In The Field magazine Polk edition by Berry Publications, Inc

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

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Business Up Front Big Dawg Metals By Ginny Mink When we spoke with Steve Smith, owner of Big Dawg Metals, we wanted to know what his connection to agriculture entailed. He told us, “I was very involved in FFA all through school. I was president of the FFA at George Jenkins.” He then explained that he was still actively involved in agriculture. “We own a farm in Georgia where we bale hay, grow cotton, corn, soybeans, and peanuts. We have done some produce farming in the past, however, have gotten away from that now. We also raised hogs and had a line of registered Brangus cows. Years ago, in the fifty’s, my uncle was president of the National Brangus Association. Other than now, becoming basically a deer farmer, that is most of my agricultural background.” So where did the metal business stem from? He said, “As far as my business, I started working for my father right out of high school. We have been in business for over 30 years. After about 10 years of working for him, I branched out on my own and started my own company about a year ago. At Big Dawg Metals I roll form an R and PBR panel for commercial and agricultural use. We also sell quite a bit of AG panel, as it is referred to. The AG panel has a variety of uses residentially and agriculturally. We can supply sheet metal for most roofing applications.” Given the length of time in the industry we asked Steve for some background information. He shared, “My father has always been one of the most honest, Christian, hard working men I have ever known. While going to college at ABAC, and raising a family, Dad needed a job. He went to a mobile home manufacturer and was told they had no openings. He then told the gentleman that he would sweep floors if he had to. That he would do just that for a week without pay, if at the end of the week the gentleman would give him his word that he would hire him and pay the amount my father was asking for if he did a good job. After that week, Dad was hired and within three years was their number one salesman in the southeast. He was then given the opportunity to move to Florida and run a branch for the company. That business was later bought out and my father started his own business.” We think it’s amazing that people really did trust one another’s word back then. He continued, “So my father has since gone from the mobile home industry to roll forming aluminum for back yard storage sheds, to the present where not only are we doing that but also in the steel industry as well. It has been an uphill battle but with honest relationships and our faith, we have been able to make it through some great times and WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

some trying times in the industry. A testimony to that is that we still employ some of our original work force that we started with in the beginning and still sell to the same original customers that helped us get started.” So, if they are both in the same industry, what’s the difference? He explained, “My father’s focus is still in the aluminum industry as we supply most of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He sells a different type of roll formed steel than I do also. They can be used for some of the same applications. However, we generally do not directly compete with one another. It’s easiest described as we both sell trucks. I sell Fords and my father sells Chevrolets. Depending on if you are a Ford or Chevy person is where you go.” That makes sense. We asked him for a more in depth description of his product. He told us, “Our steel has a wide variety of uses. You can put it on your barn, your house, your commercial property, or dog pen. Being an avid hunter, I use it regularly for duck blinds and deer stand roofs. It is a 29 and 26 gauge painted, or acrylic galvalume, depending on whether the person wants a color roof or not. All of our panels come with a 40 year warranty against rust and corrosion.” Feel free to chat with him about the colors and gauges that best suit your product needs. Finally, we asked him what sets his business apart. He informed us, “The main thing with us is I may not always beat everyone else’s prices but when you call, you talk to the owner. If you need something, it will get done. We try to run as short a lead times as possible and try to get everything done in a professional manner. Another thing that separates us from the other companies is that we keep over a million pounds of inventory on hand at all times. Also, we haven’t forgotten our roots. We still remember that a man is only as good as his word. When you shake a man’s hand and give him your word, that’s as good as a contract. These things coupled with just trying to be personable and do things the right way is what we stand on. I think being able to talk straight to the owner and knowing you will always get a call back is important to people.” Not a lot of companies can claim that kind of customer interaction. You can visit them at: 2929 Parkway St. Lakeland, FL 33811. Steve says, “They can call me anytime. (863) 581-6171.” You can also reach him via email: steveugadawgs@gmail.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Butler Tree Farm

VOL. 9 • ISSUE 3

page 24

Polk County Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – J. B. Wynn (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Vice President – David McCullers (863) 635-2821crookedlakeranch@verizon. net Cover Photo by Stephanie Humphrey

Contents SEPTEMBER 2015

Business Up Front

Page 3

Master Gardener

Page 10

Recipes

Page 26 Endangered Species

Page 30

Adam Putnam

Polk County Sheriff

Fishing Hot Spots

Florida Pears

Literary Time Machine

Tax Exemptions

Page 12 Page 14 Page 16

Meet the Minks

Page 20

Friend of Extension

Page 34 Page 39 Page 40

Imperial Polk Obedience Club

Page 42

Page 21

Activity

Rocking Chair Chatter

A Closer Look

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Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch (863) 425-1121 jbunch@agriumretail. com State Director – Ray Clark (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay. rr.com

Dave Tomkow (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ earthlink.net Mike Facente (863) 697-9419 Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell (863) 412-5876 Trade ShowRodeo- Fred Waters (863) 559-7808

Website – Adam NorCarlton Taylor man 863-944-9293 863-781-1146 Carlton.Taylor@boehring- Adam.norman@gmfind. com er-ingelheim.com Charles Clark (863) 528-8537 cclarkc4@yahoo.com L.B. Flanders, DVM (863) 644-5974 Dewey Fussell (863) 984-3782 Mike Fussell (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@verizon. net Moby Persing 863-528-4567

Cattlewomen – Vice President, Laura Slocumb (863) 660-7000 laura@higgenbotham. com Extension – Bridget Carlisle PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Tommy Dixon (863) 534-7205 tdixon@polksheriff.org

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INTHEIFNIELD AGAZINE THEFM IELD MAGAZINE

November 20152015 November

Letter from the Editor

STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry

I hope everyone has been enjoying the glorious fall weather. Cooler morning temperatures and lower humidity days make this the best time to live in Florida. Oh, except for this year! Record heat and stifling humidity welcomed the month of November with open arms. Many locations in Florida are rewriting the record books with historic high temperatures. In Tampa record setting heat on November 4 hit the 92 degree mark. It remains to be seen as to what the rest of the month has in store for us. As a child I can remember my parents and grandparents talking about how quickly time flies by when you get older. I never understood that. How can time go faster? Isn’t it the same for everyone? I get it now. It seems like only yesterday we were ringing in the new year of 2015 and now we are ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Before you pick up your fork to indulge in your meal, take a moment and look around at the things you have to be grateful for. Count your blessings, and not just the food. Family and friends are some of our greatest blessings. If you know someone who may be spending the holiday alone, invite him or her to join you. If that doesn’t work, take them a plate of food. And remember to eat another slice of pumpkin pie. Good food is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Be sure to check out next months issue for more great articles including a wrap up of the FFA National Convention. Until Next Month

Sarah

Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Nolan Lewis Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Melissa Nichols Contributing Writers Woody Gore

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25

In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Dear Readers: November is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time for family to gather for Thanksgiving and give thanks for all that we have been blessed with, big and small. As this time approaches, I have been reflecting on some things in my life. I am thankful to live and work in the greatest country in the world. I am blessed to make my living in the cattle business, doing what I love. I love the fact that we are in a business where people are close-knit and look out for one another. This is a business where you know a friend or neighbor is always willing to lend a helping hand or come get you unstuck when your truck is buried in mud. This one is needed more often than not. This month we have our annual Polk County Cattlemen’s Dinner and Meeting on Thursday, Nov 12 at the Stuart Building in Bartow. This ends up

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being more like a family reunion than a meeting. The room is filled with some great people who have some lifelong bonds and relationships. I know everyone is busy and working very hard to make a living (I am guilty of this too). But, as this time of the year approaches, we should take the time to slow down, spend more time with family and think about our friends and neighbors who may need some help. We are so blessed to be the stewards of God’s land and care for His creations. Let’s not forget to give Him thanks. Sincerely,

JB Wynn

JB Wynn Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President

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Need a memory boost? The anthocyanins in strawberries have been shown to increase short term memory by 100 percent in eight weeks. Well-maintained trees and shrubs can increase property value by up to 14%. The ancient Romans thought strawberries could cure bad breath and chronic fainting. Over the course of its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide. Split a double strawberry in half, share it with the opposite sex, and you’ll find love (at least according to legend). The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars. Indians called strawberries “heart-seed berries” and pounded them into their traditional corn-meal bread. One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles. Fresh juice from sieved strawberry pulp has a cooling effect on feverish patients.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Hello Ginger !

