winter 2010-2011, my indiana home

A mAgAzine for indiAnA fArm BureAu memBers

Winter 2010-11my-indiana-home.com

Century-old Hunter’s Honey Farm continues family tradition

Success

Go for the Red GoldFamily-owned company grows tomatoes and jobs for Indiana and beyond

Healthy HoosiersGet fit this winter with help from INShape Indiana

Sweet

Winter2010-11 my-indiana-home.com 1

Features

6Sweet SuccessCentury-oldHunter’sHoneyFarmcontinuesfamilytradition

10Go for the Red GoldFamily-ownedcompanygrowsIndianatomatoesandjobs

14Healthy HoosiersGetfitthiswinterwithhelpfromINShapeIndiana

18Spurs of the MomentWhitleyCountycouplecraftscowboygearwithartistictouch

Departments

4 InAlmanac Eagle-watchinghotspots, high-techfarmersandmore

20 TravelIn Shipshewanaisasmalltown that'sbigonadventure

26 EatIn Warmyourwinterwithhealthy bakingandbreakfastrecipes

30 Insurance Learntheimportanceof mortgageprotection

31 IntheGarden Seedcatalogsarethetrue harbingersofspring

32 InFocus Readerphotossentinbyyou

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20

10

26

Winter 2010-11

On the cOver Tracy Hunter of Hunter’s Honey farm Photo by Jeffrey s. otto

FoodFindexclusiveonlinerecipes,suchasBeefBourguignonorButternutSquashSoup

ConneCt WitH USlIke us On FacebOOk

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FaRMDiscoverfactsaboutIndiana’stopcrops,cornandsoybeans

tRavelSharethebestplacestoseeholidaylightsdisplaysthroughoutthestate

2 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau Winter2010-11 my-indiana-home.com 3

vOlume 1, number 2

presidentDonVillwock

vice presidentRandyKron

second vice president IsabellaChism

chief Operating Officer & treasurer MarkSigler

editorAndyDietrick

managing editorKathleenDutro

marketing & public relations specialistMindyReef

multi-media specialist MikeAnthony

administrative assistantCharlaBuis

editorial project manager JessyYancey

copy editors LisaBattles,JoyceCaruthers,JillWyatt

proofreading managerRavenPetty

contributing WritersRebeccaDenton,KimGaleaz,CrisGoode,SusanHayhurst,CollettaKosiba,AmyD.Kraft,JessicaMozo,CassandraM.Vanhooser,JessicaWalker

media technology DirectorChristinaCarden

senior Graphic DesignerJessicaManner

media technology analystsChandraBradshaw,YamelHall,AlisonHunter,MarcusSnyder

photography Director JeffreyS.Otto

senior photographers JeffAdkins,BrianMcCord

staff photographersToddBennett,AntonyBoshier

ad production managerKatieMiddendorf

ad traffic assistants MarciaMillar,PatriciaMoisan

Information technology DirectorYanceyBond

accountingDianaGuzman,MariaMcFarland,LisaOwens

sales support managerCindyHall

sales support, custom DivisionRachaelGoldsberry

executive secretary KristyDuncan

Office managerShellyMiller

receptionist LindaBishop

chairmanGregThurman

president/publisherBobSchwartzman

executive vice presidentRayLangen

sr. v.p./OperationsCaseyHester

sr. v.p./sales ToddPotter,CarlaThurman

v.p./custom publishingKimNewsomHolmberg

v.p./visual contentMarkForester

v.p./content DevelopmentTereeCaruthers

v.p./content OperationsNatashaLorens

controllerChrisDudley

marketing creative DirectorKeithHarris

Distribution DirectorGarySmith

advertising sales manager, custom DivisionToriHughes

senior Integrated media managerRobinRobertson

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InBox

I’d like to say how much I enjoy seeing My Indiana Home in my mailbox.Thisisagreatpublicationwithinterestingstories.Afterreadingaboutthelocalfarmers,I’mleftwithasenseofHoosierpride.Asafarmer’sdaughterwhomovedtothe“bigger”city(fromJaspertoEvansville),Ilovereadingaboutfarmingandappreciatethereminderthattherearestillfarmingfamiliesthrivinginthisstate.

JUlie MeHRinGeRevansville

I could not be more impressed with the My Indiana Home magazine! ThephotographywasoutstandingandIenjoyedallofthefeaturesanddepartments.Whatagreatmagazinetoeducateournon-farmfolksaboutwhatgoesoninfarming.Hopefully,youwillincludearticlesinthefutureaboutlivestockfarming,howwecareforouranimalsandwhatwe'reallabout;grainfarmingandwhyitproducesnoiseanddust;andanythingelseourneighborsneedtoknowsowecanlivetogetherasgoodneighbors.Keepupthegoodwork.

deBi Hill Hancock County

editor’s note:Thanks,Debi!Yes,youcanlookforwardtoafeatureongrainfarmersinourspringissue.Wealsohaveplanstoincludearticlesonlivestockfarming,withafocusonanimalcareandfoodsafety.Inthemeantime,youcancheckout www.conversationsoncare.comtolearnhowfarmersprovidecarefortheiranimalsinordertobringconsumersthehealthiestandsafestfoodpossible.

editor’s note:ThatnumbercomesfromtheU.SDepartmentofAgriculture(www.usda.gov)andiscorrect,thoughitmayvarydependingonhowmuchmilktheyproduce.Cowsproducingmoremilkwilleatmore,andviceversa.Thanksforasking!

Do you have a question about something you read in My Indiana Home? send questions, feedback and story ideas to [email protected].

Iwasreadingthenewmagazine,whichisveryverynice.WhenIwasreadingtheDairyFunFactsonpage13[“ReinventingtheFarm,”Fall2010].Iwaswonderingifthefollowingfactiscorrect:Cowseatabout100poundsoffood.Isthisamisprint?Thanks.Lovethenewlook.

CHeRyl GRoveS, via e-mail

We truly appreciate all of the kind words sent in by readers of the first issue of My Indiana Home. From

questions about the articles to all of the reader photos sent in for the in Focus page, we’re always happy to hear from you. Please continue to send in your messages so we can help improve your reader experience – and we may even feature your note in the next issue!


Inalmanac

Sugar, Spice and Everything NiceMakeyoureatsalittlemoreinterestingwhilealsokeepingthemfreshby

orderingfromAmericanSpice,aFortWayne-basedcompany

offeringcanningandpicklingsuppliessuchassoursalt,fruitpectinandgroundseeds.

AmericanSpicealsosellshotsaucesandpepperssuretoheatupanymeal,aswellasbarbecueandgrillingspices,marinadesandcondiments.Visitthem

ontheWebatwww.americanspice.com.

