kansas country living february 2016

Electric cooperative annual meetings mirror family reunions in some ways. There’s good food and great conversation. Everyone in attendance learns the latest updates about the “co-op family.” And, at some point during a reunion there’s an election to determine who will be in charge of planning the next get-together. But unlike your co-op’s board member elections, reunion committee elections aren’t generally democratic. In fact, if you didn’t attend you’re likely on the next planning committee.

With annual meeting season beginning, we talked to two longtime electric co-op members and asked them why they think it’s important to attend their co-op’s annual meeting. Learn what they had to say on page 18.

This is the time of year garden-ers get a bit antsy for warmer weather to arrive and with it the first chance to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers. For those with little outdoor space, physical restrictions or a preference to not battle the weather elements and weeding duties required of traditional gardens, check out the alternative gardening options on page 12 that might work for your situation.

In addition to providing harvests of home-grown produce, gardening is also used by hor-

ticulture therapists in treatment protocols for a range of diagnoses. On page 14, we provide an overview of this discipline and how it’s used to improve the lives of others.

Enjoy your February. KCL

E D I TO R’ S L E T T E R

MaKenzie DePrey, left, and Joscelyne Keller, were two volunteer students from Doniphan West-Midway Elementary School in Denton who helped serve Doniphan Electric Cooperative mem-bers at its 2015 annual meeting.

Hospitality and Homegrown Goodness

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

2 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

Bruce GrahamChief Executive Officer

Doug ShepherdVice President, Management Consulting

Shana ReadDirector of Communications

Vicki EstesEditor

Carrie KimberlinManager of Creative Solutions

Jackie MooreCommunications Specialist

Blake MillerIntern

Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Ralph PhillipsPresident

Kathleen O’BrienVice President

Keith McNickleSecretary

Patrick RileyTreasurer

Cooperatives You receive Kansas Country Living as a communications service of these electric cooperatives:Alfalfa, Cherokee, OKBluestem, WamegoBrown-Atchison, HortonButler, El DoradoCMS, MeadeCaney Valley, Cedar ValeDS&O, SolomonFlint Hills, Council GroveKaw Valley, Topeka Lane-Scott, DightonLJEC, McLouthLyon-Coffey, BurlingtonNinnescah, PrattPioneer, UlyssesPrairie Land, NortonRadiant, FredoniaRolling Hills, MankatoSedgwick County, CheneySumner-Cowley, WellingtonTri-County, Hooker, OKTwin Valley, AltamontVictory, Dodge CityWestern, WaKeeneyWheatland, Scott City

Kansas Country Living (ISSN 0091-9586) is pub-lished monthly for $10 per year (tax included) by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS and additional entry offices. For members of Kansas rural electric systems, subscription cost is $5.88 per year. This cost is part of your electric service billing. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Phone 785-478-4554. Fax 785-478-4852.

Address Changes Please report any change in address to your local electric cooperative.

Postmaster Send address changes to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267.

Advertisers Contact National Country Market: 512-441-5200, or see www. nationalcountrymarket.com. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives of the product or services advertised.

Kansas Country Living assumes no respon-sibility for unsolicited material. Submissions must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with sufficient postage to be returned. The publication does not guarantee publication of material received and reserves the right to edit any material published.

(ISSN 0091-9586)FEBRUARY 2016 VOL. 66, NO. 2© KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2016WWW.KEC.COOP

FEBRUARY

D E PA RT M E N T S 4 | Around Kansas February festivities

6 | Commentary Job interview review

8 | Guest TalkLooking out for you

10 |Cut Your Utility Bills Home heating systems

16 | Safety GFCi’s protect you

24 | Cooking My Way Home To shir–an egg–with love

28 | News Briefs Public CCP sessions

O N T H E CO V E RVictory Electric member Layton Miller prefers indoor gardening.P H O T O BY J E R R I I M G A RT E N

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook to view monthly extras and submit your story ideas. 12| Dirt Optional

Alternative gardening methods offer choice

14| Healing Gardens Horticulture Therapy used for wide range of diagnoses

18| Annual Meetings Family, sense of duty draw co-op members

18FEBRUARY 2016 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 3

12

http://www.nationalcountrymarket.com



THROUGH FEBRUARY William “Pat” Wigley Sculptures, Lucas. The Grass Roots Arts Center is hosting this exhibit of unique sculptures created from silver-plated spoons, forks and butter knives and trees made of high voltage power cable wire. Pieces on display include a graceful ballerina, dragonfly and a variety of flowers and birds. Winter hours are Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. 213 Main Street, 785-525-6118.

FEBRUARY 1 Budgeting and Savings Done Right, Emporia. Learn how to create an effective spending and savings plan that meets your needs, why an emergency fund is important, how to plan for non-monthly expenses, and the importance of paying yourself first each month. This class will feature speakers from Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., who are Certified Housing and Consumer Credit Counselors and Educators. Emporia Public Library, 110 E. 6th Ave., 620-340-6462.

FEBRUARY 2-23 Brown Bag Lunch Programs, Garden City. This series offers historical presentations at noon. Feb. 2-Builders of Dreams; Feb. 9-Garden City History I Learned from My Students by Norman Clark, long-time history instructor; Feb. 16-Update on Windsor Hotel by Brian Nelson; and Feb. 23-Through Their Lenses showing the perspectives of early day Finney County photographers. 403 S. 4th St., 620-272-3664.

FEBRUARY 4-6 & 11-14 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged], Hutchinson. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]” parodies the plays of William Shakespeare with all of them being performed (in comically shortened or amalgamated form) by only three actors. Performances on Feb. 4-6 and Feb. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 14. 9 South Main, stage9hutch.com, 316-350-PLAY (7529).

FEBRUARY 5 Antiques Showcase, Junction City. Join us for dinner at 6 p.m. Following dinner, Jay Brown with Brown Real Estate and Auction Service and Jan Gray with Garden Gate Antiques will appraise and give background on participants’ antiques. Geary County Historical Society, 530 N. Adams, 785-238-1666.

FEBRUARY 5, 12, 19, 26 Emma Chase Friday Night Music, Cottonwood Falls. Jam session and open mic for local and visiting musicians playing traditional music. Public is welcome; family friendly. Arts & crafts. 1st Friday is Gospel; 2nd Friday is Bluegrass; 3rd Friday is Country-Folk-Bluegrass; 4th Friday is Old Time Rock-n-Roll & Vintage Country; 5th Friday is special musical events. All sessions are acoustic instruments only except 4th Friday when electric are welcome. 220 1/2 Broadway Cottonwood Falls, KS, 620-273-8301, www.facebook.com/EmmaChaseMusic.

FEBRUARY 6 City Market “Love is in the Air,” St. Marys. Shop a variety of vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George J. Perry Memorial Armory. Interested vendors may join group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/stmaryscitymarket. 110 S. 5th St., 785-437-6835.

FEBRUARY 12, 13-14, 19-20 “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Ottawa. Romance is in the air as ACT Ottawa brings Oscar Wilde’s play to the stage. Opening night is Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. is a special Valentine’s event before the play with dessert and wine-tasting. The theater will present a 3 p.m. matinee on Feb. 14. Encore performances scheduled Feb. 19-20 at 7 p.m., and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. 301 S. Hickory St., 785-242-8810, www.actottawa.org.

T H I N G S TO D O ELECTRICITY PUTS BREAD ON YOUR TABLE AND KEEPS IT IN YOUR WALLET.

LOAF OF BREAD1936................................... 8¢2015.............................. $1.40

INCREASE....................... 17.5XU.S. Department of Labor1936 Quick Facts

Delivering Energy for Life

During the past 79 years, the price of most commodities has increased dramatically, but your electric cooperative has worked to keep your electricity as affordable as possible. Even as new government regulations threaten affordable energy, we continue to speak on your behalf.