M A S T E R GARDENER By Debra Howell One of the lovely ladies of the home landscape, a list that includes iris, lilies and roses, is the ever-popular ginger. It is referred to in the University of Florida Circular 570, “Herbs in the Florida Garden,” as an herb. Ginger has been cultivated for hundreds of years in China and the Caribbean for use in cooking and medicine. In America, we tend to use ginger candied and as a powder for cooking and baking. Ginger ale is well known to cure stomach ailments. The true gingers (zingiber officinale) may be hardy as a perennial all the way from Homestead to the Panhandle, blooming in summer and fall and then declining in the winter. Ginger grows from tuberous, aromatic underground rhizomes that may be harvested after the stalks have died back. It is suggested that you wait until your plant has been in the ground for at least a year. Of the several types of ginger in my yard, they all return year after year, usually more vigorous than the previous year. You may add ginger to your landscape after the risk of frost has passed. They may be used as a specimen plant, accent or in a container or an above ground planter. They produce multiple stems, forming thick, tropical-looking clumps. Each type of ginger bears a different showy inflorescence in varying shapes and hues. One thing they all have in common is the heavy, exotic aroma. Ginger’s foliage is very attractive, so the plant has interest even when not in bloom. One cultivar, the variegated ginger, can achieve heights up to six feet tall, making it a good choice for a mass planting. Variegated crepe ginger may also grow quite tall, but dies back completely during winter months. It will, however, return as far north as Hardiness Zone 8b. Gingers perform best if you plant them in full to part shade. You can grow these plants in sandy soils providing they are amended with the proper nutrition. They like moisture to be consistent. Do not overwater, as fungus and bacterial issues may arrive. In addition to the lovely foliage and tropical flowers provided by gingers, it is a major spice, as well. Ginger has been recognized for centuries for its curative properties and for the relief of certain digestive issues like motion sickness and nausea. It is well documented 10

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with many people testifying to its use, particularly for the relief of stomach problems. Benefits of using ginger to aid in digestion arise from the phenolic compounds present in gingers. Powdered ginger root can be used in tea, cookies, cakes, crackers, ginger ale, ginger beer and gingerbread. Or, just chew raw ginger to abate the symptoms of nausea. A University of Georgia study indicated that muscle pain, as a result of exercise, was reduced by a daily ginger regimen by 25%. Many different cultures have availed themselves of the ginger rhizome for the reduction of inflammation. It is also rich in antioxidants like salicylate and beta-carotene, as well as minerals and vitamins. A breakdown of nutritional values in ginger reveal a motherlode of niacin, Vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc. One caveat concerning ginger is that some folks may experience acid reflux from consuming it. Drug interactions include the anticoagulant warfarin. The first spice to be grown in the New World was Jamaican ginger. A very colorful Central Florida denizen named Morgan Bonaparte “Bone” Mizelle, an early settler to the area, was a shrewd businessman, although a bit of a tippler. It is said that his very favorite libation was a drink called “Jamaica ginger,” which he would not touch while dealing in cattle. He was not that prohibitive with his other ventures. In the early 1900s, my great-grandfather, Pickens Ellison, owned a store on wheels. The reason for the wheels was so that the wooden structure could be moved away from the other wooden structures in case of fire, which happened frequently in the early Fort Meade history. He sold groceries and candy, and a drink called “Near Beer”. His sign read: Near Beer Sold Here! No More Near Beer Sold Near Here! This product, a ginger beer, was very popular in the area. In this manner, ginger became an important ingredient in hot and cold drinks of East India. It serves as a primary ingredient in Burmese medicines. Indonesians pair ginger with palm sugar in their own ginger ale. In Japanese culture, ginger is added to kimchi (sour kraut) prior to fermentation. They also sprinkle it on noodles or tofu. Chinese culWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

ture uses ginger in herbal tea, and with meat and fish. Okay, now here is one use of which you probably won’t avail yourselves – prior to World War I, ginger was used as a horse suppository by mounted troops. The top producers of ginger globally are, in order, India, China, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand and Indonesia. Can you imagine these beautiful fields of ginger flowers waiting to yield their aromatic roots to be utilized by so many different cultures in such diverse ways? There are a number of ginger plants which show up seasonally at the big box stores. Some of the common offerings are pine cone, butterfly, shurei, variegated shellflower and variegated crepe gingers. All of these may be used as specimens, borders, accents, cascades or container plants. Similarly, each cultivar requires the same cultural practices. These plants thrive and reproduce well in mostly shade, part sun; and grow in a range of soil types from occasionally wet, acidic, slightly alkaline, sandy, clay or loam. Gingers are moderately drought tolerant, but respond well to regular moisture. And, as a general rule, gingers are not normally afflicted by pests. Once your gingers have been growing for the prescribed amount of time, you may dig the rhizomes in the fall as the tops die back, then set them in the shade to dry. You may plant gingers purchased from a nursery or box store in the early spring after danger of frost has passed. But, if you cannot locate ginger when you desire to plant, simply go to the grocery store and purchase ginger root from the produce section. You will choose a fat ginger root about five inches long with “fingers”. Then bring it home to a shady location and divide it into pieces about two inches long. Allow these to dry a day or two in a dry place. Once dry, plant the sections in a shallow trench about an inch deep and water thoroughly. The leaves should begin to emerge in a week or so. Do not water with a hard spray as it will uncover your ginger roots. This technique is usually pretty easy and successful. Can you think of a more lovely and useful plant to introduce into your shade-dappled landscape? WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Lafayette Gingerbread The Southern Heritage Company’s Coming Cookbook (Served to Marguis de Lafayette by George Washington’s mother.) ½ cup butter ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup molasses 3 eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 2 tablespoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground mace 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup warm milk (105° to 115°) ½ cup brandy (optional) 2 tablespoons grated orange rind 1/3 cup orange juice 1 cup raisins (optional) Cream butter; gradually add sugar, mixing well. Add molasses and eggs; beat well. Combine flour, cream of tartar and spices. Dissolve the soda in the warm milk; add to creamed mixture alternately with flour mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat well after each addition. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13 X 9 X 2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely. Cut into squares to serve. Yields 15 servings. May sprinkle top with confectioner’s sugar or frost with cream cheese frosting if desired. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

The Time for Bold Water Policy is Now

Protect Our

Resources Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam

local data on temperature and rainfall to make more informed decisions about the use of resources. Because of the best management practices and new technologies adopted over the last decade, Florida agriculture is saving 33 million gallons of water per day or 12 billion gallons of water per year. At the same time, the implementation of best management practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area resulted in a 79% phosphorous reduction. Water is the biggest long-term challenge facing Florida. And that is exactly why I have implored all Floridians, including the general public, legislators and the media, to take seriously the more than one-billion-gallon-perday shortfall Florida will face by 2030 if we do nothing. This legislative session, I am working with the Legislature to develop and implement comprehensive water policy that will help ensure we have a healthy and abundant supply of water. The ideal time to accomplish this goal is when we are not in a reactionary mode to an active hurricane season or a particularly severe drought, but rather to move forward at a time when we can make the best possible decision in a non-reactionary, thoughtful way. Fortunately, in relatively recent years, Florida has built a strong foundation in law for the protection and management of our precious water resources. From the Water Resources Act of 1972, which established our five water management districts, to the Water Protection and Sustainability Act of 2005, we’ve made measurable improvements to the health and supply of our water. The agriculture industry has implemented best management practices and invested in new technologies to reduce consumption of precious water resources. We’ve replaced inefficient irrigation systems with more precise methods, like subsurface drip irrigation. We use real time, 12

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Not just agriculture, but all sectors of water users in Florida are making strides to protect our water resources. Through water conservation, as well as the development of alternative water sources, we have reduced our overall consumption of water. Per capita water consumption in Florida fell from 123 gallons in 1995 to 89 gallons in 2010. Much more remains to be done, though, if we want to ensure we have a healthy and adequate supply to meet our future needs. Our springs have played second fiddle to South Florida’s complex and expensive plumbing issues for too long. These first magnitude springs are a global treasure and the original tourist destinations. The St. Johns River, Apalachicola Bay and Northern Everglades all face their own unique challenges. This is truly a statewide concern, and the time to act is now. If we take care of our natural systems, we are taking care of our urban water supply needs. If we restore our springs, we are supporting tourism and forestry and the many jobs that benefit from healthy ecosystems and a high quality of life. Water is Florida’s “golden goose.” It is vital to every industry in every corner of our state. We need to put the policy in place to do this right, and we need to do it now. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Fishing Tampa Bay November 2015 Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

November is a great time to get out of the house and when you do grab your tackle and go fishing. The temperatures have cooled, there is less humidity, and the water temperatures have dropped considerably. What all this means is there should be more catching and less fishing.

Fishing Tampa Bay

There is live bait all over Tampa Bay. Almost every grass flat is covered with scaled sardines and small threadfins. So, throwing a ¼ inch net should do the trick, but you can expect to get a mixed bag of prime greenbacks along with smaller threadfins. Many are the perfect three to four inch size for this time of year, but of course you’ll still get plenty of stickers. So make sure you pick them out before putting that net away or you’ll definitely hate throwing it on your next trip.

Snook, Redfish and Trout are found all over Tampa Bay. They’re eating everything in the water, but always seem partial to a fresh greenbacks, pinfish, shrimp, or cut bait like ladyfish or mullet. Check around the passes separating the Mangrove islands and remember, never crowd the fish. If you do they will move or stop feeding.

I often write about artificial lures and you can probably tell they are one of my all time favorites when it comes to fishing. So, if you’re not into artificial lures, again, the fall and winter seasons are great times to check out an entirely new concept, especially if you’re a die hard live-baiter. Fishing artificial lures is actually not new, in fact it’s been around for centuries and what I find most interesting is fooling the fish into eating a non-natural food source. To become skilled in this different fishing concept forces you to learn and understand more about the environments fish live in and how specific species behave during different seasons. Familiarizing yourself with this information will allow you to select the correct lures for a particular species. Artificial’s come in all shapes, sizes and styles but most importantly they are designed to imitate the real thing and with a little practice you’ll be fishing them like a pro. Once you start, stay with it because, as we’ve been told since childhood, great things take patience and practice. In the beginning, it’s so easy to become discouraged, simply because you may not catch as many fish and sometimes none at all, but you’re still fishing and that’s half the fun.

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November 2015 November 2015

Snook, Redfish & Spotted Sea Trout:

Free-lined greenbacks, small pinfish and shrimp in sandy potholes may produce some nice Trout, redfish or the occasional flounder. Reports indicate some good Trout catches in the deeper grass flats (two - three foot depth). On incoming and outgoing tides keep watch for moving schools of Redfish who are also notorious for hanging around large mullet schools.

Mackerel seem to be all around the bay. We’re catching plenty on every trip. These mackerel are huge and plenty of fun on light tackle. Don’t kid yourself about catching them, they are tremendous fighters and great eating whether you smoke, grill or fry em’ up. They are eating greenbacks and when they start feeding, its game on, seems like it’s a fish on every cast. If you’re interested in some extra excitement… match the hatch and use a fly rod. Mangrove Snapper are found on every rock pile or structure around Tampa Bay and are fairly easy to catch. A small knocker rig with a #1 or 1/0 hook should produce a nice meal. They’re really partial to the small greenbacks and shrimp. When you find them and get a good bite going, it seems like they wise up shortly after you start catching them using one bait or the other. I always take both with me and when that happens I’ll switch around. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Cobia are often found cruising the flats, around range markers, channel markers and bridges during November. Toss them a pinfish or a nice sized greenback and hold on.