Eye SpyYoudon’thavetohaveaneagle’seyetospottheregalbirdsoutandaboutthiswinter.Whilebaldeagleswereonceonthecountry’sendangeredspecieslist,theyhaveregainedtheirnumbersandcanbeseenthroughoutIndianaduringafewweeksinthewinter.

EnjoyawholeweekendofeaglewatchingatEaglePointeResortinBloomingtonfromFeb.4-6,2011,duringthe11thannualEagleWatchWeekend.Learnmoreatwww.eaglesatlakemonroe.com.

TurkeyRunStateParkinwesternIndianaalsohasaweekenddevotedtothebirdsinearlyFebruary.OtherplacestoseethesemajesticcreaturesincludeSalamonieLakeinAndrews,Ind.,orPatokaLakeinthesouthernpartofthestate.

sAve THe dATe

Deck the Halls, Walk the StreetsEnjoythe2010holidayseasonbytakingpartinMetamora’sOld-FashionedChristmasWalk,aneventthatfeaturesnostalgicactivitiesincludinghorse-drawncarriageridesandpictureswithSantaandMrs.Claus.

Duringthewalk,whichtakesplaceeachweekendfromNov.26untilDec.19,attendeescanalsolistentocarolers,sipcoffeeorcider,andshopwhileenjoyingthedecoratedstreetsofhistoricMetamora.

Formoreinformation,visitwww.metamoraindiana.com.

High-Tech FarmersFarmersallacrossthecountryaremakinganefforttobekindtotheenvironmentbytakingadvantageofthelatesttechnology.

•Withthegoalofincreasingtheamountofwaterinthesoilwhilealsodecreasingerosion,manyfarmersareusingatechniqueknownasno-tillfarming.

•Bufferstrips,typicallylocatedinareasofpermanentvegetation,stoprunoffandhelpprotectriversandstreams.

•Biotechnologycreateshigheryieldingplantsthatneedfewercropinputs(fertilizersaswellasproductsthatprotectplantsagainstpestsanddiseases)tothrive.

•GPSdevicesassistfarmersinplacingfertilizerandothermaterialsinspecificareas,exactlywherethey’reneeded.

•Insteadofusingcommercialfertilizer,manyfarmersareusinganalyzedorganicmaterial(manure)tohelpgrowtheirplants.

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Green Your ThumbSuccessfulcareofindoorplantscanbetricky.Toensureyourplantssurvivetoseethenextseason,followthesesimpletips:

•Createawateringschedule.Byfollowingaplan,you’relesslikelytooverwaterorunderwateryourplants.

•Learnwhichplantsneedhumidityandhowmuchtheyrequire.Ifyourplantcravesawet,steamyenvironment,moveittoanareainornearabathroom.

•Considerhowlightingaffectsyourplants.Plantsthatreceivetoomuchlightturnbrownorappeartohaveburnedleaves,whileplantsthatareintoomuchdarknessgrowlongerstemsandfewerleaves.

New Discounts for HomeownersEffectiveDec.1,2010,IndianaFarmBureauInsurancehastwonewdiscountsforhomeowners:

•Hasyourpolicybeenactiveatleastayear?Withournewloyaltydiscount,thelongeryourpolicyiscontinuouslyactive,thegreaterthediscountyoucanearn.

•Norecentclaims?Earna“ClaimsFree”discount.Thelongeryourpolicyremainsactiveandthefewerclaimsyouhave,theloweryourrateswillbe.

Ifyouhavequalifiedforoneorbothdiscounts,theywillbeautomaticallyappliedtoyourpolicypremiumandprintedonyourrenewalnotice.

Sweet HolidayCelebrateNationalPieDayonJan.23byindulgingintheofficialHoosierstatepie:sugarcreampie.

TherecipeforthepieappearstohaveoriginatedineasternIndiana,datingbacktotheearly1800swhenthecreamydessertwaslikelyeatenatvariousQuakersettlements.Today,sugarcreampiecanbeenjoyedatmanylocallyownedrestaurantsstatewide.

AfewIndianaeateriesthatoffertraditionalversionsofthesweettreatareStorie’sRestaurantinGreensburg,Concannon’sBakery,CaféandCoffeeBarinMuncie,andNick’sKitcheninHuntington(pictured).

Winter2010-11 my-indiana-home.com 7 6 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

100years honey has

been harvested on the Hunters’ farm

13,000pounds of honey produced by the

Hunters’ bees

4,000Christmas trees

grown on the farm

1,000visitors to the

farm during the holiday season

Tracy Hunter works hives in his apiary. Hunter, a high school science teacher, learned the art of beekeeping from his grandfather, Gilbert Perigo, who started the family honey farm in 1910.


Century-oldHunter’sHoneyFarmcontinuesfamilytradition

The Hunters’ family-friendly farm attracts thousands of Hoosiers each year with opportunities to take tours, make their own candles, purchase local honey and bee products, and harvest their own Christmas trees.

An on-site store, open Monday through Saturday, features

hundreds of products made from the honey, pollen, propolis and beeswax produced on their farm. The family also sells its products through its online store and at various farmers markets, events and orchards throughout the state.

Shoppers will find everything from half a dozen different

varieties of honey, 33 flavors of honey sticks, six types of honey candy, honey snacks, beeswax products, sauces and honey fudge (their newest product). Christina Hunter, a family and consumer science teacher, develops many of the recipes for the items in the store. She makes all of the gourmet spun honey, beeswax candles and many of the honey treats.

Tracy Hunter, a high school science teacher, learned the art of harvesting honey from his grandfather, Gilbert Perigo, who was also a teacher. Perigo began his honey farm in 1910 by managing several hives on behalf of his father’s orchard and eventually built his apiary – or bee yard – to more than 800

SweetSuccessW hether enjoyed in hot tea, on a peanut

butter sandwich or in the form of a scented candle, honey makes life a little sweeter.

For Tracy and Christina Hunter, honey is a way of life. Though they both have full-time jobs as teachers, they also carry on a 100-year legacy of beekeeping at Hunter’s Honey Farm, their fourth-generation honey farm in Martinsville, Ind.

StorybyCRiS GoodePhotographybyJeFFRey S. otto


hives. Perigo passed along his love for beekeeping and teaching to both his daughter and grandson. Today, Tracy and Christina continue the family tradition with their children.

The farm hosts a Fall Harvest Celebration each September, inviting the public to watch the family extract and bottle the honey, in addition to many family activities such as horse rides, hot-air balloon rides, face painting, candle rolling and more.

“People really enjoy that they can come to a local honey farm, meet the beekeeper, purchase local honey and tour our honey house,” Tracy Hunter says. “They are just amazed at how many different items are produced on our farm, from the honey to bee pollen, propolis and royal jelly.”

