September-October RU 2020

THE

CO-OP

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

News from the Museum

2

Boundary County Summer Classes

4

Yard Sale & Halloween Event

See what the Extension Office has planned

Worried Eyes on the Horse

6

Samantha Harvey shares about horse concerns

Local Producer List

8

Find locally produced foods and more

Poems of the Homestead

Another sublime work from Joseph Smith

Heavy Equipment Sales & Service

VENDORS WANTED

10

Join North Idaho’s Only Year-Round Farmers’ Market Come sell with us!

Aftermarket Undercarriage Parts Sales & Service

• No Membership or Seasonal Fees • Indoor Market Open 7-days a Week / Year-Round • Two Outdoor Seasonal Markets Each Week Call (208) 265-2277 or see our website: OnlyLocal.Farm Located on U.S. Hwy. 95, North of Cocolalla, ID (208) 265-2277 | OnlyLocal.Farm

208.263.3555 101 Old Highway 95 • Sagle, Idaho

Weed of the Month: Common Reed 11 A robust perennial grass

Gardeners Corner

14

Swamps, Allies, and Refuges

16

The great fall clean-up debate

Dr. Duebendorfer shares some thoughts

Spine Tingling Tales from Sandpoint’s Haunted History 17 Haunting tales of the supernatural

Charitable donation tax receipts provided to Donors.

Recipes for the Season

18

Kids Coloring Page

21

Soup and bread is always a winner

Autumn themed coloring page

The Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan

Judy Baird shares a financial option

22

Real Estate and You

• Tools • Doors • Flooring

• Cabinets • Windows • Furniture

• Plumbing • Appliances • Light Fixtures

NEW! PRICING BY THE POUND!

23

Jim Haynes real estate news

Unique supplies, tools and furnishings at discount prices!

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To schedule a donation pick-up call

(208) 610-7737

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From the Editor

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

The Beauty of the Season

The CO-OP has had a very busy year. In January the Propane and Marketing Departments moved into the new building just south of the main retail store. This new location is the CO-OP Annex and also houses a beautiful propane appliance showroom and includes a new warehouse for the store. This will meet our need for more storage and will allow us to display propane appliances in a way we have never been able to in the past. If you were not able to visit the Annex Open House this past July, we hope you will stop in soon for a visit.

With the advent of Covid-19 the CO-OP had to cancel the Annual Meeting in March, a common occurrence throughout the community, However, the store continued to remain open during this challenging season. We were able to continue to meet the needs of our members and patrons while maintaining a healthy environment for the staff. The CO-OP has had a very good year, again, and we look forward to an even bigger Annual Meeting this next Spring.

Amid the covid concerns the CO-OP also had to cancel the Annual Tree Sale, a very popular event on Arbor Day weekend. Our hope is to have this event in April 2021. Plans are already underway and we look forward to another opportunity to connect with the community personally and find some great deals on trees, shrubs, and maybe some berries if George can find them.

Speaking of George Haley, he had quite a bit of fun this fair season as he headed north to Bonners Ferry for the Boundary County Fair and 4-H Livestock Sale. He was able to purchase some animals and donate them to the Bonners Ferry Food Bank. This is something we as a cooperative have been working toward for the last couple of years. Community support through many avenues has always been important to the co-op. Back in Sandpoint George took our Dillon to the Bonner County Fair where they had even more fun bidding, and buying.......and more bidding and buying! In all The CO-OP was able to purchase 9 animals including the Grand Champion Goat, owned by Hunter Edmondson of Golden Grouse 4-H Club. Pictured above is Dillon and Hunter with her spectacular goat! Congratulations to all the 4-H and FFA members. Both Fairs were a lot of fun and such a welcome respite from closures and separations.

This autumn the CO-OP will be getting back to normal as we end another fiscal year on September 30, 2020. We believe the members will be happy with the financial report next March. A strong cooperative means a strong community presence and support for several groups. We are proud to support the Bonner County and Bonners Ferry Food Banks, Kinderhaven, 4-H, FFA, school sporting programs, local small group fundraisers like quilting groups and home schools, as well as victims of tragic loss and medical challenges and so many others.

As we all regroup and find our way into the next season of life and the earth, maybe we can appreciate that change can be good. It can grow us. It will change us. This season has been beautiful in many ways. At the CO-OP we look forward to the future. Drop in and see us!

BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY &

MUSEUM

HISTORY CREATING COMMUNITY

FALL EVENTS

d r d a r a Y Y

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September 12 8am - 3pm 611 S ELLA AVE. SANDPOINT

October 31 4pm - 7pm ON THE MUSEUM GROUNDS AT 611 S ELLA AVE. SANDPOINT

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

4

Bits and Pieces

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

Summer/Fall 2020 Extension Classes

All classes will be held online, unless otherwise noted. For questions please call 208.267.3235 Landscape Design Class, $10 Wednesday, Sept. 9 and 16, 2-4pm Location: Kootenai River Inn (Zoom option) This class will provide an overview of the design process that can be applied to the home garden and yard. If you have a new property or would like to re-design a part of an existing property, this class will help you figure out options and include environmental considerations such as water use and wildlife habitat. If you would like an aerial photo of your property, please provide your address with registration.

Beginner Cheese Making, $5 Friday, September 11, 1-2:30pm Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center N. 10881 Boyer Road Learn how to make cheese safely at home using cow or goat’s milk. This class will focus primarily on making soft cheeses. We will go over safe cheese making practices and proper sanitation procedures. Class participants will have the opportunity to sample various types of soft cheeses.

Class is limited to 15 people.

Supporting the Soil Food Web in Your Garden, $5 Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2-4pm Location: UI Extension office (Zoom option) Learn how you can support the organisms in your soil that support healthy plant life. Organic material feeds all the organisms in the soil food web, from bacteria and fungi to earthworms and small vertebrates. Set up your garden this fall for your best year yet in 2021! Join us for this exciting discussion led by local resource people. Handouts will be provided.

Making Safe Drinking Water in Emergency Situations, $5 Tuesday, September 29, 2-3:30pm In this class we will cover various methods of producing safe drinking water from potentially contaminated sources. These methods (topics) will include heat treatment, chemical treatment, and filtration. We will also have a discussion on emergency water storage options.

Hay School, $15 October 21, 9am-3pm Location: Kootenai River Inn, with lunch Hay and cattle production are widespread in north Idaho, with over 50,000 acres harvested for hay each year and an inventory of over 70,000 head of cattle. Our North Idaho Forage School brings you the latest research and innovative tools for managing forages and grazing, including pasture evaluation, fertility, irrigation, weed and pest control, and marketing. Pesticide recertification credits will be available. Includes resource materials, snacks, and lunch.

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.

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

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

It’s Time to Prepare for Winter 2020

By Kathy Osborne

5

Skywalker

We have just a few weeks left before summer officially comes to an end and we have to start the winter prep process. For those of us whom were here for the end of winter this last February and early March, buttoning up may have a slightly different look this fall. We experienced an early winter as the temperatures dropped and the ground began freezing in September. October was cold and we went right on into a cool fall followed by winter. And let’s recall the cold, FREE ESTIMATES • HIGH STANDARDS windy and snowy conditions of March 14th, 2020 as Covid had been making the HONEST SERVICE headlines. We really had 6 months of winter.

