Penn Lines March 2011 by American MainStreet Publications

MARCH 2011

The no-dig gardening alternative

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Penn_Lines_PA_March_V2.indd 1

1/27/11 1:14 PM

MARCH Vol. 46 • No. 3 Peter A. Fitzgerald EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Katherine Hackleman SENIOR EDITOR/WRITER

James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck

KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth

TECH TRENDS Driveway Revolution

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS

W. Douglas Shirk LAYOUT & DESIGN

Vonnie Kloss

E N E R G Y M AT T E R S Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be expensive

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION

Michelle M. Smith MEDIA & MARKETING SPECIALIST

Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines helps 166,400 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or local electric distribution cooperatives. Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42 per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.

F E AT U R E

The no-dig (and less-sweat) gardening alternative 14

T I M E PA S S A G E S Remembering when the lights came on

14A C O O P E R AT I V E

CO N N ECT I O N

Information and advice from your local electric cooperative

SMART CIRCUITS

Balancing building efficiency with comfort

New building methods provide the best of both worlds

TIME LINES Your newsmagazine through the years

Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request. Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any product or service advertised in Penn Lines, please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES

Birds know that spring is on the way Lengthening days bring the spring songs of neighborhood birds

COUNTRY KITCHEN

Tastes of the tropics 24

POWER PLANTS

March-ing in Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association: Chairman, S. Eugene Herritt; Vice Chairman, Kevin Barrett; Secretary, Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Leroy Walls; President & CEO, Frank M. Betley © 2011 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Visit with us at Penn Lines Online, located at: www.prea.com/Content/ pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Online provides an email link to Penn Lines editorial staff, information on advertising rates, contributor’s guidelines, and an archive of past issues.

Gardening calendar kicks off this month

CLASSIFIEDS

PUNCH LINES

Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! Earl thinks his obsession with weather means he’s getting old

RURAL REFLECTIONS

The end (we hope) of winter

31 O N T H E COV E R

MARCH 2011

Shoppers visit the ‘FreshFarm Market by the White House,’ where Toigo Orchards, Shippensburg, sets up a booth every Thursday afternoon from early spring through late fall. White House chefs are regular customers at the market. (Photo Courtesy of FreshFarm Markets)

MARCH 2011 • PENN

LINES

KEEPINGcurrent President Obama visits Penn State President Barack Obama, in a visit to Penn State University on Feb. 3, launched a new energy conservation program called the Better Buildings Initiative. The program addresses both energy efficiency and innovation — and how to combine them — in a plan to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American buildings.

In December 2010, the PUC announced that a new area code — 582 — would be effective Feb. 1, 2012, for areas of the 814 area code including Jefferson, Elk and McKean counties and areas to the west. It would include Erie, Crawford, Warren, Forest, and Clarion counties, as well as portions of Clearfield, Armstrong, Mercer, and Indiana counties. There is no statutory deadline for the PUC to make its final decision. However, a decision is expected to be made in time to have a new system in place before the remaining 814 area code numbers are exhausted. That scenario has been predicted to occur in the first quarter of 2013.

Big whoop? Pennsylvania, Maine both claim gooey dessert President Barack Obama announces a new energy conservation program on Feb. 3 at Penn State University.

PENN STATE RECOGNIZED:

President Obama chose Penn State University as the site of his announcement because a consortium led by the university is the recipient of a $122 million federal grant. The U.S. Department of Energy in August 2010 granted funds for the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) to set up an Energy Innovation Hub at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. GPIC’s goal is to provide the solution to the nationwide problem of the lack of energy efficiency in U.S. buildings, and ultimately to contribute to national energy independence. The GPIC project was featured in the February 2011 issue of Penn Lines.

Public Utility Commission to consider petitions The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), in response to more than 40 petitions, recently agreed to reopen the issue of assigning a new area code to some areas now served by the 814 area code in northwest Pennsylvania. 4

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Maine’s state Legislature is considering naming the whoopie pie as the official state dessert, a move that has some typically sweet-natured Pennsylvanians ready to take up their stirring spoons in revolt. The whoopie pie — a dessert made of two round pieces of chocolate cake with a sweet, creamy filling layered between them — has traditionally been a favorite in both Pennsylvania and Maine, and both states have festivals that feature the culinary delight. But traditionalists in Pennsylvania believe they hold the biggest spoon when it comes to who has the right to claim the whoopie pie. In a recent article in The (Harrisburg) Patriot News, Brad Igou, president of the Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm in Lancaster County, put it this way: “When you say Maine, what pops into your brain? Lobster? Blueberries? Not whoopie pies. This is Pennsylvania for crying out loud. … We’ve had whoopie pies forever!” The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau has even posted a

“Help Save Our Whoopie!” petition on its website at www.padutchcountry.com. Meanwhile, back in Maine, state Rep. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) continues to drum up support for his plan to ensure the sweet treat has a place in that state’s history books. A recent hearing for the bill featured fresh whoopie pies, along with a song dedicated to the product and a person wearing a whoopie pie costume.

New quarter honors Gettysburg National Military Park A new quarter unveiled Jan. 25, 2011, honors the 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park, the site of a massive, three-day Civil War battle in July 1863. Taking part in the ceremony were Bob Kirby, park superintendent; Sue Corbett, Pennsylvania’s first lady; and B.B. Craig, U.S. Mint associate sales director. The coin, which features the 72nd Pennsylvania Monument at Cemetery Ridge, is part of the “America the Beautiful” series authorized by the America the Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2007. It is the sixth quarter in the series of 56 quarters designed to connect Americans to their national parks, forests, fish and wildlife refuges, and other national sites. The “head” of each of the 56 planned quarters has a common design: a portrait of George Washington by artist John Flanagan. The U.S. Mint is offering rolls and collectible bags containing the Gettysburg quarter. Call 1-800-USA-MINT, or log onto www.usmint.gov/catalog for more information about how to obtain Gettysburg quarters. l

TECHtrends

i n n o va t i o n a n d y o u

Driveway Revolution President Obama wants 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015, but is that a realistic goal? IN HIS State of the Union address in January, President Barack Obama emphasized his goal of having the United States be the first country to put 1 million highmileage, advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015. A day later, Vice President Joe Biden underscored that goal in his visit to Ener1, Inc., (Ener1) a Greenfield, Ind., manufacturing firm that produces advanced lithium-ion battery systems for electric vehicles, grid energy storage and industrial electronics. Ener1 received a $118.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, often called the stimulus bill. The grant allows Ener1 to expand production of advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. With the grant, the company expects to expand from 336 employees to more than 1,000 by 2013. The Indiana plant was chosen as the site of Vice President Biden’s visit to highlight the administration’s three-part advanced technology vehicle plan that includes supporting electric vehicle manufacturing and adoption through investments in research and development, consumer rebates, and a program to encourage 6

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The Nissan Leaf, above, has a driving range of about 100 miles. Then it must be recharged using a 110-volt power outlet or a heavier-duty charging station.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE NOT ALL ALIKE:

community investment in infrastructure to support electric vehicles.

What about electric vehicles? Electrification of America’s automobile fleet has been hailed as a great step forward in reducing pollution and curbing our nation’s dependence on foreign sources of oil. Not everyone believes that electric vehicles are the answer, at least in the immediate future. When it comes to all-electric vehicles, choices are currently limited to the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf, and a growing number of specialty manufacturers or retrofit kits. Other auto makers, though, have electric car offerings in the wings. Not all electric vehicles are alike. The Nissan Leaf, for example, boasts a driving range of roughly 100 miles. Once its 24-kWh lithium-ion batteries are drained, you better be at your destination and near a 110-volt power outlet for

recharging, or have the phone number for roadside assistance handy. The Chevy Volt offers a gasoline safety net for its pack of 16-kWh lithiumion batteries. The car will run on a charge for 40 miles. Once the batteries are exhausted, a gasoline-powered generator produces electricity to keep the car rolling — at least until you run out of gas. The Volt can also be recharged by plugging it into a traditional 110-volt outlet. This differs from traditional gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius, where much smaller 1.3-kWh nickel-metal hydride batteries are recharged only by the gasoline engine and a regenerative braking system (in hybrids, batteries essentially supplement the gasoline motor). Several electric co-ops are testing plugin hybrid SUVs and bucket trucks — spinoffs of hybrid technology — that can switch between a gasoline or diesel engine and 9-kWh to 16-kWh lithium-ion batteries. Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative unveiled the first-ever, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) electric util-

ity bucket truck in March 2008. All-electric vehicles carry higher price tags than comparable conventional gasfueled versions — typically $10,000 to $15,000 more, even after federal tax incentives ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 (depending on battery capacity) are included. Over time, batteries should become cheaper to build, lowering electric vehicle costs. As a quick comparison, the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, examined the 2011 Ford Focus (manufacturer’s suggested retail price $16,640) and the Chevy Volt ($32,780 after tax credits). Both are fourdoor sedans roughly the same size. Chevy estimates the average Volt driver will spend $1.50 per day for electricity. Meanwhile, the average Focus owner will spend almost $2.90 on gasoline daily. At $3 per gallon for gas, the average Volt driver would save $550 annually — but would need to rack up that amount for 32 years to equal the difference in sticker price. However, if gas rose to $5 per gallon, a Volt driver would save more than $1,200 annually, lowering the payback

window to 13 years. Of course, actual savings depends on the number of miles driven and car options.

