Country Acres - June 4, 2022 by Star Publications

Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 1

Country Acres Saturday, June 4, 2022

Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Volume 9, Edition 40

PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Dusty Bitzan, of Brandon, milks 60 cows in a tie stall barn he rents from a relative. Bitzan’s life in summer is a balancing act between dairying, a cow/calf operation, and dirt track racing.

A race

for time

Bitzan balances farming and summer hobby BY GRACE JEURISSEN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Dusty Bitzan turns a corner during a race last summer at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria. He races primarily at the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls and Viking Speedway in Alexandria.

RANDON – The roar of the crowd, the vibration of the engine, the whir of air and then, the calm of his farmland; all these are aspects of a young Douglas County farmer’s summer endeavors. Behind the wheel of a 500-horsepower engine sits Dustin Bitzan, also known as Dusty. Nearly every Friday and Saturday between May and August, he races a Wissota Modified car, labeled with the number 10X, at local tracks. “It’s a lot of fun, and makes for a nice getaway from the farm,” said Bitzan. For years now, Bitzan has been competing in local dirt track races, but he spent many summers watching family members

participate in the sport. He would attend races and wonder what it would be like to sit behind the wheel of such a powerful engine. Dirt track racing is a popular motorsport that draws crowds and drivers to local venues during the race season. Wissota division racing is an Upper Midwest sanction of dirt track racing. Each sanction has their own rules, and drivers can choose which one they fancy to race under. It’s not just the racing that makes Bitzan unique; his full-time occupation is managing his livestock and working with his family on their farm. Bitzan milks 60 cows and partners in a 250-head cow/calf beef operation with his brothers. They each have their own dairy

Bitzan page 2 PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN

The cows in Bitzan’s herd get milked at 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Race days tweak the schedule slightly and evening milking starts around 4 p.m.

ST R

Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.

This month in the

COUNTRY:

Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on June 18, 2022

A Western movie gift for Grandpa Sauk Centre

An explosive solution to a skunky dog Diane Leukam column

12 A natural legacy Cold Spring

21 Country cooking

15 No soil, no problem Benson

22 16 eggs Nancy Packard Leasman

20 Learning the land Sauk Centre

Page 2 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Country Acres

Diane Leukam, Editor diane@saukherald.com Ben Sonnek, Writer ben.s@saukherald.com Herman Lensing, Writer herman@melrosebeacon.com Jennifer Coyne, Writer jenn@dairystar.com Evan Michealson, Writer evan.m@star-pub.com Carol Moorman, Writer carol@melrosebeacon.com Natasha Barber, Writer natasha@saukherald.com Sarah Colburn Staff Writer Grace Jeurissen Staff Writer Christine Behnen Freelance Writer

Story ideas send to: diane@saukherald.com SALES STAFF Kayla Hunstiger, 320-247-2728 kayla@saukherald.com Missy Traeger, 320-291-9899 missy@saukherald.com Tim Vos, 320-845-2700 tim@albanyenterprise.com Mike Schafer, 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Warren Stone, 320-249-9182 warren@star-pub.com Jaime Ostendorf, 320-309-1988 Jaime@star-pub.com Bob Leukam, 320-260-1248 bob.l@star-pub.com

Bitzan from front herd, but do much of the other farm work together. From a very young age, Bitzan remembers helping on the farm. The variety of activities and opportunity to essentially work for himself were appealing which is why, after graduating from school, he came back to the family operation. “I used to get so mad when we had to go to daycare, because all I wanted was to follow Dad around the farm learning everything I could.” Bitzan said. “I think I started running equipment around the time I turned 10.” He has been working on the farm since then. Even though he would much rather work on the race car than a broken tractor, he ﬁnds satisfaction in raising cattle and milking cows. Running a farm with so much diversiﬁcation can be challenging. Bitzan recalls this year being particularly harsh on the beef herd. He spent many evenings trying to get calves, born during the frigid and unpredictable winter weather, to nurse on the cows. Considering the tight time frame many farmers face during the spring and summer, Bitzan has found a happy medium in balancing his work-toplay schedule. “It’s like having two full-

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Dusty Bitzan works on his race car as much as he can. He makes sure he contributes to the work side of racing as much as he drives.

time jobs,” Bitzan said. “I’ll spend a couple hours every few nights at the shop dialing the car in for the next race after milking.” If he isn’t at the farm, he is at the shop or racetrack.

