issue9 stl feb mar08
TRANSCRIPT
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Small Town
A Simpler Life in Small Town America
February / March 200
Theme Gardens
Six CommonSmall Business Mistakes
Secrets oSalvaging Barn Lumbe
Catsh Farming
The art of Lov
Vintage Valentines
eeds of Inspiration: How Living in the Country Inspired one Womans Artistic
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 20081
Small Town
Living
Cover Photo Credit:Nate Hebenstreit
Published by:Wilson Graphics1408 S Gay Ave.Panama City, FL 32404
(850)[email protected]
Editors & PublishersPaul & ina Wilson
Contributing WritersBlu WebsterRichard MusgraveCynthia PinsonnaultJanet Gresham
Susanne MyersAngelina WilliamsonSue NeitzelSue SteinerPamela Anthonyom Henry
I got a taste o Spring today. Weve had about three weeks odrizzling rain and gray overcast days. oday the sun broke through,the clouds all disappeared and I went outside in a short sleeve shirt.
Our selection o stories this include a nice piece on Crate Label Art.Tese beautiul labels once were common but now turn up in antiqueshops. Tey are denitely worth raming and hanging on the wall
when you nd them. We were also contacted by Mimi Moore, theowner and renovator o Te Green River House. Her project looks
wonderul and while shes got alot to do, you can see its potential.Mimi has promised to keep us posted as the work progresses, maybe
well learn enough to tackle are own project one day.Related to that article is a nice story on salvaging lumber rom
barns and other old structures. As the author points out it soundsmuch more elegant to say Antique Wood Salvage than barn lumbersalvage.
Other stories this issue include Catsh Farming, Te $45
Emergency Menu, Homestead Spring Gardens or Urban Dwellersand more. We had so many contributions this month our publicationgrew to 60 pages. Teres certainly something or everyone in thisissue.
In other Small own Living news, we completed the CDcompilation o the rst seven issues. With over 250 pages o pastissues its a gold mine o great inormation on gardening, livestock,crating and more. One nice eature o the CD is the ability to Searchor inormation on it quickly. You can purchase the CD on our
website or by calling us. Also weve worked with Amazon.com to add
a small shop with books and materials relating to topics weve coveredTeres alot o exciting developments on the horizon or Small ownLiving.
Wed like to say thanks to all our readers who have taken the timeto write us and who have purchased products rom us. 2008 Shouldbe an exciting year or all o us as we bring you more Small ownLiving.
Paul and ina Wilson
From the Publisher
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008 2
Table o Contents
The Artistry oFruit Crate Labels
Restoration
o theGreen River House
Page5
Page
8
Antique Wood Salvage
Giving New Life to Old Lumber
Catfsh Farming Savesthe Day
Cooking with Catfsh
Page
13
Page
17
Page
23
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3
Tableof ContentsThe $45 Emergency MenuA great dollar stretching plan or a amily o 4-6.
Planning the UrbanHomestead Spring Garden
Some Basic Tips For the New Urban Homesteader
Theme GardensPlan your Garden around one o these great Themes
Seeds o InspirationAn Artist fnds Small Town Living an
Inspiration or her Art
Six Mistakes o Small BusinessLearn to Avoid these and Youve Got a Better
Chance to Succeed
Beehind the ThymeA Craters Hobby Grows into A Home Business
Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008
Page25
Page
29
Page
33
Page
35
Page
39
Page
41
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008 4
Simple Health
Eat Right or Better HealthHow Small Changes Can Lead to Big Changes in
Your Health
Book Review: Pig and a Sacko Stray Cats
From Pigs to Publishing
The Allure oVintage Valentines
Remember When...
Farms or Sale
Page
45
Page
47
Page50
Page
51
Page
52
Page
55Page
57
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 20085
From the late 1800s to the mid 1950s, ruits
and other produce were packed in wooden crates
o various sizes and transported to markets wherethey were displayed or consumers. Crate labels
were printed on paper and glued to the ends
o the wooden crates. Attractive or inormative
crate labels were an important part o enticing
consumers to choose one brand over another.
Labels could be unny, elaborately decorative,
serious or simply beautiul. Tey pictured
everything rom the produce being sold, to where
it came rom, to plays on words or puns involvingthe brand name. Competition kept packers
working to improve their displays.
By the 1950s, as more government regulations
dictated the inormation that must be included
on labels, preprinted boxes began to replace the
wooden crates and their beautiul labels. With the
loss o the crate and its label, an art orm was lost.
oday, this cratsmanship and artistry are ndingnew appreciation among collectors and anyone
looking or unique vintage prints.
I theyre lost, where are they coming rom?
Large produce companies that packed up to one
million crates needed to keep lots o labels on
hand. As the changeover rom wooden crates to
preprinted cardboard took place, letover labelswere oten simply discarded. But many were let
in packing houses or printing warehouses. In some
cases, there were thousands o labels let. It is rom
these sometimes orgotten stores o labels that
collectors are now rescuing these printed treasures.
The ARTISTRYof
Fruit Crate Labels
By: Cynthia Pinsonnault
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008 6
Wooden crate labels had to be strong to survive
the hazards o getting rom the packer to the
marketplace. First they are glued to a wooden
crate. Ten they had to be able to survive rough
handling and damp or even wet transportation
by railroad or truck to the market. Tereore
crate labels were printed on high quality,
relatively acid-ree paper. Ten the very act that
they were orgotten and stored in quantity in dry
packing and storage houses helped to keep them
rom deteriorating. Tis is why original, vintage
labels are available or collecting today.
So many dierent labels ...
Te labels come in a variety o sizes, colors anddesigns. Te size and rmness o the produce
determined the size o the wooden crate and,
thereore, the size o the label. For instance,
tomatoes and grapes were packed in shallow
crates, called lugs. So these labels are wide
and not very tall, perhaps 3 to 6 inches tall by
as much as 14 inches wide. Apple and citrus
labels were about the largest, measuring up to 12
inches tall or wide. Pears are a little more delicate
and were packed in slightly smaller crates. Pear
labels may be about 8 by 10 inches. Vegetable
labels were usually even a little smaller, usually 5
x 7 inches or 7 x 9 inches.
Original can labels, printed to be used around
tin ood cans are also becoming popular
collectibles. Tese can labels are wide and notas tall. Tey would wrap around a can and be
glued. Te glue margin on the end o the label
oten carries date and other inormation. Many
older can labels are beautiul works o art.
Te colors and variations in label designs
usually signied the various grades o quality o
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 20087
the produce. Many label designs are nearly alike
except the color o the background or an item
pictured is dierent. Also, many brands were sold
or a long time and a label design might have
been used or up to 50 years. During that time,
the label would be modied to keep up with
current regulations or to update an image.
Some labels include a print date. Others
have no indication o when they were printed.
Precisely dating some labels can be dicult.
Among the hints to dates are: the inormation
included on the label, such as legal inormation
like zip codes; what people pictured look like;
typography; and other style changes.
Expensive or not so ...
Te pricing o labels is very subjective. Price
is primarily determined by quantity available,
quality, age and aesthetic appeal. Like most
collectibles, price is an outcome o supply and
demand. Many very old labels sell or just a ew
dollars. Some very rare and desirable labels sell
or hundreds o dollars. However, there are plentyo reasonably priced labels available or anyone
who wants to begin collecting crate labels with a
minimum investment.
Reproductions
Oobydooby.com sells only original, vintage
crate labels and no reproductions.
Old, original labels have a distinct look, eel and
even smell. Oten you will see some aging o the
paper. I you look at the printing with a lupe or
magniying glass, you will see that the printing
on very old labels is actually very dierent
rom todays printing techniques. Old stone
lithography, or instance, is completely dierent
rom todays our-color process printing. Stone
lithography used as many colors o ink as were in
an image. Four-color printing uses just our colors
to create all the colors on a print.
As the labels get newer, into the 1950s, it
becomes more dicult to tell original prints.
However, close inspection will oten showmany o the same details as or older labels.
Unauthorized reproduction also carries the
threat o legal action, since many labels
include copyright, trademark, patent or license
inormation.
Most o the labels available today are original. Te
best way to avoid purchasing a reproduction is to
purchase rom reputable dealers.
Label art ...
Tis is just the basic story o crate labels but we
hope we have instilled an appreciation or this
all-but-lost art orm. Browse our label pages at
Oobydooy.com and you will indeed see that this
is cratsmanship. It is history. It is Americana. It is
art. Enjoy!