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.

Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give him a call at 813-477-3814 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Part 14 Ornamental Gardening in Florida By Ginny Mink

This October we celebrated another time machine adventure: Back to the Future’s voyage into time actually came to pass on October 21st. That was a thirty year jump into the future. However, on our Literary Time Machine we travel backwards to 1926. When last we left Mr. Simpson, he was sharing his advice on orchids and bromeliads. This month we’ll learn about Climate; Protection. Obviously climate has a lot to do with what grows and what doesn’t. Simpson sees the necessity to discuss Florida’s climate here. He says, “The wind in our state, especially during the cool season, usually swings around the compass in the same direction as do the hands of a clock.”¹ We’re not quite sure how he determined the direction of the wind for the whole of the state, but it would be interesting to find out. Do any of you know? If so, make sure to shoot us an email and educate us on the methodology, please! He then makes a hugely obvious and quite amusing statement, “Whenever the cooler part of the year gets into the northwest there is a decided lowering of the temperature…”¹ We chuckled upon reading that. He continues, “…it usually blows from this direction for about three days and then shifts to the northeast. During these “Northers” as they are called, frost may occur in any part of Florida, even to the lowermost keys.”¹ Apparently the wind and weather were quite predictable in 1926. Certainly that was before El Niño messed everything up. Here’s probably one of the funniest things we’ve seen in his book thus far. He states, “I am aware that this statement may be contradicted by some who are residents of this region.” It’s funny because we were just talking about his propensity for blanket statements. Yet he feels vindicated in so making them because he explains, “In the latter part of December, 1906, a severe and protracted norther visited Florida lasting eight days and doing great damage to tender vegetation. This swept over Cuba, extending to the south part of the island, and near Cienfuegos it wrought great destruction to the sugar cane at the Soledad Plantation.” We were interested to see if there was anything else that might back Mr. Simpson’s description of the Norther of 1906. We found sites that quoted his book² but nothing specific to the Norther. However, we did locate in The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer paper, Vol. XXXVI. No. 3, the following statement, “If this report be correct- and most of the planters of prominence believe it is…Should Congress not adjourn until June, then all the apprehension felt by planters and their agents north will have vanished, and the year 1906 go down 16

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November 2015

into sugar history as one of phenomenal yield.”³ That was written in January, prior to Mr. Simpson’s revelation of the great and destructive norther. He further elaborates on the topic, “I was informed by Mr. Hughes, the manager, that ice formed on ponds and still water, and at the beautiful home of the Cabadas near that city I saw many trees which I was told the freeze had killed outright.” It seems perchance, then, that even if Congress didn’t adjourn until June, there wasn’t as bumper a crop as had been initially predicted by the planters of prominence. Herein, Mr. Simpson gets a bit indignant, “No doubt I shall be condemned for making these statements but I am simply telling the truth which ought to be known by every one who intends making a home and growing plants in this state. No matter what part of it one may settle he should be prepared for occasional frosts and should know all that is known about protecting against them.”¹ His dedication to the wellbeing of the native and non-native plants utilized by Floridians of that time is admirable. He calls the northern inland area of the state “warm temperate”¹ and adds that the winter nights are cool enough to need a fire for comfort. Then he states, “In the lower part the winter temperature is usually from 65˚ to 70˚ at sunrise except during northers, with a midday temperature of 70˚ to 78˚, and the vegetation is largely tropical.” We wanted to compare that data with today’s numbers. So, according to the US Climate Data site, Fort Lauderdale’s lows range from 57˚-66˚ in the winter months with the highs ranging between 75˚ and 78˚.³ We assumed that Fort Lauderdale would be included in the lower part of the state and we note that the lows are cooler than he describes although the highs seem the same. Maybe El Niño is just an urban legend? He goes on to discuss the fact that northern plants don’t do well in the southern parts of the state and vice versa. Then he shares the regularity of the rains but asserts, “It must not be supposed that the rainy season is a period of continual wet. Showers, often quite heavy, are likely to fall during the afternoon while the rest of the day is clear or nearly so. There is rarely any rain or cloudiness at night…the average precipitation over the state may be two or more inches a month and this is sufficient to keep plants in good shape. Long droughts are rare. The annual rainfall varies from about forty inches on the Lower Keys to sixty-five in the western part of the state and slightly over that just north of Miami.”¹ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

That same US Climate Data site proved Mr. Simpson’s accuracy with Key West getting an average of 39.75 inches of rain annually. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale (which is just north of Miami) saw an average of 66.49 inches. It was hard to determine where he was referring to as the western part of the state but we opted for Clearwater with an annual rainfall of 54.73 inches.³ That was apparently the only place he was off. Pretty impressive since he couldn’t just look that informativon up online like we just did! A discussion of Florida’s climate would not be complete without a comment about hurricanes. Therefore, Mr. Simpson adds, “Hurricanes visit Florida occasionally, usually from August to October, coming up from the West Indies…they may visit any part of the state, the wind blowing at from fifty to perhaps a hundred miles an hour, generally with heavy rain and they last from a few hours to several days. These do a great deal of damage, sometimes destroying buildings, breaking off trees and occasionally entirely whipping off nearly all the leaves in the hammocks and gardens.” He moves then into methods of plant protection. He says, “… as my experience goes we can do but little in the way of protection where there is a really severe freeze…we have had one or more blizzards here…Almost any kind of thin covering will ward off a light frost but in case of hard freezing it will be better if possible to bend small stuff over and cover it with earth…If water from an ordinary well which has a tempera-

ture of say 75˚ can be thrown on vegetation during a moderate frost it will save it but in case of a freeze it may be a damage… It is claimed that if water is sprayed over frozen plants in the open early in the morning it will save them but I have never had much success with this plan.”¹ We suspect he never met strawberry farmers! He also recommends burning stuff to create a sort of cloud cover to ward off frost so long as the area is not too windy at the time. He closes the chapter by sharing one more piece of Florida history, “The winter of 1916-17 was very warm, with abundant rainfall, so that in January everything was in full growth. Then on the third of February there came a terrible freeze which wrought the greatest damage I have ever seen in twenty-seven years’ experience in Southern Florida. Every tender thing almost without exception was cut down if not killed.” He concludes, “No contrivance that I know of could have saved most of the stuff on that dreadful night. The mounding up if thoroughly done will save anything against any such a freeze but all that is above the earth will probably be killed.” By the way, there is information on that freeze as it apparently did great damage to the citrus crops.⁴ Mr. Simpson’s main recommendation is to bank dirt up around the trunks of valued plants. Try it out this winter and let us know how it goes!

Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 70-74) ²This site quotes Simpson’s book about the Norther of 1906- http://chestofbooks.com/gardening-horticulture/Ornamental/Climate-Protection-Of-Plants.html#.Vi_GUn6rTIU ³https://books.google.com/books?id=M71KAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=1906+N orther+soledad+plantation&source=bl&ots=JwMjUQzYGs&sig=Mixsp7FbIMVun4pJ3Pvo6 XSCQZ8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC0Q6AEwA2oVChMI6a_axKfjyAIVRCseCh2tHAx7#v=o nepage&q=1906%20Norther%20soledad%20plantation&f=false ⁴https://books.google.com/books?id=pptIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=freeze+of +1916&source=bl&ots=4wnKINhbt7&sig=UThBA4jB6C6fnWYbplB4CQmZi3o&hl=en&sa =X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI-sjU_rLjyAIVCFweCh1VcA5_#v=onepage&q=freeze%20 of%201916&f=false WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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November 2015

By Ginny Mink

CornFusion

The last few Meet the Minks have been a wee bit disappointing in that we set out to do great things and it seems those were just not to be. Last month we tried to feed the ducks and couldn’t find any so we bought three for a dear friend. Sadly, one of them died. However, the other two are doing marvelously and have been moved off the porch into their own pens near the pond. That’s great news at least. This month my daughter, Hazel, who’s 4, was supposed to go to a corn maze with her school but we decided to incorporate that first into our Meet the Minks’ adventures. Therefore, we took a gander at CornFusion in Lakeland. Donna Smith and family were gracious enough to let us check out the set up on opening day. In return, Jaidyn (otherwise known as J, my 12 year old) was gracious enough to bust their bounce pillow. I’m not so sure she’ll want us back, but we had a great time nonetheless! Actually, she was quite kind about the mishap and we feel horribly about it. We arrived at the gorgeous property with eager anticipation. The kids weren’t sure what to expect, but they were hugely enthusiastic about getting out of the van (Seffner to Lakeland is a ride when you’re young). They got super excited when they were able to put on the armbands, as if they’d been given free jewelry. When we passed by the giant horned cows (someone told me what they were but I have since forgotten – three kids does something to your brain) our first stop was restroom duty since the two-year-old, Zeke, is potty trained, praise God! J was instantly drawn to the air cannons while my husband, Chris, made a beeline to the food. He got a cheeseburger (and later a sausage, pepper and onion hoagie) and we went to shoot the water bottles at far away targets. Hazel was chicken at first but then she was perfectly happy to take Chris’ two free turns. Zeke shot it, too, and later J went back with his own money to shoot it some more. I’m not gonna lie, I shot the cannon as well (J has the pictures to prove it) and really, it was a lot of fun! We then headed to the maze itself. Chris led us deep into the crop maze (they planted wheat instead of corn this year). We hit several dead ends and Zeke begged us to “carry me up,” as he got tired of wandering around. I suspect we were in there at least twenty minutes before some kind strangers pointed us back toward the exit. Eagerly we tromped through the paths, pushing hanging wheat out of our faces like we were trapped in a jungle. You’d have thought we’d been in there for hours given the complaints from the wee-ones. J was disappointed that we’d gotten help and wanted to go back in later by himself (but after he busted their bounce pillow I wasn’t letting him outta my sight). The enthusiasm for the crop maze was short lived by the young ones but J and Chris seemed to have a marvelous time. We played a little corn hole then, and Hazel and Zeke took their first go rounds on a seesaw, that was pretty funny. I can tell you though that there was not much that amused Zeke more than the rubber duck races. J dared me to a race and when I was almost done totally stomping him with my mad water pumping skills, he knocked my 20