During winter months, Bitzan often ﬁnds himself missing the race season, which leads him to the shop in his free time. On race days, Bitzan starts morning milking and then it’s a race to ﬁnish as many things

PRODUCTION STAFF Pat Turner Amanda Thooft Nancy Powell Maddy Peterson Cheyenne Carlson

Deadlines:

Country Acres will be published the first Fridays of April, May, June, September, October and November, and the third Friday of every month. Deadline for news and advertising is the Thursday before publication.

ST R

Publications bli ti “Committed to being the eyes and ears of our communities.”

This is the view of the cockpit as seen by Dusty Bitzan during a race.

as possible around the farm before starting evening milking early. The biggest challenge is when the crew must prime the car for back-to-back races. Bitzan will finish as many chores as he can before heading to the shop to help them look the car over after a Friday race, in order to turn around and race again Saturday evening. Bitzan is fortunate enough to have a friend that helps finish milking for him on evenings he races. The friend will often arrive at the races to watch Bitzan speed around the oval track after finishing milking. Many family and friends will jump in to help at the farm or shop whenever needed. “It’s nice to have the races to look forward to,” Bitzan said. “Even though I have to put in extra hours, it keeps me occupied.” Bitzan looks forward to every race. It is a chance for him to enjoy the company of

Bitzan page 3

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Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 3

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

This is the cockpit of the race car. The seat cradles the driver while the steering wheel is detachable for getting in and out of the car. The gauges on the dash let the driver navigate speed and engine performance.

Bitzan from page 2 the car’s crew and fellow racers. There are many friends to be made at the racetracks, and a majority of the competitors there do it for fun and not for the money. “I’ll admit, it’s an expensive hobby,” Bitzan said. “If we get a premium from the races, it goes into parts and modiﬁcations.” Bitzan doesn’t own the race car he drives. The car

is owned by his uncle and a cousin who is a retired driver. Bitzan now drives for them. They can continue to stay involved in the sport even though they aren’t the ones driving. Originally, Bitzan drove a Midwest Modiﬁed by himself, but after having limited time and investment capabilities, he chose to sell it. After a year off, his uncle approached him and asked if he would be interested in driving the car. The cars can be difﬁcult to maintain, so having a small crew of people who help with the 10X car, along with great

sponsors, helps make success at the track possible. “Not everyone that is involved in racing wants to drive,” Bitzan said. “Some of the guys get excited about the engines and the ﬁxing side of the races.” Bitzan, on the other hand, lives in the fast lane. His place of choice is driving the car. Caressing every turn to make the perfect pass on the underside of his opponent is a skill that has progressed since Bitzan started racing at the

Bitzan page 4

Dusty Bitzan has been working on the farm since he was about 10 years old. He spends much of his time caring for the livestock on their family’s operation.

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Page 4 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Bitzan from page 3 age of 17. Though it comes almost naturally now, it has taken trial and error to get comfortable with himself and the car. It is only the beginning of the 2022 season, but already he is pulling top-five positions, including a second-place finish during the first race of the season at the I-94 speedway in Fergus Falls. The only time he feels nervous about racing is when there is a crash shortly before his race. “Sometimes, while I am waiting in the lineup, I think to myself, ‘why are you doing this? It’s so dangerous.’ but then I get on the track and have the time of my life.” said Bitzan. Maneuvering himself around the track makes late nights in the shop and early mornings in the barn worth it.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Dusty Bitzan stands on the edge of the 10X car in Victory Lane at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria. He wears a fireproof suit and shoes, along with a helmet to protect him in the event of an accident on the track.

