Jan - Feb 2024 RU

THE

CO-OP

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

Boundary County Winter Classes

4

See what the Extension Office has planned

Winter Entertainment Ideas

5

Idaho Ag Predation

7

George’s Annual Tree Sale

8

Weed of the month: Saltcedar

10

Herbal Remedies: Pine Honey

11

Last Call for Gardening Class

12

Of sledding and arboretums

Predation impact increasing in Idaho

Check out what we have planned

Another nasty one for water spaces

Health Care with Suzanne Tabert

BCGA is ready! Are you?

Equine Communication

13

Proper Trailer Unloading Matters

The Well being in Peace

14

with Dr. Duebendorfer

Roads in Bonner County

17

Family Forest Preservation

18

See if your road is on the list

ERCWSS Postal Customer

Kaniksu Land Trust in action

Presorted Std. U.S Postage PAID Spokane, WA Permit #7

Jan. / Feb. 2024 125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, ID 83852 coopgasandsupply.com

2

From the Editor

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

This Is Going to Be a Very Big Year at CO-OP Gas and Supply Company

It is amazing to think that The CO-OP Gas & Supply Company has been in business for 89 continuous years. We are now in our 90th year of operation and we are pretty proud of this! We are also very aware that this could not have been accomplished if it were not for the continued community support and business we have enjoyed over these many decades. Through a Great Depression, a Great Recession, at least four wars, numerous small recessions, pressures on farm lands, government regulations and controls, and so much more, this community has kept faith in us to be here and keep our doors open. We have done that. And we will be celebrating this at our Annual Meeting in March.

January is dreaming month for farmers and gardeners. In amongst the regular chores, caring for animals through the winter and keeping watch on the weather, we dream. We look at seed catalogs and mark pages. We draw pictures and toss them in the trash knowing the images are not nearly as big as our dreams. We will have to start again to make room for it all. There will be new plants, trees, calves, baby chicks, lambs and kids. Kids of all kinds if we are thus blessed as I was last year with two more sweet babes.

In this issue of the CO-OP Round Up you are going to find some wonderful activities to keep you and yours busy for the rest of the winter.

There are classes with the University of Idaho through the season. If you haven’t taken advantage these classes you may just be missing out on one of the best things about living here. These classes provide education and support when starting a homestead or choosing to add a new tree to the yard or orchard. Also, consider connecting with the Bonner County Gardeners Association about the classes they offer.

The Bonner County Museum has a continuing exhibit through January 23rd which would be great for the kids and a great window into “a vintage Christmas Card”. If you have not been to the Bonner County Historical Museum, maybe this is a good time to see it and meet the staff.

Seeds are in already at the CO-OP. So when you have decided what to plant come in and see our seed selection. Of course, once you see it you will find seeds for new plants you may not have thought of, so, make room for that eventuality. Herbs, flowers, all manner of vegetables bred for this location as well as tomatoes and peppers. Keep in mind that the CO-OP always has bedding plants for this area in spring as soon as the nurserys are ready. We also have George’s Annual Tree Sale on Friday April 26th at 8 AM sharp for one of the wildest tree and shrub sales in the area. It’s fun and it goes pretty fast. So put that date on your calendar and keep checking our website coopgasandsupply.com for updates through the first week in April. The population of our sale plants is sometimes impacted by weather and shipping conditions. We will try to publish new information in a timely manner.

When you come in to the CO-OP store take a walk over to the coffee shop area and look at the historic art panels we have been placing over the last year. These panels will eventually populate many of the store walls and help visually tell the story of timber and agriculture life in Bonner County, the whole reason The CO-OP exists. We wish to thank The Bonner County Historical Museum for access to the images community members have so graciously provided and to Busy Beaver Graphics for the panels themselves. We hope you enjoy viewing these mages of the rich history on which we build our own. 90 Years is a great birthday to celebrate! Thanks for being a part of it! Happy 2024.

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.

125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, Idaho coopgasandsupply.com



Please make sure trees and shrubs around your propane tank are trimmed back. Mark the location of the tank for easy access.



The access road to your tank MUST BE PLOWED and free of obstacles



When placing your tank remember: The tank MUST BE ACCESSIBLE so, Tanks may not be placed under a deck Tank protection may have three (3) sides and a roof or four (4) sides and NO ROOF.



When should you call to get on the fill schedule? Call at 30%.

Thank you so much for your cooperation!

4

Bits & Pieces

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

WINTER/SPRING 2024 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.

Mental Health First Aid, FREE Friday, January 19, 8:30am-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.

Water Bath Canning, $10 Tuesday, January 23, 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 product which they can pick up the day after the class. Class size is limited to 9 people.

It’s possible to achieve the retirement of your dreams.

North Idaho Cereal School, FREE Thursday February 1, Sign-in 7:45am, Program 8am-1pm

Prepare now, so that when the time comes, you can enjoy retirement on your own terms.

Contact me to learn more today.

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.

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Freeze Drying Class, $10 Wednesday, February 7, 1pm-2:30pm

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 freezedried 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.

Soil Blocking for Seedlings & Using Indoor Grow Lights, $5 Wednesday, February 21, 1pm-3pm

Learn how to save space and time by starting your seedlings in soil blocks. These are small cubes of compressed soil that serve as both the container and the soil medium all-in-one. This technique allows seeds to rapidly germinate and creates vigorous seedlings with healthy root systems that can be transferred to the garden without transplant shock. We will also discuss a simple and inexpensive grow light system that can be used for seedlings started in soil blocks or in containers.

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QPR Suicide Prevention Class, FREE Friday, February 23, Noon-1pm

We invite you to attend the next QPR suicide prevention gatekeeper training course offered by Amy Robertson, U of I Extension. To join the in-person training please register by emailing amrobertson@uidaho.edu or calling the Boundary County Extension office at 208-267-3235.

The need for suicide prevention efforts is increasing given the challenges of the last few months. Make a difference and help prevent suicide by becoming a trained suicide prevention gatekeeper. For more information on QPR, visit qprinstitute.come.

