Colorado Country Life April 2018 by American MainStreet Publications

Advanced Technology Allows Macular Degeneration Patients To See Again And Allows Many Low Vision Patients To Drive Again

A scene as it might be viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

Same scene of Grandchildren as viewed through telescope glasses.

For many patients with macular degeneration and other visionrelated conditions, the loss of central visual detail also signals the end to one of the last bastions of independence driving. Colorado optometrist, Dr. Robert Stamm is using miniaturized telescopes which are mounted in glasses to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration and other eye conditions. “Some of my patients consider me their last chance or people who have vision loss” said Dr. Stamm, one of only a few doctors in the world who specializes in fitting bioptic

telescopes to help those who have lost vision due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases. Imagine a pair of glasses that can improve your vision enough to change your life. Bioptic telescopes may be the breakthrough in optical technology that will give you back your independence. Patients with vision in the 20/200 range can many times be improved to 20/50. Bioptic telescopes treat both dry and wet forms of macular degeneration as well as other vision limiting conditions.

While there is currently no cure, promising research is being done on many fronts. “My job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning” says Dr. Stamm “Even if it’s driving”. “The major benefit of the bioptic telescope is that the lens automatically focuses on whatever you’re looking at,” said Dr. Stamm. “It’s like a self-focusing camera, but much more precise.”

For more information and to schedule an appointment today, call:

Robert Stamm, O.D. Low Vision Optometrist Member IALVS

Toll Free:

(877) 393-0025

www.NebraskaLowVisionDoctor.com

[contents] 4 5 9 10 11 16 20 24 26 32 33 36 37 38

APRIL 2018

VIEWPOINT YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Volume 49, Number 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COMMUNITY EVENTS NEWS CLIPS INDUSTRY COVER STORY RECIPES GARDENING OUTDOORS ENERGY TIPS CLASSIFIEDS

“Spring Surprise” by Carol Schmudde of Durango, a La Plata Electric Association member.

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH US

FUNNY STORIES

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This is the deluxe model of the African kora built in tiny Jaroso, Colorado. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer; cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant; kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING Kris Wendtland, Ad Representative; advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications | 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504 | Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2018, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 | mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife | Twitter.com/ COCountryLife | Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual. SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is $4.44 per year (37 cents per month), paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $9 per year in-state/$15 out-of-state. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

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COCountryLife pinned: Give this classic breakfast dish a try. Visit our website to get the recipe for Cinnamon French Toast Sticks.

FAVORITE TWEETS

ColoradoREA posted: Our Electric Cooperative Youth Tour YLC Representative this year is Brock Gagna, sponsored by United Power Inc. in Brighton, Colorado. Brock is helping Co-ops Vote engage more than 6,000 #RuralElectric leaders, like United Power board member Susan Petrocco, at the NRECA national annual meeting this week.

MONTHLY CONTEST

@ColoradoREA posted: Virginia Harman and Jeffery Hurd from Delta-Montrose Electric Association Elevate testified today on HB18-1099 Broadband Deployment Level Playing Field. This bill is important to bringing reliable broadband to rural Colorado. #coleg #ruralbroadband

WIN $50 Enter for your chance to win a $50 Visa gift card, perfect for buying bedding plants at your local nursery.

APRIL 2018

[viewpoint]

BRING ON THE BATTERIES

Electric co-ops test new technologies needed to add more renewable resources BY KENT SINGER CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

It’s been said that if Alexander Graham Bell were to pick up one of the devices that we all use today to make phone calls, he would not know how to use it. On the other hand, if Thomas Edison examined a typical 21st century central station power plant, he would be completely familiar with its operation. That’s because, while the 21st century brought a revolution in telephones, the remaking of the power industry is taking more time. Kent Singer The tried-and-true power plant model — a large central station power generator produces electricity, the electrons are transmitted over high-voltage lines to local communities and the power is then distributed to homes and businesses — has worked extremely well for decades. We are so used to having ondemand electricity that it’s easy to forget that our electric grid is an amazingly complicated machine. Back in 2008, the National Academy of Engineering concluded that the electricity grid was the most significant engineering achievement of the 20th century.

batteries. While none of these technologies is perfect, recent developments in battery chemistry and production scale resulted in the emergence of the lithium-ion battery as the current favorite for both automotive and utility applications. Electric co-ops are at the forefront of exploring how batteries can be deployed to provide benefits for co-op member-owners. United Power, a member of the Colorado Rural Electric Association headquartered in Brighton, will soon be testing a utility-scale battery system. The co-op is partnering with SoCore Energy and Tesla to install a 4-megawatt, 4-hour lithium-ion battery as part of its electric distribution system. This means that once the battery is fully charged, it can be discharged to provide electricity at a time chosen by United Power, and it can produce up to 16 megawatt-hours of energy with one charge. The battery will enable United Power to reduce its demand from its power supplier for short periods of time, potentially avoiding system peaks and saving money for its members. However, this “peak shaving” is only one of many potential benefits of a battery system. In other situations, co-ops and other electric utilities may use batteries for voltage support in parts of their distribution systems that need reliability improvements. Batteries may also be paired with renewable generation sources, such as wind generators or solar arrays, to firm up the intermittent renewable energy. As Colorado’s electric co-ops continue to innovate in the fast-changing world of electricity production, the United Power battery project is just one example of co-op ingenuity. The project will The enegry storage image above represents what United Power’s battery storage project may provide an interesting case study and co-ops across look like. the state will have access to the data collected from The grid consists of many individual elements synchronized by United Power’s pioneering effort. a lot of people, such as the staff at your electric co-op, who work This is one more way co-ops look toward the future, around the clock to provide electricity at the precise moment you exploring the possibilities of new, cost-efficient technologies. need it. Since electricity, for the most part, cannot be stored, the But remember, while planning for the future and changes to grid has to provide a perfect balance of supply and demand every come, electric co-ops must also provide affordable power to you hour of the day. today. Some may want us to move faster, but we take our duty to But in the words of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “The distribute reliable, affordable electricity seriously, just as seriously only thing that is constant is change.” Just as technology as we take our responsibility to be innovative and to utilize the is transforming traditional modes of communication, latest technologies that work for our members. transportation, computing and other essential elements of our While we keep the lights on today, we are also working toward modern world, it is also changing how electricity is generated, the day when we can “bring on the batteries.” distributed and, yes, stored. The notion of storing electricity has been the Holy Grail of the electric utility industry for a long time. Many different methods were tried including compressed air, pumped hydropower Kent Singer, Executive Director (pumping water uphill at off-peak times and releasing it through a turbine to create energy during peak periods), flywheels and 4

APRIL 2018

coloradocountrylife.coop

[letters]

Morton_CoCountryLife_4.18.qxp_Layout 1 3/2/18 9:13 AM Page 1

Winter Butterfly?

Sitting at the desk in my home office the first part of February — it was a warm day — I thought I saw a butterfly locomoting across our front lawn. I jumped up expecting that it was just a brown leaf, but I watched it circle back, then up and down, as it moved across our drive and out of sight. Crazy? Or is it possible that I saw a butterfly? Jeff Wright, Windsor, Poudre Valley REA member EDITOR’S NOTE: Gardening writer Vicki Spencer answered Jeff as follows: “Although I am not an entomologist, I don’t think you’re “crazy.” Butterflies have been known to emerge early from their pupae during warm winters like the one we are experiencing. Sadly, the cold front and snow that followed probably meant this early butterfly met its demise. I am glad you could enjoy it for a fleeting moment.”

