the Spring Rapture of Rhubarb

BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

alone at the kitchen table (save for a dog snoozing on her foot), she made a bedtime snack of the last of the tart tonic in the pot, hunched over it in focused rhubarb rapture. Sometimes there was such a bounty, she sacrificed some of the stewed rhubarb to plastic bags that went into the deep freezer to be unearthed some fall or winter day as a spring remembrance — or hope. Other times, she turned the rhubarb into jars of jam or maybe made a “pureRebecca Howard D” rhubarb pie (it is, after all, known as the “pie plant”). She wasn’t one to combine it with strawberries (as is popular) — in anything. It was rhubarb’s unique, singular taste that she craved. As a child, I was not as much of a fan of my mother’s rhubarb “tonic,” as she was. Something about it was a little too “goopy” and sour for the tastes of a finicky youngster. But I gradually grew into an appreciation of this edible symbol of spring. After reading a recipe for rhubarb compote from gardening and cookery writer Ruth Isabel Ross in her delightful book — a winner for armchair traveling, gardening and cooking, “A Year in an Irish Garden” (A & A Farmar: 1999), something sensory was triggered, Humble rhubarb is extremely versatile in recipes, from jams and pies to a spring fever urging me to seek out breads and cakes. My mother also loved a rhubarb upside-down cake that rhubarb and coax some sort of comshe discovered — during a mishap where her glass pan broke while the cake was baking — that rhubarb’s sticky, acidic properties actually helped forting pink elixir from it. remove much of the already baked-on crud in the bottom of her oven. A local grocery sold some in banded But a tried-and-true stewed rhubarb, like this simple compote, was always pairs of weighty, healthy-looking stalks. her favorite. Cutting it into more manageable pieces, f 2 Tbs. water f Pinch of cinnamon (optional) I was reminded of the unlikeliness of f 2/3 to 1 cup sugar, white or f 1 lb. (about 4 cups) fresh rhubarb, this woody, stringy creature (botanibrown, according to taste cut into 1/2-inch pieces (thawed cally a vegetable, but ruled a “fruit” by frozen rhubarb is also OK) f Juice of 1 orange U.S. Customs Court in Buffalo, NY, in f Pinch of salt 1947) becoming a soft, sweet delicacy, the base of so many desserts. Who Bring the water, sugar, orange juice, salt and cinnamon to a boil; simmer it gently until the sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. first discovered this? Wild rhubarbs are native to Asia, according to “The Add the rhubarb pieces and bring to the simmering point again. Oxford Companion to Food,” edited Young rhubarb will soften if moved off direct heat to a warm part of the stove; older fruit by Alan Davidson (Oxford University will need gentle simmering. Test it constantly; it easily disintegrates (and continues to Press: 1999), and it was the plants’ roots cook as it cools). The rhubarb is ready when it is tender but still holding its shape (about 15 that were first recorded to be used. minutes at the most). Rhubarb has long been cultivated Serve warm with pouring (heavy) cream. Serves 4. and highly popular in Great Britain, ADAPTED FROM “A YEAR IN AN IRISH GARDEN” BY RUTH ISABEL ROSS (A & A FARMAR; 1999) where it even shows up as the fruity high on her list was (of all things!) rhubarb. She grew the stuff herself (of course), and the huge plants seemed to inhabit their own spacious solar system in the garden near the windmill. In my early memories of them, the long pinkish-red stalks with dark-green, flouncing elephant ear-sized leaves seemed to dwarf me. The arrival of rhubarb — along with the domestic asparagus spears she also cultivated — seemed to be one of the first things to herald spring. My mom had a salivary obsession with rhubarb, her mouth watering even as she anticipated it. She cooked large pots of the chopped stalks — with just a little water, ample sugar to temper the shrill tartness and maybe a pinch of cinnamon — down to a sumptuous pink pulp that she gleefully ate, slurping, by the bowlful. She called it “spring tonic,” as her mother did. There were nights where,

