43 minute read
Nature’s classroom
From left, Lakyn Weems, Hogan Williamson, Judy Snead and Eli Snead have fun feeding some of the chickens at Snead’s farm.
PHOTOS BY TONIA R. WILLIAMSON/LIFE IN THE SHUTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
City girl turned full-time farmer shares passion for animals and education
By Jennifer Crossley Howard
On a recent cold spring day, goldenrod glowed against dull, gray skies and porch swings floated idle on the county roads that lead to Snead’s Farmhouse. Judy Snead – farmer, educator, animal wrangler – walked to the side of her house and greeted her flock.
“Mama’s here!” she called with glee as she opened the gate. On command, a menagerie of chickens, pigs, ducks, peacocks, roosters and white turkeys came running with the enthusiasm of puppies. Every creature is welcome at Snead’s Farmhouse, amongst the crowing, oinking, cackling and mooing, and whatever sounds an alpaca makes.
These farm animals educate their Cullman County community and beyond about how they grow, and what it takes to run a small farm. So many of these species thrive together rather than being segregated, a typical farm practice. The notion of inclusivity, along with teaching and sharing the pleasures of how such a farm works, is what led to Snead reaching out to the public and schools.
Snead’s Farmhouse, a member of Cullman Electric Cooperative, is a 501C3 nonprofit educational farm that sits down many a winding road between Old Highway 31 and Alabama 157. It sprang unintentionally, and in Judy Snead’s case, in the middle of a pandemic. Her husband, a welder and carpenter, was transferred from Stapleton to north Alabama. Snead’s stepdad was sick and moved with the family in April 2019.
When they arrived at their new homestead deep in the woods of Cullman County, Snead was out of her element. “I am not a farmer,” she said, dressed in a barn coat and thick-soled boots. “I grew up in the city. I was in sales and wore heels.”
There was a simple wooden chicken coop behind their house that hadn’t been touched in a minute.
“I didn’t know anyone, and I couldn’t leave the house because of care taking,” Snead says. “I was depressed, and my husband said, ‘Why don’t you get some chickens?’” She asked him why she’d want to do that, and he told her fresh eggs.
“I said, ‘I’m not eating any eggs that come out of a chicken’s butt — mine are clean and come from (the grocery store),’” Snead says, laughing.
She has since eaten her own words, in a sense.
Farm animals find homes at Snead’s
It was the pale pastel blue-, gray- and clay-colored eggs that drew her to invest in more chickens, to expand her palette of eggs. Discovering fuzzy-footed chicks with huge hair didn’t hurt. “I thought, ‘Oh dear Jesus I’ve got to have that,’” Snead says, laughing. That led to collecting more species of chickens including Silkies, Tolbunt Polish and Cuckoo. “The more froufrou the chicken is, the harder it is to raise,” Snead says.
Then she decided she had to have a rooster. Then her husband’s
cousin gave her Dexter, a Hereford British beef cow, and he had to have a mate, named Dei Dei. Then Penny Lane the duck came along, followed by exotic white turkeys and peacocks. Her husband built a fence at some point, she said, indirectly egging on her collection. Later came Leroy Brown, a mischievous donkey that trots around the pasture not unlike a dog, and a couple of alpacas and goats.
Snead visits schools and gives tours to schools all over the state, including ones from Hartselle, Cullman and Tuscaloosa, Pleasant Grove and Adamsville. She educates her young students about egg incubation — sponsored by Chambers Farm and Garden Supply — and hosts home school classes and field trips for mentally ill and terminally ill adults.
“It’s just fun, and they’re all so excited,” Snead says. A script for a traveling puppet show written by Troy University theater students is in the works.
In the beginning, Snead grasped to find what she wanted the farm’s mission to be. “What do I teach kids?” Snead says. “I can’t be a petting zoo. I’ve got to teach them something.”
The multitude of farm animal personalities live in harmony, not despite of but perhaps because of their differences. Penny Lane, a disabled duck, hobbles about, and Susie Q the chicken flies to Snead and in return Snead sings her lullabies when it’s time for sleep. The animals even help raise each other. A duck sits on a chicken’s eggs, and a baby goat stays with a mother alpaca during the day and goes home to nurse with mom. “She encourages her independence,” Snead says. “Our job is to love.”
Organic growth
The farm’s first visitors came in March 2021, and outside interest seemed to follow an organic growth. At first, short tours of the small farm helped pay for upkeep. Later, other sponsors, including two feed companies, covered $600 a month feed bills and $160 a month for hay.
Chris Chambers, co-owner of Chambers Farm & Garden Supply in Cullman, decided to sponsor Snead for a few reasons. She is a customer, and the sponsorship allowed him to encourage use of a northern seed company not as commonly used in Alabama. She organized Chambers’ Fall Festival last year, and he admires her mission to educate.
“You can learn anything at any age,” he says.
Yet not everyone was a fan. Some local farmers and others from online farm message boards Snead looked to for advice often gave her one response — don’t.