Read more vintage crate label articles by writer,
designer and consultant, Cynthia Pinsonnault at:
OobyNews: http://ooby.blogspot.com/
Cynthia also writes or Pinsonnault Creatives
marketing, advertising & graphic design blog:
Ballyhoo Blogat http://pinscreative.blogspot.com/
and or:
Wordspill at http://cyntheta.blogspot.com/
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008 8
I remember that phone call clearly. Te rumor was that the owner o what
used to be the-old-hotel-on-the-Square in town was going to tear down the
two historic buildings behind the hotel so that he could park garbage trucks
there! Now frst o all, the Green River House or Hotel (called so - dependingon the year and the owner) was built circa 1820, and the two old buildings
behind it, a large brick kitchen and a limestone house, were built beore that!
By: Mimi Moore
Restorationof the Green River House
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o introduce mysel, I am Mimi Moore,
married to Sam Moore, attorney by trade,
but collector and savior o old historic and
endangered buildings by heart! Well, it didnt
take ve minutes or Sam to get on the phone
and call Willie Milby and ask him or an option
to purchase the entire hotel, outbuildings and
all.
Our rst thought and oremost in our mind
was simply to save the historic buildings. Te
longer we paid on our note, the more we
pondered: What in the world are we going to
do with these uninhabited, leaky old buildings?
Sam had a ull time job - private practice and
was also attorney or the City o Greensburg.
I was a part owner o Te Plaid Peacock, a git
shop in town...we were on several community
committees, we were grandparents, we wereactive in our church, we certainly did not
have time to open a hotel! At one point Sam
was contemplating donating it to our local
Renaissance/Main Street Committee (he was
president at the time) and allowing it to be
a Renaissance project to help redevelop our
quaint town square. However, Bob Polsgove
o Kentucky rust told Sam about the ax
Incentives Program that oers ederal and
Kentucky state tax credit to investors in
rehabilitation projects, such as ours could be.
Tus a couple o years ater we bought the
Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008
When paneling was removed, this arch wasdiscovered. It connected The Elizabeth Hotel tothe Green River Hotel in 1915. To date, morethan 7 arches have been uncovered throughoutthe hotel.
A view o one o the anlights ater thedropped ceiling has been removed, but beorethe paneling was removed.
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properties, we really began to dream about what
we had and what it could be.
It was then that we realized that Te Elizabeth
Hotel which shares a common wall with us
would need to be purchased also. Tis was built
in 1915 as an annex to Green River Hotel,
bringing the number o her guest rooms up to
35.
Tat was about seven years ago, and now we
are ull swing into the demolition part and a
little swing into the restoration part!
We really are very lucky that the previous owners
had renovated primarily with paneling! So
ar, I believe that we have lled 5 industrial
dumpsters with paneling, plus we have given
stacks away to do-it-yourselers.
It is so exciting to always be on a treasure
hunt --discovering little gems o history, little
tidbits o what used to be. Behind the paneling
we have ound layers o wall paper, each one
telling us stories about the period o time in
which they were put up. Ater stripping the
wall paper around one doorway, we ound a
rounded crack above the door. We chipped away
plaster to see a brick arch, laid rom over the
top o the door, down along the sides to about
three eet rom the oor! its just beautiul. In
a ew rooms, paneling was removed to reveal
The stone house and brick kitchen that startedthe whole project! The dormer windows o
the hotel are in attic rooms that will somedayaccommodate guests.
This is how the Green River House looks rightnow. The picture also shows the green brickbuilding o the attached Elizabeth Hotel
which will contain 4 o the 6 dining rooms eachwith original freplace. Once the PermaStoneis removed, the plate glass windows will bereplaced with old brick to restore the ront o
the building as it was in 1820
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 200811
chair railing! We have pulled down the dropped
ceilings to nd crown molding. Every time we
remove a newly added eature, we hold our
breath, hoping to discover an old treasure.
So, what started out as an attempt to save
an old brick house with 500 square eet has
turned into a project involving the purchase
and rehabilitation o 17,000 square eet. What
started out as an attempt to save a little old
building has turned into the development o a
dream to restore a historic hotel, restaurant, and
tavern that once was the hub o a bustling little
town at the gateway to the west.
And speaking o dreams, that certainly is one
thing you can say about both o us, we know
how to dream! We know that when you step
through the threshold o Green River House,
we want you to step back into time. You willbe a living part o an 1830s dream.... rom
the historically accurate decor o antiques and
employees clothing to games in the lobby,
musicians, and weekend entertainment.
Now come with me as we progress rom cheap
brown paneling to French woodland scenes on
wallpaper, rom 1915 oak oors to the wide ash
planks o 1820, and rom 1950s perma-stone
acade to 1820s brick made in the back yard.
o be continued in our next issue...
Historic Property
WANTED?Check these great sites or more inormation
on historic properties around the nation.
http://www.historicproperties.com/Tis is a great site ounded by two women
who are historic home lovers. Te Find aHome section o the site includes listings orhundreds o properties around the nation...some with prices as low as a $1. Also ound onthis site in the Resources section is a hugelist o web links relating to topics rom how
to restore old homes to where to buy clawoottubs and other vintage adornments to put thenishing touches on your project.
http://www.oldhouses.com/Another great site with a searchable sectiono properties and resource listings includingorganizations involved with the preservationo historic properties and supplies or anything
you can think o. In the Stories section othe site owners share their personal experience
with restoring their homes.
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Te easiest thing to do when youre considering putting
a hardwood oor in your home or perhaps adding
some wood accents to beautiy your dcor is to headdown to Home Depot or Lowes. Tese superstores
oer a myriad o options ranging rom natural wood
to synthetics to bamboo ooring. But another option
exists which many times isnt considered; salvaged
lumber.
Maybe the term salvaged lumber isnt right, it
doesnt sound very glamorous and it certainly doesnt
sound like a way to upgrade appearances, how aboutcalling it antique wood. Wood aged in the sun, the
wind and the rain or ty years or more. Wood used
to provide shelter or armers crops or generations.
Tat sounds a lot better doesnt it? Teres something
romantic about antique wood. Te patina that orms
over generations gives color and character without
chemicals. Its unique too, unlike simulated wood
grain in some o the composite materials on the
market; each wavy grain is the genuine article withsalvaged wood.
So where does it come rom? Old barns, homes,
warehouses, are all donors to the cause. When youre
driving through the country and you see a hal
collapsed structure at the back o a eld you probably
think about the past and wonder how the building
was used or who lived there. Tose decaying structures
can have a uture, contributing their timber to a newgeneration o homes and oces; i people would stop
and see the potential.
Old lumber may have been hand milled and likely,
i used in a barn, will be very rough. Weathering
over decades can change the surace a great deal but
i your plans are to use salvaged lumber or ooring
Giving New Lie to Old Lumber
Photo by: Brent Danley
Antique Wood Salvage
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you can expect that some renishing o the material
is in order. I youre using it or paneling or wood
accents in a room then it may not require as much
reworking.
So where do you nd antique lumber? I youre
ortunate, someone in your area is already salvaging
and selling wood rom old structures, i not, then
get out and look around. Drive through nearby rural
communities and look or buildings in disrepair, barns
which show neglect. Note the address and track the
owners down. Many times, especially i the structure
is an eyesore, they are more than willing to part with
the structure at salvage prices. Sometimes, i youre
really lucky, you just might get it or nothing more
than agreeing to haul all o the wood away and cleanup the area.
When you nd someone with a structure willing to
sell it or give it away, dont get too excited yet, its time
or a closer inspection o what youre getting into.
I you dont know wood, and arent sure o how to
judge the quality o the lumber, then its time to nd
a trusted carpenter and ask them to visit the site with
you. Discuss how you would like to use the lumberwith your carpenter and ask him to evaluate whether
it can be used or the purpose you want. I everything
checks out, then you are ready to get started.
At this point I would recommend two things beore
going any urther. First, be sure you know what
youre getting into. Old beams in high structures
can weigh a considerable amount, and oten times
salvage requires more equipment and know how thanthe average person has. Tis means you should either
do a tremendous amount o research or yoursel or
try and locate a salvage company. Plan B, the salvage
company, can be more appealing or a couple o
reasons. I they are in the business o salvage, and
youve negotiated a deal or the structure with the
Photo By: Kyle May
Photo By: Brian Hathcock
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landowner, then perhaps the salvage company would
be willing to do the labor or a portion o the wood.