1936............................................. 5¢2015...................................... 12.64¢

INCREASE.................................. 2.5XBased on average cost per kilowatt hourU.S. Energy Information Administration

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY

FEBRUARY 23 Civil War Letters Home, Newton. The Harvey County Historical Museum hosts this program at 2 p.m. Colonel Jack Bender III, retired United States Air Force

JAG officer, will illustrate the comfort given and received by Civil War soldiers from Kansas as they communicated with loved ones. Col. Bender, who presents the program dressed in a Union Sergeant Major’s uniform, purchased the letters at an auction he happened upon one night when driving a different way home from work. He soon realized many coincidences between his life and the life of the letter writers. 203 N. Main, [email protected], 316-283-2221.Colonel Jack Bender

Continued on page 17


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/EmmaChaseMusic

http://www.actottawa.org

ELECTRICITY PUTS BREAD ON YOUR TABLE AND KEEPS IT IN YOUR WALLET.

LOAF OF BREAD1936................................... 8¢2015.............................. $1.40

INCREASE....................... 17.5XU.S. Department of Labor1936 Quick Facts

Delivering Energy for Life

During the past 79 years, the price of most commodities has increased dramatically, but your electric cooperative has worked to keep your electricity as affordable as possible. Even as new government regulations threaten affordable energy, we continue to speak on your behalf.

1936............................................. 5¢2015...................................... 12.64¢

INCREASE.................................. 2.5XBased on average cost per kilowatt hourU.S. Energy Information Administration

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY

Make the Most of a Job Interview B Y B R U C E G R A H A M

Bruce Graham

CO M M E N TA RY

Workplace culture and

expectations are changing and the co-

ops are eager to bring in

new skills and enthusiasm.

My January Kansas Country Living column was a tribute to those who have made a career in the electric cooperative industry and are on the verge of retirement. It was also an alert to our readers of the rewarding opportu-nities that can be found through this powerful profession.

Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., alone said farewell to three retiring employees last month who had amassed 75 years of experience. We are a relatively small employer with 15 team members in our association’s Topeka headquar-ters and 10 who work from our electric equip-ment service center near Osage City. Typically there aren’t too many job openings here, there-fore, we don’t do many prospective employment interviews.

The recent turnover, though, has refreshed our recruitment efforts and required a significant amount of time to sort through résumés and conduct interviews. It was an exciting process and the great news is we landed some new talent who will serve the association well. The process also provided me with unexpected fodder for this column and advice for job hunters.

Workplace culture and expectations are changing, and the cooperatives are eager to bring in new skills and enthusiasm. In my opinion, we have the best climate for hiring here in Kansas. There is a strong work ethic that is balanced by an opportunity to enjoy family and other per-sonal activities. Our cooperatives offer an excel-lent work/life balance.

Therefore, getting in the door for an inter-view should be considered an accomplishment and an opportunity. Don’t waste it! Every résumé building and job hunting advice site counsels candidates to do their homework about the company with which they are interviewing. It is important for the candidate to know that the company is one they can believe in and, in many cases, be worth a change of address. The home-work is also critical because it is a 99.9 percent certainty that the interviewer will ask “What do you know about our company?”

So I was stunned to find that from the 20 or so interviews we did for several opportunities,

only a few had actually researched KEC. Infor-mation is readily available through our website and on Facebook.

After the interview, be sure to say “Thanks!” Whether you are interested in the position or not, I’d suggest authoring appreciation. The electric cooperatives and the business world are networked. In the future, there might be a better fit at the same company, or even with another firm, and time spent with this interview could open a door.

I know professional clothes can be expensive but make the investment. Dress appropriately and conservatively. Guys—please wear socks and decent shoes. And everyone should give their shoes a shine. It is a true and personal story that I landed my first job out of college because my shoes were not scuffed. It was apparently a toss-up between several qualified candidates and after four years of college, my career start can be credited to a tin of Kiwi polish and a little elbow grease.

Even if it is just for an internship, heed these bits of advice. Internships are worth the effort because they often lead to career opportunities. In fact, since KEC started offering communi-cations internships, five former interns have accepted positions in communications/member relations for electric cooperatives, and most of the others have found the writing and communi-cations experience an advantage in their career.

Other advice would be to clean up your social media (if needed) before you start the job search and show up early for the interview. Be prepared to ask questions and answer common queries such as your strengths and weaknesses. There could also be unusual tests such as the interviewer who drops an item on purpose to see if the candidate makes an effort to retrieve it.

It might seem ridiculous that this elemen-tary advice needs to be repeated but I hope it gets picked-up. And if someone drops something during an interview, please pick it up as well!KCL BRUCE GRAHAM is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., Topeka.


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Looking Out for You: Then and Now B Y J U S T I N L A B E R G E

G U E ST TA L K

Justin LaBerge

It’s often said in

politics that if you aren’t at the table,

you’re on the menu.

Some people might wonder why not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives would be involved in politics.

In 2016, it seems obvious that every Ameri-can would have access to affordable and reliable electricity—regardless of where they live. But that wasn’t always the case.

The first big political threat to rural energy consumers came in the early 1940s. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the govern-ment official who oversaw raw materials needed for national defense banned the use of copper and aluminum for building power lines in rural America.

On the surface, this might seem like a reasonable step to take as the nation prepared for war, but the government official who issued the order had previously worked for the large investor-owned utilities that served big cities. Although these for-profit utilities had no interest in serving rural America, they wanted to elimi-nate any competitive threat—real or imagined—posed by electric cooperatives.

Co-ops quickly realized they would need to band together to protect the interests of the rural energy consumers they served. In 1942, they formed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to fight for their members in Washington.

The newly formed association successfully demonstrated that farms with electricity pro-duced more food, which was critical to support-ing the war effort at home and abroad.

Based on this information, rural electrifica-tion was allowed to continue on a limited basis through the war.

This was just the first of many battles Amer-ica’s electric cooperatives have fought on behalf of the families, farms and businesses they serve.

Though the benefit of rural electrification is no longer up for debate, there are still many energy policy issues that could have a significant impact on co-op members, including continued support of the Rural Utility Service electric loan program, pushing back against over-reaching environmental rules and shining a light on the

need to bring broadband to rural America, to name a few.

Just last year, electric cooperatives lobbied Congress and the President to enact a law that allowed co-ops to continue offering a water heater demand response program that saves consumers money and helps power companies operate more efficiently.

As with many regulations, the ban on these electric water heaters was the unintended conse-quence of a law designed to promote efficiency.

While some water heaters are inefficient, specially designed water heaters that can “talk” to the electric grid can be used to help reduce energy consumption at times of peak demand.

When used as part of an energy manage-ment program called demand response, these special water heaters can create and store large quantities of hot water at off-peak times and hold it for use at busier times of the day when demand for energy is at its highest.

Though this water heater program is popular with consumers and good for the environment, government regulations put it in jeopardy.

Electric co-ops began a multi-year effort to educate regulators and lawmakers about this issue, and in April 2015, President Obama signed a law repealing the ban and saving the program.

Electric cooperatives know that you and millions of other co-op members across the country have entrusted them with the responsi-bility to ensure access to safe, reliable and afford-able energy. That’s a serious responsibility, and one they don’t take lightly.

It’s often said in politics that if you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu. Through the coordinated efforts of your local co-op, state-wide associations and the national association in Washington, electric cooperatives work hard to ensure there’s always a spot at the table for you and your neighbors. KCL

JUSTIN LABERGE writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, VA-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.


Reported by J. PageChicago: Board-certifi ed Ear, Nose, and

Throat physician Dr. S. Cherukuri has done it once again with his newest invention of a medical-grade, ALL-DIGITAL, aff ordable hearing aid.