Parenting Education Series, FREE Wednesdays, March 6-May 15, 5:30pm-6:30pm

We will be offering a FREE Parenting Education Series in Bonners Ferry for families with kids between the ages of 5-11. The class is a nineweek series and sessions will be held one evening per week with some optional parent cafe sessions. This program is part of an effort to develop a parenting program designed to meet the needs of rural families in Idaho. Program participants will be given incentives for participating in and completing the program. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Amy Robertson at amrobertson@uidaho.edu or call 208-267-3235.

Basic Orchard Care, $5 Thursday, March 7, 1pm-4pm

Kyle Nagy, with the U of I Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, will be sharing information on how to properly care for your home orchard.

In this class you will learn some of the basic tips and tricks to take care of your fruit trees successfully.

Plan the Garden, Preserve the Harvest, FREE Wednesday, March 13, 3:30pm-5pm Via Zoom

Learn how to plan out your garden, so you are prepared when it’s time to plant! This class will also cover harvesting and safely preserving your garden. Research-based recommendations will be shared for preparing a great garden and also consuming it! There will be opportunities to ask questions, so you are ready to plant, grow, harvest, and store your garden’s bounty! To register, go to https://bit.ly/PlanPreserve24.

Basic Dehydration, $10 Thursday, March 21, 1pm-3pm

In this class we will be sampling different dehydrated foods and making fruit leather. You will learn specific techniques for using your home oven or dehydrator to dry fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats. Your family will love these healthy snacks.

Bonner County - Living on the Land, $100 Thursdays, March-April, 5:30pm-8pm Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, N. 10881 Boyer Rd.

This course consists of a series of classes designed to meet the needs of participants in the region where it is offered. Topics include: Choosing farm equipment, What to do about weeds, Market and organic gardening, Pasture establishment and renovation, Caring for animals, Water quality, Feeds and feeding, Your living soil, Grazing management. Call Jennifer 208-263-8511 if interested in attending.

Check our website for current classes and our newsletter: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/boundary

Then and Now

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

5

Winter Entertainment: What a Ride Down Pine Street Hill!

By Helen Newton

How is it that the 1950’s have become “the good old days?” Weren’t they just the other day? Just as now, winter weather didn’t always cooperate for good skating, sledding or riding those long toboggans down hills through fresh powder. However, when conditions were right, we took advantage of them.

Throughout the county swales in farm fields were used for skating after every thaw and freeze. In town, young and old took advantage of Sand Creek and shoreline ice. Some played ice hockey even though they didn’t know the rules. The city and the Kiwanis club kept skating surfaces clear and the fire department sprayed the areas to smooth them out. Mountain States Power installed lights for night skating!

The crowning experience in the ‘50’s was to have sledded down Pine Street. The street was dirt and not graveled, making for excellent sledding. Legend has it that Phil Rogers (SHS ’59) rode his sled from the very top of the hill all the way to the intersection with Syringa Heights Road. Now THAT was a ride!

Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum

Pathways to the Possible in the Native Plant Arboretum

The North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum in Lakeview Park is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Established in 1998, actual hands-in-the-dirt work began in Spring 1999. As part of its anniversary celebration, KNPS is exploring possibilities for the Arboretum’s next 25 years.

To facilitate this forward look, KNPS engaged in a spirited brainstorming session, which led to the creation and completion of a membership survey. Now it’s time to dig in and start exploring! What pathways should the Arboretum take?

KNPS’s first monthly meeting of 2024 will delve into the survey results and set priorities for the future of the Arboretum. This important and informative meeting will take place on Saturday, January 20th at 10:00 AM, with coffee, tea and treats at 9:30 at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. The meeting is open to the public and welcomes suggestions for making the Arboretum even more integral and beneficial to our community.

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Ag News

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Farmers, Ranchers Discuss Depredation with Fish and Game

By Sean Ellis Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

7

Asked about wolves, Lockyer said although there have been sightings in the area, the predators are not established in the region.

“We’re under the mindset of when, not if, they get here,” he said. “We’re set up to not allow a high volume … of wolves to get established here.”

Fish and game employees told meeting participants they have received the message about the wildlife depredation issues in the area and will do what they can to help landowners address them.

“We do feel your guys’ pain and suffering when you are going through something,” said White.

Lockyer told Idaho Farm Bureau Federation later he felt good about how the meeting went.

“It was a good opportunity for us to engage with a group that we don’t get to sit down with as often,” he said. “There were good questions, good dialogue and I hope we get future opportunities to engage with that group again.”

MONTPELIER – Dozens of Bear Lake County farmers and ranchers had a direct and frank discussion with Idaho Department of Fish and Game employees Nov. 27 about wildlife depredation occurring in the region.

About 50 people, almost all of them farmers and ranchers, attended the meeting, which was organized by Bear Lake County Farm Bureau and included several IDFG regional representatives.

Damage to farms and ranches by elk, deer and beavers has been an ongoing problem for years in the county, said rancher Albert Johnson, president of Bear Lake County Farm Bureau.

While sportsmen have offered input to fish and game on wildlife issues in the region, farmers and ranchers here feel their voices and concerns haven’t been heard as much and that’s what led to the meeting, Johnson said.

“Farmers and ranchers don’t have a voice, it seems, equal to the amount of depredation they’ve sustained and the resources they’ve put into wildlife,” he said. “We felt farmers and other landowners needed to have a direct contact voice with fish and game.”

During the meeting, fish and game employees had a fluid, back-andforth conversation with landowners about depredation problems in the region.

Wildlife depredation, including from elk, has been a big concern for “There was communication that went both ways,” Johnson said. “There farmers and ranchers in Bear Lake County.

Photo by Jim Parker. were a lot of gaps … that were closed.”

For example, he said, a lot of farmers and ranchers in that region didn’t know about certain opportunities available for addressing problems caused by beaver. And, at the suggestion of landowners, he said, fish and game officials realized some things they can potentially do preemptively to try to control wildlife depredation problems before they get out of hand.

Johnson said people representing every part of the valley ended up participating in the meeting.

“I thought it was a pretty profitable session,” he said. “We received a lot of feedback from ranchers, a lot of phone calls after the meeting thanking us for that opportunity.”