Ranger Salute

I was not aware of the duties or history of the Colorado Mounted Rangers (January ’18). It is good to know that such a worthwhile organization exists in Colorado. I was glad to learn that they have chosen to advance their training and certification efforts. I’ll be sure to watch for them at the next big event and thank them for their volunteer service. Kathleen Spring, Lyons, Poudre Valley REA member

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Doggone Heroes

The article on avy dogs (February ’18) reminded me of the avy dogs that were part of the ski patrol at Berthoud Pass Ski Area. Sunshine and Callie were “rescued dogs” who, with love and patience, became rescue dogs. They rescued several people and Sunshine rescued Callie when she got buried in an avalanche. Anyone who skied Berthoud Pass from 1978 to 1989 will remember the avy dogs with much affection. Linda Wilson, Tabernash, Mountain Parks Electric member

Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name and full address. Send to Editor Mona Neeley at 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or at mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org. Letters may be edited for length. coloradocountrylife.coop

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[community events] [April] April 7 Bellvue Chili Cook-Off Upper Poudre Canyon Fire Station 6 pm • 970-881-2929 April 7-8 Monument Pine Forest Spring Show and Sale Lewis-Palmer High School tlwc.net April 8 Aspen Schneetag Daredevil Event Aspen Highlands 970-923-1227 • aspenchamber.org April 11 Boulder Wildfire Book Discussion Chautauqua Community House 6:30 pm • chautauqua.com April 12-14 Denver “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” Theater Performance MSU Denver Studio Theatre’s King Center 7:30 pm • 303-556-2296 April 12-15 Johnstown “Kiss Me Kate” Theater Performance Candlelight Dinner Playhouse 970-744-3747 coloradocandlelight.com April 12 Salida Columbine Gem & Mineral Society Field Trip Discussion Mount Shavano Manor Meeting Room 6:30 pm • rockaholics.org April 13-15 Aurora “The Audience” Theater Performance Vintage Theatre 303-856-7830 • vintagetheatre.org April 13 Lakewood “Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science” Show Lakewood Cultural Center 6:30 pm • lakewood.showare.com April 14-15 Denver Denver Independent Comics & Art Expo McNichols Civic Center dinkdenver.com

APRIL 2018

April 14 Fountain Free Rose Pruning Demonstration Spencer’s Nursery 9 am-1 pm pikespeakrosesociety.org April 16 Denver “The Utes: Colorado’s Forgotten People” Lecture History Colorado Center 1-2 pm and 7-8 pm • 303-866-2394 April 19-29 Greeley Baby Animal Days Centennial Village Museum 10 am-3 pm • greeleymuseums.com April 19-21 Greeley Greeley Jazz Festival Union Colony Civic Center 970-351-2394 • ucstars.com April 21 Cotopaxi Lions Club Spaghetti Dinner Cotopaxi School Cafeteria 5-7 pm • 719-942-3679 April 21-22 Grand Junction Renaissance Faire Watson Island gjrenfaire.org April 21 Longmont Raptor Run 5K/Walk Silver Creek High School 9 am • raptorrun5k.com April 21 Pagosa Springs Earth Day Fair Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association 1-4 pm • 970-946-0037 April 21 Pueblo “Tall Stories of London’s the Gruffalo” Theater Performance Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center 1 pm • 719-295-7200 April 22 Alamosa CROP Hunger Walk Cole Park 1 pm • 719-587-3499 April 27 Fort Lupton Crafting With Photos Lecture Fort Lupton City Museum 12-1 pm • fortlupton.org

Palisade International Honeybee Festival April 14, 11 am-4 pm, Palisade Town Plaza, Palisade

Gather your friends and family and head to the Palisade International Honeybee Festival to celebrate these vital pollinators and bring attention to their threatened population. The festival will include a variety of local honey products, entertainment, educational opportunities, vendors, food and more. For more information visit palisadehoneybeefest.org. April 27-29 Karval Mountain Plover Festival Various Karval Locations 719-892-0786 mountainploverfestival.com April 28-September 23 Denver “Pixelated: Sculpture by Mike Whiting” Outdoor Exhibition Denver Botanic Gardens botanicgardens.org April 28-29 Grand Junction “Barrel Into Spring” Wine Tours and Tastings Various Grand Junction Locations grandvalleywine.com

[May] May 2 Bayfield Good Days, Bad Days — A Collection of Short Stories Author Book Reading Bayfield Public Library 6-7 pm • prlibrary.org May 2 Durango Landscaping for Fire Protection Presentation Durango Recreation Center 5:30-8:30 pm • 970-799-4817 May 3-6 Colorado Springs Arts and Crafts Spring Show and Sale Black Forest Community Center bfacg.org

May 4 Pueblo First Friday Art Walk Pueblo Creative Corridor 855-853-2430 May 5 Colorado Springs Mother’s Day High Tea 6650 Omaha Boulevard 11 am-1 pm originalsbydiana42@verizon.net May 5 Westcliffe Sangres Art Guild Calendar Competition Opening Reception 3rd Street Gallery 4-6 pm • sangresartguild.org

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS

TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO:

Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303455-2807; or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org.

Please send name of event, date, time, venue, brief description, phone number, a photo, if you have one, and email and/or website for more information.

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[ newsclips]

Co-op Project Spreads Light

Colorado’s electric cooperatives are joining with electric co-ops from Oklahoma and NRECA International to extend electric power to two small villages seven hours northeast of Guatemala City this fall. The project, a first for the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the co-ops’ trade association, is in the planning stage. This month, a team is meeting with officials from the local utility in Guatemala to outline exactly what the project will entail. They are looking at how many power poles and how much line will be needed to extend the reach of the current electric grid to the communities of San Marta and Las Brisas and the 75 households in those two villages. Then, the number of lineworkers needed to complete this project and the time needed will be determined. Next September or October, selected lineworkers from CREA’s member cooperatives throughout the state will join lineworkers from Oklahoma and spend two to three weeks in Guatemala completing the project. When they leave to return to the United States, it is expected that the 75 households in San Marta and Las Brisas and their community facilities will have electricity, thanks to this international project.

Co-op Conventioneers Lend a Hand in Hosting City More than 120 volunteers from across the country joined forces in Smyrna, Tennessee, prior to the February National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Annual Meeting on a Touchstone Energy Community Service Project. This time the team made improvements throughout a housing co-op neighborhood in Smyrna, southeast of Nashville, where the NRECA Annual Meeting was held. The team did landscaping and demolition, retrofitted lighting, organized clothing donations, distributed food and

completed painting projects for community and learning centers. This was the 10th community service project organized in conjunction with the national annual meeting attended by electric cooperative directors, managers and staff members. In the last 10 years, more than 1,000 volunteers have put in 8,000 hours. The volunteer teams have worked with United Way, local schools, Habitat for Humanity and other charitable organizations in the communities where the annual meeting is being conducted. Touchstone Energy is the umbrella brand that connects local electric cooperatives nationwide.

Co-op Trade Association Elects Officers A new president is leading the board of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the statewide trade association for Colorado’s 22 electric cooperatives and the state’s generation and transmission association. Jim Lueck of Highline Electric Association was elected president of the board in late January and took office at the February 22-23 meeting in Denver. Lueck represents Highline Electric Association, which serves northeastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska. He began as a CREA board officer in 2014 when he was elected treasurer. Lueck worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections before retiring. He has also served on the boards for the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy, the Farm Service Agency and Northeast Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. He has also served on the Highline Electric Association board for about coloradocountrylife.coop

25 years and on the CREA board for nine years. Other officers elected for the coming year include: • Vice President Jeff Hauck of Mountain Parks Electric, which serves Grand, Jackson, Summit, Routt and Larimer counties; • Secretary Ginny Buczek of United Power, which serves Adams, Broomfield, Weld, Jefferson, Boulder and Gilpin counties; and • Treasurer Joe Redetzke of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, which serves Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake and Saguache counties in central Colorado. These officers will serve through February 2019 with the option of being elected to a second term. Outgoing CREA Board President Jack Schneider of Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, headquartered in Fort Collins, served two years as

president following terms as vice president, secretary and treasurer. He will continue to serve on the CREA board’s executive committee.

Jim Lueck

Jeff Hauck

Ginny Buczek

Joe Redetzke

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[newsclips]

Co-op Managers Meet With Legislators

Fifteen Colorado senators and representatives met with electric co-op CEOs and general managers Monday, March 12, in Denver. There was discussion on the broadband legislation that was before the Colorado House, on the 811 bill in Senate CREA Executive Director Kent appropriations and on other co-op Singer welcomes Colorado senalegislative issues at this March tors and representatives to the meeting of the Colorado Rural annual CREA Managers Association luncheon at the Warwick in Electric Association Managers downtown Denver. Association. In a presentation to the legislators, Southeast Colorado Power Association CEO Jack Johnston reviewed his La Junta co-op’s successful high-speed internet subsidiary, SECOM. He noted how the co-op stepped up years ago to meet members’ interconnectivity needs in the sparsely populated southeastern part of the state and the vital role that decision plays today.

United Power CEO John Parker announced to legislators that his Brighton co-op is adding a pilot battery storage project. At 4 megawatts, this project will be the largest battery storage project in Colorado and will help all of Colorado’s electric co-ops learn more about battery storage. It will store energy generated overnight, when costs are low, and be ready to deploy that electricity during peak daytime hours. In discussions prior to and after the meeting with legislators, co-op managers discussed the use of drones for power line inspections, what solar panel tariffs might mean for solar projects and why Colorado’s co-ops may need to update their avian protection plans. There was also discussion of working with other cooperatives in the state on educating the public on what co-ops are, on-bill financing for members and issues that the Public Utilities Commission is dealing with that may affect electric co-ops. The managers also took time to talk about individual co-op concerns and share possible solutions.