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Dusty Bitzan drives car number 10X. The exterior of the car is scattered with sponsors of the car, while flashy silver trim highlights the outline of the car number.

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Treads on the race tires help the car grip the track as it maneuvers around the track. Tires can sometimes get packed with dirt and cause the car to slip as it skids around corners.

Page 6 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Westerman from page 5

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Cinematographer and director Viktor Johansen films a scene for the movie created for Anna Westerman’s grandfather.

liked her storyline and said he could help and by that time, she’d created a full script. She and her sister, Grace, pooled their money together and hired him. Grace was enthusiastic about the larger-scale project. “Go big or go home,” she said. Once restrictions began to ease and people could begin to get together in small groups, they started filming. Anna secured the historic Forest City Stockade northeast of Litchfield in Meeker County, and planned to film half of the movie there before moving filming to the farm. Cast members be-

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came part of the film crew due to the gathering restrictions, and everyone helped with the bounce, microphones and other equipment when they weren’t on screen. “Whoever wasn’t in the scene was helping with the shot,” Grace said. Anna, 26, wrote the script for the film, “Providence Trails,” with the help of a friend who provided a story starter. Anna put together the middle and end, added in the characters

and outlined the plot in a screen-writing format. “Then it became our story,” she said. Anna and Grace are in the film, along with some of their cousins, an aunt and uncle and other relatives and friends – all people Anna’s grandfather would recognize. She coordinated with her cast member friends and family via text message and organized people to take a trip to North Dakota, where they had friends from their time being involved with the

Ft. Seward Wagon Train. “North Dakota has a lot more open scenery and grasslands,” Anna said. The film is set before the Dakota Territory reaches statehood. A strong-headed woman is hired to deliver a package out west and she must gather together a crew of women to help her. The task becomes more difficult than they originally thought.

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Explosive solution to a skunky dog

they use an entire tube of cheap white My niece, Rachel, and her husband, toothpaste and lather the dog up beDarren, live on a hobby farm they purfore spraying it off. chased about a year ago. They have dogs, What was used that Friday morncats, chickens, goats, a calf, a garden and ing was a mixture of dish soap, hya huge raspberry patch; you name it, and drogen peroxide and baking soda and, it’s there. It’s sort of an iconic small-acreapparently, it worked. During the age place with a little red hip-roof barn, cleanup operation, they were even a clay tile silo and an assortment of outable to take advantage of a kiddy pool buildings. out in the yard that had been just been Their first baby was born a month ago, and life is great – albeit not easy, be- Random Reflections filled with water for the dogs the day by Diane Leukam before. cause that first baby makes for new famIt’s possible Darren’s dad and ily dynamics. My sister was sleeping early on a Friday morning brother looked on the American Kennel Club when the call came in. It was 4:20 a.m. and Rachel website, because this is what AKC staff recwas on the phone, crying and a bit frantic. She need- ommend on akc.org: In a bucket, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1-2 teaspoons mild dishwashed Mom – or someone – and right now! Darren had gotten up to go to work, and one of ing detergent and 1 quart hydrogen peroxide. his last tasks before leaving was to quietly let the Work the mixture into the coat and leave on house dogs, Frankie, a husky-lab cross and Norah, for five minutes; rinse with warm water. Follow with Golden Retriever, outside to do their thing. That par- dog shampoo. The quicker the dog can be cleaned, the better. ticular morning, Frankie was met in the yard by a Please keep reading, because here is an importskunk and promptly got sprayed. When she turned in retreat, she plowed over Norah, who was running ant disclaimer that is included with the above recipe: behind her to see what was going on. Norah took on “Use Caution: Be careful around the dog’s eyes as this is a potent formula. Don’t use a higher than 3% plenty of skunk smell in the process. The idea was to leave the dogs outside, of course, hydrogen peroxide solution as it may burn. Mix it and take care of the problem later when time allowed, fresh, use it and discard it. If you store this mixture in but Norah had other ideas and snuck into the house. a closed container it will explode. The hydrogen perMy sister described it in terms of Norah being a big oxide may bleach the coat … so be careful on those baby and wanting to be in the house at all times; she black dogs. The less time the solution stays on, the is very quick and can sneak by anyone just like that. less likely for bleaching. But ultimately, the choice is Now, I don’t know about anyone else, but if I yours – a bleached beauty or a wrinkled nose.” The Humane Society also recommends the same were a new mom with a month-old baby and a skunky dog got in the house, I would probably cry recipe – with the same precautions. I’ve heard of other tricks like vanilla and watoo. You get very little sleep on a good night, so this would only exacerbate the problem. Also, the smell ter or apple cider and water but, whatever trick you use, it’s good to have a plan in advance, especially if of skunk is just disgusting. It turned out that my sister wasn’t needed be- you have a farm dog. They are wired to protect their cause Darren’s dad and brother came to the rescue humans’ yards and sometimes end up in trouble for right away and cleaned up the dogs. This can turn their efforts. It seems my niece’s family got through their into a discussion in and of itself: How do you get rid of skunk smell? We talked about it at the office smelly event, and now they can focus on other things. the same day. The bathing in tomato juice didn’t fare They’ve chalked their skunky dog experience up to well for one co-worker, and another co-worker said just another adventure of life in the country.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

