January - February Round Up 2021

THE

CO-OP

Country Round Up A Paper for, and about, country people

News from the Museum

2

Boundary County Winter Classes

4

Curated Exhibit at MickDuff’s

See what the Extension Office has planned

Women’s NRA Shooting Clinic

5

Learn to properly handle firearms

Intensive Grazing Management

7

Better grazing with less land stress

An Invitation to Growth

8

Dr. Duebendorfer shares some thoughts

Weed of the Month: Giant Hogweed 10 It’s bigger than you think

The Pro-Active Rider

11

Recipes for the Season

12

Assessing the rider

OUR COMMUNITY 7BTV is a proud supporter of the Panida Theater.

We’re in this together, Sandpoint.

The beautiful historic Panida Theater has served as an anchor of stability and a beacon of hope throughout Bonner County history, providing a gathering place that enriches the community - both culturally and economically.

While we are practicing social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, it’s important to remember the uphill battle for our nonprofit organizations.

As our community comes together, the Panida Theater also needs our help to keep the heart of our community beating and stable during this dark time.

Please show your love and support for the Panida through gift certificates, financial contributions, and memberships. These are a few ways we can help.

Please visit www.panida.org/support for more information.

7BTV 208-263-7288 105 S. 3rd Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864

Soup and bread is always a winner

Bonner County Gardeners

14

Haunting tales of the supernatural

Post Office to Pub

17

Federal Building Renovation

Wrapping Up the Year

18

Real Estate and You

19

Judy Baird shares end of the year view

Jim Haynes real estate news

Charitable donation tax receipts provided to Donors.

Unique supplies, tools and furnishings at discount prices!

• Tools • Doors • Flooring

• Cabinets • Windows • Furniture

• Plumbing • Appliances • Light Fixtures

NEW! PRICING BY THE POUND!

Most warehouse items $1 per pound (Thursdays Only)

Open Wednesday - Saturday

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To schedule a donation pick-up call

(208) 610-7737

1519 Baldy Park Rd. Sandpoint, ID 83864

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2

From the Editor

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Dreaming Month and a Reflection of Life By Kathy Osborne

If you have read this paper for any length of time you know that I consider January the dreaming month. I don’t ski anymore, either downhill or cross country. I don’t ice fish, Polar Bear Plunge or hike the snowy backcountry. I am a farmer-gardener and in the winter, December through February, there just isn’t that much to do except keep the animals warm and alive and the driveway plowed. So in January I dream!

I keep a notebook every year, a record of the successes and failures of my farm experience. It is full of diagrams, plot plans, garden layouts and landscape designs. I record every failure because I can go back and consider how the problem could be addressed within the framework of MY farm. With 4 separate micro-climates the challenges are ever present. And I love it all. But 2020 was really different.

This past year my elderly Mother lived with my family through the winter and left us just before autumn arrived. As she was in the process of passing away, so was my garden. I had managed to plant it but it never had the unique one on one care that is so important for a garden to flourish. One might say that in the end, the garden I chose to tend to was my mother.

When Mom’s memorial was complete I found myself in a strange place. The wind was cold, the ground frozen and unyielding because late autumn had arrived. I had no produce to speak of. No potatoes or squash in the root cellar. No pickled beets, dilly beans, or applesauce.

No pumpkins for Halloween or pie baking. Even the nut harvest was bleak. The grapes had withered on the vine and the fruit trees had gone un-pruned and yielded very little. Sitting on my garden bench, leaves falling around me, I took call from my sister telling me that her chemo therapy had begun. Another sister had to accept the death of her daughter’s marriage and eventually my brother said goodbye to his lower leg after an illness. I had just welcomed two new grand children into the family. Life this last year had so many ups and downs.

Amid all of this I learned what I believe is a lesson I will carry with me beyond 2020 and into my future life.

Life, itself, is so very much like a garden.

As I move into 2021 I do so with an appreciation of life, and time, that I never had before. While taking inventory of my seeds last weekend I found that different seeds reminded me of various people in my life.

Tomatoes, my Uncle Bob. All flowers, my sister Kris. Corn and pumpkins, my mother, whom originally came from Iowa. This garden season will be different and my dreaming will involve planning the space but also, I think, appreciating the space. More kids will be involved and more stories will be shared.

A garden, I think, is so very much like life.

Are your insurance premiums increasing to compensate for nationwide disasters?

Farm Bureau of Idaho is an ‘Idaho Only’ insurance company...we’re not affected like other insurance companies by claims in the rest of the nation. Maybe it’s time to let us compare what we have to offer, and see if we can save you money.

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BCHS Curated Exhibit at

Help us tell the story...

In the future, BCHS looks forward to installing a permanent exhibit at the new MickDuff's location featuring the building's history.

There have been many businesses that have resided within it and so many memories made there. We want to capture those stories and moments.

We are excited that the new pub location is now open! Enjoy the MickDuff's experience while immersing yourself in history.

BONNER COUNTY New Location: HISTORICAL SOCIETY & 419 N 2nd Avenue Open 11am-9pm, every day

MUSEUM

HISTORY CREATING COMMUNITY

Please share any photos or stories you have or have heard about the Federal building. Whether you were recruited for service in the basement or stocked the shelves with books while it was the library; please share your history with us.

E-mail us at: info@bonnercountyhistory.org or come visit the Museum Tues.-Fri. 10:00-4:00

Proven Track Record at Keeping Propane Prices Low

CO-OP Gas & Supply Company has been your locally owned and operated propane company since 2000. Our outstanding customer service and attention to reasonable pricing has set us apart from all other propane companies in the area.

If you are looking for a new propane company to supply all your propane needs at home, the office or on the farm now is the time to give us a call!

CO-OP Gas & Supply Company provides propane service to all of Bonner and Boundary Counties.

1201 Fontaine Drive Ponderay, Idaho

208.263.3338 www.coopgasandsupply.org

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Bits and Pieces

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Winter 2021 Extension Classes

All classes will be held at the Boundary County Extension Office, unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration required. Contact the Boundary County Extension Office to register: 208-267-3235 or classes with a ZOOM option, email kpainter@uidaho.edu.

Boundary County Seed Bank: Saving Locally-Adapted Seeds, $5 Thursday, January 14, 2-4pm In this class, you will learn techniques for saving your own garden seeds.

We are building a library of open-pollinated seeds from plants grown here in Boundary County. These plants have proven that they are well-adapted to our conditions here, which will increase your chances of success. Small packets of free seeds will be available. Please contact us if you have seeds you’d like to share with our seed bank.

Mental Health First Aid, FREE Friday, January 15, 9am-5pm Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses. To join the in-person training please register by emailing amrobertson@uidaho.edu or calling the Boundary County Extension Office at 208-267-3235.

North Idaho Annie’s Project, $60 Tuesday evenings, 6-9pm, Jan. 19-Feb. 23 Live Zoom sessions Annie’s Project is a national risk-management workshop program for farmwomen focusing on problem solving, finding resources, recordkeeping, and decision-making skills for managing agricultural risk. We will cover topics including business planning, market expansion, value-added products, farm succession and retirement planning, insurance, and employee management. Participants will meet other women producers and regional resource people. Course fee includes all materials and at least one networking event or farm walk to be held later in 2021. To register, go to https://tinyurl. com/2021AnniesProject.

