Our Hometown • 0423

story

CURTIS

& photos by JANE

At Farmstand, it’s the Year of Growth. That’s what owners Zoami Calles Sosa and Antonio Rios

The couple opened the greenhouse at 1544 Second St. in 2021. They refer to that year as the Great Planting.

Farmstand’s second year, 2022, they call the Year of Rooting. Growth is, of course, the natural progression.

Farmstand

“We are going to have tons of more plants and flowers!” Calles Sosa said. “And produce will start coming on sometime in May, though we already have tiny little tomatoes on some of our plants for Mother’s Day.

“We grow about 90 to 95 percent of all our vegetable plants,” she said. “Before opening Farmstand, that’s what my family focused on primarily. Selling vegetable plants followed by produce.

While we mostly sell my family’s vegetables, we did try to sell other people’s ... but it got complicated. Narrowing on quality is very, very important and so we are trying to find the best way to go about it.”

Her family farms in Sac County.

“We (Farmstand) couldn’t be here without the support of my parents and sister. Like none of this happens without them. So, it’s definitely a family affair.”

call it.

Not everything comes from the farm, though.

“Our flowers are a more complicated set up. We grow some Proven Winners plants and those come to us as tiny baby plugs. We aren’t big enough to do our own from scratch there,” she said.

“Succulents, tropical plants, and perennials are a similar story. As for the rest of the annuals, we are trying to grow from seed.”

Anna Woodward, Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce director, said locally the couple helps to grow more than plants; they help grow Webster City.

“Zoami and Antonio are very active community members and have always been supportive members of the Chamber. Farmstand offers locally grown produce and plants that many communities only have access to on a much more limited basis.”

Calles Sosa said the warmth with which they have been welcomed is noticed.

“I want people to know that I’m very grateful and appreciative of everyone’s support. I know that we have been through tough times these last few years, and, perhaps it hasn’t been the best time to start a business, but we have a strong community and we couldn’t do it without them.

She added, “I could talk about a million times these last few years where customers have gone out of their way to be kind and generous with us. But there is one that’s on top of my mind right now. We had a customer that came once to buy this type of flower, a mandevilla. He left and then he came back again ... and again on the same day, and left a tip. He told me how much he loved our flowers and he had realized he just had to have more (of the same flower). This whole interaction left me tearing up. I was so touched and grateful to have the opportunity

to brighten up someone’s day. You see, the whole point of Farmstand is not to sell flowers or vegetables or anything really. The whole point is to help make people’s life better ... it just happens to be through flowers and fresh produce.”

The couple will be a part of another great planting when the weather warms up in May. Farmstand will this year supply the plants that will go into the many downtown planters that line Webster City’s main street.

Kevin Rubash, who owns the design firm Interior Spaces in the 600 block downtown, said this year the plants chosen will directly relate to the Webster City schools’ mascot.

“Plum Daddy, Mini Vista Midnight, Cordylena Jade,” he said. “These are the plants we are planting this year. They will be a purple display to honor the Lynx.

Planting day is May 9.

“The SSMID Association (Self Supported Municipal Improvement District) or property owners in the downtown area pay for all of the downtown beautifications,” Rubash said. “One of these elements is the planters. This year we are happy to be partnering with Farmstand to provide the Proven Winner flowers that will be planted in the containers. Dick Carlson from the (Town & Country) garden club and his local club members will be the ones to plant up the containers and Aw.some Mowing from Webster City will be in charge of watering them this year.”

***

What are home gardeners collecting?

“I would say that the popularity of plants depends on the time of year,” Calles Sosa said. “For example, in early spring, coldtolerant plants are more popular. During the fall, mums definitely take the crown.”

For her, no plant is more special than the next.

“Like all parents, I don’t think I have a favorite child. I love every single plant the same. They are all my babies.”

Nurturing those plants one by one, much like nurturing Farmstand one year at a time and naming its progression, is just the beginning. Together, Zoami Calles Sosa and Antonio Rios are laying the foundation of a much more ambitious future.

“It is my hope that Farmstand will be much more than just a greenhouse/flower business and will be opened year-round. Though, that’s more of a long-term thing,” Calles Sosa said.

“Right now, due to all the financial and business constraints, it’s a slow process. But we’ll get there.”

After all, it’s the Year of Growth.