Many large structures will yield ar more lumber
than what you will require and in this way you wil
avoid the added expense o hiring the salvage done
Negotiate and be exible. I that option doesnt
work then try and nd others who have an interes
in antique wood themselves. Several amilies may be
able to either combine labor or combine unds to hire
the labor done.
Milling is the last part o the puzzle to solve beore
you get started. Old wood oten will need some
processing done to make it useable or your project
Youll need to ask your carpenter or a local contractor
about what needs to be done to make the wooduseable. I possible take a board, typical o what you
will be salvaging rom the site, to the person who
will be milling the lumber. Again, i you have excess
wood, try bartering or the work, giving a portion to
the miller.
One gentleman who milled lumber was oered a barn
or ree i he would remove it rom a mans property.
Te miller discovered that in act the majority o thewood was chestnut, an expensive hardwood, which
made it very worthwhile to take up the mans oer.
More than just wood can be salvaged. As you look
around at buildings youre considering or lumber
take note o brick, tin, old door knobs, bathroom
xtures etc. Even i you dont have immediate need
or these items they can have considerable value to the
right person and can help oset the cost o obtainingthe parts you want. One barn salvager was reclaiming
the tin roos as well or a client in New York, who
was only interested in the tin i it was rusted, proving
the old adage that one mans trash is another mans
treasure.
Te simplest way to obtain salvaged wood is to nd
Photo By: Steve Newcomb
Photo By: Teri Tith
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someone who deals in it, but i you have the time
and interest, nding your own can be part o the un
as well. I you just want wood and no other hassle,
numerous websites deal in antique lumber and even
Ebay on occasion has listings with barn wood. I you
are going to work the entire process o salvage then
the key is to do your research. Make sure you have all
aspects o the job covered.
1. Locate structures which are salvage candidates.
2. Contact the owner expressing interest. Let them
know youd like to take a closer look.
3. I you dont know wood, nd someone who does
to take along when you inspect the building.
3. Inspect the building with the owner. ake notesand photos. I possible try and obtain a plank or two
o lumber to take to a miller to discuss what needs to
be done and how much it will cost.
4. Contact someone with salvage experience and
discuss what you would like to do. Tey may ask to
see the building as well.
Stay exible throughout the process. Dont allin love with a single project to the expense o your
budget. I unds and labor are limited, nd others
with a similar love o old wood and work together to
solve how youll accomplish the job.
Reusing lumber is a great way to save new trees
rom being cut, and the wood rom old structures
will have a character that cant be ound in resh cutlumber. Youll also be sure that no chemicals have
been added to the lumber as is the case with pressure
treated wood and synthetic composites. Besides all
that, youll have wood with a story to tell, having
served or generations as a barn or a home.
Photo By: Jim Crotty
Photo By: Lydiat
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By Janet Gresham
Back in my hometown o Greensboro, Alabama,
catsh was in beore catsh was king.
Tose were the days when Mustangs were cooler
than pickup trucks, when teenage girls swooned
over singer om Jones, and beore Barbara Mandrell
sang about being country beore country was cool!
Most everybody in our town ate catsh. Catsh
was the in meal, the in undraiser and eventually
the in industry. We ate catsh at home, at school,
and at church. Tere were catsh ries or the sake o
having catsh ries.
Meals and undraisers were great. New jobs and
businesses were created. Te Alabama Fish Farming
Center was established to assist producers. A catsh
estival drew visitors, and the town made a name
or itsel: Catsh Capital o Alabama. Instead o
picking cotton, Greensboro processed pond-raised
sh rom area arms, and the town owed a lot o its
good ortune to the boll weevil, the soybean bust
and entrepreneurs who just wouldnt quit.
When the boll weevil routed King Cotton back in
the 20th Century, armers searched or the perect
crop to grow on the Blackland Prairie clay. Some
tried bee cattle, and that worked well, but the
cattlemen needed to diversiy. A bunch went into
the dairy business; and at one time, Hale County,
Alabama, had a large number o dairies and becameheadquarters o Dairy Fresh Corporation. Other
armers tried raising chickens, and or years the
town had a poultry plant.
Ten came soybeans. During the 1970s, the
government encouraged the crop, noting an
Jean and Byron WatsonOwners o Prairie View Farm
Prairie View Farm
Catfsh FarmingSaves the Day
in Greensboro Alabama
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Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 2008 18
unlimited market. So armers planted rom
encerow to encerow. imes were good until the
1979 grain embargo on the Soviet Union. Prices
declined, and the market broke. A ew years o
back-to-back poor crops and low prices took care o
most o the soybeans and sent a sizeable number o
armers looking or another line o workor crop!
But, they had it already.
Tanks to some olks who were willing to work
day and night and take big risks, the heavy, mineral-
rich earth around Greensboro was holding water
that some armers had stocked with catsh. As more
and more ponds were built, catsh became theproduct that some might say turned the Black Belt
to gold.
Te rural, economically depressed regionnamed
or the color o its soilstretched in a narrow
band across Central Alabama into West Central
Mississippi. Formed by an ancient sea, this band
o dirt was perect or pond construction and its
mineral content conducive or raising sh.
Te progress toward a catsh economy began
back in 1960, when a Greensboro eed salesman
and Newbern dairy armer decided to try growing
catsh ngerlings. Tey agreed there was a demand
or catsh as well as a decline in the numbers caught
rom the river.
But, where would they nd ngerlings? Well, they
would have to hatch them!
So, C.O. Check Stephens, Richard rue and
another armer, Bryant Allen, invested $3,000
and ormed the SRAL (Stephens, rue, Allen)
Company. Tey created a spawning shed rom one
o rues dairy barns, drained his bass ponds and
built a brood pond. Tere were other expenses
such as hatching troughs, a water pump and
water agitators. Tey obtained brood sh rom aarm in Arkansas, the Auburn University sheries
department, and rom men who shed the Black
Warrior River near town. Tey also started shing
the Alabama and ombigbee rivers.
Tere were other challenges ar removed rom
todays catsh operations. What would they eed the
brood sh? How would they work the seine, sort thebest sh, determine the sexes, get the sh to spawn?
What began as a part-time business turned into a
24-7 operation during spawning season. Later, it
meant leaving their previous livelihoods behind.
Alabama Black Belt catfsh ponds
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We didnt know what we were doing, Stephens
and rue told author Karni R. Perez in her book,
Fishing or Gold, Te Story o Alabamas Catsh
Industry. But through trial and error, the SRAL
partners learned the psychology and biology,
ortunes and misortunes o arm-raised catsh
production. While their rst hatching nearly slipped
through the cracksno thanks to the wooden
troughs they had builtthey managed to save
enough ry to deposit them via washtubs into the
ngerling pond. Next, they ground up hog chow
and trout chow or the tiny sh to eat. As the young
sh grew, the trio began to work on marketing their
product.
Stephens was the natural salesman, and he
talked about catsh and let SRAL business cards
everywhere he went. Te company also ran its
rst ad: Channel Catsh Fingerlings. Write or
prices. We deliver. Teir rst order was or 5,000
ngerlings, an order that could have died beore
Fingerling production doubled by 1962, and
armers bought them to stock arm ponds or
shing. Eventually, the State Cattle Ranch, a prison
arm near Greensboro, stocked them too, and
delivery when they tried to harvest the sh in hot
weather without enough water. Tey turned the
water pumps on, seined the ngerlings and made
their rst delivery to a arm pond some 100 miles
away.
SRAL sold its rst ngerling crop o around
50,000 in 1961, got a loan or the second crop, and
by then, not only did the catsh grow but so did
the curiosity o Greensboro. Residents drove out to
the hatchery to see what was going on. People rom
nearby towns came, and so did businessmen rom
out o state. As word spread, they began giving tours
and talks, even slide shows to interested groups.
The seine is lowered into the pond to begin theharvest. (Photo by Jean Watson)
During harvest, the catfsh are raised in a boom basketor transer to a rerigerated truck.(Photo by Jean Watson)
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began raising its own ngerlings and selling them
or prot. Ten in 1965, Joe Kyser o Greensboro
started Alabamas rst big commercial catsh arm.