Waterbath Canning, $10 Wednesday, January 20, 1-4pm Learn how to safely make and preserve your own high-acid foods including jams, jellies, tomato products, pickled vegetables, and fruits. This hands-on class will also teach participants about canning basics as well as proper storage and handling of home canned foods. Each participant will make their own jar of Blueberry-Lemon Jam which they can pick up the day after the class.

Pressure Canning, $10 Wednesday, January 27, 1-4pm Learn how to safely make and preserve low-acid foods at home such as vegetables, meats, dried beans, and mixed foods. This hands-on class will also teach participants the basics of pressure canning and proper care for their pressure canner. Each participant will preserve their own jar of beans which they can pick up the day after the class.

North Idaho Cereal School, Two-Day Zoom Workshop, FREE Wed., Jan 27, 8:30am-11am Thurs., Jan 28, 8:30am-11am Idaho Cereal Schools are sponsored by the Idaho Wheat Commission, the Idaho Barley Commission, and the University of Idaho. These educational workshops provide an opportunity for producers to learn about issues in their region, including insect issues, disease updates, variety trials, weed control, economics, markets, and other important issues. Pesticide recertifications will be available. Please contact the Boundary County Extension Office, 208-267-3235 or boundary@uidaho.edu for more information.

Grafting Fruit Trees, Part 1, $20 Friday, January 29, 10am-Noon In this two-part class, we will learn about collecting scion wood from your favorite apple trees while they are dormant (Part 1) and then we will graft the scions on to hardy rootstock later this spring (Part 2). Course fee covers grafting supplies and rootstock (and scion, if you don’t have your own) for grafting two apple trees.

Cooking Under Pressure, $10 Monday, February 8, 11am-1pm Did you get an electric pressure cooker for Christmas and are not sure how to use it? Or do you just want to find out how to cook with one? Come join us to learn how to make quick and easy meals for your family. Due to the current difficulty of hands-on classes, this class will mainly be instructor demonstrations; however, you still need to bring your appetite! We will also be comparing various brands of electric pressure cookers and seeing how each one operates in order to help you decide which type of electric pressure cooker best meets your needs if you are looking to purchase one.

Class size limited to 8 people.

Freeze Drying Class, $10 Wednesday, February 17, 3pm-4:30pm Want to learn about freeze dryers designed for home use? This is the class for you! During this class you will learn about the various freeze dryer

models, purchasing and maintenance costs, how to operate a freeze dryer, and proper storage of freeze-dried goods. You will be given the opportunity to see how to prep food and begin the freeze drying process. We will also be sampling a variety of freeze-dried foods.

Basic Dehydration & Making Jerky, $10 Monday, February 22, 2pm-3:30pm In this class we will be sampling different dehydrated foods, and learning how to making fruit leather and jerky. This class will cover

how to make jerky from a variety of meats including beef and wild game.

You will also learn specific techniques for using your home oven or dehydrator to dry fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats. Your family will love these healthy snacks! Class size is limited to 8 people.

Supporting our Local Pollinators, $5 Wednesday, February 10, 1-3pm Zoom option: Pick up your publication at the office!

A dramatic decline in our plant pollinators necessary for pollinating about 75% of our food crops is a cause for concern. Local Master Gardener Art Church will teach you what works best here in Boundary County across the whole growing season. You will receive a publication that describes locally adapted plants that support pollinators in this region.

Indoor Seed Starting: It’s Time! $10 Wednesday, March 3, 1-3pm Zoom option: Pick up your kits before class!

In our short-season climate, indoor seed starting is an economical method of maximizing your garden’s productivity. Please join us for this hands-on course in which you will start some peppers and tomato varieties that thrive in North Idaho and learn how to care for your seedlings over the next several months.

Healthy Diabetes Plate Series, FREE Fridays, March 5-26, 10-11:30am This 4-session class is designed for individuals with type 2 diabetes and the people who plan their meals. This class will use various methods to teach the types and amounts of foods that should be consumed using the diabetes meal plan. Although this class is geared primarily for individuals with type 2 diabetes, it’s a healthy way for all family members to eat. You don’t have to be a certain age or be diagnosed with diabetes to benefit from the Healthy Diabetes Plate approach to meal planning.

Ten Acres and a Dream, Free Fridays, March 12, 19 & 26, 9am-noon Online only In this 3-part virtual course, you will learn how to realize your homesteading dreams with plenty of resources on topics including forestry fundamentals, permaculture, land evaluation, crop production, fruit production, and raising livestock. A panel of producers will share their experiences and answer your questions. Sign up at CultivatingSuccess.org/land-stewardship.

UI Extension Sheep and Goat Weekly Webinar: UI Extension offers weekly webinars on sheep and goat topics on Thursdays at 11:30pm. Follow them on Facebook @UISheepandGoats for the current schedule of topics.

UI Extension Beef Cattle Webinar: Every other Wednesday at 11am PST / 12pm MST UI Extension offers webinars on Beef Cattle topics every other Wednesday at 11:00am. Follow them on Facebook.com/UIBeef for the current schedule of topics.

Cultivating Success Online Classes Digging Deeper: Developing Your Idaho Market Garden February 18, 25 and March 4 & 11 5:30 - 7:30 pm PST / 6:30 - 8:30 pm MST Cost: $75 | $60 early registration (before Feb. 8th) Wondering what to do to create a sustainable market garden in Idaho? If you’re interested in small-scale production of vegetables, fruits, culinary herbs, or cut flowers to sell, this course is for you! We will focus on in-depth production skills and taking what you grow to market. Join our group of Extension Educators and farmer collaborators for presentations and activities to guide you through the production year. From farm planning, to harvesting, washing and packing you will come away with skills needed to run a more sustainable and efficient farm. Questions? Contact Jen Jensen at jenjensen@uidaho.edu, 208-263-8511.

Registration link: https://idaho-market-garden.eventbrite.com Scratching Below the Surface: Idaho Small-Scale Poultry Production January 14, 21, 28 and February 4 5:30 - 7:30 pm PST / 6:30 - 8:30 pm MST

Cost: $75 | $60 early registration (before Jan. 4th) From baby chicks to laying hens and drumsticks – are you looking to explore and expand your skills in small-scale poultry production?

This course guides beginning producers through the process of raising poultry for profit. We will cover goals and record keeping, to bird nutrition and housing, egg handling, and meat processing.

Join Extension Educators and poultry farming professionals for this comprehensive experience that’s something to crow about! For more information, contact Kate Painter, kpainter@uidaho.edu, or Rebecca Mills, rmills@uidaho.edu.

Registration link: https://small-scale-poultry.eventbrite.com Check our website for current classes and our newsletter: https:// www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/boundary For all things ag, check our blog: BoundaryAgBlog.wordpress.com

Then and Now

5

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Women on Target - Instructional Handgun Shooting Clinic

Have you ever been interested in shooting or learning more about handguns?

Thirty-two percent of Americans own a handgun primarily for self-protection.

The number one reason cited for owning a gun - protection - is shared equally among men and women.

To provide more proper training for women, the National Rifle Association sponsors Women on Target, a handgun clinic hosted by the Bonner County Sportsmen.

The Women On Target program (affectionately shortened to WOT) is a women-only basic class on the fundamentals of shooting.

