The High Plains Journal

As a young farmer, I am constantly looking for resources and publications where I can get information that is not only timely, but derived from sources who are successful in agriculture - not just good at researching others who are.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has gotten a copy of the High Plains Journal each week.  It is literally the size of a large place mat and fills our entire mail box.  This "Texas sized" publication is stocked from cover to cover with information about Ag Markets, classifieds and real stories about real people who are trying really hard to build a legacy for their families through their farming and ranching operations - not to mention columns from a number of seasoned Ag professionals including fellow Northwest Oklahoman, Jerry Nine - and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I personally enjoy a hard copy of something in my hands.  I guess thatt's almost retro these days, so if you prefer to read publications online, the High Plains Journal does not require you to purchase a membership to access the vast resources available on their website.  These include full-length articles and links to other valuable resources dedicated to a diverse sampling of the Ag industry from crops and livestock to farm shows and conventions.

Take time to check out their website at www.hpj.com and I promise you won't be disappointed.  You can also follow them on Facebook for updates. 

Everyone laughs when they catch me digging through the mail to gather up the recent issue, but they are always curious to hear the latest and greatest I have to offer after reading it.

Good luck!

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Even The Fuddy-Duds Are Going Green

Farmers can be fuddy-duds.  I can say that because I come from a family of them - which technically probably makes me one too.  (A farmer, not a fuddy-dud.  I'm too young to be a fuddy-dud - and I will try my best not to use that word again in this post.)

You might think that getting farmers to "go green" would take an act of congress, but farmers were truly the first in the movement.

Farmers have always treated the quality of their land and crops with a fervent zeal that is unrivaled.  They were among the first to harness clean wind energy to pump water.  They made the effort to control pests with natural methods and herbicides rather than dangerous chemicals, because, after all, their families were going to eat those crops, too.



Instead of buying new things, farmers often choose to reuse something else - like how they often fix a worn out fence post with a large thick branch.  (Signature handy work of my dad and grandpa.)

In all seriousness, though, my goal is that the posts you will find in the "Green Farmer" section of this blog will provide valuable information to everyone from the seasoned farmer to the weekend gardener while offering a forum for innovative and creative methods of responsible stewards of our environment - and maybe even each you how to save some green along the way.

Welcome to the green farm!

Seedtime and Harvest

Looking at this old photo got me to thinking... Something that folks on a farm think about often is the concept of seedtime and harvest.
You put seeds in the ground, you water them, you keep the weeds and pests away and when the time is right, you reap a bountiful harvest from your patience and hard work.

Our Great Grandparents on the left, our Grandparents on the right, the little girl in the chair is Aunt Virginia and the baby is our dad.  Harvesting wheat about 70 years ago - and yes, the concept of seedtime and harvest worked the same then as it does now - both in the field and in life.

The funny thing about seedtime and harvest is that it applies to every aspect of our lives - not just crops.

The Bible says that the principle of seedtime and harvest will never cease, the same way that the concepts of seasons and day and night will never cease.

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

Makes me stop and wonder - are we planting seeds of encouragement in those around us?  Are we going to reap a harvest of the sweet fruits of our labor?  Or are we sowing seeds of bitterness and condemnation and will painfully reap a harvest of stickers and sand burrs?

Daily we sew seeds with our words.  Think about your words - are you sarcastic?  Are you short or gruff?  Or are you kind and helpful and pleasant?

I don't know about you, but as someone who doesn't like to wear shoes, I don't like stickers - or sand burrs.  As we say around here, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all."  (But c'mon - say or do something nice once in a while and reap a harvest of good things in your life!)

Welcome to the farm!

This freshly harvested wheat field is nestled Northwest Oklahoma.

Blueberry Butter

There is no comparison between blueberry waffles and regular waffles.

The blueberry waffles (albeit store-bought) are serious tantalizing, but they were out of the frozen blueberry waffles last time we were at the grocery store.  The frozen fruit is situated directly adjacent to the waffles, which gave me this idea.

Allow a stick of butter to soften on the counter and then add 1/8 of a cup of frozen blueberries and blend together with a fork.