Because of Covid-19 our community came to see just how quickly an unexpected event can change the landscape of normal life. It isn’t that we weren’t familiar with strange events and environments. Over the years we have had snow, wind, heat, and extreme rain events to deal with. We have had ice storms, flooding, and the occasional tornado. We have experienced extended power shortages, livestock feed shortages, and most recently shortages on everything from pre-packaged food stuffs to toilet paper. It’s just that this particular event seems to be dragging on far longer than we are used to. So now that we are just weeks away from another season change, what does responsible preparation look like?

Those among us with a sense of humor will encourage us to stock up on toilet paper, no doubt. But I tend to think this is something to be doing all year long, like filling the freezer and canning. I put it all in the preparedness category along with a well -stocked first aid kit, weather radio, pet care products and food, as well as (208) 610-4858 secure access to clean water.

For my part stocking up began in the summer of 2019 when I bought a new www.skywalkertreecare.com freezer to replace my old, failed one. I immediately went about filling it. And I am a big fan of stocking up on paper supplies well before I need them. So during Covid my household only did one early morning trip to the local Power and performance ration station and managed two packages (12 rolls each of toilet paper for $19!) but we have not had to experience any such price gouging to do the hard work. again! It was merely restocking and now I know exactly how much I Comfort to make need over 6 months with a certain amount of people in the household.

On March 14th we experienced unseasonably cold weather, wind, it look easy. and snow. The power was out for at least 6 hours in Ponderay, more or less in other areas. It is an event like this that makes a generator so important in outlying areas. When we get hit with a big storm it can take days for the local power companies to get electricity flowing to customers again. And while it is a wondrous thing to have readily accessible electricity to our homes, the local power company is not responsible for our lack of preparation. If I do not have a back-up plan for when the lights go out, it is my fault and no one else’s. The power company will take as long as it takes to restore power AND keep their workers safe. In the long run this is what I, as a customer want as well.

Grand L60 Series 37- 62 HP Wide Operator Station Preparation for the coming fall and winter will always begin with the big 3: Food/water, Clothing, and Shelter/warmth. Food and water will probably look different for every household as water storage may be limited or there may not be ready access to clean water. This will have to be assessed on a case by case basis and managed for health Stop by to demo the high-performance Grand L60 Series today. and safety. Food is fairly straight forward. What does your family LIKE • Premium comfort • Advanced HST plus transmission to eat? There is little use and a good deal of waste in stocking up • Performance-matched implements • Powerful loader lift capacity on foods your family simply will not eat. Rice & beans is a complete Together we do more. protein and many people hate it. In the short term canned meats and dried pasta meals may be a better way to go. And this is a good time to consider the food/water needs of any pets & livestock you may have. If you are new to the area a full grown horse or cow will consume 2.5 – 3 tons of good quality hay through the winter which can last from Octo1602 E Trent Ave 2128 2nd Ave 6632 Main St 1112 W Appleway Ave ber – April before grazing becomes available. Don’t be afraid to ask Spokane, WA 99202 Lewiston, ID 83501 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 your neighbors how much hay and/or feed they stock for the winter for (509) 535-1708 (208) 743-4571 (208) 267-5571 (208) 765-2315 adamstractor.com adamstractor.com boundarytractor.com cdatractor.com their animals.

Clothing is pretty subjective but over top a good rain gear suit is KubotaUSA.com © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2020. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the fantastic during the spring and autumn months. Winter calls for a good use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see the posted disclaimer. heavy coat, hat, good gloves, weatherproof/waterproof boots, woolen socks, and face covering hood for those really nasty days. All of this will come in pretty handy if the heater goes out in your car or truck and • Metal Machining, • Transmission & you need to head for town anyway.

Welding & Rear-End Rebuilds Shelter/warmth is last on the list but Fabrication & Exchanges probably should be first. Winter is unpredictable.

• Custom U-Bolts & • Driveline Rebuilds Don’t forget to get that wood stove chimHydraulic Hoses& Repairs ney cleaned NOW. And if you live in an outlying area, NOW is the time to find a reliwhile you wait! able snow plow person if you cannot do it yourself. Again, ask your neighbors whom REPAIR • PARTS • SERVICE • EQUIPMENT • TRUCKS • RVS they use for any of these needs.

Stay safe. Stay well, and know that the 1100 Triangle Drive • Ponderay, Idaho CO-OP is here for pretty much all of your home & farm seasonal prep needs. Come FULL SERVICE Monday-Saturday 7:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. in and see us real soon!

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208-263-4643

6

Rural Life

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020

Volume 20 Issuue 6

Worried Eyes in the Horse: How to Help Him Let Go of Concern

In a recent discussion “worried eyes,” or the peaks that sporadically appear above the horse’s eye, were brought up. The question asked was, “How do you help a horse that carries concern, but has not yet ‘done’ anything dramatic?”

I believe the horse’s physical posture and movement are a reflection of his mental and emotional state. Worry lines on the face, (which can also appear as wrinkles in the muzzle area,) indicate a degree of mental Worry lines in the muzzle. concern. Learning how to physically read, and believe, the horse’s body language diminishes the surprise factor of unwanted, unreasonable, and dramatic behavior.

When a horse is mentally relaxed and standing at rest, his barrel, the section in front of his stifle, will rise and fall consistently with regular breathing. If there is tension in the body, it will instead look like an inflated balloon.

The “inflated” horse reflects his emotional containment. To help him, the handler/rider needs to be able to influence the horse’s thoughts and to assist him in physically releasing rigidity in his body. By recognizing if during interaction there are habitual responses or a continuous degree of “inflation” in the horse can improve the handler/ rider’s timing of interrupting unwanted thoughts therefore preventing undesired behavior.

When the human is able to interrupt mindless, patterned responses in the horse, and redirect his thought to focus on small, specific segments of a scenario, rather than potentially overwhelming him with the “whole” task, it can help him learn to think through and respond to a bothersome situation without becoming stressed.

Many folks focus solely on the horse’s initial response to a task, and as long as he is not scary or overwhelming, they continue to ask more of him without noticing if there were quality and softness in the interactions.

I suggest thinking of each scenario as having a beginning, middle, and end. The “end” is not the result of the task, but is the time taken to check-in and assess the horse’s emotions after the physical accomplishment.

If the horse responded by becoming an “inflated balloon,” the handler or rider needs to help deflate him, or drain his physical tension.

The effectiveness of a person’s communication will influence how easily and quickly they can diminish tension in the horse.

If the horse’s past education created any degree of defensiveness towards physical pressure, such as when communication is offered with a halter and lead rope, it will be difficult for the handler to offer quality support during a troubling moment.

Initial assessments of the horse’s response to pressure should be done prior to presenting a challenging scenario. Using something such as a lead rope, (which will reflect his response towards using the rein when in the saddle,) notice if his thoughts can be directed, if he can follow the pressure of the rope, mimic the increasing or decreasing energy of it, and can he yield to it? Only a slight change or opening and closing of fingers and energy should be needed to shift the horse’s thought and movement.