Frankie (a husky-lab mix) and Norah (a Golden Retriever) had a run-in with a skunk on their hobby farm near Osakis; the dogs were treated with a solution to remove the smell.

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Westerman from page 6 As the cast worked together, Anna said they changed scenes and lines if something wasn’t working for them. Most characters had a single costume which they chose themselves as long as it fit the period. “Everybody got to voice their opinions which helped to get people involved; they got to kind of create their character,” Anna said. The storyline included live horses including the Westermans’ own, and the different filming locations allowed them to bring the story to life. “Everybody got to be together for a couple weeks of filming,” Anna said. “It was fun to hang out with family and friends for those few weeks and do a big project like this; it was the comradery of it.”

Westermans page 10

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Reanna Toeller, the lead in “Providence Trails,” is filmed for a scene on the open prairies in North Dakota.

Lead horses Candy and Ginger wait for action on the set.

Actors portraying outlaws in the film keep themselves occupied while waiting to shoot a scene.

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Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 11

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Page 12 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

legacy

A green space

Johnsons’ land preserved d for f future f t generations ti BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

COLD SPRING – On the outskirts of Cold Spring sits 30 acres of natural land, home to a large pond, a true oak savannah and wildlife galore. It touts native grasslands and a stream that runs 3 feet wide through the property. In the spring, the wildflowers begin to pop up. The land holds Showy Orchids, Indian Paintbrush, Turks Cap Lilies, Jack-inthe-Pulpit, Trillium and Columbine. Wildlife roam,

“

Cranes and Canada geese. Trumpeter Swans can often be seen flying overhead. It’s a piece of land of importance to Cliff and “People, whether they realize it Betty Johnson. They purchased it in 1975 and have or not, need green space. This been welcoming others is one way of assuring there is to hike, ski, toboggan and simply enjoy it ever since. green space for people.” To continue its legacy, the couple chose to place - Cliff Johnson the land into several trusts to preserve it for perpetuincluding turkeys, deer, Nearly 20 species of birds ity. squirrels, chipmunks and are regularly attracted to its “People, whether they the occasional black bear. feeders. Other birds in the realize it or not, need green One year, even a cougar area include four species Johnsons page 13 made its way onto the land. of woodpeckers, Sandhill PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Cliff Johnson is leaving the land he owns with his wife, Betty, on the outskirts of Cold Spring, as a lasting legacy for their children and the people of the community.