There are 300 known varieties of honey. Based on the crops the bees pollinate, honey ranges from white in color and mild in flavor to dark and strong. The Hunters’ bees provide pollination services for everything from melons in southern Indiana to orchards in central Indiana to blueberries in the north. The bees’ cross-state journeys result in six to eight varieties of honey.

During a high production year, the farm produces 13,200 pounds of honey. Considering that one worker honeybee produces one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime, that is a lot of bees.

“It is important to remember that honey is not just for bread and butter,” Tracy Hunter says. “There are many uses for honey and bee products from nutrition to immune system assistance to treatments for wounds.”

Bee pollen, known to relieve allergies and boost energy, is

considered to be the most nutritious food on the planet. Each member of the Hunter family takes bee pollen every day.

Royal jelly, the substance that feeds the queen throughout her lifetime, contains many properties that boost the immune system. Propolis, a waxlike compound collected by bees from the resins of various trees and flower buds, is known for its antibacterial benefits in wound treatment.

The Hunters also note that honey is the only food that never spoils. Their website shares tips on how to easily substitute honey for sugar in cooking and baking.

Carrying on the Hunter honey tradition are 16-year-old Ross and 9-year-old Mackenzie. Ross is the farm’s No. 1 queen grafter – a job that entails taking eggs from a queen and placing them into queenless hives to grow new queens. Mackenzie has developed her own moisturizing honey soap, sold at the farm’s on-site and online stores.

The Hunter kids also assist with the planting, care and sales of the family’s Christmas tree farm – or “college fund,” as Tracy refers to it. This season, the Hunters expect around 1,000 families to visit the farm in search of the perfect tree.

The old-fashioned family experience of cutting down a Christmas tree comes complete with hot honey spiced cider and a warm fire – along with a saw to cut down their choice of the Scotch and white pine trees. The Hunters then shake out the loose needles and ready the sold-by-the-foot tree for transportation.

You can plan your trip to the farm by calling (765) 537-9430 or visiting www.huntershoneyfarm.com.

Tracy Hunter and his daughter, mackenzie, top right, survey a pine sapling on the family’s Christmas tree farm. Hunter’s Honey farm attracts visitors looking for the perfect tree, as well as homemade honey and beeswax products, such as the scented candles made by Christina Hunter, bottom left.


get More online Add some honey to your holidays with the Hunters’ recipe for Honey Pecan Pie at www.my-indiana-home.com. To learn more about Hunter’s Honey Farm and their beeswax and honey products, visit www.huntershoneyfarm.com.


Red GoldFamily-ownedfirmgrowstomatoesandjobsforIndianaandbeyond

StorybySUSan HayHURStPhotographybyantony BoSHieR

W hile going green is a popular and eco-friendly choice these days, Hoosiers also can’t go

wrong going red with juicy, homegrown Red Gold tomatoes. The fourth-generation, family-owned firm’s products are a boost to the health of Indiana residents and the state’s pocketbook.

Red Gold Inc. is a family-owned business that is dedicated to its mission statement, “To produce the freshest, best-tasting tomato products in the world.”

To that end, “Red Gold tomato products are grown on Midwest family farms where conditions are ideal for

growing red, ripe tomatoes,” says Steve Smith, Red Gold’s director of agriculture. “Being family owned since 1942, the company is committed to producing its products at the peak of freshness.”

Red Gold began as Orestes Canning when Grover Hutcherson and his daughter, Fran, rebuilt the Midwest cannery to provide fresh-tasting, canned

food products during World War II. The name changed to Red Gold in 1970. Its corporate offices and one processing plant are in Orestes, with other manufacturing plants in Elwood and Geneva.

FamIlY ValuES“The core values of Red Gold have

always been quality, customer service and competitive pricing,” says Selita Reichart, vice president of quality of work life. “Our family is involved in all aspects of the company, and the 1,300 employees work with family members every day. We feel our employees are our

most valuable resource.”The family moniker

continues with the company’s growers, who are all part of family farming operations. Smith says Red Gold grows a Roma tomato.

“The tomato has been carefully bred and selected for our geographic region and environment,” he says. “The planting consists of several varieties with different maturity times. Our growers all own their own planting and harvesting equipment, [which is] a sizable investment in this industry.”

Go for the

What is there not to like about the indiana tomato?

scott smith, president of Triple s smith farms, and his wife, Terri, grow roma tomatoes for red gold at their farm in Windfall.


Fun Facts about Red Gold

• red gold contracts with 54 growers, 31 from indiana and the rest

from ohio and michigan.

• Between 10,000 and 11,000 acres of tomatoes

are grown for red gold.

• red gold products are shipped throughout the

united states and to 15 foreign countries.

• red gold’s growers plant more than 150

million tomato plants, averaging around 11,000

plants per acre.

• red gold’s tomato trailers carry about 23 tons per

load and are destined for its three processing

facilities.

• red gold annually processes more than

20,000 semi-loads of tomatoes.

• indiana ranks second in the nation for production

of tomatoes for processing.

ToNS oF TomaToESScott Smith (no relation to Steve), a

grower for Red Gold from Windfall, has contracted with the company since the early 1980s and currently grows 389 acres of tomatoes.

“Tomatoes are a specialty crop and are all about timing and the details to make it happen,” he says. “As a team, Red Gold and I work very closely together throughout the growing season. The company provides all the growers [with] information to organize a timely planting and harvest schedule. This is very important so the tomatoes can be harvested and processed at optimal times. Growing tomatoes on a mass scale requires good management skills. Paying close attention to the details is key to success.”

Scott Smith says the tomato plants don’t contain any pathogens, and are grown in such a safe and natural environment that his family eats what it grows and is proud of that.

His operation alone produces more than 13,000 tons of tomatoes, or more than 20 million cans of tomato products.

The indiana-grown tomatoes harvested from Triple s smith farms may end up as whole peeled, diced and stewed, juice, ketchup, sauce, or salsa. What’s more, red gold uses other local companies for ingredients when available, such as peppers for their salsa.

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PrESErVING THE FrESHNESSTina Anderson, Red Gold’s vice

president of quality assurance and research and development, says the company strives to make its products as fresh as a tomato off the vine.

“The preservation of food via the canning process allows consumers to enjoy some of the safest foods on the planet,” she says. “The Red Gold process produces whole peeled, diced tomatoes and fresh-squeezed tomato juice that rivals the taste of tomatoes just picked from the garden, but with a two-year shelf life.”

The products have no artificial flavorings or colorings and no thickening agents. Red Gold’s tomatoes are grown in Indiana, northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Anderson says local companies are used whenever possible for the other ingredients in Red Gold products, such as peppers in the brand’s salsa.