“I’m breaking the rules about having chickens and people on my property,” Snead says. But because she isn’t farming for food, she invites people to tour and learn. Criticism led to tears, but her husband told her, chin up.
“I didn’t plan this, God did,” Snead says. “So I stood up, brushed myself off and kept going.”
It’s her husband, Shane, who Judy attributes to making Snead’s Farmhouse possible. “My husband is my biggest supporter,” she says. “This is what I cherish the most,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “When I’d bring home a new animal, I’d say, ‘just trust me.’ He allowed me to be me. This is me.”
Shane Snead, with his firm handshake and John Deere hoodie and cap, seems equally at home on the farm. “We have to tag team,” he says. The days of vacations away are over for now. Getting animals ready for bed takes a small village.
“It’s worse than a full-time job,” Shane Snead said, grinning. His wife said he soldiered through after a hernia surgery and tolerating new furry family members.
“It usually takes about three days before I realize and ask, ‘where did that come from?’” Shane Snead says.
Some elderly visitors come to settle into rocking lawn chairs that overlook the animals and just watch. The pigs are so used to playing chase with children that they skip over to visitors teasing them to run.
Perhaps the most apparent personality on this farm is Judy Snead herself. Flame-haired and enthusiastic, she dreamed of being a Broadway dancer growing up. These days her stage is a vast green field in Cullman County, and her audience is loud, furry and quite adoring.
“My kids are in shock,” Snead says. “I think I’m going through a midlife crisis. Most people get a Corvette. I got a farm.”
She said showing her young adult children the result of hard work is worth it all. “They know I’ve finally found my purpose.”
Hefty sandwiches
hallmark of thriving beach deli
Story and photos by Jennifer Kornegay
The pandemic caused massive suffering and countless hardships all over the globe. But, as is the case with so many dark clouds, there have been silver linings. One of them glints brightly in Gulf Shores: The Beli.
The outside of the The Beli, with its rainbow-lettered sign and cute cottage-like style, will make your mouth turn up in a smile. The action inside The Beli will make you glad too; this time the happiness happens to your taste buds, with the small kitchen turning out hefty sandwiches stuffed with creative combos of super-fresh ingredients that are big on taste, like the Big Momma, a behemoth of provolone, feta, turkey and jalapenos smothered in raspberry jam and hot sauce.
But if not for COVID-19, The Beli likely wouldn’t exist. It opened in April 2021 and is the result of a series of “right place, right time” moments. Owner Anna Beth Ryan grew up in Gadsden, Alabama, and after college, went to culinary school in New York City. After graduation, she went to work for famed chef Tom Colicchio at his restaurant Riverpark in Manhattan. All was well, with her cooking career moving along.
“And then 2020 happened,” Ryan says. Everyone at the restaurant got laid off, but everyone involved believed it was temporary. The 28-year-old came home to Gadsden, and then with her grandmother and other family members, decided to quarantine at the family’s beach house in Gulf Shores. “I thought I’d be down there for about two weeks,” she says.
Four months later, she was still in Gulf Shores and getting restless. A small turquoise building was being constructed down the street from her family’s house, and she stopped in to ask what it was going to be. “It was near us, and I was just curious,” she says. “The owners told me they wanted it to be a restaurant, and then they asked me what I thought it should be.”
Ryan quickly walked them through what she would do with the space and explained exactly how she’d do it. “I said it needed to be a sandwich shop; there aren’t many down here, and while seafood is great at the beach, sometimes, you do want something else.”
They ate up everything Ryan said, and not much later, called
Anna Beth Ryan, owner of The Beli, is serving big, savory sandwiches in Gulf Shores.
Ryan and said her concept won. “I didn’t know that was what was happening when I was talking to them; I was just sharing my thoughts,” she says. “They’d already heard from a few national chains but thought my ideas were better, and here we are.”
The Beli’s name is a mashup of “beach deli,” and its firm foundation is Ryan’s basic food philosophy: Simpler is better and fresh is everything. “Fresh ingredients are so key to good food. You just have to care enough to build your food around that,” she says.
And build is an appropriate verb to use. The Beli’s huge sandwiches are not made, they are constructed. The Miss V, with thick smears of spicy pimento cheese, mounds of sliced turkey and rounds of salami topped with lettuce, tomato and chive mayo on toasted sourdough, weighs in at almost a pound. The afore-mentioned Big Momma is large and in charge too. According to Ryan, it’s her in sandwich form. “All of my sandwiches are named after friends and family. It’s either kinda who I think they are or made up of their favorite things,” she says. The Dave-O (a breakfast sammy with spicy pimento cheese, a fried egg and bacon on toast) is Ryan’s cousin.