During the meeting, fish and game employees went over the different resources available to landowners to help them address wildlife depredation issues. For example, there are special hunts that can be held in certain areas experiencing significant depredation. That includes landowner permission hunts and special depredation hunts.

If all else fails, landowners can apply for reimbursement for depredation-related losses through a claims process.

“These are challenging issues and sometimes we can’t 100 percent solve it,” said Zach Lockyer, IDFG’s regional wildlife populations manager. “It’s hard on you guys. We recognize that. That’s where the claims process comes in, to reimburse you for your losses.”

Beaver are not covered under that claims program, however, and fish and game employees described resources available to landowners to address problems Thompson Falls, MT caused by beaver.

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Reserve now for March butcher date

Georges Annual Tree Sale Friday April 26, 2024 8:00 AM Sharp

We are looking forward to another great tree sale event in 2024! 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.

Fruit Bearing Plants and Shrubs Ozark Strawberries Thorneless Blackberry Honeoye Strawberries Jersey Blueberry Ozark Beauty Strawberry Patriot Blueberry Fort Laramie Strawberry Northland Blueberry Red Lake Currant Pixwell Gooseberry Canada Red Rhubarb Jersey Knight Aspagagus Fruit Bearing Trees Elberta Peach Reliance Peach Mount Royal Plum Superior Plum Apple Bearing Trees SnowSweet Apple McIntosh Apple

Boyne Raspberry Heritage Raspberry Caroline Raspberry Purple Pass. Asparagus

Mary Washington

Rainier Sweet Cherry Bing Cherry Lapin Cherry Std. Sweet Cherry Pie

Granny Smith

KinderKrisp

This IS NOT a comprehensive list of apple trees we hope to have.

PLEASE check our website for updates on heritage apple trees we plan to have available.

Currently this is what we expect to have on sale day for fruit bearingtrees and shrubs. This list is subject to change through April 2024.

Landscaping/ornamental tree and shrub list can be found on our web site by February 15, 2024. Please check our website through the spring for any updates or corrections to this list.

THIS LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, ID

208.263.6820 coopgasandsupply.com

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10

Our Environment

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Weed of the Month: Saltcedar

By Chase Youngdahl, Bonner County Noxious Weeds

The end of the year is a whirlwind of deadlines for cooperative weed management area reports and noxious weed mapping data, converging with the conjunct noxious weed meetings which take place at the start of the year in Boise. These meetings enhance statewide collaboration on noxious weed management and facilitate meaningful networking; as well as provide industry updates, state & county project updates, applicable regulation changes and overall professional development. I will be contributing in some of these areas with presentations at the Idaho Association of County Noxious Weed Control annual meeting as well as at the Idaho Noxious Weed Conference. Additionally, I will be absorbing as many presentations and discussions as possible in order to gather information and updates that can be used to benefit Bonner County.

I often collect new ideas for program improvements—whether it’s something groundbreaking to better assist landowners with noxious & invasive weed management, or something nuanced to help polish my own educational presentations. With a myriad of happenings over the last year, including the Sackett vs. EPA decision, the Quagga-Mussel discovery/response, Idaho pesticide administrative rule changes (proposed), noxious weed list changes (proposed) and new chemical & bio control tools, there will be a lot to learn. Upon returning from Boise, I will be forging ahead with the planning process for 2024 operational and educational activities. One such plan is to put a finer point on surveying areas of known EDRR (early detection, rapid response) noxious weed populations. The process will start with identifying and cataloguing surrounding properties in these areas, then reaching out to the owners with letters. Come field season, the process will continue (hopefully) with performing physical inspections of the properties. Treatment plans will be initiated with the landowner(s) should the targets be found. University guidance regarding species eradication recommends inspecting a half-mile radius from the last known population. A list of the Idaho noxious weeds that exist in Bonner County is on our website, and it indicates which ones we classify in the EDRR category.

Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) is one of nine EDRR noxious weeds in Bonner County. The state listing includes all species and subtaxa of Tamarix—similar to how Brooms are listed. Saltcedar is an evergreen shrub/small tree reaching heights of over 20 feet at maturity.

The scaly, overlapping leaves kind of resemble the leaf structure of our native cedars, but…that’s where the similarities end. Saltcedar is from Eurasia and Africa, and is incredibly invasive in a number of North American habitats—from dunes and deserts to riparian areas. It severely limits biodiversity not only by creating a monoculture, but due to a biological niche, where the roots extract salts from the soil and excrete them from the leaves. The salt deposits on the soil surface inhibits growth, survival and recruitment of desirable native vegetation.

While some species of Saltcedar were introduced for the purposes of bank stabilization, others were introduced as ornamentals—sought after for the appealing pastel-pink clusters of flowers and ability to create privacy hedges. As such, infestations can be found in landscaping. For domestic water that’s sourced from springs or shallow seepage wells, nearby Saltcedar infestations can be a problem, especially during droughts. Saltcedar = groundwater going ‘bye-bye’.

A single, mature Saltcedar can transpire at least 200 gallons of water per plant, per day. For perspective, that’s on the high end of what a mature Cottonwood transpires, and Saltcedar is a fraction of the size of a Cottonwood. Heavy Saltcedar infestations along riparian corridors can alter or even stop the flow of water, and can increase area flooding by narrowing channel widths.

I have only dealt directly with one Saltcedar, and it was in the form of a fully mature, 20 foot tree. It was a cut & remove situation with triclopyr applied to the cut stump to prevent regrowth. A year later, another one was discovered on a site about 2 miles away—the landowner opted to take care of it themselves. Those are the only two instances of Saltcedar in Bonner County that I have encountered, so be on the lookout—there are miles upon miles of lake shore and river bank that serve as prime habitat for it. Additionally, it could be present in urban and suburban landscapes. Aggressive pursuit of EDRR noxious weeds remains a high priority for our operations.

Onward!