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November 2015

duck over so that it got stuck (cheater). He still didn’t win because he was too far behind (and his was stuck in the turnaround). Zeke stayed there for quite some time while Chris polished off that sausage hoagie I mentioned earlier. It was so cute watching Zeke pump away at those old school water spigots. He was truly enamored by the way the water just gushed out in bursts. We take this instant gratification stuff for granted until we see a kid appreciating the results of his labor. And then there was Big Alice! We all rode that giant monster of a tractor. We rode over cars, up hills and into mud puddles. Hazel giggled in a way I cannot form words to describe; it was a constant glee unlike any I’d seen in her before. Zeke’s eyes were huge and totally focused on the giant tire directly in front of and below him. He clapped and laughed. Yeah, Big Alice was worth the $5 per person (little ones were free). I suspect that’s an experience they will not soon forget. Hazel tells me that riding Big Alice was, “GREAT!” I had hoped her vocabulary was bigger but I guess that will suffice. They rode the tractor train as well and even J got himself into one of those little cars (I saw parents ride it too so he wasn’t too big). The driver was happy to pull them around at “warp” speed since they were the only ones on the ride at the time. Huge smiles all around as Chris and I watched from the sidelines trying to get great pictures. Unfortunately, moving targets aren’t exactly agreeable. They finished there and wanted to do it again but we were nearing closing time and I didn’t want to miss the hay ride. We got stopped at the corn pit and I can’t explain how amazed I am by the draw that corn had for them. Chris buried them both in the corn and they didn’t want to leave even when the last call for the hay ride was made. We forced them out of the corn though and off we all went (corn dust and all) to take a ride around the property to feed the cows and visit the pumpkin patch. Zeke has an affinity for cows. One of his favorite movies these days is Barnyard stating, “I wan watch cows.” He’s also been known to declare that he wants to ride cows, so you can imagine the thrill for him when he was given the opportunity to feed them. Hazel on the other hand preferred discussing the scent of fresh cut hay with the lady narrating the ride. They had fun on the hay ride but were both demanding that they be given the opportunity to return to the corn pit. Sadly, by the time we finished the ride, closing time had arrived. J’s still bragging about winning a snow cone for his air cannon accuracy. Whenever his head gets too big about that I just remind him he broke the bounce pillow. We feel horrible about that, I’ll tell you again, and I hope Donna won’t hold it against us (for long anyway). We are quite thankful for the experience. The kids can now say they got lost in a crop maze, raced rubber duckies, played in a pit of corn and shot an air cannon. Not to mention the fact that they rode on a monster tractor! Yep, that’s a pretty great adventure; especially since we did it as a family! CornFusion is a corn maze worthy of your future attendance. Remember it for next year’s fall planning. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Farm Credit’s Ron O’Connor named National Friend of Extension

By Ginny Mink During the recent October 2015 National Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) Conference in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Florida’s Ron O’Connor was named a National Friend of Extension for Epsilon Sigma Phi. Each year, ESP recognizes up to four volunteers from across the country - business leaders, volunteers or public servants - that go above and beyond in their assistance to Extension professionals. Extension is the National system of delivering research-based programs and information to the people from Land-Grant Universities. Sumter County Agent Martha Maddox originally nominated Mr. O’Connor for this recognition, which was endorsed by Florida ESP and UF/IFAS Extension. Florida’s Alpha Delta Chapter of ESP, made up of faculty from the University of Florida/IFAS and Florida A&M University, recommended Mr. O’Connor for this national award. A native Floridian and graduate of the University of Florida, Ron O’Connor is deeply devoted to the Extension family and plays a vital role in supporting the total Extension program. Ron said, “I was honored to receive this award at the National level. I accepted this award on behalf of the three Florida Farm Credit Associations and the hard working, resilient, member-borrowers. They provide me the resources that allow me to work with the wonderful professionals in UF/IFAS Extension at both the state and county levels.” He began his career with Farm Credit of Central Florida in 1987 as Marketing Manager and was named National Farm Credit Marketer of the Year in 1997. During his tenure at Farm Credit, the association’s marketing and advertising programs have earned four Crystal Biostar Awards, symbolizing the Farm Credit systems best program in that category. He also chairs the statewide marketing committee, which combines resources of all three Florida Farm Credit Associations to achieve maximum exposure for Farm Credit at Florida’s premier agricultural events. He currently serves as Director of Marketing and Governmental Affairs, where he is charged with coordinating advertising and marketing programs to enhance awareness of the Farm Credit Advantage. Additionally, he tracks legislative and regulatory issues affecting the association and communicates with appropriate organizations and individuals on behalf of Farm Credit as directed by their Directors and President. If there is an UF/IFAS Extension or agriculture event going on in Florida, you will probably see Ron O’Connor there, whether it’s an industry event, Extension, 4-H or FFA, Ron is usually in attendance, and is generally taking pictures to memorialize the event, which he shares openly. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Ron serves as a Board member and primary photographer for the Florida Ag Hall of Fame, is a member and Past President of The Florida Agriculture Institute, is Past Vice President of the Florida Citrus Showcase and serves on the Florida FFA Foundation board. Additionally he is a member of the Florida Council of Cooperatives, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and FNGLA’s Allied Committee, and has received an Honorary FFA Membership and Degree. Ron has been responsible for providing numerous sponsorships for Extension and 4-H Youth activities throughout his 25 plus years with the Florida Farm Credit System. The sponsorships Ron helps provide through Farm Credit assist in reducing the costs of conducting these educational programs and helps reduce the fees that would otherwise be passed to participating Extension clientele. Through Ron’s efforts, Farm Credit sponsors the annual Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents Young Professional Award, which includes not only a plaque but a monetary award as well; the agent recipients use these funds for local programming or for expanded professional development training. Ron was instrumental in securing a $20,000 sponsorship from the National Farm Credit Council Services for the 2012 NAE4HA conference held in Orlando, which made Farm Credit the biggest sponsor of this conference, and helped reduced the registration cost for Extension agents attending that professional development event. Ron has served in numerous advisory and support roles for Extension groups and activities over the course of his career with Farm Credit. He serves on local 4-H and Extension Advisory committees, as well as area and state wide committees. He is one of the Stakeholder Advisory and Planning Committee members of the Extension Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. This is the major state wide annual conference for small and alternative farmers. He has not only secured sponsorship funds for this conference from Farm Credit, but serves in the planning advisory capacity for the conference as well. Ron is one of the Extension supporters we can truly always count on for support whether monetarily, advisory or in lobbying efforts on Extensions behalf. Epsilon Sigma Phi is professional fraternity of Extension Educators across the US. It leads the Extension System in providing and facilitating professional development that focuses on the Extension organization and the Extension professional.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Weight Loss My wife and three daughters are always working on losing weight. Daughter number two, Lori, has had some remarkable results with her program. She said the other day that she didn’t want to brag or make anyone jealous, but she can still fit into the earrings she wore in high school. While millions are always dieting, they lose sight of the health benefits of being over weight. A recent report states that being over weight is not as harmful to the body as is commonly believed. They say being 10 to 15 pounds over weight could protect people from ailments ranging from TB to Alzheimer’s disease. Those carrying 20 to 25 pounds are better able to recover from such adverse conditions such as emphysema, pneumonia and other injuries and infections, states the report. Thirty to forty pounds of extra weight could help fend off breast, kidney, pancreatic, prostate and colon cancer. And even an extra 40 pounds may improve eyesight, reverse baldness, cure the common cold, and reduce global warming. Over all, the study concludes, over weight people are happier, more successful in business, smarter and friendlier. This study was funded by a research grant from McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Domino’s, Starbucks, Haagen Dazs, Sara Lee and Krispy Kreme. I am a firm believer if you drink a diet Coke with a Hershey candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet Coke. Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something sweet. Examples are peanut butter on a knife making a sandwich and ice cream on a spoon making a sundae. Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are spinach and pistachio ice cream, mushrooms and white chocolate, pink grapefruit and ham. REMEMBER chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color you want. Also, chocolate is a vegetable, and chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, and beans are vegetables. I am sure a number of you reading this article have at one time or another has joined Weight Watchers. This is a worldwide organization. One Weight Watchers group in Sweden a few years back went in for a weigh in only to have the floor beneath them collapse. One member said, “It felt like an earthquake, and as we tried to abandon the room everything fell thru to the first floor. Evidently we didn’t lose enough weight, so they changed our menu for the rest of the month.” 22

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According to a study by researchers at a couple of universities, your credit card could be making you fat. It has been known for a while that we are more likely to spend more when we are paying by card than by cash, the study results found that paying with plastic also has disastrous results for your waistline, as people are more likely to buy junk food and “bad for you” products – which tend to be impulse purchases – when paying by credit card. To keep off the pounds and save yourself some money, draw out enough cash for the day and then leave your cards at home. Recently I read a story about a 44-year old British man that weighed 980 pounds. He supposedly had emotional issues and turned to eating for comfort. He died of pneumonia after undergoing a gastric sleeve operation that removed three-quarters of his stomach. In a newspaper article it was stated that his mother fed and bathed him regularly. He purportedly consumed around 20,000 calories a day in a diet that included six-egg fried breakfasts, lunches and dinners with pizza, kebabs and take out food including about 12 Big Macs. He also reportedly consumed 3.5 liters of coffee and 2 liters of carbonated drinks every day. Some countries, such as Switzerland and the UK, have facilities for cremation for obese people. However, this is not the case in Austria. When a 440-pound woman was being cremated it caused the oven to over heat and almost burn the facility down. When the temperature reached 572 degrees Fahrenheit, officials realized there was problem when thick black smoke started coming out of the building. Firemen said that after reports of similar problems at other crematoriums, officials are now considering a ban on larger bodies. Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely. God asked Adam what was wrong. Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to, so God decided he would give him a companion and it would be a woman. God told Adam that the woman would cook for him, wash his clothes, and always agree with every decision he made. She would bear his children and never ask him to getup in the middle of the night to take care of them. She would not nag him and would always be the first to admit she was wrong during a disagreement. She would never have a headache, and would freely give him love and compassion whenever needed. Adam asked God what a woman like this would cost him. God told him, “An arm and a leg.” Adam replied, “What can I get for just a rib?” The rest is history. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

From our family to yours, wishing you a

Happy Thanksgiving

Fancy Farms would like to give thanks for all our friends and family who love and support us throughout the year!

