Liz Writes Life 5-27-20

May 27, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Memorial Day came early this year – at least for me. Two weeks ago, I purchased a bunch of fake flowers (for graves) thinking I was ahead of the game. Then, last week, I realized that Memorial Day was May 25, 2020 and purchased another 13 silk-type of flowers. It had been a busy week and I was pretty tired, but I did take my extra long screwdriver (for poking deep in the ground to stick the plastic stem) pealed the plastic hard-to-remove tags from the flowers and drove into the Etna Cemetery. It was cleaned-up from winter winds, mowed and looked beautiful.

This year, I remembered to take several plastic bags to stuff with the old weathered fake flowers -- and filled three bags. Because I sometimes can’t remember whose graves I put new flowers (the previous year) I now get all one color. This year was pink. I cleaned-off Grandma and Grandpa Dillman’s headstone, then my mom and dad’s. Next was Uncle Bob, who drowned with his good friend Fred Browne in the Scott River, when their pickup drove over the old-fashioned log railing on Horn Bridge during a blizzard on Dec. 4, 1951. Yep, it was tragic for the Dillman, Timmons and Browne families. Bob left his wife, Marion Timmons, and two small boys, John and Jim.

Uncle Con is beside Bob and he died before Bob in July 1943 at age 17; another tragic death. He was driving a team of horses raking hay, when the horses took-off galloping. Con fell in front of the rake and was killed. Can’t imagine the mess that must have been!

Aunt Clista also died at the young age of 17, when she caught pneumonia in early January 1932. She had battled pneumonia when she was younger and the doctor actually cut an inch out of a rib, so he could make a hole into the lung to suction out the damaging fluid. This would have been in the early 1920s.

Back in those days, big formal balls were held on holidays. Fort Jones hosted the New Year’s Eve dance. Clista was fighting a common cold, but wanted to attend the ball. She begged her mom, who finally relented. But, the next day Clista became ill and died Jan. 6, 1932. I’ve been told that grandma never forgave herself for letting Clista go to the dance. Oh, so frustrating are some of the decisions that we make!

My Aunt Evie lies beside Clista. She lived a full life and died in 1997.

My Aunt Rose Mae (Dillman) Hovenden is buried in the Hovenden plot with her husband, Charlie, his brother, Clarence, and his parents, Anna and Walter.

On the north side of the cemetery are a dozen or so Fowler relatives. Across the middle-driveway is my Uncle Charley Dillman’s grave and his wife and family.

My husband, Jack, is buried up in the oak trees by the Dannenbrinks. He did get bright yellow flowers. Pink really wasn’t his color.

Aunt Katie married Dick Luttrell and is buried in the Luttrell plot in Fort Jones Cemetery.

Oh, so back to Memorial Day. I still think of it as May 30^th. Seems like lilacs, iris and peonies were always blooming, when I was a kid. I do have a dark lilac that still has blossoms, so I cut three bunches and brought them in the house. Yum, they smell delicious and hint softly of times past. Unfortunately, there is only one red bud that is about to burst on my only peony. But, I will enjoy it. A few iris are also in bloom.

I like Memorial Day. I like recalling my ancestors – the ones I knew and stories of the ones I didn’t. I miss the American Legion Perry Harris Post #270 and its ceremonies honoring our veterans, but I thank God for their service and offer prayers for liberty and peace. I love my country and its founders, who hammered-out a formidable constitution with a “Bill of Rights” to protect its citizens. Much more could be said of our current divisions and factions, including opinions on this Covid-19 virus, but all I will do is continue to pray for liberty, peace and relief from the virus – and be happy for the many good things that I have. Smile!

Eagles

A little over a week ago, a deer was hit on the highway right by my house. I noticed it in the ditch as birds were already eating on it. Big black crows made a lot of noise cawing about their find, but eagles ruled the roost. One morning, I went out on the porch and five golden eagles were flying in very low circles over my house and I could see a bald eagle sitting in the nearby pine tree. Such is life living in the great outdoors!