The Nut-Ella (also on the breakfast menu) is a cook she worked with in New York City. “She always made us melted Nutella sandwiches when we got home really late after work,” Ryan says. The Miss V is a combo. “It’s my grandmother’s feisty dog and an old friend Victoria who loves pimento cheese,” Ryan says. It and the Big Momma
are usually the best sellers. The food is the main draw, but the location is prime too. “I absolutely love this spot,” Ryan says. “The only thing that would make it better is if my deli was right on the beach.” A little over a year since it opened, The Beli is already expanding, adding more seating and room for live music. And Ryan is determined to get her food “right on the beach,” too, with plans to do some bike deliveries to the area’s West beach. While Ryan hopes The Beli diners taste the fresh difference and feel satisfied enough when they leave to plan a return visit, she also wants them to engage with her enthusiasm for serving her guests well. “I want you to love the food, but I want you to know how much I want you to love it,” she says. “I want you to taste that passion and want to come back for more.” She’s formed a hospitality company, Mouth of the South, and has plans to open additional restaurants in the future. “I want to get this running right, then be able to do some other ventures, but that is a few years off,” she says. For now, she’s happy in Gulf The Beli 408 West Beach Blvd. Shores. The next time you’re visiting Alabama’s beaches, make your way to The Beli. Your belly will be happy, too. Gulf Shores, AL 251-224-1053 thebeligs.com Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-3pm
The Beli is a casual, open-air “beach deli” that also offers outdoor seating. Gulf Shores l
Currently, more than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Since the onset of Alzheimer’s can occur in people before they retire, it may strike during an individual’s working years, preventing gainful employment as the disease progresses.
As a result, people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers must figure out how they’ll pay for care. Our benefits and services are vital to people with early-onset Alzheimer’s who are unable to work and have no other source of income.
For more than a decade, Social Security has included early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in our list of Compassionate Allowances program. The program identifies debilitating diseases and medical conditions so severe they meet our disability standards. Compassionate Allowances allow for faster processing of disability claims for individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and several other neurodegenerative disorders.
You can read more about our Compassionate Allowances program at ssa.gov/compassionateallowances. To learn more about how Social Security disability insurance works and to apply for benefits, visit our disability page at ssa.gov/disability. Please share these resources with friends and family.
Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
June crossword by Myles Mellor
Across 1 One of father’s roles for the wife and family 6 Give a title to 8 Sharing pronoun 9 Hole in one 10 We make them for trips to the grocery 11 Shirt part 12 “___ alive!” 13 Dad in slang 15 Drink that could be a Father’s Day gift 16 Surprised expression 18 “Bald” bird often seen in Pickwick, Wheeler and Guntersville lakes 20 Paths for family outings 21 “Father of the National Parks” John ____ 22 Forthright and truthful: great attribute for a father 24 Gulf Shores beach features 27 Where dad often cooks the BBQ 28 Den is often one for Dad 29 Short form of Dad 30 Cancels, with “out” 32 Delicious 33 A child might make this type of drawing of the family for Dad Down 1 Bread-winner 2 Gumbo vegetables 3 A good father sets a good one for his kids 4 Classic Father’s Day gift 5 Good dads are great ___ models 6 Tough love from Dad 7 Shrubs for father’s garden 14 Indian dress 17 Diligence, 2 words 19 Caves 20 Educates one-on-one 21 Alabama neighbor, abbr. 23 High strength adhesive used in many of dad’s DIY projects 25 Hidden money 26 See 31 Measurement of distance, abbr.
Answers on Page 53
Guntersville Lake HydroFest brings the tradition of powerboat racing to Marshall County.
PHOTO BY CHRIS DENSLOW
25 Clanton 2022 Chilton County Peach Jam Jubilee, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Clanton City Park. Free event with live music from Drake White and Kasey Tyndall. Arts, crafts and food vendors, with kids’ activities and inflatables. 205755-2400 or email info@chiltonchamber.org
25-26 Guntersville Guntersville Lake Hydrofest. Watch today’s fastest boats race four and five wide on an oval course at speeds of 200 mph. Two days of competitive racing as drivers vie to take home the Southern Cup title. For ticket information, visit ExploreLakeGuntersville.Com
JUNE
3-4 Haleyville 9-1-1 Festival. Country music star Sara Evans will play at 9 p.m. Friday; Saturday events begin at 8 a.m. Arts, crafts, merchandise and food vendors, free kids zone, cornhole tournament, 9-1-1 and First Responder Awards, open mic Saturday featuring local artists and groups, car show and parade. Event commemorates the first 9-1-1 system, which was launched in Haleyville in 1968. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.
3-4 Bessemer QuiltFest 2022, presented by the Birmingham Quilters Guild. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bessemer Civic Center. Judged quilt show, 300+ quilts, vendors, guild boutique and more. Silent auction benefits Lakeshore Foundation. Bhamquilters.com or 985-788-3015.