Stand Opening in December Corner of Rice and County Line Road

813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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November 2015

Take Root With Us The distant sound of a softly bubbling lazy creek mixes with the warm pastels of a fall sunset bringing tranquility to one’s soul and providing a glimpse of a humble profession set far back from the hustle of modern life. Butler Tree Farm, nestled within the Green Swamp of North Polk County, is reminiscent of a nature preserve in its own accord. Upon my arrival, I was welcomed like an old family friend by the new owners Glenn and Kendra Harrell. I could instantly feel the Harrell’s love for the land and trees, as they immediately ushered me into a Ranger for a tour of the property. As we drove through the farm, Glenn reminisced about the history of Butler Tree Farm sharing a glimpse of founder Joel Butler’s dedication, determination and work ethic.

pruning container allow small roots to escape and tack into subsoil. This permits roots to recover lost or leached nutrients to be returned to the plant and not lost to the environment. By reducing blow-over, he successfully eliminated the need for ecologically destructive posts, guide wires, cables, clamps, stakes and bed site preparation. Joel also worked with soil conservationists to develop an efficient low-volume irrigation system using micro jet drips to reduce nutrient and fertilizer runoff. In turn, this enabled him to install a series of small 4” wells to “sip” at the top level of Florida aquifers, rather than “gulp” large quantities of potable water from the deeper aquifers. Overall, Joel’s attention to recharge, rainfall and percolation rates enabled the farm to operate sustainably with little environmental impact.

Joel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Florida and spent his early years as an environmental engineer, focusing on land reclamation, wetland restoration and water conservation. In his spare time, Joel cultivated his own wholesale nursery. After nearly two decades of working for others, Joel Butler and his wife Jane were ready to “plant a seed” of entrepreneurship that would have a positive effect on the future of the Polk County community. With little more than a dream and a prayer they set forth to build a farm that would incur the least possible environmental footprint while financially providing for future generations.

Running concurrent to this timeline was a very similar career within the trade. Glenn Harrell also shared a devotion and ardor for horticulture, dedicating more than 30 years to the nursery industry and its sustainable growth. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Environmental Horticulture in 1991. From the day he graduated, Glenn set to work for his uncle Winfred Harrell at Harrell’s Nursery where he remains employed to this day - a career that he loves dearly. In addition, Glenn enjoys being an active member of the Lake Region Florida Nursery Growers and Landscapers Association Chapter and a board member for the Hillsborough County Chapter of Florida Farm Bureau. Maintaining an active role in the nursery grower’s community, Glenn and Joel have shared a personal and professional relationship for many years, which is how their paths intertwined.

In 1987, the farm acreage resembled a relatively untouched mix of Florida wetlands and wildlife habitats native to the adjacent Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. Joel immediately noted the thriving ecosystem within and surrounding the property. Gator Creek runs through the farm and provides a safe corridor for wildlife movement to and from the conservation area. Joel envisioned a working environment that would provide a safe haven for the deer, turkey, flora and fauna while also serving as a self-sustaining recreation area and enjoyable place to earn a living. Joel’s frustrations with less ecofriendly approaches contrasting his steady focus on preservation led him to concentrate his efforts on developing the Cool Ring™, an environmentally friendly alternative to ground covers and impervious plastics. Trees grown in the air-root 24

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Approaching retirement, Joel and Jane sat down and began to assess their future bucket list and dream for the continuation of their legacy. Joel Butler expounds, “In the business world, when a company is sold or merged, I have often heard the phrase ‘it was a win-win for both sides’. I was often skeptical, until it happened to me. During a Ray’s baseball game last year, I discovered Glenn and I had similar interests; like both having played college baseball and having a shared a love of the sport. However, we found ourselves away from the crowd talking about our careers and imagined where we saw ourselves business-wise in five years. I talked retirement while Glenn spoke WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

about goals and growth down the road. The Rays lost, but seeds were planted that night. Two months later over lunch and turning seventy the next month, the idea of retirement surfaced. Could I turn loose something that had defined my life and love? It would have to be the right person. I wanted the tree farm’s loyal employees to stay in place and see their careers advance. Someone would need similar growing knowledge, creativity and passion for the game. Glenn was that man. After meeting the Harrell family and getting a feel for their commitment for each other and support for one another, my wife Jane and I knew it would work and be successful. Three months later the deal was done. Now, one year later, sales and production have surpassed our most optimistic goals. Creativity is everywhere. Congratulations to Glenn, Kendra, family and employees for being focused on their goals and committed to ‘the game’. Stand back folks, this one is out of the ball park!” Only a short year ago in the fall of 2014, Glenn and his wife Kendra purchased Butler Tree Farm. Kendra recognizes divine intervention during this season of their lives that led her family to acquire the farm. She has taken on administrative responsibilities at the farm and established many new working relationships with their valued customers. For the Harrells, this blessing was an opportunity to continue Joel and Jane’s decades long legacy of quality and integrity at Butler Tree Farm. Glenn gives full credit for the tree farm’s success to its valued employees who have been the backbone of the farm’s operation. Marcos Hernandez, their foreman, has worked on the farm for 19 years and retained his original 8-man crew (who continue to run the farm). The Harrells correspondingly integrated use of the Florida Cool Ring Company and credit the quality and consistency of the tree production at Butler to the benefits of the sole use of these containers for growth. The Harrells ultimate goal is to maintain the foundation, reputation, and traditions that Joel Butler built the farm on. They appreciate Joel and Jane as both mentors and friends, readily available with wisdom and guidance when needed. Most recently in a proactive move to provide their expanding base of customers and vendors with the best possible service experience, the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Harrells placed faith in their continued growth by officially asking Ericca Garrison to join the Butler Tree Farm family as their Marketing Director. Ericca has a proven history in business marketing & development and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and User Experience from the Savannah College of Art & Design. They felt blessed that Ericca would make the long-term commitment to join their family as she left a career as a college professor to dedicate her talents to helping the Harrells expand their vision for the farm in a new and exciting way. Ericca immediately fell in love with the business’ caring culture. She ruminated on how she found both fulfillment and belonging within the family-centered company, confirming her belief that this is where she is meant to dedicate her career. Her innovative customer-centric approach, marketing efforts and bubbly personality have quickly endeared her as an asset to the farm. Over the coming year, Ericca will be reinventing their web presence to meet the needs of a mobilized marketplace and producing timely marketing materials to support their customers’ successful growth. Their new motto “Take Root with Us” is an homage to their patented container growing system. Butler Tree Farm was recently chosen to host the International Plant Propagators Society during their 2015 International Tour. The IPPS defines itself as “a global network of plant production professionals, including those involved in horticultural research and education.” Glenn contends that it was an honor for Joel and himself to share with the 200 attendees their farm growing system that utilizes the Cool Ring™ and its single-piece counterpart, SweetRoots containers. To the Harrell family, business is built one relationship at a time. They are committed to providing their customers with all the information required to make well-informed decisions for their horticultural needs. They emphasize their faith as the guiding point in their lives and business and continue to move into the future with a feeling of blessing to have a farm that they enjoy beyond mere business, but more importantly as a way of life.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Recipes Fresh Strawberry Cake Courtesy of Chef Whitney Miller

In parts of the South, it’s either the end of winter or spring that brings row after row of bright red strawberries beckoning enticingly from farmers’ fields and roadside fruit stands. It also brings an abundance of strawberry desserts. My great-aunt Ilene always makes her famous strawberry cake with strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries, covered in a deliciously rich homemade strawberry frosting. Each bite is rich with fresh strawberry taste. It doesn’t last long. Inspired, I decided to splurge on a full flat of strawberries, plenty to make my own strawberry cake, and a few extra for eating on the ride home. I’ve replaced the gelatin with natural strawberry spread and lightened up the cake by beating and folding in the egg whites.

Ingredients Fresh Strawberry Cake

2/3 cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups pure cane sugar 2 large eggs, separated 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup natural strawberry fruit spread 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 1/2 cup diced strawberries

Strawberry Icing

1 cup butter, softened 7 1/2 cups powdered sugar 3/4 cup finely chopped strawberries 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, optional

DIRECTIONS

To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans.

10 minutes in the pans, then remove from the pans, and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate the cakes until ready to use.

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer on high speed until creamy. Beat in the sugar until combined. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and fruit spread.

To make the icing, place the butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer on high speed until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and strawberries, mixing after each addition until combined. Fold in the pecans and coconut.

Sift the flour and baking soda into a medium bowl.

