Farm and Ranch Living June 2019

Published June 27, 2019

Hot Beds:

Community garden uses unique containers, Page 2

Hidden Trasures

Roadside produce in Athens, Page 3

A star is born

Asteri Acres permaculture farm, Page 7

Texas Senate approves hemp cultivation bill, Page 5

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June-July 2019

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Hot beds: Community garden uses unique containers

By Lisa Tang

P

Palestine Herald-Press

alestine’s Multi Cultural Education Center on Spring Street has a long history of making scarce resources go a long way. In early summer, the center’s community garden provides an excellent case-in-point.

The center, operating for 38 years, raises money for its programs through a resale shop, but always looks for creative ways to expand programs.

MCE Director Betty Nickerson, also known as Miss Betty, had dreamed of building a community garden for many years. The center had a plot available, and plenty of East Texas spring rains. What it lacked was help to maintain the garden.

Four years ago, with help from the Texas A&M Agrilife’s Extension Center’s Master Gardeners, the MCE built raised garden beds. That was the start of a low-cost, lowmaintenance garden that produced free vegetables.

Well, almost.

The center does not charge for the produce, but asks visitors to pick a few weeds from the beds while they’re looking for ripe (or green) tomatoes, zucchini, okra, collard greens, russet potatoes, snap peas, Brussels sprouts, corn, or jalapeño peppers.

Vegetables are not the most popular table item, but Miss Betty encourages everyone — young and old — to come out and pick some to cut grocery costs and boost nutrition.

Fried green tomatoes or fried zucchini, served with ranch dressing, may appeal to people who don’t usually eat vegetables, Miss Betty said. “The more vegetables we put in our bodies, the better we’ll be,” she said.

The Master Gardeners helped build the first beds and filled them with compost and

soil. As a bonus, some of the items dropped off at MCE’s resale shop have become part of the garden’s hardware.

Now, under the direction of Miss Betty’s sons, Stanley and Ray Nickerson, the community garden is flourishing.

Nickerson calls the raised garden beds “hot beds.”

Stanley began using discarded box springs as garden beds when he saw an overabundance of them being discarded at the center. Instead of paying a fee to leave the box springs at the city dump, Nickerson turned them over and planted gardens in them. “I just did it because we were getting so many of them,” Stanley said.

Later, he discovered the iron springs helped nourish the plants.

Discarded toilets were also put to use as containers for strawberry plants. The porcelain keeps the plants a few degrees cooler; toilets keep the soil above ground for good drainage.

Ray said pests have not been a problem.

He applied Sevin DustTM at the beginning of the season. With the wettest rainy season on record, Ray Nickerson says the community garden will continue to produce corn, tomatoes, and okra through September.

Agriculture experts who have visited the MCE’s community garden have commented on how beautiful and bountiful it is. “A professor from Missouri who came to see (the garden) said he would take the idea of using the box springs home with him,” Stanley said.

Other items that make their way into the garden include discarded baby bathtubs and a hat rack, but those are just for decoration. The community is invited to take a look – and pick a few vegetables.

“The garden is there for everyone,” Stanley said.

Photos by Lisa Tang

Top, Ray (left) and Betty Nickerson (right) have been growing vegetables in the Multi Cultural Education Center’s community garden for four years. The raised garden bed grows snap peas, jalapeño peppers, okra, tomatoes, and zucchini. Left, Ray Nickerson shows a raised garden bed made of an old box spring. The discarded toilet has also found new life as a container for strawberry plants. Above left, green tomatoes — ready for frying — will continue producing through September. Above right, the snap peas are almost ready for harvest in June. On the Cover, Anthony Wayne Johnson waters the raised beds every day, but saves money by collecting rainwater that runs off the center’s roof in large plastic bins.

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June-July 2019

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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Keep Whataburger A Texas Icon!

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tarting in 1969 with a small burger stand in Corpus Christi, Whataburger has grown to over 800 stores. Most of the stores are in Texas. Now, the family ownership is planning on selling a majority interest to an outfit based in Chicago. The sale has raised the ire of many born and bred Texans—including some like J.J. Watt who identifies with Texas though a native of Wisconsin. When he heard the news, J.J., a mainstay of the Houston Texans football team, said his piece. “I say we all chip in and buy Whataburger. Make honey butter chicken biscuits available all day, add kolaches to

the menu and change nothing else--especially the ketchup.”

Even Texas governor Greg Abbot saw a political advantage. “Get in J.J., we are saving Whataburger.”

Now it will be interesting to see if enough folks step up to the bar to keep the renowned burger empire Texas owned!

Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullah Omar comes across as a politician who has a literal hate for Christians and Jews. Finally, she has crossed the line. She has been using campaign funds illegally in violation of Minnesota law and has been fined. And now the IRS reports the militant politician has been filing joint U.S. tax returns though

she wasn’t married during the years in question. Omar is an immigrant from Somalia and at one time it was alleged she married her brother. What a mess—Ms. Omar, just pack your bags, don your hijab and get the heck out of our country!

Mercy, aren’t we wet. In the past week, some parts of Texas have been swamped with torrential rains, large hail, high winds and scalding temperatures. One thing for sure, if we were growing rice, it would be a perfect fit for much of East Texas! There are not a lot of row crop acres in our area. And for those few cotton farmers, most fields have been too wet to plant.

Some of our few grain farmers

have corn growing, but it often has wet feet.

Down Aggieland way, those who want alcohol along with their Kyle field seats at football games are getting their way. A & M will be the only SEC college selling alcohol at football games. Seems to me many of the fans are already raucous enough without adding a belly full of alcohol to fuel their ranting and raving!

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Roadside produce stands offer hidden treasures

By Shelli Parker

I

Athens Daily Review

t is the time of year for amazing produce! There are so many great mom and pop stands on the side of the road in Henderson County. Jim and Cathy Stanley have one of these across from Kamman’s Exxon on the corner of 198 and 3054. The couple first set up there about four years ago. Mr. Preston had the produce stand there prior and asked Jim to take over for him. Preston has since passed, but his legacy lives on through the Stanley’s stand.

“We have them come from Waxahachie, Dallas, the weekenders bring their neighbors shopping lists.” Cathy said. Some customers return weekly. Buying local is very important because typically the money is reinvested back into the community and a great way of supporting each other. Jim said a powerful truth for many members of our older community, I used to work for a living, now I work to stay alive.” Farm to table is also a great way of knowing where your food comes from and how it was grown.

The Stanley’s purchase their selections from local farms, independent gardeners and some out of Dallas.

The Stanley’s donate the residual produce to various local food banks in order to help low income families enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables. They are there from 9 a.m. To 5/6 p.m. almost seven days a week until after the fourth of July when they choose one weekday to take off.

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June-July 2019

Five survival Bee Balm Beauty tips for your I yard this summer love a garden plant that is multipurpose, especially an ornamental, and bee balms are an excellent example. Texas has several native bee balms, but the ones we see most commonly as wildflowers are Monarda citriodora, M. fistulosa, and M. punctata.

Monarda fistulosa loves to put on a show, which makes it perfect for our garden beds. These tall stems topped with clusters of tubular lavender blooms are wildly popular with the pollinators. The intense purple blooms on the hybrid M. fistulosa cross M. ‘Peter’s Purple’ are spectacular.

Another showstopper, Scarlett bee balm (M. didyma) is native to the United States and grows very well here in our warm gardens.

The deep red blooms are a natural hummingbird draw, and are an excellent addition to a flower bed.

These are tall, slender plants, growing anywhere from two to four feet tall, and make great filler for the back of the flower bed. They are relatively shallow rooted and develop into clumping colonies via spreading rhizomes. Bee balms prefer sun to part shade, but can be prone to powdery mildew in shadier areas. There are several named varieties that are resistant to powdery mildew, of which ‘Jacob Cline’, ‘Peter’s Purple’, and ‘Blue Stocking’ are only a few.