Charge! Electric cars can be recharged using a traditional 110-volt outlet found in homes. Under this method, referred to as Level 1 charging, it takes at least eight hours to charge a Volt and more than 20 hours for a Leaf. Since those are long standby times, consumers may decide to purchase a charging station to speed things along. A charging station enables Level 2 charging by way of a dedicated 240-volt circuit, similar to that used for electric clothes dryers. According to Edmunds Car Buying Guide (www.edmunds.com), Level 2 charging for the all-electric Leaf takes four hours, while the Volt can be ready to hit the highway in as little as three hours. Today’s charging standards allow for power delivery of up to 16.8 kilowatts delivered at 240 volts and up to 70 amperes. The Volt’s Level 1 charging at 1.4 kilowatts is roughly equivalent to the load of a toaster; its Level 2 charging, GASOLINE SAFETY NET: The Chevy Volt, below, can run about 40 miles before the gasoline-powered generator kicks in to produce enough electricity to keep the car running for a while. The Volt can be recharged at a traditional 110-volt outlet or a charging station.

estimated to be 3.5 kilowatts, is similar to the load of a heating and air conditioning system. Heavier-duty charging stations, like the ChargePoint from Coulomb Technologies, draw about 7 kilowatts. Charging stations must be installed by a licensed technician, and in many areas of the country the work requires review by a local building inspector. Chevy estimates putting in a charging station will usually run between $1,200 and $1,500.

Impact Studies by the Electric Power Research Institute, a non-profit research consortium made up of electric utilities, including electric cooperatives, headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., show electric vehicles will reduce overall emissions of various air pollutants, even when taking into account emissions from power plants needed to produce the energy for recharging. In fact, plugging in cars at night when power costs and demand are at their lowest actually helps an electric system run more efficiently by trimming line losses. Down the road, some co-ops may offer special rates to encourage electric vehicle owners to recharge during these “off-peak” hours. Currently, electric vehicles are being released on a limited basis. Chevy plans to roll out only 50,000 Volts in this, the first model year. It won’t be until 2012, at the earliest, that individuals will be able to go to dealerships to purchase an allelectric vehicle without first getting on a waiting list. Whether an electric vehicle fits your lifestyle depends on a few questions: k How many miles do you drive every day? k Can you afford the cost difference between an electric and gas-burning car? k How many amenities do you want your vehicle to have? Only time will tell if the peace and quiet ignition of an electric car will replace the traditional engine’s roar. l Contributors include Brian Sloboda and Andrew Cotter, program managers for the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The CRN monitors, evaluates, and applies technologies that help electric cooperatives control costs, increase productivity, and enhance service to their consumers. MARCH 2011 • PENN

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ENERGYmatters Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be expensive By Magen Howard

IT’S EASY to get overwhelmed by two words: energy efficiency. What should I do? How should I do it? Do I have to replace my entire heating and cooling system to see savings? The easy answer is no, you can do a lot of upgrading with little money. On your next trip to the home improvement or local hardware store, take this shopping guide with you. It lists five areas where a few simple energy efficiency investments will produce savings right away.

Lighting

TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES

Since lighting accounts for about 11 percent of home energy use, switch your traditional incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). An Energy Star-qualified CFL uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional bulb, lasts up to 10 times longer, and can save about $40 in energy costs over its lifetime. A four-pack of 14-watt CFLs (equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent) runs about $6. SEAL TO SAVE: Sealing

ductwork can save about $170 a year, according to TogetherWeSave.com.

Filling the cracks A tube of caulk and a roll of weather stripping can go a long way toward saving money on your electricity bill. It’s easy to find where cold air leaks in around doors and windows — simply hold your hand out and feel. Caulk around windows, dryer vents, and fans for about $2 a tube, and weather strip around doors for about $4 a roll. There are also some not-so-obvious places for air to flow in and out of your home, notably outlets and behind switch plates. To see if you have air flowing 8

PENN

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through your outlets or switch plates, light a stick of incense, hold it in front of the outlet or switchplate, and watch for the smoke to be disrupted. You can find special sealing kits for outlets and switch plates for about $2. And don’t forget about applying weather stripping around your attic hatch or pull-down stairs. You may also want to install an insulator box to place over the opening. A kit costs around $40. Sealing these cracks can save you around $200 a year, according to Togeth-

erWeSave.com, a website by Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, the branding program of the nation’s electric co-ops, that shows how little changes add up to big savings.

Programmable thermostat Beginning at $40, a programmable thermostat becomes a larger investment, but you could save $180 a year with the proper settings. For the biggest impact, program your thermostat to (continues on page 28)

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PENNlines

The no-dig (and less-sweat) gardening alternative By John Bruce

SAY GOODBYE to tilling, digging and costly garden chemicals. Say hello to nodig gardening, a proven way to grow vegetables and flowers naturally — and with less work. No-dig gardeners realize that worms, bugs and microbes are necessary for nutrients and prevention of disease. Plants deliver part of the carbon energy they produce into the soil. Microbes convert this energy into organic materials and minerals that plants need. The rationale for traditional row gardening and tilling is to remove weeds, loosen and aerate the soil, and bury organic matter. Tilling can remove existing weeds, but it almost always brings dormant weed seeds to the surface where they can germinate. When organic materials are moved deeper, less oxygen is available for converting the materials into nutrients. Then the nutrients need to be replaced. Traditional gardeners usually rely on synthetic fertilizers to amend the soil and replace the lost nutrients. No-dig gardening lets nature do the work. One strategy is first to remove all weeds and grass from a garden area. Materials such as rotten manure, decayed sawdust or compost go straight on the surface as a layer of mulch 2 to 6 inches deep. Worms, beneficial bugs and microbes get busy beefing up the soil. They create a healthy habitat for roots to flourish. Celebrated no-dig gardening author Patricia Lanza bubbles over with enthusiasm when she explains why gardeners should consider the shovel-free approach. “As an old hand at this game of gardening, I remember my own ‘AHHHH!’ moment when I put all the pieces together that allowed me to make wonderful growing spaces without the use of power tools or purchased material,” Lanza says. “Whether you choose to layer, grid, mulch or straw bale, you 10

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can’t go wrong. Just do it!” Lanza says with no-dig methods, there’s less fuss over the planting area. Free organic material, such as grass clippings and compost, are used in layers on top of a newspaper ground cover. (Don’t cut through the paper before planting.) First, Lanza recommends picking a spot and marking it (a garden should receive six to eight hours of sunlight and not be subject to strong wind). Cover the area with thick layers of wet newspapers, overlapped. Cover the paper with several inches each of peat moss, compost, grass clippings, chipped leaves, humus, spoiled hay, seaweed, aged manure or whatever is handy. Water the layers of organic material until they feel like a squeezed-out sponge. Pull the layers back to the paper. Place the plants on the paper and pull the organic material back around the

plant roots. Press the soil to push out the air and water. Try to use one part nitrogen-rich material (grass clippings, compost or manure) to four parts carbon-rich material (chopped leaves, peat moss, straw, spoiled hay or peat humus) for a perfect mix. A similar no-dig method is sheet mulching. Newspaper or cardboard is spread out on the garden area and topped with landscape mulch. Again, weeds should be removed first if there’s no time to let them die out and decay under a new blanket of sheet mulch. Sheet mulch blocks daylight and suffocates existing grass and weeds that, over time, decompose (before the actual sheets do) to become part of the biosphere that garden plants need to thrive. Ideally, the newspaper or cardboard should be spread out before a heavy rain, but otherwise a garden hose can do what’s necessary to