From Farm To TablEOnce a Red Gold tomato is planted,

it matures in about 110 days and is then machine-harvested and transported in bulk containers to a processing facility. When tomatoes are received at the plant selected for processing, the period of time from the trailer to the can is only about 10 minutes. The products are cooked in the can for about 20 minutes and then cooled, stacked and warehoused.

The efficient processing results in more than 100 styles and flavors of tomato products, including whole peeled, diced, stewed, juice, ketchup, sauce and salsa.

Scott Smith says the growers and Red Gold want the public to know they are producing a safe, economical, nutritious food. “What is there not to like about the Indiana tomato? People desire to be connected to the land, and want to know where their food is coming from,” he says. “Buying locally, the consumer is supporting their own community, while being confident what they’re buying is good.”

Servings:8

PreparationTime:20minutes

CookTime:25minutes

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cocoa

1 (15-ounce) can hot chili beans

1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold Diced tomatoes chili ready, or 1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold Diced tomatoes chili ready with Onions

1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold petite Diced tomatoes with Green chilies, or 1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold petite Diced tomatoes mexican Fiesta

1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold petite Diced tomatoes, or 1 (14.5-ounce) can red Gold Diced tomatoes

1 (15-ounce) can red Gold crushed tomatoes

Browngroundbeef,onionandbellpepperinalargeskillet.Transfertocolanderandrinsewithhotwatertoremovefat.Transfermeatmixturetolargekettleandaddsalt,pepper,chilipowderandcocoa;mixwell.

Addchilibeansandallofthetomatoproducts.Bringtoaboil;reduceheattosimmerandcookfor20to25minutes.

Additionalrecipescanbefoundatwww.redgold.com.

Hearty Red Gold Chili

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GetfitthiswinterwithhelpfromINShapeIndiana

HoosiersHealthy

get More online Resist the urge to bundle up and sit on the couch all winter long. Get moving with seven winter exercise strategies at www.my-indiana-home.com.

indiana first lady Cheri daniels, right, spearheaded a six-week program for inshape indiana called ready, set, Walk, designed to encourage people to walk.


Many New Year’s resolutions involve big plans for diet and exercise as well

as kicking bad habits such as smoking once and for all.

Hoosiers with these goals in mind can take advantage of healthy lifestyle initiatives set up by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

When he took office in 2005, the fitness-minded governor launched INShape Indiana, a Web-based program designed to encourage state residents to eat better, move more and avoid tobacco. Today, more than 87,000 Hoosiers from all 92 counties have signed up to get INShape.

“Governor Daniels lives and breathes the message for INShape Indiana and so does the first lady,” program director Ellen Whitt says. “The first lady walks every day, and Governor Daniels runs, swims and lifts weights. You can usually find him at the gym on his lunch break when he’s in town.”

GETTING STarTED WITH INSHaPEParticipants can get involved

with INShape a variety of ways. Everyone who signs up gets a weekly e-mail featuring topics that range from goal setting to what kind of walking shoes to buy. All deal with some aspect of improving nutrition, increasing physical activity or stopping smoking.

Quarterly programming initiatives aim to further engage Hoosiers and get them personally involved. Last year, First Lady Cheri Daniels spearheaded INShape’s Ready, Set, Walk initiative – a six-week program

designed to encourage people to walk. Other incentives have included the Quit Now Indiana contest, where Hoosiers who successfully gave up tobacco had the chance to win $2,500.

INShape’s website also serves as a clearinghouse for health information, healthy recipes, current and past initiatives, and links to community programs. Perhaps most inspiring is the section that features individual, community and corporate success stories. Hoosiers can read about the overweight Indianapolis police detective who lost 80 pounds and now runs triathlons; a YMCA that partnered with an elementary school to address a growing pediatric diabetes problem; local businesses that help employees stop smoking; and others. Residents can even follow Gov. Daniels’ personal fitness plan.

ENHaNCING QualITY oF lIFEThough the program stems in

part from Daniels’ personal commitment to fitness, INShape Indiana is also a direct response to the state’s staggering obesity and

smoking rates. Some 65 percent of the population is either overweight or obese, and 23.1 percent smoke.

“First and foremost, addressing these issues improves the quality of life for each individual,” Whitt observes. “These three behaviors – or lack of them – lead to or exacerbate almost every chronic disease you can name. But these issues also impact our state in so many different ways. Governor Daniels’ goal is to bring the state together to conquer its health problems.”

Though it’s been six years since it was launched, the program continues to grow and change. In 2008, INShape Indiana partnered with the Indiana State Department of Health to win a five-year CDC grant to address the growing problem of obesity. INShape also helped craft the state’s 10-year obesity plan released last fall.

It may be years before the true impact of the program is known, but the governor hopes he has planted seeds that will grow well past his two terms in office.

Sign up for INShape Indiana at www.in.gov/inshape.

AVERAGE YIELD $10,000 TO $20,000 PER ACREEver wonder why people are getting into the

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• Completedeerfarmingturn-key operations(info,material,livestock,etc.)

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• Lowstart-upcost

• Minimalhoursperworkweek

Midwest Woodlots LLC (574) 265-6996

www.midwestwoodlotsllc.com

StorybyCaSSandRa M. vanHooSeR


Get in touch:Ocken Bit & Spur Makers 7585 W. 400 S. South Whitley, IN 46787 (260) 723-6170www.ockenbitandspur.com


SouthWhitleycouplecraftsfunctionalartforhorseenthusiasts

“My husband and I are both teachers, and we both have shown horses all our lives,” Lyn Ocken says. “We wanted some nice cowboy gear but didn’t have the money, so we began making bits, spurs and other products for ourselves as a creative outlet.”

Soon, people began asking the couple to make customized buckles, spurs, bits and conchos (a silver ornamental disk often found on horse-related items), so in 2003 the Ockens launched a part-time business, Ocken Bit & Spur Makers, after being awarded a teacher creativity grant from the Lilly Foundation.

“We went to Canada and worked with a bit and spur maker there, and I went to Texas and worked with an artist and engraver,” Ocken says. “I fell in love with that aspect of it, so now Jay does all the metalworking, and I do the engraving.”

Metalwork is one of many hats the Ockens wear. Jay teaches industrial technology for high schoolers and also shoes horses (a job he has loved since the age of 14), while Lyn teaches elementary art. They live on 16 acres with their three children, Jarrett, Justine and Jhett, along with their dogs, horses and ponies.

Appropriately, Lyn and Jay met in college while

competing on the Ball State University Equestrian Team. Now, they’re passing their love for horses on to their children; the oldest two already show horses.

The Ockens spend a lot of late evening hours in a small shop on their property where they fashion their cowboy gear. “We’ve kept the business small and manageable, but we’ve been surprised at the positive response we have gotten,” Ocken says. “We pay close attention to detail and create functional and artistic pieces nobody has had before.”