The long slender flowers are primarily pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies, who are attracted to the rich nectar. And like many plants from the Lamiaceae family, the foliage is strongly fragrant, which makes it less attractive to deer and other wildlife; edible for us, but not a strong favorite for the grazers, which means a little more peace in gardens prone to deer activity.

The name bee balm comes from the use of this foliage to sooth bee stings.

Historically, the plants in this genus have had many herbal uses, especially M. citriodora and M. punctate and M. didyma, the latter being where the common name Oswego tea originated. The flowers and foliage are considered edible.

Seeds from Monarda can be readily harvested when the blooms have dried completely. They are tiny however, so consider putting the spent, dried flowers in a paper bag or envelope to contain the seeds while the flowers dry completely. Store in a cool, dry location to get ready for planting next spring.

Plant these beauties in a cluster and let them colonize into a stunning mass, then put a chair nearby and enjoy the show. These are definitely worth finding a place for in your landscape.

By PennyLynn Webb

S

Kim Benton

Cherokee County Horticulturist

Palestine Herald-Press

ummer in East Texas can feel like a day on the sun. “Hot” doesn’t begin to describe it. “Brutal” is better, especially when talking about the heat’s effect on plants.

Texas heat can be a gardener’s nightmare. Here are five ways to keep your blooms lush and yard green.

1. Water deep after sunset: Never water during the middle of the day. The water droplets will magnify the sun’s heat. Spray plants down after sunset, but not everyday. If you water plants too often, they won’t develop deep roots. It’s best in most cases to water weekly or every two weeks. When you do water, water long enough to saturate soil for at least a foot down. If your lawn is already dry and drought stricken, try short, slow watering, until the ground is moist – then switch to deep, long watering. Be careful not to overwater. Feel the soil first. If the soil feels damp an inch or so underground, you probably don’t need to water.

2. Forget about fertilizer: Fertilizer promotes growth. The more plants grow, the more water they need. Also, fertilizers high in salts can cause heat stress and burning.

3. Container plant care: Stick to light-colored containers. The dark-colored containers absorb more heat and can actually fry a plant’s roots.

Planting in larger pots gives plants insulation and shade. Make sure the pot has good drainage so plants don’t stand in water and drown. You can also use mulch in your containers to help hold the moisture.

4. Pull weeds: Weeds steal valuable moisture from the soil. At minimum, weed your garden weekly or twice a month.

5. Use mulch: Mulch keeps the soil cooler and shields plant beds from direct sunlight.

Gardening experts recommend using at least three inches of stones, gravel, sand, bark or even newspaper to keep plant roots cool and hydrated. Moisture will stay in the soil longer.

Using soaker hoses to water your mulch will help reduce evaporation and runoff. It also keeps the plants dry, which can help prevent black spots on roses and fungal disease.

Landowners get intro to ag law at AgriLife Extension program

‘Owning Your Piece of Texas’ addresses top Texas laws landowners need to know

By Paul Schattenberg

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension SAN ANTONIO – What is my liability if someone is injured while hunting on my property? How can I get a special tax use valuation? What are my legal responsibilities if my cattle escape and damage someone else’s property?

These and many other questions are addressed at the new “Owning Your Own Piece of Texas: Key Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know,” program presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The program is presented free of charge thanks to the collaboration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AgWorkers Insurance, Capital Farm Credit and the Southern Extension Risk Management Education organization.

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife

Extension agricultural law specialist based in Amarillo, is the main presenter for the program, which has been held in Amarillo and San Antonio.

“The Owning Your Piece of Texas program was just unveiled it this year,” Lashmet said. “We recently did one in Lubbock that had about 40 people, then took the program to San Antonio, where more than 200 people attended. We’ll be headed next to Crockett on June 28, Cat Spring on August 26 and College Station on September 12.”

According Lashmet, while she has so far presented the “Owning Your Own Piece of Texas” program

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only twice, she has presented numerous agricultural law-related programs throughout Texas in her role as an ag law specialist with AgriLife Extension.

At the program, Lashmet speaks spoke to the audience on a variety of topics ranging from property ownership and access to leasing to liability issues and fence and water law. When practical, she also invites other agricultural law experts to the program to present on specific topics. Other topics addressed typically include oil and gas law, special use valuations and renewable energy leases.

“Many people involved in farming, ranching

and agriculture are unaware of the type and number of legal issues that can arise from land ownership,” she said. “Often people are excited about starting an agricultural operation but overlook the potential legal ramifications, especially if they’re inviting other people onto their property for something like hunting, or possibly agricultural or nature tourism. This program is to help educate landowners on what legal issues might come up and some things they can do to protect themselves.”

The program also includes AgriLife Extension agents from the surrounding area who make themselves available to answer any additional questions attendees may have related to land ownership or management in their respective counties.

Program attendees also receive a free 131-page Owning Your Piece of Texas handbook, written by Lashmet.

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The Cost of Recycling W

e try to be faithful recyclers around the house. I make regular runs to town with the pickup full of newspapers, bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard boxes and tin.

I take old pipe and steel to the scrap metal yard and buy car parts at G & B Salvage. Yesterday I noticed our toilet paper was labeled “100% unbleached, 100% recycled paper, 100% post consumer content and 59.4 sq. ft. in total area.” It’s a little like newsprint and I feel odd using toilet paper somebody else had used but I guess we’re doin’ the right thing. Sister Sue said they were using it, too. But it struck

her as one of the incongruities of modern times that recycled toilet paper costs more than a roll of the new.

I remember the same thing happened with gasoline when they introduced unleaded. It cost more than regular to which they had to add the lead. How ‘bout sugarless gum? Bottled water?

Egg substitutes? Hamburger Helper cost more per pound than hamburger. Are we being skewered on our noble quest to be green and healthy?

Several years ago the cattle business went on a binge to recycle manure and feed it back to the steers. Concrete pens, elaborate washing systems, dryers

and millions of dollars yielded us a product with the nutrition and palatability of bedding for the price of caviar.

The trend towards lean beef gives me second thoughts, as well. Just looking at a hubcap size Holstein round steak, you realize God intended it for taco meat. But if that same steak goes into a specialty health food meat counter it cost twice as much. It is labeled Au Bouf DeLite and guaranteed to contain less than .01% fat. Cooking instructions are explicit: Boil for three days and pound until flat as hammered gravy.

My mother saved and reused tin foil, wax paper, jelly glasses,

bacon fat, soup bones, old bananas, cloth diapers, baby clothes, string, ribbon, wrapping paper and cottage cheese containers. There are still those around who straighten and reuse old nails, buckets of bolts, fence wire and lumber.

Maybe, in truth, if you counted the labor, it costs more

to straighten old nails than to buy new ones. But thriftiness forced recycling. Today the high cost of recycled, sugarless, lean, unleaded products is the price we pay to do our part in makin’ the world a better place.

So when pondering the use of environmentally correct antique toilet paper we can envision the historical significance and gain some satisfaction knowing this same paper might have been used by Davy Crockett, Oprah Winfrey or Chief Sitting Bull.

And if that don’t make it worth the price I’ll send you some slightly used corn cobs.www. baxterblack.com

Texas Senate approves hemp cultivation bill

By James Page

Corsican Daily Sun

W

hen talking about plants from the cannabis family tensions can run high between those who are for it and those who oppose it.

Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant but, unlike its cousin hemp, contains extremely low levels of Tetrahydrolcannabinol, THC, which is the psychoactive element in the plant that creates euphoria or, better put, “that high feeling.”

What exactly makes hemp special and why would the Texas Senate vote to approve such a controversial plant?

Hemp has many capabilities and is considered the next “cash crop” for the State of Texas.

