8 minute read
Farm and Food File
The swimming pool, the tree and Santa’s flight pattern
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If we had any inkling at all about how I should have gotten an Oscar award was gone. It’s sad when that happens. short childhood is while we are still children, we would have appreciated it so much more — instead of being in such a hurry to grow up. for my performance. They fell for the whole story. Three young faces looked towards the trees in utter amazement, maybe because The hole in the tree top is still there. Today our sons live on that place, and someday maybe they can tell that story to their own children who could be living there someday. And the story will be just
Often when kids finally get there, it’s a I had kept this incredible secret for so as amazing to them then as it was to our children bitter disappointment with all the long. How could a kid get to be in the on that very warm summer afternoon when they responsibility and job commitments that first and third grades and not have were first aware of how Santa and the reindeer come along with being able to do ‘whatever we want.’ Perhaps having to still TABLE TALK received this important, classified, North Pole-based memo? were able to land on our roof top by pushing through the top of the trees on our farm. answer to someone is the best-kept secret of adulthood. By Karen Schwaller After that day, summer pool-side afternoons in coming years often included conThe only thing more breathtaking than Christmas magic is the very brevity of the childhood in which
I am reminded of the magic of childhood versations about that tree top and how that magic exists. every year when I begin our Christmas preparations —especially when I open totes and find tree ornaments made by the awkward and unskilled hands of our (then) elementary school children. We have years of popsicle stick photo frames and Christmas stars Santa and the reindeer had worn a hole in the tree top because the branches were in the way of their flight pattern. All too soon they knew the truth, and the magic Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v that are the primary reason why glue factory workers can carry on yet today with complete job security; and other such creations which could have bene- Extension to host ag topics on Zoom fitted from an eight-year-old with a working protrac- WORTHINGTON, Minn. — University of Pheasants Forever and Alan Lepp, NRCStor and a good blackmail scheme. One of the best stories that came out of the Schwaller Christmas was born one summer when our elementary-aged children were enjoying an Minnesota Extension has scheduled several Zoom meetings to discuss some of the key issues and questions around crop production. Sessions run from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 6 through March 24. March 10 — What insects are bugging your corn this year? Ken Ostlie, Extension entomologist and Bruce Potter, Extension integrated pest management specialistafternoon in the fiberglass swimming pool I had set up and filled one hot summer afternoon. I was in the pool with them when we got to talking about the trees at our farm and how old they were, and Sessions will be very informal and open to all interested. Each session will start with a brief presentation (about 10 minutes) followed by 20 minutes of discussion. March 17 — SCN: So tough a threat, it warrants a coalition. Greg Tylka, nematologist, Naeve, and Samuel Markell, Extension broadleaf plant pathologist,. how important trees are. As we talked about the trees I looked up and hapJan. 6 — Corn hybrid selection. Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, Dean Malvick, Extension March 24 — Stand establishment for corn and soybean. Naeve, Coulter and Malvick. pened to see a tree with a grouping of branches that plant pathologist and researcher Tom Hoverstad. For details and to register, go to https://z.umn.edu/ had a very large ‘hole’ of sorts within them. It almost looked as if some branches had been cut out to make way for power lines, though that never hapJan. 13 — Soybean variety selection. Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist and Malvick. strategic-farming. You need only register once for the whole program series. There is no charge to participate, and sessions will be recorded and posted for pened. Jan. 20 — Herbicide technology traits. Debalin viewing later at your convenience. It was then that I thought I could use that tree — and our conversation — to create some wonder, so I Sarangi, Extension weed specialist and Tom Peters, Extension Sugar beet agronomist This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v started in. Jan. 27 — Broadcasting versus banding P & K. Jeff “Hey you guys … do you see that tree over there? The one with the big hole in the top?” I asked. Sooner or later they all spotted it. “You know why there’s a hole in the top of that Vetsch, researcher and Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist Feb. 3 — Third crops ready to work for you. Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist and Craig Sheaffer, forage specialist NOTICE Early deadline for ads in The Land tree?” I asked, trolling for their attention. Of course, they didn’t know why the tree top had a hole in it, so what followed was possibly the best story I ever made up to advance the magic of Feb. 10 — The latest on cover crop research and tools you can use. Axel Garcia y Garcia, Sustainable Cropping Systems, Anna Cates, Extension state soil health specialist and Gregg Johnson, Biomass Due to the Christmas and New Year Holidays, The Land office will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25th and Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Christmas. Or, for at least as long as they ‘believed.’ Cropping Systems “That big hole is where Santa flies in on his Feb. 17 — Adjusting soil pH to maximize crop prosleigh every Christmas. When Santa and his rein- duction. Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient managedeer get to those trees they have to start to land so ment specialist and Jeff Vetsch, researcher they can end up on top of our house,” I said. Feb. 24 — The nuts’n bolts of on-farm research —
How very lucky that the trees were northeast of Doin’ it right. R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Extension corn Deadline for Deadline for Deadline for our house, advancing the believability of the story specialist and Naeve. The Land’s The Land’s The Land’s all the more as they grew and began to ask questions. After all, every child knows Santa Claus comes from the north. March 3 — Making every acre pay. Naeem Kalwar, Extension soil health specialist, Tanner Bruse, Minnesota Ag and Conservation Programs manager, Dec. 25th issue is Tues., Dec. 15th at noon. Jan. 1, 2021 issue is Tues., Dec. 22th at noon. Jan. 8, 2021 issue is Tues., Dec. 29th at noon.