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Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 13

Johnsons from page 12

space,” Cliff said. “This is one way of assuring there is green space for people.” Cliff and Betty were from the cities, in particular, Minneapolis. They moved to Avon, knowing a little bit about farming and where ham and eggs came from, but learned quickly about the 365-days-a-year work years required of many farmers. Cliff was a junior high school special education teacher and Betty was a public health nurse. They liked their life in Avon but were looking for something different. Cliff jokingly – and not so jokingly – said the piece of property near Cold Spring was 10 miles closer to the Cold Spring Bakery, where he enjoys chocolate-covered macaroons and their Christmas fruit cakes. Anyway, the land had everything they wanted. The Johnsons raised their kids there and taught them to enjoy and respect the land. It wasn’t so much a direct message; it came more in the form of the occasional family walk or sledding. For years, they threw toboggan parties on the property and invited family and friends. As a couple, they’ve enjoyed

walking through the land and cross-country skiing it in winter. “Nature just sort of surrounds us,” Cliff said. He said humans everywhere spend time bringing the outdoors inside in an attempt to connect with nature, whether it be fresh ﬂowers, dried ﬂowers, plants or paintings of plants and landscapes. “They’re satisfying their need for having some green space,” he said. As Cliff and Betty prepared to put their land in a trust, they talked with their adult children because it’s land they’ll someday inherit. They strongly supported the trust idea. Even if the children eventually choose to sell it, Cliff said, the property will be protected as it sits today. “We raised them right, so they don’t want to see some bad things happening out here,” Cliff said. The Johnsons have adjacent properties, totaling 113 acres in all. A 30-acre section is part of the Minnesota Land Trust. The remaining acres are secured by the Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Many of the Johnsons’ neighbors have similar aspirations for the land. To the east of the Johnsons,

a neighbor has protected 80 acres of land. In nearby Rockville, John and Linda Peck practice conservation on their protected property. Through the years, the Johnsons have welcomed area residents to use their land which is fairly flat, with a valley where the pond collects. The 6-acre pond is half-filled with cattails and dense vegetation, while the other half is open water. The pond was formed when the Johnsons contracted to create a 350-foot dam on the land. It used to be more of a big marshland with beaver dams running throughout. The state’s process for approving land trusts identified the oak savannah.

PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Cliff and Betty Johnson have created a system of trails through their Cold Spring property to make it easier to walk, and so they don’t disturb birds’ nests, rabbit holes or plants.

Johnsons page 14

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Cliff and Betty Johnson have lived just outside of Cold Spring since 1975. They placed their property into several trusts to preserve it for perpetuity.

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Page 14 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

A deer track is left in the soft ground, just one of many types of wildlife that make their home on the Johnson property.

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

This pond sits on Cliff and Betty Johnson’s property outside of Cold Spring. The pond is drained every 10 years or so to replicate nature and a drought.

Johnsons from page 13 “I wasn’t aware we were sitting on the oak savannah; it’s not very much, but when you don’t have very much it gets to be real important,” Cliff said. The couple has made a system of trails through the property to make it easier to walk, and so they don’t disturb birds’ nests, rabbit holes or plants. Originally, when the Johnsons purchased

the land, nearly half of it was agricultural farm land that was being rented out. They, too, rented it out for a while and then turned it into a field of native prairie grasses that are home to racoons, skunks and coyotes, among other things. The land is inspected every year to be sure it remains in the same state it was in when first approved. The Johnsons

An assortment of feeders keeps the many species of birds content on the Cliff and Betty Johnson property near Cold Spring.

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on the property to foster healthy growth on the land. The couple doesn’t allow hunting on their property and they don’t allow motorized vehicles. Oftentimes, people will call the Johnsons and ask if they can come out to the enjoy the surroundings. Cliff said it’s nice to get a heads-up, but not required. For the Johnsons, it’s a way to leave a lasting legacy for their children and the people of the community. “In our minds, we’d hate to see what we’ve loved and taken care of for all these years wind up being a housing development,” Cliff said.

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An oak savannah, native grasslands and a stream running through the property create a haven for wildlife.

Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 15

No soil,

no problem Hydroponics, bees help Peterson grow fresh produce BY GRACE JEURISSEN | STAFF WRITER

BENSON – When it comes to gardening, a bountiful harvest is achieved by attentively caring for the plants, by providing a soil bed, nutrients, water and sunlight to grow the seed. Hydroponic gardening is a system that grows plants in water rather than soil, a system that can provide plenty of produce to cover anyone’s kitchen table. The use of hydroponics grows more plants in less space. Kent Peterson and his wife, Lori, run a greenhouse and garden out of their home in Swift County near Benson. Kent does much of the plant work, while Lori helps manage the marketing side of the business. A year and a half ago, Peterson implemented a hydroponic garden into one of his greenhouses. He grows carrots, beets, chard, radishes, onions, celery, garlic, cucumbers and a variety of other produce to sell at local farmer’s markets and privately. Peterson has observed that,

among his customer base, people between the age of 3040 really care about the quality and freshness of their produce. In addition, people in their 20s often care more about where their food comes from. “Customers have to trust you, that’s why it is important to be transparent about everything we do here,” said Peterson. His gardening goes way back. “When I was little, my mother designated a small corner of her garden for me to work with,” Kent said. “I have always enjoyed working in the garden and I don’t remember a year that I didn’t have one.” Peterson spent a few years as

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Kent Peterson stands next to the hydroponic garden in his greenhouse May 4 near Benson, where he and his wife, Lori, raise a variety of garden products. (inset) Plants grow fibrous root systems that form through the phenolic foam.

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Page 16 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

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Kent Peterson separates the foam to place plants in nursery trays. The phenolic foam that the seeds are started in splits into small cubes so the plants may grow on their own without extra competition.

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from page 15 a hog farmer, but after seeing the industry begin to change, he chose to retire that part of his life. He worked a various number of other occupations before having the opportunity to begin making gardening his full-time occupation, which is in the works for the near future. He recently has inquired with a few restaurants to work towards being their primary fresh produce supplier. Gardening is a place

where Peterson feels at home. When he was working off the farm, he would come home and go to the garden or greenhouse. These places have become a sanctuary for his relaxation. “In the greenhouse, the temperature stays really comfortable,” Peterson said. “It makes a comfortable place to pull up a chair and sip on your coffee.” Peterson has a large garden and three greenhouses where he grows his produce. For the last three years, the greenhouses have allowed him to grow year-round. Now that he runs

hydroponics, Peterson can grow even more in a smaller space. He currently is growing ﬁve varieties of lettuce in his multitude of hydroponic trays. A unique aspect of the small business is the use of Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Hydroponic Systems that grow a variety of vegetation that the Petersons sell at farmer’s markets and privately. NFT works wonderfully for leafy greens like lettuce and chard. The system works

Peterson page 17

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Peterson from page 16 by utilizing a pump that circulates nutrient-rich water into trays in which the plants are growing. The water then flows through the trays and recycles into the holding tub. Because one of Peterson’s former occupations or hobbies PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

These young lettuce plants were just placed into the nursery tray and, once big enough, they will be placed in separate holes along a different tray.

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was restoration, his innate handyman skills are convenient. Much of the garden was built by himself, which lowered the initial cost of implementing an NFT System. “I scratched my head because I could see the design in my mind, but I couldn’t quite put it together,” Peterson said. After a few brainstorming sessions, he was able to congregate his thoughts in the right direction. The greenhouse that holds the hydroponic system has two sides lined with trays. The trays hold 15 plants apiece, each plant spaced 8 inches from the next; each side can hold 600 plants. The water that flows through the NFT system has nutrient packets that Peterson adds to the holding tubs. He changes the solution once per month, but adds nutrients weekly. “The system is great, because everything is at waist level,” Peterson said. “I don’t have to bend down as much.” When Peterson designed his hydroponic system, he wanted to make everything accessible. He can pull the trays, made from used PVC pipes, and set them on hooks to work with

Young rainbow chard plants establish themselves in the phenolic foam. From this point, the plants will be split and placed into their final tray until harvested.

the produce. Many hydroponic systems can cost around $15,000 to install but, because of using his own skills and labor, it only cost him $1,000 investment to implement the system.