Most hemp based product such as clothing, twine, protein powders, lotions and essential oils do not contain any THC. All of these products are allowed to be sold in the state of Texas, yet the plant cannot be legally grown here.

Hemp can also be used as a green alternative to petroleum based products, in some cases.

Hemp can be used as an alternative to cutting down our nations’ trees.

“HempWood” is a sustainable alternative for hardwood furniture, flooring and more. It looks and feels like oak, but is actually 20 percent harder than the famous hardwood tree and grows 100 times faster. While it takes an oak tree at least six decades to mature, it takes hemp six months.

Hemp seeds have a rich nutrition profile and contain high levels of antioxidants, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. The shells add fiber to the diet and grinding the seeds helps the body to absorb more of the other nutrients. These health benefits help boost brain activity and promote heart health.

CBD and other compounds in the seeds may have neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory effects and may also help to regulate the immune system.

Medical reviews suggests that, because of these potential properties, CBD may help with neurological conditions including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and childhood seizure disorders.

The medical community believes that omega three fatty acids improve the health of the heart and reduce the risk of issues such as heart disease. The seeds also contain high levels of arginine, an amino acid that turns into nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is essential for artery and vein dilation and it helps keep blood vessel walls smooth and elastic.

House Bill 1325 from state Rep. Tracy King would legalize the farming of industrial hemp and hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil as long as they contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. King’s bill would remove hemp from the state’s controlled substance list and would set up a farming program outlining guidelines for cultivating the plant. If King’s bill becomes law, marijuana would still be illegal.

More than 40 other states have already legalized hemp production.

Hemp is one of the most versatile crops on the market, it’s unclear how much money hemp will bring to Texas if farmers are allowed to grow it, but from studies around the country Texas will be bringing in a massive payday.

King’s bill has the backing of top Republican leaders like Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Now that the Senate has signed the bill, it’s currently awaiting the approval Governor Greg Abbott, who has until June 16 to decide whether to sign or veto.

On The Net

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323037.php ————————— https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2019/05/23/texas-bill-hemp-legalizationgovernor-greg-abbott/1205867001/ ————————— https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/23/texas-house-approval-industrial-hemp-hb-1325/ ————————— https://returntonow.net/2019/04/14/americas-first-hemp-wood-factory-is-being-built/

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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Six Heat Hacks to Stay Safe This Summer at Texas State Parks

AUSTIN— Last year, Texas’ temperatures soared to record highs and staff at more than 40 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sites handled 134 incidents relating to heat-related illnesses in humans and pets.

On the eve of the official start of summer, TPWD experts are sharing their top six heat hacks for staying safe in the outdoors during the blistering Texas heat.

Here are the top six heat hacks recommended for park visitors: 1. Hydrate- It’s important to drink at least 16 ounces of water every hour in the heat to replenish your body and prevent dehydration. Don’t forget to bring enough for your four-legged family members too.

2. Block the Rays- Apply a generous amount of sunscreen or sunblock before heading outdoors.

Be sure to reapply every couple of hours, and after swimming or sweating.

3. Dress Smart- Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing; a hat, correct shoes, sunscreen and wet bandanas to keep you cool while in the sun. For pets, protect paws against blistering by hitting the trails during cooler times of the day when the ground isn’t hot or by putting booties on pets to help shield paws from the hot ground. Touch the pavement or ground with the back of your hand. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, the surface is too hot for your dog’s paws.

4. Stay Salty- Food helps keep up energy and replace salt lost from sweating. Eating snacks such as jerky, granola, trail mix, tuna and dried fruit is a fantastic way to nourish your body while on the trails.

5. Buddy System- Two brains are better than one. It’s beneficial to have someone with you in hot conditions so you can look after each other on the trail. With high temperatures hitting Texas, heat-related illnesses are common and having a friend around to help recognize the early symptoms can save you from getting sick.

6. Plan Ahead- Study the map and have it with you.

Average hikers move at 2 miles per hour, so allow yourself plenty of time to avoid hiking in the heat of the day. Make sure to rest in a cool or shaded area to recover from the heat if necessary. It is also a good idea to let someone know your plan before you hit the trails and what time you should be back. That way, if you become lost, people know where to look.

For more information about heat safety, visit the TPWD website.

Parks are a great place to explore during the summer and there are things happening weekly at the more than 90 Texas State Parks. For a full calendar of state park events, visit the Texas State Parks calendar page on the TPWD website.

Find a park in your area at http://texasstateparks.org.

June-July 2019

All about the birds and the bees, and the flowers and the trees

By Jo Anne Embleton

I

Athens Daily Review

t’s all about the birds and the bees – hummingbirds, bumblebees, honeybees – as well as moths, wasps, small flies and beetles, creatures who play an important role in ensuring food is available for human consumption.

In an effort to promote awareness of the role pollinators play in humans’ lives, along with addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations, 12 years ago, the U.S. Senate designated a week in June as “National Pollinator Week.”

This year, it was observed June 17-23 across the nation, an event managed by Pollinator Partnership, according to www.pollinator.org.

Without pollinators, man’s food source would greatly diminish, and other aspects of our life would be equally impacted, said Erfan Vafaie, an integrated pest management specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife’s Research and Extension Center in Overton.

“There are several important species of pollinators that are vital to fruit production and plant reproduction,” he said. “Without honeybees alone, we would have much lower yields of many crops, such as almonds, apples, blueberries and peaches.

“Wild pollinators not only contribute to cultivated crops and increasing our agricultural yields, but play a very important role in ecosystems, such as the abundance of different species of plants within natural habitats. Removal of pollinators, as a whole, from our planet, would likely result in more than just crop yield loss, but would have a negative cascading effect on ecosystems and other insects and animals that depend on pollinators in wild habitats,” Vafaie said.

People are surprised to learn that “pollinators are responsible for one-third of the food we eat, and honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of that one third,” said Dennis Kenney, a local resident who is the coordinator of the Jacksonville Area Beekeepers.

“They’re surprised to learn that honey bee queens can lay between 1,500 to 2,500 eggs every day and that her life span can be up to five years,” he said. “During the warm seasons worker bees (all female) live about 40 to 50 days.”

What a person plants or has growing on their property is what decides the type of pollinator they will see.

“We have several different types of pollinators that are common in Texas, and the specific pollinators visiting a garden can vary depending on the kind of flowers currently in bloom,” Vafaie said, noting that the creatures “are often after two main resources: Pollen and nectar.”

Pollen, he explained, “provides them with the protein they need to strengthen their colony, whereas the nectar is the source of energy for them to do work.”

The Pollinator website offers a regional for farmers, land managers and gardeners throughout the country, called “Selecting Plants for Pollinators.” It offers information on what food (flowers) pollinators prefer, how to create areas

of shelter and the necessity of water for the creatures.

The Overton extension site recommends cultivating plants with long periods of blooming ant that attract different pollinators; “you can also reduce the negative impact you have on pollinators by reducing pesticide applications or using pesticides that are not harmful to pollinators,” Vafaie added. “Read the pesticide label under ‘Environmental Hazards,’ and it will specify whether that particular product is known to be harmful to pollinators.

He also recommends contacting local resources for information, such as the East Texas Beekeepers Association, as well as check out the he Master Gardener Program and Texas Master Naturalists, which often show special interest in habitat and pollinator conservation https://txmn.org/etwd.

“Additionally, a new effort by horticulturalists and entomologists in Texas and Oklahoma has led to a citizen science project to help identify plants in the Southern USA that are particularly attractive to different types of pollinators,” Vafaie said, adding that interested readers may contact him at erfan.vafaie@ag.tamu.edu for more information.

Meanwhile classes are offered by the Jacksonville Area Beekeepers, which meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at Jacksonville’s First Methodist Church, 1031 Loop 456.