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Country Life

11

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Herbal Support for a Healthy Respiratory System with Pine Trees

The respiratory system is the site of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is an integral component in turning the food we eat into fuel to give the body energy to perform its myriad functions. When we take oxygen into the lungs with each inhalation, the oxygen molecules attach to iron molecules on blood cells and are transported to the capillary beds. From there, the oxygen molecules jump off the blood cells and enter the mitochondria in the nucleus of the cells, where they react with molecular chains and create an explosion that violently breaks apart the chains to create energy. Very simplified, that’s called the Krebs Cycle, my friends.

This vital system helps the body to get rid of viruses, carbon dioxide (a metabolite of the Krebs cycle), pollen, particulates, bacteria, etc. that enter the lungs. The upper respiratory (nose) detects odors and is where the vocal cords reside (throat). The rate and depth of breathing influence both blood composition and blood and lymphatic transport.

Many factors can affect the function of the respiratory system. Let’s explore my favorite wild plant known to strengthen and heal lung tissue and all mucosa, including the lungs, throat, sinuses and ears.

Pines ~ Pinus spp.

In North Idaho, the Ponderosa, White and Lodgepole pines dominate, however Grand Fir, Abies grandis and Red Fir, aka Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, also in the Pinaceae family, are plentiful.

What they all have in common is their special affinity for the lungs, with their plethora of terpenes (aka essential oils), including the bronchial dilating alpha-Pinene, the anti-inflammatory monoterpenes linalool and limonene, and the citrusy smelling terpinolene, which is anxiolytic (receives anxiety). In the needles and bark, redolent with the distinctive piney/citrusy scent, these terpenes can aid in opening up the lungs and sinuses, easing the breath, allowing for more efficiently oxygenated cells throughout the body and promoting healthy vitality.

What’s cool about the pines is that their bark and needles can be harvested any time of year. During the winter, the pines create more of these terpenes to act as antifreeze, keeping the needles from freezing. Isn’t nature wonderful?

One of the mottos at the Cedar Mountain Herb School is “get the medicine to the people in ways they’ll enjoy taking, so that healing can occur.” Who doesn’t love a good sweet? Herbal honeys are so versatile and are easy to make. Honey is hygroscopic, meaning that water is attracted to it. All the water solubles in the plants will be extracted in honey, including the water soluble vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

In addition, anyone who has tasted my pine, ginger, and citrus infused honey will tell you about the vivacious taste of terpenes that have also been extracted.

cious infused honey can be spread on toast, put into tea or lemonades, drizzled onto oatmeal. What sounds good to you?

Until next time, I leave you Wild About Plants!

Suzanne Tabert is a bioregional herbalist, author, speaker, director of herbal education at the Cedar Mountain Herb School and adjunct professor at Bastyr University. Suzanne has been inspiring students with joy and excitement for all-natural living for over 35 years, offering an amazing platform for folks to connect with each other and with nature.

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To make pine infused honey: • • • • • •

3-4 hand sized pruned branch tips 1/4 grapefruit or 1 tangerine or 1/2 orange, preferably organic 1 inch piece of ginger About 1.5 cups of local honey Pint jar with lid Label

To harvest pine on your own, choose a pine that is away from power lines and the roads. Firstly, it’s important to note that we will not peel bark from the trunk of the tree. This makes a wound that takes long to heal and opens the tree to all manner of disease. Trim or prune the ends of the branches with heavy shears or clippers. 3 or 4 “hand” size pieces will be all that’s needed to fill a pint jar, along with the ginger and citrus.

Strip the bark from the stem. It’s as easy as peeling opposite the needle attachment. Start the peeling with a knick of a knife, then pull the bark away from the stem; the needles will come along for the ride.

Mince the bark and stems as small as possible and fill the jar halfway.

Mince the ginger, peel and all, and toss it into the jar. Chop up the citrus - the peels, pulp and juice, and add that to the jar.

The jar should be filled almost to the top with the ingredients. Pour in the honey and allow it to drizzle down to the bottom of the jar. You’ll need to wait and pour a few times as the honey makes its way down the plant material. When the honey is at the top of the jar, put on the lid and add the label. It should read: Pine, citrus and ginger honey, the date you made it and a date 3 weeks out, when you’ll strain it. The jar can be kept on the counter on a plate for the 3 weeks’ maceration. This deli-

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12

The Gardener’s Corner

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Last Call for Gardening Course

It is winter, a perfect time to take a gardening course. The Bonner County Gardeners Association offers a Membership Course beginning on January 23. The classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for about seven weeks and cover everything from basic botany, soils, and all topics of interest to home gardeners. Some of the classes are held in conjunction with the U of I Master Gardener course, and others draw upon the experience of local experts. All topics are focused specifically on gardening in north Idaho and are useful both to beginning gardeners and seasoned plant lovers who want to learn more. Space is limited and so is time, so call 208-265-2070 immediately to reserve a seat. The cost of the course is $150 per person and includes all materials. The course includes membership for one year in BCGA, which provides opportunities for volunteer activities and social gatherings with other gardeners, often in their gardens. For more information, visit bcgardeners.org.

Can I Plant Old Seeds?

This time of year, seed catalogs fill up mailboxes, tempting gardeners with the array of beautiful pictures and descriptions. But wait! Do you have partial seed packages left over from last year, or even older?

We tend to plant what we need and put the package away, reluctant to just toss it out. Often, there are sufficient seeds remaining to plant another whole crop. But do we want to risk failure to germinate, which requires replanting, wasting weeks of growing time?

Seeds are alive and have a general shelf life, if properly cared for.

They are most likely to remain viable if stored in a cool, dry, dark place.

Moisture, heat, and light must be avoided, as they can trigger untimely germination. Genetics play a role in how long seeds can live in storage, thus we can predict the lifespan of many types of seeds.

Some general information: Viability of one year: onions and parsnips; three to five years: Beans, peas; four years, beets, cucumbers, squash, cabbage, kale, tomatoes, peppers; and up to five years: lettuce. Among flowers, larkspur is best used in a year or allowed to self sow. Marigolds, cosmos, columbine and poppies will remain viable for two or three years. Gaillardia and nasturtiums, three years, zinnias up to five years.