This new digital hearing aid is packed withall the features of $3,500 competitors at a mere fraction of the cost. Now, most peoplewith hearing loss are able to enjoy crystalclear, natural sound—in a crowd, on the phone, in the wind—without suffering through “whistling” and annoying background noise.

Digital Hearing Aid Outperforms Expensive Competitors

This sleek, fully programmed, light-weight, hearing aid is the outgrowth of the digital revolution that is changing our world. While demand for “all things digital” caused most prices to plunge (consider DVD players and computers, which originally sold for thousands of dollars and today can be purchased for less), the cost of a digital medical-grade hearing aid remains out of reach.

Dr. Cherukuri knew that many of his patients would benefi t but couldn’t aff ord the expense for these new digital hearing aids. Generally they are not covered by Medicare and most private health insurance plans.

New nearly invisible digital hearing aid breaks price barrier in aff ordability

A study by Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging suggests older individuals with hearing loss are signifi cantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. They suggest that an intervention—such as a hearing aid—could delay or prevent dementia by improving hearing!

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A ordable Digital TechnologyUsing advanced digital technology,

the MDHearingAid AIR automatically adjusts to your listening environment — prioritizing speech and de-emphasizingbackground noise. Experience all of the sounds you’ve been missing at a price you can aff ord. This doctor designed and approved hearing aid comes with a full year’s supply of long-life batteries. It delivers crisp, clear sound all day long and the soft flexible ear domes are so comfortable you won’t realize you’re wearing them.

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C U T YO U R U T I L I T Y B I L L S

Comparing, selecting heating systemsWhich one is best for your home?

BY J I M D U L L E Y

Dear Jim: My heating and cooling system is 20 years old and it’s time to replace it. I am trying to decide which type of system is best. What do you recommend?—Russ H.

Dear Russ: When changing the entire system, you have the option of many fuel types for heating. Electricity is the only cooling fuel option for an air conditioner or heat pump.

Operating cost and comfort are the primary factors in selecting a new system. Efficiency and relative cost of the various fuels determine the operating cost. Fuel prices can fluctuate dramati-cally over time as we have seen recently with fuel oil and propane.

A geothermal heat pump is the most effi-cient year-round system because it heats and cools using stored heat from the ground. I installed one in my own home last spring. Select a two-speed or variable-speed model for the best comfort. It continuously matches heating and cooling output to the house needs. The initial cost of a geothermal system is substantially more than other complete systems, but the utility bill savings easily pays back its higher cost. Plus, there still is a 30 percent federal tax credit for geothermal heat pumps installed before 2017.

Install a heat pump instead of just a central air conditioner even if you plan to have a fossil fuel furnace (called a hybrid system). The installed cost of

the system with a heat pump is not significantly more expensive and your annual utility bills will be lower.

The advan-tage of a heat pump is it heats very efficiently

during mild spring and fall weather. During these times, it runs instead of the furnace burners to heat the house. When it gets much colder, the furnace takes over. A heat pump cools as efficiently as a central air con-ditioner during summer.

If natural gas is available in your area, a con-densing furnace generally is the most cost effec-tive choice. With the surplus of domestic natural gas from fracking, there should be an adequate supply at reasonable prices for the foreseeable future. Efficiencies are as high as 97 percent.

Since natural gas is not available in many rural areas, a propane or oil furnace provides equally comfortable heating. A propane furnace is almost identical to a gas one, but propane is typically more expensive to use and can be in short supply as it was several winters ago. Oil is readily available, but oil furnace efficiency is not as high and they require more extensive maintenance.

Also consider alternative fuels such as firewood, corn, pellets, etc., for supplemental heating. Newer models are convenient to use and

A high-efficiency oil boiler for floor radi-ant or baseboard heating is available in both gas and propane models.

BURN

HA

M

This illustration shows the interior of a high-efficiency condensing furnace. Notice the tubular-style heat exchangers near the top.

MAY

TAG


the fuel is renewable. For example, new dual-fuel wood furnaces automatically switch to gas or propane when the wood burns out over night.

To compare operating costs, use the following heat contents and your local fuel costs: f natural gas: 1,025 Btu/cubic foot f oil: 138,700 Btu/gallon f propane: 91,000 Btu/

gallon f electricity: 3,414 Btu/

kilowatt-hour f firewood: 22,000,000

Btu/cord f corn: 448,000 Btu/bushel.

Divide your local cost per Btu by the various system efficiencies to compare operating costs. KCL Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY, Kansas Country Living, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

CAN INSULATION CAUSE CEILING STAINS?

Dear Jim: Ever since we put several inches of insulation in our attic, I have noticed straight dirty streaks along the ceilings in the bedrooms. Could the insulation cause this?—Charlie W.

Dear Charlie: The attic insulation may have caused your problem. It is called “pattern staining” and is caused by an inad-equate amount of insulation.

The attic floor joists are cold because their tops are not covered with insulation. The ceiling areas directly under the joists get cooler causing slight dampness. More dust sticks there causing streaks over time. Add more insulation to cover the joists. KCL

Since natural gas is not available in many rural areas, a propane or oil furnace provides equally comfortable heating.

A super-efficient geothermal heat pump shown with and without the front cover. Notice the larger air cleaner and water fittings for also heating water.

WAT

ERFU

RNA

CE

FEBRUARY 2016 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 11

http://www.dulley.com

Alternative gardening methods have become popular for apartment renters, homeowners with little outdoor space, those with physical restrictions and for others who simply prefer not to battle the weather elements and weeding duties required for traditional gardens.

Alternative gardening methods, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, straw bale, and unique container, are just a few ways you can stretch the growing season, your garden-ing space and, in some cases, your hard-earned dollars.

Straw BaleIf you have little space, lousy soil or no

desire to crouch among plants to weed and feed, straw bale gardening might be a good option. It does require time commitment upfront to prepare the bales for planting, but the time invested during the growing season is generally limited to watering and harvesting.

Bob Hall, Director of Finance for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., was searching for a new area on his property in which he could grow tomatoes. After reading an article about straw bale gardening techniques, he was ready to try it in an area of the yard he said is sterile.

“We run a septic system and the septic tank produces a lot of heat. Ours is close enough to the surface that grass doesn’t survive there,” Hall

Growing fresh produce, herbs and beautiful plants doesn’t have to be restricted to those who have ample yard space to devote to a full-fledged garden.

Bob Hall’s straw bale tomatoes at just five weeks growth. He harvested tomatoes for a full three months during the 2015 growing season.

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explained. He decided to establish his four-bale garden directly above the septic tank.

Straw bale gardens can be placed just about anywhere on a property, in relatively compact space since most bales are 24 by 42 by 18 inches. As long as the selected area has the sun exposure needed for your particular plants, a straw bale garden should produce for you.

“That’s the beauty of it, too,” Hall shared. “It doesn’t take a lot of space.”

The book Hall used as his planting manual, “Straw Bale Gardens Complete,” recommends only one tomato plant per straw bale. Within a few weeks of establishing his tomato plants, Hall understood why. The growth of the plants easily surpassed his expectations, and at the end of the growing season their root systems, when laid out on a flat surface, extended beyond the length of a standard garden hoe.

The varieties Hall chose to plant in the straw bales were Jetstar and Celebrity, because of their known affection toward the Kansas climate, in addition to a Better Boy and a hybrid.

As one might expect an accoun-tant would do, Hall created a “score sheet” in which he tallied both the weight and the number of tomatoes harvested from his straw bale garden.

“I think I got a little bit above average yields,” Hall estimated. “Keep in mind that I had a ‘tomato-napper’ that I wasn’t aware of for a period of time when the tomatoes were start-ing to ripen,” Hall said of his dog. “She took a bunch, a lot more than I realized.”