Smart meals helps relieve IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can make eating challenging. When a person has IBS, certain foods can elicit painful digestion responses. By avoiding certain foods and leaning strongly on others, namely Low-FODMAP ingredients, it is easier to find relief and enjoy mealtime.

When one person in the family suffers from IBS, it can be easier to adjust cooking accordingly for the entire household. Getting the entire family involved in mealtime can foster bonds and help family members spend time together. This recipe for “Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs” from “The Complete IBS Diet Plan” (Rockridge Press) by Amanda Foote, R.D., is one way to have all hands on deck when preparing a satisfying meal. that should not trigger discomfort for people with IBS. Increase the recipe accordingly depending on the number of diners.

Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs

Serves 2

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Juice of 1⁄2 lemon

1 tablespoon dried oregano

Grated zest of 1⁄2 lemon, plus additional for garnish (optional)

2 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1⁄2-inch cubes

Nonstick cooking spray

1⁄2 cup mixed yellow and red bell pepper chunks

1⁄2 cup zucchini chunks

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Soak two wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, and lemon zest (if using). Add the chicken and stir to coat the cubes. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Set aside.

4. Skewer the marinated chicken, bell pepper chunks, and zucchini chunks, and place the skewers on the baking sheet.

5. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the oven to broil and broil the kebabs for 2 minutes on each side, watching them carefully so they don’t burn.

6. Garnish the kebabs with more lemon zest (if using).

LET’S EAT

Our Hometown Recipe Corner

Dinner is all rolled up

When the weather starts to warm, people are inspired to once again venture outdoors and spend more time away from home. People can benefit from having quick and easy dinner recipes at the ready so that hours are not spent in the kitchen after a day of fun in the fresh air.

With mere minutes of preparation and about 15 minutes cooking time, this recipe for “Chicken, ham, and Swiss roulades” from “Real Simple Dinner Tonight: Done” (Time Home Entertainment) from the editors of Real Simple makes a simple weeknight meal that is tasty, too.

Chicken, ham, and Swiss roulades

Serves 4

8 small chicken cutlets (about 1 1⁄2 pounds total)

8 thin slices cooked ham

8 thin slices Swiss cheese

4 tablespoons olive oil

6 cups mixed greens

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1⁄4 cup whole-grain mustard

Heat oven to 400 F. Season the chicken with 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper. Roll up each cutlet with 1 slice of the ham and 1 slice of the Swiss cheese. Skewer the roulades closed with toothpicks.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the roulades and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the skillet to an oven and roast the roulades until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss the greens and tomatoes with the vinegar, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and 1⁄4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the roulades and mustard.

Photo #1

PHOTO 1: Old Post Office

Helene Silverstein Look at these photos and see if you can identify these local landmarks.

LANDMARKS

SAVVY

by Jim Miller

Fun Part-Time Jobs Ideas for Retirees

Dear Savvy Senior

Part-Time Retiree

Dear Retiree,

Working part-time in retirement can be a terrific way to occupy your time and earn some extra income. The key, however, is finding the right gig that’s fun and satisfying for you. While there are literally hundreds of different parttime job opportunities out there for retirees, here are a few possibilities to explore.

Pet Services: If you love animals, consider pet sitting and/or dog walking. Pet sitters, who attend to a pet’s needs when their owner is away, can earn $15 to $40 per visit. Dog walkers can make $10 to $30 for a 30-minute walk.

To find these jobs, advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices or online at sites like Craigslist.org or Care.com. Or, if you’d rather work for an organization that offers these services, visit Rover.com.

Teach or Tutor: Depending on your expertise, you could substitute teach or tutor students privately on any number of subjects. Substitute teachers typically make between $75 and $125/day, while tutors can earn between $15 to $30 per hour.

To look for substitute teaching positions, contact your local school district to see if they are hiring and what qualifications they require. To advertise tutoring services, use websites like Wyzant.com and Tutor.com.

Or, if you have a bachelor, master or doctoral degree, inquire about adjunct teaching at a nearby college or university.

Drive: If you like to drive, you can get paid to drive others around using Uber or Lyft apps, or become a food delivery driver through Instacart or Uber Eats. Drivers make around $15 per hour.

Babysit: If you like kids, babysitting can be a fun way to put money in your pocket. Hourly rates vary by location ranging anywhere from $10 to $40 per hour. To find jobs or advertise your services, use sites like as Care.com and Sittercity.com.