Raised-bed gardens provide several advantages over traditional gardening. (Photo courtesy of B. Blechmann) NO BENDING REQUIRED:

keep the sheet thoroughly wet. When ready to plant, use a hand shovel to cut out holes for planting seeds or seedlings. Straw-bale gardening is a simple twist to the no-dig method. As with other types of no-dig gardening, strawbale gardening requires no herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. A wide variety of vegetables (except top-heavy ones like corn), fruits and flowers can be planted in conditioned straw bales. On the minus side, the bales eventually need to be replaced, and the aesthetics might not be suitable for yards in areas like suburban subdivisions. The bales need to be placed over a mesh or other barrier to prevent pests such as moles from pilfering the plants. It is important to place the bale so that the twine binding runs parallel (around the sides of the bale) to the surface (usually ground) and that the twine does not come in contact with the surface to help preserve the bale’s shape. Thoroughly watering the bale and adding a high-nitrogen fertilizer on top begins the conditioning process, lasting five to seven days. Keeping the straw bale moist is a must. A layer of nursery mix, garden soil or compost on top creates a planting medium for seedlings and seeds. One bale can host a pair of tomato plants or half-dozen cucumber plants or a dozen bean plants. Raised-bed gardening — essentially planting in containers made of wood or masonry and filled with compost or manufactured soils — has been in practice for centuries. Like other no-dig approaches, raised-bed gardening keeps soil aerated, allows for more crops to grow in less space, reduces weeding and requires less fertilizer than traditional row gardens. Square-foot gardening is a spin on the raised-bed method. A typical square-foot garden consists of a framed 4-foot-square raised-bed, divided into 16, 1-foot squares — ideal for limited space. Wooden strips divide the bed into a grid that provides plants in each square enough growing room, as well as separation. Each section is planted with a different crop. The number of seeds or seedlings per square varies according to plant size. Another limited-space, no-dig alternative is a hanging (upside-down) gar-

ANOTHER USE FOR NEWSPAPERS: Dave Wood, husband of no-dig gardening author Patricia Lanza, demon-

strates how to set up a no-dig garden. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Lanza)

den. Five-gallon buckets are good for tomatoes and cucumbers. Essentially it involves drilling a two-inch hole in the bottom, placing a slit coffee filter over the hole, inserting an inverted seedling through the slit (so the root ball faces up), filling the bucket with a compostsoil mixture and hanging the bucket from a tall post in a sunny spot. Low growing spices or flowers can go in the top of the bucket. Optionally, kits are sold for upside-down gardening.

No-dig gardening is hailed by many as the foundation of “permaculture,” an alternative agriculture movement. Permaculture is believed to be rooted in a century-old concept called “permanent agriculture,” proposing that conventional farming destroys vast quantities of topsoil and requires large amounts of oil for all the equipment, fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals. l John Bruce is a professional writer who gardens in Columbia, S.C. MARCH 2011 • PENN

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PENNlines Feeding the world, one bite at a time By Kathy Hackleman Clarence Toigo decided back in 1971 that he would expand his horizons past his engineering profession by buying and operating an orchard. At the same time he continued to work in Washington, D.C., he and his wife also bought a farm near Shippensburg. Their new venture began with a few apple and peach trees. Forty years and many expansions later, his family’s fruit and vegetables have provided tasty, nutritious food for thousands of people. Among those customers: the White House chefs who are looking for the best of the best for the nation’s first family. Toigo, who operates Toigo Orchards near Shippensburg with his wife, Mary, and his son, Mark, is a member of Adams Electric Cooperative. The family started out with a simple orchard on 300 acres. Today, the Toigos, with the assistance of 10 full-time employees and up to 40 seasonal workers, grow produce on their own farm plus an additional 250 leased acres. They sell fruit and vegetables at their farm at 750 S. Mountain Estates, and they sell directly to restaurants in the Gettysburg, Hanover, Chambersburg and Carlisle areas. But it’s the 25 farmers markets they participate in that bring in the majority of their profit – and their most famous customers. “We sell at the Washington, D.C., farmers market near the White House,” Toigo explains. “The chefs from the White House come over and buy what they need for a couple of days. Some-

Clarence Toigo gets an early start on his vegetable crop by using hydroponic methods. EARLY TOMATOES:

times they ask us to deliver on other days, and we do that.” Pat Lute, publicist for FreshFarm Markets, which operates that market, as well as 10 others in the Washington, D.C., area, explains that the market, formally known as the FreshFarm Market by the White House, is open on Thursday afternoons

Go native! By John Bruce Whether for the landscape, lawn or garden, native plant species offer homeowners a natural alternative to enrich their lives and save time and money. WHY CHOOSE NATIVE PLANTS? BECAUSE THEY:

k Are less likely to be invasive or overly competitive than non-native plants.

k Provide nectar, pollen, seeds, leaves and stems for butterflies, insects, birds and other wildlife.

k Reduce the need for mowing when used in landscapes.

k Reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides.

k Enhance aesthetics and visual quality. k Provide biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage. What is the best way to start with native plants? Your local cooperative extension service is a good place to start. Also, the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, an educational organization headquartered in State College, offers tips at www.pawildflower.org. OTHER SITES THAT OFFER STATE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION INCLUDE:

k Plant Conservation Alliance, a consortium of federal agencies and private interests, offers online links to many native plant landscaping resources at www.nps.gov/plants.

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LINES • MARCH 2011

k The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, at www.wildflower.org/plants, offers an interactive map with state-specific listings of recommended native plants. k PlantNative, a Portland, Ore.-based group dedicated to promoting the awareness of native plants, identifies plants native to Pennsylvania and lists nurseries where they are sold at www.plantnative.org. Can native plants be part of a vegetable garden? Absolutely. In “Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to HomeScale Permaculture, Second Edition,” author Toby Hemenway suggests that “guilds” of vegetables grown together yield more nutritious food, better harvests and require less water and fertilizer than crops grown in isolation. In fact, Native Americans for millennia have been planting with one such method called “the three sisters,” shown in the design at left. This approach is gaining popularity today. The grouping combines heirloom varieties of squash, corn and low-growing pole beans — all native plant descendents. When planted together in a mound of soil, the broad, low-growing leaves of squash plants shade the soil and keep it moist, while corn stalks support climbing pole beans. And while corn, beans and squash might sound boring to some, there are so many different varieties of each of these vegetables that the combinations are almost endless.

from April through November just north of Lafayette Square. throughout Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and New York “First Lady Michelle Obama, who has gone on record promotCity,” he goes on. “We grow almost every kind of popular fruit ing the benefits of eating fresh, healthy foods, was one of the mar- and vegetable. ... We only sell at markets where the participants ket’s first customers,” Lute adds. “The location near the White must be the producers. That way, customers can see the people House is a popular, growing market even though it’s in an area who grew the produce, and they can be sure that what they are where there are only office buildings with no residential housing. … buying is the freshest items picked at just the right time.” Our customers know we have producerThe family’s decision to focus on proonly markets, which means we have done duce was a timely one as the popularity of the farm visits and we know how those fresh, locally grown produce continues to greens were grown, so they come to us to increase. In fact, the National Restaurant buy their produce.” Association, which surveys professional The Toigo family’s road to the White chefs annually regarding “hot” trends, House kitchen has been a long one. In reports that “locally grown produce” is the early 1970s when they were just getsecond only to “locally sourced meats and ting started, Clarence and Mary grew seafoods” as the hottest trend in 2011. apples and peaches, which they sold to Locally grown produce actually fits into processors and apple packers out of Vireight of the top 20 hottest trends. The ginia and West Virginia. others include: No. 4, nutritionally balFIRST FAMILY EATS FRESH: First lady Michelle “Due to economic conditions, we had anced children’s dishes; No. 5, hyper-local Obama visits the farmers market near the White to do something to expand our profit foods; No. 9, simplicity/back to basics; No. House, where Toigo Orchards has a booth. base because we were having a hard 10, farm/estate-branded ingredients; No. 14, (Photo courtesy of FreshFarm Markets) time breaking even,” Toigo explains. “We organic produce; No. 15, nutrition/health; decided to go with hydroponic (grown in a nutrient solution of and No. 18, fruit and vegetables as children’s side items. water and fertilizer) tomatoes so we could get an early start on Toigo Orchards is open at 750 S. Mountain Estates, Shippenstomatoes. Then we branched out into farmers markets.” burg, from April through Christmas. Apples and prepared items are “Now we do 25 farmers markets a week during the season available by appointment year-around by calling 717/532-4655.

Besides veggies, fruits are another native plant option for the garden. Native fruit crops sold commercially include cranberries, American grapes and blueberries. The wild strawberry is a native American fruit that thrives from coast to coast. A groundhugging plant, it is found in patches in fields and dry openings. Wild strawberries produce fine, sweet fruit that NATIVE BLOOMS: The rhododendron is an eyemany prefer over catching plant native to the eastern United its hybridized States. (Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr) descendent. What about using native plants for lawns, landscapes or flower gardens? Switchgrass is often recommended as an accent plant. It is easy to find in the nursery trade and is drought-tolerant. It is

available in many cultivars and grows in a wide range of settings across the eastern U.S. Many colorful species of phlox, although not all, are native American perennial flowering plants. Native to woodlands, phlox is planted as a ground cover for its profuse blooms and deep-carpet growth habit. Blue wild indigo or blue false indigo is native to much of eastern North America. Gaining popularity among gardeners for its deep blue flowers, indigo is low-maintenance and hardy. Its seedpods are used in flower arrangements, and early European settlers borrowed the American Indian use of indigo as a source of blue dye. Another eye-catching native plant is the rhododendron (native azalea), with numerous deciduous and evergreen species, as well as a huge variety of bloom colors and sizes available. A close cousin of the rhododendron, mountain laurel or spoonwood grows wild in the highlands of most eastern states. In late spring and early summer, mountain laurel puts on a spectacular show with profuse blooms of white, pink, maroon or multi-colored flower clusters. Native plants are not only beautiful, they can be used as phyto-remediation for taking out toxins and cleaning our water via riparian buffers, rain gardens (ground water recharge) and bogs, offering an attractive alternative to stone or rip rap. John Bruce is a professional writer who gardens in Columbia, S.C.