3-4 Georgiana 2022 Hank Williams Festival, Hank Williams Music Park. A full schedule of musical artists, including headliners Gene Watson on Friday and Neal McCoy on Saturday. Arts, crafts and food all weekend. HankWilliamsFestival.com
3-6 Childersburg DeSoto Caverns will change its name to Majestic Caverns with a celebration featuring live entertainment. The three-day event will kick off National Cave Week and National Cave Day on June 6. Online tickets are half off when using the promo code Majestic. Parking is free; ages 3 and under are also free. MajesticCaverns.com
4Alabaster Alabaster CityFest, Thompson High School, 1921 Warrior Parkway. Event is celebrating its 20th year with musical entertainment, classic car show, hands-on arts and crafts, inflatables, children’s activities and more. Free. Gates open at 9 a.m. and close after the last act. AlabasterCityfest.com
4Orrville BYOB (Bring Your Own Bike) tour of Old Cahawba, 10 a.m., $8. Old Cahawba is Alabama’s most famous ghost town, and in 1819 was the state’s first capital. 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville. Bring water and snacks. For more information, visit ahc.alabama.gov or call 334872-8058. 11 Oneonta 20th annual June Fling, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 booths, a cruise-in for all kinds of vehicles, a Kidz Fun Zone, live music and entertainment on two stages all day. Free. OneontaBusinessAssociation.com
11 Fort Payne 9th annual Bluegrass on the Rim, Little River Canyon Center. Several performers, including Three on a String and Foggy Hollow. Bring folding chairs and blankets; pets and coolers welcome. Barbecue and other vendors on site. Adult tickets $25 in advance, $30 day of show; student tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. See the event’s page on Facebook.
11 Bessemer Central Alabama Caribbean American Association (CACAO) annual carnival, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Debardelaben Park. Parade, music, food and fun. 205-683-5324 or cacaoonline.org
17-18 Marion 27th annual Marion Rodeo, Perry County Cattlemen’s Ralph Eagle Memorial Arena, highways 5 and 14 in Perry County. Gates open at 6 p.m.; mutton bustin’ at 6:30 p.m.; little wranglers at 7:15 p.m.; main event at 7:30 p.m. Produced by 3R Rodeo Company of Jemison with announcer Jerry Byrd and rodeo clown TJ Williams. 334-410-0748.
18 Brewton Blueberry Festival at Jennings Park, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arts and crafts and food vendors, blueberry ice cream, cobbler and crunch, blueberries and blueberry bushes for sale, antique/classic car show, free children’s fun section, live entertainment and more. 251-8673224.
18 Foley 6th annual Corn Festival Car Show, hosted by the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermans Market. Charity event benefits Camp Seale Harris Southeastern Juvenile Diabetes Education Services. Free for spectators. 251-284-1223 or visit gulfshores.com
JULY
3-4 Grand Bay 48th annual Grand Bay Watermelon Festival, Grand Bay Odd Fellows Festival Park. 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. On Sunday, there will be vendors, rides and entertainment and a non-denominational worship service about 6 p.m. On the Fourth, there will be free all-youcan-eat watermelon, children’s entertainment, a car show and “pretty baby” contest. GrandBayWatermelonFestival.org
4Henagar 40th Annual Sand Mountain Potato Festival, Henagar City Park. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Limon’s Restaurant in Henagar. Festival includes live entertainment, craft vendors, food vendors, and game vendors for the kids. Free entry and entertainment. Fireworks display at 9 p.m. 256-657-6282.
4Cullman Smith Lake Park Fireworks and Music Festival, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 403 County Road 386. Arts and crafts, food, live music, golf cart parade and fireworks. The park will have putt-putt, beach area, pool and kayaks, canoes and paddle boards for rental. $5 per person. Search for the event on Facebook or call 256739-2916.
4Gulf Shores Independence Day Celebration, Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier, 20800 E. Beach Blvd. Pier will close at 7 a.m. for fireworks setup; fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. Free. 251-967-3474.
21-24 Union Springs “Honky Tonk Laundry” at the Red Door Theatre. Featuring the songs of country music’s most famous ladies, the musical tells the story of Lana Mae and Katie, who turn their good ol’ laundromat into a bootscootin’ honky tonk. 334738-8687 or visit RedDoorTheatre.org for ticket information.
Call or verify events before you make plans to attend. Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, some events may change or be canceled after press time.
To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.
Leading the Guard
Major General Sheryl E. Gordon is the first female to become adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, having been named to the position in 2017. She advises the governor on military affairs and commands the Alabama Army and Air National Guard and its more than 12,000 citizen soldiers and airmen. Gordon, who holds degrees from Birmingham-Southern College, Auburn University Montgomery and the Army War College, was commissioned in 1981 through the Alabama Military Academy. She became the Alabama National Guard’s first female general officer in 2009. She previously served as Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of 62nd Troop Command in Montgomery, and has been awarded numerous medals and badges. Gordon was kind enough to answer a few questions for Alabama Living. – Lenore Vickrey
Tell us about your growing-up years, where you went to school, and a little about your family.
I was born and raised in Selma and graduated from Selma High School. I come from a family deeply rooted in the military and later married into a family with deep military roots. My father and brother were both officers in the Alabama National Guard — my father, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and my brother, a brigadier general in the Army National Guard. So, of course, I had to become an officer too. My husband is a retired lieutenant colonel.
How did your years as a high school chemistry teacher and vice principal prepare you for your career in the Guard?