Grads

It was so nice to see photos of the Etna High School graduates lined-up on the lawn in front of the school. In these social distancing times, the 2020 graduates are certainly getting short-changed from celebratory events. As I drove slowly by, I recognized some of the grads and their names. Yep, I went to EHS with some of their grandparents! My goodness, how time flies.

I saw where College of the Siskiyous is holding a virtual ceremony that will be pre-recorded, arranged and edited by Siskiyou Media Council. All grads are invited to participate by submitting a short video or photograph. The ceremony will include music by the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Community Band and speeches by the College President and other guests. I don’t know when the video or how the video will be aired – call 530-938-5373 for more info.

Garden

I felt foolish Friday morning, when it didn’t freeze. I had covered the tomatoes, bell peppers, one surviving cantaloupe plant and foot-tall potatoes. But, I didn’t feel as foolish on Saturday morning, when the thermometer said 34 degrees (under the porch roof) and there was a pretty good frost. I think the danger of extra cold mornings is over, especially with the weather stations reporting record heat for this week. Yuck! It is so frustrating, when summer temps attack and it is still May! 

Oh, I did start picking lettuce and spinach – mostly cuz they won’t like 90 degree temps.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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May 20, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Garden

Those rains Saturday and Sunday evenings were wonderful! I didn’t do much in the garden early in the week, but did use the new weed eater on the rye grasses and weeds that are in the perennial flower area and around the house. Also used the hand-shears to cut-down Marlahan mustard out by the entrance of the driveway. Both made my wimpy arms and hands ache. Of course, there’s lots more to do, so I better buck-up!

On Friday, I finally started doing more in the garden and decided where to plant what. Yep, I lost three of the tomatoes, so in two holes I dug out two shovels of the soil (I think I added too much manure) and mixed in regular garden soil. The third hole, on the end of the row, I just made bigger adding the surrounding garden soil and will plant cucumbers there.

My neighbors had called and asked if I wanted any Roma tomato plants. They are not my favorite, but make a great addition to the Early Girls for canning. Romas are so meaty, they thicken-up the canned tomatoes. So, I went for a visit and was pleased with my willpower by only taking two of their 60 or so plants! They did talk me into seven Hale’s Best cantaloupe plants. I typically don’t have good luck transplanting plants like cantaloupe, but with this batch of rain and moderate temps I did plant four of the bigger five-inch ones. The other three need to grow a bit more.

Since I was on a roll, I also planted the two Roma tomatoes, six bell peppers, parsley, zucchini seeds, purple onion seeds and some apple (lemon) cucumber seeds. Finished-up around 8:30 p.m. It sure felt good to get so much done, but I knew I would be sore and tired Saturday morning. Yep, I was!

Because I didn’t trust that we would actually get a rain, figuring it might be a light shower, I irrigated the garlic, lettuce, spinach, peas, onions, potatoes and rhubarb. Did some weeding, but will have lots more after these good rains.

Then, in looking at my ambitious plans, I started wondering about water supply -- throughout the summer? 

The snowpack on May 1^st only measured eight percent of average; and I have heard some wells are already going dry. Hum, I haven’t had problems recently, but in several past years we had to ration irrigation. 

During the night I mulled it over and by Sunday decided I could reduce everything I wanted into two rows utilizing the soaker hoses. The third row has the lettuce, spinach, garlic and onions growing -- most of which will be done by July. So, I decided not to plant carrots or cosmo flowers in this row, or the small patch of corn, and just hand water the potatoes, onions and peas until they are mature. That should be sometime in July.

What I am suggesting is that many of us may have to ration our water, because of lack of supply or by city edict. Good luck to all of us. But, we may feel the pain that most farmers are facing right now.

Food supply chain

With this Covid-19 virus, we have quickly learned about shelves going empty. Last week I discussed the food supply chain and how losing one link creates problems. Although it took a while, agriculture is getting hit hard, especially when slaughter and processing plants are closing because of ill employees or employees that are protesting poor working conditions.