For anyone interested in trying this type of garden, Hall shared that they should be prepared for the initial investment of time at the front end to prepare the bales for planting.

“You really have to follow the prescribed process pretty closely. It’s the conditioning process. You condi-tion the bales with nitrogen fertilizer and that’s what gets the composting process started,” he explained. But he added a caveat. “Also, I’m kind of per-snickety so maybe I spent too much time trying to get the fertilizer just right.”

Although Hall watered every day, he said it was this regular schedule

that he found much easier than the watering process for soil-planted tomatoes. “With soil, you don’t water but every three or four days because you don’t want rot issues. Then you get busy and you kind of forget,” he said. “That’s one thing that also attracted it [straw bale gardening] to me because the watering is easier. It dumbs down the watering process.”

Another benefit to straw bale gardening is the level at which the plants grow requires no need for weeding or mulching. “You’re not down on your hands and knees—it’s at a working level,” Hall said.

With soil gardening, it is recommended that gardeners rotate their crops each year for disease prevention and nutrient balancing. That is never a concern with straw bale gardening because

STEPS TO STRAW BALE GARDENINGYou can find a variety of suggested straw bale gardening techniques, some more

time intensive than others. Just be sure to use straw bales and not hay bales. You can prepare the bales by simply keeping them wet for three to four weeks before planting or, if you prefer a faster method, try this:

Bale Prep:fDays 1, 2 & 3: Water the bale thoroughly; keep it damp. fDays 4, 5 & 6: Sprinkle the bale with a 1/2 cup of a high nitrogen fertilizer like

ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) or ammonium sulfate per day, and water it well into the bale. You can substitute blood meal for the nitrate.

fDays 7, 8 & 9: Final three days to fertilize using only 1/4 cup of fertilizer per bale per day; continue to water it in well.

fDay 10: Water bales and keep them damp. fDay 11: Stick your hand into the bale. If it has cooled down

to less than your body heat, you may safely begin planting when the danger of frost has passed.

For an organic approach, substitute a natural fertilizer such as fish oil or compost tea.

Planting: You can start with seeds or transplants. For seeds, top dress each bale with

two inches of seed starting mix; water in well. For transplants, use your hands or a trowel to make a crack in the bale for each plant. Add a little commercial potting mix around each plant. Don’t use soil from your yard! It could spread diseases and bacteria and create weeds in the bale. Insert the plant down to its first leaf; close the crack. Fertilize and water as necessary as your plants begin to grow. You may need to water more than once per day at first because it’s important to not let the bales dry out. As the bales begin to decompose, they will hold more water and you will water less frequently. Try using a soaker hose placed over the tops of the bales to deliver water to your plants. S O U R C E : G R O W A N D M A K E . C O M

DIRT


The use of gardens for therapeutic purposes has evolved from its beginnings in ancient times—

where gardens were planted to calm the senses—to more present-day applications that offer plant-based activities guided by horticulture therapists to address a wide range of diagnoses.

Cynthia Domenghini, coordinator of the Horticulture Therapy program at Kansas State University, explained that the horticulture therapy profession, which is more than 50 years old, was once primarily used for treatment of mental illness, “but now assists clients facing a variety of chal-lenges including physical rehabilitation, vocational train-ing and social development.” Horticulture Therapy (HT) is a specific treatment protocol guided by professionals with specific education, training, and credentials in the use of horticulture for therapy and rehabilitation.

“Horticulture Therapy can be an effective rehabilita-tion tool,” Domenghini said. “Clients who have suffered a stroke, traumatic brain injury or other complication that may require rehabilitation can be guided through horti-culture tasks to help increase hand-eye coordination and strengthen muscles,” she explained.

HT is also commonly used with the elderly because gardening is a popular hobby of older generations, and Domenghini said it may provide a more enjoyable form of

therapy for them than other methods. “It can serve as physical activity without

the dread that exercise can sometimes bring and can easily be tailored to the needs and abilities of the

The Healing Power ofPlants


clients,” she explained. The key, she said, is to accommodate the

environment so everyone can garden rather than require the clients to accommodate to the garden space. By creating an environment suitable for all abilities, Domenghini said clients can receive physical benefits from horticulture programming, such as improved fine and gross motor skills, improved strength, increased stamina and coor-dination, and improved overall physical health.

“Garden tasks, such as raking, can be facili-tated for clients with limited mobility by creating railings in the garden where individuals can get support,” Domenghini offered. “Using smooth walkways that are wide enough for wheelchairs can give clients access to various garden spaces.”

Alzheimer’s patients and others with chronic diseases may also benefit from specific horticul-ture treatment protocols that can provide physi-cal activity and help increase memory.

“Clients in a program such as this may be given the opportunity to remember plants that bring them fond memories while a registered horticulture therapist facilitates growing them in a raised bed or containers,” Domenghini said. She added that using these options reduces the need for weeding while also elevating the planting to make it more accessible for senior gardeners.

Domenghini also noted that group HT programs can be used to provide social opportu-nities for clients while targeting goals of improv-ing social skills, communication and social boundaries as well as helping clients develop relationships.

“Socializing over plants that clients have a history with is a great way to help them build self-esteem while also developing or maintaining strength and mobility during the actual garden-ing tasks,” she said.

HT is client-focused; one size does not fit all. In developing an HT treatment plan, the treatment team will first identify the goals for the client, taking into consideration the client’s abilities to ensure the horticulture activities are designed specific to the individual’s needs.

“It is common—and preferable—to give the clients a voice in their treatment,” Domenghini said. “By understanding a client’s interests and background, the techniques can be tailored to the individual and can have more positive results.”

Even for those who share a common diag-nosis, techniques can vary widely because indi-viduals may require creative solutions for their particular situation.

“Some clients may not be able to go out into the garden and may not be able to leave their bed,” Domenghini said. “The therapist needs to be respectful of this and have ways to bring the garden to the bedside.”

HT programs are also being used by correc-tion facilities to help clients learn work behaviors and anger management, improve social skills and help them develop coping skills. And, HT pro-grams have also been designed to serve veterans and help treat them for physical or emotional trauma, with goals to decrease physical pain and reduce struggles associated with PTSD. Domeng-hini said that one activity that might be pre-scribed is to grow a vegetable garden.

“Reaping the harvest of such a project gives clients the opportunity to grow their own food, which is rewarding in itself but can also help individuals learn new skills and offer socializa-tion opportunities in a community garden-type setting.”

Through HT, gardening tasks can also be used to teach problem-solving skills. If a plant is not thriving, the therapist will guide the indi-vidual through a trouble-shooting process to find solutions for improving the health of the plant.

“There can be just as many positive lessons to be learned from a plant that doesn’t survive as one that does, so focusing on the clients and what they need to learn for their own well-being is key,” Domenghini said. KCL

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D., is the Horticulture Therapy Program Director at Kansas State University. She holds a doctorate and a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, as well as a master’s degree in teaching. Domenghini also served as an education specialist for the National Gardening Association.

It can serve as physical activity without the dread that exercise can sometimes bring and can easily be tailored to the needs and abilities of the clients.


How GFCIs Can Protect You from Electrical Shock

S A F E T Y

Imagine cleaning up in the kitchen. The sink is full of hot soapy water and you accidently knock a plugged-in electric appliance into the water. With a pop, the power instantly goes off. Your life was just saved by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

Help prevent electric shocks in your home by installing GFCIs. GFCIs can provide protec-tion against shock from an electrified appliance, equipment in contact with water, and from a damaged or defective appliance.

GFCIs should be installed in areas near water. This includes bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements and outside. A GFCI detects an abnormal flow of electricity and shuts off the power, preventing shock or electrocution.