The most rewarding part of my journey has been witnessing the military, civilian, and personal successes of young soldiers and airmen. It is very similar to my experiences as a high school teacher and administrator. You are always pleased to see that your students have become confident and productive members of society. I view my job now, just as I did in education, to provide the soldiers and airmen the proper training and opportunities for them to excel in their lives.
I believe it is important that everyone have a mentor and be a mentor. I had several mentors guiding me along the way. As a current Guardsman, retired high school teacher and administrator, I’ve always considered myself a mentor for our younger generation.
What is a typical day like for you?
I start early. This is the best time to exercise, catch up on reading, and plan the day. Many of my days consist of meetings and calls. The best days are when I visit our Guardsmen training in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia or overseas performing a mission.
In an interview in 2017, you said the biggest challenge for the Alabama National Guard was readiness. Is that still the case?
Readiness is central to the Alabama National Guard vision, mission, and priorities. This means people first. I said it in 2017 and it is true today, if you don’t have the personnel, your training plan can be great, but if you don’t have anyone to train, it doesn’t make a difference.
Because readiness is about our people, it is important to care for the things that matter most to them. For example, we remain committed to taking care of our soldiers, airmen, families, and civilian employees. We do this by listening to their needs and when possible, providing new opportunities and benefits. When soldiers and airmen know the family is taken care of, we can focus on living the Army and Air values, training for state and federal missions, and strengthening our alliances and partnerships to sustain long-term success in wartime and peace.
What’s the most important thing about the Guard that you want the people of Alabama to know?
I want the community to understand that the guard is there to support them on a state and national level. Guardsmen volunteer their services; yes, they get paid, but first they must be willing to raise their right hand and take an oath to preserve and protect. When Covid-19 hit, soldiers and airmen worked together in rural communities giving vaccines to those in need. Guardsmen assisted in nursing homes, at the same time they responded to Hurricane Ida and held a presence against civil unrest. The most important thing for the people of Alabama to know about the Guard is we are always ready and always there.
How do you decompress after a week at work? What are your hobbies?
I enjoy decompressing at the lake, Orange Beach, most anywhere there is sun and water. Although I don’t get to do it as often as I would like, quail and deer hunting are hobbies I learned while growing up in Selma. I also enjoy reading, cooking and flower gardening.
Ask for help with vacation-proof gardening
It’s gardening season. Yay! And it’s vacation season. Also, yay! But as much as we look forward to both seasons, their overlap can pose a dilemma for us gardeners.
Left unsupervised, gardens, landscapes and houseplants are at risk of withering away or running amok, and no one wants to come home from a relaxing holiday to find dead or dying plants or a vegetable garden filled with overripe, rotten produce. Thankfully there are ways to have our vacations and our gardens, too.
The most foolproof option is to engage a garden sitter. Much like house or pet sitters, garden sitters are part of a lucrative and growing service industry that’s especially popular among folks who take long-term seasonal trips (snowbirds who fly south for the winter and north for the summer, for example).
But even short-term travelers can benefit from having boots and gloves on the ground in their absence, whether it’s an experienced landscape manager, a reliable high school or college student in need of summer work or simply a fellow gardener who’s willing to help out. (Some sitters may also be willing to pick up mail, newspapers and packages, keep an eye on the house and even pet sit as well.)
Figuring out how much to pay a sitter JUNE TIPS depends on the level of expertise and fre• Plant sweet potatoes as well as beans, quency of visits needed and will add to corn, melons, peas, okra and other the cost of a vacation. But you can make summer vegetables. it more affordable if you tap into local re- • Fertilize most shrubs, newly planted trees, sources. For example, if you already have annuals and perennials. a landscape maintenance company on • Keep bird feeders and baths cleaned and your payroll, they may be willing to do a filled. • Repot houseplants. • Stake tall flowers and vegetables. • Keep an eye out for disease and pest issues. • Keep weeding!
few extra chores for a little extra pay. Or consider bartering a deal with friends and family willing to be paid with all the produce, herbs or cut flowers they can gather in your absence. Another idea is to arrange a sitter swap with your gardening pals — they’ll help you while you’re away if you’ll do the same for them.
To streamline the process for your sitter, develop a list of chores you want completed and walk through the list and your landscape a few days before you depart to show them the lay of the landscape including where tools are kept and any special techniques you want them to use. You can also improve efficiency for them by doing things like grouping potted plants close together to make watering easier.
If engaging a sitter isn’t possible, there are ways to leave your plants on their own recognizance.
Here are a few tips: • Water outdoor plants deeply and slowly and mulch them to retain water and suppress weeds. • Put houseplants in cooler indoor rooms and/or place them on damp towels in a tub or sink. • Move outside containerized plants to cooler, shadier locations such as under an awning or covered porch. • Use timers on hoses and irrigation systems, though it’s a good idea to let a friend or neighbor know you’re going to be out of town in case an obvious leak occurs. • Pick all ripe and nearly ripe produce right before you leave. • If you know well ahead of time when you’re traveling, consider staggering planting dates for annual vegetables to time their maturity around your return. • Thoroughly weed and An irrigation system with a timer is one way to ensure proper watering when mow just before you go. you're away. Lots of additional tips and details about vacation-proofing your plants and landscape are available online or check with your local Cooperative Extension office, Master Gardener association or garden center experts. Then do your best to relax and rest up for the rest of the gardening season and year. Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.