Instead o just shing the ponds, Kyser sent the
catsh to the Chicago Fish Market. Local grocer
Joe Glover built a pond, bought SRAL ngerlings
and decided to sell resh catsh at his store. Catsh
became so popular that it wasnt long beore SRAL
realized the need or a processing acility. Glover
became a partner in the company, and the potential
or catsh began to catch on.
Meanwhile, the SRAL entrepreneurs improved
a skinning machine to deal with the scaleless catsh
and revolutionize the industry or mass production.Ten, a local armer invented the paddlewheel
aerator to stir oxygen in large ponds. It was quite
an industrial revolution or a little town o 2,500
people!
Years later, ater SRAL sold its processing acility
to a larger company with bigger markets, Glover
started Farm Fresh right across the street. He tookcatsh samples to chain grocery stores, restaurants
and the World Food Show in New York. Other
processing plants opened, and the Southern Pride
Processing Plant was later ounded by Glovers son,
Joey, who later sold it to American Pride Seaoods.
Southern Pride still operates a Greensboro plant,
the towns largest employer and the industrys largest
processor.
oday, catsh dominates Alabamas aquaculture
industry, accounting or almost 96 percent o all
ood sh sales, according to the 2005 Census o
Aquaculture. Just seven counties produce nearly 98
percent o the states catsh on some 23,000 acres,
Not only do the water tanks declare Greensboro
the Catfsh Capital o Alabama, so does this sign onTuscaloosa Street.
Downtown Greensboro - A beautiul example o small
town America.
City Water tanks declare Greensboro the CatfshCapital o Alabama.
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and 2006 was a dry year as well. Te drought has
lowered water levels in some ponds to nonexistent
and a ew eet below in others. Fish prices are down,
too, with prices now at or below what the Watsons
received when they rst went into the business in
1976. Meanwhile, uel and eed costs have risen
dramatically.
I used to buy diesel uel or 25 cents a gallon.
Now, its $2.25 a gallon, Byron said. Electricity
that once cost two and hal cents a kilowatt hour
today costs 10 cents. Labor costs are up, too,
so todays catsh armer cant aord to make a
mistake.
With a 200-acre arm, the Watsons say they
have at least $1 million in expenses every year
not counting depreciation or replacement o old
equipment. Te prot line is just not there now,
he added. Used to, we could make enough to add
to the arm.
Watson got his start in catsh in 1968 with a jobat the Southeastern Fish Lab in nearby Marion. As
a hatchery assistant, he worked on the hybridization
o catsh, catsh genetics and nutrition. Later, he
and Hale County ranks rst with almost hal. Its
statewide economic impact has been estimated at
between $400 million and $500 million, most o
which is elt in those West Alabama counties. Te
product has been responsible or as many as 3,000
jobs in its best years, which were 2004 and 2005
when sales were around $100 million.
In recent years, new challenges have risen or the
catsh industry, especially with competition rom
oreign imports. Te imports have led to country-
o-origin labeling laws in the U.S. seaood industry
as well as stop-sale orders when some tests o
overseas catsh showed they contained substances
that are banned in U.S.-raised sh. Te U.S.industry has worked to reassure consumers that our
home-grown catsh is sae to eat. Te sustainable
product is raised in reshwater ponds according to
strict environmental standards and dont contain
banned antibiotics, carcinogens, mercury, iodine or
hormones.
Te long drought is another concern or catsharmers. Byron and Jean Watson, owners o Prairie
View Farm in Hale County, say their ponds received
less than hal the normal amount o rainall in 2007,
Catfsh ponds dot the landscape nearGreensboro, Alabama
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was plant manager o the Country Fresh Catsh
processing plant in Greensboro until it was sold.
Ten, he worked or Joe Glover Sr. managing
his catsh arm operation beore partnering with
another Greensboro resident to raise catsh on his
own. Several years later, he became sole owner o a
arm that produces about 1.6 million pounds o sh
a year.
Watson says that despite the current catsh
economy, he believes there is still a better uture. He
considers true catsh to be a specialty, regionally
raised sh, not an international one. While there are
catsh camps and restaurants all around, he noted,
Ive never seen a Joes alapia House or a JoesSalmon House or a Joes Chinese Catsh House.
Te mild, sweet avor that gives U.S. arm-raised
catsh its distinction is hard to cultivate outside
Southeastern U.S. soils and dicult to nd in river
catsh that sometimes has a muddy taste.
Still, despite todays markets and droughts and
imports, the Watsons are glad they were able toraise their two now-grown sons on the arm. Tey
learned a good work ethic, Watson said, and Jean
added that they got to see and be part o what their
amily did or a living. Oten, that meant the whole
amily stayed up some nights to maintain oxygen
levels in ponds. Ten, Jean, who taught high school
biology, and the boys had to go to school the next
day. Now retired rom teaching, Jean recalls the dayswhen three-ourths o her students had at least one
parent who worked in the catsh industry.
Although their choice o livelihood meant many
sleepless nights and ewer vacations or years, their
hard work paid o when Jean was able to retire rom
teaching and help on the arm ull-time keeping
books, running arm-related errands and checking
ponds on her long morning walks. Shes also been
able to start a nature photography business and will
present a program on her wildlie photography saari
to Kenya in February as part o the University o
Alabamas Explorations program.
Catsh has been good or allied businesses as well.
Tere are catsh eed mills in nearby Uniontown
and Demopolis, custom seining businesses,
tractor and aerator sales, pond construction work,
restaurants that specialize in catsh and deep well
drillers to name just a ew. Without catsh, some
wonder what would become o the Black Belttowns where the product is their major i not only
industry.
Many years ago, beore catsh became royalty in the
region, Te Birmingham News published an article
titled Hale County: Low in Population, Rich in
Resources. Tose were my scrapbooking days, and
I cut the article out and pasted it right in. Now, as Ilook back, that headline remains true. Te countys
population remains low, but the resourcesand
especially the resourceulnessremain rich, as rich
as the black gold that covers those rolling prairies.
(Janet Gresham is a reelance writer who is a native
o Greensboro, Alabama, and now lives near Selma.)
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Broiled Lemon-Herbed Catfsh
A ried catfsh meal including hushpuppies andFrench ries.
Cooking with
CatfishTried and True RecipesToasted Sesame Catfsh Fillets(or Broiled Lemon-Herb Catfsh Fillets)
4 catsh llets (3 ounce to 5 ounce)
oasted Sesame dressingLemon-herb seasoning
Salt and pepper
Taw llets i rozen. Rinse in cool water and patdry with a paper towel or drain well.Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then coat with atoasted sesame dressing. For the best avor, letmarinate a ew hours in the rerigerator. Sprinklellets with lemon-herb seasoning.Place llets on a pan and broil several minutes untiltender and aky.(Recipe by Janet Gresham, Selma, Alabama)
Fried Catfsh Fillets2 pounds catsh llets
pound yellow cornmeal
pound all-purpose our
2 ablespoons lemon pepper1 ablespoon salt
Yellow Mustard or coating
Preheat cooking oil to 300-325 degrees in a deepskillet or sh cooker. Coat catsh llets withmustard. Mix the cornmeal and our and coatllets. Add sh to the hot oil, and ry until golden
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brown and the sh is aky. For a spicier taste, sprinkle garlic powder and cayenne pepper on llets aterremoving rom oil.Recipe by Roland Perry, Greensboro, Alabama)
Fish Sauce Piquante2 pounds catsh llets
1 large onion, chopped bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 stick margarine
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
In a cast iron pot or its equivalent, add margarine, onions, bell pepper and garlic. Saute on medium highuntil the onions are tender. Reduce heat to medium, and add tomato sauce. Stir mixture or ve minutes,then cover and simmer or 15 minutes. Stir oten to prevent sticking. Add catsh, and cover tightly. Do notstir. Cook or 30 minutes. Serve over hot rice. Serves 4.(Recipe by Roland Perry, Greensboro, Alabama)
Kyser Grilled Catfsh
8 catsh llets
Vegetable cooking spray
Oil
Spray sh basket grill with vegetable spray. Dip catsh in oil, and place on one side o grill. Close grill
basket. Cook over grill, turning and basting until golden brown.
Sauce2 sticks margarine
cup lemon juice
1 ounces Durkees Sauce1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
abasco to taste
Mix sauce ingredients together in a pan and simmer. Baste on sh while grilling.(Recipe by Beverly Kyser, Greensboro, Alabama)
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or yoursel at LivingOnADime.com.
Daily ProcessTe milk may seem overpriced to some, but it
is vital or growing children and moms who are
pregnant, nursing, or who may become pregnant.