At present, there are about 130 individuals on Kenney’s contact list, who are interested in learning about the varied beekeeping topics.

“We usually have some kind of presentation and discussion of various beekeeping topics. Our July meeting topic will be on beekeeping products such as honey, lip balms, hand creams, beeswax, candles, etc.,” he said.

Contact Kenney at 903-330-1705 to learn more.

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A star is born: Asteri Acres permaculture farm

By Megan Hempel Corsicana Daily Sun

“We aren’t from the country, but we got here as soon as we could!” said Jackie Sawicky, who makes up one third of Asteri Acres, an up-and-coming permaculture farm and destination in Eureka.

Permaculture is a set of design principles centered around simulating and utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems.

Jackie and husband Geoffrey, along with her mother Monica Vickery, relocated from Garland to pursue their dream of cultivating Asteri Acres into a closed-loop garden, a farming practice that recycles all nutrients and organic matter material back to the soil that it grew in.

The Sawickys hope to cultivate a sustainable destination and wildlife bird and pollinator sanctuary.

Geoffrey and Jackie met in 2003, then the two married and bought a house in Garland where they lived and cultivated their first micro-farm from 2007 to 2017.

“We became interested in growing food after the ‘08 crash. I read about folks who had never had to ask for assistance, going to food banks and needing help from the social safety net,” Jackie said.

“Geoffrey’s family all garden up in Massachusetts and my mom and dad gardened when I was a child. Then, I discovered Permaculture, and the rest is history!”

“In Garland, we converted our normal

suburban front and back yard into edible landscapes,” Jackie said. “We got rid of every blade of grass and replaced it with raised garden beds and mulch. We became a Certified Wildlife Habitat, Certified Naturally Grown and began selling herbs, flowers, plants and seeds at the Dallas Farmers Market. We use no synthetic chemicals, no pesticides, no herbicides and no fungicides.”

Jackie also completed the Dallas County Master Gardener program.

“Our passion for farming and gardening eventually outgrew the quarter acre lot in the ‘burbs. With the housing market so kind to sellers in the Big D, we decided to put the house on the market and find acreage,” Jackie said. “It took a while, but we found six acres in Eureka, just east of Corsicana, Texas.”

The new Asteri Acres was completely wooded, wild and untouched for almost 20 years when the Sawickys bought it in April of 2018.

“We spent the first year getting the farm livable, had to develop from scratch, so that took a lot of time and money.

We’re finally just now able to focus on the farm part. It is still very much a work in progress,” Jackie said.

“We’ve had chickens since Garland, and we’ve now acquired our first two hives of honeybees! We’ve planted several perennial food bushes & trees, lots of bulbs & herbs, but haven’t started the gardens in earnest yet, probably get those going in September.”

Jackie also has plans to resume hosting

garden parties and other events promoting the farm’s unique operations.

“We want city folks to experience nature in a peaceful, soothing and rejuvenating way,” said Jackie, who aspires to one day operate a farm-to-table bed and breakfast and holistic retreat on the six-acre property. “We want to send them home feeling inspired and enlivened!”

Jackie offered up advice for anyone wanting to pursue a garden of their own: persevere.

By learning what plants work well together and grow in your area, Jackie says anyone can learn to live more sustainably and connected to nature.

“Work smarter with – not harder against – Mother Nature.”

Geoffrey has been in music since his teens, now using his talents in music synth and keyboard repair. He is classically trained with a degree in music composition and performance from Texas Women’s University where he studied under Carlo Pezzimenti, an internationally recognized guitar teacher and performer.

Jackie studied photography at Richland College and worked in medical and dental offices and retail. Now, she works in Digital Advertising Operations, telecommuting and working from the farm. Her mother, Monica, is retired after working in Dental Office Management for over thirty years.

Asteri Agency is the Sawicky’s allencompassing corporation, which houses the farm, Asteri Acres, photography studio, Mavro Asteri Studios, audio and video recording studio and repair shop,

Wooden Horse Studios and Asteri Crafts, made up of all things hand-crafted.

The inspiration for their name comes from the Greek word for star, like the aster flower or the Asteraceae family of plants with its star-shaped flowers.

“Our long-term vision for Asteri Acres is a closed-loop, sustainable destination recording studio, farm-to-table bed and breakfast, holistic retreat, spa getaway, wildlife, bird and pollinator sanctuary,” Jackie said.

“Our other objective is creating a super bio-diverse edible, medicinal and useful landscape throughout the entire acreage.

There will be food gardens, medicine gardens, fragrance gardens, fabric gardens, seed gardens, flower gardens, pollinator gardens, educational gardens and the rest will remain wild – but still forageable!”

The farm is well on its way to living up to the Sawicky’s aspirations, with flora and fauna in abundance and thriving all over the property. Bees buzz, butterflies abound, a flock of very photogenic chickens and they Sawicky’s dogs make the farm an exciting place to be.

Wild Pork? Make Ham!

By Luke Clayton

I

Outdoors Writer

t’s great to have friends that share your interests; friends you can bounce ideas off of and discover and perfect new ways of doing things. I have such a friend in Deryl Markgraf. Deryl and I met a few years ago and became instant friends. The love of hunting wild hogs and then transforming the meat into tasty meals created the bond between us and lots of time together hunting and fishing strengthened that bond.

My friend is not a person that delves lightly into anything. He is a degreed engineer, and like most engineers, he has a way of looking at any topic way past the superficial and into the core. There is either a concise, clear answer or there is not. If the answer to any question is questionable, Deryl begins researching the topic until he is satisfied he has the correct solution. I spent a career as a surveyor and had many civil engineers as bosses. Most were great guys and gals, but many were so analytical that they lost me in casual conservation. I would make a statement, say tell them about a fish I might have caught that was close to the being a new water body record, or… whatever. They would want to know all the pertinent details, which lake? What was previous record?

What exactly did my fish weigh? Was it weighed on certified scales? You get the picture..

Well, my buddy Deryl is about as analytical as a person can be, and an astute researcher on any topic that sparks his interest. But it just so happens that Deryl’s interests and mine coincide when it comes to hunting and cooking wild game. The big difference is that his innovative way of thinking often leads to solutions that I would never discover on my own. Yes, my buddy is very analytical, but in a good way. We have lots of fun exploring new hog hunting and cooking techniques, and I’ve learned a lot from him. Curing and smoking whole, bone in wild hog hams is a good case in point.

Several years ago, I began curing and smoking ‘chunks’ of wild pork, sometimes the backstraps of wild hogs or pieces of the upper hams. This home-cured, smoked, sugar-cured ham became a big hit with Deryl and many of my other friends. Deryl was quick to pick up on the simple technique and began making his own ham. We discussed curing whole, bone-in hams, but I was always hesitant because I was afraid the center of the hams would not cure and my efforts and. ham would be wasted. Enter my engineer buddy to continue with the research and, just this past week, put his first wild hog ham on his Smokin

Tex smoker!

Working with domestic pork is different than the meat from wild hogs. Wild porkers have to work for a living, as opposed to living in a pen where they simply walk up to the feeding trough and pig out. Their muscles are used constantly. Long, slow cooking with moisture will get even the toughest wild pork tender, but when curing and smoking ham, the trick is to impart the smoked flavor to the cured meat by slowly increasing the temperatures.

Deryl began by injecting a mixture of Morton’s Tender Quick and water throughout the ham and allowing the meat to ‘cure’ in the refrigerator for six days. The curing process causes pork to take on that beautiful pink-ish color of ham. Deryl’s goal was to have a fully cooked whole wild hog ham, which requires making sure the meat is heated to a minimum of 140 degrees. It’s virtually impossible to heat a solid chunk of meat weighing six or seven pounds so the entire piece heats at the same rate. Obviously, the shank end will get warmer quicker than the center of the ham next to the bone. Keep in mind, there is little fat on the outside of a wild pork ham; thus, it’s necessary to baste occasionally to avoid the exterior from drying out. A mixture of brown sugar and water can be used and when smoking smaller chunks of cured ham, and I’ve often used honey.