If communicating with physical pressure causes defensiveness in the horse, he will respond with rigidity in his body. Physically he will try “options” of avoiding pressure, such as leaking sideways, drifting backward, pushing forward, leaning on the human’s hand, diving his head to the ground, or lifting it up high.

With each “counteroffer” the horse makes, he needs to be addressed until he can let go of what he is trying. Once he has gone through his “checklist,” he can then mentally engage and search for what is being asked of him.

Then the horse can learn how to drain physical tension by softening and independently moving areas of his body (his head, neck, shoulder, front legs, rib cage, and then hindquarters,) in a balanced and intentional manner.

Draining of physical tension will become apparent when his breathing becomes regular. Sighing, licking his lips, chewing, blowing his nose, and/or yawning (if the upper and lower jaw remain parallel, but if they are shifting from left to right, it is a stress yawn,) are all indicators of mental processing and are a physical release. The horse will visibly deflate and the worry lines above his eye or in his muzzle area

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area will disappear.

Worry lines or “peaks” Remember not to rush the horse above the eye. through the “new” experience of being soft. Do not become discouraged or critical of the horse if initially, the newfound softness does not last long and he resorts to old patterns.

It takes time and consistency in the interaction to undo past habitual responses.

Prioritizing having the ability to redirect the horse’s thought, helping him let go of anticipation, diffuse his emotions, and drain tension, allows for him to be curious about new scenarios rather than overwhelmed by them. Learning to stay mentally present to what the horse is trying, addressing him, and following through, contributes to long-term behavioral change, builds his trust, increases his confidence, and decreases his worry.

Offering Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey, for 12 years Sam has been based from May through October at The Equestrian Center, LLC, located just 12 miles north of Sandpoint, ID. For over 20 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

Ag Education

7

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

Weeds of Bonner County: Presentation and Field Trip Write-Up

Insuring The North Idaho Way Of Life!

by Matthew Bambach, Pend Oreille Chapter of Idaho Master Naturalists

This article serves to recognize and thank one of the many professionals from our area willing to share their time, energy and expertise to better prepare members of the Pend Oreille Chapter to serve as stewards of our natural environment and its many resources.

On the morning of June 18th, 2020, we were treated to a presentation by Chase Youngdahl, the Bonner County Weeds Manager. He began by defining weeds, described methods for their classification, introduced noteworthy members of the Idaho Noxious Weeds List (INWL), and reviewed various methods of control and/or eradication.

Furthermore, his presentation featured information on several potentially useful weeds (those with either medicinal or edible properties).

There are 67 species that comprise the INWL in total, and here in Bonner County there are 28 (7 of which are not listed on the INWL) noxious weeds requiring the attention of Chase and his colleagues.

To begin, a weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted. A noxious weed, then, is any non-native plant brought to an area by human action that poses a threat to native biodiversity, agriculture, or even infrastructure. In North Idaho, efforts to control noxious weeds have resulted in the Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Area.

The goals of the SCWMA are to prevent and immediately eradicate new infestations of noxious weeds, reduce infestations of established noxious species with the target of eventual eradication, and contain widespread weeds to prevent further colony formation and species’ spread. One important distinction he described was Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) species, in which quick identification and action is necessary in order to prevent their establishment.

In the second portion of the day’s lesson, we met at the Waterlife Discovery Center to practice identifying different species in person.

Chase generously distributed SCWMA Noxious Weed Handbooks to attendees in order to help identify target species after the end of the lesson. With the help of Chase and the handbooks, weeds which were brought in by various members were identified as a group.

Chase also brought in a few different specimens including one Leafy Spurge, which has sap toxic to humans and animals alike. Following this exercise, we set off on a tour of the property to find any other species featured in the morning’s presentation. During this time, Chase introduced us to several tricks that can help identify certain species, such as the speckles on leaves of St. Johnswort or the distinct smell of Yarrow leaves.

Thanks again to Chase for sharing his expertise with us so that we can help to curb the spread of undesirable (and potentially toxic) plants throughout our beautiful North Idaho!

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Photo: Matt Bambach Chase making his way through the assembled weeds provided by class members.

Well & Sewer Pump Installations & Repairs Tanks • Drives • Accessories • Hand Pumps • Parts

PUMPS DON’T HAVE BRAINS That doesn’t mean they don’t hate people, which they do.

OUR PUMPS ARE HAPPIER. Using the SCWMA Noxious Weed Handbook to identify Common Tansy. Photo: Matt Bambach

(208) 263-7867 - 323 McGhee Rd. - Sandpoint, ID 83864 RCT 36175, ELE 021187, PLB 016436

Local Foods, Producers, and Services and Where To Find Them The following farms can all be found in your neighborhood. If you find  something that really interests you or you want to sign up for a CSA (Community Support Agriculture) call the farmer or visit your local Farmers Market and start eating local. Also, visit www.localharvest.org and post your  farm for others to see what you produce. 

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ABC Farmers Market (Athol, ID): Fridays 2pm-6pm Opening May, ending sometime in Oct. Located at the Athol City Park. Follow them on Face book @ABCFarmersMerket Angela and Millie (Sandpoint, ID): Goat milk and Cheese 208-263-3343 or 208-610-0694

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Annie’s Orchard (Clark Fork, ID): Landscaping/ Nursery Products- Terry and Carol Chowning 208-266-1245 anniesorchard.com

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Black Ridge Trading Post & Gardens (Priest River, ID): Hatching eggs ,Free Range eggs, All Natural goat milk soaps & lotions, Organic  soups & spices, and over 3000 varieties of Iris’s and Daylilies– Barry and Lana Peterson 208-265-0585 

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Bella’s Barn (Bonners Ferry, ID): Creamery, Raw Jersey Milk, Yogurt, Raw Butter, Butter Milk– Bob Peterson 208-263-8208 Karyn Sullivan 208-304 7201 peterson71@yahoo.com

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Bill’s Berries (Laclede, ID): U-Pick and Pre-picked Blueberries—208-263 8982

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Bonners Ferry Farmers Market (Bonners Ferry, ID): 8am-1pm Saturday at the City Parking Lot

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Bristow Country Gardens (Sagle, ID): Fresh Produce & Flowers (while in season)- Garry and Susan Bristow 208-290-8642 & 208-263-4224

Pack River Yaks (Sandpoint, ID): Yak Meat & Fiber—Christine Stoneham 208-263-4785 Queen Bee Honey (Clark Fork, ID): Raw Honey– Andrea & Kelly Cope 208-597-5433 Rams Head Orchards (Evans, WA): Lamb sold by full or half (Must order ahead of time call for more info), Premium Lamb Burger $9.50/lb (While Supplies Lasts) – Lisa and Mike Whytock 208-818-7825 or 509-684-5425

Riley Creek Farms (Laclede, ID): Blueberries, Jam, Vinegars, Vegetables, Raspberries, and Strawberries– Stan Urmann 208-263-4114 stanurmann@yahoo.com

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Sacred Earth Farm (Sandpoint, ID): Vegetables, and Bedding Plants– Martinson & Higgens 208-263-7647

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Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm (Sandpoint, ID) 488 Shingle Mill Road Blueberry Products: Fresh Berries, we-pick/you-pick; Jams & jellies 208-946-3295 Fred and Patty Omodt.