Tour guide: If you live near any historical sites or locations, national parks or museums (anywhere that attracts tourists), inquire about becoming a tour guide. This pays anywhere from $10 to $40/hour.

Write or edit: Many media, corporate and nonprofit websites are looking for freelancers to write, edit or design content for $20 to $60 per hour. To find these jobs try FreelanceWriting.com, FreelanceWritingGigs.com and Freelancer.com.

Consult: If you have a lot of valuable expertise in a particular area, offer your services as a consultant through a firm or on your own through freelancer sites like Upwork. com, Fiverr.com, Freelancer.com or Guru.com.

Translator or interpreter: If you’re fluent in more than one language you can do part-time interpretation over the phone or translate documents or audio files for $20 to $40/hour. Try sites like Translate.com, ProZ.com or Gengo. com to locate translation jobs.

Public events: Sporting events, festivals, concerts and shows need ticket takers, security guards, ushers, concession workers and more. The pay is usually $10 to $20/ hour. Contact nearby venues to apply.

Tax preparer: If you have tax preparation experience or are willing to take a tax prep course you can find seasonal work preparing tax returns at big-box tax firms like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt for around $17/hour.

Bookkeeper: If you have a finance or accounting background you can find freelance bookkeeping gigs at sites like Upwork.com and Fiverr.com, or through firms like BelaySolutions.com.

Librarian assistant: If you love books, public libraries hire part-time workers to shelve books, send out overdue notices, help patrons, etc. Contact your local library to see what’s available.

If you don’t find these options appealing, try FlexJobs.com, which lists thousands of flexible work-at-home jobs from more than 5,700 employers. Membership fees start at $10.

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

This is Willie. As a kitten, he was found wandering along the shoulder of old Highway 20 west of Webster City. Turns out, he was a great little guy, who eventually grew into a great big guy. What a great fortune for both of us. Tell us your pet story, be it a rescue or other tale. Jane Curtis

Submit your pet photos to tanderson@freemanjournal.net

Please include pet’s & owner’s name

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

You don’t want to have mundane tasks hanging over your head, Aries. Try to check as many of them off your to-do list this week as you can. This will free up a lot of free time.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, you may be planning a much-needed vacation at the present time. Figure out a place you’ve never been and then fill your itinerary with plenty of fun things.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

You likely will have to devote a lot of attention to practical matters in the days to come, Gemini. This includes taking a hard look at your spending and making cuts.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, the coming week will be a busy time for social opportunities. Other people will want to be around you as you can be the life of the party when you come out of your shell.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Don’t be surprised if your energy level is high this week, Leo. This leads to you feeling restless at home and even at work. This could be a fine time to take up a hobby.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, you may be looking forward to an evening out with a romantic partner or close friends. Try to narrow down a day this week or next. Have a few restaurants at the ready.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Take advantage of some free time to get things done around the house, Libra. Cleaning or other home improvements should be a priority.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

There’s a lot of activity expected close to home, Scorpio. A new business may open or there could be a movie star who is spotted in town. Maybe you’ll get new neighbors.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

The thought of financial prosperity has you scouring the recruitment sites this week, Sagittarius. Speak to others about the pros and cons of leaving your current job.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, you are surrounded by positive energy and eager to be out and about with friends this week. Start exploring all of the possibilities around you.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

This may be a good week to devote a large chunk of time to being alone Some time with just your thoughts and a little silence could be everything you need.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, discussions at work could get a bit heated. It’s best to distance yourself from these situations as best as you can.

Parting SHOT

Podiatrist Dr. Willis has the experience and knowledge to help you feel better from your toes up. He specializes in the diagnosis, and medical/surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower extremities.

Podiatrist Dr. Willis has the experience and knowledge help you feel better from your toes up. He specializes in diagnosis, and medical/surgical treatment of disorders the foot, ankle and lower extremities.

Seeing patients Monday thru Friday in the clinic, and performing surgeries in the hospital, Dr. Willis treats the following conditions:

Pediatric and adult foot and ankle pain

Plantar Fasciitis

Dermological issues of the foot/ankle

Dermological issues of the

Tendonitis

Biomechanics/orthotics

"With

Bunions/hammer toes

Wound care

Foot and ankle surgery