To assemble, place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Spread a generous amount of icing on top of the cake. Place a second cake layer on top of the icing, and spread another generous amount of icing on the top. Place the third cake layer on top of the icing, and spread and swirl the remaining icing on the top layer of cake. Do not ice the sides. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the egg mixture, beating on medium speed just until incorporated. Fold in the diced strawberries. Clean the beaters and dry completely. Place the egg whites in a medium bowl, and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter. Divide the batter among the cake pans. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 26

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Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Note: Make sure you sift and then measure the all-purpose flour in this recipe. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Strawberry Salad “I am going to take you to a pizza place, but I am taking you there to eat a really good strawberry salad,” said my friend Brian, who served as our tour guide on my first trip to Plant City, Florida. Okay, I thought to myself, that’s a bit unusual. Once I had sampled it for myself, though, I understood, and the race to re-create it began. My version gets its intense strawberry flavor from not only the strawberries in the salad but also from the creamy vinaigrette. Even my dad, a ranch dressing guy, fell in love with this creamy strawberry dressing.

Vinaigrette

1 cup chopped strawberries 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons honey Pinch of fine sea salt 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salad

1/2 cup pecan halves 1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt 7 cups loosely packed kale or mustard greens, torn into small pieces 3/4 cup or more sliced strawberries 3 tablespoons crumbled feta or goat cheese

Strawberry Refrigerator Preserves

Plant City, Florida, is the home of the Strawberry Festival as well as many strawberry farms. For a strawberry lover like me, visiting was pure heaven. During the festival I tasted strawberry cookies, strawberry milkshakes, and the area’s famous strawberry shortcakes. Returning home with strawberry fever, I got to work creating my recipe for fresh and easy strawberry preserves. Light in sugar, these preserves have a remarkable fresh strawberry taste. Divine on toast or with biscuits, the preserves are light enough to serve with dessert; just don’t forget the homemade whipped cream.

Ingredients

2 cups chopped fresh strawberries (1/2- inch pieces) 1/2 cup white grape juice 1/2 cup 100 percent pear juice To make the vinaigrette, place the chopped strawberries, red wine vin1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice egar, honey, and salt in a blender jar, and process until smooth. With the 4 tablespoons honey blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified. 1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon Sure-Jell No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the salad, place the pecans on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the salt over the pecans, and bake for about 5 minutes, until toasted. Let cool, and then roughly chop into pieces. Place the kale in a large bowl, drizzle some of the vinaigrette over the kale, and lightly toss until just coated.

DIRECTIONS

Combine the strawberries, grape juice, pear juice, lemon juice, and honey in a medium saucepan. Stir well. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in the Sure-Jell.

To serve, divide the salad among 4 plates. Top each salad with the pecans, sliced strawberries, and feta or goat cheese. Serve remaining vinaigrette on the side.

Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat, and spoon off any foam from the top. Spoon the preserves into two clean 1⁄􏰀2-pint jars. Secure with lids. Let cool to room temperature. Store the preserves in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Makes 4 servings.

Makes two 1/2-pint jars.

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November 2015

A Not So Big Bad Wolf:

Florida’s Endangered Red Wolf They inspire fear in the hearts of children and grown-ups alike. They have been the antagonists of children’s fairy tales and the fiendish counterparts to vampires and the like. Wolves. Their presence on agricultural land, particularly pasture land is frowned upon and for that reason the red wolves of Florida were declared “extinct in the wild” back in 1980. However, they had entered the endangered list 13 years earlier. Thankfully, careful modes of restoration and protection have enabled a return to the wild for these gorgeous creatures. Yet, they are still considered federally endangered and therefore they are protected here. The red wolf, canis rufus, is often confused with the coyote and can mate successfully with various other breeds of wolf, coyote and domestic canines. It is indeed one of the most endangered species in the world and is the most endangered of the canid family. Although a shy species, the red wolf was once one of the kings of predation in the southern parts of the US. The red wolf gets its name from the cinnamon tone of its mostly yellow-black fur. The red-ish areas are centered on its legs, neck and behind its ears. With large ears, it’s easily confused with coyotes but its almond shaped eyes, wide nose pad and broad muzzle are more in line with its cousin the grey wolf. In truth, the red wolf is somewhere between the coyote and the grey wolf when it comes to size. Red wolves are slightly larger than the coyote but a tad smaller than the grey wolf. On average they reach a height of 26 inches, a length of five feet and only weigh between 4580 lbs. It is hard to distinguish these animals as there are some that are larger or smaller than usual. Red wolves generally hunt alone or in small family packs as the alpha male and his mate typically bond for life. They are carnivores, subsisting on rabbits, rodents, white tailed deer and raccoons. They make their dens in hollowed out tree trunks, sand hills and stream banks. They’re nocturnal, hunting at night or in the wee hours of dusk and dawn. While they might choose to hunt together (though that is an irregularity) they most notably eat alone. The mating season lasts only a few short months, from January through March and the gestation period is equally short-lived: 60-63 days. They will then be blessed with a litter of up to 12 pups. Most often the mating pair only produces one litter a year but may move from den to den. Their life span is only 7-8 years unless in captivity where they might reach 15 years of age. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of three years although considerably younger breeding has been documented. The only truly wild population in existence is a reintroduced group in the northeastern part of North Carolina, although a breeding pair was released on St. Vincent Island in Florida as well. However, history shows that they existed all the way north to Pennsylvania, west to Texas and south into Florida. They lived in the wetlands, lowlands and mountainous regions of those areas. Their preferences appear to be forests, swamps and coastal prairies. 30

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

By Ginny Mink

This precious creature has been endangered due to the fact fearful men hunted them to the brink of complete extinction. Still they are in danger from illegal hunting and our constant need to expand our developments. We take away their habitats because we think we need bigger houses and more shopping malls. It’s pretty sad really, when you think about it. What’s the answer? That’s a great question. The most obvious of course, is to stop hunting them illegally. Yes, they can damage your cattle and livestock if allowed in, but there are so many new innovations in fencing and electric options that we feel pretty confident that you can keep them out and your animals in. Additionally, we need to take note of their natural habitats and when tempted to encroach on their sphere of travel, we should reconsider our goals and motivations for decimating their homes. There are some organizations dedicated solely to the revival of the wolves. These groups welcome your support and active participation. Consider looking into: • The Endangered Wolf Center: They offer an adopt a wolf pack option. http://www.endangeredwolfcenter.org/educational-resources/ red-wolf/# • Return of the Red Wolf: Tails from the Swamp- This is a blog about the red wolves of today. It’s updated regularly by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services. http://trackthepack.blogspot.com/ • Wolf Haven International: You can support their efforts as a sanctuary for displaced and captive-born wolves. They offer a “symbolic” adoption program. http://wolfhaven.org/ • WolfQuest: This is an interactive video game that will help you learn about wolf ecology. Maybe the kids would like a go at this? http://www.wolfquest.org/ Listen, we live on a planet designed by a supreme Creator. We need to be thankful for what we have and be good stewards of the earth. There’s a reason each and every species is here even if it doesn’t make sense to us. Let’s do our part to protect those without a voice. Resources: http://www.gator-woman.com/redwolf.html http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/ http://www.floridiannature.com/RedWolves.htm http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/redwolf/ http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/wolvesandcoyotes.html http://www.npca.org/protecting-our-parks/wildlife_facts/redwolf. html?adwords=1&category=wildlife&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5MGxBR DiuZm2icXX2-sBEiQA619bq2SFQf_YGh5MjqyPsk3MOBQ3r7egnIR2Fe-_RonY0TwaAg3B8P8HAQ?referrer=https://www.google. com/ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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November 2015

Jury Scam Continues to Circulate By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff

During the second week of October 2015, two separate residents reported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office that an unknown male suspect called them telling them he was with the PCSO and the residents were being contacted about missed Grand Jury duty. The caller told the residents they were being charged a fine and that it would be necessary for the residents to purchase a “pre-paid” money card and provide the caller with the security information to pay the fine.

instead. In two other cases, the victims were suspicious themselves and reported the incidents to PCSO instead of being victimized by the scammer.

This is a scam.

Please be reminded:

If you’ve been contacted by anyone claiming you owe some sort of fee or a fine, and that you must purchase a pre-paid card, or transfer money to a PayPal account or any other unfamiliar account, you could be the victim of a crime. Members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will never, ever, call residents and instruct them to purchase any sort of debit card or money order to pay off a fine for missed jury duty, an outstanding warrant, missed court date fee, red-light ticket fine, or legal fee. But this is not the first time this has happened in our county. In August and September 2015, PCSO investigated seven separate incidents where victims were contacted via telephone by people representing themselves as sworn law enforcement officers working for PCSO - in each of the cases, the caller identified himself as “Brian Williams,” “Pat Harris,” or “Dan Patton” and told the victim “you have a bench warrant issued for your arrest for failure to report to jury duty.” The victim was then instructed to go to the nearest convenience store, purchase a PayPal card and load a designated amount of money onto it, and then give the activation number on the cards to the caller so that the fine for failing to appear could be processed, and the warrant cleared. The victim is either given a phone number to call back and speak to a “receptionist” or the caller calls the victim back himself. Once the money is transferred over the phone, the suspect’s phone number is disconnected. In two of the cases, convenience store clerks and/or people waiting in line at the convenience store told victims “this is a scam” and the victims did not purchase the PayPal cards, but reported it to PCSO 34

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November 2015

In one of the cases, the victim gave the suspect $300 via PayPal card. In another case, the victim gave the suspect $1500 via PayPal card. In one of the cases, the victim gave the caller access to her bank account so that the caller could withdraw funds from it.