One project the couple completed was a set of spurs for a woman who had survived cancer.

“We worked the cancer ribbon into the design, so the spurs tell her story,” Ocken says. “We also made conchos for her saddle, and each told the story of one person in her life who was really meaningful. One concho was designed with praying hands to remind her of what she had been through.”

The kids like to help in the shop whenever the opportunity arises. Jarrett even sold handmade silver necklaces to raise money for one of his classmates who was undergoing treatment for leukemia.

In addition to giving the Ockens a creative outlet and extra income, the business is a tribute to their heritage. Both come from a long line of equestrians, and Jay’s great uncle was a silversmith in Chicago. His great-great grandfather was a watchmaker.

Ocken Bit & Spur Makers is a member of Indiana Artisan, a collaborative program that unites Hoosiers who create everything from jewelry to chocolate.

“We didn’t even see ourselves as artists at first,” Ocken says. “We’re very honored to be a part of it.”

SpursMoment

of the

StorybyJeSSiCa MozoPhotographybytodd Bennett

lyn and Jay ocken make their own unique spurs, bits, buckles and conchos. Jay, top, does all of the metalworking, while lyn does the custom engraving.

W hen Jay and Lyn Ocken of South Whitley began making heirloom-quality bits and spurs from sterling silver and

steel, they never dreamed it would bloom into a family business.


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ShipshewanaThissmalltownisbigonadventure

StorybyReBeCCa dentonPhotographybytodd Bennett

don’t let the size of Shipshewana fool you. This tiny northern

Indiana town has plenty to offer. With a population of fewer

than 600 people, Shipshewana is home to one of the nation’s largest flea markets, a huge indoor water park and some 150 shops and other attractions that draw more than a half million visitors each year.

Quaint downtown buildings and horse-drawn buggies are the norm in this bustling rural village, which is located in the heart of the third-largest Amish and Mennonite community in the country.

rING IT uPShoppers, slip on your

comfortable shoes. Here, you’ll find a variety of establishments selling locally handcrafted

furniture and home décor, antiques, fine art, heirloom-quality gifts, specialty foods, outdoor gear and much more.

Shipshewana Trading Place of America includes the Farmstead Inn & Conference Center, the Auction & Flea Market (the flea market runs from May through October, but the auction takes place Wednesdays year-round), and the Antique Gallery, which is home to more than 100 antique dealers. The auction offers a one-of-a-kind shopping adventure, with 10 auctioneers taking the mike every Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Nearby, the Davis Mercantile is home to more than 20 stores, from clothing and home furnishings to entertainment and food. Don’t miss the Mercantile’s fully restored 1906 carousel and its hand-carved farm animals.

Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes

offer 25,000 square feet of retail shopping under one roof, including handcrafted furniture, rustic home accents, collectibles, clothes and tasty treats, such as hand-rolled pretzels, chocolates and kettle corn.

Be sure to stroll through the Courtyard of Arts, a working artisan village in the heart of downtown Shipshewana. This eclectic spot is home to Jerry’s Eggs – eggshells intricately hand-

Explore

Clockwise from top: visitors to shipshewana can enjoy a scenic Buggy lane Tour through Amish country; learn about the history and heritage of Amish and mennonite communities at menno-Hof; browse through the antiques at a variety of locally owned shops; and ride on the 1906 davis mercantile carousel.

Fast Facts:Shipshewana is less than one square mile in size.

The town of Shipshewana was named for Potawatomi Indian Chief Shipshewana, who settled the area with his tribe. He died in 1841.


save the date

Breaking the ice

ShipshewanaisamagicalplacetovisitinDecember,whenthetowngearsupforitsannualicefestivalthattakesplaceDec.27-31,2010.

StoresthroughouttownwillhosticecarversfromtheMichianaIceCarvingAssociation.Theiceartistswillbeshaving,drillingandsawingblocksoficetoform

intricateshapessuchasgingerbreadhouses,snowmenandfullnativityscenesbeginningDec.28.Moststoreswillstayopenuntil8p.m.thatnight.MastercarverswilltesttheirskillswithelaboratecompetitionpiecesduringthesculpturecompetitionintheDavisMercantileparkinglotonDec.29from11a.m.

to2p.m.Theice-carvingdisplayswillbefollowedbysnowmobiledragracesongrassandachilicook-offonDec.30.VisitorscanenjoytheicesculpturesthroughoutShipshewanaonDec.31,butmoststoreswillcloseearly.

Formoreinformation,visitwww.shipshewana.com.

Aunt millie’s, offering treats ranging from penny candy to fresh roasted nuts, is among the many shops at davis mercantile.

if you Go

shipshewana offers some of the best shopping in

indiana’s Amish country, but remember that most

businesses there are closed in the evenings and on

sundays. for a detailed list of shops, restaurants,

lodging and attractions, visit www.shipshewana.com.

Another excellent resource for planning your trip to

shipshewana is the lagrange County

Convention & visitors Bureau website,

www.backroads.org. Here you’ll find a list of upcoming events along with maps, directions,

brochures and more.

sHiPsHeWAnA


YMT VACATIONS(800) 888-8204

For information, reservations and full itinerary, call:

Fly to Anchorage, travel to Denali, visiting a local Musk Ox Farm and Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a Tundra Wildlife Tour before heading back to Anchorage via rail. Here you’ll visit the State Fair and Iditarod Headquarters. Then onto Seward before boarding Holland America’s “Zaandam” for a seven-night cruise on the inside passage and Glacier Bay, with stops in Haines, Juneau and Ketchikan. From Vancouver, transfer to Seattle for overnight and city tour.

Best of AlAskAtour & Cruise

with Great alaska state Fair Visit14 days from $2,499* per

person(add $299 tax & port charges)

Call for low-cost airfare prices. Space is very limited and will sell out fast! $100 deposits are due now to reserve your tour.

Departs August 23, 2011

carved by Jerry Bontrager – along with a blacksmith, visiting artists, musicians and a café.

DoWN-HomE DININGFrom an Amish steakhouse to

family-style dining at Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, or made-from-scratch pies at Daily Bread in Davis Mercantile, Shipshewana offers an array of down-home dining options.

An assortment of coffee shops, pizzerias, quaint cafés and bakeries also can be found along the shop-lined streets downtown.

morE To ExPlorENo visit to Shipshewana would

be complete without a trip to Menno-Hof, a nonprofit information center just south of downtown that explores the history and heritage of northern Indiana’s Amish and Mennonites. Exhibits include replicas of a 19th-century print shop and meeting house, a glimpse into a northern Indiana Amish home and a simulated tornado.