It is also very high in protein especially when
combined with grains or beans.
Orange Juice is served every morning but Saturday.
Te plan assumes 4 servings o 1/2-cup each or
every morning its served. Orange Juice supplies
Vitamin C and Folic Acid, once again, necessary or
pregnant mothers and growing children.
In the recipes that call or buttermilk, use regular
reconstituted milk soured with a tiny bit o vinegar.
Tis works just as good as buttermilk in cooking.
For the recipes that call or dried onion, substitute a
small amount o nely chopped resh onion.
The $45 a WeekEmergency Menu(For A Family o 4-6 People)
By Susanne Myers
Ive seen various places around the web claim
that in an emergency you can eed your amily or
only $10 or $20 a week. While I appreciate their
intentions, I have noticed that they all assume
you have certain supplies already on hand. In
my experience this isnt always the case. Forty-ve
dollars will seem outrageously abundant to some,
while it will seem miniscule to others. It is the
smallest amount I was able to come up with that
will provide enough supplies to an empty kitchen
to eed an entire amily or a week. Te servings are
ample and a ew adjustments allow you to increase
the quantities rom 4 servings to 6. Newly added
nutritional inormation makes it clear that except
or sodium, these recipes are nutritious and healthy.
Tey are low in at and cholesterol, high in protein
and rich in ber. o reduce the sodium you can use
hal as much salt and bouillon as called or in the
recipes, and purchase store-brand reduced sodium
canned vegetables instead o the regular variety.
You may also want to take a look at the ebooks
and resources provided by Living On A Dime - their
ebooks are well worth the small ee they charge or
all the money saving tips and ideas that you will get
out o them. I usually make up the money I pay
on the ebook within less than a week (oten in one
shopping trip) rom purchase. ake a look and see
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uesday: Ater breakast prepare enough tortillas
or dinner tonight and or 2 snacks during the week;
16 to 20 tortillas should be enough. Store them
in a plastic bag in the rerigerator. Prepare a dozen
Muns or snacks later in the day. Check the milk
& iced tea supply, prepare more as necessary.
Wednesday: When preparing the rice, make
enough or dinner tonight and breakast in the
morning. 2-cups dry rice, cooked in 4-cups o water
should be enough. Prepare the dough or Overnight
bread beore going to bed. Check the milk & iced
tea supply, prepare more as necessary.
Tursday: Soak the beans in boiling water to cover
or about an hour or two. Simmer until tender.
Prepare the soup as directed and chill until supper
time. Divide the bread dough into 4 loaves and set
aside to rise until doubled in bulk. Bake as directed.
Check the milk & iced tea supply, prepare more as
necessary.
Friday: Make enough rice or supper tonight and
letovers or breakast in the morning. 2-cups dry
rice cooked in 4-cups o water should be enough.
Check the milk & iced tea supply, prepare more as
necessary.
Saturday: Soak the lima beans in boiling water to
cover or about an hour or 2. Simmer until tenderand season as directed. Chill until supper time.
Check the milk & iced tea supply, prepare more as
necessary.
Sunday: Put the lentil chili on to cook and prepare
the custard and cornbread to bake at the same time.
For the recipes calling or resh garlic, substitute a
small amount o garlic powder instead.
o serve a hungry amily o 6 youll need to make
the ollowing changes:
n Increase the our to three 5 pound bags & bake 6
loaves o bread at a time instead o 4.n Buy 3 cans Orange Juice Concentrate instead o 2
n Double the Macaroni and Cheese served or lunches
making 2 boxes at a time instead o 1.
n Double the cans o una, Peas, Corn, Greens &
Spinach.
n Double the recipe or Creamed una & Peas.
n Double the recipe or Corn Fritters
n Double the recipe or Lentil Chili, adding 1 more can
o tomatoes to the shopping list.
nTis will increase the total spent to approximately
$51.
Daily WorkSunday Night: Mix up the dough or Overnight
Bread. Set it aside to rise. Mix up a gallon o milk
and a gallon o ea. Put both into the ridge to chill.
Clean the kitchen. Go to bed.
Monday: Begin the week with a hearty breakast.
Ater the breakast dishes are done, prepare the
vegetables or Lentil Soup, and put the Lentils on to
cook. Soak 2lbs o pinto beans in boiling water to
cover or 1 or 2 hours. Hal o them are or supper
tonight, and the other hal or supper tomorrow.
Punch down your bread dough which should be
nicely risen by now. Divide it into 4 loaves. Allow
it to rise or 1 or 2 hours, and then bake. Ater
soaking the pinto beans, boil them until tender and
rerigerate. Reheat hal o them or dinner and use
the other hal or tomorrow. Check the milk & iced
tea supply, prepare more as necessary.
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Check the milk & iced tea supply, prepare more
as necessary.
I you enjoyed this article check out my blog
at: www.hillbillyhousewie.com . Ive got tons o
recipes and money saving ideas which actually
work. ake a moment while youre there to sign
up or my newsletter.
Shopping List
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Menu
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Beans: ry growing a couple o dierent kinds obeans. For the urban homesteader, space is oten anissue, so i you have space restraints, stick with thepole bean varieties. A couple that I have had good
luck with are: Kentucky Wonder (OP) and BlueLake Pole (OP)
Broad Beans (Fava): Fava beans are very easy togrow and are an incredible treat to eat resh shelled.Fava beans should be planted in early spring (assoon as your ground can be worked). I have mostlygrown one variety and it is not being oered in
By Angelina Williamson
When planning your garden or the upcoming
spring season you have to make a lot o decisions
about what youre going to plant, whether or
not you will be starting seeds yoursel, or buying
transplants, and on top o all that you must gure
out where you are going to get your seeds rom. For
a beginning urban homesteader it can be challenging
to gure all this stu out (though usually its pretty
un too.) Here is a good selection o vegetables to
start with:
Planning the Urban
Homestead Spring Gardenor the new urban homesteader
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Lettuce: All you need to think about with lettuce isthat i you live in a very hot region you will want tolook or slow bolting varieties. All lettuce should beplanted in spring, earlier than your tomatoes. I havehad good luck growing Simpson Black-seeded (OP),om Tumb (OP), Red Sails (OP) and lettuce mixesrom a couple o dierent catalogs.
Hot Peppers: Everyone who loves peppers wants togrow bell peppers but getting good results is tricky.Hot peppers are easier to grow in my experience.Plus I hate bell peppers. Growing your own cayenneis easy and jalapenoes are also pretty easy or mostgardeners to get good results. I have not done theserom seed and have bought organic seedlings that
were the Long Tin Cayenne variety.
Squash: Summer squash is one o the easiestvegetables to grow. Some Ive really enjoyed growingare Black Beauty zucchini (OP), Yellow Crookneck(OP), Eight Ball (F1), Cocozelle Bush Zucchini(OP). Tere are so many other kinds out there andyou can do so much with them so dont be araid totry out a lot o dierent kinds!
any catalogs right now, so I cant give a personalrecommendation or this year, but I can tell you thatin England the standard is Broad Windsor (OP) andthere is one variety that looks a lot like the one Ivebeen growing called Negreta (OP) which I will betrying in the all.
Cucumbers: Cucumbers are easy to grow andsatisying to pick resh out o your garden or asalad. What to choose: slicing cucumbers. A coupleo kinds that I have grown mysel that were reallytasty are: Straight Eight (OP), Fountain (F1), and
Armenian (OP)
Kale: Kale is a very easy dark leay green to grow.Tere is no better source o vitamin C or calcium in
the vegetable kingdom. You can plant it airly earlyin the spring as it is a cool weather vegetable, it maybolt in the hottest part o summer. You can do asecond planting o it at the end o summer or alland winter eating. I have (strangely) never plantedkale beore. I am going to be planting Red Russian(OP) and White Russian (OP)
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the beginner is to not to try to grow absolutelyeverything the rst season.
A couple o things I dont recommend anyone
trying to grow as a beginner is: celery, melons, or
ennel. Ive been growing a garden or eight years
now and I still cant get any o these to grow well in
my garden.