Electricity is always looking for a path to ground. A ground-fault is an unintentional

electrical path from the power source and a grounded surface. Under normal conditions, current flows in a circuit, traveling from the source, through the device it operates, and back to the source.

If an electrified appliance gets damaged by water, that flow is broken. Without a GFCI, your body could become that path to ground for the electrical current.

GFCIs come in three different forms. First, there is the receptacle GFCI. This type fits into a standard outlet box and protects against ground faults for whatever is plugged into the outlet.

Next is the circuit breaker GFCI. This is a circuit breaker with a built-in GFCI installed directly in a panel box to add protection to the circuits it supplies.

Portable GFCI is the third form. This is designed for locations where there is not a per-manent GFCI installed. Some plug into the recep-tacle, and devices can then be plugged into the GFCI. Another type has the GFCI circuitry built into an extension cord. Both types plug into an outlet like any corded device and require no installation.

If you have recep-tacle or portable GFCIs, you should test them after installation, after power failures, and on a monthly basis. They will have test and reset buttons for this purpose.

If you are interested in making your home safer by installing GFCIs, contact a qualified electrician to do so. For more information on home electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org. KCL


FEBRUARY 13 Valentine’s Day Spaghetti Dinner, Junction City. St. Paul’s Lutheran Ladies Aid invites you to enjoy a Valentine’s Day spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The little church in the country will also be serving chili and more. Active duty military and families eat free. 9719 Clarks Creek Road, 785-482-3213.

FEBRUARY 13 “LOVE from the LOCALS,” McPherson. This favorite annual open house is a Valentine gift from the area’s best musicians and a fundraiser featuring Country, Classic Rock, Blues and Jazz beginning at 7:30 p.m. 219 S. Main St., www.mcphersonoperahouse.org, or 620-241-1952.

FEBRUARY 13 & 27 Winter Farmers Market, Emporia. Open from 10 a.m. to noon, shop indoors for produce, baked goods, artisan crafts and artwork. 701 Commercial St., emporiafarmersmarket.org.

FEBRUARY 16-APRIL 19 Evening at the Museum, Garden City. This series includes live presentations at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Feb. 16 will feature insight and tips from an experienced antique collector. March 15 will be Under Water-The Flood of 1965, and April will be Through Their Lenses showing the perspectives of early day Finney County photographers. 403 S. 4th St., 620-272-3664.

FEBRUARY 17-20 “The Effects Of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds,” Winfield. Zindel’s drama about escape from a dysfunctional family. Showing nightly at 7:30 p.m. Richardson Performing Arts Center, 100 College St., 620-229-6272, www.sckans.edu/undergraduate/theatre-arts/season/.

FEBRUARY 19 “Seussical,” Emporia. Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories come to life with the adaptation of the Broadway musical presented by TheatreworksUSA; 7 p.m. at the Granada Theatre. 807 Commercial St., 620-342-3342

FEBRUARY 19-20 & 26-27 “Tom, Dick, and Harry,” Winfield. In this hilarious story of three brothers, Tom and his wife are about to adopt a baby. His brothers are anxious to help make a good impression on the woman from the agency who has arrived to check on the home and lifestyle of the prospective parents; 7:30 p.m. Winfield Community Theatre, 1500 E. 8th, 620-221-6270.

FEBRUARY 20 Acoustic Concert, Emporia. Country music stars Terry Clark and Mark Willis perform at 7 p.m. at the Granada Theatre. 807 Commercial St., 620- 342-3342.

FEBRUARY 26 “Jason Bishop Show,” McPherson. The future of magic and illusion is here as the McPherson Opera House presents the “Jason Bishop Show” at 7:30 p.m. A show for the whole family. 219 S. Main St., www.mcphersonoperahouse.org, or 620-241-1952.

FEBRUARY 26-28 EquiFest of Kansas, Topeka. This is the largest equine exposition in the Midwest featuring educational events, world-class equine trade show, clinics, exhibitions and entertainment. For more information visit www.EquiFestofks.com.

MARCH 5 City Market “Spring Fling,” St. Marys. Shop a variety of vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George J. Perry Memorial Armory. Interested vendors may join group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/stmaryscitymarket. 110 S. 5th St., 785-437-6835.

MARCH 9 Quilting Retreat, McLouth. A few spaces are open for this day of fun, food and quilting. Call 913-774-7455.

MARCH 11-13 Kansas Singles in Agriculture, Phillipsburg. Tour The Shepherd’s Mill, Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum, Bill Clark Train Museum, an historic

Logan home, and enjoy live performance at Huck Boyd Community Center. For more information call Ed at 785-737-3059 or Emilie at 785-526-7298.

MARCH 19-20 Train Show, Garden City. The Boot Hill Model Train Club sponsors this two-day event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Fair Building on the Fairgrounds. Enjoy all kinds of exhibits, working trains and layouts, plus vendors will be on hand. Call Claude at 620-253-1372 for more information.

THROUGH MARCH “Images of Native America,” Garden City. Every object in nature has a spirit, according to some Native American beliefs, and Ron Smith of Garden City tries to convey that conviction when he produces artwork linked to the history of the tribes of the Plains and Southwest. His work, encompassing images of buffalo, turtles, bears, geckos and other historic shapes, is now on display at the Finney County Museum. Open for viewing 1-5 p.m. seven days. 403 S. Fourth, 620-272-3664.

THROUGH AUGUST 1 Horsemanship Camps, Marion. Camps run for four days beginning May 30 with last camp week of Aug. 1. From 7:30 a.m. to noon each day, the camp will offer participants a horsemanship lesson, taste of farm chores, horse games/water games, horse study and instruction on driving a buggy. Ages 5 through teen. Each camp limited to six participants. Reserve space before May 1 to receive an early bird discount. Marion Reservoir, 620-924-5254, www.facebook.com/englerfarm. KCL

Send items for your free listing in Around Kansas to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604 by the fifth of the month prior to publication. Or send an email to [email protected]. Please include a contact phone number.

T H I N G S TO D O

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Annual Meetings

Ethel Huser, middle, a member of Radiant Electric Cooperative for over 50 years, joined her daughter, Kathy McVey, left, and grand-daughter, Amy Traylor, at the co-op’s 2015 annual meeting.

Annual Meetings Membership in her rural electric cooperative is a family affair for Ethel Huser. She and four of her nine children are members of Radiant Electric Cooperative in Fredonia, which provides services to the 160-acre home-stead Ethel and her late husband, Herb, pur-chased in 1955.

Busy raising a family and taking care of everyday responsibilities, Ethel didn’t always attend her electric co-op’s annual meeting but that has changed. “I did not attend the meetings regularly until the last few years when my daugh-ter talked me into going,” Ethel shared.

Ethel’s daughter, Kathy, is married to Larry McVey, a Radiant Electric Co-op employee for nearly three decades. The McVey family also has deep roots within the electric co-op. The farm on which Larry was raised is also served by Radiant.

Recently, another Huser generation joined the membership ranks of Radiant Electric Co-op. Ethel’s granddaughter, Amy, became a co-op member after marrying and moving to the farm of her husband’s grandparents where the co-op has supplied electricity since the 1950s.

Ethel offered several reasons why she makes it a point to attend Radiant’s annual meeting these days, noting that the dinner is a high prior-ity on the list but also believes that education and

community camaraderie are important aspects of the event.

“The food is amazing, and there’s also the great company of other members of the rural community,” she explained. Ethel also mentioned the opportunity to learn more about the co-op’s business climate, including new regulations that affect rural electric co-ops and their members.

“It is good to know what is going on locally, and they have great speakers who can answer questions about our current and future electric sources,” she said.