The above times occur with favorable storage conditions. You can determine seed viability with a simple test. Count out some seeds and place them on a moist paper towel, then fold the towel gently and place it in a plastic bag in a warm place. Check after several days to see if germination has started. You will see little rootlets emerging from the seed. Keep checking until as many seeds have germinated as are going to. Count the seeds and determine how many have germinated. Calculate the percentage of viable seeds. For example, if you started with ten seeds and four germinated, you have 40% germination. You will have to plant many extra seeds to get the number of plants desired. Each person must decide what percentage of germination is tolerable. And if your seed packets are over five years old, consider dumping them in the compost pile. Who knows, you might get a few plants, after all.

Gardening Trivia: Did you know the optimal temperature for compost to process the right way is around 160F° ? Further, it is possible for the compost to get too hot! So if you compost for your garden, make sure to keep the pile turned regularly!

125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, Idaho 208.263.6820 Coopgasandsupply.com

Equine Life

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Quality Trailer Unloading of the HorseWhy does it matter?

When focused solely on the horse’s physical compliance and obedience, many equine enthusiasts miss or ignore how many everyday trust-building opportunities occur. All aspects of interactions with the horse teach him about the human. His behavior is feedback as to what he is experiencing, reflecting his mental and emotional state.

Holes in a person’s and horse’s education can become apparent when they arrive somewhere unfamiliar. I consistently see chaos in the unloading of horses, especially if the loading is stressful for either or both participants. Horses frequently scramble out of the trailer and immediately and dramatically look around.

The emotional state the horse is in during the loading affects his physical behavior when unloading and impacts his reasonableness when arriving and being led somewhere new. At a time when the horse most needs the human’s supportive communication as guidance, if there has been previous limited skill development, often minimal or critical direction is imposed on the anticipative, flailing equine. Many “hurry” to get the horse to the stall or pasture, hoping to avoid chaotic or unwanted equine behaviors. This “masking” unintentionally trains the horse to rush during future unfamiliar scenarios.

“Fixing” the loading and unloading issues is not about mindlessly or repetitiously practicing or desensitizing the horse to comply. Learning the skills to build an equine partnership based on trust rather than fearful coercion tactics allows for safe horse interactions, especially needed when around the trailer.

Practicing refining quality, specificity, timing, and offering adaptable energy in communication diminishes chaotic human cues. Developing quality in the horse interaction begins way before the peak moments of his concern. By doing so, one learns to address the horse’s counteroffers without triggering fearful, resistant, or avoidant behaviors.

The horse’s willingness to participate during the catching influences mental calm when haltered. While in the pasture or stall, take time without having assumptions to assess and address the horse’s current mental and physical directivity, tension, and processing. This affects the softness of leading while checking in to refine the “tools” needed before presenting something specific, such as trailer loading.

As a result, the animal develops mental availability, adaptability, and willingness while offering reasonable responses. Seemingly insignificant scenarios can become opportunities to teach the horse to think, search, and try; all skills needed for safe behavior, including when arriving somewhere new.

As one raises awareness, observing the difference in equine behaviors reflecting curiosity versus fear will become apparent. Encouraging curiosity in a mentally directable horse rather than ignoring the fixation and growing physical tension of a fearful one leads to different outcomes.

Owners often struggle to help the fearful horse’s behavior if their previous interactions were unclear, after the fact, or critical. This leaves anticipative horses responding increasingly dramatically toward human aids.

As the insecure horse looks around, his mind will quickly bounce in many directions, mimicked in pushy, chaotic, or excessive movement.

This can be followed by dragging the human around, walking into or at them, diving toward nearby grass, calling out for other horses, etc. The handler either “follows along” or ends up water-skiing on the lead rope, trying to stop or block the movement, which only adds to the horse’s defensiveness and creates stronger resistance.

The goal of learning to focus on refining and breaking down communication into specific, clear, and intentional segments is that it will become a crucial tool to help the horse navigate unnatural or new scenarios without becoming overwhelmed. Without developing the ability to interrupt and redirect a horse’s fixation, there is no availability or directivity in the horse. The human is at the mercy of how the horse reacts.

When there is quality communication and mental availability during the unloading, the horse can pause as he is stepping back, there is flexibility in his step size and energy, and he can stand quietly after his hind end is on the ground with him waiting calmly to step down softly with both front feet. He will have a mental presence while standing balanced at the halt when waiting for the trailer door to be closed. In other words, it will be “uneventful” to watch.

When things do not occur as planned, or a scenario takes longer to help the horse work through, the more a person intentionally chooses

13

to stay mentally present and emotionally neutral, the increased quality, clarity, and value their communication will have for the horse.

These types of Conversations do not start at nor are they “about” the trailer. Raising one’s awareness, refining lead rope handling skills, observation of one’s own and the horse’s patterns, experimenting with mental directivity before asking for movement, asking for specificity in the movement, following through to help release tension, presenting supportive scenarios of learning to step on, across, or back over objects, etc. is the basic foundation of all horse-related learning. The culmination of this type of interaction sets the horse up for success rather than challenging the animal to survive human interactions.

Photo: Water break on my semi-annual, border to border, 1,400 mile drive typically hauling between eight and 10 horses.

Offering Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey, for 21 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

Transportation Trivia: How many horses did it take to pull a Conestoga Wagon? While they look similar to covered wagons that farmers and pioneers used, they were much bigger and heavier and required a team of 6 horses to pull them. When all six horses were hitched, the team and wagons were as long as a tractor trailer truck is today. There was no seat for the driver, who was called a teamster. However, he could ride one of the horses closest to the wagon, the tongue & wheel pair.

14

Your Health

The CO-OP Country Round Up Janueary / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

The Still-point of Healing

By Gabrielle Duebendorfer, NMD

The few comments on my articles posted on my aspenwellspring. substack.com account have been from either political, health, or Christian zealots. The current running through these and other personal comments about the work I do consists of “there is only one way and that is my way”. Here is an example: ????. And yes, it is true, for healing to happen, one has to approach this process from one’s very own personal perspective that includes religion or spirituality, personal values and preferences, specific health situation, and treatment options – and there will be only one right way for that – your way.