What should you start rom seed yoursel and
what should you buy as transplants? I would start o
only starting vegetables rom seeds that can be direct
sown (put directly in the ground) which includes:
lettuce, cucumbers, kale, beans, and squash. In the
beginning I would peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants
as transplants because they are harder to start rom
omatoes: Most nurseries now have a huge varietyo both hybrid and heirloom varieties to chooserom. Te hybrids tend to produce more ruit but inmany cases have less avor than the heirlooms. Hereare some o my absolute avorites: Sungold (F1)(an orange cherry tomato), Black Plum (OP), AuntRubys German Green (OP), Siletz (OP), Marzano(OP).
Tere are so many other things you can plant,
such as the root vegetables. My list above is simply a
guideline to the easiest vegetables to start with i you
are doing a vegetable garden or the rst time. It will
give you a taste or the possibilities and your chance
o success with all o the vegetables Ive mentioned
above are extremely good. My only caution to
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pollinated seeds and have a very good reputation
amongst consumers.
Seeds O Change: Tis was my avorite seed
company when I lived in Caliornia. Teir seeds are
very good quality and I love their catalog. I dont
use them as much now because they carry a lot o
varieties that do better in warmer climates than the
one I live in now.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: Ive bought seeds
rom these guys occasionally and was very happy
with the results. Tey carry a lot o weird varieties
and the only danger with this company is assuming
that novelty translates into tasty. Sometimes
there is actually a reason why heirlooms have aded
rom use. However, or the sake o bio-diversity
the work they do to provide unusual and heirloom
vegetables is important.
Seed Savers Exchange: seeds arent just plants we
grow, seeds are little capsules o the earths history.
Whats magical about heirloom seeds is that in
each heirloom seed is the history o someones
amily, a history o origin, and a history o human
survival and ingenuity. A history o lie that can
be germinated again and again. Seed Savers started
as a group o people saving and exchanging amily
heirlooms and has grown into an organization
dedicated to protecting biodiversity and our
heritage in seeds. When you buy rom them you are
supporting their endeavors.
seed indoors and take a long time to get big enough
to put outside. Without the right conditions (proper
heat and light) the results can be very disappointing.
Ive labeled each variety Ive listed with
inormation about whether it is open pollinated
(OP) or is a hybrid (F1). Does it really matter?Hybrids are not necessarily a bad thing but they
are more limiting because until a hybrid has been
stabilized over a long period o time, you cannot
save their seeds to plant the next year and be sure o
what youre getting. Oten hybrids dont grow true
rom seed. When you plant open pollinated seeds
you can be sure that i prevented rom randomly
crossing with other varieties in the same amilyo plants, you will get the same results again and
again. As a general rule I preer to plant mostly open
pollinated varieties. Hybrids are not the same thing
as genetically engineered seeds.
Genetically engineered seeds are dangerous and evil.
Yeah, I know, you expected me to say that. How
do you avoid growing them? You buy seeds only
rom seed companies that have taken the sae seed
pledge. Is this important? It is i you want to keep
the environment sae or pollinating insects, or
humans, and or other animals.
Tere are a ton o great seed companies out there
but I am going to provide links only to ones that I
have had some personal experience with. All o the
companies I buy my seed rom have taken the sae
seed pledge.
erritorial Seed Co.: they are local to me and so
carry a lot o varieties o seeds that do well in the
Pacic Northwest. Tey carry predominantly open
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theme. For instance, my avorite is an English
garden, a little research will prove many owers
having roots to the land across the sea, and
once arranged properly will show o or any tea
party you may want to give. Below I will share
some popular ideas and even some very serious
choices or ches to herbalists! Te possibilities
are endless, like the choices o owers and
seeds, but dont be shy, any theme can work.
So dont be cooped with cabin ever, plan out
a theme garden or two. It will add charm to
any landscape and you will be the talk o the
neighborhood!
In the garden, anyone can be an artist
By Sue Neitzel
Winter is the most perect time to plan or
the new growing season and expanding your
spring wish list. Seed catalogs are ooding our
mailboxes right now, teasing us with those
picture perect owers that they promise will
grow and ourish in our gardens. But any level
headed gardener knows that is not always the
case, they tempt us knowing we cant resist. One
way to battle the temptations is to play around
with your space a little and think outside the
box, or in this case, inside the box. I have a lot
o un with theme gardens, it allows me the
reedom to try new plants and produce an eye
catching ower bed that has related species to a
Theme Gardens
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wort, and calendula just to name a ew dependingon your ailment. (Research is needed)
ouch GardenIn this garden, you want little hands to touch andeel the whole experience, these choices just begto be touched: uzzy lambs ear, the shy sensitive
plant, bronze ennel, scented geraniums, mints o allscents, and the lovely lavender.
Friendship GardenTis one is the easiest and most memorable. Justcollect seeds, cuttings or plants rom riends andamily, sharing the love o gardening and passing onthe all bounty o seeds to another. You can add aname plate with the donors name and relation too.
I hope I have encouraged you to think themes inyour gardens this year, they are un to plan and plantand there is not a better way to express yoursel andlikes, plus give Mother Nature a smile, or a laugh ora hug!
Check out my blog:www.countrypleasures.blogspot.comAnd Etsy Store:www.heart2home.etsy.com
English GardenTe Lords and Ladies o this British invasion mightinclude some English bluebells, oxgloves, heather,hollyhocks, sweet peas and columbines.
Fragrance GardenLet the winds embrace your senses with the sweet
smells o catnip, anise hyssop, lemon verbena,lavender, hops and pineapple sage.
Everlasting GardenI only they did last orever, but here in this bed theycan be cut and dried to near perection: bachelorsbuttons, yarrow, babies breath, static, cornowerand blue salvia.
Culinary GardenA must have or any che that cares about home
grown spices. Garlic chives, sweet basil, parsley,winter savory, oregano, and rosemary all can beplanted to be used resh or dried.
Butterfy GardenLure these winged beauties into your garden orhours o pleasure: zinnias, black eyed Susan, cleome,purple coneower, sweet William, and the butterybush.
Salsa GardenPlant this hot and spicy garden close to the kitchenor easy picking. omatoes o all kinds, onions oSpanish decent, jalapeos, habaneras and Hungarianpeppers to heat things up! And dont orget thecilantro and garlic too!
ea GardenBrew up your own blends o tea rom their owngarden spot. Valerian and chamomile or a sleepytime tea, catnip or colds and the u, nettle orallergies, sage or sore throats, and everew orheadaches.
Salve gardenHeal yoursel right at home with homemade salvesrom your garden. Just add the herbs to a carrieroil blend in beeswax and allow to set up. Comrey,mullein, yarrow, chickweed, plantain, St. Johns www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com
Oering a variety o
Quality
Handmade
Sewn Goods
Custom Orders aken
She Sews By the Seashore
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Seeds of InspirationBy Sue Steiner
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Prior to living in Kidron, Ohio I was an
organic market gardener and armer. I lived
with my husband and 4 children on an 80 acre
certied organic arm on which we raised and
grew a wide variety o ood or ourselves and or
market. I believe the seeds o learning how tosee the world through artists eyes was nurtured
and encouraged on
the arm. In the
atmosphere o open
spaces, nature, and the
rhythm o the seasons,
I learned how to see.
I suered culture
shock during the early
days on the arm. My
idea o arm lie and
the reality o that lie
clashed but I adjusted.
I was exposed to the
elements and nature
to a much greater
extent than I had ever
been beore. What I had aspired to or our
arm was going to take great leaps o aith and
sheer determination. We had bought a century
armhouse in need o major repairs on neglected
overgrown elds. I was a mother o a teen, a
toddler and a baby and in way over my head!
It was in this environment o hard work, harsh
weather, nature and the wonder o children that
I propose that many people seek out small
town living and rural communities because
the slower pace provides the time and space in
which to delve deep into their own thoughts,
inspirations and motivations in lie. Te small
town atmosphere provides some breathing roomin which ideas can take root and grow. People
can thrive, grow
and create in many
dierent environments
but I believe there
is something in the
rhythm o rural liethat helps this process
along.
I am an artist so the
mysteries o inspiration
and the creative
process are what bringrichness into my lie.
I live in a small rural
community on an 8
acre hobby arm with
my husband, kids and animals. Te subjects I
paint are mainly rural themes, animals, owers
and scenes rom the Amish who live in my area.
I incorporate these themes into my art because I
see the beauty in which I live. Tats what artists
do. But I have not always been an artist.
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among the weeds and hard work began the habit
in me to look or the inspiration and treasures in
simple things and ordinary places.