The programming and schedules for elec-tric cooperative annual meetings may vary, but each provides their members with an occasion in which they can share conversation and ideas, vote on board members, and come together as a community.

“It is good to see the people who work and serve our community to keep us supplied with electricity,” Ethel shared. She also praised the co-op employees’ dedication to their members in assuring reliable service. “Radiant Electric has always had great service,” she said. “They have worked hard to keep our area supplied with power at all times. We are lucky to have dedicated workers who go out at all times of the night and day.”

Duty CallsJulian Siebert remembers a time when all that his seven siblings and parents had to keep them warm was a wood stove in which he huddled around every evening doing his homework.

“I remember my back would always be cold but my face would be hot,” Siebert recalled.

A Bluestem member since the inception of the electric co-op, Siebert has lived his 92 years on the same farm in which he was born and grew

Family, Sense of Duty Draws Members



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you simply use a fresh bale each growing season. “And the byproduct of what’s leftover at the end of the year is compost, although there wasn’t much left.”

There wasn’t much left of Hall’s harvest for freezing either, even though he picked toma-toes through the end of October. Hall and his wife, B.L., both relish tomatoes—as did their dog—and used every bit of their season’s harvest leaving none to freeze. Hall plans to increase his tomato production this season by adding two more bales, hoping for extras to freeze this time. He suggested that along with one tomato plant per bale, people could plant herbs, such as basil or cilantro, to the top or sides of a bale. “You could also do strawberries,” Hall said. “That’s something I’ve thought about. I may do straw-berries …”

Hydroponics“God made rainy days so gardeners could

get the housework done.” An old saying that

may not ring as true today as it did a few years ago. Hydropon-ics is a great way a gardener can exercise his or her green thumb all year long, without setting a foot outside.

Victory Electric member Layton Miller has always enjoyed gardening from an indoor per-spective. “The first plant I bought was a bonsai tree while I was at college,” Miller said. “Plants have always interested me. There is a sense of accomplishment when you can keep something alive or grow it from a tiny seed into a full-grown plant.”

After graduating from college, Miller moved to his current home in Spearville. During his tran-sition from college to the labor force, he picked up cooking as another hobby. “I’ve wanted a hydro-ponic kit since I was a kid,” he explained. “My cooking really influenced my decision to finally get one; using fresh spices instead of dried ones makes a huge difference in taste.”

Sometimes it’s challenging to find fresh herbs depending on the time of year and what’s available in your community. “Living in a small town like Spearville makes it hard to find fresh spices year round without having to drive to Dodge City,” Miller said. As is in the case of homegrown produce, Miller said that his herbs have a better flavor than those purchased at a store. “They taste much fresher,” he said.

Hydroponics makes it easy to garden in your home with the ability to grow plants without any soil. While there are several different types of hydroponic methods, the most advanced is the aeroponic system. Manufacturers of aeroponic systems claim that plants will grow five times faster in their kits, compared to soil-based gar-dening. Miller said he can back that claim. “You can usually see them sprout in three to five days, and after that they seem to grow faster than they

Continued from page 13

With the grow light of the aeroponics unit illuminating the room, Layton Miller examines the herbs he harvests to enhance his cooking.

The root structure of one of the straw bale tomato plants Hall grew extended beyond the length of a garden hoe.


normally would in soil,” he shared.Aeroponics differs from hydroponics in

that the plant roots are hung in the air and are misted with a solution of water and nutrients every few minutes. These systems may not be readily available in local garden shops. However, major retailers may have them in stock, depend-ing on the season and location of the store. As an alternative, any adventurous gardener can create an aeroponics system at home using a five-gallon bucket with a lid, a hydroponic pump, and a few other plumbing parts and tools. Most of these items can be found at local home garden retail-ers. Detailed instructions for making an aero-ponics system can be easily found with a quick search on the Internet.

Using his aeroponics kit, Miller has grown seasoning herbs such as mint, cilantro, dill, parsley and different types of basil. He plans to eventually move toward fruit bearing plants. “I want to try chili peppers and tomatoes next to change things up. Plus, tomatoes and peppers could be a snack instead of just using them when I cook,” Miller added.

ContainerContainer gardens can be easy, economical

and eclectic vessels that showcase your style and originality. Used inside or outside, containers take

little space—and little cash to create if you repur-pose everyday household objects for the base.

Have an old pair or two of rainboots? Add drainage holes in the bottom (unless they already have holes from wear and tear), add potting soil and your favorite flowing plant, and voilà. You have created a unique flower container for the front porch, patio or fence.

Sticking with the boot or shoe theme, an old or new cloth shoe organizer might be the perfect solution for creating a vertical herb garden to hang on a patio wall, fence or a balcony. Fill the pockets with potting soil and your favorite cooking herbs, and flavorful freshness for your recipes is only a few steps away.

Look for kitchen items you rarely use like old coffee cups and food containers, or save your soup cans for a cactus garden. Dig through the shed or garage and you’re bound to find objects perfect for creating a colorful statement. Kansas Country Living would like to share your unique ideas with our readers. Send photos of your creative containers to [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267, and we will publish them in upcoming issues of the magazine. KCL

Blake Miller, KEC intern, contributed to this article.

Decorate old soup cans for a cactus garden. Be sure to smooth any jagged edges where the lid was removed.

Rubber boots, old or new, serve as colorful and creative flower containers.

Container gardens can be easy, economical and eclectic vessels that showcase your style.

Use an old canvas with whip-stitched pockets to plant a vertical herb garden.



Liz Sosa

B Y L I Z S O S A

Into the Future: Public Square Communities

As our Public Square Communitiesforganization ventures into the New Year, our 12th year, I’m fortunate to be able to reflect on the amazing opportunities that have brought our colleagues and work to this point.

Much like looking back through photos of our children as they progress from grade to grade in school, reflection requires us to take pause to remember when our now thriving busi-ness was in its infancy. Our colleagues gathered in December for our annual retreat to evaluate our progress and strategically plan for forward action with this specific focus in mind.

What began as one man’s desire to lead posi-tive change has evolved to the organization we are now—seven colleagues serving as a consor-tium to connect and engage individuals, groups, and communities.

While our founding goals of fostering positive conversation, bridging citizen-led com-munity development, providing facilitation services for organizational progress, and creating spaces where preferred futures could be realized remained unchanged, our growth and potential for further service has significantly evolved.

Entering our “teenage” years translates into the need to respond to the developing needs of our constituents as well as our colleagues. We are expanding our digital presence, exploring oppor-tunities for services outside our state lines, and honing our resources into accessible materials for those seeking instruction and training.

These adjustments are but a small glimpse into our continued efforts to serve the broader public. Our partnerships across the state—including our connection to Kansas Electric Cooperative (KEC) through this publication—are valued and considered to be one of our greatest assets. As such, we are looking forward to the opportunity for KEC and Kansas Country Living to expand their reach by bringing new content to you, our readers, in this very publication.

We appreciate your commitment to enhanc-ing your communities and continuing the work of fostering positive conversations, bridging citizen-led community efforts, and organizing progress toward a thriving Kansas. Your commu-nity public square needs you, and my colleagues and I look forward to crossing paths and con-necting with you in the future. KCL LIZ SOSA is CEO of Public Square Communities; www.publicsquarecommunities.com; find them on facebook/public-square-communities-inc.

Entering our “teenage” years translates into the need to respond to the developing needs of our constituents as well as our colleagues.


http://www.publicsquarecommunities.com

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Every time I crack an egg, I feel like I missed my calling.