The problem comes when we impose that way on others. When I was diagnosed with cancer and freely shared that I decided to do radiation therapy – a very well-informed decision – I received all kinds of well-meaning advice all the way to how absolutely terrible this decision is – with a referral to somebody who could surely cure me naturally.

I was aghast, and yet I could relate as early in my career I advised a friend, who was on her way to a total mastectomy, what a bad decision that was – I was honestly very self-righteously convinced of that. When I posted on the potential good of COVID vaccinations for a certain patient population early on during the epidemic ????, I lost friends and colleagues who were aghast that I would not advocate for everyone to get the vaccine as well as patients who refused to return because I didn’t blankly refuse them.

So how does one arrive at the place where one can make one’s own decision amidst all the “right” healing options and opinions? And even more importantly, how does one arrive at a place where healing can truly take place? In my experience it has to come from a place of stillness – a still-point like the eye of the hurricane. This does not happen by education and researching all the statistics, though that is equally important, but by a process of surrendering, an emptying to a place of being where we can truly listen to and align with the Truth.

When I create posters for my health classes I always strive to be as inclusive as I can, as the teachings are universal to healing regardless of religious or political persuasion. They include somatic and trauma informed techniques that allow the physical body and mind to access an inherently healing, parasympathetic, relaxing state of being at ease and stillness. That facilitates a state of openness and receptivity beyond the physical body and mind that inherently becomes spiritual and open us to something way bigger than our little selves. The challenge comes with how to describe this state of being. I have recovering Catholics and evangelical Christians who get triggered by, or people who can’t relate to the words God, Christ, or Jesus; there also are patients that are devout Christians who get suspicious with the words meditation, being, presence, consciousness, or spirit.

While words are important, it really comes down to agreeing to common ground. For healing to take place we have to be present and that involves the physical body. As our temple, we have a responsibility to take care of it. There are several good supportive books specifically with regards to cancer, but really applicable to all chronic disease, all of which address the importance of diet, detoxification, herbs and supplements, as well as emotional and spiritual aspects (1). Giving everything up to God is ultimately very important and essential and can’t happen at the expense of ignoring physical as well as mental/emotional housekeeping. I still feel sad and powerless at the memory of a young mother who refused any kind of potentially helpful conventional or more aggressive naturopathic support because she believed in God healing her. This reminds me of the parable of a man sitting on the roof of his house during a flood, praying to God to save him and ignoring all the humanly help that God sent in the mean-time – he drowned!

Common ground also includes access to this homeground of resting in stillness, finding the still-point where we can orient towards the mystery, the light, the Truth, where appropriate decisions can be made.

Only there can we find the ease and peace mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, where healing can take place regardless of whether we are cured from disease or not. We might access that through total devotion in a particular faith, by finding meaning in relationship (2), resting in awake presence via meditation, moving through the day in alignment with the Truth, exploring and loosening the grip of self-defensive core-believes or simply giving them up to God. All of that requires

to become aware how we are being held captive by our believes and habits and how to open into being present in the moment with a sense of well-being.

I will offer a new Well-being class starting January 18th 5-6pm PST where we use somatic, trauma informed techniques to begin or deepen the process of resting in stillness for healing. Please contact me at 208-920-0583 for more information. This class will be via zoom only as I will be teaching it from Cambodia, where I am spending my sabbatical. If you would like to get pictorial stories of my time there volunteering and traveling, please sign up at www.gabriellesjourneys.com.

Dr Gabrielle Duebendorfer has practiced for almost 30 years combining natural medicine with meditative inquiry and practices. As a licensed naturopathic physician and certified iRest instructor, she is currently focusing on offering tools of turning stress and trauma into allies, opening up to the dynamic alive healing presence of living in the moment.

She is offering individual healing dialogues and orienting naturopathic consults as well as community classes. You can follow her upcoming volunteer journey to Cambodia at www.Gabriellesjourneys.com and her published articles at www.aspenwellpring.substack.com - 208-9200583.

References (1) My Book recommendation on supporting Healing from a Stillpoint perspective a.

5 To Thrive by Lis Alschuler, NMD; an easily readable, comprehensive, practical approach addressing all aspects of healing b.

Radical Remission by ??; written by a journalist focusing on many case examples of stabilizing cancer with an emphasis on mental/ emotional/spiritual aspects but also includes diet, herbs and nutrition c.

Metabolic Approach to Cancer by ??NMD; very comprehensive and in depth focusing on terrain and backed up by much research. d. ???By Terry Wallis, MD; one of the most research based and clinically proven nutrition books for cancer and auto-immune disease.

She cured herself from debilitating MS e.

The Anti-inflammatory Diet by ???, NMD. My basic foundational approach to diet with any chronic disease. f.

Break the Mold by Jill Krista, NMD; essential reading about mold as a very real potential foundation of chronic disease. g. iRest by Richard Miller, PhD. My foundational training for somatic and trauma sensitive stress management and trauma healing approach; based on ancient meditation techniques, deeply grounded in neuroscience, and used by the military for PTSD h.

Community Resiliency Project?? By Elaine???; has all the components of iRest in a more practical day to day and community approach.

(2) Finding Meaning by Victor Frankl; concentration camp survivor and psychotherapist

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” The Proverbs are wise sayings written by wise men such as King Solomon of Israel, inspired by God Himself. God has made us in such a way that joy and humor are meant to be vital parts of our lives.

Our Community

15

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

The Sled Hill By Olivia Fee Living in the mountains of North Idaho, people experience every season. Winters tend to linger the longest. That did not stop the Kalispel and Kootenai people from making this area their home thousands of years ago. It didn’t deter settlers who arrived in the late 1880s, nor does it stop us from thriving here today. A prominent figure in our community and one of the founders of the local ski club that established this hill, Hazel Hall, and her husband, Ross Hall, would go “bucking the blizzards.”

She stated “We had at least three blizzards a year- every year you could count on it and they’d last three days. But we wanted to have fun with it so we’d put on every wool thing we could find. We’d bundle up and bundle up and we’d just face it and go into it and hike as long as we could, just for the kicks of it.”