For years, small farmers and ranchers have complained the meat packing industry was becoming too consolidated, controlling and powerful. During the last 60 years, 90 percent of American meat plants have closed or consolidated into three or four major conglomerates. Much blame is put on the lack of antitrust enforcement for the situation we currently find our supply chain.

This is not new. About 100 years ago, five major meat packers controlled the U.S. meat industry. Congress passed the Packers and Stockyards Act to “assure fair competition and fair trade practices,” which had become deceptive, discriminatory and monopolistic.

In several recent news articles, the writers have reported the Packers and Stockyards Act must be enforced. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump asked the Dept. of Justice to look into this antitrust enforcement problem and issued a critical infrastructure stay-open order for processing plants. What is also being expressed is the need to bring back regional and local meat packers. I truly hope this will happen.

Back to this current virus upheaval, dreaded drought year and a needed consistent food supply: There is a battle between Pres. Trump and CA. Gov. Gavin Newsom regarding the irrigation water needed by agriculture to grow food and rationing that water in favor of salmon or smelt populations. Unfortunately, a U.S. District Court recently granted a preliminary injunction to Gov. Newsom’s lawsuit against Trump’s administration. This blocks the newest (updated) biological opinions on species listed with the Endangered Species Act.

Our CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, was pretty upset over Newsom’s lawsuit and the court’s decision to put agriculture at the bottom of the totem pole. I agree. The ESA has been hijacked – for decades. Listed-species are used as a way to put government controls on private lands and, most of the time, shows little improvement in any increased populations of ESA-species.

LaMalfa said: “This ruling is an attack on farmers, whose essential work keeps domestically grown food on America’s table. Despite the State’s claim, the previous Federal rule will cause fish populations, including salmon and delta smelt, to continue to decline. For the State to side with the extreme environmental positions shows they have little understanding about our constituents’ livelihoods and sustaining our Ag economy.”

During this Covin-19 lockdown, we have quickly learned that we do have basic needs – shelter and food (including hand sanitizer and toilet paper) are at the top of this list. These are produced from our natural resources and amazing tech knowhow of our agricultural growers and businesses. 

Agriculture must be protected, encouraged and appreciated. If the ESA-regulations were improving the populations of listed species, most of those species should be un-listed – because their populations would be sufficient. Wasn’t that the goal of the ESA?

Since my teen years, I have watched agriculture with its innovative and dependable growers thrown to the bottom of the heap -- and scorned. It is time to truly appreciate agriculture and the incredible amount of food American farmers produce, not only for our country, but for the world. Yes, the supply chain must also be fixed and monopolies deposed. True capitalism is the key to a dependable food supply.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 5-13-2020

May 13, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Garden

Even though my taller potato leaves were burned by the May 3-4 frosts, the younger leaves are healthy and growing. Some new plants are poking up. The spinach is doing so well that I realized the protective netting (from the cats) needed to be removed. Only lost a few leaves in the process. Asparagus is still growing new shoots and I eat two or three a day – raw, as I irrigate.

Last Tuesday evening, I planted seven tomato plants: Six Early Girl and one Celebrity. They were pony-pack size. The plants seemed to do well through the hotter days until Sunday, when I noticed two or three didn’t look happy. I know they had plenty of water, hum, maybe too much. Or, maybe I added too much manure. Not, much I can do, but wait. This week should be great for plants with rain (likely showers) and cooler day temps. No frosts are forecasted.

Didn’t get any seeds planted last week. I spent most of my energy on irrigating during those hot days and getting the soaker hoses and plumbing infrastructure figured out, so it can be on timers. Sure would be nice to get several really good rains. Purchased six bell peppers, a pony-pack of portulaca and a parsley -- need to get them in the ground.

Food supply

It is true that agriculture livestock producers are having a tough time. Losing any links in the supply chain creates a big problem. Some slaughter and processing plants have closed due to ill employees, which has reduced the amount of ready-for-market hogs and beef that can be processed. When hogs are at the right weight, they need to be butchered. Cattle feedlots can’t hold them too long, either, but have a bit more leeway.