MARCH 2011 • PENN

LINES

TIMEpassages m e m o r i e s

from our members

(EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of 75 years of rural electrification in Pennsylvania, throughout the year Penn Lines will feature personal accounts of “when the lights came on” from our readers. This is one of those accounts.)

When the lights came on MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER was Isaac Marshal Clayton. Always known as Marshal Clayton, he lived his entire life in Huntingdon County. The first property he owned was in Blox’s Hollow, Tell Township, followed by a slightly larger farm near Nossville. In 1926 or 1927, he bought his last farm in Shade Valley, Tell Township. Grandpap and his wife, Sophia Mae McCullen Clayton, lived on this farm for more than 40 years. An innovator, Grandpap Clayton was always a step or two ahead in many ways. He purchased the first steam engine to use for threshing grain in Shade Valley and went from farm to farm using this newfangled machine. This revolutionized the harvesting of grain in the valley forever. Grandpap knew electricity was eventually coming to the rural areas through rural electric cooperatives, but he knew it could be a very long time and he decided to find a way to “electrify” his farm. A lot of the details of where he bought the equipment and exactly when have been lost, but what the family does know is — Grandpap Clayton purchased what was known as a “Delco plant.” The plant consisted of three rows of large glass cubes, open at the top. These glass containers then had lead plates placed inside and then battery acid was poured over the plates until they were covered. This created a battery. There were 10 or 12 of these batteries in a row. These rows of batteries — 30 to 36 batteries total — were connected to each other and they created enough electricity to give light in the house and lights in the cow stable, stalls and the milk house. (Keeping up with this system was difficult as) the batteries had to be “topped-off” with battery acid every couple of days to keep them working properly. Neighbors and people from surrounding areas came to stare in amazement at the electric lights. Some people were afraid, thinking that if they got too close, they could be electrocuted, or that the buildings would burn down, or that electricity would cause people to lose their minds. Years later, when rural electric cooperative lines started to be strung in the Huntingdon area, my father, Theodore Mefferd, who grew up on the last farm in Huntingdon County on Route 35 just before entering Juniata County, was hired by a company from Texas to help when the first rural electric cooperative poles were placed and wires were strung in Shade Valley. I remember two stories Dad told about his time as a lineman. One story was about climbing a pole with spikes on his boots. He said he was nearly at the top of the pole when his spikes slipped and he slid down the pole. He picked splinters out of his chest and arms for weeks. His second story was about the Texas crew boss. Dad was a 14

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

big, strong farm boy, 6’3”, 19 or 20 years old and all muscle. The crew boss was tough as nails and pushed all the men very hard. They would dig holes to place the poles by hand. After the pole was set, they would climb the pole and attach the cross arm, then they would string the wire. They started the wire at the farthest ends and attached the wire to the end poles, then worked their way pole to pole to the middle. As the wire advanced from the ends to the middle pole, the EARLY ADOPTERS: Isaac Marshal tension increased dramatiClayton and his wife, Sophia Mae cally. Clayton, and daughter, Abigail Clayton, Lifting the wire on your shown in this 1890s photo, lived on a shoulder on spikes on that farm in Tell Township, Huntingdon center pole was very hard to County. Always an innovator, Clayton do. Dad was sent up to lift the couldn’t wait to light his world, so he wire over the cross arm on purchased a “Delco plant” even before the center pole, as he had Valley Rural Electric Cooperative was done many times before. He formed. Abigail’s daughter, Violet, who said he tried with all of his was raised by her grandparents after her mother died, married Theodore might and could not get the Mefferd, who worked to install poles wire over the cross arm. The and lines in the late 1930s for Valley crew boss yelled up at him Rural Electric Cooperative in and told him to come down, Huntingdon County. (Photo submitted that he would do it. The crew by Trudie M. Seagrist, Shade Gap, greatboss went up the pole and granddaughter of Isaac Marshal Clayton was unable to lift the wire and daughter of Theodore Mefferd) over the cross arm. Dad went back up the pole and together he and the crew boss were finally able to get the wire over the cross arm. The boss then asked Dad to hire on with his company and travel the country setting poles and stringing wire. For a young Pennsylvania farm boy, the lure of big money and traveling to distant places was tempting, but that young man had an eye on Violet Clayton — a young farm girl at the other end of the valley — so he chose to stay, and in 1938 they were married. They celebrated 60 years together. l Submitted by Trudie M. Seagrist, Shade Gap (great-granddaughter of Isaac Marshal Clayton and daughter of Theodore Mefferd)

SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Balancing building efficiency with comfort New building methods provide the best of both worlds WHEN BUILDING a new house, it’s wise to think about the livability of a house in addition to efficiency measures. Building a small, simple house with thick insulation and very few windows would save energy, but it likely would not suit most American families. You should balance a home’s energy efficient aspects with comfort and convenience. Often, by making minor lifestyle changes, your family can dramatically reduce utility bills, even in a less-efficient house. The typical “to-code” stick-built house — a home constructed entirely or largely on-site — is not very energy efficient, but this does not necessarily mean all stickbuilt homes are inefficient. With adequate insulation, high-quality windows and doors, and attention to construction details, a typical lumber-framed house can be very efficient. Several new construction methods are more efficient than a rectangular lumber stick-built house, including round-panelized, geodesic dome, steel-framing, foam block/concrete, structural-insulatedpanel, and post-and-beam houses. A round house is particularly energy efficient. A circle provides the greatest amount of indoor floor space with the least amount of exterior wall surface area, and less wall area results in less potential heat loss. Also, wind tends to flow smoothly over the exterior resulting in fewer air leaks. A circular panelized house typically uses a series of eight-foot flat panels. These panels are made to your house plans and are delivered to your building site ready to assemble. A combination of 16

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

insulation inside the hollow panels and thick foam sheathing on the exterior results in a high level of insulation. Geodesic dome houses are the ultimate in circular design for the least overall exterior surface area, but the interior living space is quite different from a typical house. The most efficient and strongest ones are made of a combination of triangular foam pieces covered with concrete. Because of their shape, both circular panelized and dome houses are resistant to damage from severe weather such as hurricanes. Although it seems counterintuitive because metal conducts heat, steel-framed houses can be very energy efficient. Since the steel members replace the lumber in the walls, these houses can look identical to a standard stick-built lumber house. The most efficient steel-framed houses use large steel-framing members (called red iron) spaced very far apart. This greatly reduces the amount of thermal bridges (no insulation at studs) inside the walls. Foam block houses are assembled somewhat similar to hollow Legos. The lightweight foam blocks are stacked on

top of one another to create walls with open channels. A concrete truck pumps concrete into the top of the wall and it flows throughout the wall. This construction method offers much architectural design flexibility and the homeowner can easily help with the basic construction. Structural insulated panels are strong panels with thick insulating foam in the center. They are also called stress skin panels because the interior and exterior skins provide the structural strength for the house. These long panels are factorycrafted to fit your house plans. With the high insulation level and few joints needed between the panels, these houses are efficient. Standard foam core wall panels are similar except the skins are not strong enough to be self-supporting. These panels are often attached over attractive post-andbeam framing that supports the house. l is a nationally syndicated energy management expert. You can reach him at James Dulley, c/o Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.

JAMES DULLEY

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TIMElines

Yo u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s

1991 IN HIS 2011 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama emphasized the need for high-speed rail to be available to a majority of Americans. Twenty years ago, Penn Lines described “maglev” technology — technology that used “mag”netic energy to “lev”itate a train-like vehicle over a guide rail, moving people with incredible speed from one point to another. “Science fiction?” the article asked. The answer was: “No, it’s maglev, and a growing number of legislators, businessmen and engineers say the technology required to build the line is available now (in 1991). Only the will of government and business is needed, they claim, to make such a modern railroad a reality.” In 1991, rail promoters were calling for the Pennsylvania maglev to mirror the existing trans-state path used by Conrail and Amtrak between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with connections at those points to anywhere in the United States. They anticipated that running time using the maglev technology for the trip between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh — including five stops along the way — would be one hour and 29 minutes. In 2011, the Amtrak schedule shows it takes 5 hours 25 minutes to travel by train between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Today, Pennsylvania continues to be served by Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian service between Pittsburgh and New York City by way of Philadelphia with connecting service to points beyond those cities, while Amtrak’s Keystone service operates between Harrisburg and Philadelphia with connecting service to other cities.