Deryl set the temperature of his Smokin Tex electric smoker at 140 degrees and let the ham slow smoke for a couple hours. He gradually increased the temperature to 180 degrees. An internal probe thermometer set close to the bone will let you know when the ham is thoroughly cooked. Cooking times depend upon many factors, so it’s important to keep a constant ‘read’ on the internal temperature.

Through the years, I have been asked countless times, “Luke, are those wild hogs good to eat?” My answer is always a resounding “yes,” but cooking wild, tougher pork greatly differs from domestic hogs. I have fooled friends at camp by tenderizing wild pork steaks and chicken frying them. Even veteran eaters of wild game often cannot differentiate chicken fried pork from venison. With all the wild pork roaming the woods and field these days, we who love to hunt and eat them are living in the days of plenty — we are literally in ‘Hog Heaven.’

Guys like Deryl and myself understand the wild porkers do damage to fields, crops and do harm to ground nesting birds and other native wildlife. So… our mantra is kill all of them we can and turn all that good pork into tasty

Photo courtesy of Deryl Markgraf

Deryl Markgraf with some cured, sliced ham from a wild hog he harvested. Deryl is a big proponent of putting wild pork to good use and he removes all the wild porkers he can, what he and his family can’t eat, he gives to folks that will.

meals. We eat what we can and give the rest to others to enjoy.

I am currently on a quest for a wild porker, and I think I know just the feeder to hunt to find one. I have almost depleted my supply of fresh pork in the freezer. I plan to use a maple sugar cure blend from Butcher Packer Supply on my first whole wild hog ham. Deryl and I will compare the finished product with the cure he used. We are always in experiment and learning mode.

Listen to “Outdoors with Luke Clayton and Friends” weekends on radio stations from Nebraska to Texas or anytime online at www.catfishradio.org

8

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

June-July 2019

Opening day brings Bulls, Broncs & Breakaway

O

n opening day of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., the performances are called “Bulls, Broncs & Breakaway.”

Riders and ropers compete in the first round of bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and break-away roping.

When the 2019 College National Finals began its seven-day run on Sunday, Colten Fritzlan of Western Texas College in Snyder tied for first place in the bull riding first round. Fritzlan and Panola College’s Daylon Swearingen shared the round win with scores of 82 at the Casper Events Center.

During the CNFR on Sunday, Fritzlan conquered a bull named 305Y County Line, which is owned by the Frontier Rodeo Co. “I knew I had a good draw from Frontier,” Fritzlan said. “I dominated him every jump. I just felt confident on him. I felt like I matched him every jump.”

Fritzlan, 19, is a second generation CNFR qualifier. His father, Cole Fritzlan, competed in steer wrestling at the 2004 CNFR for Oklahoma Panhandle State. He was an Oklahoma Panhandle State team member in 2004 when OPSU clinched the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s men’s team title at the CNFR in Casper.

Colten Fritzlan, who is from Rifle, Colo., is a freshman at Western

Texas where is majoring in welding. He advanced to the June 9-15 College National Finals after clinching the 2018-2019 bull riding title in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region, a college rodeo super conference.

South Plains College, Texas Tech, Tarleton State and Clarendon College also compete in the Southwest Region.

Clarendon College made its presence known in the bull riding and bronc riding events during Sunday’s College National

Finals performances.

Clarendon College’s Riggin Smith finished second in the first round of saddle bronc riding after turning in a score of 78. His cousin, Tegan Smith, who also attends Clarendon College, finished fifth in the round with a 75.

Riggin’ Smith turned in the 78 aboard a bronc named Warrior, which was owned by the Frontier Rodeo Co. Tegan Smith busted a bronc named Cedar Fever, which is owned by Harry Vold.

Cooper Thatcher of Oklahoma Panhandle

State won the saddle bronc riding first round with an 82-point effort.

Clarendon College’s Tegan Smith also tied for ninth place in the bull riding first round with a 70.5.

In bareback riding, Clarendon College’s Josh Green tied for 19th place in the first round with a 71.

Clarendon College rodeo coach Bret Franks said he was pleased with his roughstock riders’ first round performances.

“It was great,” Franks said. “I couldn’t have asked for them to do any better.

They did good with what they had.”

Lauren Bane of Sam Houston State got off to a good start at the College National Finals in goat tying. Bane tied for fifth in the first round after turning in a 6.2 on Monday.

Maddee Doerr of Cochise College won the round with a 6.2.

In the money

Brett Hoffman, a Texas Cowboy Hall of

Former National Finals Fame member, has reported on rodeos Rodeo qualifier Clayton for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for more than three decades. Email him at Hass of Weatherford bchoffman777@earthlink.net. clinched the steer wrestling Gladewater Round-Up title at the June 6-8 Rodeo with a time of 3.7 and earned $1,823. Hass is ranked 25th in the PRCA’s steer wrestling world standings with $25,060.

Stevi Hillman, another former NFR qualifier from Weatherford, clinched the barrel racing title and pocketed $1,823. Hillman is ranked ninth in the WPRA’s pro rodeo world standings with $44,784.

Fisher roping tough Vin Fisher Jr., a former Texas Tech competitor who is from Andrews, Texas, clinched the steer roping title the June 6-8 Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, N.M. after turning in a 35.3 on three runs. Fisher, a 15time National Finals Steer Roping qualifier, pocketed $2,938. He is ranked No. 1 in the PRCA’s 2019 steer roping world title race with $37,789.

June-July 2019

9

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Palestine Farmer’s Market: The fresh taste of home

By William Patrick

P

Palestine Herald-Press

eaches, plumbs, petunias, and posies; everything fresh and homegrown is available sevendays-a-week at the Palestine Farmer’s Market.

Started in 1998 by area farmers and artisans looking to showcase their products, while making some jingle, the market has been an official city of Palestine program since 2016.

In the pavilion, 815 Spring St., the Farmer’s Market typically houses four vendors a day selling various seasonal flowers, plants, and produce.

What one vendor doesn’t have, another vendor usually will, City Marketing and

Tourism Director Mary Raum told the Herald-Press. .

“I buy all my produce there,” Raum said.

“Last week, I bought something fresh from each of the vendors there.”

Rachel Nichols, manager of Palestine’s Main Street program, said having the market run by the city is a win-win for everyone.

“There are set prices for spaces, and set rules that apply to everyone,” she said.

“We also are able to make sure it remains a true farmer’s market, and not a rummage or garage sale.”

This year, the market opened March 30, during the second week of the Dogwood Trails Festival. Going forward, Raum said, they’d like to see the market open yearround.

“In November and December, we could

Photos courtesy of the City of Palestine

Above, fresh, local produce is just one of the treasures to be found at the Palestine Farmer’s Market. Left, flowers, created by nature and artists, are available at the Palestine Farmer's Market.

their attics or garages, and sell some of their household items they no longer need.

Perhaps most recognizable is the Spring Farm & Flower Market, traditionally held in conjunction with the Dogwood Trails festival. This annual event emphasizes, among other things, plants, flowers, herbs, trees, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as local honey, homemade soaps, handmade items, jewelry, art, and home & garden themed items.

“You’ll never know what you might find at the Palestine Farmer’s Market,” Nichols said. “Whether you’re looking for a gift, need some produce, or just want a nice way to spend an afternoon, it’s the place to go.”

For more information on the Palestine Farmer’s Market, call 903-731-8437, or visit its Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/PalestineFarmersMarket/

have a Christmas and holiday market,” she said. “It might also encourage more vendors or businesses to participate.”