“It was a learning curve; I had to combat molds and mildews at one point.” Peterson said. “I recently added an exhaust fan that really helps make a better environment in here.” Greenhouses can

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Peterson page 18

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Page 18 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Peterson from page 17

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

After running through the plant trays, the water runs into a collection gutter and drains into a barrel that houses a pump which recycles the water through the NFT system. Algae, harmless to the plants, will sometimes grow in the tray because of the extra sunlight.

growing conditions in the greenhouse far better. “I have found that the plants grow better when under LED lights versus the grow lights,” Peterson said. “Not to mention, they are much cheaper to purchase.” The lights in the greenhouse run 14 hours per day. Along with the challenges he has overcome with his hydroponic system, there have been benefits which made it worth the investment. Pest control has become far easier, because the plants aren’t directly at ground level. There is less splash-back than having to water the plants on the ground. In turn, produce is harvested much cleaner. The air movement is better up high and, of course, there is less bending over, said Peterson. Hydroponics don’t necessarily limit a person’s ability to grow certain plants because there are many systems that are designed for specific produce. For example, tomatoes grow well in a

Lori and Kent Peterson of Benson sit on the porch of their restored granary, their farm store where they sell produce and honey.

bubbler bucket system. Peterson uses organic practices, although he is not certified organic. He uses manure as a fertilizer, and various natural products to treat for pests. Challenges can arise from different aspects of gardening. There are

many factors that go into the production of quality produce. Pollination helps the plants begin to produce a fruit or seed. A few years ago there was an incident that caused low pollination, which led to poor yields. To combat this happening again, Pe-

terson invested in a few beehives. The bees are an important aspect to the garden’s success. Peterson processes the honey that is made from the bees, and sells the honey and garden

Peterson page 19

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Page 20 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Learning

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Foraging a way of life for Brown BY CHRISTINE BEHNEN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE BEHNEN

Shane Brown identifies plants with children, as all ages are welcome in the foraging group.

SAUK CENTRE – There is a small and simple missed opportunity in many people’s lives when they unwittingly miss the forage for the weeds. Shane Brown of Sauk Centre has made it his goal to share the incredible bounty of nourishing plants and mushrooms growing wild. He and his wife, Pam, have developed their skills in foraging, cooking, canning and drying. Now, Brown leads a public foraging group through the River of Life Church, is a Saturday regular at the local farmer’s market and is developing a mushroom cultivating enterprise. Interestingly, the seed of this interest bloomed strong because of sibling rivalry. Brown began foraging because of his highly competent outdoorsman brother, Lee. On family outings, Lee’s resourcefulness made an impres-

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Shane Brown is pictured with oyster mushrooms, which are amongst the easiest for a beginner to identify. They grow in a shelf formation only on wood, are almost always white and have a licorice-like smell.

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Brown page 23

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Page 24 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Pam and Shane Brown prepare dandelions for cooking. Dip the flower and stem into a tempura or pancake batter and fry it for a tasty treat, while avoiding overcooking to better preserve the nutrients.

Brown from page 23 real good, dry it, grind it and seep it. All of the parts are edible, though the leaves can get bitter.” Next find on the foray: soft and furry Mullein. “It’s great for respiratory problems,” Brown said. “Cut and boil the leaves and flowers and breathe them in. Even the smoke of mullein is of respiratory benefit. Steep the flowers in olive oil to create ear drops for earache, swimmer’s ear, and infections.” A walk in the woods prompts an exciting discovery of a large mushroom with beautiful brown pattern-