There are newspaper articles referencing entertainment seekers on this hill as far back as the 1920s. In the 1930s, a group of locals started a ski club. In the beginning, they used an old Dodge engine on skids, some car wheels, and rope as a rope tow to get up and down the Pine Street Ski Hill. They even added a light on the hill, and if anyone wanted to go night skiing, they just had to bring their own lightbulb and screw it in.

In 1945 and again in 1957, towing methods were upgraded for getting up the hill, and in 1959, it was reported that “Pine Street hill ski run has been one of the most popular spots in the vicinity of Sandpoint.”

Regardless of Schweitzer’s opening in the 1960s, the Sled Hill’s popularity continues and the community remains impassioned to keep this local home of winter memories alive, for more generations to continue to inherit a safe and accessible place to embrace our snowy season.

Bonner County Extension Office Classes

Idaho Master Gardener Program January 23 to March 28, 2024, Tuesday and Thursdays 9am to noon, UI-Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 North Boyer, Sandpoint.

Are you interested in learning more about gardening while helping out other gardeners in the community? The Idaho Master Gardener Program serves as an educational and volunteer organization.

Through the Idaho Master Gardener training sessions, you will become knowledgeable in a wide array of horticultural subjects.

Through the Idaho Master Gardener training sessions, you will become knowledgeable in a wide array of horticultural subjects.

To register, contact the Bonner County Extension Office, 208263-8511 or bonner@uidaho.edu.

Beef Cattle Care Basics February 2, 2024 5pm to 8pm, UI-Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 North Boyer, Sandpoint.

Join University of Idaho Extension Educators, Meranda Small and Aurda Cochran for this class on the basics of beef cattle care. The presenters will talk about herd health, equipment requirements, and pasture management. Dinner will be included. The cost of the programs is $15.

To register, contact the Bonner County Extension Office, 208263-8511 or bonner@uidaho.edu.

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Two children on a sled with another child standing alongside, sucking on icicles in 1927. Photo donated by Loren Evenson, courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum.

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Our History

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

Roads

By Helen Newton Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum

Roads. Let’s talk about roads this month (and next time as well as you will eventually see).

Along about the mid 1990’s, the county finally had to address our road “situation.” Emergency services needed better identifications in order to respond to the locations where those services were needed.

There were duplicate names. Sometimes people didn’t know if they lived on a “road, street, lane, avenue, trail or cutoff.” Things were a mess and could have been a matter of life and death.

Get out your Bonner County road map (old fashioned paper version) and a box of push pins or a highlighter. Let’s see how many roads you can locate.

Initially the city of Sandpoint was pretty straightforward naming the streets for trees, family names, and don’t forget the great lakes (H*O*M*E*S). As the town grew, U. S. Presidents names were added and more trees and family names.

Out in the county there were routes: 1, 2, star, etc. We (the Method family) lived on Route 1 but identified our location as the Farm to Market Road two miles off Hwy 200.

I’ve now learned that “farm to market roads” were a federal program established to build roads across the country to connect rural or farm areas to market towns. Thus, there could be multiple roads named “Farm to Market” in a single county. Initially they were considered state roads but eventually were turned over to counties.

Fast forwarding to the 1990’s, Bonner County held meetings in various communities to work with residents to determine how to eliminate duplicates while still paying homage to the historic significance of many road names.

Longstanding road names were often identified based on who lived on the road and sometimes there were disputes: “We’ve been here longer than you have.” Eventually, things were worked out. Most will recognize names such as Brisboy, Gooby, Bandy, Anselmo, Samuels, Selle and Spade Roads among many others.

It wasn’t long before folks became creative.

In the nod to our wildlife, bears take the prize with Bear, Bear Claw, Bear Claw Ridge, Bear Gulch, Bear Hill, Bear Paw, Bear Springs, Bear Track, Bear Trail, Bearwood and Little Bears. Our moose run a close second with Moose Creek, Moose Crossing, Moose Haven, Moose Meadows, Moose Mountain, Moose Ridge, Moose Run and Moose Wood to be topped off with Moose Drool and Mean Moose. The deer and elk follow with Blacktail, Buck Ridge, Buck Run, Buckskin, Buckskin Flat, Bucksnort and Sleepy Doe. We have Elk, Elk Grove, Elk Hills, Elk Horn, Elk Meadows and Elk Ridge.

Birds are not forgotten with Eagle, Eagle Cove, Eagle Crest, Eagle Flight, Eagle Pine, and Eagle View. We also have Barn Owl, Meadowlark and Woodpecker. The fish seem to have been overlooked but we have Beaver Brook, Beaver Creek, Beaver Lake and Beaver Pond.

Appropriately enough, the cedar tree is the tree most used to identify locations with Cedar, Cedar Cove, Cedar Hill, Cedar Hollow, Cedar Meadows, Cedar Ridge, Cedar Shoals, Cedar Springs, Cedar Wood and Cedar View Estates.

The lake, rivers and streams are found in multiple variations including Gold, Grouse, Trestle, Lightning, Pack River and there is even a Trickle Creek. I still call Lakeshore Drive the Fish Hatchery Road. Anyone else?

The sun is prominently featured – perhaps by people who long to see it during the winter months. Sunchaser, Sundance, Sundowner, Sunny Shores, Sunnyside, Sunnyside Hill and Ridge, Sunnyside Up, Sunray, Sunrise and Sunrise Bay together with Sunset, Sunset Hill and Sunset View.

Then there are the road names that might have been created to send a message: Bumpy, Crummy, Dirt, Dirty Dog, Steep, Last Chance, Less Traveled, Lost in the Woods, Nitty Gritty, No End, Out of the Woods, Quandary, Redneck, Washboard and finally, the Yellow Brick Road.

This all began when I became curious as to when and why our Farm to Market Road became Colburn Culver. One thing led to another and I found myself looking at newspapers from 1892 when Howard Culver is first mentioned, followed shortly thereafter by his brother Frank. They were prominent businessmen and leaders in Sandpoint and beyond. Days later with volumes of material, I found Oden-Culver community news in the old papers, but I still didn’t have a fix on any “boundaries.”