In addition to its week-long produce and floral offerings, the Palestine Farmer’s Market holds several special events each month.

Market Days run the third Friday & Saturday of the month and sells local fruits, veggies, jams, jellies, honey, plants, trees, and flowers, as well as handmade, homemade or home & garden-themed items.

Market Madness invites Direct Sellers, such as Avon, LipSense, Paparazzi, Pink Zebra, Pampered Chef, 31 Gifts, It Works!, Jafra, and Young Living, to join the Palestine Farmers Market along with Market Days vendors.

Hidden Treasures focuses on community members looking to clear

East tExas stock PricEs

ANDERSON COUNTY LIVESTOCK

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC.

Updated: 6/19/2019 Head Count: 209 Buyers: 25 Sellers: 35

Updated: 6/18/2019 Feeder Calf Buyers: 16 Sellers: 140 Feeder Calf Companies: 28

STEERS

STEERS

200lb - 300lb

1.30

1.95

300-DOWN

1.61

2.00

300lb - 400lb

1.25

1.65

305lb - 400lb

1.40

1.92

400lb - 500lb

1.10

1.50

405lb - 500lb

1.29

1.61

500lb - 600lb

1.05

1.51

505lb - 600lb

1.13

1.51

600lb - 700lb

1.00

1.45

605lb - 800lb

1.10

1.40

700lb - 800lb

0.85

1.25

HEIFERS

HEIFERS

200lb - 300lb

1.20

1.60

300-DOWN

1.25

2.00

300lb - 400lb

1.15

1.40

305lb - 400lb

1.18

1.65

400lb - 500lb

1.10

1.38

405lb - 500lb

1.10

1.57

500lb - 600lb

1.00

1.35

505lb - 600lb

1.03

1.45

600lb - 700lb

0.90

1.15

605lb - 800lb

1.00

1.33

700lb - 800lb

0.70

1.10

Cows

0.35

0.61

Cows

0.43

0.65

Bulls

0.60

0.81

Bulls

0.77

0.83

PAIRS

$600

$1100

PAIRS

SLAUGHTER

STOCKER COWS GOATS

SLAUGHTER

$400hd

$1100hd

$20hd

$170hd

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 6/22/2019 Head Count: 687

STEERS UNDER 300lb

1.30

1.95

300lb - 400lb

1.25

1.70

400lb - 500lb

1.20

1.58

500lb - 600lb

1.15

1.55

600lb - 700lb

1.10

1.35

700lb - 800lb

1.05

UNDER 300lb 300lb - 400lb 400lb - 500lb

BRED COWS

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

STEERS

200lb - 299lb

1.00

1.90

300-DOWN

1.00

2.30

300lb - 400lb

1.20

1.68

300lb - 399lb

1.00

1.65

300lb - 400lb

1.00

1.80

400lb - 500lb

1.05

1.51

400lb - 499lb

1.00

1.57

400lb - 500lb

1.00

1.65

500lb - UP

0.85

1.44

500lb - 599lb

1.00

1.49

500lb - UP

0.85

1.55

1.19

600lb - 700lb

N/A

N/A

600lb - 699lb

1.00

1.33

HEIFERS

700lb - 899lb

1.00

1.21

300-DOWN

1.00

1.90

1.20

1.55

UNDER 300lb

1.25

1.50

HEIFERS

300lb - 400lb

1.00

1.65

1.15

1.45

300lb - 400lb

1.15

1.40

200lb - 299lb

1.00

1.69

400lb - 500lb

1.00

1.45

1.10

1.40

400lb - 500lb

1.00

1.46

300lb - 399lb

1.00

1.43

500lb - UP

0.80

1.35

0.75

1.38

400lb - 499lb

1.00

1.47

SLAUGHTER

N/A

N/A

500lb - 599lb

1.00

1.39

Cows

0.25

0.66

600lb - 699lb

1.00

1.30

Heavy Bulls

0.55

0.84

1.00

1.10

PAIRS

HEIFERS

1.05

1.35

600lb - 700lb

1.05

1.25

600lb - 700lb

700lb - 800lb

0.95

1.15

SLAUGHTER

SLAUGHTER

BABY CALVES STOCKER COWS LOW-MIDDLE

STEERS

1.75

500lb - 600lb

PAIRS

Updated: 6/21/2019 Head Count: 786 Sellers: 147

1.30

500lb - UP

Heavy Bulls

$975/hd

ATHENS COMMISSION COMPANY

Updated: 6/17/2019 Head Count: 676

STEERS

$1225hd

$650/hd

UNDER 300lb

HEIFERS

Cows

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Updated: 6/20/2019 Head Count: 491 Buyers: 46 Sellers: 87

$850hd

Cows

0.35

0.67

700lb - 899lb

0.20

0.61

Bulls

0.60

0.80

SLAUGHTER

0.72

0.83

PAIRS

$850

$1400

Cows

0.32

0.69

Low-Middle

$1550

STOCKER COWS

Bulls

0.73

0.88

PAIRS

$460

$1380

STOCKER COWS GOATS

$1050hd

BABY CALVES

$20hd

$300hd

NA

HORSES

$50hd

$650hd

$1000 $50 $600/hd NA

$155

GOATS

$1225/hd

BABY CALVES

NA

HORSES

$450hd

$1100hd

$30hd

$150hd

$50

$150

STOCKER COWS

N/A

N/A

BABY CALVES

Top

$320hd NA

$1100

$1600

$500

$1000

0.50lb

0.95lb

$30hd

$200hd

10

June-July 2019

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Heirlooms and heritage breeds: See and taste the difference in small farmers’ fare

By D.J. Warren

Special to the Athens Review

H

eirlooms and heritage what?

Most aren’t even sure of what those words even mean with regards to a farmers market and locally sourced produce. If it seems as though we are referring to something old and valuable that is passed down from generation to generation, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong in your thinking.

In agriculture, heirlooms refer to a traditional variety of plant or animal not associated with large scale commercial agriculture. The Athens Farmer’s Market believes that small farmers and food producers are key to our local economy.

Gopher Knoll Farm, and farmer, Barbara Gosnell believe in the value of heirloom vegetables, while over at Good & Able Farmstead, they not only can see the difference in raising heritage breeds, they can taste it too.

Gopher Knoll Farm, Athens The Gosnells didn’t really plan to start an heirloom garden. It happened as good things frequently do, by chance.

They bought some land, and in Texas, that means you need a tractor, right? Of course, right! And if you have a tractor, you need to use it for something. So, Gopher Knoll Farm was born.

They started the garden thinking that they would grow organically. Learning to grow naturally instead was a matter of discovering that gardens grow by the same rules they had learned in growing corals in their reef aquariums. When given the right ingredients (minerals, nutrients and life forms) with balance and diversity in mind, nature will create an ecosystem that works to the benefit of all the inhabitants.

Gopher Knoll Farm learned that ‘organic’ growing still allows the use of insecticides and fungicides that are not among the ingredients nature uses to create balance, and that are not always healthy for us or for the bees, the soil, the fish, the birds… You get the idea.

Natural growing relies on old-fashioned farming skills, using natural composts and minerals to enrich the soil, rotating crops, interplanting flowers and herbs to attract beneficial insects and repel unwanted guests.

So why rely on heirloom vegetables for

the garden? These vegetables have been grown by seed passed down through generations of farm families who relied on preserving the vegetables that tasted the best and grew the best on their land. It turns out that in a study by the University of Texas in Austin, vegetables grown years ago (like heirlooms) had higher nutritional value, as well.