Put me behind a hot skillet, and tell me how you like ‘em—over-easy, scrambled, sunny-side up. I should have been a short-order cook. I don’t say this to brag, but I know my way around an egg. If you grow up in the country, this knowing begins early, runs deep and lingers. You’ve likely been friends with a hen and known what time she lays her daily egg (or eggs, should you happen to know a rare soul like our Ger-trude, who produced two a day, regularly). And probably eaten eggs in dozens too high to count.

To this day, I am most at home cooking an egg, and although my forays with egg cookery have branched out to more advanced territory, such as soufflés, meringues and Benedicts, the egg’s familiarity always calls out comfort and home.

It also reminds me of love. It was observed recently that our family is not of the touchy-feely variety—no overt PDAs or pronounced declarations of the “l” word. But there has never been any doubt love was there. It was on the table, the stovetop, in the oven. Whether it was a bowl of chili made by my dad, a slice of warm home-baked bread with homemade jam offered by my mother, or my sister’s pineapple upside-down cake, what we brought to the table meant something deeper. I’ve said on my blog, there are those who hug, and there are those who bake. Anyone who has had a plate of my mother’s cooking knows her love. And again and again, my oven has brought forth my most heartfelt message.

It was an egg dish I first made to show my family love in food form. I believe I was in my teens when I decided that, one Sunday morning, I’d get up before everyone else (in itself a feat) and make breakfast. I’d found a recipe in my mom’s “Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book” from 1955 (one I’d ravaged with enthusiasm) for baked or “shirred” eggs and, intrigued by this as yet new method of egg preparation (to the Howard household), thought this would demonstrate not

only my affection, but my budding culinary skills.

I took strips of partially cooked bacon and circled the interior of cups in a muffin tin, and I broke a single egg into the center of each meaty ring. A little salt and pepper, and into the oven they went. The end result, though admirable, was not perfect. The egg yolks ended up firmer than ideal, and the bacon was a bit too limp. Everyone complimented my efforts, and I realized it was the efforts that truly mattered. And what was instilled in me at that point was what deep pleasure comes from making food for those I love.

I have fond memories of times

To shir—an egg— with love B Y R E B E C C A H O W A R D

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Rebecca Howard

Baked Eggs in Spinach

Preheat oven to 400° degrees. Heat tablespoon of butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and garlic to pan, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, and sauté, stirring, until greens have wilted a bit, about 2 minutes. Drain off any excessliquid. Butter the inside of four 4-ounce ramekins (which work best, but you could also use jumbo muffin tins). Divide spinach equally among ramekins. With the back of a spoon, shape a “well” in the center of each nest of spinach. Crack 1 egg into each well (try to keep the yolk intact...you may want to break egg into a dish first). Drizzle 1 tablespoon cream over each egg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake until whites are just set but yolks are still runny, 14 to 16 minutes. Serve with a toasted,buttered bread of your choice. Makes 4 servings.

1 Tbs. butter, plus additional for buttering ramekins

1 Tbs. olive oil 1 clove minced garlic (optional)

1 five-ounce bag baby spinach 4 large eggs 4 Tbs. heavy whipping cream Salt and pepper to taste


Sometimes store eggs—with their too-pale yolks and shells so thin, they can crack if you just look at them funny—don’t hold a candle.

like that, and also of those country eggs I so miss. Sometimes store eggs—with their too-pale yolks and shells so thin, they can crack if you just look at them funny—don’t hold a candle. So I get good organic eggs when I can. I still make shirred eggs, and though I don’t know that I agree with poet Alexander Pope when he wrote, “the vulgar boil, the learned roast, an egg,” I’ve found that “roasting” is not only an easy, but elegant way to serve an egg. A baked egg cooks slowly and evenly in the oven with less hovering over the stove, then can be presented nicely in the ramekin or dish in which it is cooked. The ramekins can be baked in a water bath, like custard, but I have found success baking without.

The big concern when shirring eggs is to not over-bake (unless you like your eggs a bit bouncy). The white should be set, but jiggly; the yolk still have a bit of an oozy factor (in which to dip toast or bacon).

I’ve seen all manner of baked egg recipes—eggs baked in nests of hash browns, eggs stewed in toma-toes, eggs baked in an avocado half. What I’ve come to enjoy—as it employs a balance of decadence and health—is an egg baked in a little bed of sautéed spinach, with a finish of cream to help cook-set the top. I use fresh spinach for this, but I’m sure cooked frozen spinach, thoroughly drained, could also be substituted.

The egg’s sunny brightness waves “hello” out of the dark, grassy greens. Breakfast, lunch or supper, it also, to me, says: love. KCL

REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Kansas State University. Early in her publishing career, she was a newspaper food editor and later worked as a reporter, newspaper page designer, copy editor, proofreader and fact-checker. She has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”


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A G L A N C E AT

Public Sessions Set for Clean Power Plan

newsbriefsA G L A N C E AT

Kansas Country Living has published a number of articles about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). The rule, which was made final in October 2015, outlines the regulation of greenhouse gases (GHG). The EPA wants Kansas to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted from power plants by 44 percent by the year 2030. Your cooperative power supplier has already begun working with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) to determine how these regulations will be implemented.

A recent study by Energy Ventures Analysis projects that this new regulation could increase Kansas electric rates by 25 percent. There-fore, a number of initiatives are underway to assure that the GHG rules are legal, sensible and don’t cause unreasonable rate increases.

Meanwhile, KDHE is in the beginning of a two-year process to develop a compliance plan that will identify how Kansas can meet the CPP standards. KDHE is asking for your input and will provide two ways to share your thoughts about how to comply with the CPP. KDHE has scheduled public listening sessions in three communi-ties around the state. If you can’t attend one of the listening ses-sions, KDHE will have a website where you can go online to submit remarks.

The KDHE is finalizing the date locations. Final information about the meetings and the online comment process will be available soon at www.kdheks.gov. KCL

Nationwide is collaborating with industry leaders and agricultural professionals to launch its third annual safety contest as part of this year’s Grain Bin Safety Week. The Nominate Your Fire Department Contest runs from Jan. 1 through May 31. It will award grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to help first responders save lives.

“Grain bin accidents can tragically impact individuals, families and entire communities,” said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness.

During the last two years, the national contest awarded tubes and training to 13 fire departments in 12 states. One of those winners —The Westphalia Fire Department in Kansas —used their new skills in 2015 to rescue a man who became entrapped in some grain.

In 2014, 38 documented entrapments resulted in 17 deaths, according to Purdue University. It was the highest numbers since 2010— when at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments.

For more information about the program, purpose or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com. KCL

Grain Bin Safety Topic of Contest

up, and it’s also where his father was born. An Army infantryman in World War II thrust into the fight at the Battle of the Bulge, Siebert was captured by the Germans early on a Christmas morning and imprisoned for several months. He said he was released from the enemy that follow-ing May.

“As I approached the American lines, I saw the American Flag and I couldn’t have seen any-thing more beautiful.”

It’s also a sense of duty that calls Siebert to participate in his co-op’s annual meeting each year.

“It’s a co-op, which makes me part owner of it and I figure I should attend the meetings,” he said. Siebert believes it’s important to take an interest in the cooperative and participate when he can. “I’ve helped out many times counting the ballots for the board elections,” he shared.

Siebert recalled a summer in the 1930s so desperately hot that many in his family slept outside at night just to get some air.

“We couldn’t even run a fan back then, and that’s when we had 13 straight days and nights that the tem-perature didn’t drop below 100 degrees,” he said. “So you know how much just a fan would have done for you.”

Because he has experienced the time before the co-op pro-vided electricity to power modern day comforts, Seibert has great appreciation for the co-op and its employees.