Geared towards the student who has never fired a firearm, or has very little shooting experience, it not only provides classroom instruction, but hands-on experience guided by practiced Range Safety Officer (RSO) instructors. Many aspects of gun safety are covered: loading and unloading (with dummy ammo), shooting stances, sight alignment, trigger control, and marksmanship, to name a few.

The clinic begins in the classroom, going over the fundamentals at a slow pace so that everyone fully understands. After the classroom segment (which will take about 3 hours), students are paired with a line coach and move to the range to actually practice what they have learned. Beginning with no ammunition at first (dry firing), then progressing to a single live cartridge, the student will slowly build practical skills to gain more confidence. At the conclusion of the clinic, each student should be able to safely handle, load, unload, shoot and store their firearm.

Students are provided with everything they will need (eye and ear protection, guns and ammo to shoot, snacks, drinks, and instructional material). Students are also welcome to bring their own handguns (unloaded and in a case), and all students are welcome to try the different handguns the clinic provides to determine what gun is most appropriate for their needs and style. At $25 per student, the cost for a class is affordable.

Classes are held once a month on a Sunday, from January to May, and September through November. To learn more or reserve a seat, please email WOT.Sandpoint@gmail.com, or call Marie Forbes (703-728-8891). We’re looking forward to meeting you!

F

LOG PRICES Species

November 2020

December 2020

Douglas-fir/western larch

$400 - $515/MBF

$400- $515/MBF

Grand fir/western hemlock

$390 - $485

$390 - $485

Lodgepole pine

$340 - $450

$340 - $450

Ponderosa pine

$370 (6-7”) - $420 (8”+)

$310 (6-7”) - $425 (8”+)

Western white pine

$390 - $420

$390 - $420

Western redcedar

$850 - $1,150

$800 - $1,150

*$1,800*

*$1,800*

$20 - $28+/ton

$20- 28/ton

$52/ton +/-

$52/ton +/-

Cedar poles Pulp Tonwood

Note that these figures represent prices paid by competitive domestic facilities in the Inland Northwest, and are based on average-sized logs and standard log lengths—usually 16’6” and 33’. MBF = Thousand Board Feet. Please note that the higher prices may reflect prices only paid in select locations within the Inland Northwest. *Pole value varies widely depending upon length. Market information as of December 11, 2020 As seen in the above table, there has been little change in log prices over the last month. Log prices have remained stagnant; however, lumber prices continue to swing wildly, with current trends being upward. Due to generally ample log inventories at sawmills, it is unlikely that log prices will significantly change in the near future. Mike Wolcott, ACF, Certified Forester This information is provided by Inland Forest Management, Inc., a forestry consulting company. For additional information, they can be contacted at 208-263-9420, IFM@inlandforest.com or www.inlandforest.com.

Valentines Day Trivia Question: Cupid, the mischievous winged child, has become associated with Valentine’s Day because his arrows pierce the hearts of his victims causing them to fall deeply in love. Who was Cupid’s mother?

Answer: According to mythology, Cupid’s mother was Venus

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Ag News

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Intensive Management Approach Yielding More Forage On Less Land

By John O’Connell Intermountain Farm and Ranch CALDWELL — Wayne Hungate’s holistic ranching method has enabled him to graze a bigger herd on a much smaller acreage of pasture, and yet his forage always seems to grow back thicker and more verdant than before.

Hungate, of Caldwell, explained the system behind his remarkable productivity is called management-intensive grazing. It entails the daily moving of cattle that feed at a high density within small paddocks.

The approach ecologically mimics the cycle of life that evolved surrounding grazing herbivores that cling close together for protection from predators and move often to find fresh forage. Think of the historic bison herds of North America.

Packed tightly, cattle evenly mow the range, picking off weeds that are often left behind in conventional pastures and helping a diversity of plants compete with the taller grasses.

The cattle aren’t in a single paddock long enough to cause damage to the plants’ root systems and the even distribution of their manure and urine lends fertility to the soil, helping the grasses and forbs regrow quickly and vigorously.

Management-intensive grazing — a term coined by May, Idaho, rancher and educator Jim Gerrish — has been slow to catch on, but proponents such as Hungate believes its time is coming, as range land becomes increasingly precious and production costs steadily rise.

“One of the things Jim Gerrish teaches is if you properly manage a piece of ground you should be able to double the carrying capacity, which makes (my land) the cheapest piece of ground I ever bought,” said Hungate, who learned the ropes of the grazing philosophy from Gerrish. “... It is a different concept. It doesn’t fit the cowboy range mentality of turning cattle out in the spring and going to get them in the fall.”

In the mid-1980s, Hungate worked for Simplot Western Stockmen’s and attended schools in holistic grazing management to implement the Simplot program.

“Out of that I’ve always had a love of taking care of the ground,” said Hungate, who also sells insurance policies to ranchers as a Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. of Idaho agent.

While with Simplot, Hungate had the opportunity to tour a ranch in Hawaii that was utilizing a version of management-intensive grazing.

The ranch encompassed five different climate zones with annual rainfall varying widely.

“They had 6,000 head of mother cows. At any one time, 95% of the ranch was resting,” Hungate said. “Yes, it can be done on a large scale. It’s just a different mindset of moving cattle.”

Hungate bought his current ranch — 90 acres of irrigated pasture located about a mile from his home — in June 2018. The previous owner grazed it continuously with 60 cow-calf pairs.

“By the end of summer, they were out of feed. They continually grazed it to where the grass wasn’t growing,” Hungate said.

At the urging of a University of Idaho Extension agent, Hungate attended a grazing workshop led by Gerrish. In the spring of 2019, following Gerrish’s protocols, Hungate used a no-till drill to directly seed three types of clover and three grass species into pasture that had previously been a grass monoculture.

That season, he grazed 80 cow-calf pairs, allowing 70 square yards of pasture for every animal unit day — a measure of the forage volume an adult cow consumes in a day.

He uses single-wire electric fencing to construct the temporary paddocks. Moving the cattle so frequently presents no challenge. Eager to access fresh grasses and forbs, the herd chases after him when he drives by in his Polaris Ranger.

When he opens a section of fence to allow them into the next paddock and shouts, “Come on!” the animals come running and he’s quick to get out of their way.

This year, based on the improvement in the health of his range land, he increased his density to 110 pairs, allowing just 35 square yards per animal unit day.

“My goal is I’d like to get to 180 pairs on that 90 acres,” Hungate said.

His methods have helped him cut back considerably on inputs. The “hoof action” breaks up the manure piles, so he doesn’t need to use gas to distribute it mechanically.

The cattle graze so densely that they eat all of the weeds, so he uses no broadleaf herbicide, which also allows his clovers to survive.

The clovers, in turn, provide a preferred feed source and fix nitrogen: Hungate anticipates he’ll need no artificial fertilizer next spring.

“It’s healthier pasture all around,” he said.

Hungate used to make a 200-mile round trip to summer his heard in the Council area, where he had 850 acres of private land to graze about 100 head of cows.

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He’s sold that land since starting management-intensive grazing and now has sufficient forage to keep 110 head on the 90 acres near his home through most of the year with no supplemental hay.

The sole time his cattle leave the pasture is for a few weeks during the fall when he pays neighboring farmers for access to their corn stubble.

Hungate saves on the time and fuel of transporting his cattle to Council, as well as the trips to repair fencing and deliver salt licks on that expansive range land.

The neighboring corn farmers also reap benefits when he practices his management-intensive grazing on their stubble, which they don’t have to incorporate into the soil using heavy equipment, saving them about $50 per acre.