Clear Skies Sheep Company (Bonners Ferry, ID): Lamb, Pigs, Beef, Eggs– Lou & Marva Maring 208-267-6107 find them on Facebook and  www.clearskiessheepcompany.com Deerfield Farms (Sagle, ID): Over 20 varieties of certified organic tomatoes, including 16 heirloom varieties– Jerry and Susan Petrina 208-9466113

Naturally Good Things (Libby, MT): Health Food, Bulk Foods, Supplements, Spices, and Local Raw Honey– Georgina Powers 406-293-6771

Red Wheelbarrow Produce (Sandpoint, ID): Naturally Grown Produce in Selle Valley, and Plant Starts– Emily Levine 208-265-2689 Can be found at the Sandpoint Farmers Market and Winter Ridge www.redwheelbarrow.com

Cascade Creek Farm (Bonners Ferry, ID): Grass fed Beef, Pasture Poultry – Rob & Mimi Fueling www.cascadecreekfarm.com 

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Moose Meadow Farm (Clark Fork, ID): Certified Organic Fresh Produce, CSA Subscription 2018 spots available. Free choice & Weekly deliveries.

— Katherine Creswell & Spencer Nietmann 208-304-6492 moosemeadoworganic@gmail.com moosemeadoworganic.com

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McKerracher Family Farms (Careywood, ID): Pastured Poultry, Market Garden, and Bedding Plants – Julie McKerracher 208-818-0208 also find them at the ABC Farmers Market

Raven Rock Ranch (Libby, MT): Grass Fed Beef, and Farm Fresh Eggs– Georgine Powers 406-293-6771 also sold at Naturally Good Things

Byrum Family Farms (Hayden, ID): Pasture Chickens, Heritage Turkeys, Eggs– Paris & Jonathan Byrum 208-664-9793

Celestial Natural Farms (Careywood, ID): Eggs, Rabbits, Heritage Turkeys, Goats, Fresh Goats Milk, Goat Milk Products, Beauty Products made with organic &natural ingredients– Celeste Ricci 208-610-9289 Feeds locally grown & non gmo feeds, also become a friend of the farm on Facebook (Celestial Natural Farms) and by email Celstialnaturalfarms@yahoo.com

Hoot Owl Farm (Libby, MT): Locally grown Vegetables and Herbs. Libby and Troy Farmers Markets & CSA. Rudy and Bonnie Geber, 406-3185339, info@hootowlfarm.net, hootowlfarm.net

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Greentree Naturals (Sandpoint, ID): CSA, Farm Stand, Certified Organic Farm, Fresh Produce, Flowers, Garlic, Herbs, Hops, Organic Gardening Workshops - Diane Green 208-263-8957 www.greentreenaturals.com

Sandpoint Farmers Market: 9am-1pm Saturdays and 3pm-5:30 Wednesdays, May - October. Located at Farmin Park on 3rd and Main. www.sandpointfarmersmarket.com

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T&T Farm (Priest River, ID): Fresh Produce, Pepper Plant Starts, Raspberries, Goat Milk Caramel Sauce, Goat Milk Soap and Cheese– Vickie and Darwin Tenney 208-448-2414 and also find them at the Sandpoint Farmers Market

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White Dove Ent. (Athol, ID): Poultry Processing—18 years experience (By appointment only, call for more info.) Non-GMO Grass Fed Beef, Non-GMO Chickens & Turkeys for your freezer (Must order ahead of time, call for more info.) Round Bales of Grass hay, Oat hay, and Straw– Mike & Misty Heuett 208-660-5375 mmheuett

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Double Shoe Ranch (Dover, ID): Katahdin Lambs pasture raised– Randy and Gail Curless 208-263-4633

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Farm to Market Store & Bakery/Deli (Libby, MT): Produce & Meat (Seasonal) - Leona Mast 406-293-9775 hours Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

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Four Peas Family Farm (Priest River, ID): Herbal Tonics, Tinctures, Raw Milk Goat Cheese, Raw Wool & Yarn, Handmade Crafts & Toys– Jim and Kim DesJarlais 208-597-0644 fourpeasfamilyfarm@gmail.com

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Four Seasons Farm (Priest River, ID): CSA, Produce, Pasture Pork, Fresh Eggs, Chicken, Goat, and Turkey– Ron and Toni Carey 208-255-9193

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Woods Meats (Sandpoint, ID): Inspected locally grown natural beef – 208-263-3077

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God’s Little Acre (Careywood, ID): All Natural Grass Fed Beef, Berkshire Pigs, Free Range Chickens, Heritage Turkeys & Fresh Eggs– Susan Bourguigon 208-683-2907 or 208-659-6270 Must place order a head of time for Chickens and Turkeys



The Plant Sale (Priest River, ID): Old Fashioned Perennials, House Plants Pots, Hanging Baskets & Vegetables. 208-448-2464 (ask for Donna)



Cloud Eleven Mountain Farm LLC (Moyie Springs, ID) Local Produce; Jams & jellies, garlic, flowers & plant starts Ed & Julie Newcomb 208-267-4743 Instagram@cloudelevenmountainfarm.



Good Shepard Lamb Co. (Bonners Ferry, ID): Fresh naturally grown lamb, no hormones or antibiotics– Gordon and Marlene Stanley 208-267 -5882 can also find them at the Sandpoint Farmers Market



Granite Lakes Goats (Libby, MT): Goat meat, Highland Cows & Beef, Chicken, Eggs– Amy Hughes 406-293-8957

Heats 1500 sq. ft. Log length: 18�

Energy Logs North Idaho (240 logs) $260.00 1/2 Unit (120 logs) $140.00 Individual Log $1.40

Wood Energy Pellets North Idaho (50 Bags) $235.00 Lignetics (50 Bags) $235.00 Single Bags (Lignetic) $4.90 Single Bags (NIE)

10

Country Life

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

My Son, My Son

Charitable donation tax receipts provided to Donors.

for Sherry

I was chatting at work today with a friend And she told me about her son.

He’d be heading home from the Air Force His time in the “Sandbox” was done So he gets to come home on leave, for a while And she tries to not let it show How excited she is , but I see in her smile A pride only Mothers can know.

She remembers the day when they first brought him home Just an innocent babe in her arms And she watched as he grew up into a man As she prayed he would be kept from harm.

She told of the time when they traveled away And the children, all three, got the flu.

She took care of them all, though she got no rest As only a Mother can do.

She laughed as she told how he wanted to wear His pants hanging low with the style.

But she wouldn’t allow him his boxers to show, She said, thinking back, with a smile.

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And she told how he said “It’s The Air Force, Mom” It isn’t the Army I’m in.

When she would forget and say the wrong thing He acted like it was a sin.

Now she often thinks of the man he’s become And she prays he will be kept from harm.

And remembers the day when they first brought him home Just an innocent babe in her arms.

by Joseph W. Smith

Sleep at the Nursing Home Lord, he sleeps.

And I watch Sitting so near My heart hangs at half mast.

He sleeps a lot, these days.

At times I doze off myself.

I wake to gaze upon his face Yet he is unaware in his slumber.

Like a living photograph in 3D. He wakes as I go to leave and he cries.