The bottom line is that heirlooms grow better naturally, taste better naturally and are better for us – naturally. They may look a little different than what you see in the grocery store. Gopher Knoll grows heirloom vegetables from cultures around the world. You can find Winged beans and red Chinese yard-long beans, long Japanese eggplant and Armenian cucumbers. Looking for tastes closer to home? Try the Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

You’ll look forward to the season every year! You can also find heirloom varieties of watermelon, radish, beans, peas and more when you visit Gopher Knoll Farm at the Athens Farmers Market, or sign up for her Community Supported Agriculture and receive your weekly share.

Good & Able Farmstead, Athens When the Howard family decided to start Good & Able Farmstead, they wanted animals that represented values that they hold dear: tradition, resilience, and sustainability. The only way they could fulfill their dream was to relocate to Athens in 2017 and raise heritage breeds.

Heritage breeds? While most are familiar with commercial breeds represented by most Texas ranches and displayed in livestock shows, they are not familiar with heritage breeds.

Good & Able Farmstead is a member of the Livestock Conservancy and both are on a mission to bring heritage breeds to the forefront. They raise Red Wattle pigs, Tunis sheep, Bourbon Red turkeys, and own two heritage breed milk cows, an American Milking Devon and a Guernsey cow.

So what are heritage breeds and how are they different from commercial breeds?

According to the Livestock Conservancy, “Traditional, historic breeds retain essential attributes for survival and selfsufficiency – fertility, foraging ability, longevity, maternal instincts, ability to mate naturally, and resistance to diseases and parasites.” Most are considered dual-

purpose breeds; they can be used for a variety of purposes, such as for meat, milk, wool, as oxen, etc. Heritage breeds have a long history in our country and many of our commercial breeds originated from heritage breeds. That’s right. As our country moved toward bigger and faster, those principles were applied to the livestock industry; putting heritage breeds at risk for extinction. Producers began breeding for livestock that would grow faster and bigger; developing what are known as commercial breeds. So why is that a problem? When we focus on those characteristics alone, we tend to sacrifice resilience and health, sustainability, and flavor.

Like many, the Howards were on the verge of cutting pork completely out of their diet until they started raising their own heritage breed pigs. Commercial pork tends to be dry and lacking flavor.

After researching various heritage breeds, they chose to raise the Red Wattle pig, a native-Texas breed distinguished by two wattles dangling from the neck and known for a docile personality, their ability to thrive on a pasture-based diet, and of course, amazing flavor. While these pigs take longer to grow on a pasture-based diet, they are certainly worth the wait according to the Howards. After having their first taste of red wattle pork, there was no turning back and no other breed they wanted to raise. They even have a 750 plus lb. red wattle boar that loves to have his belly rubbed.

A surprising find at Good & Able Farmstead is a historic breed of wool sheep known as the American Tunis sheep. Wool sheep in Texas? A breed distinguished by its red head and legs and ivory wool, the American Tunis is derived from a fat-tailed breed from the North African country of Tunisia. They do well in our climate with annual shearing each spring, and are known for their parasiteresistance. The Tunis was prevalent throughout the south until the Civil War nearly wiped them out. This historic breed was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson; renowned for their superior meat qualities being tender and mild in flavor. Their medium-grade wool is becoming quite popular with hand spinners. The Howards are looking forward to exploring the many uses for their wool.

The Bourbon Red Turkey is another breed that has found a home at Good & Able Farmstead. With beautiful chestnut and cream feathers and flavorful meat, Bourbon Reds are able to breed naturally.

While you would think this is a normal attribute in most animals, the commercial broad breasted turkey has such a large breast that it is no longer able to mate naturally. Artificial insemination is required to produce the breed; losing the natural sustainability of a breed.

Another of the beautiful and historic breeds that can be found on the Howard family’s farm is their American Milking Devon. The pilgrims brought American

Milking Devon to America as it was highly desirable as a triple-purpose breed, being used for meat, milk, and as oxen.

They are also excellent foragers. They do not produce a lot of milk, but enough for a small family. The American Milking Devon was the Howard family’s first milk cow and got them hooked on raw milk.

So much so, they added a second heritage dairy cow, a Guernsey. The Guernsey cow produces more milk than the Milking Devon, but not as much as commercial breeds, such as the Holstein. The Holstein is the primary source of milk in the United States and produces an A1 protein that is found to be the source of many dairy intolerances and allergies. Fortunately, Good & Able Farmstead’s Guernsey has been confirmed to produce A2A2 milk, a form that many like the Howards with dairy issues have found they can safely consume. While they cannot sell raw milk currently, they are exploring ways that they may be able to do so in the future.

There is currently a massive movement and a renewed desire in this country to return to the qualities of our heritage and to preserve our history. Consumers are realizing that quality is more important than quantity. We want our food to be healthy and taste good. Our country needs sustainability as development increases. In order for that to happen, we must invest in livestock that serve multiple purposes and can do well in low-input systems.

For the Howard family and many others, heritage breeds are the answer. Many small farms are answering the call and are the future of agriculture. Good & Able Farmstead is blessed to be a part of that movement and would love for you to join them in choosing heritage breeds. To learn more about heritage breeds, go to www. livestockconservancy.org.

Want access to all this goodness? You can find Good & Able Farmstead and Gopher Knoll Farm at the Athens Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday behind The Texan where they will be offering a variety of heritage meats and heirloom vegetable options.

Currently, laws prohibit selling milk at a Farmer’s Market or anywhere off site of the dairy itself. Contact your government representatives to get those laws changed and give everyone easy access to raw milk. We appreciate your patronage to the Athens Farmer’s Market and its community.

—————— Barbara Gosnell and Heather Howard contributed to this report.

—————— On the Net: https://gopherknoll.com/ https://goodandablefarmstead.com/ livestockconservancy.org

Game Warden Field Notes

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

Bad Exit Plan During the night of May 14, a Fannin County game warden was alerted of a vehicle pursuit near his residence. The warden joined the pursuit and lent his knowledge of the area backroads to the other officers involved.

When the subject entered a road the game warden knew had no exit, he advised officers the chase would be over very soon because the subject was headed toward a new pond that had been excavated recently. As predicted, the subject drove straight into the lake. The warden and other officers greeted the individual as he swam back to shore and safely placed him into custody. The warden then returned home to retrieve his river boat and assist with the recovery of the vehicle from the lake.

Loaner Car Loaded with Optional Equipment In early May, a Nacogdoches County game warden received a call from a car dealership concerning some damage and questionable items found in one of their loaner vehicles that had been impounded by local police.

The subject driving the vehicle at the time had been arrested for shoplifting. While inspecting the vehicle, the dealership discovered a bullet hole in the driver side mirror, and deer hair in the trunk, as well as a rangefinder and empty packaging

for a spotlight. After reviewing the police offense report, the warden learned a rifle was also in the vehicle at the time of arrest.

The warden interviewed the incarcerated driver, who initially denied any wrongdoing until presented with the evidence against him, and eventually confessed to poaching a deer.

Despite having a confession in hand, the warden still couldn’t reconcile the case based on the evidence, particularly the bullet hole in the side mirror.

After additional questioning, the subject’s girlfriend admitted shooting the deer with a .22 while her boyfriend held the spotlight.

Her first shot had hit the side mirror. The couple then loaded the deer in the trunk and decided to dump it in a nearby pasture.

Numerous cases are pending.

Ejected and Arrested After sunset on May 25 while patrolling for water safety compliance on Lake Conroe, Montgomery County game warden’s observed a couple on a personal watercraft enter a no wake zone at high speed, and lose control while attempting a maneuver. Both the operator and passenger were ejected.

The wardens made contact and immediately noticed signs of intoxication. An intoxication investigation revealed that the operator was intoxicated, as a breath sample indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.134. The operator was placed under arrest for Boating While Intoxicated.

Tip Helps Wardens Thwart Hitchhiking Zebra Mussels

In May, a Travis County game warden received a call about multiple barges covered in zebra mussels being transported from the Sandy Creek boat ramp.