Scammers use the element of fear to coerce their victims. Do not be intimidated by a caller. Get as much information as you can, then hang up and report it to law enforcement. If you receive a phone call in reference to jury duty, take down the caller’s name, phone number, and department and ask to confirm with a supervisor. Jury Duty summons’ can be confirmed through the Clerk of Courts - do not take a caller’s word for it that you have been summoned for Jury Duty. Never give personal information to a stranger. Be suspicious of phone calls from people attempting to collect a debt. Look up the phone number of the organization the caller claims to represent (not the number on the caller ID) and check on your account. Legitimate service providers do not accept payment via prepaid cards. Seniors are considered easy prey to thieves, help keep elderly family members protected and prepared by informing them about this type of scam. Contact Law Enforcement if you receive suspicious calls. We encourage retailers to remind residents who purchase pre-paid cards that once the security information is provided to someone else, the money leaves their account and is automatically deposited into another account or onto another card. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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November 2015

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving From Our Family to Yours

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Florida

Pears

By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Did you know that pears are in same family of plants as roses? Other members of the diverse Rosaceae family include apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, quinces, strawberries and almonds. Sweet, juicy, and low in acid, pears are prized for their delicious juiciness. Pears can also be canned, juiced, or dried. While you may see plenty of Bartlett pears in grocery stores, other types of pears grow well in Florida. The Hood, Pineapple, and Flordahome pears are delicious for eating. Pear trees are more often grown in the northern parts of Florida because they require a period of dormancy and an accompanied chilling at 45 degrees or less to bear fruit. Hood pears are good for eating out-of-hand as well as for cooking. They are golden yellow with a soft, buttery flesh and a slightly tangy flavor, much like Bartlett pears. Pineapple pears are hard and used mostly for canning. Flordahome pears are sweet, juicy, and savory and good for eating raw.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE

This super-juicy fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, riboflavin, and potassium. The outer peel is entirely edible and contains most of the fiber in the fruit. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one medium pear (178 g) contains 101 calories, 0.6 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 27 g of carbohydrate, and 5.5 g of fiber. It also provides 22% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for dietary fiber, 17% for copper, 10% for vitamin C, and 9% for vitamin K. Pears also contain significant amounts of potassium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and many of the B vitamins.

FIBER: DON’T PEEL THE FRUIT!

Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber binds to the cholesterol-containing bile salts, and helps to excrete them out of the body. It also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control. In addition to the effects of fiber on regularity, other compounds in pears promote healthy digestive functioning and offer protection from colon cancer. Pears are one of the top foods for high fiber. Antioxidants: Eat your vitamins! Florida pears are bursting with disease-fighting antioxidants, which neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. The vitamin C and vitamin A in pears, as well as other compounds, have antioxidant qualities. Copper also supports the function of antioxidants, sweeping up free radicals. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits high in antioxidants are WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer. Pears also contain flavonoids that improve insulin sensitivity, a key factor that can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

VITAMIN C: BEAUTY, HEALTH & MORE!

In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C has many important functions in the body. Eating foods like pears that are high in vitamin C significantly raises the amount of iron your body absorbs, which helps prevent anemia. In its most famous role, vitamin C supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses, and may possibly shorten the duration and intensity of a cold. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.

HOW TO SELECT AND STORE Choose pears that are free of blemishes or bruises and feel heavy and firm for their size. Pears ripen from the inside out. To judge ripeness, gently squeeze the neck of the pear near the stem. If it yields to gentle pressure, the pear is ripe, even if the body still feels firm. The stem area will also yield a fragrant smell if the pear is ripe. If the neck is firm, allow the pear to ripen at room temperature over the next few days. Ripe pears can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing.

HOW TO ENJOY

Ripe, juicy, sweet pears are delicious eaten out-of-hand. Pears can also be cooked, poached, made into jam or jelly, or incorporated into salads and desserts. Other ways to enjoy fresh pears include: • Slice pears and toss with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and walnuts for a delicious salad. • Dice pears and mix with other fruits in a fruit salad. • Serve pears with goat or bleu cheese for a simple appetizer or dessert. • Add chopped pears, ginger and honey to oatmeal for a breakfast treat. • Core pears, and poach in apple juice or wine. • Thinly slice pears and top a freshly baked cake. • Pear juice or pulp can be used to marinate meat, as seen in Korean Bulgogi sauce. • Add thin slices of pear to peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwiches. Enjoy sweet and juicy Florida pears today. It’s a delicious way to get plenty of fiber and other nutrients.

SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.ifas.ufl.edu http://www.whfoods.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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FARMERS AND RANCHERS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS By Jim Frankowiak

Farmers and ranchers in Florida are being reminded and encouraged to take advantage of several new tax savings with the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year this past July 1. HB 33, which was passed by the legislature during the special session and signed by Governor Rick Scott, was a legislative priority of Florida Farm Bureau. The legislation, which “will protect and strengthen Florida’s agriculture community and position our farmers and ranchers for future success,” according to Florida Farm Bureau, originated from bills filed during the regular legislative session by Rep. Jake Raburn (RLithia) and Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland). Rep. Ben Albritton (RBartow) and Sen. Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) sponsored identical legislation in 2014. “I introduced this legislation to benefit Florida’s family farms and to elevate Florida lawmakers’ commitment to the agriculture industry by implementing a significant $13 million tax cut,” said Rep. Raburn.

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• Provides an exemption for irrigation parts and repairs that will help encourage farmers to retrofit old irrigation systems to become more efficient • Expands the current exemption for power farm equipment to include the parts and repair for power farm equipment, helping to reduce fixed costs for Florida farmers and keeping business in the state • Expands power farm equipment exemption equipment used to store raw products on the farm after harvest • Provides for an exemption for most trailers used in agriculture production so long as they are used exclusively on the farm and weigh less than 12,000-pounds. The exemption applies up to $20,000. • Provides an exemption for stakes used in plant production such as tomatoes, nursery crops, etc. The Florida Department of Revenue has additional information and forms related to each of these new sales tax provisions on its website: www.myflorida. com/dor or by calling toll free Monday – Friday, excluding holidays: 800-3523671. Written responses to questions may be secured by writing: Florida Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services, MS 3-2000, 5050 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0112.

“Agriculture is vitally important and a huge economic driver for our state,” said Sen. Stargel. “It provides countless jobs and it supplies the food for our tables. We must ensure that the agriculture industry continues to be productive. These tax incentives show our state’s support for this industry.” 40

The new legislation with estimated tax savings potential of up to $13 million has five major provisions:

November 2015

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November 2015

Well-Trained Best Friends Dogs make the best companions. They are loyal. They know when you are having a bad day or if you aren’t feeling well. They are happy to see you when you come home from a long day at work. They also can be a handful to take care of and they can be very mischievous. Imperial Polk Obedience Club (IPOC) in Lakeland can help with our furry friends who can be difficult to train. “We began by teaching obedience classes at an old airplane hanger at Tigertown on Tuesday nights,” said IPOC member Becky Babicz. “We now teach agility, obedience, conformation, service dog training and tricks classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Wednesdays during the day.” IPOC was formed in 1963 to assist Polk County dog owners in training their dogs in house manners and to train for and hold American Kennel Club obedience competitions. As different dog sports were developed, IPOC’s training program evolved. “We are an allvolunteer group and come from a variety of backgrounds with only one common interest and that is the dog,” said IPOC member Susan Norton-Kirkpatrick. “We love all dogs and while showing in the performance and companion events of AKC and UKC events is our primary goal, we also desire to help people just have a better trained dog they can enjoy having.” IPOC offers classes from puppy to advanced training. “We don’t train your dog, we train you on how to train your dog,” Norton-Kirkpatrick said. They also offer both daytime and evening classes. “We put on both obedience and agility trials in our club building in Lakeland 42

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

By Libby Hopkins

and outside the community,” Norton-Kirkpatrick said. Obedience trials showcase dogs that have been trained and conditioned to behave well at home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs. AKC obedience trials allow exhibitors and their dogs to enjoy companionship and competition as they proudly earn AKC titles. IPOC will be offering a new training session in December that will focus on the new sport of nose work. “We expect a large participation in session,” Norton-Kirkpatrick said. “This new sport is based on the training that drug scenting dogs do and it’s fun because it teaches them to search for specific scents.” IPOC loves to give back to the community through their therapy dog program. “We have a therapy dog program that makes visits to local nursing homes and schools providing education, entertainment and comfort to the elderly.” IPOC participates in many events throughout the year that supports the local community as well. IPOC is a non-profit corporation. Club members conduct all class sessions, many with years of teaching and training experience. “One thing that makes us different from other clubs and training facilities, is that we offer a free-service dog training class for those who need a dog to assist them with specific tasks,” Babicz said. “Our club is known for its friendliness in welcoming people who want to come and join us in learning to train and have fun with their dogs.” Babicz and Norton-Kirkpatrick feel this is why members of IPOC come from all over Central Florida to be a part of the club. “We enjoy the fellowship that comes with working together with the common goal WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

of understanding and learning how to train our canine friends,” Babicz said. “Yes, in order to have all these programs in an all-volunteer club, we all have to work to keep it going.”

hard, helping each other train their dogs for this event for the sixth time, one of our teams won the tournament by earning the highest number of points.”

Several IPOC members will be showing in the AKC Obedience Classic at the Orange County Convention Center in Orland in December. IPOC sent two teams to the State Obedience Tournament this year. “There were teams from training clubs and training groups from all over the state, 35 in all,” Babicz said. “Our whole group worked very

If you would like to learn more about the various obedience and training classes offered at IPOC or if you would like to become a member, you can visit their website at www.ipoclakeland.org or call 863-644-1227. The Imperial Polk Obedience Club is located at 3610 Century Blvd. in Lakeland.

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

Naturally Amazing Activities

By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus

Bushcraft Fishing Pole The Pole:

Nature provides some amazing natural resources to humanity. This month we will make our own fishing pole from natural resources that are indigenous to Florida.

River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) can be found in the pine forests of central Florida as a component of the understory or midstory that offers soil that is saturated or prone to frequent flooding.

Material:

River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) – for fishing pole

Cut a straight piece of cane about 10 feet long; cut the wider bottom end close to a joint (culm) so the bottom end remains sealed.