I rush back to embrace him in tears.

But before long he is back asleep.

So I head back out the door.

I am so exhausted.

I will welcome sleep.

And he will sleep not to wake one day soon.

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Our Environment

11

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

Weed of the Month: Common Reed

By Chase Youngdahl, Bonner County Weeds Manager

I really don’t want to think about fall yet, being that it’s mid-August as I’m writing this. But we are indeed on the home stretch of summer, and this is the fall installment of the Round Up, so I should probably get with the program. :-) An odd issue recently cropped up (I have no idea where the issue will be by the time of publishing) involving unsolicited seeds from China. These seeds have been mailed to random addresses across the country, including residents in Idaho and Bonner County. If this is still happening and you receive a seed package that you did not order, do not open it, and please notify the USDA-APHIS office in Idaho for instructions on disposal. If the call volume is too high and you have trouble connecting to their office, give my office a call and I can provide you with an APHIS address to mail the seeds & packaging to. These packages may or may not contain new invasive plants, but properly dealing with seeds from an unknown source falls into the prevention category of weed control. Play it safe!

Weed of the month is Common Reed (Phragmites australis), a robust perennial grass. This is an Idaho state listed noxious weed, but one that we do not have in Bonner County yet. My hope is that it never does show up, but staying in line with the current life theme of the “unknown”…who knows! It’s as close as eastern Kootenai County, so there is reason for concern and attention. Common Reed is a wetland grass; found in riparian areas and shoreline margins of lakes and ponds. With as much prime area as Bonner County has in regards to real estate with lake frontage [and wildlife habitat], this could be a major threat if it shows up and is given a chance to establish itself. It grows anywhere from 6 – 15 feet in height, and the leaf blades can reach 2 feet long and 1 – 2 inches wide. The inflorescence (flower parts & seed heads) is 6 – 16 inches long and has a very fluffy, feathery appearance. This thing is gargantuan! The dense stands that it creates hinders animal movement and it chokes out the desirable, native vegetation that they need. You’re not going to want to bother walking through it to get to the shoreline either, unless you’re packing a chainsaw! That last part was a joke, but not far from reality. There are native reeds (they’re smaller), but the home range of Phragmites australis is Eurasia and Africa. It is reported to have been introduced to North America via contaminated water from ship ballasts.

If you identify Phragmites australis, let my office know right away; it would be treated as an EDRR (early detection, rapid response) noxious weed. The seed viability is low, but it spreads like a fiend vegetatively—quickly developing a large network of rhizomes and stolons.

Being that it’s a vegetative spreading grass that grows near water, control options are limited to non-selective [aquatic labeled] herbicides; certain Glyphosate products and/or Imazapyr.

We’re approaching the fall window for effective weed control in pastures and turf—September through October. Some weeds, mostly turf weeds and certain invasive annuals, can even respond effectively to herbicide treatments performed into and through November if the snow and hard frost situation allows. Nutrient loads in plants move into the roots in the fall [to prepare for winter dormancy], which makes for a great opportunity to take out perennial weeds, especially the rhizomatous varieties. Systemic herbicides will move like crazy right down into the root system along with the nutrients. Regarding winter annual weeds, the seedlings for next year’s crop have developed by the middle of fall, so with a fall treatment you’re stopping the problem in its tracks. Winter annuals bolt first thing the following spring, narrowing your window for an effective spring treatment. If you’re looking to try a fall weed control strategy, reach out for specific advice. It may be the right approach for your use site and species of concern.

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The CO-OP Gas & Supply Company, Inc. is in the process of retiring stock from the cooperative. If you see your own name on this list, or know how to reach anyone on this list, please contact Linda Fitchett at 208.263.6820 JAMES W CRAIG ART MRS RUTH BRUCE JOHN F THOMAS B CLARENCE E ADDISON G CHARLES R COY FLOYD JACK W JACKSON H JOHN LARRY G THOMAS HARRY F CHARLES W VIC CHARLES L CHARLIE CARL W CARL MICHAEL A DENNIS STEPHEN F NEAL CHARLES M OR TERESA TED DENNIS & PAT LYLE DAVID WILLIAM ROBERT ERLAND A GARRY E OR MARILYN MEDFORD E CARROL C FRANK VICTOR H HAROLD KEN ANTHONY G MITCHELL REX RONALD A MILTON L E PAUL GARY GLORIA D JOHN

CHRISTIANSON CHRONERT CHURCH CHURCH CHURCHILL CHURCHILL CLAIRMONT CLAPPER CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARKE CLARY CLASSEN CLEMONS CLIZER CLIZER TIMBER RESOUR CLUPPER COATS COBURN COCHRAN COEN COFFEY COGGESHALL COLBY COLCLOUGH COLHOFF EMPORIUM COLIN COLLIANDER COLLIE COLLIE COLLINS COLPAERT COLVARD COMAN COMER COMPTON COMPTON CONKLIN CONLEY CONRAD COOK COOK COOK COOK

MARVIN LYNN JOE ROBERT L MRS PHYLLIS RALPH S GALE LARRY ROY E FRANK J BILL ROBERT GARY EDWARD R EARL WALLY JON VERN

COOK COON COOP COOP COOPER COOPER COOPER COPELAND COPELAND CORAM DR CORDES CORDINGLY CORLEY CORNACHIO CORNWELL COSSIART COTTRELL COULTER CONST

WILBERT E DOUG WAYNE L ODE VICTOR PAUL CAROLYN CHET MAX A MARTY ROBERT G COLLINS ROY ROY A THOMAS TERRY JAMES T MAURICE RICHARD VERN I JACK L TERRY AE KENNETH FELIS R OR BETTY JAMES M GAE E MICHAEL EDWIN J GEORGE A OZ ARCHIE BILL CHUCK CHARLIE DANA MICHAEL L CHARLES FRED WM C ANTHONY WAYNE JOHN TOM DAN JOHN ROLLAND V JIM STEPHEN J DIANE JOHN C NELL ROBERT L ROBERT M WAYNE L WILLIAM L SHERMAN M DONALD E MIKE OLIVER VIRGINIA CALVIN ALLAN JAMES S NORBERT JOHN LINDA HAROLD MICHAEL R LOUIS

COVEY COX COX COX COXHEAD COZORT CRAFT CRAIG CRAIG CRAMER CRAMER CRANE CRANE CRANOR CRAPE CRAVENS CRAVEY CRAWFORD CREED CRITES CRONK CROUSORE CROWELL CRUM CSOROSZ CULTRA CULVER CULVER CUNNINGHAM CUNNINGHAM CUNNINGHAM CUNNINGTON CURRIE CURRIER CURTIS CURTIS CUSHMAN CVANCARA DAHL DAHLMAN DAILEY DALTON DALY DANIEL DANIELS DARNELL DAUGHERTY DAVAULT DAVIDSON DAVIES DAVIS DAVIS DAVIS DAVIS DAVIS DAVIS DAVIS DAWSON DAWSON DEAN DEANE DEBOER DECKER DECKER DEEM DEETER DEETER DEHLBOM DELCOMTE DELDUCCO

Thank you!