Please Make Room for Roadside Crews By Abby Berry

Colorado’s Electric Cooperatives

Teachers: Learn About Energy

Schoolteachers interested in the electric industry have the opportunity to learn more about it this summer. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the power supplier to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, will bring together educators who teach grades 4-12 for a three-day learning session in June. The June 19-21 program is open to teachers who are electric cooperative members, teach at schools that are co-op members or teach students whose parents are co-op members in Tri-State’s service area. (Educators outside of electric co-op territory are welcome to apply and funding will be sought on their behalf.) The program is sponsored in cooperation with the National Energy Education Development Project, which works with the education community to promote an energy conscious and educated society by helping deliver multisided energy education programs. This conference will show teachers how to integrate energy curriculum materials into classrooms at every grade level, for any group of students and for those with all learning styles. It will also focus on the successful achievement of state education goals in math and language. Apply at www.regonline.com/needtristate2018 or contact Michelle Pastor at mpastor@tristategt.org for more information. 14

APRIL 2018

When the power goes out, so do the local electric cooperative’s line crews. Lineworkers are the first to respond after an outage occurs and work tirelessly to restore power to the communities we serve. If you’re traveling and see one of these crews on the side of the road, please move over if possible and give them a little extra space to work. We deeply care about the safety of all and this extra precaution ensures just that. If you approach a crew while traveling on a two-lane road, moving over to the next lane might not be an option. In this case, simply slow down when approaching roadside crews. If you approach a crew while traveling on a four-lane road, and safety and traffic conditions allow, you must move over into the far lane. The penalty for not moving over if someone is injured is a Class 1 misdemeanor. If someone is struck and killed, it is a Class 6 felony, as of last September. Utility crews aren’t the only ones who need the extra space. Follow the same procedures for emergency responders, such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, who often find themselves responding to emergency situations near busy roadways. There’s plenty of room for all. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe on our local roadways. coloradocountrylife.coop

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[industry]

TESTING THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE Colorado’s new co-op test lab makes sure lineworker equipment is safe BY MARY PECK

Every job comes with its own unique tools of the trade. For electric lineworkers, those tools include personal protection equipment (PPE) to keep them safe as they work in what has been listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the country. This PPE includes personally-fitted rubber insulating gloves and sleeves, along with blankets, insulating line hoses, fiberglass hot shot sticks, grounds and jumpers. Keeping this necessary equipment in safe condition, without tears or degradation, means it must be tested regularly. That testing is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but as Dale Kishbaugh, director of safety and loss control for the Colorado Rural Electric Association, puts it, “It’s the difference between them going home and not going home.” For years, many of Colorado’s electric coops shipped their lineworkers’ equipment as far away as Kansas and Iowa for regular safety testing. Much of that equipment was purchased from Western United Electric Supply Corporation. Western United was created as an electric materials distribution co-op by Colorado’s electric co-ops in 1976. Today it has 67 member co-ops across eight states with warehouses in Brighton, 16

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Colorado; Salem, Utah; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Weekly supply shipments are sent to co-ops with materials needed for construction projects and other line work. However, Western United’s semi tractors then returned empty. That led Western United CEO Mike Prom to a realization three years ago: If WUE built a test lab at its main Brighton facility, much of the lineworkers’ personal protection equipment that was being sent across the country for safety testing could come back to WUE on those otherwise empty delivery trucks. “We saw another opportunity to provide value to our members,” he said. The idea to build a regional electrical rubber equipment test lab inside WUE’s Brighton building made so much sense that it was quickly accepted by the Western United board and by late 2015, it was up and running.

Within just a few months, the new test lab was busier than anyone expected. Greg Mordini, CFO at Western United, said that additional testing machines had to be purchased within the first year of operation to keep up with demand. “It’s been phenomenal,” he said. “We’re saving members a lot of money on freight, and the growth of the lab exceeded our wildest estimates.” For Colorado’s co-ops, which test equipment much more frequently than OSHA standards require, having a trusted testing lab in their own state not only means savings and convenience, it also brings new peace of mind. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” Kishbaugh said. “Rather than shipping it off to a location they have no idea about, they have a chance to tour the facility, and instead of being a number on a box, there’s actually a name and co-op to go with it. There’s a mutual respect both ways.” [continued on page 18] coloradocountrylife.coop

Leading Acid Reflux Pill Becomes an AntiAging Phenomenon

Clinical studies show breakthrough acid reflux treatment also helps maintain vital health and helps protect users from the serious conditions that accompany aging such as fatigue and poor cardiovascular health

by David Waxman Seattle Washington: A clinical study on a leading acid reflux pill shows that its key ingredient relieves digestive symptoms while suppressing the inflammation that contributes to premature aging in men and women. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product’s effectiveness, this ‘acid reflux pill turned anti-aging phenomenon’ is nothing short of a miracle. Sold under the brand name AloeCure, it was already backed by clinical data documenting its ability to provide all day and night relief from heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, and more. But soon doctors started reporting some incredible results… “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting less joint pain, more energy, better sleep, stronger immune systems… even less stress and better skin, hair, and nails” explains Dr. Liza Leal; a leading integrative health specialist and company spokesperson. AloeCure contains an active ingredient that helps improve digestion by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Scientists now believe that this acid imbalance is what contributes to painful inflammation throughout the rest of the body. The daily allowance of AloeCure has shown to calm this inflammation which is why AloeCure is so effective. Relieving other stressful symptoms related to GI health like pain, bloating, fatigue, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and nausea. Now, backed with new clinical studies, AloeCure is being recommended by doctors everywhere to help improve digestion, calm painful inflammation, soothe joint pain, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles – helping patients to look and feel decades younger.

FIX YOUR GUT & FIGHT INFLAMMATION

Since hitting the market, sales for AloeCure have taken off and there are some very good reasons why. To start, the clinical studies have been impressive. Participants taking the active ingredient in AloeCure saw a stunning 100% improvement in digestive symptoms, which includes fast and lasting relief from reflux. Users also experienced higher energy levels and endurance, relief from chronic discomfort and better sleep. Some even reported healthier looking skin, hair, and nails.

A healthy gut is the key to a reducing swelling and inflammation that can wreak havoc on the human body. Doctors say this is why AloeCure works on so many aspects of your health. AloeCure’s active ingredient is made from the healing compound found in Aloe vera. It is both safe and healthy. There are also no known side effects. Scientists believe that it helps improve digestive and immune health by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Research has shown that this acid imbalance contributes to painful inflammation throughout your entire body and is why AloeCure seems to be so effective.

When your digestive system isn’t healthy, it causes unwanted stress on your immune system, which results in inflammation in the rest of the body. The recommended daily allowance of acemannan in AloeCure has been proven to support digestive health, and calm painful inflammation without side effects or drugs. This would explain why so many users are experiencing impressive results so quickly.

REVITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY With daily use, AloeCure helps users look and feel decades younger and defend against some of the painful inflammation that accompanies aging and can make life hard.

EXCITING RESULTS FROM PATIENTS

By buffering stomach acid and restoring gut health, AloeCure calms painful inflammation To date over 5 million bottles of AloeCure and will help improve digestion… soothe aching have been sold, and the community seeking joints… reduce the appearance of winkles and non-pharma therapy for their GI health continues help restore hair and nails … manage cholesterto grow. ol and oxidative stress… and improve sleep and According to Dr. Leal, her patients are ab- brain function… without side effects or expense. solutely thrilled with their results and are often Readers can now reclaim their energy, vitality, shocked by how fast it works. “For the first time in years, they are free from and youth regardless of age or current level of concerns about their digestion and almost every health. other aspect of their health,” says Dr. Leal, “and I One AloeCure Capsule Daily recommend it to everyone who wants to improve GI health without resorting to drugs, surgery, or • Helps End Digestion Nightmares OTC medications.” • Helps Calm Painful Inflammation “I was always in ‘indigestion hell.’ Doctors • Soothes Stiff & Aching Joints put me on all sorts of antacid remedies. Nothing • Reduces appearance of Wrinkles worked. Dr. Leal recommended I try AloeCure. & Increases Elasticity And something remarkable happened… Not only • Manages Cholesterol & Oxidative were all the issues I had with my stomach gone Stress - completely gone – but I felt less joint pain and • Supports Healthy Immune System I was able to actually sleep through the night.” • Improves Sleep & Brain Function With so much positive feedback, it’s easy to see why the community of believers is growing HOW TO GET ALOECURE and sales for the new pill are soaring. This is the official nationwide release of the THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOECURE new AloeCure pill in the United States. And so, AloeCure is a pill that’s taken just once daily. the company is offering our readers up to 3 FREE The pill is small. Easy to swallow. There are bottles with their order. no harmful side effects and it does not require This special give-away is available for the next a prescription. 48-hours only. All you have to do is call TOLLThe active ingredient is a rare Aloe Vera com- FREE 1-800-746-2801 and provide the operator with the Free Bottle Approval Code: AC100. The ponent known as acemannan. Made from of 100% organic Aloe Vera, Aloe- company will do the rest. Cure uses a proprietary process that results in the Important: Due to AloeCure’s recent media highest quality, most bio-available levels of aceexposure, phone lines are often busy. If you call mannan known to exist. and do not immediately get through, please be According to Dr. Leal and several of her colleagues, improving the pH balance of your stomach patient and call back. Those who miss the 48and restoring gut health is the key to revitalizing hour deadline may lose out on this free bottle offer. your entire body.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. ALL DOCTORS MENTIONED ARE REMUNERATED FOR THEIR SERVICES. ALL CLINICAL STUDIES ON ALOECURE’S ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AND WERE NOT SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN GLOBAL HEALTH GROUP. coloradocountrylife.coop

APRIL 2018

[industry]

Mike Prom and a Western United employee examine a glove in the test center.