1971 While government and industry join

1981 As a new administration takes over in

2001 Concern over the health of hemlocks stems

together with enough power to ignore any other interests, individuals can make a difference by relaying their concerns to government officials.

Washington, D.C., word leaks out about a “black book” listing 143 federal programs the book’s author would like to see delivered to the political chopping block.

from more than their aesthetic value and role as Pennsylvania’s state tree — hemlock forests provide great environmental benefits, too.

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

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OUTDOORadventures

by Marcus Schneck

Birds know that spring is on the way Lengthening days bring the spring songs of neighborhood birds AS I WRITE THIS, the long-range forecast is offering temperatures in the high 40s, maybe even the mid-50s, by the end of the week, with a steady rise from our current position in the teens in the intervening days. Any smidge of confidence I still held in the talking heads in front of the electronic weather board of my local television station may not have caused much in the way of enthusiastic anticipation of that balmy prognostication. But, the birds outside my door offered a boost to the possibilities of the next seven days. Despite the still rock-hard, ice-crusted snow across the landscape, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and cardinals were belting out their territorial songs. A couple of the resident mockingbirds were doing their best to mimic the smaller birds. The entire front yard seemed to be sounding. MARCUS SCHNECK,

author of more than two dozen books on nature, gardening and pets, is outdoor and nature writer for The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa.

PENN

If I were inclined to assign human qualities to animal behavior, I would have assumed some joy lay in those notes. Regardless of my accuracy in making no such assumptions, the avian residents certainly imparted plenty of joy to this human observer. Maybe the weatherman on TV was getting it right this time around. Maybe all this aged and dirty snow would be transitioning into a more liquid state next week. The birds, of course, were not responding to any human-generated weather forecast or to any instinct or special organ that gave them mystical or supernatural abilities to know the weather around the corner. No, despite the morning

LINES • MARCH 2011

boost they provided for me in their “almost spring” song, the birds were simply responding to the very natural progression of the seasons. Winter likely will hold on for another month or so and could easily blast us with several substantial storms of snow or ice or some blend. However, change was in motion. The increasing length of each day’s period of daylight was on the march. And, tiny photoreceptors deep in the brains of those singing birds were taking notice of that change — the decreasing length of each day’s period of darkness, actually — and converting that into some sort of avian awareness that gave rise to a very early spring fever of sorts. The flood of information

SEASONS PROGRESS: It’s the time of the year that birds, including this tufted titmouse, begin their ‘almost spring’ songs.

and weather models that fuel the TV weather guy’s forecasts seem to be ever-evolving and giving predictions different enough from the year before as to prevent any realistic and historic interpretation by the viewer. But that natural progression of longer days and shorter nights remains rock steady. As for verification of what the birds had to say, it’s been months since I spotted my last woolly bear caterpillar and I have yet to see any fresh soil atop the snow around the den hole of the neighborhood groundhog. l

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COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

Tastes of the tropics AS WINTER lingers, you may find dreams of warm weather and tropical climes creeping into your waking hours. Make those dreams a reality — in your kitchen, at least — as you indulge this month in the tastes of the tropics — coconut, macadamia nuts, pineapple and bananas. Island Chicken relies on macadamia nuts and coconut for its rich, sweet coating. Crushed pineapple adds just the right texture to the sauce. Although you may be tempted, resist the urge to eat your Island Chicken in a gently swaying hammock. You might accidentally drop a few crumbs! With Banana Bread Pudding, a mashed banana adds a creamy, mellow sweetness to an old-fashioned favorite. Relax and enjoy! With Pineapple Sheet Cake, assembly is a breeze, leaving plenty of time to indulge in pleasant thoughts of sun and surf. l A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.

ISLAND

CHICKEN 4 medium-sized boneless, skinles s chicken breast 1/2 cup panko (J s apanese) bread cr umbs or tradition 1/2 cup shredded al bread crumbs coconut, proces sed to fine 1/2 cup macadami a nuts, finely ch op ped 3/4 teaspoon sa lt, divided 2 tablespoons bu tter, melted 3 tablespoons flo ur 1 egg, lightly beat en 4-5 drops hot pe pper sauce 1/3 cup prepared honey-mustard salad dressing 1/3 cup crushed pineapple Mix together brea d crumbs, coconu t, nuts and 1/4 te Toss with melted aspoon salt. butter; set aside. Pat chicken dry. flour and 1/2 teas Mix together poon salt. In sepa ra per sauce. Dredge te dish, mix egg and hot pepea mixture and finall ch chicken breast in flour mixtur e, then in egg y in crumb mixtur e, Place chicken in pressing crumbs grea on 40 minutes, or un sed baking dish and bake at 375 to chicken. de til centers are no longer pink. While grees for baking, mix togeth chicken is er and serve as a co dressing and crushed pineapple. Warm through ndiment with chick en.

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

BANANA BREAD PUDDING 5 cups of torn home-style or country-s tyle white bread 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 banana, mashed 2 cups milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt Ground cinnamon, if desired Place torn bread in 8- by- 8-inch bakin g dish that has been prepared with non-stick spray. Mix together eggs, suga r, butter, banana, milk, vanilla extract and salt. Pour over bread chunks. Usin g fingertips, work liquid into bread, breaking up any large pieces. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired, and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until top is lightly browned and pudding is set. Immediately after removing pudding from oven, run sharp knife around edge . Pudding will deflate as it cools. Serve warm with caramel sauce. CARAMEL SAUCE 5 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon rum (optional) While pudding is cooling, melt butter in small saucepan. Whisk in sugar and cream. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. If desired, add rum during final minute of cooking. Serve warm.

HEET CAKE PINEAPPLE S 2 cups flour ated sugar 1 1/2 cups granul soda ng ki 2 teaspoons ba ushed pineapple cr n ca ce 1 20-oun with juice aten 2 eggs, lightly be tract lla ex 1 teaspoon vani d pecans ake 1/2 cup choppe d, floured sheet-c Pour into grease ick inserted in . nd ha by ly gh othp thorou inutes, or until to Mix ingredients degrees for 25 m pan. Bake at 350 an. t cle center comes ou FROSTING CREAM CHEESE cheese, softened m 8 ounces crea butter, softened 1/2 cup (1 stick) ed sugar er wd 2 1/2 cups po extract lla ni va on po 1 teas slightly warm. t cake while still os Fr ly. gh ou or Mix th

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POWERplants

by Barbara Martin

March-ing in Gardening calendar kicks off this month WHEN does your year start? Most people start their year in January, but gardeners start their year in March. March is when we begin scouting daily for the first signs of spring: buds swelling on otherwise bare branches, tips of spring bulbs wiggling up through the soil, the sun being a tad higher in the sky. Indoors, our plant catalogs and gardening magazines are well-thumbed and we’re sketching out our landscaping ideas and plotting how we’ll rotate the vegetables this year. The houseplants have finally begun to perk up in response to the lengthening days. Best of all, it’s time to gather up seed-starting supplies and sow those early seeds! By late winter/early spring it can seem like the genuine, all-out bursting spring will never arrive. Our memories of all that crunchy fresh and delicious produce, sweet and juicy home-grown fruit, beautiful BARBARA MARTIN , who says she began gardening as a hobby “too many years ago to count,” currently works for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.

PENN

fragrant flowers and lush green lawn (and if we are honest, those Japanese beetles and pesky weeds, too) seem like they are ancient history. How soon we forget! It is an endless cycle of the seasons and the gardener’s rhythm. March is the annual lull before the storm, the time to rev the engines in heady anticipation before the race starts. A general gardening calendar for planning purposes might look something like this: March — Run soil tests, do spring clean-up tasks, perform earliest lawn care (crabgrass preventive) when the forsythia blooms, and start indoor seeds. April — Once the ground thaws, plant woody plants, hardy perennials and cool season vegetables, start indoor seeds, prep mower, do spring clean-up tasks, and watch for daffodils and early tulips. May — Finally, the last frost for most of us; expect exuberant growth and the mad rush of spring planting, lawn mowing, and spring flowers galore. June — It’s time for strawberries! Begin harvesting earliest veggies, and plant warm season vegetables and summer bulbs. July — Welcome summer! Summer vegetables begin to ripen and annual flowers are in full bloom. It’s time for earnest weeding, pest patrols and regular watering. August — Plant your fall vegetable garden and enjoy

LINES • MARCH 2011

plenty of ripe, juicy tomatoes and melons! September — Cooler nights and more frequent rain signal early fall, which means you can continue to harvest vegetables while making time to plant trees and shrubs; plant or divide and transplant perennials. Do fall lawn care. October — The fall season is here bringing brilliant deciduous color and leaf drop, colorful blooming asters and mums, pumpkins, winter squashes and corn stalks, and a killing freeze. It’s also time to plant your spring flowering bulbs. November — You’ll be doing your last leaf raking. Once the big after-frost cleanup is done, it’s time to clean and store away garden and landscaping tools and equipment. December — This marks the last chance for final fall

LOOK AHEAD TO SPRING, SUMMER: A

gardener’s calendar begins to get busy in March.

cleanup. After deer and rodent deterrents are in place, take time to enjoy the seasonal poinsettias, paperwhites, holiday cactus, amaryllis and snow! January — Gardeners look indoors to houseplants, terrariums and dish gardens while perusing plant catalogs and doing a lot of bird-watching. Dormant winter pruning is possible if there is a thaw. February — After much pencil chewing (or keyboard clicking), we send off our plant catalog orders, enjoy gardening-related lectures, and begin to haunt our favorite nurseries and garden centers to see “what’s new” for spring. Come on, spring! l

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See what a difference it makesâ&#x20AC;Ś Advertise in Penn Lines Classifieds

T OG E T H E RW E S AV E .C O M

PENNLINESclassified HERE’S MY AD: Yes, I want my message to go into more than 166,400 households in rural Pennsylvania. I have counted _________ words in this ad. (FOR ADS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, ADD 20 PERCENT TO TOTAL COST.)