RALPH MICHAEL C BILL GORDON HUGH ELMER E WILLIAM GORDON VANCE ROBERT ROSS HARRY STEWART MARI HARRY L REV DELBERT MARJORIE JACK CHAS J PAUL DAVE STEVE MIKE BERNARD N HARRY SAM MRS MARTIN CLAUDE PETER HAROLD L SCOTT G OR KIM ELMER B RICHARD S LA MEL FRANCES CHARLES JOHN L CW ANN HARRY TED R KEVIN ARTHUR J FRANK KENNETH KENNETH BILL FORREST HARRY J KERMIT OR LOIS ROY ALBERT ARNOLD KEVIN ELLA KEEL LA TED MICHAEL STEPHEN DENNIS MIKE & DUANE DAVE HARRY DAVID SHAWN DOUGLAS RONALD RICHARD R FOREST

DELFS DELLES DELP DELP DEMERS DEMPSEY DENMAN DENNING DERIGO DEROBBIO DERR DERTIEN DESCHAMPS DESROUSIERS DETCHMAN DEWOLF DEY DIAMOND DICKESS DICKISON DILLON DILLON DINNING DISTELDORF DITMORE DOCKINS DOCKTER DODD DODDS DODGE DODGE DOERKSEN DOLE DOMBEY DONENFELD DONOVAN DORIUS DOTY DOTY DOUGHTERY DOUGHTY DOUGLAS DOWNARD DOWNEN DOYEN DRAHEIN DRAIN DRAKE DRAKE DRAKE DRAKE DRAKE DREIER DREIER DREISBACH DRESBACK DRESCHEL DRIVER DRUMMOND DRUMRIGHT DRURY DUANE DUARTE DUDLEY DUFF DUFFY DUFFY DUFORE DUGGAN DUNCAN

BARRY ROBERT D AUSTIN LA ALBERT R & JANET BUZZ SIDNEY A RONALD J JOHN SUSAN JOHN WAYNE BURTON DARRELL G RANDALL HERSCHEL KEITH GEORGE M AL FLOYD DALE DON HERMAN JEFF GARY JOHN A ED KATHERINE VANCE WILLIAM LESTER ROBERT R ARCHIE ADAM F DAVID IRANT JAMES F ROBERT VERA LEE JAMES R WILLIAM F MRS JAMES TT MARICELA DUANE JOHN H VERN B WM JOHN LONNIE RAY TED RICHARD OR KAREN CHARLES HOWARD LYLE WILLIAM W DE RANDY EDWARD E GORDON STEVEN R BOB PAUL P MERLE E WARDELL A BLANCHE DAVID P RORY J TOM WH RICHARD LLOYD FLOYD EDWIN M KEN P ICYMI BOBBIE JOE GLEN A

DUNN DUNN DUNN JR DUNSTON DUNTON DURHAM DUTTON DUVAL DVORSEK EAKINS EATON EBBETT EBERLY EBY EDDY EDWARDS EDWARDS EGEBERG EGGELSTON EGGERS EICH EICH EICH EICH EICH EISLER EITZMAN EKINS EKWORTZELL ELBERSON ELDRED ELDRED ELDRIDGE ELEAZER JR ELLEN ELLIOTT ELLIOTT ELLIOTT ELLIOTT ELLIS ELMS ELROD ELSASSER EMERSON EMERY EMMEL ENDERS ENGEL ENGELS ENGERT ENGLISH ENGSTROM ENOCHSON ENOCKSON ENOS EPPERS EPPERS ERICKSON ERICKSON ERICKSON ESTES EVANKO EVANS EVANS EVANS EVANS EVANS EVANS EVANS EVANS SR EVELAND EVELAND EWEN FABRICK FACKENTHALL FAIL FAIRCHILD

WAYNE ED FRED W ART E & MELANIE CLYDE JG DAVID M RALPH HOWARD LEWIS DANIEL P KATHRYNN L QUENTIN FLOYD DIANE DWIGHT JC JOHN DAN OR GAIL JERRY C JAMES R RON STAN DAVID W DAVE KENNETH E RONALD G KENNETH N KENNETH JAMES R JOHN L DENNIS JOHN GENE KERRY J JOHN JAMES JOE WILLIAM OR PAT ERIC M FRANK JERRY ROBERT R AJ DOUG LELAND GLEN OR KATHY DANIEL JIM S RICHARD VIC KENNETH CARL E MARTHA M ROBERT R RUSSELL W TIM RICHARD E BERTON DAYTON C MIKE DAVE VICTOR WAYNE A ROBERT J FRITZ ALEX OR KAYO SE DWAIN MICHAEL W LARRY KENNETH MICHAEL S GERALD S WILLIAM W SUTHER

FARLEY FARNAM FARNOW FARRAND FARRAR FARRIESTER FAUGHT FAULK DR FAUX FAYANT FEATHERSTON FEIST FEITNER FERGUS FERGUSON FERGUSON FERGUSON FERGUSON FERNANDEZ FERRELL FIELDS FILCE FILLION FINDLAY FINET FINKENBURG FINNEY FINNEY FIROVED FISHEL FISHER FISHER FITCH FITCHETT FITZGERALD FITZHARRIS FITZMORRIS JR FLANNIGAN FLESHER FLETCHER FLO FLOREA FLOREA FLOREA FLORY FLORY FLOWER FODGE FOGERTY FOLK FORD FORD FORTNER FOSS FOSTER FOSTER FOSTER FOSTER FOUQUETTE FOURNIER FOURNIER FOUST FOUTCH FOUTCH FOX FRANCK FRANK FRASER FRAZIER FREELAND FREELAND FRENCH FRIESEN FRUIN FRY FRYMIRE FULTON SR

JOHN L BEN VERNA OR DOUG EDWARD JACK JOHN W ROD JESS DAN RICHARD WILLIAM J WILLIAM J DAVID MIKE EH GREGORY L MARY ROBERT W ROBERT LEE DIANE WALTER GEORGE MIKE FRED L ARMAND MARILYN JOAN DAVID L LARRY RL DR JOHN REV DON RAY ROD TOM ROBERT M DEAN GREG A WILLIAM BILLY ROBERT KEN BILL FRED DAN OR VICKY JOE ART DAVID E ARTHUR JUDITH LARKIN BARBARA CHET TIM BOB OR JOYCE ELLEN SCOTT NORMAN BOB PHIL WAYNE ANTHONY EZRA B MORRIS ROY A OR BETTY TERRY STANLEY EARL MICHAEL J HERB GARY GARRY G ED REV W PAUL JAMES A FRED JOHN GUY JIM LAURENCE R LLOYD T DAVID

FUNDERBERG FUNK GABEL GAGE GAGIN GALLAWAY GALLOWAY GANNON GANOE SR GARAYALDE GARDNER GARNER GARR GARRETT GARRISON GARRISON GATES GATHERS GATHERS GAUZZA JR GEENEN GENDEL GENDREAU GEORGE GERARD GERREN GEVREZ GHIGLERI GIBBENS GIBBONS GIBBONS GIBBONS GIBBS GIBSON GIBSON GIBSON GIESBRECHT GIFT GILL GILSON AND SON GINTER GINTER GINTER ELECTRIC GINZTON GIRTON GISSEL GITTI GLAUNER GLEESON GLEISER GLENN GLICKENHAUS GODBE GODDARD GODING GODING GOEDGE GOFF GOLDBERG GONZALES GONZALES GOOD GOODMAN GORDON GORE GORNICK GORS GOTTSCHALK GOTTWALD GOULETTE GRABENSTEIN GRAESE GRAF GRAHAM GRAHAM GRAHAM GRANSTROM

14

The Gardener’s Corner

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

BC Gardeners Present Fall Plant Sale

By Ann Warwick Fall is approaching, a perfect time to refresh the perennial garden with some new additions. You are in luck, as the BC Gardeners Association is holding a plant sale on September 11, from 9AM to 4PM .