Furthermore, they benefit from the nutrients in the cattle excrement.

Hungate and his three sons collaborate on a side business called Hungate Custom Hay. In his own operation, however, he leaves the “swathing” to the animals.

Hungate believes management-intensive grazing is a better fit for irrigated pastures than large public grazing allotments, with rigid regulations about grazing seasons and densities.However, he believes the nation’s food producers will increasingly look to raise pasture under their pivots in lieu of traditional row crops.

“I think we’re on the verge of that,” Hungate said. “Pasture ground is getting harder and harder to find.”

Though many in the cattle industry may view ranchers like Hungate as doing something new and different, Gerrish has been espousing such concepts since the late 1980s.Back then, Gerrish worked in forage research for the University of Missouri. The principles he taught were encapsulated in the book “Intensive Grazing Management” by Burt Smith.

Allan Nation, who was the editor of Stockman Grass Farmer magazine, griped to Gerrish that too many in the industry misinterpreted intensive grazing management and viewed it as a license to overgraze.

Gerrish noted to his friend that the method truly intensifies the management as opposed to the grazing, and the term “management-intensive grazing” was born.

“Once you accept that management of time is the most critical factor in grazing management, your whole view of the world changes and usually for the better,” said Gerrish, who grew up as an Illinois crop farmer. “... Almost all legumes require a recovery period after grazing. In this type of system, legumes flourish and pump nitrogen into the system.”

Gerrish explained that ranchers who practice management-intensive grazing typically hone their eyes after 30 repetitions of single-day grazing events to accurately estimate the amount of forage their livestock require and can then consistently fence in the right-sized paddock.

“During the period when animals are on pasture, mostly negative things are happening to the plants and soil ... If on the other hand you make grazing a shorter period until you have it down to every day becomes a new grazing period, only on one day are negative things happening to a plant,” Gerrish said. He explained that leaves feed the sun’s energy through the plants and into the soil biology through photosynthesis.

“When animals are repeatedly biting the leaves, they’re reducing the soil biology. Plants are more susceptible to insects and diseases,” Gerrish said.In addition to public speaking, Gerrish manages the herd at the Patterson Unit of Circle Pi Ranch in the Pahsimeroi Valley. He grazes a 600-animal-unit herd on pasture beneath a 300-acre pivot and a 150-acre pivot.

Though Gerrish sees untold potential in management-intensive grazing, he said national implementation has been dismally slow. According to the limited surveys that have been done, fewer than 15% of U.S. beef producers currently manage with an average grazing period of less than a week, he said.

Gerrish believes market forces would have expedited management-intensive grazing’s popularity if not for government support programs and corn subsidies.

“Twenty years ago, I thought we’d be in Ranger thehe uses30% to 40% range (of Wayne Hungate of Caldwell poses with his herd and the Polaris when he moves them to a new paddock. He practices management-intensive grazing. producers using management intensive grazing) by now because it just makes so much sense,” Gerrish said.

8

Your Health

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Cancer Diagnosis as an Invitation to Growth Gabrielle Duebendorfer, ND

I probably have been annoying people with my new found puppy love. She is so adorable and I am totally devoted to her! With more snow the past week I was able to train her pretty quickly to run on a long retractable leash with me cross country skiing. It has been exhilarating for both us to race down the hill after the long climb up.

This time, out of some reason she kept running under stuck branches, which caused me to either fall or to stop and go back to untangle the leash. Luckily, I am still pretty agile and resilient and all ended up well, though I had to deal with resistance to the recurring obstacles.

In meditation circles it is said that the mind is like a puppy on a leash needing to be trained. I am suggesting that the body can be likened to a puppy, with one’s attention being the leash and one’s Being the skier. A cancer diagnosis is a perfect example of not having paid attention to all the snags along the way and having come to a full-on crash. One of my patients ignored the increasing fatigue and difficulty breathing for months, attributing both to a recent knee surgery, and just keeping pushing on. When the cough increased it was found to be due to pressure of fluid accumulation in the abdomen because of ovarian cancer. It took months to learn to stop and feel when the leash became tight and to adjust her behavior for greater ease – a very difficult process, when one is used to careening down the hill.

Naturopathically we look at cancer development from a unique perspective. In order for an oncogene to be triggered into tumor growth by carcinogens it takes three factors: ineffective immune system, poor elimination (cellular, liver, and colon), and unresolved stressors. If the immune and elimination systems have been challenged long-term by poor lifestyle choices, toxin exposure, and poorly managed chronic stress, there comes a point where the body is just overwhelmed.

Another patient of mine with early life time exposure to paints and solvents (known contributors to breast cancer), which had caused long term chemical sensitivities, spray painted a fence without a mask and had a year of extreme stress. Of course, we don’t know for sure, but the likelihood of all of this having contributed to the breast cancer diagnosis is high. Specific detox for the chemicals, wearing a mask, and evaluating the factors leading to a high stress response, would have been proper ways to go back and untangle the leash before it had resulted in a tumor growth.

Preventing cancer in the first place is a specialty of naturopathic medicine. As naturopathic doctors we are trained to evaluate all systems for imbalances and teach our patients how to recognize and adjust the pull of the puppy on the leash depending on symptoms and exposure.

However, motivation for this kind of backtracking is much higher after a cancer diagnosis and presents a great opportunity for healing. We have a long history of cooperation with conventional providers, who tend to focus on targeting tumor eradication. Our focus is to prepare patients at time of diagnosis for what lies ahead, reduce side-effects, improve response to conventional care, help with recovery, and support prevention of recurrence with health and lifestyle education.

For example, besides addressing toxins, chronic viral infections, constipation etc, I often find the need to adjust blood sugar issues as dysglycemia is a major cause of inflammation, contributing to cancer growth and worsening side-effects from conventional treatment. With the leash unclipped, conventional treatment attempts to eradicate cancer. The problem is that the immune system, whose function is to surveille any recurring or remaining cancer cells, is severely compromised at the same time. Proper naturopathic support fills in this gap and rebuilds that function to enhance healing and reduce the chance for future recurrence and side-effects.

Radiation treatment support, for exa¬mple, can be invaluable as radiologists primarily focus on eradicating cancer with minimal support for long-term healing. Recovery of radiated tissue can take up to a year or longer and support for proper scar tissue healing is essential to prevent future range-of-motion limitations, swelling and edema, pain and other dysfunctions. Chemotherapy takes years to recover from, and with the leash clipped on again, one can learn to listen to the pull and address for example fatigue, brain fog, or neurological issues.

It is not uncommon, however, to find cancer patients having previously been entirely healthy. Elimination and immune system dysfunction having been subclinical, a major unresolved stressor, triggered by recent intense chronic stress, is usually the trigger for cancer growth.

Examples include having had to take care of a dying parent, or feeling trapped or abused in a relationship, or having encountered many losses or other stressors in the past year’s time frame.

One patient recognized that the year before her cancer diagnosis, a major childhood trauma had gotten triggered by her children leaving home. She had thought she had dealt with it previously with regular counseling, but the renewed intensity of the grief was so strong, she just wanted it to be gone. Suppression of such trauma and grief is

very counter-productive, as the resulting chronic cortisol rise decreases elimination, reduces immune function, and increases chronic inflammation, contributing to cancer development. Somatic inquiry allows for the energy stuck on a cellular level to move and be integrated, by essentially feeling the fear, dread, or anxiety to be tracked through the body like a wave. This can only happen within a safe container and development of inner resources. Often the fear of being overwhelmed by unwelcomed emotions keeps one from doing exactly that – pulling through the snags rather than going back and untangling the leash.