“I appreciate what they are doing, and they do a good job of keeping the electricity on.” KCL

Continued from page 18 Annual Meetings

Jax Blackwell “patrols the line” at a Lane-Scott Elec-tric Co-op annual meeting. (2011 file photo)


http://www.kdheks.gov

http://www.grainbinsafetyweek.com

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Fiesta Citrus Salmon

1/4 cup orange juice

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. salt-free citrus seasoning, divided

2 Tbs. packed brown sugar, divided

1 pound salmon fillets

In small bowl, m

ix juice, oil and 1 tablespoon each of seasoning and brown sugar. Place salmon

in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well. Refrigerate 30

minutes, or longer for extra flavor.

In another small bowl, m

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ove salmon from

marinade.

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inutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.) Serves 4.

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1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

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ash with fork. Top with cheese and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4.

Raspberry Greek Yogurt Bark

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1 lemon, zest only

2 Tbs. honey

1 cup frozen raspberries

1/2 cup shelled pistachios

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Line small baking pan with alum

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bine first three ingredients. Stir until well incorporated. Add berries, pistachios and alm

onds to mixture. Fold in until well

incorporated. Spread mixture in baking pan and place in freezer for about 2-3 hours, or until

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pan and either cut or break into pieces. Allow to thaw about 5 m

inutes before eating.

Notes: Store remaining bark in freezer. You can experim

ent with any ingredients you have on hand, such as frozen cherries with dark chocolate chunks, frozen blueberries with unsweet-ened flaked coconut or dried cranberries with pecans. Serves 12.

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20 ounces boneless, cooked chicken breasts

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 Tbs. extra-vigin olive oil, divided

15 ounces canned tom

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1/2 tsp. ground dried basil

1/4 tsp. leaf oregano

1 tsp. sugar substitute

1/4 cup grated Parm

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1 cup shredded w

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mozzarella cheese

20 cups baby broccoli florets

1/2 tsp. garlic

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Using meat m

allet, pound out chicken breasts until they are about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and place into large preheated skillet over m

edium-high heat with 2 tablespoons oil. Cook until brown on both sides,

about 2 minutes per side, then layer into 8-by-8-inch baking pan.

In small bowl, com

bine tomato sauce, basil, oregano, sugar substitute and Parm

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with spoon and pour over chicken. Layer mozzarella on top and bake 25-30 m

inutes, until cheese is m

elted and sauce is bubbly. During last 10 minutes of cooking chicken, use sam

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edium-high heat, add garlic and broccoli to rem

aining 2 tablespoons of oil. Sauté until broccoli is crisp-tender, about 5 m

inutes. Serve imm

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$

Matching Labels Code No. ____________Add $6.99 for DESIGNER S Labels

Add $7.99 for CHOICE Ì & MASTER Labels

(If name and address other than

checks, please enclose separate paper)

(4-9 bus. days) Check boxes

shipped together.

Add $8.95 total

Over 40 breeds available!

Just Bee w/verse

“Bee Kind” - 00386 Leather Cover

and Labels - 00386 Ì

Farmall - 00328

Leather Cover and Labels - 00328

Winter Calm - 00017

Leather Cover and Labels - 00017Ì

Spirit of the Wilderness - 00024 Leather Cover and Labels - 00024Ì

Cowboy Round Up - 00380 Leather Cover and Labels - 00380Ì

Live, Laugh, Love, Learn w/verse “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away” - 00332 Leather Cover and Labels - 00332Ì

Words of Faith w/verse “With God all things are possible.” - 00551Leather Cover and Labels - 00551Ì

Grandkids Rule! w/verse “I’d rather be with my grandkids.” - 00437 Leather Cover and Labels - 00437 Ì

Golden Retriever - 00011 Leather Cover and Labels - 00011Ì

Rescued Is My Breed of Choice - 00379Leather Cover and Labels - 00379

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a

national no-kill animal shelter.

Ì

Cowboy BLeather Co

New Day w/verse “Each day brings hope!” - 00447 Leather Cover and Labels - 00447Ì

Thomas Kinkade’s Faith for All Seasons w/verse “Believe all things are possible with God” - 00105 Leather Cover and Labels - 00105Ì

Rescued is Something to Purr About - 00525 Leather Cover and

Labels - 00525 A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a

national no-kill animal shelter.

Ì

Vintage Tract

Leather Cover

Challis & Roos Awesome

Owls - 00337 Leather Cover and

Labels - 00337 Ì

Footprints w/verse “One night I dreamed that I was walking along the beach with the Lord.” - 00667Leather Cover and Labels - 00667

Ì

Comical Cats w/verse “Blossoming with Purr-sonality!” - 00570 Leather Cover and Labels - 00570 Ì

John Wayne: An American Legend - 00204 Leather Cover and Labels - 00204Ì

University of Kansas- 00870Leather Cover & Labels - 00870

More teams available online!

Hunting Buddies - 00402 Leather Cover and Labels - 00402 Ì

Faith, Hope, Christ - 00633Fabric Cover and Labels - 00633Ì

American Heartland - 00237 Leather Cover and Labels - 00237 Ì

Le Rooster - 00217 Leather Cover and Labels - 00217Ì

Sunfl owers - 00334

Leather Cover and Labels - 00334Ì

OVER 30 DISNEY

DESIGNS

AVAILABLE ONLINE!

©Disney

Mickey Loves Minnie - 00422 Leather Cover and Labels - 00422

Frozen- 00931

Leather Cover and Labels - 00931

CHECKS AS LOW AS $3.50 PER BOX!

BUY ONE...GET ONE FREE!*

BOX OF CHECKS BOX OF CHECKS

EASY AS 1-2-3!

SHOOT.

CONFIRM.

SEND.

WE ARE MOBILE!

Kansas City Royals® - 00499Leather Cover and Labels - 00499All 30 teams available!

God Bless America - 00006 Leather Cover and Labels - 00006Ì

America’s National Parks - 00055 Leather Cover - 00151Ì

Jesus, Light of the World - 00018Leather Cover and Labels - 00018 Ì

Moments of Majesty - 00001 Leather Cover and Labels - 00001Ì

A Walk on the Beach- 01020 Leather Cover & Labels - 01020Ì

Blue Safety - 00027One image. Leather Cover and Labels - 00155

Refl ections - 00125Leather Cover and Labels - 00125

Parchment - 00612Burgundy Leather Cover - 00030-004 Labels - 00032-008

SS

5th Avenue - 00155One image. Leather Cover and Labels - 00155

Scroll - 00044 One image.Burgundy Leather Cover - 00030-004Labels - 00032-008

Chevron Chic - 00678Fabric Cover and Labels - 00678S

Imperial - 00165 One Image. Leather Cover and Labels - 00165 S

SSS

• Trackable to you • Guaranteed delivery• All check boxes ship together...SECURELY • It’s FASTER

Feel Secure with

Includes FREE IN-PLANT RUSH

WE’REMOBILE!

Side Tear, Top Stub & Desk Sets Now Available. Order by phone or web today!

Faith Family Farming- 01065 Leather Cover and Labels - 01065 Ì

OVER 700 EXCLUSIVE DESIGNS AVAILABLE!

CALL 1-800-323-8104 OR WWW.BRADFORDEXCHANGECHECKS.COM

Hello Kitty® Colors- 01079Leather Cover and Labels - 01079 Ì

Lena Liu’s Enchanted Wings - 00026Leather Cover and Labels - 00026Ì

Lena Liu’s Morning Serenade - 00029 Leather Cover and Labels - 00029 Ì

Visit us online at: artfulimpressions.com

The Bradford Exchange presents a full selection of

Personalized cards, invitations, and more!

Classic Peanuts - 00708 Leather Cover and Labels - 00708

18_00035_001_BI116KSL.indd 1 1/13/16 2:29 PM

http://www.BradfordExchangeChecks.com

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http://www.johnwayne

http://www.snoopy.com

kansas country living february 2016

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