2 3 4

Trim the leaves off as close as possible to the cane stem. Smooth rough edges with sandpaper Hang the pole by the thin tip of the pole and allow it to dry for several weeks (should change to a tan color) *If the pole begins to warp, attach a heavy object to the bottom of the pole to force it to dry straight.

The Line: The long leaves of the Spanish Bayonet (Yucca filamentosa) contain the strongest natural fibers of any plant native to North America. Most commonly found in full sun, welldrained sandy soils, such as beach scrub and dunes, but can also be found as an understory component in pine barrens and dry prairies. The correct species will be characterized by white filaments along the edges of the leaf, similar to that which is found on saw palmetto.

Spanish Bayonet (Yucca filamentosa) – for fishing line

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) – for fish hook

1 2 3

Gather four or five leaves from the base of the plant. Please do not gather more than you need. Split the leaf into thinner strips that are easy to work with (½ to ¼ inch strips) Grab each end of the strip and gently roll and twist the leaf between your fingers (as if winding thread) to separate the fibers of the leaf. You should end up with a large pile of hair like fibers.

The Hook:

If you hike much in Florida, you may have seen trees with monster thorns on them, and maybe even thought, “That would make a good weapon or fish hook.” The Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) has robust thorns that can reach 10cm in length and have a history of use as nails on ships, spikes on fish traps, and fish hooks. You can find The Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) in the moist soil of river valleys, cypress swamps and flood plains, Harvest the red thorns, they are the strongest. Choose a large thorn that has one or more smaller barbs growing out of it, they will already be shaped like a fish hook, the smaller thorns on the side will be what hooks the fish.

1 2

Trim the bottom of the thorn where it was attached to the tree, to smooth it out.

Using the Pole:

Unlike conventional fishing, this method is used for catching fish you intend to eat. The design and nature of the hook will probably kill the fish. The principle is to get the fish to swallow the hook so it lodges into the stomach or esophagus enough to land fish you intended to consume. 44

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

November 2015

fiber into groups of 3 or 4 strands per 4 Separate group. (More strands for thicker cordage) the fibers is a two step process in 5 Twisting which two groups of fibers are twisted in one

direction, then both groups are twisted together in the opposite direction causing tension that will keep the cordage from unraveling.

two groups of 3 or 4 strands clockwise 6 Twist (INDIVIDUALLY) (Twist A) the two groups that were made in Twist 7 Twist A together counterclockwise (Twist B) to form your finished cord.

you are an inch or two from the end of 8 When the fibers, you will need to add more fibers to

make the cordage longer. The new fibers can be added to lengthen the group by twisting in the (Twist A) direction.

the process until you have a length of 9 Repeat cordage a foot or two longer than your pole.

There are a few ways to attach the thorn hook to the fishing line.

i) If you are not using cordage that was made from natural materials and are using very thin monofilament, you can gently scratch a groove in the top of the thorn for the monofilament to ride in when you tie the thorn to the fishing line. ii) Natural fiber cordage is often much thicker than manmade monofilament and is easier to attach by creating a loop n the cordage and running the bottom barbs through the fibers in each side of the loop. After piercing the cordage with the thorn barbs, unravel a portion of the cordage enough to slip the long shank of the thorn through it and re-tighten the cordage around the shank and into the grove. iii)Some thorns will be large enough that you can drill a hole through the top to create an eye for the fishing line.

Bait is typically used for this type of fishing pole and would depend on the resources available, try checking under logs for worms and grubs and along river beds for frogs, snails, lizards, and various insects. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

A Closer Look

by Sean Green

A Brief History of Florida Citrus - Part 1 Citrus has played a dominant role in Florida’s history and economic development. Our subtropical environment accommodates citrus cultivation so well that it’s hard to regard citrus as an exotic species, but oddly enough, there is not one species of citrus that is native to America. The introduction of citrus to the Americas is widely credited in the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and his 15th century expeditions that lead to discovery of the new world. It is not by chance that citrus was soon cultivated in the new world and specifically in Florida with early Spanish explorers and colonists. A closer look at the historic roots of citrus fruit may shed light on how this jewel of the orient became the Sunshine State’s most important agribusiness and why modern threats such as citrus greening are a big concern. It is widely acknowledged that all citrus species are native to Southeast Asia where they are found uncultivated in the wild. Authorities now have molecular evidence to confirm that every citrus cultivar is ultimately derived from four ancestral species: • The Citron (Citrus medica) is believed to be the purest of the four and highly fragrant with a dry pulp and thick rind. • The Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is as large or larger than a grapefruit but not as bitter. • The Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) resembles common oranges but is smaller, less spherical, and sweeter. • The Papeda has been classified as a subgenus of Citrus, although the fruit is bitter, this subgenus is an important rootstock for breeding disease resistant and frost tolerant citrus hybrids. From historic evidence we know that citrus has been cultivated and perfected in China for thousands of years, long before its introduction to European civilizations and probably well before written history. Some sources mention finding seeds from the citron (Citrus medica) in Mesopotamian excavations dating back to 4000 B.C. From the ancient Treatise of Theophrastus, successor to Aristotle and widely considered the “father of botany”, we have documented evidence that the Citron (Citrus medica) and Lemon (Citrus × limon), were known by the early Greeks and Romans; furthermore, the Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, described Citron (Citrus medica) in his Natural History, published around 77 A.D. Consistently, these ancient writers revered the citrus for its use in protecting cloth from moths, as a poison antidote, a perfume, and numerous uses in medicine. The Silk Road is the ancient caravan trade route connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. It was critical in the economic, political and cultural exchanges between the Orient and the West. Initially, it functioned to transport silk, and spices, but quickly matured to include the trade of Indian cottons, Arabian coffee and African ivory. Because goods had to pass through many traders along the Silk Road, each of them making a small profit, by the time the goods reached Europe, they became exceedingly more expensive than the price that was paid at its origin. In addition to the land route, the Tang dynasty (618 – 907) also developed the maritime Silk Route through the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Persia, Mesopotamia (via the Euphrates River), Arabia, Egypt, Aksum, and around the Horn of Africa. The maritime routes made the trade of Chinas advanced agriculture more practical and during the Muslim conquests that began in the 7th century hybrid crops such as the sour orange (Citrus × aurantium) were introduced to Europe. By the end of the 12th century, the sour orange was cultivated in the area of Seville, Spain, and remained the only citrus fruit in Europe for the next 500 years. A 12th century Chinese manuscript, Han Yen-Chih’s Chu lu, regarded as the oldest surviving book on oranges, describes 27 cultivars (varieties) of both sweet and sour oranges, references citrons and kumquats, and describes nursery methods, grove management, and diseases, some of the most popular cultivars such as the hybrid Sweet Orange (Citrus × sinensis) and the non-hybrid Nanfengmiju (Citrus reticulata Blanco) were traded later along new trade routes.

its trade route. The Ottomans’ levied high trade taxes on European goods heading east. Europeans began looking for alternate maritime routes directly to India and Asia. Portuguese explorers had already dominated a route through the Indian Ocean that provided a direct connection between Europe and India, leaving Spanish explorers with but one option, to sail West in search of a direct route to Asia to open the door to the spice trade for the Spanish Crown. Christopher Columbus thought he had found the shores of the East Indies (South and Southeast Asia) in 1492 when he made landfall on an island in the Bahamas that he later named San Salvador.” Columbus continued to explore Northern Cuba and then the island of Hispaniola (Haiti), and attempted to establish a settlement, La Navidad, before returning to Spain. After returning to Spain for a year, Columbus sailed back to Hispaniola (Haiti), accompanied by Ponce de León and other explorers. Seventeen ships in total transported seed, livestock, explorers and thousands of colonists that would establish the first permanent European settlement in the New World. Chronicles such as Historia de Las Indias by historian Bartolomé de las Casas describe the first decades of colonization in Hispaniola and the West Indies (Caribbean Basin) and include the mention of three types of citrus; “oranges, lemons, and citrons,” that were brought with Columbus on the second voyage in 1493. The native Taino in Hispaniola were exploited as slave labor for Spanish crops, livestock, and gold mining enterprises. These new revenue streams for the Spanish crown stimulated slave expeditions throughout the Bahamas and possibly parts of Florida from the first year of settlement. By 1514 citrus cultivation, in particular, had become successful in Santo Domingo, Hispaniola as the naturalist Oviedo y Valdéz testifies: “Orange trees from Castile were brought to this island of Hispaniola [Haiti], and they have multiplied so abundantly that now they are past counting; the fruit is very good, both the sweet and the sour. “ The 1513 expeditions of Juan Ponce de León led him to the shores of Florida near what is now known as St Augustine. The settlement was officially established in 1565 and in a correspondence to the Audiencia (Royal Court) of Santo Domingo dated April 2, 1579, Pedro Menéndez Márquez, then governor of Florida confirms the success of cultivating Spanish crops in Florida; “There are beginning to be many of the fruits of Spain, such as figs, pomegranates, oranges, grapes in great quantity; ...” In parts of New Spain, which include Florida and Mexico, the oranges that were brought to the Americas appear to have become naturalized. José de Acosta, a Spanish 16thcentury Jesuit missionary and naturalist in Latin America, archives his observations that “those trees that have most aboundantly fructified, be orange trees, limons, citrons, and others of that sort.” and that “there are at this day, as it were, whole woods and forests of orange trees.” Acosta makes it clear that the orange trees were not planted in the woods, but rather “ it did come by chaunce, for that oranges being fallen to the ground, and rotten, their seeds did spring, and of those which the water had carried away into diverse partes, these woods grew so thicke.” For the next 150 years or so Florida settlements grew slowly and cultivated oranges were generally household gardens, small community farms or wild stands.

When the Turks of the Ottoman Empire overtook Constantinople in 1453, they gained control over the Middle East and portions of WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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