A cancer diagnosis shatters one’s whole world view.

Post Traumatic Growth is a whole new healing discipline, proposing that this can be an opportunity to reshape one’s view into a more wholesome one. Making that downhill ski enjoyable is possible regardless of prognosis, even if it can only happen in your imagination. For my previously mentioned patient this meant to revisit and integrate her old traumatic childhood memories as they naturally emerged and to learn to be present with an increasingly uncooperative body. It deepened her relationships with her family and lead to a deep peace and joy in her last few months. Luckily, it is in our power to reattach the leash and listen to the pull way earlier than that. And at times it is entirely fine to let go of the leash to just have pure fun – like racing on skis down the hill unimpededly, or dancing wildly or sensually, or enjoying those high sugar christmas cookies.

Dr Gabrielle Duebendorfer has practiced naturopathic medicine for 25 years combining natural medicine with mindfulness tools. She is also a certified iRest Meditation instructor. Her practice is focused on cancer care and post traumatic growth. She offers tele and in person consults.

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10

Our Environment

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Weed of the Month : Giant Hogweed

By Chase Youngdahl, Bonner County Weeds Manager

Quick on the heels of the holiday issue, I’m going to mix it up a little with this one. Occasionally, we will receive reports of certain noxious weeds that end up to be look-a-likes. That is actually a very good thing! Shows me that people are keeping an eye on what’s out there and reporting something that seems suspect. I have had reports of Leafy Spurge that turned out to be a mustard (just one example). I would rather investigate a suspect infestation and have it turn out to be nothing to worry about, as opposed to having a potentially big issue go undetected/unreported.

The co-Weed of the Month is Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum). Giant Hogweed is an Idaho listed noxious weed, originating from southwestern Asia, and Cow Parsnip is a native of North America. Giant Hogweed’s presence has actually not been confirmed anywhere in Idaho, yet. There are small populations of it in western Washington and northwestern Oregon, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that northern Idaho could be vulnerable to its sudden appearance. Cow Parsnip is quite common in our area—wet riparian-type habitats as well as disturbed sites are the primary areas that it calls home.

Giant Hogweed and Cow Parsnip same or similar characteristics: Herbaceous perennial with fleshy taproot, deeply divided-compound leaves and flat-topped umbel flower clusters containing numerous white to cream colored flowers. Both start as hearty rosettes and usually bolts/flowers in the second or third year, and both have hairy, hollowed stems.

Cow Parsnip specific characteristics: Grows 2 – 8 feet tall and leaves span about 6 – 10 inches across.

Giant Hogweed specific characteristics: Stems have reddish-purple spots, grows 8 – 16 feet tall and leaves span about 3 – 5 feet across.

Yep, that’s feet, not inches.

As you can see, the primary physical characteristics separating these two species, are size. Giant Hogweed is basically the “Andre the Giant” of the weeds world. If Giant Hogweed were to show up in Idaho, the state Agriculture Department would mobilize the appropriate resources to treat and eradicate the infestation right away, being that it would automatically classify as a state EDRR (early detection, rapid response) noxious weed.

Given a chance to develop, Giant Hogweed will create large stands with a dense, towering canopy. This crowds out nearly all understory vegetation, which decreases biodiversity and increases the likelihood for streambank erosion [in the cases of infestations on riparian sites].

Additionally, there is a public health issue surrounding Giant Hogweed; skin contact with the sap causes photosensitizing dermatitis (severe chemically induced sunburn) on people and pets.

With as similar as Cow Parsnip is in some ways (same genus-different species & same physical attributes on a smaller scale) to Giant Hogweed, it is very different in others. Not only is Cow Parsnip a native to North America, it is actually listed as a threatened plant in the state of Tennessee, and an endangered plant in the state of Kentucky, according to the USDA plants database. A juxtaposition to its Asian cousin that happens to be a very concerning threat to the ecological landscape in North America.

Revisiting the fundamental definition of a weed; a weed is any plant, native or not native, growing where it is interfering with your personal management objectives. In most cases, Cow Parsnip does not cause a problem. If it happens to be in an area where you do not want it, control is not very difficult to achieve. While its sap has nowhere near the photosensitizing dermatitis inducing levels that Giant Hogweed has, it does have a minor amount—so you probably wouldn’t want it growing in an area where young children play. It would also be undesirable in a garden or a landscape feature. From an herbicide standpoint, Triclopyr (Vastlan®, etc.) products are documented to do

well. If near a garden or other sensitive site, Glyphosate products can provide some control. If going the mechanical route of control, dig up the entire plant and the top of the taproot. The main mechanism of spread is by seed, but the root crown also regenerates new shoots.

Please report Giant Hogweed right away, should Bonner County ever have the misfortune of this vegetative devil gracing us with its presence. The smaller family member that belongs here is hopefully not too difficult to distinguish from the exotic beast. See exhibits A & B.

Exhibit A: Giant Hogweed

Exhibit B: Cow Parsnip

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Rural Life

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021

Volume 21 Issuue 1

11

The Pro-Active Rider’s Assessment

by Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship

Irrelevant of the chosen discipline, the ideal ride with the horse is achieved by first creating a willing, responsive, and reasonable equine partner. If riders learn how to prioritize their mental focus they can accurately assess and address their horse.

Below is an initial checklist for before, during, and after the interaction with the horse. The answers can help clarify missing pieces in the communication. Equine enthusiasts need to learn how to assess what, who, when, where, and why scenarios that occur with the horse to refine the partnership.

What: This is a combination of evaluating, considering, and attempting to gauge the mental and physical status of the horse from the beginning to end of the interactions, whether from feeding to after a ride.

The assessment will help define what needs to be addressed or help the human adapt their expectations.

Who: The Human- Before starting with the horse, the rider needs to assess their attitude, emotional, and physical state. If distracted, stressed, or they have time constraints, it will affect their focus. If they are not 100% mentally present, it is unfair to ask that of the horse.

Horses are hyper-aware, including their sensitivity to a person’s mental, emotional, and physical energy, which they often mirror in their behaviors.

Who: The Horse - Where is his mind? Is his brain with his buddies?

How does he look physically? Is he stiff or sore from age, health, or earlier exertion? Has he recently had farrier care, vaccinations, on medications, had chiropractic adjustments, or anything else that would affect him physically? Has his diet changed, or is he bothered by gut health issues? Is he emotionally stressed, fixated, or fearful?

When: The assessment should begin as the horse is being caught.

Did he willingly offer to do so (without treats)? Did he turn away but tolerate being caught, or did he run away?

Where: As the gate or stall door is being closed, did his attention stay present, or was he distracted looking for food?

While he is led, does he walk slow/fast, or is he heavy on the lead rope? In the grooming area, is he distracted by the other horses or activities? Does he hover in a person’s personal space? Did he softly versus obediently stand when tacked him up? Is he anxious and fidgeting as the tacking progressed?

Why: Each piece of the human/horse interaction affects the next. By the time he is ready to mount, the horse will have communicated his mindset. If displaying distracted, bothered, fixated, defensive, etc., behavior while handled on the ground, this will transfer over into the ride quality.