[continued from page 16] RAISING THE BAR Western United’s development phase included visits to the highly regarded Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply test lab in South Carolina and the Colorado Springs Utilities test lab. It was important to Prom to look carefully at best practices and learn what does and doesn’t work, setting Western United’s lab up for success. The lab sits in an enclosed area inside Western United’s facility with its own air and humidity control. A full-time lab coordinator and rotating shifts of employees keep testing operations running nine hours a day, five days a week. Shipments of lineworkers’ gloves, sleeves and tools arrive daily. With a total of 80 customer utilities currently, that adds up to approximately 70,000 pieces of protective equipment tested per year in the lab. Prom says a commitment to customer service is key. “People like our two- to threeweek turnaround — we focus heavily on this,” he said. Maintaining the highest possible level of testing efficiency and service requires specific processes and immense attention to detail, including a running track record for each glove tested in the lab. The glove owner’s name, testing dates and condition are all individually documented and the data is stored on Western United’s servers.

“ We test at a higher level than what is required,” Prom said. “That’s your life, that’s your family. It’s critical.” A test lab employee inspects a hole in a glove (circled in yellow to the left).

The journey of a lineworker’s set of gloves through Western United’s safety testing is a multistep process. After being washed, disinfected and dried using customized machines and cleaning agents, specially-built AC/DC electric machines with an energized water tank run a series of safety tests. Lab technicians then visually inspect the gloves by hand and place them on inflators to ensure no defects of any kind are present. Finally, the gloves are packaged in heat-sealed plastic for return to the lineworker. Included in that return package is a strong sense of pride from Western United’s lab staff for the work they do. “We test at a higher level than what is required,” Prom said. “That’s your life, that’s your family. It’s critical.” In cases where a piece of equipment is found to be defective, replacement items can be easily provided from Western United’s extensive stock. “A lot of trust and faith is put in these labs,” Kishbaugh said. “If there’s any question at all, they’ll take that stuff out of service.”

The Western United Electric Supply Corporation test lab is located inside its corporate office in Brighton.

A RESPECTED, GROWING REPUTATION The Western United test lab recently received the highly respected accreditation certificate from the North America Independent Laboratories (NAIL) for Protective Equipment Testing. A test lab must be in operation for at least two years and meet rigorous onsite testing standards in order to achieve NAIL accreditation. “We got a very strong recommendation from them,” Prom said. With Western United’s Colorado test lab now being the only NAIL accredited lab in an 11-state region, it’s certain to attract even more co-ops and municipalities. With such tremendous growth in its short time of operation, WUE is in the process of adding duplicates for each machine in the lab, so operations will not be affected should one ever need to be taken out of service. WUE is also adding lab technicians to keep up with demand. In creating a respected regional safety test lab for its members, Western United’s goal of upholding cooperative principle six, “cooperation among cooperatives,” has been quickly realized and thousands of electrical lineworkers across the West are reaping the benefits. “It’s work and care and effort,” Prom said. “We love showing it off.” To schedule a tour of WUE’s test lab, contact Greg Mordini at gmordini@wue.coop or 720-880-7051. Mary Peck is a Colorado freelance writer with an extensive background in the electric cooperative industry.

APRIL 2018

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[feature]

MUSIC FROM FARAWAY PLACES BY MALIA DURBANO

AFRICAN DRUMBEATS OFTEN ECHO through a tiny southern Colorado town with melodies from West African stringed instruments. These seem like unlikely sounds to hear in Jaroso (pronounced hu- ROH-soh), a San Luis Valley town of 42 only a few miles from the New Mexico border. But these days they are common sounds, thanks to the skills of the multitalented Schraud family, which is connecting southern Colorado to the world via their artistic talent.

APRIL 2018

Michael Schraud, the father, made a name for himself in the international music world crafting the West African drums known as ashikos and djembes, as well as the harp-like stringed instrument called a kora. Sarah, wife and mother, crafts beautiful and functional pottery that she sells through galleries, summer craft fairs and online portals. Their sons help in both workshops and play music. It was a long road from the small town where Michael grew up in upper Austria. But that is where he learned woodworking from his grandfather, who hand-crafted beer barrels for a monastery brewery that is still in operation. “Wood seems to be in my DNA,” he says. “I come from a long line of woodworkers, many generations of master coopers [barrel makers].” As a teenager, Michael had a summer job working in the cabinet shop on the monastery property, perpetuating his family’s woodworking tradition. Later, after moving to Vienna, he trained as a wood turner in a traditional master shop. Wood turning began in the Middle Ages when there were guilds for wood turners and ivory carvers. “Austria holds their craftspeople to very high standards and the level of craftsmanship is exceptional,” he notes. Apprenticing with experienced masters, Michael learned to craft stair balusters; columns; patterns for mold makers; bowls, table legs and bed posts; musical instruments, such as bagpipes, clarinets and violin pegs; and more. Little did he realize how these skills would contribute to his future. During that time, his wife, Sarah, apprenticed with master potters and then they moved on, from Vienna to Greece and then to Monterey, California. From there they headed to Colorado, where Sarah earned a fine arts degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Michael worked as a building and remodeling contractor, starting Renaissance Builders and setting up his own wood shop. He also pursued his interest in music and percussion.

coloradocountrylife.coop

“I believe at a very deep level that rhythm is the very foundation of music and that music is one of the universally true things that we can access,” Michael says. “People feel it and connect to it. Drumming is part of every indigenous culture and it brings people together.” He loved African and Indian percussion, but realized he wasn’t a great drummer or guitar player, for that matter. Instead, in about 1997, he combined his love for music with his woodworking skills and started making drums. He changed the name of his company to Renaissance Builders Instruments and RBI Drums was born. He began marketing the African ashiko and djembe drums in music stores, at craft fairs and drum circles in the area. The drum shells are built using stave construction, or cooperage, the way he made the barrels in Austria years before. Michael utilizes some of the old methods and incorporates Instrument builder Abdoulaye Diop (left) and Michael Schraud inspect fresh skins at the them into his drum building. The shells are handstockyard in Dakar, Senegal. turned on a late 1800s industrial lathe that he saved from a Denver scrap yard. The drums are finished in the traditional West African method with rope, skins, rings and Mali weave, which secures the head of the drum with a rope in an intricate pattern that allows it to be tuned. As Michael began crafting drums, the African drumming movement was taking off in America. Groups all over the country were gathering to jam in drum circles or to study the West African polyrhythms traditionally played for weddings, births, deaths and other ceremonies. Drumming also gained credibility as a useful tool in music therapy and for patients with dementia. As demand for the drums increased, Michael moved to a larger workshop and partnered with Michael Schraud (right) and Senegalese master These African-style hand drums are made by a guitar maker. A natural curiosity and constant carver Matar Lam collaborate on a new drum RBI Drums in Jaroso. model. desire to improve his skills led him to a study of lutherie, which is the making of wooden, stringed Coincidentally, while searching for where they would settle, they musical instruments. Boubakar Diabate, a traveling singer and happened to be in Jaroso for the Rio Costilla Studio Tours. “We met musician from Senegal, West Africa, living in Boulder, introduced all these talented artists and craftspeople who made their homes Michael to the kora. Ten years later, Michael felt the time was right to there and it felt right. We sold our home in Longmont, bought a start building koras himself and he needed a place to expand. 100-year-old small farmhouse and have not regretted it since,” MiIt was 2001, “We wanted to start a family,” he says, “We were lookchael says with a smile. ing for a place that was tranquil and inexpensive.” The couple decided Utilizing his construction skills, Michael built a large shop on the they wanted to make a living from their crafts and knew initially they property for building drums, a ceramic studio for Sarah and a music might not make lots of money. “We wanted to spend the money we studio. Son Darian was born in 2001, followed by Lukas in 2003. did make on things we valued and needed and not on high rent or a Sarah started Sarah Welch Pottery, and sales of RBI drums continmortgage and high overhead,” he says. ued to grow.

coloradocountrylife.coop

APRIL 2018

[feature] This 21-string kora has an African gourd body covered in cowhide, a maple neck with walnut marquetry inlay and walnut burl veneer, handturned walnut bars, and a rosewood bridge.