On the arm we would experience the
miracle o birth and the struggle or lie. Weexperienced the thrill o new discoveries and the
drudgery o endless chores. We elt satisaction
rom working with our hands and the misery
o back breaking work. We heard squeals
o delighted children while eeling utterly
exhausted. We experienced the joys interwoven
with the heartaches, the hard work mixed withthe delight, with tired bodies and open minds.
In this setting an almost magical thing happens.
Te beauty and inspiration appear like the sun
shining through the clouds ater a rainstorm and
most oten just when you think you have had
enough!
Now my eyes are trained as an artists eyes to
see the beauty beore me. Instead o seeing a
ditch o over grown weeds and a broken down
ence I see a multitude o intricate cobwebs
daintily outlined with drops o dew and a
wire ence sparkling as i adorned with the
nest crystals. Instead o seeing junk in my
neighbors collection o old barn siding I see
that the rusty metal oxidized into beautiul
contrasting colors o mossy greens and cool
blues against warm reds, russet and orange. I
see how the peeling paint on an old barn adds
I believe inspiration grew. In the resh air, the
sunshine, the open spaces, the bird songs, the
hard work, the whining, the crying, the driving
rain, the snow drits, the mud, slop and dirt
a person encounters lie on a very basic level!
Te juxtaposition o the good and the bad, thebeautiul and the ugly, the easy and the dicult
create a dichotomy in which the ordinary
becomes beautiul because you can see it with a
new perspective.
Our rst evening on the arm my husband
and I were looking out over the expanse othe overgrown elds, eeling more than a little
overwhelmed by the amount o work beore us.
My worries were interrupted when I noticed a
beautiul sunset as we watched the sun go down
over the weeds and the old dilapidated bank
barn. I thought the spectacular show o color
was a git to encourage us on our way. Tenext night the show o colors happened again
and again and I realized I had missed seeing
sunsets like that or most o my lie, not because
they didnt happen, but because I was not in
the position to see them! Up until then I had
not lived where I could see so much sky! Tat
was my rst arm experience in which I looked
beyond the ordinary to see the spectacular!
Te seeds o inspiration were urther cultivated
in dramatic ways such as the showy sunsets but
also in subtle, visceral ways too. Finding beauty
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texture, color and character to the landscape and
shows the guts behind the scenic rolling hills.
I see the sunower against a clear, blue sky as
it victoriously towers over the weeds. I see the
spark in the eye o my horse and the graceul
curve o his neck rather than mud on his coator the burrs in his mane. I know the ordinary
is there. I am not choosing to ignore it but I
am choosing to let it enhance and make the
ordinary beautiul!
Tis time o year many peoples thoughts
turn to gardening as the seed catalogs comein the mail. Te warm sun and the bountiul
harvest are un to anticipate while we wait or
the right time to plant. What I would like to do
is share with you a collage page rom my Seeds
o Inspiration art journal which I will add to
through out the year. My hope is to plant ideas
as it encourages you to keep your eyes looking
beyond the ordinary to what is beautiul in your
lie.
o see more o Sues wonderul, inspired
work check out her website at:
www.suesteiner.com
Blog: http://amulti-coloredlie.blogspot.com
Seeds o Inspiration CollageSue Steiner 2008
Mixed Media using ound and recycled materials
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Beore pricing products, calculate xed and variable
costs. Research markets and competitive price
points. Develop your unique selling proposition:
the qualities that dierentiate you or your products
rom competitors. Determine the margin you need
in order to walk away with dollars in your pocket.
Mistake #3: Generic Marketing and Advertising
You must develop eective strategies to market yourbusiness. But is your marketing plan working, or is
it just a waste o resources? Many business owners,
in an attempt to manage costs, develop their own
marketing campaigns only to ail to boost sales.
Teir campaigns become ineective and commonly
suer rom an irrelevant message or improper
niche marketing. o achieve your marketing and
advertising goals, you must have an eective
message, market position, and adequate unding. An
advertising message that is believable and relevant is
vital to success.
Mistake #4: Blowing through your capital
New business owners grossly underestimate their
nancial needs. ypically, inexperienced owners
Know how to avoid common pitalls in yourearly years o business, no matter how careul orknowledgeable you are, mistakes happen. Still, iyou heed voices o experience, you can dodge manycommon missteps. Here are six mistakes that newbusiness owners make requently and some advice
about how to avoid these problems.
Mistake #1: Passion without a plan
We always hear that entrepreneurs need passionto succeed. Well, enthusiasm can be overrated. o
grow your business and success in the long run, you
need more than energy and a re in your gut. You
need a plan. ake the time to thoroughly investigate
your market and target customers, the competition,
and other basics. Focus on answering simple
questions: How will I make money? How will I
grow the business?
Mistake #2: Selling too cheaply
New business owners oten emphasize quantity
over quality and gure rock bottom prices will
uel sales. More oten than not, it doesnt work
that way. Even i sales boom, the business doesnt
make enough prot to make ends meet or grow.
Six Mistakes oSmall BusinessBy Richard Musgrave
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problems. You can review your customer invoicing
policies, possibly shiting to a strategy where each
invoice carries a pay by date as well as the pre-
determined payment terms instead o invoicing in a
set pattern.
Mistake #6: Lack o know-howMany small businesses perish because the
entrepreneur simply lacks the know-how in a
particular aspect o business. Tis is particularly
true or sole proprietors who wear many hats. You
may be good at marketing, or example, but you
may need help in setting up your accounting system
or distributing products. Or you may have an idea
where to nd additional nancing, but lack the skills
to network and nd sources o capital.
You can complement your skills with the expertise
o a board o advisors, a mentor, or a business
advisor. You may not need a ormal board o
directors, but your business will benet rom the
advice o even two or three experienced people who
can give an honest assessment o your work or where
the business is heading.
Worry about being better; bigger will take care
o itsel. Tink one customer at a time and take
care o each one the best way you can.
- Gary Comer
overspend at the outset, buying more urniture,
technology, and supplies than they really need. New
owners also dont realize that ew customers pay
promptly. Ater developing personal and business
budgets that can sustain the company or the time it
will take to break even, add at least 50% to manage
your risk. o speed collections and boost cash ow,consider oering a discount or prompt payment.
Next, review how you perormed against your
business plan. Did you spend beyond your budget?
Your problem may lie in misguided or unrealistic
expectations o revenues. ry to explore other
nancing options, even open yoursel to accept
equity nancing. Your choices may be to build the
business yoursel and push it to success, then later
sell your interests or a air prot or be repeatedly
rustrated in attempts at nancing a business that
cannot achieve its potential because o insucient
capital.
Mistake #5: Poor management
Poor management ranks high among the reasons
many small businesses ail. It may cover anything
rom the inability to manage people, security,nancial aspects, marketing or customer relation
aspects o a business. One o the most neglected
and poorly managed aspects o small business
operation is security and loss prevention, particularly
or businesses with employees. According to U.S.
Department o Commerce statistics, employee
dishonesty alone causes 30 percent o all business
ailures. Consider implementing measures to
protect your business assets, such as inventory,
equipment, supplies, cash, and yes, your people.
Physical protection o employees and customers is
crucial, but oten overlooked. Poor credit
management is another common source o the
downall o many businesses. Te ailure to handle
credit well is oten the precursor o many cash ow
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Beehind the ThymeBy Pamela Anthony
Small TownLiving nFeb. - Mar. 200841
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Growing up in my elementary years I
remember waking up in the wee morning hours
on Saturdays. My mother, sister, and I would
head down to a local Junk Store to wait or it
to open. It would still be dark, reezing cold,
and crowded. Te doors opened at 8 a.m., the
regulars would start lining up at 5 a.m. to be therst in line because as soon as the doors opened
there would be a stampede. reasures would
be grabbed, tugged and ought over. Tese were
old treasures and collectibles. I thought growing
up, I cant believe anyone would want this old
stu, much less go through this to get it. I was
dragged to ea markets, auctions, and peoples
homes to buy what they assumed was trash, butto my mother and sister were treasure. Tis is
the reason I am where I am today. So lets ast
orward a ew years
My name is Pamela Anthony; I live on 4
acres that my home and shop rest on. I am
married to a wonderul, supportive man and I
have a 17 yr. old son. My mother is a big help to
my business and is an expert quilter as well.Mom enjoys helping me out with whatever I
need done helping to turn my patterns into
nished treasures. At the gatherings we have
on the arm, she cooks up all the soups and
cornbread that is served.