For a different sort of family adventure, check out Splash Universe Indoor Water Park & Resort Hotel. This year-round water park features a 500-gallon splash bucket, lazy river, twisting water slides, family spa and much more – and the temperature inside is always a comfortable 84 degrees. Mousetrap Puppet Theater recently moved to Splash Universe, and it offers free marionette shows to the public. Families can also enjoy Branson, Mo.-style entertainment at Blue Gate Theater, and the classic car collection at Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum is another popular spot. A scenic ride on a horse-drawn buggy, including a farm tour, brings the Shipshewana experience full circle.


It pays tO be a member.did you know that your indiana farm Bureau membership comes with exclusive savings? As a member, you can take advantage of the discounts on products and services listed below.

for more information on member savings and benefits:

1-800-777-8252 • www.infarmbureau.org

The goal of Indiana Farm Bureau Member Benefit Programs is to provide discounts, value-added benefits and convenience to you, our members. Indiana Farm Bureau does not endorse these products or services. Indiana Farm Bureau and the companies offering these programs do not guarantee that program discounts will be the lowest available price at any given time. Farm Bureau members should provide the ID number if applicable or identify themselves as members of Indiana Farm Bureau when calling any program. Programs are subject to change or termination without notice and some rules and restrictions may apply.

Provides screenings for potential strokes, aneurysms and other vascular diseases before they become life-threatening. life line screening tests are painless, non-invasive and take less than 10 minutes each. indiana farm Bureau members can take advantage of these screenings at local community events at a discounted price. Call 800-778-6081 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/infB to schedule your screenings.

Pre-registration is required. Please use priority code BCkA-026.

Save 40-50% off the national average PriCe for traditional laSiK! Call 1-866-979-2030 www.qualsight.com/-infb

• Qualsight’s network of the nation’s most experienced lAsik surgeons has collectively performed over 2.5 million procedures

• Choose from over 800 locations nationwide for your free lAsik exam

disCounT only – noT insurAnCe. discounts are available exclusively through participating pharmacies. you may cancel your registration at any time by contacting Customer Care.

We’re proud to be able to help you and your family with your health care costs by offering you the scriptsave® Prescription drug savings Card at no cost. This card gives you and everyone in your family – even pets – discounts on all brand name and generic prescription medications.*

• instant savings with no qualifying

• Accepted at over 55,000 participating pharmacies

• Absolutely no enrollment fees and no monthly or ongoing fees

• one card provides discounts for everyone in your household, even pets

• There’s no limit to the number of times your card can be used

• savings on vision care, daily living products, diabetes care and supplies

Start Saving now go to www.scriptsave.com and log in with group # 188e. Print your card and take it to a participating pharmacy near you. it’s that simple.

*savings average 28%, with potential savings of up to 50% – based on 2009 national program savings data.

Card iS PerfeCt for: • families with no prescription coverage

• drugs not covered by insurance

• Those whose coverage has deductibles and limits

• families with pets that need medications available at retail pharmacies


15% retail diSCountAll members and their immediate family members (grandparents, parents, spouse and children) will receive complimentary hearing screenings and a 15% retail discount off the usual and customary retail price of any Beltone hearing instrument at any of over 1,500 locations throughout the united states, including 50+ locations in indiana.

To find a Beltone location visit www.Beltone.com

• 15% retail discount cannot be used with other discounts or special offers

• All members must show membership id at first appointment

• Beltone professional please use managed Care #42200

Save uP to 55%for only $33.60 per year – that’s only $2.80 per month – indiana farm Bureau members can access dental Care Advantage, a network of providers for discounts on dental and chiropractic services.

• discounted dental services: The dCA program offers 20-55% savings on dental services when seen by a participating dentist, dental group or location. included dental services: examinations, cleanings, fillings, x-rays, root canals, crowns, cosmetics, oral surgery, dentures, periodontics and orthodontics.

• discounted Chiropractic services: The program includes 50% savings on diagnostic and x-rays, 30% on other services, a no-charge consultation, unlimited visits per member and treatment for acute, chronic and preventive care.

to enroll:This special rate is only available to indiana farm Bureau members with an annual pre-paid membership of $33.60. To join dental Care Advantage contact indiana farm Bureau at 800-777-8252 to request your enrollment application.

for additional information please call 888-540-9488 – be sure to mention the “indiana farm Bureau dental Care Advantage Program.”

*This program is not a health insurance policy and the program does not make payments directly to the providers of health services.

individual voluntary benefits – dental, vision, and critical illness/cancer - available through Humana with your indiana farm Bureau membership can help protect your health and finances!

how Can you benefit:Choose benefits that match your needs

With a critical illness/cancer plan, directly receive benefits when you need them most

Coverage available to spouses and dependent children

members of indiana farm Bureau can purchase dental coverage for less than $15 a month, vision coverage for less than $17 a month, and $10,000 in critical illness and cancer coverage that starts at less than $10 a month.*

* $10,000 coverage for non-tobacco user, ages 18-29

to learn more, please call 1-877-720-4851 or visit farmbureau.humana.com

you care for every member of your family in the very best way. This includes your beloved pet.

However, with modern treatments involving the best in veterinary technology and medicines, vet costs can add up to surprisingly high bills.

With your indiana farm Bureau membership you can choose PetPartners, one of the most experienced companies in this field, to

help you plan ahead with a superior range of pet healthcare plans.

don’t let your pet’s unexpected accident or illness lead to agonizing decisions.

5 great reaSonS to ChooSe uS!• no pre-set limiting payment schedule

• diagnostic testing costs included

• superior benefits for cruciate ligament ruptures

• richest ‘Wellness’ benefits available today – 80% of covered costs after annual deductible

• spay/neuter option available

significant discounts for farm Bureau members. for your no-obligation quote and to find out more, visit www.fbphp.com or call toll free 1.877.738.7888

healthcare prOtectIOn FOr yOur DOG Or cat.


Warmyourwinterwithnutritiousbakingandbreakfastrecipes

How can winter be cold and dreary when you have so many opportunities for baking,

cooking and eating with family and friends? Big family gatherings and festive holiday parties will undoubtedly provide plenty of warmth. We know they’ll provide plenty of food, because food is an integral part of every celebration in our culture.

Celebrations and nutrient-rich foods aren’t mutually exclusive, though – just blend and balance. For example, most holiday cookies are made with lots of high-calorie ingredients. Balance those calories with extra exercise, smaller portions or by adding nutrient-rich ingredients. Almond Shortbread Thumbprints contain the prerequisite flour, sugar and butter (Indiana dairy farmers will take comfort knowing this dietitian won’t use anything but real butter in all her cookie baking!), but one-half of that flour is whole-wheat with whole-grain nutrients.

If you want a treat where every ingredient is nutrient-rich, make a batch of Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters. Have fun creating your own version, such as Date Fig Walnut or Cherry

Cranberry Pecan. Boost heart-healthy chocolate antioxidants by using dark instead of semisweet.