It was time to build another African instrument. It had been 10 years since Michael’s introduction to the kora, and drum sales decreased somewhat. “Building koras is the logical culmination of all my woodworking skills. I feel as though after gaining so much woodworking experience I was literally called to create koras. The griots [musicians] who play them are also called to the profession — it works like that somehow.” Michael realized his life is pretty much a history of acquiring all the different skills needed to build koras. “Wood turning, construction, building drums, studying lutherie and being involved with African music for over 20 years — all that strikes me as just stations to gather the exact skill set for building koras,” he says. The kora is a harp-like instrument fashioned from a large gourd and has multiple strings. It is played while the griot (pronounced jali or jeli) composes and sings songs about current events happening in the African villages. The griot is a storyteller who is a descendent of generations of storytellers and historians. The Schrauds sell their instruments and pottery in the United States at regular festivals like the Oregon County Fair. “We have been going for over 20 years and like seeing our friends,” Michael says. They go to ¡Globalquerque! in Albuquerque and have been regulars for 15 years at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. At the festivals, Darian, 16, and Lukas, 14, earn pocket money by “busking” — playing music on an old upright piano they mounted on a cart and passing the hat. Darian also sings and Lukas is learning to play the kora. Selling African instruments is definitely a small niche market, even with Michael now one of the senior makers of koras worldwide, outside of Africa. But he also found a way to give back to this community he enjoys. Top photo below: Lukas Schraud (center) works in the Maliks, Senegal, shop with other young apprentices. Bottom photo: Darian Schraud (left) and Lukas Schraud assist with final kora assemby in the Colorado shop.

APRIL 2018

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ feature]

Michael Schraud works on a kora under the watchful eyes of Alieu Lam (center) and Abdoulaye Diop (right).

BRIDGING SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA, WITH JAROSO, COLORADO Currently, Michael is involved in a program sharing his Western woodworking skills with some drum makers in Senegal. Hardwood lumber is being depleted and looting of the tropical rain forests has resulted in a shortage of the lumber typically used to make drums. “The problem for woodworkers in northern Senegal, West Africa, is that the logs that are available are too small and not of good quality. But the demand is for large, flawless drums,” Michael says. Michael is working with a nonprofit, AYWA, African Innovation, recycling materials and teaching skills to create a sustainable future for the Senegalese. “My particular contribution is that I set them up to build drums using stave construction, the way I do it in the U.S.,” he says. “Stave construction uses about one-sixth of the material needed to carve a log drum. The pieces of lumber needed are smaller, so given the situation it makes a lot of sense.” After the shells are built, they are sent to the workers who carve the outside to decorate and finish the drum. “We are joining the

two traditions: the Western cooperage and traditional African carving style,” he says. The skills the kids are learning in the AYWA woodshop will be valuable for generations. The group is also trying to set up a forest preservation project to protect some sacred forests and chimp habitats. They are talking with government officials to establish lands that would be sustainably managed with forestry management and reforestation. “Then,” Michael says, “we could control the entire supply chain from tree to final product and we’ll have a ‘fair trade’ brand of drums and other products that would be the first of its kind.” RBI Drums and AYWA are also working on an exchange program where apprentices from Senegal would come to Michael’s shop in Jaroso for a few months to gain experience. The wood crafting skills as well as exposure to a Western run business would position them well to start a successful business back in Senegal. “I am honored to be part of this collaborative effort and add another tool to their repertoire. By helping these young men expand their skill set, we are contributing to their future success.” Michael adds, “Plus I get to visit my friends in Africa once a year and combine it with my kora business, so everyone benefits.” Some days, that music from faraway places doesn’t seem so far away. Malia Durbano is a freelance writer from Durango. Last year, she moved to Pokhara, Nepal, exchanging her view of the Rockies for one of the Himalayas. A prior interest in African drumming and dance made her the perfect choice to write this article.

GO ONLINE to see how koras are made at coloradocountrylife.coop Lukas Schraud receives a kora lesson from griot Buly Diawarra in Abene, Senegal.

coloradocountrylife.coop

APRIL 2018

[recipes]

FRENCH TOAST WITH A TWIST RECIPES THAT WILL SPUR YOU TO ASK FOR SECONDS

BY AMY HIGGINS RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE While you will revel in these recipes as is, you can add an extra dose of delight by drizzling maple syrup atop the baked dishes or by sprinkling on a smidge of powdered sugar. Or both.

Mornings can be hectic and adding the task of cooking a satisfying breakfast could put you into a frenzy. The American Egg Board’s website, IncredibleEgg.org, offers a variety of enticing, atypical French toast recipes, some that you can make ahead and simply throw in the oven the following day — no frying pan required. We’re sure you’ll gobble up these dishes and, if there are any, eat the leftovers for lunch.

Plum Upside-Down Baked French Toast 6 eggs 1/4 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 6 (1-inch) slices French bread 2 cups thinly sliced, ripe fresh plums 2 tablespoons water 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel

DID YOU KNOW? Eggs are gluten free, packed with protein and contain zero confusing ingredients. They’re purely eggs: deliciously simple yet sophisticated.

Make Ahead Stuffed French Toast 30-36 slices (1/2-inch thick) French bread or baguette 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 cup strawberry preserves 8 eggs 1-1/2 cups milk 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained 1/4 cup orange juice 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat eggs, milk, almond extract and vanilla in medium bowl until blended. Pour half of the egg mixture into 9-inch square baking dish. Place bread slices in mixture; pour remaining egg mixture over bread. Let stand, turning occasionally, until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine plums and water in medium saucepan; cook, covered, over medium heat until tender. Add brown sugar and lemon peel; mix. Spread in 8-inch square baking dish. Place soaked bread on top of plums. Bake in 375 degree oven until lightly browned and no visible liquid egg remains, 20 to 30 minutes. Photo credit: IncredibleEgg.org

Spread half of the bread slices with cream cheese and strawberry preserves and top with remaining bread slices to make little sandwiches. Arrange sandwiches in greased 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk eggs in medium bowl until foamy. Stir in milk, pineapple, orange juice, orange peel, vanilla and salt. Slowly pour egg mixture over bread; press bread into egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. Bake in center of 350 degree oven until puffed and golden and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Photo credit: IncredibleEgg.org

For more delicious French toast recipes, click on Recipes at coloradocountrylife.coop. 24

APRIL 2018

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[gardening]

Plant with Patterns to Pique Interest

Take a garden from a haphazard mess to defined beauty with patterns BY VICKI SPENCER MASTER GARDENER GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Do you plan for repeating patterns in your garden and landscaping each spring? You may do it without realizing it just because it is pleasing to the eye. Think about it. Do you line your plants against a repeating picket fence? Or perhaps you place garden art or bird houses among your plantings in a pattern. What about that path of brickwork along the garden? Does it follow a pattern? Your patterns might even be in your garden plants. Have you noticed how one leaf shape can repeat in another plant? Can you see how breaking that pattern of leaf shapes by adding tall, slender grasses makes for a pleasing overall design? Gardens need form and definition to look like all those plants and pieces of garden art belong together. Without form or patterns, it just looks like a bunch of haphazard plants. Patterns in the landscaping can start with physical structures. Use arbors, trellises, footpaths, gates and, as I mentioned earlier, fences, to create your pattern. And then go further. Think about the patterns in the plants themselves. In botany, the patterns in plants are used for plant identification. At the family level of classification, plants in the same group have similar characteristics. Familiarity with branching patterns, leaf shapes and the number of petals on a flower can help us identify plants and know whether they are edible, poisonous or have medicinal uses. It can also help us identify where plants fit in the pattern of our garden. Look for the patterns in leaves themselves. Since most plants don’t blossom year round, the leaves themselves can provide added interest to the landscape. The Plant Select website is a handy resource for identifying plants with different leaf shapes, sizes, textures and colors that do well in