The horse’s initial mental concerns when handled from the ground will not be diminished by demanding physical exercise of him when he is ridden. Instead, this human response teaches the horse to become defensive towards the rider, and/or he will learn to shut down mentally or potentially become increasingly physically resistant.

The assessment continues when riding to improve addressing what the horse needs support with on that particular day. Here are foundational elements necessary to accomplish any equine-related goal with quality: The Horse Softness- the horse’s mental and physical willingness to follow or yield to physical pressure communicated via the rider’s aids (hands, seat, legs, and energy).

Suppleness- relaxation throughout the horse’s body allowing him to independently move body parts without losing his softness.

Relaxation- the horse’s ability to focus on the physical task without retaining tension in his body.

Engagement- the lifting of the horse’s back to enable his hindquarters to step underneath his spine with a majority of his weight on his hind end. This allows soft and independent movement in his head, neck, shoulders, ribcage, and hocks.

Balance- the horse’s ability to carry his weight consistently by engaging his hindquarters without leaning on the rider’s hands.

Responsiveness- the brief reaction time to mentally and physically respond towards the human.

Effectiveness- how quickly and softly the horse’s response is towards minimal aids from the rider.

Adaptability- the willingness of the horse to let go of one thought and focus on another followed by a soft physical response.

Awareness- the horse’s ability to stay present to his surroundings but prioritize his focus on the human.

The Rider Evaluation- recognizing what the initial intent was, what aids were used to communicate, how the horse responded, and if follow-through was necessary to help him achieve a softer, more willing response.

Feeling- not relying solely on they are seeing, but re-sensitizing what

they are feeling in the horse’s movement and energy to improve the timing of their aids.

Adaptability- the rider’s ability to offer a varying degree of energy in their aids and communication with the horse. Also their ability to adapt the moment’s goal to best support the horse.

“Taking” the horse for the ride- pro-actively communicating specifics of the desired response versus reactively critiquing the horse due to lack of initial guidance from the human.

By raising their standard of intention, clarity, and specificity, the rider learning to assess themselves and their horse contributes towards them becoming the positive and supportive leader their equine partner and builds a mutually respectful partnership.

Offering Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey, for 17 years Sam has been based from May through October at The Equestrian Center, LLC, located just 12 miles north of Sandpoint, ID. For over 25 years she has offered lessons, training, guest lectured, demos and clinics nationally. She works with students and horse of all levels and disciplines. For more information please visit www.learnhorses.com 208-265-2644

12

Home and Hearth

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Recipes...

It is January 4th and a really, really dreary day out there! The beautiful foot of snow we got last week has melted away leaving a rather bleak landscape. HOWEVER.... this is just the sort of weather that calls for a specialty of my daughters, Shepherds Pie. This recipe has been adapted from a Taste of Home recipe.

Enjoy!

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves cubed and cooked 4 tablespoons butter, divided 4 large potatoes, cooked and mashed, seasoned with a little garlic salt and butter to taste 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2-1/4 cups whole milk 1 teaspoon chopped, dried sage 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided 1 cup frozen peas 1/2 cup frozen corn In a small skillet, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter until no longer pink; set aside and keep warm.

Prepare mashed potatoes according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth.

Gradually add milk; stir in seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or thickened.

Remove from the heat. Stir in 3/4 cup Swiss cheese until melted. Add peas, corn and chicken. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with mashed potatoes; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. ** Could also be baked in a cast iron skillet.

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14

The Gardener’s Corner

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / Februrary 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

BCGA Is Semi-Dormant, Not Dead

The corona virus has caused the Bonner County Gardeners Association to put many of their activities on hold for now, but when this pandemic is past, the activities and classes will return. The organization is devoted to education on gardening and horticulture, and a requirement to join is having completed a Master Gardener course at some point, or completion of the Membership Course normally offered by the group. We are unable to offer the course this year, but both Bonner and Boundary County Extension offices of the University of Idaho are planning Master Gardener courses for 2021. Graduates from these programs can join BCGA. Why join, you ask. BCGA offers continuing education classes for the public on a variety of topics of interest to gardeners. Members pay half price for these Spring and Fall Home Horticulture classes. BCGA sponsors an annual garden tour, which is fun and educational. Members can join a Forum to ask and answer garden questions. We have participated in the Bonner County Fair in the past, and provide funding and volunteers for community beautification projects. BCGA is not all work, though. BCGA members like to socialize and share garden secrets and advice, and ooh and aah at one another’s projects. We normally hold potlucks at members’ gardens, and celebrate successful years with a holiday party. Most of these activities are on hold for now, but a spring plant sale is still planned. Stay tuned.

If you have completed a Master Gardener course in another state or at another time or if you have a degree related to horticulture or a related field, we welcome you to apply to join our organization.

For more information, visit us a bcgardeners.org.

THNKING AHEAD TO SPRING It is January and the days are already just a bit longer than a couple of weeks ago. Each day holds a promise of spring on the way, but we don’t want to rush, as winter has a certain charm, as well.

Gardeners eagerly peruse seed and plant catalogs this time of year, seeking the best varieties of each plant for the climate and conditions in one’s specific garden, such as shade and sun exposure and days to maturity of the plants.

Seed catalogs offer more than just seeds; many also serve as valuable sources of information. Catalogs often provide detailed how-to’s on growing, from how many days from planting indoors to planting outside, to ideal germination temperatures and varieties that are resistant to viruses or other hazards. The seed companies want you to succeed, and know that data on how best to grow their plants is good for you and for them.

Seed catalogs also offer an opportunity to fantasize; we all visualize the ideal garden when selecting seeds. I like to go through the catalog marking seed varieties that I might like, letting my imagination go wild. Later, I make a list, and usually have to eliminate a number of items. Who needs ten kinds of squash, or 25 varieties of tomato? I might want to experiment, though, with artichokes or other semi-exotic specimen.

Okay, now let’s go outside. Look at where the sun is now. What do the shadows encompass? Shadows are long this time of year. If you are planning the location of a greenhouse or just a garden plot, it is good to know how much light there is in winter. A year round greenhouse might need more natural light than a vegetable garden area, which is not active during the extreme winter months. That said, the more sun earlier in the season, the better for a veggie plot. The snow will melt earlier, and the soil will warm faster. In the landscape garden, note where the snow accumulates and melts slower. This usually indicates shady conditions, and can influence which plants are placed there.

I’m trying an experiment this year. Previously, I’ve removed the plastic cover of a small hoop house in November and put it back up in March. This year, due mainly to laziness, the plastic is still on, and I’m sweeping snow off regularly. This hoop house has a framed wood structure, so it can handle the weight of quite a bit of wet snow. If all goes well, I won’t have to put the plastic on this spring, and won’t have to shovel a couple feet of snow out of the inside. A lone potted rosemary plant remains. I’ll keep track of when it finally freezes, and will note the temperature and date. Currently, the structure receives a couple of hours of sunlight, which warms it minimally. If all goes well, next year, I’ll plant some fall lettuce and kale in large pots in there for a continued supply of salads. Also, I’m hoping it will heat up faster in spring, lessening the need for an electric heater on young plants. I may have to eliminate a couple of trees for more winter sun, but the fuel will be welcome in the wood heater.

Part of the fun of gardening is the opportunity to experiment and learn new things. Get adventurous--try something new this year in your garden.