ATTACH ADDRESS LABEL HERE (OR WRITE IN COMPLETE LABEL INFORMATION)

MONTH

am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label from the front of this magazine. ❏ II enclose $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. The total payment enclosed is $_________________________. Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________. NOT a member of an electric cooperative. I enclose $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 ❏ Iforameach additional word. The total payment enclosed is $_____________________. Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________. _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ 1

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Additional words: _____________________________________________________ (use separate sheet if needed) NOTE: You must pay for special heading requests, even if the heading is currently appearing in Penn Lines. Only the following qualify as free headings. Please check your selection: Around the House Business Opportunities Employment Opportunities Gift and Craft Ideas Livestock and Pets Miscellaneous Motor Vehicles and Boats Nursery and Garden Real Estate Recipes Tools and Equipment Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy. and Food FOR SPECIAL HEADINGS NOT LISTED: Indicate special heading you would like, and add $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Insertion of classified ad in Penn Lines serves as proof of publication; no proofs are furnished. SEND THIS FORM (or a sheet containing the above information) to Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. FOR INFORMATION ONLY Telephone: 717/233-5704. NO classified ads will be accepted by phone. ATTN: Checks/money orders should be made payable to PREA/Penn Lines.

❏

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May 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18 June 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . April 18 July 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 18 All ads must be received by the specified dates to be included in the corresponding month’s issue. Ads received beyond the deadline dates will automatically be included in the next available issue. Written notice of changes or cancellations must be received prior to the first of the month preceding the month of issue. For information about display rates, continuous ads, or specialized headings, contact Vonnie Kloss at 717/233-5704, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.

FENCING FREE Fence Guide/Catalog – High-tensile fence, horse fence, rotational grazing, twine, wire, electric netting – cattle, deer, garden, poultry. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies: 800-536-2683. www.kencove.com. GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

AROUND THE HOUSE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage. “RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.

PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School of Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair. Tools included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800497-9793.

OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER - $1,595. Forced air system. Rated 100K BTU. Heats up to 2,400 square feet. Houses, mobiles or shops. Low-cost shipping. Easy install. 417-581-7755 Missouri. www.heatbywood.com. CLOCK REPAIR: If you have an antique grandfather clock, mantel clock or old pocket watch that needs restored, we can fix any timepiece. Macks Clock Repair: 814-421-7992. ART DO YOU HAVE a special hunting spot, getaway, stream, river, meadow? I will make a painting of that place — any size you like from a photo or on location. 570-881-3438 or see my website www.earlwlehman.com. BUILDING SUPPLIES STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Discount Prices. Corrugated sheets (cut to length) 52¢ per square foot. Also seconds, heavy gauges, odd lots, etc. Located in northwestern Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052. METAL BUILDINGS — 24 x 40 x 8, $9,900 installed. 30 x 40 x 8, $11,900 installed. Includes one walk door and one garage door. All sizes available. 800-464-3333. www.factorysteelbuildings.com. FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. Also reflective foil bubble wrap. 814-442-6032.

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

KARL’S Small Engine Repair FOR SALE. Stihl Dixon franchise, all inventory, no building. 814-736-9502. Cell 814-599-0508.

A WORKBOOK DESIGNED to put community women to work caring for their neighbors. This workbook offers a ready-togo format and legal pathways to get you started. NonFranchise. www.nurseemploymentagency.org.

COUNTRY CRAFTED bentwood oak/hickory rockers. Swings, gliders, double rockers, coffee/end tables, bar stools, kitchen sets, cedar log outdoor furniture, log bedrooms, SPECIAL queen log bed, $599. 814-733-9116. www.zimmermanenterprise.com.

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS HARDWARE/LUMBER RETAIL Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible. We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc. 724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622. CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing, Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30 years experience. Call 814-472-8560. CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Maximizing present and future timber values, Forest Management Services, Managing Timber Taxation, Timber Sales, Quality Deer Management. FREE Timber Consultation. College educated, professional, ethical. 814-867-7052. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EARN $60,000/yr Part Time in the livestock or equipment appraisal business. Agricultural background required. Classroom or home study courses available. 800-488-7570. www.amagappraisers.com.

LEE’S Hardware — CRESSON 814-886-2377. Plumbing, electrical, hardware, paint, tools, wood pellets. PATTON 814674-5122. Lumber, roofing, plywood, windows, doors, shale, sand, blocks, delivery, boom lift trucks, estimates. Full service hometown stores. HAY AND FORAGE ALFALFA HAY for sale — different qualities to fit your needs. 3x3, 3x4 or 4x8 large square bales delivered to you in semi-truck load amounts. Call toll-free 800-835-2096 or 877-285-8200. HEALTH AND NUTRITION Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system — start IMMUNE-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time orders. When ordering from Web, use Option #3. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.

PENNLINESclassified HEALTH INSURANCE

REAL ESTATE

DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance? We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare supplements, too.

RAYSTOWN LAKE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $275,000, 35 acres, build-ready, mountaintop vista, close to boat launch. Call 814-599-0790.

HUNTING GARY YOUNGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Hunting Adventure! Helping hunters find their perfect hunt. Whitetail, elk, bear, moose, turkey, wild boar, mule deer. Across 12 states and six provinces. Call Gary at 724-388-0678 or gly7645@gmail.com. INFRARED SAUNAS Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system. Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat saunas. Economical to operate. Barronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Furniture, Somerset, PA. 814-443-3115. LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SALES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SERVICE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PARTS. Compact Loaders & Attachments, Mowers, Chainsaws, Tillers, etc. We sell BCS, Boxer, Dixon, Ferris, Hustler, Grasshopper, Shindaiwa and more. HARRINGTONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S, Taneytown, MD. 410-7562506. www.harringtonsservicecenter.com. LEGAL SERVICES WORKERS COMPENSATION: Think you know your rights? Call 877-291-9675 for free advice or for your free book visit www.workinjuryinpa.com. LIVESTOCK AND PETS GERMAN SHEPHERD puppies $900-$1,500. Young Adult $800 and Adult dogs $500 from imported blood lines. 814-967-2159. Email:rick@petrusohaus.com Web: www.petrusohaus.com. PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AKC, adorable, intelligent, highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed breeder guaranteed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last breed youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever own.â&#x20AC;? 814-587-3449. LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and 18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle, move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards, hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com. MISCELLANEOUS BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER, Correspondence study. The harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus Road, #104-207, Peoria, AZ 85381. www.ordination.org. NEED MONEY for your church, school group, etc. We offer PA Inspected Amish-made goat milk fudge and candy, jam, jelly, relish, venison sticks and jerky. Wells Amish Outlet 877-366-9355. MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA). NURSERY AND GARDEN TREE-SHRUB SEEDLINGS. Wholesale Prices. Beautify Property. Make Money Growing Christmas Trees, Ornamentals, Nut Trees, Timber. Plants for Landscaping, Windbreaks, Noise Barriers, Wildlife Food-Cover. Easy Instructions Guaranteed. FREE Color Catalog. Carino Nurseries, P. O. Box 538PL, Indiana, PA 15701. 800-223-7075. www.carinonurseries.com.

LAND for sale in EAST TENNESSEE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lots or acreage tracts with mountain views and near/on lake. Guaranteed owner/broker financing. Ball Reality 800-349-9526. www.ballrealty.com. BEDFORD COUNTY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 32 acres prime hunting land. Private lane, quiet, secluded. Five minutes from Shawnee State Park, ten minutes from Bedford. All wooded. Serious only $65,000. 814-539-6982 or 814-341-0506 Larry.