OF ALL THE THINGS MY MOTHER LOVED,

Rhubarb Compote

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

As a child, I was not as much of a fan of my mother’s rhubarb “tonic,” as she was. ... But I gradually grew into an appreciation of this edible symbol of spring.

layer in the bottom of containers of yogurt (I was lucky enough to have some when I visited Ireland). Reading a little more about rhubarb, I learned the tonic side of it (used medicinally as early as 200 B.C.) — aside from having antioxidants and a high fiber content, it is also full of Vitamin K1, helpful for blood clotting and bone health. While I wanted to continue the tradition of my mom’s status as a rhubarb purist, using no other fruit enhancement for my compote, I could not resist Ross’ suggestion that stewed rhubarb is “always improved by orange juice.” But, as a nod to my mother, I added just a whiff of cinnamon, too. Cooking the rhubarb, I understood the appeal of such an efficiently easy means to an end. Within a few minutes at a simmer, the rhubarb’s sinewy stature dwindled to something juicy and downy that was the rosy golden-pink of a morning sky, soft and tender but still textured, an aroma of floral tartness steaming from the pan. The rhubarb did as rhubarb does, forming its own thick “pudding” with just a little nudging. One finger dipped into the warmth to taste sent me reeling with sense memory, overcome with just how very good its tart-sweetness was (the flavor sitting somewhere between a pineapple and a strawberry), better than I remembered. The

added orange juice was subtle and only supported the flavor. We used to have our mother’s stewed rhubarb with child-alluring accompaniments, such as ice cream or Cool Whip, or slathered over yellow cake. I savored this compote with a side of buttery shortbread cookies. But I could hear my mother saying that the only thing she needed to eat it with — and sometimes, not, when she lifted the bowl straight to her lips — was a spoon. KCL REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

SAFETY

Don’t Let Gardening Become a Pain in the Neck, Back or Knees ERGONOMIC GARDEN TOOLS are designed for maximum comfort, ease of use, efficiency and safety. When combined with proper preparation and techniques, you can help protect the six most-injured or strained parts of your body when gardening: back, elbows, knees, neck, shoulders and wrists. Before heading outside to perform any gardening tasks, be sure to warm up with stretches. First focus on wrists, holding the stretches for 10-20 seconds. Then work the legs and knees by doing mini squats, bending hips and knees. This will supply your leg muscles with oxygen and blood flow to help avoid injuries. You should spend at least 10 minutes warming up.

Save Your Back f Minimize reaching by keeping items close to

you. Use long-handled tools instead of reaching.

f Alternate sitting, kneeling and standing every

30 minutes to alleviate strain in one area for too long.

f Avoid bending over for any length of time;

bend at the knees to avoid additional strain on the lower back.

f Rake leaves onto a tarp and slide it along the

ground to eliminate lifting.

f Use a long PVC pipe cut at a slant at one end to

seed rows; drop the seeds through the pipe to plant with ease.

Forget the Elbow Grease f Avoid repetitive motions. Use a weeder instead

of pulling weeds by twisting your forearm palm up and down repetitively.

f Keep your wrists in line with your forearm when

grasping, pulling or pushing to decrease tension.

f Work with “thumbs up.”

Protect those Knees f Use knee pads or a garden kneeling pad.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

MARCH 2021

f Change positions

frequently to relieve repetitive stress.

f Wear supportive shoes to

take stress off of the knees.

f Condition knees (and

back) with stretching and strengthening exercises.

Avoid a Pain in the Neck f Keep your shoulder blades pulled

together so you don’t round your back/shoulders while extending your arms.

f Consider having an elevated

garden bed.

f Stretch your neck before and

after gardening.

Don’t Shoulder the Burden f Use both arms when possible. f Work below shoulder level. If you must

reach to perform some gardening tasks, do so for 5 minutes or less.

