Getting my hands dirty and loving it
Susanna Shetley
I
Voting rights bill deserves support To the Editor: Voting records show that North Carolina and Haywood County had the largest voter turnout ever in the last election. That’s great, because our democracy depends on citizens voting. And that’ whey it’s important to understand the proposed voting rights act that is heading to the U.S. Senate for consideration. It was created from well-established voting practices, from both red and blue states. The proposed law would ensure that registered voters in all states have access to early voting for at least 14 days. Were you one of the 23,256 Haywood County residents who voted early? Both Republican and Democratic voters regularly take advantage of early voting. Currently, 39 states provide for early voting. Why not adopt this for all states? Do you know someone who registered to vote at the DMV while renewing their license? This was a time saver for me. My friends have also registered to vote online via the N.C. State Board of Election website. Sixteen states already offer this type
Smoky Mountain News
or trellises. Vertical gardens are less susceptible to fungal disease and easier to maintain because you can work standing up. Try succession planting: Planting in stages offers easier maintenance and a longer period with fruitful bounty. With proper planning, you can even plant multiple rounds of the same plant, such as lettuce. Plant compatible combinations: Plants that don’t grow in harmony will rob one another of important nutrients; however, if you plant companion plants, they work together to increase growth. Companion planting can also save time and money. I’m a lifelong lover of nature and a person who embraces products such as essential oils, herbal teas and farm-fresh vegetables. Gardening and composting are activities I’ve tried numerous times, sometimes successfully and other times, not so much. As with children and puppies, gardening takes patience. I feel like I’m pretty good with children and puppies, so I just need to pretend like my seedlings and buds are more babies to care for and nurture. Moreover, the act of gardening offers numerous benefits aside from baskets full of veggies and herbs. Along with physical activity, the contact with the natural world provides a boost in mood and overall wellbeing. If you’re gardening alone, it’s a time for thought and reflection, and if you’re gardening with family or friends, it offers a chance for bonding. During the pandemic, many folks have taken on gardening as a way to ease stress and escape from everyday woes. I heard a news clip recently that called 2020 “The year of loss and a lost year.” While I do think it’s been a year of loss for numerous individuals, I don’t think it’s been a lost year. Whether gardening or another hobby, the pandemic encouraged people to look outside the box for happiness, relaxation and fun. I didn’t have a ton of success last year in regard to abundance, but we had fun building raised beds and planting veggies and herbs. This year I’m feeling energized on many levels, not merely for my garden but for a lovelier, more hopeful spring all around. (Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer and digital media specialist with The Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)
present to cast a “No” vote on the House floor. Myrna Campbell Waynesville
of voter registration. The proposed law would expand these conveniences to all states. Doesn’t that make sense? More voters cast their ballots by mail in 2020 than ever before, including 6,197 in Haywood County. And 29 states, from Alaska to Florida, currently allow voters to request a mail-in ballot without providing an excuse. This law will standardize procedures for voting by mail to make them secure, easy to navigate, and limit rejections of ballots cast by eligible voters. Why not implement best practices for all states? Some people say that the federal government shouldn’t be involved in elections. Article I, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact voting laws. These laws have historically been supported by both Republicans and Democrats. Over 60 percent of Americans across the political spectrum support this law. Now is the time for unity. Republicans and Democrats can come together to strengthen and unify our voting system. Please contact Senators Tillis and Burr and ask them to support this voting rights act. One last thing. Would you like to see fewer political TV ads? This law will tackle the influence of big money in politics and prohibit foreign money in U.S. elections. Then maybe the political budgets will dry up and we can get back to watching “Dancing with the Stars.” Jean Wright Franklin
March 10-16, 2021
moved from Maggie Valley to Waynesville last fall. My house in Maggie was on the side of Soco Road where there is little to no sun. While that was great for the summertime utility bill, it wasn’t conducive to gardening. I tried hard to make things grow in my shady yard, but photosynthesis is an important part of the growing process. Unfortunately, I had zero control over this life-sustaining force. It could be that I have a bit of a black thumb, but I’m faithful that’s not the case. Our new yard is full of sunshine and the previous owner left raised boxes for us. I don’t need a massive garden to be Columnist happy, just the staples — a variety of lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, zucchini and maybe some peppers. I’m starting to think having a green thumb may be a myth. Perhaps “green thumb” simply means significant preparation and patience. When researching for this column and for my new life as a stellar gardener, I Googled “how to be a successful gardener.” This is what I learned from the Gardening Channel: Create a garden plan: Each plant needs different amounts of sun and water, as well as unique values of pH in the soil. Spending time to create a layout and timeline of the garden will prove helpful. Keep garden records: The previous owners sent us a spreadsheet of their gardening records. I didn’t realize people actually did this, but they had great luck gardening on our property so I’m going to follow their lead. Save seeds: If one is keeping records then it’s easy to know which seeds took hold and which did not. For the plants that grew well, save some of the seeds for next year. Store seeds in a sealed container in a cool, dry place. Soil quality: For smaller gardens, raised beds help maintain soil quality. They also make maintaining the soil more manageable. My boyfriend built raised beds at our Maggie Valley house, and it was a fun project for the kids. Luckily, we’ll use the existing beds at our new home. Go vertical: Whether you have a small or large plot, you can benefit from using stakes
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