ing fanning out from a dead stump: Pheasant Back. “It doesn’t have gills on the bottom,” Brown said. “Look for tight-knit pores. The bigger ones can grow in a matter of days. I like them the size of a grapefruit. It can produce all through the summer.” As the group continued walking, Shane demonstrated how he takes a little piece of the Pheasant Back and puts it in a groove in a log to aid in spreading the spores for future years of mushrooming. Mushrooming is one of Brown’s biggest interests. He’s licensed or in the process of getting licensed through the University of Minnesota Extension to grow many varieties of mushrooms. Soon, he hopes to

supply them to Chef Tony of Saucy’s Signature Meats to make gourmet sandwiches in his local traveling food truck. Mushrooms are a topic which often raises safety concerns for foragers. Some of the prominent foraging favorites are easy to identify and difficult to mistake for poisonous varieties, but good foraging safety protocols and awareness are the responsibility of everyone who ventures out on the land. “When in doubt, don’t eat it,” Brown said. “I could be the lunatic walking in the woods, so go research

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Mullein can be used to help respiratory problems, or to create medicinal ear drops.

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Saturday, June 4, 2022 | Country Acres • Page 25

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PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE BEHNEN

Pheasant Back (above and below) is a common and easily identifiable mushroom found often on dead stumps. It can be cooked with onions and added to a variety of dishes. With its meaty texture, it can even pass for chicken or be pickled (see recipe on page 21).

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Brown from page 24

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it just to be sure. Look it up and make sure the pictures are the same. Anytime you’re introducing a new plant to your system, only try little bits, or chew it and spit it out. See how it reacts.” Brown regularly receives calls and requests for assistance with identification from complete strangers. He welcomes this contact and enjoys providing this support. Still, a healthy respect for the wide range of plant and fungus life in the wild is wise. Learning the land doesn’t change what any of it is, but, it can change what it becomes. With knowledge and a developed eye, a dandelion invasion could be turned into coffee or a salad. Stinging greens could become medicine. A tree fungus could pass for chicken in a stir-fry. Learning the land has also been an experience

Page 26 • Country Acres | Saturday, June 4, 2022

Brown

from page 25 Sauk Centre has become another regular forum for plants and mushrooms and people. “My goal is to get enough mushrooms to sell, but even that is to get to talk to people about mushrooms,” Brown said. “You can’t get them to your table unless you have a lot of mushrooms.” Loving the land can foster conversation and grow relationships, as it has for Brown and the many people who he welcomes to forage and share the generosity of the land with him. Developing the eye to see the land can offer well-being, inspire the spirit, and soothe the hunger of the belly. “Almost everything that God put out here is edible or useful for something,” Brown said. “This is your natural medicine at its finest. No side effects.”

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Stinging Nettle can be neutralized through cooking or drying and should be cut when young, just a few inches off of the ground. They can be sautéed much like spinach, and have medicinal properties (see recipe on page 21).

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for up to 60 months.*

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* Rates as low as 0% for 60 months in the U.S. and 0% for 60 months in Canada. Offer valid on select models and subject to credit review and approval through AGCO Finance LLC. Dealer participation may vary. Contact your participating dealer for more details. Offer subject to change without notice.

23661 Hwy. 4 , Lake Henry, MN

(320) 243-7411

www.lakehenryimplement.com

Quick Loan Decisions are as important as ever in this volatile pricing market. Contact a local decision maker near you.

CAJune4-1B-WS

To check out our vehicles on the lot scan this code with your smartphone camera or check us out at www.davismotorsgm.com

YO U R FA M I LY D E A L E R S I N C E 1 9 9 5 WE ARE OPEN Mon - Thu: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm Fri: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm | Sat: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

LITCHFIELD: 320-693-3224 OR 877-693-3224

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NMLS M #10 #101 #1016794 Direct Direcct Number Numbe umber 320-527-0240 32

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NMLS# NMLS M 1447790 Direct Dire irect rect Number Num 320-357-7093 Num CAJune4-1B-MT

Sauk Centre 320.352.5211 • Long Prairie 320.732.2133 • www.mn-bank.bank

Country Acres - June 4, 2022

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A Western movie gift for Grandpa

Learning the land Sauk Centre

A natural legacy Cold Spring