Spoon the contents into a plastic baggie and distribute it evenly across the bottom of the bag.  You can squish it into the shape of a cylinder or you can use your fingers to flatten the sides to make more of a square butter shape (as I have above).

Seal the baggie and place it in the refrigerator overnight.  If you want to use it sooner, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes or until it is firm enough to slice.

I think regular frozen waffles topped with homemade blueberry butter and sprinkled with powdered sugar or hot maple syrup may be the new quick and easy go-to breakfast in this farm kitchen.

Welcome to the farm!  Enjoy.

Homemade Salad To-Go

If you're like me and it pains you to pay nearly $6 for a fast food salad when you're on the run, only to find that it's made of mostly Iceberg lettuce, browned slightly and light on the chicken, here's your fix.

I must confess that this idea is not original.  I discovered it on Pinterest.  I love that place.  You should follow me on Pinterest - I pin lots of good stuff.

The original description says to use a mason jar, but I didn't want to go buy new ones, so I just used a large jelly jar that I sterilized in the dishwasher.

Pour two tablespoons of your favorite dressing on the bottom of the jar (yes, that is enough!) and then either add chunks of meat or cheese or diced vegetables.  The goal is that the lettuce doesn't touch the dressing until you're ready to eat it.  Then, simply fill with the greens of your choice.  Here I've used half Iceberg lettuce for some crunch and half baby spinach because it is delicious.

I've also covered it in crumbled up Ritz crackers - also delicious.

Store it in the fridge for up to a week (maybe even longer if it doesn't brown) and when you're ready to eat it, simply shake and the salad dressing will coat the entire mixture.  Genius.  My hat is off to whoever thought of this!

Oklahoma State University Dept. of Agriculture

The Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is an abundant wealth of scientific research offered in simple easy to read fact sheets on a plethora of agricultural and horticultural topics.

From animals to specialty crops to pest control and gardening, you are likely to find timely and relevant information about topics you're interested in here.

Check out OSU Fact Sheets by topic.



One of my favorite divisions of this OSU program is a section called Oklahoma Gardening.

According to OSU's Department of Agriculture,

"Whether you are a gardener or just enjoy the diverse beauty that Oklahoma has to offer, you will enjoy watching the Oklahoma Gardening television program. Each year we endeaver to provide the best research-based information available on television. Episodes contain beautiful and informative segments on gardening, lawn care, tree care, and landscaping design and maintenance. Along with segments from our studio garden, we will introduce you to gardeners from around the state and tour their gardens."

Their website is also a wealth of information for everyone from the weekend gardener to the seasoned farmer.

Visit the Oklahoma Gardening Website

The Gardens At OSU - Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Gardening.

Don't Fence Me In

Give me land, lots of land and the starry skies above
Don't fence me in...

It goes on for ever....

Thanks, Bing Crosby.  I couldn't have said it better.  I find myself singing this in my head every time I drive down a busy street or step out in the back yard of my current abode in suburbia and see the rows of fences stretching as far as my eye can see and fading into the horizon.  I sing this a lot.  Ask my kids.  Poor kids.






Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in...

Ironically, it's even hard to take a photo out in the middle of nowhere without capturing the fence row.

Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Have you ever tried this?  Man, you are missing out.  Sitting outside alone (or with a friend) and listening the the wind and the crickets humming together in unison, creating the perfect lullaby... you should try it.  It's good in the winter, too, because you can catch a whiff of wood burning fireplaces in the distance, tainted slightly by the sharp smell of cold air.  

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise


As children, we used to sleep outside under the stars on a large trampoline on the farm.  When was the last time you just sat outside and stared at the stars?  If you can't remember, it's been too long.  There is nothing like it.  They don't have to be western skies - or even night skies... just check it out.  You won't be sorry.

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
No
Poppa, don't you fence me in

Can you tell that I'm homesick?  I need some wide open spaces - and no I will not be quoting the Dixie Chicks next.  Take some time to appreciate the great outdoors!  And for goodness sake, don't fence yourself in!