The sale will take place in front of the Penney’s entrance at the Bonner Mall. Members will bring some of their favorite hardy and eye pleasing perennial flower plants, some house plants, ground covers, and some berry plants, as well. Come see us for some great deals on plants raised with love by local gardeners.

Due to COVID 19, the fall Home Horticulture series of classes has been canceled. We hope to bring spring in with a cornucopia of classes on interesting topics. Stay tuned. To keep abreast of our activities, visit us at bcgardeners.org.

The Fall Clean Up Debate The end of the growing season approaches, and we gardeners are harvesting our bountiful produce and putting some by for the winter.

If you have extra, remember to donate to your local food bank. They can use any produce you can spare during this time.

The perennial garden is sporting final colors as the flowers give in to the changes in light and temperature, and it is almost time to put the garden to bed for the winter. What do you do to put the garden to bed?

Some say, cut everything to the ground, while others advocate leaving it all to Mother Nature.

There are pros and cons to each method, and a lot depends on the gardener’s own tastes and personality. Some folks are comfortable with a bit of a messy garden, adorned with seed heads and dead leaves or bare stalks. Others demand a perfect, clean and orderly space for the winter season. Here are some considerations when deciding how much to clean up in the fall: Messy garden pros: Seed heads attract birds and can fall in the spring to reproduce plants, which can be left in place or transplanted to another area--free plants, in other words. The leaves and stalks provide cover during the winter for beneficial insects, and, when weighed down with snow, create a protective cover over the crown of the plant.

And, the plants in winter are interesting garden features when transformed by snow into strange shapes and forms. Some plants offer a bit of color, too--bronzes or golds in the winter landscape.

Messy garden cons: Plant matter left in the garden, if diseased, can harbor disease or fungal infections through the winter. Plant matter can attract and shelter harmful insects. You may have a bit of cleanup to do in the spring if the plants don’t break down efficiently. Weeds can hide in the debris and be harder to remove.

Clean garden pros: The garden looks tidy going into the winter season. There are few spaces to harbor bad insects or diseases. The garden is ready to grow unhindered in the spring. There is a lot of material to add to a compost pile in fall, to put back on the garden in spring, when it has transformed into beautiful organic matter.

Clean garden cons: Fewer places for beneficial insects to winter over.

Less protection over the crowns of plants. More work in the fall, but less in spring.

Many gardeners opt for a solution that lies between the two extremes. I like a “free spirited” garden, so leave annuals like cosmos, larkspur, calendula, poppies of all kinds to go to seed and find homes in unexpected places in the garden. I allow some perennials to go to seed, for free plants to move, or a massed look. Gaillardia, Gloriosa daisies, phlox, columbine, and many others can surprise and delight the gardener when they show up in just the right spot, as if by magic. Or, they can be removed easily when young. Even bulb plants like crocosmia will reproduce by seed. Invasive ornamental plants, though, should have the seed heads removed and destroyed. I cut

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In the veggie area, it is wise to remove most plants to the compost pile when they die back. I like to leave beans and peas in place and just turn them under to compost throughout the winter, as they add nitrogen to the soil. Any diseased plants should be destroyed rather than added to compost.

What style do you prefer?

F

LOG PRICES Species

June 2020

August 2020

Douglas-fir/western larch

$375 - $430/MBF

$400- $490/MBF

Grand fir/western hemlock

$375 - $420

$375 - $460

Lodgepole pine

$375 - $420

$370 - $460

Ponderosa pine

$300-$350

$300 - $380

Western white pine

$360 - $375

$390 - $420

Western redcedar

$720 - $875

$800 - $1,150

*$1,700*

*$1,800*

$25 - $32+/ton

$20- 34/ton

$52/ton +/-

$50/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. *Pole value varies widely depending upon length. Market information as of August 26, 2020.

Never in my 40-year forestry career have I witnessed dynamics in the lumber/log markets as we are now experiencing. Lumber prices have moved dramatically higher over the last few months; however, log prices have increased at a glacial pace. Although log buyers have more money to work with, there is great uncertainty in the lumber/plywood market, and with generally ample log yard inventories, they are reluctant to move prices much higher. Cedar has been an exception lately, with keen completion for that species. On the unfortunate end, pulp markets have been very challenging since Ponderay Newsprint in Usk, Washington stopped purchasing logs and filed for bankruptcy. - 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.

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16

Your Health

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

Swamps, Allies, and Refuges

by Gabrielle Duebendorfer, ND

Lycopus virginicus, also known as Bugle Weed, has for me.

I find it growing in local swamps and along creek edges together with Brook Mint and Blue Vervain. Curiously all of them are used to calm the nerves, with Lycopus being specific for palpitations that come with anxiety and hyperthyroidism. In fact, Lycopus, Melissa (lemonbalm), and Leonorus (motherwort) comprise an old naturopathic formula for hyperthyroidism that can be used for acute flares, if caught early or to wean off prescription medication once stabilized – under practitioner supervision of course.

For me the parallel of finding these herbal allies in literal swamps to help pull me out of my emotional/stress ones, was soothing in itself.

The reassurance of giving my body time (over 6 months) to adjust to radiation impact, together with proper support like physical therapy, lymph drainage, massage, topical and internal anti-inflammatories, eased the healing process. It taught me to acknowledge reality as it is – a certain surrender – and rely on my allies. Whether they are herbs, people, books, animals, walks, or dance, they all bring me back into my refuge and lead me to appropriate actions. I truly see swamps as opportunities to clear the space just like going up to the mountains.

May you find your own allies and commit to immersing yourself in your own refuges.

We just came back from a 7-day backpacking trip and, though grateful for a big cuddly bed and good shower, I am still elated from the experience and would have loved to stay longer. Just like in retreats, for me it takes until day three or four for dreams to shift from having forgotten to change my kids’ diapers (they are long grown!!!) or some other neglect of responsibility, to a more easeful or even inspirational dream life. The natural spacious beauty of high-altitude mountains has a way to clear away all worries and re-ignite a familiar feeling of belonging.