A big part o how my business came to be
resulted rom my desire to be a stay at home
mom. Even though I had always creating crats,I never thought o making it my career. Slowly
my sales to riends and amily began to grow.
During that time I grew, dried, and harvested
herbs and owers to make sachets, potpourri
and dried arrangements. In additional to sales
to riends I did the occasional show and estival.
Pamela Anthony, Owner o Beehind Thyme Standing beside a
wreath she created.
This is the sign that greets you as your approach the lane lead-
ing to Beehind Thyme.
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I decided to take a leap o aith and run an
advertisement in Country Sampler. Te positive
results rom that helped spur me on.
I have met a lot o people during my journey,
not one has ever discouraged me rom doing
what I am doing today. Te belie that my
customers have in me has been unbelievable. Ihave had the opportunity o speaking or the
University o Kentucky as a motivational mentor
in dierent counties. I also speak to small groups
here in my town and surrounding communities.
I oer classes here at the arm on a variety o
subjects including hand-painting, stitching,
oral arranging, and gardening. During these
classes, we visit with old riends and have theopportunity to make new, lasting riendships.
It seems to me thats what its all about. Te
Gatherings we hold here on the arm throughout
the year have drawn women rom as ar away as
ennessee. Tey seem to enjoy what we teach
as well as the chance to get together with others
who have similar interests.
I count mysel ortunate to be doing whatI enjoy. As a designer and creator o original
handmade objects, it thrills my soul to oer
them to customers. I enjoy seeing their eyes
light up when the spot that perect something.
Weve also started oering a unique candle line
that consists o Kitchen Aromas hand-whipped
and poured here at the arm. We package them
in old cheese crocks, enamel mugs and coveredcans. Customers who purchase them are able to
return them or rells at a discount when theyve
used them up.
Tere are several seasons during the year that
keep us hopping, Autumn or example. We raise
and sell mums, pumpkins and gourds. EachTin Pocket on Screen door... Olde Barn Roofng that has been gatheredaround the countryside has been transormed into hanging pockets. We fll
them with Drieds grown here along with Hand-painted items.
This is one o many Originals that you will fnd at Beehind Thyme, this Large
Heart Make-do comes in a fnished item or or you do-it-yourselers, patterns
are available also. All are handmade by Pamela or her Sweet Mother.
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mum is planted, eed and watered by hand.
Each pumpkin and gourd seed is patted into the
soil by hand. What a hectic season, but oh so
rewarding when you catch the aroma o a mum
as you brush past or watch pumpkin eld turn
a golden orange. I certainly enjoy lie in the
country!For anyone that is ever in this part o the
country rambling about please stop by and
say hello. Te garden benches, swings and the
sweet smell o wisteria are waiting or you. We
usually have a pot o coee brewed and a batch
o old ashion, brown sugar cookies to ll your
tummy and warm your spirit. Youre welcome to
wander about the cutting garden as well. Please,visit with us on any given day, whether it be in
person, by phone or online. In the meantime I
will be on the other side o the ence tending the
lilies.
o see more o Pamelas wonderul creations
check out her blog and Esty shop.
Blog: http://beehindthymeprimitives.blogspot.com
Etsy: www.BeehindTyme.etsy.com
Ebay id: thymeinthecountry
Blackeyed Susans... A Small portion o what awaits you as you stroll down
the lane to Beehind Thyme, Blackeyed Susans & the American Flags.
Catch a glimpse o our Mum Crop, all the most popular colors are grown
every year long with pumpkins, gourds & cornstalks or all your Autumn
Gatherings.
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In 2006 I had changed jobs and about a month
into the new one got sick. Initially I thought it was
the u. But when the situation lingered beyond howlong it seemed it should, I consulted with a couple
o physicians. Neither one knew exactly what was
going on. I had u like symptoms, weakness, chills,
and hand shaking. On top o that, I was nervous
and anxious which is not typical or either me or the
u. Fortunately a day or so ater seeing the second
doctor I thought about the hand tremors and
how they resembled drug withdrawal eects. On
a hunch, I Googled Caeine Withdrawal. I had
decided to eliminate caeine when I started my newjob and thought perhaps there was a connection. I
was aware that I would have headaches, which I did,
but discovered that all the things I was experiencing
were other side eects. In the past I have never gone
past a ew days and a couple o bad headaches, this
time I made it into a whole new series o symptoms
that I was unacquainted with.
My point or relating this episode is that in bothcases neither doctor asked simple questions relating
to diet, liestyle and such. ests were run, X-Rays
taken, and medications prescribed without any
regard to some o the simplest things relating to my
health.
Once I ound that caeine withdrawal was the
Part o the appeal or living in a small town is
how things seem simpler. Fewer choices mean
less analysis. I get overloaded pretty easy i I start
looking at my options or toothpaste alone ratherthan just get the cheapest or what I normally get.
How many dierent kinds do we really need? Mass
merchandising oers us a lot o solutions in various
packages and sizes. Got a cold? Well, then there
are over the counter meds that will dry up your
nose, open up your chest, help your ever, soothe
your throat and let you sleep better at night, in a
variety o combos. No longer do we need to worry
about combining dierent meds or a plethora
o symptoms. Which indeed are all most o thesemedications will do or you, ease symptoms. We all
know the root cause o our cold is either a virus or
an inection but were not so much concerned with
the root cause, as what that cause does to us.
I stopped and thought a bit about that; treating
symptoms, and or the most part that seems to be
what we do. We take antacid or our reux. Aspirin
or our headaches, other over the counter remediesto tackle symptoms. Most times we dont stop to dig
deep and nd the root cause. Its so much easier to
quickly pop the pill and chalk it up to stress or a bad
burrito. I things get requent enough we may go see
a doctor who oten times will prescribe another pill
to pop, one thats likely quite a bit more expensive
than the over the counter choice.
SimpleHealthBy Paul David Wilson
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or years. My nasal allergies were something which
I had been dealing with or about 7 or 8 years. One
doctor recommended surgery, another had suggested
weekly allergy shots. In act depending on what
they specialized in they oered their specialty as the
solution. I opted to hold o on the surgery and now
Im glad I did.
Another interesting actor to note was that all o
the medications I took or the allergies produced
side eects including headache, atigue, and
increased heart rate. But when you cant hardly
breathe through your nose and youre miserable,
those things dont mean as much to you as eeling
better. I didnt dream there was a simpler solution
that had no side eects.
And so I thought perhaps it was time to add
this column to our publication. Pharmaceutical
companies employ representatives to daily peddle
their wares to doctors oces. Billions are spent
in the marketing o prescription drugs directly to
the public as well. Little time or money is spent
encouraging people to eat right, drink plenty
o water, get your rest, take your vitamins and
supplements. Why is that? No money to be made.
No slick glossy commercial o happy people
walking, getting exercise, unless its to promote a
gym or tness program. Te simple things relating
to good health dont have the spokesmen that the
big companies have. Unortunately sometimes
our choices are limited by what we see and what is
constantly oered as a solution.
So my interest is stirred in simple things that
can contribute to good health. In this space eachissue Ill spend time sharing some o the great
things Ive ound that have been overlooked, under
promoted and generally buried under an avalanche
o commercial advertising. Im making this journey
o discovery or mysel and my amily and I hope
the inormation I share will help others as its helped
me.
problem I looked around or a source o more
inormation to help. I ound a wonderul book,
several hundred pages long with many medical
studies cited to back up the authors suggestions.
I read it, twice, well nearly three times. I learned
that I had no clue o all the eects caeine has on
the body. Another time Ill ollow this thought and
share some amazing i not alarming inormation Ilearned.
Tat experience was a turning point or me and
my health. I realized how ignorant I was o what
I ate, what ingredients I put in my mouth and
their eects on my health. I had downed gallons
o Mountain Dew and snack oods or years,
seemingly with no side-eects, but now I realized
I was just surng rom one sugar high to the nextto keep going. Now based on what Ive learned
my estimated sugar consumption rom soda alone
exceeded 500 teaspoons a month. Ive eliminated
that soda entirely and thus reduced not only the
caeine burden on my system, but also the sugar
overload. It took a while but within a couple o
months o doing this I began to eel better. At rst,
I missed the sugar highs but I kept going, carried on
by the stories o people who had done it beore me,
and said it was one o the best things they had done.
What I ound was that as my body began to adjust
to the absence o these things my energy evened
out throughout