May Moments Ron Eichner

May Moments

By Ron Eichner

Hi folks, There is a saying, “April showers will bring May flowers.” May is known as a month of transition. The hardy spring flowers are blooming, trees are staging for their leafing out, birds are chirping, and spring life is stepping towards more summer-like days. But, don’t be fooled because May can nip things with old boy Jack Frost.

Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May. It is a time to reflect upon and recognize mothers, expectant mothers, and mother figures’ roles in our daily lives.

Memorial Day comes on the last Monday in May each year, and it is a day when people should remember those who have died while serving our country in the armed forces.

Another exciting part of Memorial Day weekend for Indy raceloving fans is the Indianapolis 500, and it is held every year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

My Grandpap Eichner was born and grew up on his Dad’s dairy farm and sternly talked about the “Three Iceman Days,” May 11, 12, and 13. They are the three feast days of Saint Mamertus, Saint Pancras and Saint Gervais. These three men are known as the “chilly saints” because these days are the coldest of May. German and Swiss lore refers to mid-May as “Iceman Days,” sensing these days do not pass without a frost or two. However, like my dad, Grandpap also instilled in me to keep in mind when the full moons of May are each year because if there are clear nights, it can be the coldest nights of the moon cycle. This year the full moon is on May 16. However, these days used to fall later in the astronomical year, from May 19 to 22. My family farming experiences lean to the later dates of May for a host of farming experiences.

For anyone who cares about taking my experiences and calling myself a “gardening angel” for six weeks from mid-April thru May, I caution to resist falling to the temptation of buying and planting too early or you may experience setbacks that could hinder your gardening. Always keep in mind cold, damp soil temperatures brought on by cold rains can hinder flower and garden plants. Mother’s Day week traditionally starts hanging basket sales. Keep in mind that all baskets, containers, planters, and pots should be fertilized at least once a week to continue to help nurture and flourish with bountiful colors.

For those who like history, what about discovering a 5,300-year-old glacier mummy called Otzi the Iceman? It is an exciting story. Otzi the Ice Man, is an ancient mummified human body found by German tourist Helmut Simon on the Similaun glacier in the Otztal Alps on the border of Italy and Austria on September 19, 1991. Scientists have discovered that Otzi has at least 19 living Austrian descendants by tracing a rare genetic mutation on the Y-chromosome down the male line.

Avian influenza or virus or bird flu is always a concern for poultry farmers. Wild birds, ducks, geese, turkeys, eagles, hawks and owls are at risk. The 2022 Avian Flu outbreak in the U.S. has affected over 22.8 million birds who had to be put to death over the past two months. The disease has been reported to infect over 110 flocks of poultry, including 46 backyard and 72 commercial flocks of farms in 24 states. The farms with high populations of broiler chickens, layer chickens and turkeys generate the highest numbers. The migrations of the above wild birds are the spreaders of the bird flu.

There have been confirmed cases in Pennsylvania with migrating wild birds, which had been the first confirmation in the state in the costly 1983-84 outbreak. As poultry farmers, raising chickens and turkeys, we have to remain alert. Most bird flu outbreaks are usually occur during the spring time with the wild bird migration period.

As for poultry farmers, it’s a rule not to go to another poultry farm and risk bringing a disease home to your farm. In addition, the Pennsylvania Game Commission advises everyone to limit unnecessary contact with wildlife and use proper hygiene with any surfaces wild birds may have touched.

In closing, our family farm members want to wish all moms a Happy Mother’s Day. We will have a great selection if you need a hanging basket or two or a farm gift certificate for mom. You are welcome to stop by Eichner’s Whole Farm & Greenhouses, and let us be one of your year-round destinations for your spring needs at 285 Richard Road in Wexford and get the “rest of the story.” n