CHRISTIAN CRUISE to Canada and New England. Sails from New York. September 28 thru October 8, 2011. Bus from western PA. For flyer call 814-444-8800 or email: jnljaunts@floodcity.net. COOK FOREST AREA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; At The Woods Cabin & Campground â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sigel, PA. Large cabin rental, sleeps 10, fully equipped. Small Campground â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Restrooms & Showers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Seasonal Sites Available. Call 330-385-2404. www.atthewoodscabin.com. WANTED TO BUY DODGE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLYMOUTH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1963, 1964, 1965. Two or four-door to restore or parts. Call 717-554-1211. WATERLESS COOKWARE

RECIPES AND FOOD â&#x20AC;&#x153;COUNTRY COOKING,â&#x20AC;? Volume 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $8, including postage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;RECIPES REMEMBERED,â&#x20AC;? Volume 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $12, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks. Volume 1 of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Country Cookingâ&#x20AC;? is SOLD OUT.

VAPO-SEAL Waterless Cookware â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most important lifetime investment you will ever make for your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health. Free Brochure call 800-852-3765. 7-ply surgical stainless steel. 18 pieces, new in box. Small fraction of Dinner Party price or $295.

SAWMILLS USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill Equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148. USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com. SHAKLEE FREE SAMPLE Shakleeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Energy Tea. Combination red, green and white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sample or more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/Weight Loss Products: 800-403-3381 or www.shaklee.net/sbarton. TIMBER FRAME HOMES SETTLEMENT POST & BEAM BUILDING COMPANY uses timehonored mortise, tenon and peg construction paired with modern engineering standards. Master Craftsman and owner, Greg Sickler, brings over two decades of timber-framing experience to helping you create your dream. We use highquality timbers harvested from sustainable forests for all of our projects. Visit our model home, located on Historic Route 6, Sylvania, in North Central Pennsylvania. For more information phone 570-297-0164 or go to www.settlementpostbeam.com or contact us at cggksick@epix.net. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT PROFESSIONAL SHARPENING. Clipper blades. Scissors for fabric, groomers and stylists. Knives, chisels and small tools. Aires Eickert factory trained to sharpen beauty shears. Scissor sales and service. 814-267-5061 or www.theScissorGuy.net.

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TRACTOR PARTS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; REPAIR/RESTORATION ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, on-line parts catalog/prices, shipped via UPS. Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com. TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL

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TOMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TREE SERVICE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tree Trimming/Removal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Storm Cleanup â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stump Grinding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Land Clearing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bucket Truck and Chipper â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fully Insured â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Free Estimates â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Call 24/7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 814-448-3052 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 814-627-0550 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26 Years Experience. VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES VACATION PROPERTY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; For rent ocean front condo, Myrtle Beach, SC. Excellent condition. Close to major attractions. Booking for 2011. Pleasecall 814-425-2425 or visit www.oceanfrontmyrtlebcondo.com. BEAUTIFUL LAKE ERIE COTTAGE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Enjoy swimming. Fishing and sunsets at their finest. Sleeps eight, 20 miles west of Erie. Available May to November. Call 814-333-9669. Visit our website at www.curleycottage.com.

United We Stand MARCH 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ PENN

LINES

ENERGYmatters (continued from page 8) raise the temperature during summer and lower it in the winter while you’re

Look for holes and joints that have separated, and then seal them with foilbacked tape, about $6 a roll, or mastic, a type of sealant that costs about $12 a tub. You can apply the mastic with a regular paintbrush. Make sure the tape is marked with the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., “UL” symbol, which means it has been independently tested for safety. Properly sealing ductwork can save about $170 a year, according to TogetherWeSave.com.

Water heater insulation

TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES

Blankets aren’t just for keeping people warm. A water heater blanket can save you 4 to 9 percent in water heating costs — a big ticket item since 12 percent of your home’s energy use goes toward water heating. How do you know if your water heater needs more insulation? Touch it. If it’s warm, wrap it. Choose a blanket with an insulating value of at least R-8, which run about $20. SAVE ELECTRICITY AND DOLLARS: Sealing cracks around doors and windows can help save on your electric bill. TogetherWeSave.com reports that you can also save out of the house. You can also program more than $70 per year by keeping your it to dip lower at night while you are water heater’s thermostat set at 120 sleeping. The thermostat can be set to degrees Fahrenheit. automatically revert to a comfortable Larger projects setting shortly before you arrive home or wake up. If you want to make larger investWhile programmable thermostats are ments in your home, adding insulation helpful, they’re not for everyone. These or upgrading appliances are great gadgets are best for people who are starters. For more information on insulaaway from home for extended periods tion, visit www.EnergySavers.gov. To throughout the week. learn about the most energy-efficient appliances, visit www.energystar.gov. l Sealing ductwork Sources: U.S. Department of Energy More than 40 percent of your home’s (EnergySavers.gov), Energy Star, Togetherenergy use goes for heating and cooling, WeSave.com, HomeDepot.com so it’s important to keep that air in the Magen Howard writes on consumer and home. Leaky ductwork remains one of cooperative affairs for the National Rural the main culprits of hot and cold air Electric Cooperative Association, the loss. Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the If your home’s ducts are exposed, nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forinspect them for leaks and seal them. profit electric cooperatives. 28

PENN

LINES • MARCH 2011

PUNCHlines

Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! Earl thinks his obsession with weather means he’s getting old

Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a. GARY BURBANK , a nationally syndicated radio personality —— can be heard on the following radio stations that cover electric cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania: WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle; WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5 Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan; WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7 Burnham-Lewistown.

I finally figgered out how I could tell I was gettin’ old. Check me on this an’ see if it’s happenin’ to you, too. An’ here it is — I’m watchin’ way too much Weather Channel. Somehow I have become fascinated with the forces a’ nature. An’ you know when this happened? It started to happen a few years back when that giant hurricane hit Galveston. I was flippin’ through the channels one night, an’ there was Jim Cantore knee-deep in a storm surge off Galveston Bay. Wind was beatin’ on him like he was standin’ behind a jet engine on take-off. I swear to you, the boy was standin’ on a 45-degree angle. I watched them Jim Cantore reports for six straight hours. ‘Til 2 in the mornin’. Now mind you, I do not live in Galveston. I do not know anybody who lives in Galveston. I never even been to Galveston. But Galveston was in my prayers that night. An’ so was Jim Cantore. Then I started to pick up the idea a’ the Weather Channel. Anytime the weather crap hit the fan, Jim Cantore was gonna be on live TV standin’ in it. Again, this fascinates me. You got your blizzards; oh, there’s Jim Cantore. Mud slides, Jim Cantore. Hurricanes, 20 inches of rain in 24 hours — looks like a job for Jim Cantore. He’s like the Evel Knievel a’ meteorologists, that’s what he is. You turn on the Weather Channel an’ it’s like watchin’ a different disaster movie every night. It’s like drivin’ by a’ accident — an’ you never have to leave your couch. Jim Cantore will do it for you. Wake up, America. An’ that’s how come I think I’m gettin’ too old. I’m gettin’ way too much pleasure out of the misfortune of others. Man, I hope there’s a blizzard from somewhere on tonight. You know what makes me so mad I just wanna pull all my teeth out with a rusty pair a’ pliers? Because

lemme tell you somethin’ — if you didn’t have no teeth, life would be a lot easier. As long as you wadn’t eatin’ a’ apple. If you didn’t have no teeth, you wouldn’t have to go to the dentist. Right there, you’d be closer to heaven’ cause you wouldn’t have to lie about flossin’. Somethin’ to think about. You wouldn’t never have no tooth-aches. You wouldn’t get nothin’ stuck ‘tween your teeth on the ride home an’ spend 40 minutes with your tongue tryin’ to double as a toothpick. But the best thing is — if you didn’t have no teeth, you wouldn’t have to buy no toothpaste. Because I found out last night that toothpaste ain’t toothpaste no more. I don’t know when this happened, but it has turned into a complex, oral hygiene management system. Me’ an’ my better half was down at the local Wal-Mart last night an’ she tells me to run over an’ pick up a tube a’ Crest. Sounds innocent enough, don’t it? Even a’ idiot like me couldn’t screw that up, right? Did you know they got two aisles full ‘a Crest toothpaste now? Like, did I want bakin’ soda an’ peroxide Crest or multi-care whitenin’ gel Crest. Cavity protection Crest. Tarter protection Crest with Scope mixed in it. Advanced formula Crest. Sensitivity Crest. Liquid gel Crest. Tarter protection with enamel shield Crest. Extra Whitenin’ with tarter protection Crest. Pro-health anti-cavity fluoride Crest with Scope. An’ them is just your different formulas. We ain’t even got into flavors, yet. All them different toothpastes I just went over; they all come in different flavors includin’ mint an’ cinnamon. I remember when toothpaste used to come in one flavor: toothpaste! Wake up, America. I stood there like a’ idiot for 10 minutes tryin’ to figger out what to get. Finally I panicked an’ got a Colgate. Hey Crest, it’s toothpaste, not rocket science. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. l MARCH 2011 • PENN

LINES

Amish Gardening Secrets (Special) Research studies have proven that gardeners cope better with stress and tension - a key factor in achieving and maintaining good health. And now the special gardening secrets that the Amish use to produce huge tomato plants and bountiful harvests can be yours in Amish Gardening Secrets by Marcy D. Nicholas. This BIG collection contains over 800 gardening hints, suggestions, time savers and tonics that have been passed down over the years in Amish communities and elsewhere. The largest Amish settlement in the world is located in Northeastern Ohio in Holmes County. One in every 6 Amish live in Holmes County or the surrounding area totaling approximately 30,000 residents. The second largest community is also the oldest and most famous. It is in Lancaster county in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The other two large settlements are in the northern Indiana counties of Elkhart and LaGrange and east of Cleveland, Ohio in Geauga county. The silhouette of a horse and buggy is the image usually seen on billboards, signs and tourist ads in Amish country. It is an important outer symbol reflecting the distinctive lifestyle and religious values of the Amish. The Amish are intriguing to the modern world not only because of the horse and buggies, but also because of the quaint clothes they wear, the remarkable handmade quilts and hearty food that they’re known for and the simple way they live their lives.