The barge rental company was identified and contacted. The owner admitted that they did not fully clean their barges before transporting them from all the different bodies of water. The warden educated the owner on how to improve his procedures to be in compliance with the law.

Multiple commercial citations were issued for transporting zebra mussels.

did not have a driver’s license either, but did have two active warrants. Consent was obtained to search the vehicle, where a vape cartridge containing THC oil was found in the passenger side door storage compartment.

The original subject was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Wardens later discovered that the subject was out on parole for similar charges.

The wife was also arrested for her warrants.

Just Stand Up

On May 19, a game warden was approached by an individual in a parking lot in Abernathy claiming to have information regarding a deer that had been poached within the last hour.

The informant gave the warden a vehicle description, a license plate, and the first name of the suspected poacher. After searching for about an hour, the warden located the parked vehicle and made contact with the juvenile driver. The driver quickly admitted to being involved in shooting a mule deer about an hour prior. The subject gave the warden six other names, all juveniles, who were also involved. The driver also told the warden where the deer had been dumped. The warden was able to locate the deer, the property where the deer was shot, and all the juveniles involved. The juveniles admitted to shooting the deer from the county road on property they did not have permission to be on, retrieving the deer, then dumping it in another part of the county.

Citations and civil restitution

Harris County game wardens were patrolling the San Jacinto River when they observed two individuals displaying signs of drowning after falling off floating tubes near a beach swimming area. The wardens tossed life saving devices to the subjects and towed them to shore. Even though the average depth of the area was three feet the subjects were too scared to try and feel for ground. This same beach last year had four drownings.

One Thing Leads to Another While patrolling Lake Conroe, Montgomery County game wardens made contact with a kayaker who did not have a required life jacket onboard. The wardens followed the individual back to shore to issue a citation and when the subject provided an identification card they asked who had driven him to the boat ramp. He responded that his wife had driven him to the lake. Turns out the wife

Teens Get Lesson in Game Law

pending.

Drink More Water, Less Beer Next Time Bastrop County game wardens were patrolling the Colorado River when they received a call concerning a kayaker who was on an island and in need of medical attention. It so happened that the wardens were close by and arrived quickly to the distressed kayaker’s location. The kayaker was in a fetal position on the sand and stated that he was feeling very ill and his abdomen was in immense pain. The wardens assessed the situation and believed the kayaker was suffering from dehydration. The kayaker admitted to drinking beer and little to no water. The wardens placed the kayaker in a life jacket, covered him with a cold towel, gave him some water, and transported him to shore where EMS was waiting.

Uh, You Dropped Something While patrolling Lake Conroe, Montgomery County game wardens checked a fisherman on a kayak. As he pulled his wallet out, to show his fishing license, a small baggie containing a crystal substance was seen falling from his pocket. The kayaker attempted to flood his kayak to destroy the evidence.

The substance tested positive for methamphetamine. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. It was also found that he had three outstanding arrest warrants out of Montgomery County. Case pending.

June-July 2019

11

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Fishin’ For a Guide

Some sound advice for finding and choosing a boat captain for the day

By Matt Williams

T

Outdoors Writer

here are some plenty of lessons to be learned from a good fishing guide. It could be as simple as learning to tie a new knot or how to launch a cast net to catch bait. Others are more complex, such as interpreting electronics or how to cope with a pesky thermocline.

Experience on the rear deck also has taught me a lot about fishing guides in general. Perhaps the most noteworthy lesson is that not all of them are created equal.

Fishing guides are like others who charge a fee for a service. Some are really good at what they do. Others, not so much.

A day spent on the water with a good fishing guide should be a pleasant experience, not a disappointing exercise in patience. Even if the fish don’t bite that well, you should at least go home feeling as though you’ve learned something, and that the guide put forth an honest effort to help you catch fish.

Here’s some advice to help avoid getting foul hooked when you hire a fishing guide:

It’s Hard Work Good fishing guides work hard for their pay. They rise early and run up scores of expenses on boats, motors, fuel, gear and insurance. They also have regular bills to pay.

Don’t sneer when a bass fishing guide tells you he charges $400 per day for up to two people. Based on an eight-hour day, that’s about $50 per hour, minus fuel costs and wear and tear on equipment.

What Does it Cost?

Prices vary with the game.

Don’t expect to pay the same rate to go trolling for marlin on a private charter boat as you do for a crappie fishing trip on Sam Rayburn.

Most guides have full and half day rates.

Rates may or may not include multiple people. Larger offshore rigs, party boats

Courtesy Photos by Matt Williams

Good fishing guides work hard for their pay. A generous tip is always appreciated in exchange for a job well done. and pontoons can accommodate more heads than a bass boat. Party boats usually charge by the person. Big offshore boats can carry larger groups, which can help divide the costs among multiple anglers.

Learn about rates ahead of time. Find out if other services such as lunch, fish cleaning, bagging, bait and tackle are included in the price. Check websites or making a few phone calls to tackle shops or bait shacks.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure the guide has a license to charge for his or her services.

Be cautious of part timers, especially those who undercut the majority, or those who claim they are sacking up the fish when it is well known that most anglers are struggling.

Experience a Plus Making a living as a fishing guide and sustaining it over time is a tough row to hoe. A guide who has been in business for 20 years obviously has earned his stripes.

Newcomers can provide quality services, as well. Ask for references. A guide who refuses to provide references either hasn’t spent much time on the water or may have some skeletons in the closet.

Specialty Service Some guides cater to specific crowds, while others are multi-species guides who fish for whatever happens to be biting best at the time.

Ambitious bass anglers sometimes look to established tournament pros to provide instructional trips with a strong emphasis on learning a certain technique or how to become more proficient with a certain lure.

Seasoned tournament anglers also can provide valuable information when it comes to managing your fishing time or learning the ropes of the fishing industry.

One-on-one instructional sessions may be more costly that a regular guide trip.

What to Expect

the guide to work miracles if your fishing skills are poor. A good guide will always keep the boat positioned so that the client gets the first shot at the best spots.

A good guide is a truthful one. If the fish aren’t biting that well when the phone rings, a good guide will tell the client up front.

Listen to the Guide It is the client’s responsibility is to listen to the guide, show up on time and follow instructions when offered. If you’re told to be at the ramp at 6 a.m. to catch the early morning topwater bite, don’t come dragging in an hour late expecting things to pan out.

The same is true of fishing gear and general advice. If the guide tells you to bring plenty of green pumpkin stick baits, don’t show up with a bag full of 12 inch worms or deep diving crankbaits instead.

If you’re instructed to hold your crappie jig steady and 12 feet, don’t insist on bouncing it up and down in 20 feet.

Fishin’ for a Guide There are all sorts of ways to locate fishing guides. The Internet fishing forums are good sources, as are fishing magazines and newspaper articles. Perhaps the best resource is word of mouth. Anyone can buy advertising. The best guides are those whose good reputations precede them.

Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.

A good fishing guide will be on time and be prepared for business when he gets there. The guide should be courteous, knowledgeable of the water and be accustomed to handling a boat in rough conditions.

Don’t be afraid to speak up if you prefer that the guide not fish, but don’t expect

Courtesy Photos by Matt Williams

A trip with a good fishing guide should leave the client feeling as though he or she learned something, whether the fish cooperate or not. Learning to throw a cast net is a good side lesson.

12

June-July 2019

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

35th Annual Jacksonville Tomato Fest highlights

Progress photos by Jo Anne Embleton

Jacksonville’s annual Tomato Fest was held June 8 in the downtown area. Thousands of people filled the streets to get a taste of the freshest tomatoes and to take part in the events. A car show was held, along with various tomato-related contests. Many events were held the week leading up to the fest, including sports tournaments and a cooking demonstration.

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