Where did Oden begin and end, and was the Culver

17

Yo u r T R U S T E D L O C A L E X P E R T s i n c e 2 0 1 4 !

JEREMY BROWN REALTOR® GRI® REDM®

208-953-SOLD (7653) NorthIdaho-RealEstate.com neighborhood related at all to the Culver brothers? I consulted with Jason Topp, county road and bridge director, who is very knowledgeable about our roads, both current and historical. [I complimented him and his crew on the great work they did to bring the Dufort Road back into service.] Then I had a delightful conversation with Mary Stevens who has lived in Oden since 1945 and she shed some more light onto my project. But I’m still not satisfied that I have all the answers. They will have to wait until the next edition of The Coop Roundup.

Many thanks to Kathy at the CO-OP for inspiring this month’s contribution.

Six men building a road with shovels and picks at the Boswell CCC Camp near Priest Lake in 1934.

A Lee White photo, courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum.

Construction with a grader on Goose Creek Road in 1935. Photo donated

by Anna-Vee, Marcia K., and Kelly J. Peterson from the Chuck Peterson Collection, courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum.

18

Our Changing World

The CO-OP Country Round Up January / February 2024 Volume 24 Issue 2

A Family Rooted in Forestry Preserves Land for the Future

Roger Gregory’s heritage is rooted in forestry. His father came to Sandpoint, Idaho in 1907 at the age of 18 to work in the lumber camps as a horse logger, which he had done in Austria. At 12 years old, he was harnessing and driving a team of horses. Around 1914 he purchased 22 acres near Elmira and built a log home from trees harvested from the property. Having a deep appreciation for the land, Roger’s father raised his son to cherish the forests and care for the land that supported them.

In 1975 Roger purchased 92 acres near Oldtown, Idaho as an investment property, giving him a place to practice his favorite pastime.

“I like trees and forests. Forestry is my hobby,” he said. I’ve planted over 12,000 trees.

The upland forest situated at the base of the Selkirk Mountain Range has been carefully tended by Roger and his family through the years.

Working the forest together, he passed his father’s values of land stewardship to his own children.

Perhaps because of his connection with the trees and the family time that he cultivated on this land, an attachment began to take root and he no longer viewed it as merely a financial asset.

“I changed my mind,” he simply said. “I’m leaving it for posterity.”

Roger wants this 92-acre parcel, which lies near other protected lands, to remain as an unchanged, undeveloped forest under the care of people who will be responsible stewards of the land. When asked what he hopes this land will look like 50 years from now, he replied, “Just like it is now.”

Roger has entered into a voluntary agreement with Kaniksu Land Trust to protect this working forest from subdivision, commercial facilities, hard surface roads, and a number of other particulars that are important to Roger and his family. This legal agreement stays with the land regardless of who owns it. KLT will maintain a working relationship with Roger and future owners of this land, visiting the property annually to ensure that the agreement is being observed to the satisfaction of both parties.

“My family asked me why I would [put the land in conservation] when I could get a lot of money by subdividing it. I told them ‘that’s my contribution to the environment. The land all around it will eventually be subdivided, but here will be this great forest’” Roger said.

Kaniksu Land Trust has completed more than 30 conservation projects, conserving more than 4,000 acres of land over the past 20 years.

Its mission is caring for the lands and people of the Kaniksu Region, today, tomorrow, and forever.

Learn more about land conservation and KLT’s education and community work at kaniksu.org.

F

LOG PRICES Species

December 2023

November 2023

Douglas-fir/western larch

$430 - $575/MBF

$430- $575/MBF

Grand fir/western hemlock

$380 - $520

$395 - $525

Lodgepole pine

$420 - $515

$410 - $525

Ponderosa pine

$375 (6-7”) - $410 (8”+)

$375 (6-7”) - $430 (8”+)

Western white pine

$350 - $515

$350 - $415

Western redcedar Cedar poles

$950 - $1,275

$920 - $1,350

*$1,900*

*$2,000*

Pulp

$18 - $32/ton

$22 - $30+/ton

Tonwood

$55/ton +/-

$55/ton +/-

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 28, 2023 Sawmills are generally carrying high log inventories and have little incentive to adjust prices.

On the bright side, lumber futures have been trending higher over the last month, which if holds, will hopefully bode well for improved log prices in the future. However, as has been mentioned here before, the primary driver influencing our regional log prices is the size of sawmill log inventories, with lumber prices mostly having a secondary impact. Consequently, how our weather develops over the next few months will affect log deliveries and prices.

Another item to note is sawmills are often paying slightly less for charred logs related to forest fires. - 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.

for them.

Tree Trivia: a 12-inch diameter tree uses a maximum of 42 gallons on a day with high temperature and ample soil moisture, but only one gallon on a day during a dry period in winter. Googlesearch

The CO-OP Gas & Supply Co., Inc. is a locally owned and operated cooperative that has been in existence for 90 continuous years. It is owned by the people who shop here. If you are one of those shoppers and are not yet a member, you are missing out.

The CO-OP Gas & Supply is owned by the membership.

The CO-OP Gas & Supply Company is a true cooperative, valuing fluid financial operations over debt and paying out patronage dividends to members, that’s you, based on earnings. The CO-OP is governed by a 7 member board of farm and ag producers located in the Bonner/Boundary County area, and lead by a General Manager.

Can I become a member if I don’t own a farm?

Yes. Anyone can become a member of the cooperative. However, in order to vote at the Annual Meeting one must acquire one (1)share of common stock and be a producer.* (See office for details.)

I buy bulk propane from the CO-OP. Can I be a member?

Yes. By filling out the proper paperwork to open an account, any one can become a member. And, it is free.

Come in and see if CO-OP membership is right for you! *Those wishing to become a voting member of CO-OP Gas & Supply Co., Inc., must meet producer criteria. Please see the main CO-OP office at 125 Tibbetts Lane in Ponderay for information on this criteria.

CO-O Gas & Supply Co., Inc. 125 Tibbetts Lane Ponderay, Idaho 208.263.6820 coopgasandsupply.com

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401 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay, Idaho

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