These people consciously seek to live in a way that honors God. They choose to live close to the land without conveniences. One in three Amish men make their living from agriculture. Gardening is the responsibility of women and small children while men and boys do the field work. During planting and harvesting, the whole family works together. There’s something for everyone in Amish Gardening Secrets. From the master gardener to the hardly-even-agreen-thumber, this 800 plus collection can be yours for you to tinker with and enjoy. You’ll learn how to use: X Walnuts to banish the smell of cooking cabbage X Grapefruits to keep apples fresh X Spaghetti to liven up your plants X Bananas to make your roses blossom X Oranges to get rid of ants X Pantihose to help your cantaloupe grow As well as how to: X Make a homemade fertilizer to give your plants a boost X Improve your compost pile X Control weeds - with no effort X Get rid of bugs safely & naturally X Tips for your butterfly garden X Top eighteen Amish gardening methods X Grow the biggest & tastiest tomatoes X Suggestions for a beautiful herb garden X Ways your garden can make you

beautiful - remedies for acne, age spots, dandruff, wrinkles & more X Garden remedies for your home by decorating, deodorizing, & beautifying X First aid from your garden - how your plants can make you healthy X And MUCH, MUCH MORE! Get your copy of Amish Gardening Secrets for only $12.95 plus $3.98 shipping and handling (Total of $16.93, OH residents please add 6% sales tax). Write “Gardening Preview” on a piece of paper and mail it along with your check or money order payable to: James Direct Inc. Dept. GB296 500 S. Prospect Ave., Box 980 Hartville, Ohio 44632 You can charge to your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express by mail. Be sure to include your card number, expiration date and signature. Want to save even more? Do a favor for a relative or close friend and order two books for only $20 postpaid! Remember, it’s not available in bookstores and you’re protected by our 90-day money back guarantee. If you aren’t 100% satisfied, simply return it for a full refund, no questions asked. SPECIAL BONUS: Act promptly and you will also receive a copy of the handy booklet “Anti Aging Tips” absolutely FREE. Even if you return the book, it is yours to keep with no obligation. Act now as supplies are limited. Orders are fulfilled on a first come, first ©2011 JDI GB118S05 served basis. http://www.jamesdirect.com

RURALreflections The end (we hope) of winter MARCH IS a long month filled with waiting — waiting for sunny, warm spring days. By this time of the year, nearly everyone is tired of the short, gray days punctuated with snow, ice and sleet, but it shouldn’t be long now until we can come out of our winter-long hibernation and begin our spring chores. Be sure to add “send photos to Penn Lines” as one item on your spring “to-do” list as the 2011 “Rural Reflections” photo contest gets under way. Again this year, five amateur photographers will be named winners of our five, $75, year-end prizes in the categories of: most artistic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal subject and editor’s choice. To be eligible for the 2011 contest prizes, send your photos (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the back of each photo, include your name, address, phone number and the name of the electric cooperative that serves your home, business or seasonal residence. (The best way to include this information is by affixing an address label to the back of the photo. Please do not use ink gel or roller pens to write on the photo as they bleed onto other photos.) Remember, our publication deadlines require that we work ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. We need summer photos before mid-April; fall photos before mid-July and winter photos before mid-September. Photos that do not reflect any season may be sent at any time during the year. Please note: photos will not be returned unless a selfaddressed, self-stamped envelope is included. l

Barbara Mearkle Bedford REC

Paul Fedornak REA Energy

Gail Schaeffer Valley REC Sandy Setree REA Energy

MARCH 2011 • PENN

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GIANT BLUEBERRIES

(Vaccinium c.) The cultivated forms of blueberries are easy to grow in acidic soil and are practically free from disease and insect pests. (Neutral soils can be made acidic by the application of acid peat or sulphur). With each order we furnish complete cultural directions. The three varieties we offer are all of excellent quality and heavy bearers. Plant 4-5′ apart in rows 8′ apart. Grow 4-5′ high and differ primarily in their ripening season. Full sun. For better pollination we suggest you plant at least two varieties. Zones 4-7. Prices for all of one variety.

Duke (Early)

Bluecrop (Mid-season)

Jersey (Late)

Ripens in late June

Ripens in mid-July

Ripens in late July

N6166 - 12-18″ N6168 - 12-18″ N6164 - 12-18″ N6161 - 18-24″ N6163 - 18-24″ N6165 - 18-24″ 12-18″ Choice Plants: $6.99 each 2/$13.50 4/$25.99 6/$37.99 18-24″ Premium Plants: $8.49 each 2/$16.50 4/$31.99 6/$45.99

GIANT BLUEBERRY COLLECTIONS 2 plants each of Duke, Bluecrop and Jersey (6 total)

NC6167 12-18″ Choice Plants $34.99 NC6169 18-24″ Premium Plants $43.99 ONE YEAR GUARANTEE If any item you purchased from us does not live, for a free replacement just return the original shipping label along with your written request within 1 year of receipt. Replacement guarantee is void unless the original shipping label is returned. For a refund of the purchase price, return the item and the original shipping label with correct postage affixed within 14 days of receipt.

FOUR SEASONS NURSERY 1706 Morrissey Drive DEPT. 915-5066 Bloomington, Illinois 61704

CANBY THORNLESS

RASPBERRY Easy to pick — no thorns! An extra large, bright red berry that’s superior in appearance and taste. Produces abundant crops of delicious berries that are easy to pick because there are no thorns. Bears in mid-season. Tops for freezing and desserts. Grows 4-6′ tall. Plant 3-5′ apart in full to partial sun. Zones 5-8.

N6539

3 for $8.99

6 for $16.99

Name ____________________________________

DARROW BLACKBERRY Large, sweet berries! (Rubus) A vigorous grower, it starts to bear midsummer and continues until fall. Berries are large and sweet, wonderful fresh, canned or frozen. One of the most winter hardy blackberries. Grow 4-7′ tall. One year old number one plants. Zones 4-8.

Address __________________________________ City ________________State _________________

(xx ) Zip_________________Phone________________ Email ____________________________________

HOW MANY ITEM #

DESCRIPTION

COST

N6168 12-18″ BLUECROP BLUEBERRY

N6151 5 for $9.99 10 for $18.49 15 for $25.99

N6163 18-24″ BLUECROP BLUEBERRY N6166 12-18″ DUKE BLUEBERRY N6161 18-24″ DUKE BLUEBERRY N6164 12-18″ JERSEY BLUEBERRY N6165 18-24″ JERSEY BLUEBERRY NC6167 12-18″ GIANT BLUEBERRY COLL. NC6169 18-24″ GIANT BLUEBERRY COLL. N6539 THORNLESS RASPBERRY N6151 DARROW BLACKBERRY N6214 HARDY PECANS N6607 QUINAULT STRAWBERRY

2.95 Packing & Processing $______

QUINAULT EVERBEARING

STRAWBERRY Extra Large Everbearing Strawberries! Delicious as they are big! A firm, deep red berry, they make fancy desserts. Excellent for preserves, freezing and eating fresh, too. When planted in April the Quinault produces July through September — right up until frost.

N6607 25 for $6.99 50 for $12.99 100 for $23.99

SUBTOTAL $______

HARDY PECANS Big crops of delicious nuts!

IL Residents add 6.25% Sales Tax $______ MN Residents add 6.875% Sales Tax $______ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED OR CHARGED $______

(Carya illinoensis) A beautiful 40-75′ shade tree that bears an abundant crop of sweet, rich flavored hard shell nuts in fall. Practically immune to insects. Plant two trees for good pollination. Zones 5-9. We send 1-3′ trees.

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Sorry, cannot be shipped to Arizona, California or Washington.

Credit Card #:____________________________

N6214 2 for $9.99 4 for $16.99 6 for $23.00

Check or Money Order enclosed. Mastercard ■ VISA ■ Discover

Expiration Date: _________________________ Signature: _______________________________

Order on-line at www.4SeasonsNurseries.com/quickorder.asp