In “Drover’s” May 4, 2020 newsletter it was reported about 40 percent of the pork packing capacity is currently idled. President Trump’s Executive Order for the processing plants to remain open is expected to help, but the need for increased safety measures and social distancing at plants means 100 percent full-capacity may be a few more months away. Many of the livestock industry news articles are explaining the food-supply chain is complex and these processing plants are a part of the situation.

Some large stores, like Costco and Krogers, are apparently rationing some meats. I purchase my meat at our local smaller stores and haven’t had any problem finding what I need. I don’t know what or where meat shortages are occurring throughout the nation.

The one bright spot is fresh produce: Berries are expected to be plentiful and many vegetables and potatoes look to be consistent and available. “The Packer” newsletter stated that fresh market apples still in storage, as of May 1, 2020, totaled 46.8 million 42-pound bushels. That is an increase of 21 percent compared to a year ago. So, there should be plenty of apples to eat.

Rationing

No, we are not under official rationing. I do think it is smart for stores to institute a reduction in the number of items a customer can purchase during this Covid-19 crisis, especially when fears and hoarding saw many shelves cleared-out. In seeing those empty shelves, I remembered stories told by my parents about rationing during World War II.

My mom always preached: Never let the gas tank drop below half. (Took me years to learn to follow that advice!) Tires and gasoline were the first items to be rationed. Japan had conquered Asian countries that produced rubber, so immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor sales of tires to citizens were stopped. Synthetic rubber had recently been invented, but was not able to commercially compete with natural rubber. 

Actually, rationing of gasoline was motivated by the need to conserve rubber. The national speed limit was dropped to 35 miles per hour, which helped tires last much longer. Car-pooling was encouraged.

Mom, and her sisters-in-law, were frustrated that silk stockings (pre-nylons) quickly became hard to find, because Japan no longer traded with its enemies. My sister, Lorena, was born in 1942 and as a toddler quickly out-grew her shoes. Dad didn’t seem to wear-out his boots, so his shoe stamps typically went to put shoes on Lorena, according to my mom.

I checked the internet and found that by 1941, the British were in desperate need of more food. German U-boats worked the Atlantic Ocean to stop supply ships getting to the island kingdom. When the U.S. hit full swing into the war, feeding our soldiers and aiding the allied troops was a must. To complicate things, many food-type of factories converted to military production reducing critical food supplies.

Ration books with specific stamps for everything from gasoline to sugar, canned milk, coffee, meat and butter were issued to each member in a family. I was surprised to learn that most of the workers involved with the rationing program were volunteers. There were over 5,500 local ration boards and workers were selected by local officials. (That was smart!) More than 100,000 volunteers administered the program.

Yep, trade or barter of stamps was utilized, although the store employees were expected to actually remove the stamps from the booklet. But, stamps fell-out of the poorly-made booklets. And, of course, Black Market items also became quite sophisticated. But, store owners needed to receive the correct amount of ration stamps, because the owner had to use those stamps or points to purchase his items.

Store owners usually tried to help families. One reason that we have a few photos from the 1940s is because one owner saved photography film for my family to purchase.

Propaganda urged meatless meals, the planting of “victory gardens” and home-canning of food. This is when macaroni and cheese became popular. It was cheap, filling and required very few ration points or stamps. Kraft sold some 50 million boxes of its product during the war.

So, there you go. A little history lesson to help us appreciate our freedoms and all that we do have!

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 5-6-2020

May 6, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Well – that didn’t last long!

It is confusing, but California’s Prop. 63 is again in full force. Barely two weeks ago, California Rifle & Pistol Association won a court order that stopped California’s Prop. 63 restrictions of ammunition sales and background checks.

Immediately, CA. Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a motion to “stay” that decision. The Ninth Court of Appeals then issued the administrative stay to the federal judge’s preliminary injunction, which had allowed ammunition restrictions to be lifted. The first case was won in federal court, but all the game playing and “stays” is allowing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals more time to argue the case.

The initial “stay” or lawsuit allowed California gun owners to purchase ammunition without a background check – for about a week! It also allowed ammo to be purchased out-of-state and on-line. But, right now, this is illegal. Sorry for the bad news.