When extended family is home for holidays, serving pancakes is easy with Oven Baked Apple Walnut Pancakes. They’re 100-percent whole grain and nutrient-rich. Even better, these pancakes give you a jump-start on that New Year’s resolution to lose weight, because the latest research shows that breakfast eaters are more likely to lose weight and keep it off. Pair the pancake with protein-rich ham or Canadian bacon – two lean breakfast-meat choices – and you’ll up your chances for success even further. Studies show that eating more protein at breakfast fills you up, keeps you satisfied and helps control overall calories.

Happy, healthy and tasty holiday and 2011 to all!

about the author

registered dietitian kim galeaz is an

indianapolis-based writer and culinary-nutrition

consultant to the food, beverage and agriculture

industry. she's passionate about blending good taste with good health in every culinary creation – even decadent dessert – and

balancing with daily power-walking. A link to her blog,

“The dietitian does dessert ... Breakfast, lunch and

dinner, Too” is at www.kimgaleaz.com.

eat In

Wholesomefor the Holidays

StoryandRecipesbyKiM GaleazPhotographybyJeFFRey S. ottoFoodStylingbyBetSy WilliaMS

get More online Spark culinary adventure with food-lovers on your holiday gift list. Find directions for creating your own around-the-world seasonings gift basket at www.my-indiana-home.com.


1¾ cups old-fashioned oats

1¼ cups white whole wheat flour

1/3 cup ground flax seed

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon ground Saigon cinnamon

1½ cups low-fat buttermilk

1 tablespoon orange juice

3 large eggs

¼ cup canola oil

2 cups peeled, finely diced apples

¾ cup finely chopped walnuts

Preheatovento425°F.Coata10x15-inchrimmedbakingsheetwithvegetablecookingspray.Whiskalldryingredientstogetherinalargebowl.Whiskbuttermilk,orangejuice,eggsandoiltogetherinsmallerbowl.Stirlightlyintodryingredientsuntiljustcombined;don’tover-mix.Lightlystirinapplesandwalnuts.Spreadbatterintopreparedpan.Bake15to18minutesoruntiltoothpickinsertedincentercomesoutnearlyclean.Cutinto18squares(6x3)andservewarmwithdesiredtoppings.

Serves4to6(3to4squareseach).

oven Baked apple Walnut Pancakes

Oven baked apple Walnut pancakes• oats and white whole wheat flour make these pancakes 100 percent whole grain and high fiber.

• apples and oats contain cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber.

• Flaxseed and walnuts provide heart-healthy omega-3 fats.

• every teaspoon of cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as ½ cup blueberries! this pancake contains 3 teaspoons.


1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup almond flour (also known as almond meal)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup sugar

½ teaspoon almond extract

½ teaspoon each lemon and orange zest, finely grated

¼ cup each strawberry, blackberry and apricot preserves or jam*

*use any favorite flavor of jam or preserves

Whisktogetherthreefloursinmediumbowlandsetaside.Combinebutterandsugarinlargebowlofelectricmixerwithpaddleattachment.Beatatmediumspeed,scrapingbowloften,untilcreamy.Mixinalmondextract

andlemonandorangezests.Reducespeedtolowandaddflourmixtureslowly,mixingwellaftereachaddition.Placedoughonlargepieceofplasticwrap,formintoslightlyflatteneddiskandcompletelycoverwithwrap.Refrigerateatleastonehour.

Heatovento350°F.Shapedoughinto1to1-1/4-inchballs.Place2inchesapartonungreasedcookiesheet.Makedeepindentationincenterofeachballwiththumb.Edgesmaycrackslightly,butthat’sokay.Filleachindentationwithatleast¼teaspoonpreservesorjam.Bakefor14to15minutesoruntiledgesarelightlybrowned.Letstandoneminuteoncookiesheetthenremovetowirecoolingracks.Oncecooled,storeintightlycoveredcontainerinsinglelayer.

Makesabout42cookies(3½dozen).

almond Shortbread thumbprints

almond shortbread thumbprints• every cookie is one-half whole grain from the white whole wheat flour.

• almond meal adds antioxidant vitamin e to these decadent and delicious butter-rich treats.


1 bag (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

1 ½ cups dried fruit, chopped if necessary*

1 cup finely chopped nuts*

Coveralargebakingsheetwithparchmentorwaxpaper;setaside.Meltchocolatechipsindoubleboileroverslightlysimmeringwater.(Createyourowndouble-boilerbyusingasmallsaucepanorheat-proofbowloverabiggersaucepanthatcontainsthesimmeringwater.)Combinethedriedfruitsandnutsinasmallbowl.Addtomeltedchocolateandstirtocompletelycoatallingredients.Usingameasuringtablespoon,dipleveledclustersontocoveredbakingsheetabout1-inchapart.Theywilllookunevenandshaggy.Refrigerate30minutesoruntilclustersarehardenedandset.Storeclusters

inatightlycoveredcontainerintherefrigerator.Servecoldoratroomtemperature.(Theclusterstastemostflavorfulatroomtemperature.)

Makes30to36clusters.

Cherry Cranberry Pecan version: Dried fruit: 1 cup dried tart

cherries and ½ cup dried cranberries

Nuts: 1 cup chopped pecans

date Fig Walnut version:Dried fruit: ¾ cup chopped

dried figs and ¾ cup chopped dates

Nuts: 1 cup chopped walnuts

*Createyourownversionusinganymixtureofdriedfruitsandnuts–driedapricotsandalmonds,goldenraisinsandpistachios,ordatesandcashewsforexample.

chocolate Fruit & nut clusters• dried tart cherries are rich in powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins, which provide anti-inflammatory benefits to promote a healthy heart and ease arthritis pain and muscle/joint soreness after exercise.

• Figs and dates are a good source of fiber, potassium and anti-aging antioxidants.

Smart Selection & StorageWhite Whole Wheat Flour:Allthefiberandnutrientsoftraditionalwholewheatwithamilderflavor,lightercolorandlightertextureinbaking.Replaceuptoone-halfregularflourwiththis100percentwholegrainflour.

best baking apples:Youcan’tgowrongwithGrannySmithapples;theyalwaysretaintheircrispness.Jonagold,Honeycrisp,Jonathon,GoldenDelicious,Idared,RomeBeautyandCortlandalsoworkwell.

saigon cinnamon:AlsoknownasVietnamesecinnamon,it’sthemostcovetedvarietywithanintenseflavorandaroma.Lookforjarsofitinthespiceaisle.Storeinacool,dryanddarklocation.(Notabovethestove!)