Fit bits An occasional feature focusing on healthy habits, gadgets and recipes. Send comments or ideas to contact@alabamaliving.coop
Seven simple steps to a healthier lifestyle
• Get active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, spread out over several days. • Eat better. Make sure your diet is colorful and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and nuts. • Maintain a healthy weight. • Cholesterol control. Adding color to your diet, exercising more and eating smart can help lower cholesterol levels. • Control blood pressure. • Blood glucose (sugar) control. Cut added sugar by checking nutrition labels and reducing sugary drinks and sweets. • Stop smoking. Smoking puts you at risk of multiple diseases.
Aloha Chicken
Cooking spray 6 skinless chicken thighs 2 teaspoons chili powder 2 teaspoons garlic powder ¾ cup sweet barbecue sauce 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons pepper 20-ounce can pineapple chunks, drained 2 cups sliced red pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and set it to the side. In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat the chicken on both sides with the mixture and place the chicken on the sheet. Top the chicken with barbecue sauce and spread the peppers and pineapple around the chicken. Bake for 40 minutes or until meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Try serving over cooked whole-grain rice.
Recipe courtesy of Live Well Alabama, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAPEd) initiative developed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University. Learn more at LiveWellAlabama.com Courtesy of heart.org, via the Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing at an alarming rate, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Ten percent of people over the age of 65 have the disease, and two-thirds of them are women. Someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s every minute.
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Learn more about the “go purple” movement and how you can raise awareness at alz.org
What you need to know before going solar
Q:I am considering a solar array on the roof of my home. What steps should I take with efficiency and energy savings in mind?
A:When I tell people I work in energy efficiency, one of the first responses I hear is, “Oh, I’m thinking about getting solar installed on my house.” I hear it around campfires, meeting other parents at the park and on the ride to the airport.
Most people don’t realize solar is not energy efficiency. Solar is generating energy. Energy efficiency is finding ways to use less energy. I can see the association because both are thought of as beneficial to the environment and a way to save money.
My follow-up question is, “What are your motivations for installing solar?”
In my experience, people are motivated by saving money, concern for the environment or both. Focusing first on energy efficiency addresses both motivations.
Here are considerations if you are interested in installing solar.
Before adding a solar array to your roof, make sure you take into account energy efficiency and cost-savings.
PHOTO COURTESY MIKE TEEGARDEN, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES
Energy consumption
Solar systems are sized based on a home’s energy needs. The larger the system, the higher the cost. Before installing solar, make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. That means it will use less energy and allow you to install a smaller solar system—which will save money and reduce your home’s environmental impact.
Verify the efficiency of your lighting, HVAC systems and insulation. A fully insulated and air-sealed home uses less energy, and those measures are less expensive than solar panels. Finish these energy efficiency projects before installing solar.
Affordability
Consider your overall out-of-pocket expenses. The expected lifespan of a heating and cooling system is 15 to 25 years. Check the age and condition of your HVAC equipment and consider the expenses of replacement. If something happens, will you be able to afford to fix or replace it?
Maintenance
A solar system doesn’t last forever. Lifespans range from 25 to 30 years. As systems degrade over time, they produce less energy. Maintenance and repairs may be needed.
Electric bills and storage
Solar is not “off the grid.” Unless you plan to disconnect from your electric co-op, you will still receive a monthly bill.
Solar panels only produce power when the sun is shining. If you want power to your home at other times, like after dark, you need to be connected to your electric co-op or invest in battery storage system — that comes at an additional cost.
During power outages, don’t assume solar panels will supply you with power. Typical solar interconnection to the grid requires the panels to shut down during a power outage. This protects lineworkers from injury while making repairs.
Contact your electric co-op
Solar contractors often work in several utility service territories and may not be familiar with your co-op’s offerings, rate structures and interconnection agreements.
Before signing an agreement, check with your electric co-op for local information rather than relying on what the contractor says.
As with any other system for your home, I recommend getting bids from three contractors to compare equipment and pricing.
Another option may be community-owned solar. Many electric co-ops offer community solar programs. You may have an option to enjoy the benefits of solar without the responsibilities of ownership and maintenance.
Understanding these considerations before installing solar will ensure you meet your money-saving and environmental goals.
Roofing
Consider the age, orientation and shade of your roof. It is more difficult — and expensive — to reroof a home with solar panels. Will the roof need to be replaced before the solar panels need to be replaced?
The best orientation for solar panels is south facing to receive direct light throughout the day. A shaded roof helps keep your home cool in the summertime but reduces solar energy production.
Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group, which partners with electric utilities to provide energy efficiency services to members. She writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.