Sunday Afternoons

Mary Ann and Nanny (her great grandmother)

Simple Centerpiece

Table centerpieces are a simple way to update your everyday decor. However, centerpieces can be expensive and sometimes it's difficult to find the right one. Some are too big for a small table or too small for a big table or simply don't match your other decor.
Making your own centerpiece is simple! The picture below is twigs that I clipped off a dead bush in my backyard and spray painted with metallic gold paint and placed in a red vase that Linda had in her stock of vases. Simple, efficient, and pretty. It made my kitchen table complete.

You could also use glitter spray paint, which is what I would have used had the store not been completely out of every color except for clear!

The Secret Magical Playground In The Woods

Spending your childhood in the country is comparable to the old joke about buying a small child an expensive gift, when all they want to do is play with the box.  Instead of playing video games or going to the park, we entertained ourselves with much simpler diversions.

I can remember hiking through the pasture with my younger sister and my niece and three nephews (we are all about the same age, by the way, but that's another story).  Each excursion was a greater adventure than the last.  We discovered a "secret bone yard" where we knew some tragic massacre must've taken place.  My dad later told me it was where they hauled the carcass when a calf died.  I like the earlier rendition better, though.

There was also a "land of hidden treasure" where beautiful old glass bottles and remnants of all kinds of interesting things were stowed.  I laughed when I found out that it was actually a dump of sorts where someone hauled a few loads of unwanted junk in the 1950's.  Some of that junk really was treasure, though and I still have it today.  I have always been a connoisseur of junk.  Still am...  I LOVE OLD JUNK! (also another story...)

All of these things came flooding back to me when my children came in one evening after playing around the farm to tell me that Grandpa Bob had showed them a "secret magical playground in the woods".  I shot my dad a skeptical look and he smiled mischievously and nodded.  (He also told them that the same woods were haunted by witches.)

I shook my head and followed as the boys ushered me out to the woods.  When we got there, I realized that what was so magical and enchanting to them was an old swing set that my older siblings had played on over 30 years ago.  Our dad had used the tractor to haul it from the backyard out into the woods where no one would get hurt on it.  Over the years, the swing set has become wedged between two Honey Locust Trees and the base has sunk in the ground a foot or so, making it perfectly safe and secure - and mysterious!

I laughed as I told my dad I didn't need to worry about buying them a new swing set for Christmas.  They were more excited about junk!  Poor boys, they got it from their mamma.

Next time you feel guilty about not buying your children everything their hearts desire, step back and give a new perspective to something old.  After all, when was the last time you heard a child refer to a store-bought swing set as secret or magical?

Welcome to the farm.

Grandpa Bob found a newer swing in the garage - the old one was shot!

Somehow, they were actually using this two-person teeter totter swing without seats!

There's even a cat walk.

The slide, I'm afraid, is un-salvagable.  The boys have told me of their plans to build a new one, though.

Pumpkin Coffee Bread

This delicious concoction satisfies the sweet tooth with velvety pumpkin goodness without being overly sweet or decadent.  Made with simple ingredients, this is another holiday favorite I gleaned from my mother.  Enjoy.

You will need:
1 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 cup of solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup of Dutch apple yogurt
(You may substitute a mixture of vanilla yogurt and Dutch apple baby food)

Directions:
Cream sugar and butter, add vanilla and eggs (one at a time, beating after each addition).
Sift the dry ingredients together.
Combine the yogurt and pumpkin in a small bowl.  Add yogurt-pumpkin mixture and sugar-butter mixture to dry ingredients alternately, beginning and ending with the sugar mixture.
(Don't ask me why... this is just how she does it.  If it makes you feel better, you can also spin around three times and throw a dash of salt over your shoulder for good measure.)

Pour 1/2 of the batter into a buttered 9 1/2 inch tube or bundt pan, top with 1/2 of the topping mixture* and cover with remaining batter, then add the rest of the topping mixture.
(I use a bundt pan because it makes for a prettier presentation.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.

*Topping: Combine 1/3 cup of firmly packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 cup of chopped pecans.

This really is delicious and as the name suggests, goes perfectly with a cup of coffee.

If you make this recipe, we would love to know about it!  Send us a photo and let us know if you made any substitutions or revisions of your own!