Snow pack

I wanted to share positive info this week, but it isn’t happening. The May 1, 2020 snow survey results for the Scott River sub-basin are horrible! At the basic five areas that are monitored in the high elevations, there was an average of eight percent of normal snowpack. This is downright scary, folks.

Middle Boulder at the south-end of the valley showed the most snow with just eight-inches. Its historic average is 52-inches. Dynamite Meadow and Scott Mountain reported zero snowpack. Those areas average in at least 20-inches of snow on May 1.

So, it was with great joy, when parts of Scott Valley received rain on Saturday!

Meat packers

With the Covid-19 virus shutting-down some meat processing plants as staff become ill, there is the question of the future availability of meat. It is a somewhat complicated food-supply-chain from the growers to the consumers. But, there seems to be plenty of live cattle, hogs and even tons of frozen meat in facilities. Yet, all it takes is one cog to drop out of the process-line to cause disruption.

In a recent agricultural “Drovers Weekly” newsletter, Dale R. Woerner, Ph.D., said the impact of Covid-19 on the livestock and meat industry is “peaking, leaving livestock producers and processors on the edge of economic sustainability and the market in a complete imbalance. The greatest impacts have been on livestock producers that have seen devastating drops in the value of their animals.” Another major impact has been the loss of the food service and restaurant business.

Nationally, the cattle industry is expected to take a hit as large as $13.6 billion, according to a study released by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

To ensure the continuity of meat processing in the United States, President Trump signed an Executive Order invoking the Defense Production Act. This authorizes additional tools and resources for beef, pork and poultry facilities to allow them to remain open, even if local governments directed the facilities to close.

So, hopefully this week, as the healthier states begin to reopen from Covid-19, the economy for livestock and meat processors will improve – quickly.

Opening Siskiyou Co.

Yes, CA. Gov. Gavin Newsom has continued the statewide lockdown through May. But, apparently a significant number of north state counties state are pressing for opening businesses sooner. These counties, like Siskiyou, have had few Covid-19 virus cases and need their economies to reopen. Our county supervisors are taking up this item on their agenda, Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Sure hope we will begin reopening. For sure, most of us are frustrated by this continued lockdown.

Garden

Yep, it froze Sunday morning and frosted again on Monday. Luckily, I did not plant my tomato plants. Yay! But, I did forget to cover the eight to ten-inch tall volunteer potato plants and they were hit pretty hard. 

Luckily, they should continue to grow as the leaves near the soil looked fine. There were some little two-leaved maroon amaranth plants that had volunteered in several parts of the garden; and I wanted them to grow. I forgot about them as well, so I checked them on Sunday afternoon. Most didn’t make it, but a few in one spot did not get burned. I found a cardboard box and covered them.

I asked my teenaged grandson, Bryce, to help me dig two vegetable rows. We added manure to the soil and dug seven big, deep holes for the tomato plants. He was great help. Bryce told me he had finished his (home) school work, so I wasn’t helping him play hooky! The soil looks great. This week, I will take my time planting – cuz I am still exhausted from last week’s workout.

Last year, my tomatoes started producing early in August and kept producing, but got smaller and less abundant through September. What was wrong? Terry at Terry’s Nursery, in Yreka, has told me (for several years) that vegetable plants need fertilizer with the middle number higher. The three fertilizer nutrients are listed as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is phosphorus that my soil is in need of and Terry also suggested extra calcium.

So, I am listening and plan on using the right fertilizer at the right times this year. It is good to talk to our local nursery people for advice as they are full of knowledge and willing to share. Remember, gardening in Siskiyou County is always an adventure and soil quality is a major part of high-producing vegetable crops.

I also weeded the peas. They are about four-inches high. The smaller rhubarb plant needed some harvesting and I found it was growing a huge stem with a seed pod. That is not good. I searched the internet and found that this stem should be cut-out at the base of the plant before it starts diverting energy away from producing the edible stalks. Whew, that is what I did!

Happy gardening and try to keep smiling -- no matter what is happening! We still have good friends and family.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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