Enclose your yard to keep dogs safe
Afew months ago, I got a call from a concerned woman near Atlanta. She said that her elderly uncle lives near us and his two dogs escaped. We posted pictures on our FB page immediately. In about 3 hours, she texted us saying that they found them; someone had shot and killed both dogs.
I have had farmer clients who said when they see dogs in their cow pasture, these dogs tend to get a “heart attack.” The casual nature of these statements shocked me.
About four years ago when we were just starting out here, a group of young folks drove up. They said they were thinking about getting a new dog as theirs had recently been hit by a car. I tried to bring up the concept of a fence. They said they do not believe in keeping dogs enclosed as dogs are supposed to be free. I was dumbfounded as they had just told me that their last dog had been killed because he wasn’t contained.
Just last week our employee’s second dog was attacked and killed on her property by the neighbor’s dogs.
I can go on and on. Almost every week I hear a direct or indirect horrid experience with dogs that are not restricted to their properties.
When we moved here from Oregon, we used to stop when we saw a dead dog on the roads to look for any identifying tags to notify the owners. After nearly seven years, we got jaded and realized that there will not be a microchip or owner’s telephone number on these poor dogs. We do not stop anymore.
As you have guessed, I am trying to encourage everyone to keep their dogs restricted to their property. I think the best way to do this is to have a physical fence. Chain link fences are expensive. A much cheaper alternative is a combination wood and T-post four- to six-foot sheep and goat fence with barbed wires on top to make it higher. A very rough estimate to enclose a ¼ acre property (the boundaries being about 400 feet) can be somewhere around $800 if you are willing to do the work yourself. I priced things at Lowe’s. I am sure that you can shop around and bring the cost down.
I think radio collar fences like Invisible Fence are also a viable alternative in many cases. The idea is to bury a wire along the perimeter of the area you want your dog to stay in. Although it isn’t as secure as a proper fence, it’s a great option, especially for little dogs. There are many other brands in the market.
Now going down to less desirable but still better than being hit by car category:
Think about an overhead-trolley exerciser or aerial-tie-out cable. The next thing to consider is just a tie out with proper shed and shelter and access to water.
This is not the best choice, but a far better option than being run over or getting shot by a farmer for bothering his cows.
Now let me get back to my “broken record” plea. Imagine a scenario where the county has kind and wise animal care officers who are paid handsomely from the annual licensing fees the county collects from the numerous dogs in our communities. Anyone who has an intact dog over a certain age will be paying a slightly higher licensing fee. The breeders will obtain a breeding license and the premises will be inspected to keep up to date to USDA standards.
I realize this is all a dream, but these measures are not draconian infringement on personal rights – they’re an encouragement to people to be socially responsible. I heard one of the local mayors say that they are not particularly moved by animal welfare issues but tired of getting phone calls about loose dogs. The primary elections are over, but runoffs in many counties and municipalities are possible. Please choose a candidate who will support pet-related legislation, and proper enforcement.
Goutam Mukherjee, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (Dr. G) has been a veterinarian for more than 30 years. He owns High Falls Holistic Veterinary Care near Geraldine, Alabama. To suggest topics for future discussions, email him at contact@alabamaliving.coop A well-built, permanent enclosure can protect your four-legged friend.
Electric co-ops are building toward an EV mobile future
By Derrill Holly
With dozens of new electric vehicle models being released over the next few years, public charging availability will be more of an issue for consumers, especially in rural communities where stations are scarce.
PHOTO COURTESY TODAY’S POWER, INC.
With dozens of new electric vehicle models, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans, being released over the next few years, public charging availability will be more of an issue for consumers, especially in rural communities where stations are scarce.
Utilities, including electric cooperatives, will be serving new electric vehicle (EV) load and extending the reach of public charging networks now under development or proposed for major transportation corridors.
“Electric vehicles are evolving rapidly and, as they do, use and charging patterns are shifting and consumers are getting a better understanding of how they can use the vehicles,” says Brett Smith, director of technology for the Center for Automotive Research. The non-profit organization conducts independent research on behalf of the global mobility industry.
Still, one of the major challenges facing market acceptance remains a lack of charging infrastructure in many parts of the country. As of December 2021, there were about 113,000 charging ports available at 46,090 public charging stations nationwide.
“You’re going to see the need to really invest in infrastructure over the next five to 10 years,” says Smith, adding that some buyers who have the option of home charging have not reached the comfort level essential to use EVs for longer trips. “They don’t see the infrastructure out there. You’re probably at some point going to need to make it seem like overinvestment, because you have to make the consumer comfortable.”
The federal government estimates that 500,000 public chargers will be needed by 2030, and it is currently investing $7.5 billion to help build a network of public chargers along major highways and in rural areas. The funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed into law last November.
According to the Department of Energy, the majority of ports now being deployed for public use are DC fast chargers that provide 60 to 80 miles of range for 20 minutes of charging time, compared to four minutes at the pump for most gasoline-powered vehicles.
Smith said it may be feasible to charge EVs up to 80% of capacity in about 15 minutes.