Dried Fruits:Lookfordriedtartcherries,driedfigsandchoppeddatesintheraisinaisle.

almond Flour:Alsoknownasalmondmeal,it’sveryfinelyground,blanchedalmondsandaddsmoisttextureandrichbutteryflavortoallkindsofbakedgoods.Usuallyfoundin1-poundbags,lookforitinthebakingaisleorspecialtyfoodsarea.Refrigerateorfreeze.

Chocolate Fruit & nut Clusters

30 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

Protect your HomeFarmBureauInsuranceprovidessecurityforyourfamilyandyourmortgage

StorybyaMy d. KRaFt, Public affairs Specialist, indiana Farm Bureau insurance

Financial experts applaud the benefits of a monthly family budget. However, no matter how well you follow its guidelines, losing a

contributing income would make it very hard to meet all your obligations. Usually, the largest expense is the mortgage on your home. If your family loses a source of income, could you keep the house? That is why mortgage protection is so important.

The downside of life insurance is that it forces you to face the reality that you, or someone you love, may die unexpectedly. The upside of life insurance is that it protects your family even if a tragedy occurs. In this world where two-income families are the norm, would you be able to pay your mortgage if your income was cut in half?

Mortgage companies require homeowners to have insurance to protect the companies’ risk. A homeowner’s policy protects you if you suffer a loss from circumstances such as fire, theft or Mother Nature. However, it will not cover your home if a portion of your family income is lost.

That is why Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance provides options to help you protect your mortgage. The Mortgage Protector and Mortgage Protector Plus plans provide security and peace of mind in case a tragedy strikes your family.

The plans are simply a life insurance policy that acts like a savings account. You pay into the policy for a set number of years and either receive the benefit of the policy in the event of a death or receive a refund of premium paid at the end of the term.

“I encourage my clients to get this policy,” says Janella Newcomb, insurance agent in Vanderburgh County. “It’s not just life insurance but a forced savings account that protects your home.”

Should you outlive the term of the policy, you can use the money to pay down your mortgage or for anything else that you need.

“Life happens, and maybe at that time, paying down your mortgage isn’t a priority,” says Michelle Dilling, manager of life products. “Maybe sending your child to college is a bigger priority. You can

use the money however you see fit. We provide much more flexibility than the bank does.”

That flexibility is key to this product. Banks also offer mortgage protection, but the bank is the beneficiary. At the time of a loss, the money does not go to your family, removing any flexibility they have in regards to how to use the money.

The best part of a Mortgage Protector policy, according to Newcomb, is “you control the money.”

The policy is beneficial for anyone with a mortgage, and those with little time left on their mortgage could use the money for other life events.

“I took out this policy myself,” Newcomb says. “My husband and I like to ride motorcycles, and hopefully, in 20 years, we’ll get the return of premium and take one heck of a ride.”

Insurance

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R ight around the time when we have just finished putting our

garden to bed for the winter, spring seed catalogs begin arriving. The excitement of seeing the new varieties offered, checking on an old favorite or finding the unusual plant not available in our area makes reading the catalogs a treat.

We gardeners are an optimistic bunch. Never daunted by past failures, we are eager to once again try a new variety of vegetable, a unique shrub or an easy-to-maintain flower.

Ordering from reliable companies, such as Burpee, will ensure you get good-quality plants. While we are all tempted by catalogs that offer “real deals” for “only 99 cents,” some offerings are excellent buys, but

most are a disappointment. All companies will give you new plants if the originals do not survive – that is, if you can find your receipt and whatever else they require. Any time we order and a plant fails, we lose a whole growing year.

When you’re thinking ahead to the 2011 growing season, it is also an excellent time time to review the last one. Were those cucumbers as good as advertised? Did those tomatoes that were heralded to produce a large crop do as promised, but produce a crop that tasted like hothouse tomatoes? What is your preference on tomatoes: a high-acid, flavorful tomato like Rutgers, a low-acid yellow or something in between?

A huge flower success for me was a winter-hardy native hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos. It produced 8- to 12-inch white

blooms (also available in pink, red or purple) with red centers from midsummer to frost. It grows in sun or part shade, 2 to 12 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide, without special care.

Why doesn’t my hydrangea boom? Wish I had a dollar for every time I get that question. There are many kinds of hydrangea, so the problem could be too much sun or too much shade, or you could have trimmed off the blooming branches. Try Hydrangea paniculata “Limelight”; it will not disappoint you. This shrub has 6- to 12-inch panicles of chartreuse flowers that slowly change from mauve pink to burgundy in the fall. It grows in sun to part shade, 3 to 25 feet tall, 8 to 16 feet wide.

After perusing the catalog offerings, it will be time to start those seedlings before you know it. Do as your grandparents did and try planting the seeds you saved from your biggest and best plants for your 2011 garden.

For now relax, enjoy and use the seed catalogs to research and help plan your new garden. It is exciting and inspiring to look at all those glorious photos!

Inthe Garden

about the authorColletta kosiba of Hendricks County has been a naturalist at eagle Creek Park in indianapolis for 15 years. she is an advanced master gardener and president of the Hendricks County master gardeners’ Association. she became a master naturalist in 2008, received a gold level master gardener status for more than 1,500 volunteer hours teaching gardening programs and won the 2007 Honeywell Award for excellence in Horticulture. “Colletta’s gardens” have also been featured on Channel 8 television in indianapolis.

Got Seeds?Forgardeners,seedcatalogsarethetrueharbingersofspring

StorybyColletta KoSiBa

32 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

IndianaFarmBureaumembersarewelcometosubmitphotosfortheINFocuspage.Tosubmitaphotoviae-mail,sendahigh-resolutionJPEG(4x6inchesat300dpi)tomyindianahome@jnlcom.comalongwithyournameandlocation.Tosubmitaphotoviamail,sendthephototo:MyIndianaHome,ReaderPhotos,P.O.Box1290,Indianapolis,IN46206-1290.YoucanalsoconnectwithusonlinebyaddingyourIndianaphotostoourFlickrgroupatwww.flickr.com/groups/myindianahome.

Duetothehighvolumeofphotoswereceive,weareunabletoincludeeveryphoto,andifyoumailyourphotoin,wewillnotbeabletoreturnit.Somakesureyouhaveaspare–wedon'twanttoloseoneofyourfamilytreasures!

InFocus

PHoTo suBmiTTed By AdAm And krysTle Wiese, reynolds, in

PHoTo suBmiTTed By JACk And sHAron sTrAin, PrAirie Creek, in

PHoTo suBmiTTed By mAuriCe And CHerie Berendes, evAnsville, in

PHoTo suBmiTTed By dAnny And Judy redmAn, Bremen

PHoTo suBmiTTed By sTeve And AmBer Bos, WAnATAH, in

winter 2010-2011, my indiana home

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