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Our Community

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Elenbaas Feed Program Nets Awards for Local 4-H Members

By Nancy Wright, CO-OP Gas & Supply Company

Each year scores of youth choose to participate in a program referred to as 4-H. The name of this program is derived from the 4 basic values embraced by the members and indicated in the 4-H Pledge.

I pledge My HEAD to clearer thinking, My HEART to greater loyalty, My HANDS to larger service and My HEALTH to better living, for my CLUB, my COMMUNITY, my COUNTRY, and my WORLD. For decades the CO-OP has been a strong supporter of 4-H as well as the Bonner and Boundary County Fairs which is primarily where 4-H Members are able to share their projects with the community. And some of those projects, when finished well, can produce some very nice awards, like the Elenbaas Feed awards.

Again this year local 4-H members receive award checks from Elenbaas Feed. Members receiving Grand or Reserve Grand Champion in their market class and feeding Elenbaas Feed exclusively to their animals are eligible for this award. Also, the members 4-H or FFA group receive an award check. All of these youth are members of the Gold N Grouse 4-H club.

In the picture, left to right : Kami Williams, Holly Rainey, Cyndi Pronger, Co-op Feed Manager, Larissa Lippert.

Larrisa received 200.00 for Grand Champion Market Steer Holly received 50.00 for Grand Champion Market Lamb Kami received 25.00 for Res Champion Market Lamb Gold N Grouse 4-H Club also received 125.00.

The CO-OP Gas & Supply Company extends congratulations to each and every one of these winners and to their 4-H Club.

The purpose of the 4-H program is to help young people become creative and productive citizens. 4-H lays the foundation for continuing education and helps youth acquire a zest for life-long learning.

For information regarding the 4-H Program here in Idaho please go to info@uidaho.edu.

125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, Idaho 208.263.6820 Coopgasandsupply.com

15

Georges Annual Tree Sale Friday April 30, 2021 8:00 AM Sharp

We are looking forward to another great tree sale event in 2021! We hope you can join us.

Here are the trees, shrubs, and berries we plan to have available.

As always, availability is subject to any changes made by the supplier over which The CO-OP Has NO Control.

Japanese Tree Lilac

Ozark Strawberries

Silver Maple

Laramie Strawberries

Sand Cherry

Thornless Blackberry

Burning Bush

Patriot Blueberry

Pink Lilac

Fallgold Raspberry

Purple Lilac

Red Mcintosh Apple

Rainier Sweet Cherry

Yellow Transparent

Sweet Pie Cherry

Pippin Yellow

Pembina Plum

Honeycrisp

Summercrisp Pear Moongold Apricot

For more information on this event and for a list please visit our web site. **Product list and info will be available online on 2/15/2021

coopgasandsupply.com 125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, ID coopgasandsupply.

Our Community

17

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

Post Office to Pub: The Federal Building Renovation

By Hannah Combs Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society

Gaze up at the arched window above the entrance or at the precision in the masonry. Once inside, the rich, dark paneling might catch your eye as your fingertips hover over its smooth grain. Everything in this building feels bright and fresh, yet there’s something in the air that hearkens back to an earlier time, when care was paid to every little detail.

This rich attention to detail is thanks to Mickey and Duffy Mahoney, owners of MickDuff’s Brewing Company, and the artisans they recruited to bring the history back to life in the Sandpoint Federal Building. The distinctive Italian Renaissance Revival/ Spanish Colonial Revival building at 419 N. Second Avenue has a well-documented building history. As Sandpoint’s population boomed in the early 20th century, Congress was formulating infrastructure aid for railroad towns, including the Post Office Appropriation Act of 1912, which provided funds to build a new post office building. Formerly, the Sandpoint Post Office was tucked in a tiny lot on First Avenue.

Though the building lot was acquired in 1916 and some groundwork was completed, the structure was postponed for nearly a decade due to World War I and the following recession. In 1927, the building was finally erected. Over 200 of the original blueprints for the building can be seen at the Bonner County History Museum.

Over the decades, the building served as the post office, then the library, until each outgrew the space and moved on to larger facilities. Upstairs and basement offices accommodated military recruiters, the Forest Service, and the Bonner County History Museum’s archives, among others.

In the new millennium, the building became the home of an antique mall, and then First American Title Company. In 2001, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As the Mahoney brothers began to renovate the building for their restaurant in 2019, they chose to maintain, even enhance, the historic identity of the building. “The first time I walked into the building, I felt it had a soul,” said Heather Upton, Curator and Executive Director of BCHS. “Mickey’s and Duffy’s enthusiasm and love for the historical details was contagious.” The Mahoney brothers got to know the building’s intricacies intimately during the renovation process. From the hidden ladders and catwalk from which the postmaster could observe post office operations, to the historically accurate bathroom fixtures they ordered from France to match the original design, no feature was undiscovered nor detail neglected. “I saw the light in [Mickey’s and Duffy’s] eyes that we have at the Museum when we investigate the past, and I knew that they were the perfect stewards of this important historic building,” said Upton.

Though the history of the building itself, from construction to renovations to an arson attempt at the library (another fascinating story), is documented in detail, few stories exist of the people who passed through the arched doors of this building over the years.

Who rushed around behind the counter to ship holiday packages at the post office?

Who proudly signed up for service in the basement during World War II? What of the child who found their first book at the library and rushed to read it in a chair under the big windows? These are the stories that truly bring a building to life.

Heather Upton has collaborated with MickDuff’s to create a photo exhibit that captures both the history of the building and the culture that makes this area special. The construction photos are impressive, but it’s the laughs and smiles on the faces of the people who have lived here over the years that bring warmth and life to the beautifully preserved space.

We invite you to help us add to the story by sharing your memories of the Federal Building with us. Were you the Army recruit, the child with their nose in a book, the antiques dealer, the master craftsman helping with renovations? What story can you share of your time in this historic building? Email us your memories at info@bonnercountyhistory.org.

MickDuff’s is now open every day 11:00 am – 9:00 pm at their new location 419 N. Second Avenue. Stop in for a beer, a burger, and to be immersed in the history of your hometown.

Research provided by Dan Evans and the Bonner County History Museum.

Photo above:Merton Moran poses in front of his delivery truck with a promotional poster, circa 1950’s. Donated to BCHS by Sandpoint News Bulletin.

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Economics

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 22 Issue 1

Wrapping Up the Year

By Judy Baird VP Branch Manager Mountain West Bank

Hard to believe it is the end of 2020. A call for celebration that we’ve almost reached the end of what has been a challenging year for many, and a bit of sadness knowing time is going by so quickly.

A quick note for those shopping for a home loan or a refinance of an existing mortgage. Conforming loan limits have increased from $510,000 to $548,250 for 2021 which is significant considering local housing prices. A conforming loan is a mortgage that meets the requirements to be purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and is under those limits. Conforming loans typically offer lower interest rates to borrowers with high credit scores which is a great option if your goal is to get a low monthly payment.

In terms of savings, if you are looking ahead and already planning for 2021, now is the perfect time to think about ways to start to save or increase the amount you currently save. One way is through the benefits of a Health Savings account (HSA). An HSA is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in an HSA account to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs.