Flip of the Wrist — Not f Keep your wrists in a neutral position. You

lose up to 25% of your grip when you bend your wrist.

f Avoid motion extremes going up, down

and sideways. Always bend from the hips rather than from your waist. Drink plenty of water as dehydration reduces flexibility. And after gardening, apply cold packs to your knees and lower back (not directly on the skin) for about 15-20 minutes. KCL Sources: ProCare Physical Therapy, AARP and Power Rebound.

MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Lime-Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice

Reuben Egg Rolls

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, MARCH 2021

Who can say no to a quick and flavorful meal your family will love?

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, MARCH 2021

Replace bread with egg roll wrappers for a twist on the classic Reuben sandwich.

Lime Poke Cake

Chimichurri Chickpea Salad

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, MARCH 2021

Celebrate St. Patrick’s day with one fun, green dessert!

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, MARCH 2021

Salads don’t have to be boring. Add herbs to any salad for extra flavor!

f 1/2 tsp. pepper f 1 (14 oz.) can sauerkraut, drained

f 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

f 8 oz. thinly sliced corned beef, chopped

f Thousand island salad dressing,

f Oil for frying

f 12 egg roll wrappers

Reuben Egg Rolls

f 1 (14.5 oz.) can chickpeas, drained f 1 large egg

Chimichurri Chickpea Salad f 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes f 1 Tbs. water

f 1 cup fresh cilantro

f 1 bag baby kale mix

f 2/3 cup fresh parsley f 2 Tbs. dried oregano f 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced

f 1 (3 oz.) box lime-flavored gelatin

Serve warm with Thousand Island dressing.

f 3 Tbs. soy sauce

f 1/4 tsp. salt

f 1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger root

f 1/2 cup diced fresh mango

Lime-Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice f 2 bags jasmine rice f 2 Tbs. canola oil

deveined, tails removed

f 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and

f 2 Tbs. lime juice

COURTESY SUCCESSR ICE .COM

Stir in rice. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until well coated. Stir in soy sauce and lime juice. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until rice is heated through.

In wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Cook shrimp, bok choy, mango, ginger and salt, stirring, 3-5 minutes, or until shrimp start to curl and bok choy starts to wilt.

Prepare rice according to package directions. Let cool completely.

f 8 baby bok choy, trimmed and quartered

COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG

In a medium saucepan, heat 3 inches of oil until 350 F. Fry the egg rolls in small batches for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.

Scoop about 1/3 cup of the filling into each egg roll wrapper and fold according to the package instructions, using the egg wash to secure the rolls.

For egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water.

In a large bowl, combine the chopped corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut; set aside.

for dipping (optional)

f 2 garlic cloves, minced f 1/4 cup red wine vinegar f 1 medium avocado, diced f 4 Tbs. avocado ranch dressing

f 2/3 cup olive oil f 1/2 tsp. salt

In food processor, combine cilantro, parsley, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pulse until sauce is smooth. Place chimichurri sauce in small bowl with chickpeas and crushed red pepper flakes; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight, if possible. Divide kale, tomatoes and avocado between four bowls. Top each bowl evenly with marinated chickpeas. Drizzle with avocado ranch dressing and serve.

f 1 (16.25 oz.) box white cake mix

f 1 (8 oz.) container whipped topping

COURTESY LITEHOUSE FOODS

directed on your cake mix box

Lime Poke Cake f Water, oil and egg whites as

f Green sanding sugar, for garnish

f 1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 13×9-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and egg whites with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 23-28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, pour boiling water on gelatin; whisk briskly until gelatin is dissolved. Poke the cake every inch with the handle of a wooden spoon or the tines of a fork halfway into the cake. Carefully and slowly pour the lime gelatin over the cake. Cool completely in the refrigerator, about 1 hour. Spread the whipped topping evenly over the cake. Decorate with green sanding sugar, if desired. Cut the cake into 12 generous pieces and enjoy chilled. COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG

MARCH 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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