Colorado. Each year plantselect.org lists newly introduced plants that were tested by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University. For example, Thin Man Indian grass is a slender grass with “stunning blue foliage.” It grows about 72 inches high and blooms in late summer. In contrast, Snowmass blue-eyed veronica is a beautiful ground cover that grows just 1 to 2 inches high. It has rounded leaves and small white flowers with a blue eye. You could combine these two leaf patterns in your garden by planting the veronica at the base of the grass. Plant Select’s website also features downloadable designs based on various patterns you may want. For instance, Shalene Hiller’s Rock Garden juxtaposes low growing Colorado Blue Gamma grass with Red Rocks Penstemon and Parry’s Century plant. The cold-hardy century plant has broad silver-gray leaves that grow into a rosette when mature while the penstemon has glossy green foliage and rose pink flowers, and the bunch grass has narrow stalks that are generally flat. In viewing the different designs, you can see how professionals utilize a diversity of leaf patterns to create gardens that are beautiful throughout the year. Study others’ designs for gardens. Visit botanical gardens and arboretums and really look at how they structured their gardens. Does a water feature define an area? Is there a clipped hedge that adds a border or is it a row of potted plants? Once you start looking, you will see patterns in gardens all around you and they all pique your interest. Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

More Online: Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado. 26

APRIL 2018

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ gardening]

Gardening + Literacy = A Fun Way to Learn BY PAMELA A. KEENE

As educators search for ways to make reading more interactive and fun, some communities are building Literacy Gardens. These are interactive environments that encourage children to read while introducing them to nature and gardening. There are places for youngsters to read aloud to garden characters, to listen to storytellers and to take part in interactive and craft activities. At a Literacy Garden in Georgia, two master gardeners and former educators brought the concept to their north Georgia community after attending a workshop hosted by the American Horticultural Society a couple of years ago. “We’re very much aware of the crucial need to develop ‘pre-reading’ skills and of the positive effects that nature experiences can make in a child’s life,” says Master Gardner Lee Lovett, also deputy superintendent of the Hall County School

System. “Giving students experiences in the garden can help them learn about health and teach them healthy eating habits, but it is also helping them with reading readiness.” Activities include a section where children can compose sentences from words painted on stones. They can flip through a book of children’s stories to read out loud. A library of popular preschool books is available on site for kids and parents to read together.

“We’ve already seen increased participation from the students who visit here, whether on class trips or with their parents,” Kathy Lovett says. “It’s an amazing thing to watch children become engaged in learning while having fun.” Journalist Pamela A. Keene is a photographer and an avid lifelong gardener. Two master gardeners share their nature experiences with local youth.

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Composting:

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BY PAMELA A. KEENE

Stop: Save those potato peelings and other kitchen scraps. Instead use them to create the best and least-expensive garden compost simply by following the right techniques and using the right combination of ingredients. “The secret to successful gardening is the quality of the soil you plant in, and when you amend your soil with compost, you’re improving your chances for a more productive garden,” says Joe Lamp’l, founder of joegardener.com and the television program “Growing a Greener World” (broadcast on PBS and on the internet at www.growing agreenerworld.com/episodes or through podcasts at joegardner.com). Without getting too technical, compost is made from biodegraded organic matter. In the right proportions and conditions, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms and arthropods (such as beetles and springtails) break down the materials. There are four basic ingredients to make compost: carbon (brown waste), nitrogen (green waste), air and water. “You don’t need any fancy equipment or tools to start a compost heap,” Lamp’l says. “Just select an out-of-the-way spot — behind some shrubs or a far corner of your yard — and you can just begin putting the ingredients into a pile. Find an easy-to-access place with water nearby and you’re all set. “Start with woody materials, branches or sticks that will aid in ventilation, then layer brown, then green materials, using a formula of roughly two-thirds brown and one-third green,” he says. Examples of green materials, which have a higher nitrogen content, include fresh grass clippings, pulled weeds and nonmeat, nonfat kitchen scraps, such as vegetable and fruit peelings and cores, coffee grounds and used tea leaves. Brown ingredients include dried leaves, shredded cardboard or paper, small wood chips and dried grass clippings. You can add a shovelful of garden soil or a handful of fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or Milorganite slow-acting fertilizer, to speed up the process a bit. A garden thermometer is a good investment for helping you maintain the temperature at around 130 degrees. You should periodically spray the pile with a garden hose to keep it moist; be careful not to overwater. The moisture consistency of a damp sponge is a good gauge. Composting can take two months to a year or more, depending on the ratio of brown to green ingredients, how often the pile is turned or aerated, how much heat is generated during the process, the size of the pile and other conditions. Once it is ready, add it to your garden soil and increase the nutrients and improve your soil’s texture.

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Journalist Pamela A. Keene is a photographer and an avid lifelong gardener. coloradocountrylife.coop

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[gardening] but that’s highly toxic to humans. Look for heat-treated pallets instead because they are safer and don’t contain harmful chemicals.” Pallets made in the United States are typically heat-treated, and by law all pallets made within the past several years must be labeled as either MB for methyl bromide or HT for heat treated. The marking is generally on the end of one of the two-by-four pieces. Lamp’l suggests pressure-washing pallets to remove any grime or dirt, then create your project.

Pallet Garden Hacks Save Space, Money BY PAMELA A. KEENE

When it comes to ways of repurposing in the garden, wood pallets can be the stars of the show. From creating vertical herb gardens for smaller spaces to creating weed free planting areas between rows, the versatility of wood pallets is limited only by the imagination. The national website instructables.com created more than a decade ago by two Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates, offers detailed instructions and ideas for all types of do-it-yourself, or DIY projects. The section about pallets is extensive and includes information about how to make everything from wall-mounted flowerpot hangers and vertical planters to garden seating and furniture. “In the past several years, with the growing trends in ‘upcycling,’ recycling and reuse, people have discovered that pallets

APRIL 2018

are a versatile, free source of wood,” says Joe Lamp’l, founder of joegardener.com and the television program “Growing a Greener World” broadcast on PBS and the internet. “Whether you’re using them for gardening projects or building furniture, pallet wood has a lot of character and is a great resource for DIY projects.” Pallet protocol, preparation and safety Many gardening projects make use of pallets just the way they are, without disassembling. “For a vertical herb garden or a plant hanger, there’s no need to take the pallets apart,” Lamp’l says. “However, if you’re using them to grow food products, find out about the original use, making sure they haven’t been pretreated with methyl bromide, a broad-spectrum pesticide that has been used to treat soil for pests, weeds and pathogens

Creating a vertical garden Build a one-sided vertical kitchen garden for greens or herbs by standing a clean pallet on end. Decide which side you want to plant in. The slats on the front side are a bit closer together than those on the back. Once you decide which way it will face, stretch landscape fabric across the inside of the back and along the bottom to keep the soil in place. Then, “You can either mount it on a wall or add two-by-four braces to make it free-standing,” Lamp’l explains. Next, fill it with good-quality potting or container soil and plant seedlings between the slats. He suggests planting garden herbs, such as basil, dill, oregano, chives, parsley and thyme, along with salad greens, lettuce, spinach and leafy crops. “Don’t be afraid to pack the soil tightly, he advises. “You’ll also want to put your seedlings a bit closer together than if they were planted in an open garden bed.” Once it’s planted, water your vertical garden well. Monitor to keep it from becoming too dry and feed it with liquid fertilizer according to the package instructions. Once you discover the versatility of wood pallets in your garden, you’re only limited by your imagination. Journalist Pamela A. Keene is a photographer and an avid lifelong gardener.

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[outdoors]

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Gobbling Up the Good Times

A writer and his boys get giddy on a turkey hunt BY DENNIS SMITH OUTDOORS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

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It’s mid-April and nearly dawn when you and the boys nurse your truck along the dusty two-track that separates miles of rolling sage and arid sand hills from the narrow, fertile strip of marsh and woodland bordering the banks of the South Platte River in eastern Colorado. You slow the truck to a quiet stop, roll down the driver’s side window and blow into an owl hooter, mimicking the stuttering call of a great horned owl. You call twice, then listen. You hear nothing but the whisper of spring breezes through the creaking cottonwood boughs. Like gargantuan, arthritically-deformed hands, the knotted limbs of giant plains cottonwoods stretch grotesque, bony fingers into the moonlit sky. River mist and ground fog drift through an understory of braided river channels, marshy pocket meadows and impossibly tangled thickets of salt cedar, juniper and thorny Russian olive. Lighteningburnt stumps and piles of leg-breaking deadfalls litter the ground underfoot like the remains of a bombed-out medieval forest. Stagnant, poison-green ponds and warm-water sloughs lie hidden from view in ancient cattail bogs. If ever there was a place for Hattie the Swamp Witch to build a shack, this would be it. It’s also where Rio Grande turkeys like to hang out. You hoot again on the owl call and this time the shrill gobble of a tom turkey shatters the predawn silence. Then another, and another. It’s a well-known peculiarity of roosting tom turkeys that they’ll reflexively gobble back

at loud, sudden noises for much the same reason canines howl at the sound of train whistles or sirens. Turkey hunters use this quirky behavior to locate roosting flocks at dusk and dawn. The flock is on your side of the river and not far off. You leave the truck right where it is, strap on packs and bows, shoulder the camera bag, grab a decoy and slip quietly into the woods. It’s coming on daylight when you set the blinds up in front of a juniper patch and scratch out a few soft hen clucks on a cedar box call. A tom answers immediately, sending shivers of anticipation through the three of you. A few more clucks on the box call and two more toms gobble back. All three of them are headed your way. It’s impossible to explain the giddy, hairraising rush of excitement you feel when you realize your hasty little plan is actually going to work out just as you imagined, but there they are — tails fanned, strutting and twirling in full on, puffed up display. You focus your lens on the turkey trio, fully expecting an arrow to zing from the boys’ blind at any second. But the shot never comes; they’re having too much fun watching the dance. Dennis is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

Miss an issue?

Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors. coloradocountrylife.coop

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Managing Your Home Contractor BY PAT KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN

So, you’re confident you found a good contractor, but after the hiring is complete it’s smart to realize that contractors need to be managed. First, decide who will be the main contact with your contractor. Clear communication is critical because a renovation that includes energy efficiency improvements comes with extra challenges. A single point of contact will help avoid confusion, conflicts and cost overruns. Discuss the standards of a professional, high-quality job and agree on the points at which the contractor will pause so you or someone you designate can review the work. At a minimum, an inspection should take place before you make an interim payment. Here are a few examples of interim points to check before work continues: • The building envelope should be properly sealed before insulation is installed because air leaks increase energy use and reduce comfort. • Replacement windows should be properly flashed and sealed before siding and trim are installed, which prevents moisture problems and air leaks. • Some insulation measures can be inspected before they are sealed behind walls or ceilings. Almost all efficiency measures require some kind of final inspection. For example, infrared thermometers can show voids in blown insulation, and fiberglass batts can be visually inspected to ensure there are no air gaps and the batts are not compressed. In addition, keep good records, hire an energy auditor to review the work and get important agreements in writing. Now sit back and enjoy your revitalized, more energy-efficient home. This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about energy-efficient renovations. Look under the Energy tab. coloradocountrylife.coop

APRIL 2018

Hook, line

and sinker As a co-op member, 30 percent of the electricity you use comes from renewable resources like hydropower, which is just one part of our diverse energy mix. Whether the water is under the bridge or over the dam, Tri-State and its members are using it to help power homes and small businesses across the West. Together, we generate possibilities.

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[ marketplace]

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Why Stay In When You Can Step Out? This 1,232 sq. ft. home is perfect for anyone wanting to bring the outdoors in! It features an open floorplan with a great living and entertainment space and 2 bedrooms. Each room has sliding glass doors to make your living space feel even larger. What are you waiting for? Design your Aspen with Heritage Homes today! 1-800-759-2782 WWW.HERITAGEHOMESOFNE.COM coloradocountrylife.coop

mother nature DIY KIT 30 x 36 Starting at $8,559

Check out our new 3D designer on our website!

Visit our website at WorldwideSteelBuildings.com for more information.

APRIL 2018

[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $2.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUE RESTORATION CHAIR CANING — Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-18)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.) BUSINESS CAPITAL for construction, credit cards, equipment leasing, directed retirement accounts, land purchases, unsecured business finance, etc., to fuel business growth. 970-316-5780 (371-04-18) HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: 2 turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Gunnison, Colorado (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-04-18)

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS/ MOTORCYCLES RESTORABLE AUTOMOBILES — 1955 2-door sedan, 1962 unibody pickup, and 1982 Cadillac Eldorado (719) 541-2652. (938-04-18)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. Antique and modern. Original designer jewelry. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-07-18)

ENERGY SOLAR WATER SYSTEMS — Livestock or any remote location. 3-10 gpm. Variable speed. Call Peterson High Reach for free quote. 719-688-0081. Windmills available. (316-06-18)

FLEA MARKETS

LIVESTOCK

WANTED TO BUY

DURANGO OPEN-AIR FLEA MARKET every Sunday at LaPlata County Fairgrounds — 25th & Main. Setup 6-8am. Shopping 8a-3p. May 6-Nov. 4, 2018. 970-3850385 for questions. (935-10-18)

COLORADO INDEPENDENT CATTLEGROWERS ASSOCIATION represents Independent Colorado Ranchers! Join! www.coloica.com 1-719-980-0460, cattlegrowers@coloicacom (936-03-19)

CAST-IRON COOKWARE (Wagner & Griswold). Pyrex. Old toys in good condition. Vintage signs. Anything cowboy and Indian – hats, boots, spurs, rugs, etc. Antiques, collectibles, furniture, glassware, etc. We come to you! 970-7593455 or 970-565-1256. (871-01-19)

FOOD FREE BUTCHER SUPPLY CATALOG — Meat grinders, saws, slicers, cutlery, seasonings — Everything for the home butcher. Pioneer Butcher Supplies in Loveland, CO, since 1975. 1-888-891-7057, toll free. (349-06-18)

FOR SALE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS—$400 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service. 719-471-9895 (040-04-18)

FREE COLOR CATALOG – 193 varieties, Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. 417-532-4581. PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www. cacklehatchery.com (876-07-18)

REAL ESTATE

GRASS

35-ACRE MOUNTAIN PROPERTY — $110,000. S. of Guffey, Colo., in Fremont County. Wooded mountainside & grassy meadow. Magnificent views. 719-495-3295, RBKarabians@ hotmail.com (370-04-18)

STOP FEEDING PRAIRIE DOGS. We’ll rent hunting rights from you. Seriously looking for duck & goose habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules. 303-460-0273 (069-04-18)

BY OWNER, 2 LARGE RESIDENTIAL LOTS downtown Chama, NM. Own a piece of heaven! Great location for Chama days festivities. Park RV’s for family gatherings. Owner Financing. 505-221-2549 (373-04-18)

HEALTH DO YOU WANT BETTER SLEEP, stamina, energy, or sense of wellbeing? Try this natural essential mineral blend. Shop Humate Health PHA Blend on amazon.com or call (970) 749-7773 & follow our motto: “Eat “dirt” to thrive!” (934-04-18)

HELP WANTED

Find hidden treasure in the CLASSIFIEDS

POULTRY / GAMEBIRDS

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.WorkAtHomeUnited.com/ OurAbundance (932-02-19)

Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to WIN $25. It’s easy. You could WIN.

WE BUY LAND and/or mineral rights. CO TX NM KS. 1-800-316-5337 (099-04-18)

TICKETS Ticket to win! Enter for CHANCE to win $25. Email the number of ads on this page to classifieds@ coloradocountrylife.org with “APRIL 2018” as the subject. INCLUDE name/address/ phone. Deadline April 16.

ENGRAVED, old, fancy, Colt revolvers. 620-384-6077 KS (372-05-18) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-18) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1925. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-18) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-18) OLD POCKET WATCHES—working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209. (870-06-18) USED 6-SEAT POLARIS ATV and trailer: Needed by great grandmother, Nan. enbewpen@ bresnan.net (937-04-18) WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-18) WE PAY CASH for mineral and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-19)

NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS— Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFRRodeo (1-888-637-7633). www. NFR-Rodeo.com A+ rated BBB Member. (912-04-18)

Are you reading someone else’s copy of Colorado Country Life magazine?

The March classified ads contest winner is Trudy Herman from Holyoke, a member of Highline Electric. She correctly counted the 28 classified ads.

It’s time to order your own subscription.

Just

in-state price

To order, call Colorado Country Life at 303-455-4111. 36

APRIL 2018

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ funny stories]

READERS PHOTOS

WINNER: Gary and Mary Harper visit Yap, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The Harpers are members of Mountain View Electric Association.

I was preparing lunch while babysitting our grandsons. After seating them at the table, the 4-year-old accidentally spilled his glass of orange juice. As I cleaned up the mess under the table he asked, “Nana, do you smell my feet?” Thinking he was concerned for me I said, “No, I don’t.” He then pushed his little bare feet closer to my nose and said, “Now do you smell them?” Neal and Lois McDonald, Wellington

The Kemp brothers, La Plata Electric members, hang out with CCL in their backyard fort in Durango. Photo submitted by mom, Melissa Kemp. Gina Jones of Cuchara takes Colorado Country Life to Jerusalem, Israel. She is a member of San Isabel Electric.

Mountain View Electric member Dan Cuvala of Monument feeds a kangaroo at the Billabong Zoo in Australia.

Mary Parnell, a La Plata Electric member, visits Paga Crocodile Pond in Ghana, Africa.