“Whether that’s perfect for everybody or not, if it becomes a standard or an accepted practice, I think people could become comfortable with that,” he says.
The Joint Office for Electric Vehicle Charging and Infrastructure operated by the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation is developing a grant program to help states and local partners, including electric co-ops, develop public charging facilities.
“NRECA and electric cooperatives formed the Community Approach to Vehicle Electrification funding interest group. This group of co-ops is focused on using their detailed knowledge of local needs to address vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure,” says Brian Sloboda, NRECA’s director of consumer solutions.
Across the U.S., many electric cooperatives are already in regular contact with their state departments of transportation (DOTs) to discuss current and proposed Alternative Fuel Corridors. These corridors will be the areas eligible for federal funding. State DOTs must submit an EV infrastructure plan to the federal government by August 1, 2022.
“Electric co-ops can help their (state) DOTs by identifying areas of the service territory where EV charging infrastructure could be placed in an economic manner that overlap with current or proposed Alternative Fuel Corridors,” says Sloboda.
Under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, public EV charging infrastructure should be located every 50 miles along major travel corridors, and no more than 1 mile from the highway.
“The focus on local needs will ensure that the college tailgate parties, national parks, highway interchanges, local businesses and county fairs are adequately represented,” says Sloboda. “They will place the infrastructure where the people and local businesses are.”
The DOE’s Alternate Fuels Data Center has developed a Station Locator Tool (SLT) mobile app. During the government’s 2021 fiscal year, the SLT site attracted 6 million page views and topped 3,900 downloads. According to the DOE, the site provided more than 1.3 million searches for EV charging stations for the fiscal year.
Drive Electric Alabama promotes EV usage
In Alabama, a program called Drive Electric Alabama is the official statewide initiative coordinated by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) designed to educate consumers, utility regulators, and government officials about electric vehicles. ADECA has developed a statewide Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan (EVIP) to guide the deployment of state resources for an EV charging infrastructure. In June 2021, the state combined funds appropriated by the legislature with Volkswagen settlement funds, and ADECA awarded 18 grants totaling more than $4.1 million to finance the installation of several charging stations to be installed in 2022. The EVIP notes that this will more than double the number of publicly accessible fast charger locations statewide. Locations are predominantly along the I-20/I-59/I-459 corridor between Tuscaloosa and the Georgia state line. For more information, see driveelectric. alabama.gov.
Electric co-ops face challenges, opportunities as power generation evolves
By Michael Leitman
As the economy continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy sector is still experiencing lingering impacts to fuel markets and sources for power generation. In the coming years, however, it is expected that the industry will normalize back to recent trends and the pre-pandemic trajectory.
At the height of the pandemic, in 2020, national retail electricity sales declined by 2.5%, accompanied by a shift in demand patterns and in generation mix. As people spent more time at home due to social distancing measures, U.S. residential sales rose by 1.7% while commercial and industrial sales fell by 5.4% and 4.3%, respectively. With demand for natural gas declining, generators took advantage of low fuel prices and the share of power coming from gas-fired resources increased for the third straight year, while the share from coal continued to decline.
In 2021, the economy started to reopen, and demand recovered, but natural gas production was slow to ramp up, leading to increased fuel prices. As a result, the share of U.S. electricity powered by natural gas fell in 2021, for the first time since 2017. This drop was offset by an increase in coal-fired generation, bucking a multiyear trend that saw the use of coal for electricity declining every year since 2014. Though natural gas remains the dominant fuel source in the U.S., the share from non-hydro renewables, primarily wind and solar, has steadily increased for the last several years.
Going forward, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that the share of coal and natural gas in the electric generation mix will decline as the rapid growth of non-hydro renewables, especially solar, continues. According to EIA’s projections, renewable energy sources will surpass natural gas as the largest source for generation by 2030.
Nevertheless, natural gas is expected to remain an important fuel source for electric power, due to its abundant supply. Perhaps more importantly, gas-fired units can respond more easily to changes in system conditions, which is crucial for maintaining reliability of the electric grid, as the fuel mix transitions to higher penetrations of wind and solar resources that do not run all the time. Batteries, which have become cheaper and more powerful in recent years, will also play an important role in supporting renewable resources.
In recent years, severe weather events have highlighted the need for fuel diversity in maintaining system resiliency. That is, if one source of power is constrained during a storm, having others available to fill the gap can provide stability and keep the lights on. But as the generation mix shifts away from conventional fuels, additional changes will be necessary to accommodate the upcoming changes and ensure both resiliency and reliability. Modernizing the national grid with new technologies can offer a variety of solutions during the energy transition. The use of advanced data, two-way communications and digital software enable better and more efficient management of the electric system. Although traditional, hands-on roles are still crucial for electric operations, there will be a need for new expertise to integrate and utilize these new technologies across the entire energy industry.
Through the evolution of the power generation mix and the electric sector in general over the next several years, there will be a number of challenges and opportunities for electric cooperatives as they continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable power to the local communities they serve.
Michael Leitman writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