While you can use the funds in an HSA at any time to pay for qualified medical expenses, you may contribute to an HSA only if you have a High Deductible Health Plan – generally a health plan that only covers preventive services before the deductible. For 2020, you could contribute up to $3,550 for self- only coverage and $7,100 for family coverage. This is approximately a 15% increase for 2021 over year 2020 – individual contribution increased to $7,200 for family and $3,600 for self only.

HSAs have three tax benefits. Contributions are tax deductible which reduces your taxable income for the year. For example, if you make $40,000 a year, if you put $3,000 into your HSA, you will be taxed as though you make $37,000, thus lowering your tax burden.

Secondly, you can invest your HSA contributions and the interest accrues tax free and the third benefit is when you withdraw money, it’s tax-free if it’s used for qualified medical expenses.

Many employers offer HSAs and it is easy to set up automatic contributions directly from payroll. Talk to your banker, your CPA or Accountant, or your employer to see if an HSA account is right for you. You have until April 15, 2021, to make contributions for 2020.

January is also a great time to commit to some sort of savings plan for the new year. If you already contribute to a 401k through your workplace, think about increasing the percentage you contribute. If you were fortunate to receive, or are scheduled to receive, a salary increase, why not increase your contribution by that amount? You’ll never feel the difference, other than the satisfaction of knowing you are investing in yourself and your family.

Another commitment you can make is to pay yourself first. Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to automatically transfer funds into a savings account each payday or see if your employer can deposit your pay into a checking and a savings account for you.

Round up. Some credit card companies will round up your purchase to the next dollar and you earn rewards or even cash for the difference. When making your mortgage payment each month, round up and apply the difference to the principal balance of your loan. For those who use apps for a number of things, there are several available that will help you save. Digit, Dobot, Qapital, Chime and Acorns are just a few.

Qapital, for example, lets you set up savings rules. For example, you could set up a guilty pleasure rule so the app stashes money into your savings every time you buy takeout food or other “stuff” you are trying to resist. It can also round up your change on purchases and apply that money to savings. If you use a debit card to buy a $3.50 latte, the app withdraws 50 cents from your checking and moves it to your savings. You can also set rules to make the roundup larger.

When setting those new year resolutions, decide to start out the year committed to your financial health by finding small ways to increase your wealth. Surprise yourself New Year’s Eve 2021 when you see the difference and how well you did.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family. Here’s to good physical, mental, and financial health in 2021!

The CO-OP Country Round Up A paper for, and about, country people.

Owned by the CO-OP Gas & Supply Co., Inc. 125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, Idaho 83852 208-263-6820

The Round Up is published bimonthly by Round Up Publishing and printed by TPC Printing, Lewiston, Idaho.

Our distribution is 40,000 in North Idaho and West Sanders county in Montana.

The next issue of the Round Up will be out on March 5, 2021 Contributors : Jim Haynes, Ann Warwick, Judy Baird, Dr. Gabrielle Duebendorfer, Chase Youngdahl, Hannah Combs, For advertising rates, information and questions please call 208.265.7703 or email kathy@coopgasandsupply.com You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and on our website coopgasandsupply.com

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Real Estate and You

19

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 2

State of the Market – Regional and National TrendsJim Haynes, Associate Broker, Realm Partners Home Sales Trends Below are two tables comparing the year-over-year (YOY) change (Chg) in the number of single-family homes sold and their median1 sales prices for the three counties of North Idaho and the total United States:

Three North Idaho Counties

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Number Sold 5147 5342 5729 5551 6006

YOY Chg (%) 3.8% 7.2% -3.1% 8.2%

Median YOY Chg Sales Price (%) $234,000 $259,900 11.1% $290,000 11.6% $320,000 10.3% $370,000 15.6%

# Sold (1,000s) 5450 5510 5340 5340 5460

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

North Idaho data for 2020 are 12/1/19 to 11/30/20

Unites States YOY Chg (%) 1.1% -3.1% 0.0% 2.2%

Median Sales Price $233,800 $247,200 $259,300 $271,900 $285,150

YOY Chg (%) 5.7% 4.9% 4.9% 4.9%

United States data for 2020 are 11/1/19 to 10/31/20

Source: National Association of Realtors, Coeur d’Alene MLS and Selkirk MLS (1/1/2016 to 11/30/2019, information deemed reliable but not guaranteed)

Last year based on the number of homes sold our local market contracted 3.1% whereas the US market was flat with the same number of homes sold in 2019 as in 2018. This year the North Idaho market expanded 8.2%, almost four times the national expansion rate of just over 2%. In addition, home prices in North Idaho increased 15.6%, more than three times the national increase of just under 5%. Experts attribute the lack of inventory of homes for sale for the slow growth in the number of homes sold nationally. By the end of October inventories of homes nationally had dropped to two and a half months, down from nearly four months one year ago. Locally our inventory is less than half the national average at 1.2 months. Note that for the last four years the increase in median homes sales prices for the US has gone up an average of 5.2% while the North Idaho market has increased an average annual rate of 12.2%, more than twice the national average. Prices in North Idaho have been going up at 1% a month since 2016!

Included in the year 2020 is the impact of COVID-19. Many expected a slow-down in the market based on unknows about the disease. Locally, quite the opposite happened. The rate that home prices are rising is increasing and so is the number of homes being sold. Idaho population growth on a per capita basis has been at or near the top nationally in recent years even before COVID-19. Many are working remotely and therefore can work from anywhere. Based on our market many are looking at Idaho.

Going Forward A vaccine is coming that might help us get back to something resembling a pre-COVID normalcy, but many people think working remotely is here to stay. Also, interest rates continue to hit new record lows (30-year fixed rate of 2.8%). Lower interest rates mean more buying power which takes some of the sting out of rising real estate prices. 2021 should continue to see double digit increases in prices. The challenge will be tight inventories.

1.

The median home price is that price at which half of the homes sold for more than that amount, and half sold for less than that amount.

The median price is used to remove bias from home prices introduced by high end properties.

Information compiled by Jim Haynes, Associate Broker, Realm Partners, 208-290-7249, jim.haynes@frontier.com Single Family Home Sales (number of units) United States * Kootenai County ** Bonner County ** Boundary County **

2013 5,090,000 2,973 645 150

2014 4,940,000 3,159 734 155

2015 5,250,000 3,758 776 188

2016 5,450,000 4,133 840 174

2017 5,510,000 4,304 881 157

2018 5,340,000 4,512 1,000 217

Dec. 1, 2019 % Change from 2019 to Nov. 30, 2020 2019 5,340,000 5,460,000 2.2% 4,416 4,815 9.0% 913 976 6.9% 222 215 -3.2%

Single Family Median Home Prices (houses sold) United States * Kootenai County ** Bonner County ** Boundary County **

2013 $197,100 $184,413 $199,000 $152,750

2014 $208,300 $198,900 $225,500 $159,900

2015 $222,400 $214,000 $235,000 $172,450

2016 $233,800 $230,330 $257,500 $175,000

2017 $247,200 $257,583 $280,990 $199,900

* Existing homes Source: National Association of Realtors, Coeur d'Alene MLS and Selkirk MLS (1-1-2013 to 11-30-2020, information deemed reliable but not guaranteed)

2018 $259,300 $292,000 $305,000 $194,000

2019 $271,900 $320,000 $335,000 $234,000

Dec. 1, 2019 % Change from to Nov. 30, 2020 2019 $285,150 4.9% $370,000 15.6% $386,800 15.5% $302,000 29.1%

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