La Plata Electric members Charlotte Klein and her husband take CCL to Kona, Hawaii, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

TAKE YOUR PHOTO WITH YOUR MAGAZINE AND WIN! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Monday, April 16. NAME, ADDRESS AND CO-OP MUST ACCOMPANY PHOTO. This month’s winners are Gary and Mary Harper, Mountain View Electric members. They visited Yap, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia, with CCL. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at /COCountryLife. coloradocountrylife.coop

One day, a young man told me my hair was so shiny. I chuckled and told him it was probably all the gray hair. He said, “It’s silver!” I got a good laugh. Bonnie Stafford, Loveland On his first visit to California, Cousin Leroy was curious about the variety of plants in the area. He was especially impressed by the tall, fragrant eucalyptus trees that bordered the highway as it entered the city of Morro Bay. Struggling to remember the odd-sounding name, Cousin Leroy kept asking Aunt Ethel the name of the giant trees. At the end of the day, Aunt Ethel asked Cousin Leroy what impressed him the most. “I liked the IRS trees,” he said. “IRS trees?” Aunt Ethel asked. “Yeah, you know, the IRS. The tax people who clip you by taking your money,” Cousin Leroy said. “The you-clipped-us trees.” Marybel Lill Patrick, formerly of Durango We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2018 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@ coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

$15 APRIL 2018

[discoveries] STRINGING YOU ALONG If you need strings for your musical instrument, check out Curt Mangan Fusion Matched Strings. Artists worldwide seek out strings from the Cortezbased, family-operated company including Bryan Adams, Billy Bob Thornton, and Alex Weeden and Boo Massey with Miranda Lambert. “Many players believe our quality and tone are equal to the more expensive European brands, but at a price just slightly higher than the mass produced U.S. brands,” Mangan says. “Because we do not mass produce, we are allowed extensive quality control.” Check out curtmangan.com or call 970-564-5935 for more information.

Custom Fit for You

GET YOUR JAM ON WITH JENSEN GUITAR COMPANY Since 2010, the Jensen Guitar Company has sold and repaired high-quality musical instruments of all varieties. But that’s not all. Owner Don Jensen keeps things interesting with live shows and lessons with high-caliber talent. Want to play the ukulele? How about the clarinet, piano or guitar? These lessons and more are at your disposal at the Longmont-based store. Check out jensenguitars.com to view the store’s products, services and upcoming events, or give them a call at 303-827-3163.

IF YOU BUILD IT, IT WILL STRUM

For about 14 years, Jeff Bamburg has built custom guitars. About a year ago he opened his brick-and-mortar store, Rocky Mountain Guitar Co., in Salida. There he teaches others the ins and outs of the lutherie field with guitar building workshops. Classes include a “Ready to Assemble Guitar Building Class” for the first-time builder, and a “Contemporary Steel String Guitar Building Class” for those who want a more individualized end product. Take a twoweek intensive course or weekly sessions to complete your project. Once you’re done, Bamburg can apply the finish and send the completed guitar to you, or you can do the finishing yourself. Costs range from $2,900 to $3,900 and include all materials. If building your own guitar doesn’t interest you, commission Bamburg to do it for you. He’ll customize your guitar to fit your size and playing style. He analogizes: “Just like you’d buy a suit and have it tailored.” For more information, call 719-221-4262 or visit rockymtnguitar.com or bamburgguitars.com.

After 9/11, Edward Victor Dick’s custom guitar building business “dropped like a stone.” A client suggested that Dick teach guitar building classes. “I did, initially just as a stopgap measure, to get me through the 9/11 downturn in the economy, but it was so successful and popular that I just continued it ever since,” Dick says. He opened the Colorado School of Lutherie in Denver, starting the first class in January 2002 and business kept growing. “[The clients] get themselves all full of sawdust and glue and have lots of fun,” he says. Guitar building courses cost around $3,500 and fill up quickly. Call 303-777-7411 or visit coloradoschooloflutherie.com to learn more.

APRIL 2018

coloradocountrylife.coop

Save When You Grow a Zoysia Lawn From Living Plugs! Zoysia Lawns are thick, dense and lush!

Improving America’s Lawns Since 1953

THE ONE TIME, LIFETIME LAWN SOLUTION! Save Water! Save Time! Save Work! Save Money!

Zoysia Grows Where Other Grass Doesn’t!

Eliminates Endless Weeds And Weeding!

Plant a genuine Amazoy™ Zoysia lawn from living plugs once and never plant a new lawn again. Zoysia Zoysia thrives in is the perfect choice for partial shade to hard-to-cover spots, areas full sun! that are play-worn or have partial shade, and for stopping erosion on slopes. North, South, East, West – Zoysia grows in any soil, no ifs, ands or buts!

Cuts Watering & Mowing By As Much As 2/3!

Stays Green In Summer Through Heat & Drought!

No more pulling out weeds by hand or weeds sprouting up all over your lawn. Zoysia Plugs spread into a dense, plush, deep-rooted, established lawn that drives out unwanted growth and stops crabgrass and most summer weeds from germinating.

When ordinary lawns brown up in summer heat and drought, your Zoysia lawn stays green and beautiful. The hotter it gets, the better it grows. Zoysia thrives in blistering heat (120˚), yet it won’t winter-kill to 30˚ below zero. It only goes off its green color after killing frosts, but color returns with consistent spring warmth. Zoysia is the perfect choice for water restrictions and drought areas!

Environmentally Friendly, No Chemicals Needed!

No weeding means no chemicals. You’ll never have to spray poisonous pesticides and weed killers again! Zoysia lawns are safer for the environment, as well as for family and pets!

Now 3 Ways to Start Your Zoysia Lawn!

1) Freestyle Plugs come in uncut sheets containing a maximum of 150-1”plugs. Freestyle Plugs allow you to make each plug bigger if you want-you decide. Min. size 1” sq. 2) New Super Plugs are ready to plantprecut into individual 3 x 3 inch plugs. They arrive in easy to handle trays of 15 Super Plugs.

Many established Zoysia lawns only need to be mowed once or twice a season. Watering is rarely, if ever, needed – even in summer! We We ship ship at at the the best best planting planting time time for for you! you!

Your Assurance of Lawn SUCCESS

Each Order for Amazoy Zoysia Plugs is

GuArAntEEd

Guaranteed to grow new green shoots within 45-60 days or we’ll replace it FREE – for up to 1 year – just call us. We ONLY ship you living genuine Amazoy Zoysia grass harvested direct from our farms. Easy planting and watering instructions are included with each order. Every Reorder assumes success of previous orders (plantings), voiding any previous guarantees, but initiating a new one-year guarantee.

3) Amazoy Approved Seed-As The Zoysia Specialists for 60+years, we finally have a Zoysia seed available that meets our standards and homeowners expectations. Learn why at zoysiafarms.com or by phone at 410-756-2311.

Meyer Zoysia Grass was perfected by the U.S. Gov’t, released in cooperation with the U.S. Golf Association as a superior grass.

Order Your ZOYSIA Plugs Now — Harvested Daily From Our Farms And Shipped To You Direct!

Continental USA only and not to WA and OR

ORDER TODAY FOR EXTRA SAVINGS AND FREE PLUGS

Freestyle Plugs You decide how big to cut the plugs. Each grass

sheet can produce up to 150-1 in. plugs. Plant minimum 1 plug per sq. ft.

Super Plugs Precut plugs 3 inches by 3 inches READY TO PLANT Packed in trays of 15 Super Plugs. Plant minimum 1 plug per 4 sq. ft.

Your PRICE

+ Shipping

SAVINGS

Super Plugs

Free Plugs

Trays

–

$15.95

$8.50

–

$24.95

$8.50

500

100

$50.00

$15.00

$90.00

$20.00

750

$66.00

$19.00

$110.00

$30.00

1100

400

$95.00

$30.00

120

$125.00

$35.00

2000

1000

$165.00

$45.00

33% 41% 48% 57%

150

180

$180.00

$50.00

Max Plugs* 150

Free Plugs Grass Sheets*

Dept. 5186

Your PRICE + Shipping

SAVINGS –

34% 47% 50% 54%

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START AND MAINTAIN A CAREFREE BEAUTIFUL ZOYSIA LAWN

PLANTING TOOLS * PLANT FOOD * WEED AND PEST CONTROLS * ORGANIC PRODUCTS * SOIL TESTS * GARDEN GLOVES * EDGING AND MORE

All Available Exclusively at www.ZoysiaFarms.com/mag or 410-756-2311 ZOYSIA FARM NURSERIES, 3617 OLD TANEYTOWN ROAD TANEYTOWN MD 21787

AMAZOY IS THE TRADEMARK REGISTERED U.S. PATENT OFFICE for our Meyer Zoysia grass.

We ship all orders the same day the plugs are packed and at the earliest planting time in your state.