I distinctly remember flying with my then 9-year old son in a rickety small airplane from Kathmandu to a remote NW area in Nepal. When we passed the alpine altitude, he exclaimed with tears in his eyes “Mom, this feels like coming home!” Indeed, there is a distinct shift in perception when the landscape shifts to alpine evergreens, rock outcrops, high crags, and flowery fields – not to speak of the stillness that is transformed into its own beauty by bird songs, swirling winds, or raindrops on the tent tarp. Even sleepless nights, beckoned by starry nights alternating with clouds, are transformed into opportunities to inquire into this play between contraction of attention and broadening Dr Gabrielle Duebendorfer has practiced as a naturopathic doctor into spacious awareness of just Being, eventually opening into this for 25 years combining natural medicine with mindfulness tools. Her underlying ground of joy – call it God or grace. practice is focused on cancer care and post traumatic growth due to When I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I asked my- but not limited to - chronic disease diagnoses. She offers tele and in self: “if I were not around for much longer, what would I really want person naturopathic and iRest consults and classes. Please note new to do?” The answer was very clearly more hiking and backpacking phone number: 208-920-0583 in the mountains. For me the mountains are like a refuge where I can reconnect, recharge, rejuvenate, and get inspired, and I have committed more time in them despite the constant call for “duty”. I recall one Warming Balm of my kids’ favorite books about Frederick the mouse, who collected Pain Relieving Liniment colors, sounds, and feelings while the other mice collected food for the winter. When asked why he didn’t help he replied he was preparing Cooling Gel for times when food ran out, which it invariably did in winter. I am fully Hand Crème aware that there will be a time when I will not be able to go up high Soaps and Lotions anymore. But I am also aware that, just like Frederick, I have the caBody Washes pacity to tap into this underlying feeling of belonging at any time with and much more. my imagination, as long as I practice resting in it often enough.

Refuges like this could be mountains for you as well. It could be regAll at the CO-OP ular retreats with your spiritual or church community even via zoom at Gas & Supply Company home. My husband and I were delighted with the discovery that such a retreat sanctified our home and increased our felt sense of intimacy.

You might find refuge in memories of times long gone, communion with God, or meditation practice. The important thing is to make regular time for this immersion.

Times of being sucked into swamps are sure to come. The Covid-19 epidemic has done that for many of my patients, whether due to isolation, health or financial difficulties, or just plain fear or anger. Chronic Tinctures (alcohol extracts) and infusions (concentrated disease diagnoses will do it for others. Long lasting radiation side-efteas) are two ways to take herbs internally– after eating them fects got me stuck emotionally. Repeated episodes of severe heart as food, of course! Both methods involve soaking plant mapalpitations caused fear, frustration, and pure anger. I had always terial, whether leaves, flowers, roots or seeds, in a liquid. been in excellent shape and able to manage menopausal palpitations, but there was nothing I could do about these, despite a normal EKG. I was just about to make an appointment with a cardiologist, when I talked to my sister-in-law, a physical Medical - Dental - Pediatrics therapist in Germany. She explained that from an osteoBehavioral Health - VA pathic perspective, radiation causes subtle scar formation 267-1718 Bonners Ferry in the nerve channels that 265-6252 Ponderay can irritate the Vagus nerve, 265-2242 Sandpoint Pediatrics causing a simple stress response with increased heart 448-2321 Priest River rate and palpitations. I knew 263-0450 VA how to deal with that, which kaniksuhealthservices.org was a great relief.

That brings me to how imWe can help you take control of your addiction portant allies are when we get and your future. stuck in the swamp. My allies not only include my sister-inWe accept Medicaid, Medicare & most law, but also my naturopathic insurances. No insurance? No problem. A tools. I love collecting herbs low-cost sliding-scale fee structure is available. in the wild during my walks No one is excluded due to inability to pay. and runs. It has become a way of being present in and Accepting new patients. Same day connecting with nature while appointments. reaping its healing properties for teas and tinctures. Herbs can become important allies in the healing process as Ly-

If you are ready to kick your habit, we are ready to help.

Our Community

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020

Spine-Tingling Tales from Sandpoint’s Haunted History By Hannah Combs Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum Research by Maggie Mjelde

Sharon was just placing the last stack of dishes in the kitchen cupboards when she saw that the digital clock over the stove was announcing midnight and decided the rest of her unpacking could wait until the morning. As she turned off the lights in her new kitchen in her new South Sandpoint home, a warm sense of belonging filled her heart. But as she rounded the corner to head upstairs, a frigid chill ran through her. She looked up, and then leaped back with a shriek, tripping over a heavy cardboard box. Halfway up the stairs, framed by moonlight from behind, were a man and a woman hovering next to each other and staring placidly down at her. He wore a tall brimmed hat, and her small waist flared into a long skirt. With a catch in her breath, Sharon realized she could see a glint of moonlight through them.

She ran out of the house and walked briskly up and down the street three times, grateful for her neighbors’ security lights and doubting her own sanity. Approaching her front door, she grabbed an umbrella she’d left on the porch, not sure what she’d do with it but at least a little reassured by its weight in her hand. The wooden floor creaked as she approached the stairs, and when she risked a peek the figures were gone. Still, she slept on the couch that night with her umbrella grasped tightly in her fist.

In the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum’s Research Room, it is common to receive inquiries about people’s properties. Usually the owner is trying to resolve a boundary dispute or is seeking information for a historic preservation project. But every now and then, we get to spend time with someone like Sharon, researching previous owners of a home in order to make peace with ghosts. By digging into BCHS’s property records and obituaries, Sharon was able to learn about the people who had lived in her house as early as the 1910’s. Perhaps they were mollified by her attempts to understand them, since by all accounts, they haven’t been back to spook her.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, stories about supernatural beings have captivated humans around the world since the dawn of civilization. Though we now understand things like disease and earthquakes that might once have been blamed on angry spirits, people still have unsettling experiences that they can’t explain through logic. For that reason, our wariness of supernatural beings still persists. Some spirits may be malignant, some benign, and Sandpoint has reportedly experienced its share of both.

17

Volume 20 Issue 6

Second Ave. Pizza resides in the former home of Mrs. Miller, who supposedly hangs around and turns the water faucets on without warning.

She is considered a peaceful spirit who just wants to tell everyone that she’s still there. On the other side of town, a little girl can sometimes be heard singing in the hallways of Sandpoint Middle School. And in an old farmhouse on Colburn Culver, the owner experienced a scare when her 9-year-old granddaughter and her friends reported hearing inexplicable jack-in-the-box music during a sleepover. When the music ended, the doors slammed shut!

Perhaps no place in Bonner County is considered more haunted than the Sandpoint train depot. A man working on the remodel of the building reported seeing several translucent beings standing on the platform waiting for the train. A local photographer reported being jostled by an invisible presence while taking photographs at the depot.

In 2007, a spiritual consultant visited the platform and said that she sensed the presence of a brokenhearted woman waiting for her husband to return.

Ghost stories can be spooky or plain old fun. Perhaps it depends on whether you’ve experienced a chilling presence yourself. If you want to enjoy a little bit of both, keep an eye out for the Bonner County Historical Society’s Halloween activities. This year’s outdoor Trick-orTreat will offer sweetness and gentle scares for local families, and the Ghosts and Graveyards walking tour will offer historic spooky stories in some of the oldest buildings in Sandpoint. Stay tuned for more details at www.bonnercountyhistory.org.

Come have a spooktacular good time at the Co-Op this Halloween! We will be dressed for the occasion and handing out treats all day during business hours. So stop by!

We will be chillingly thrilled to see you!

Many ghost sightings are reported at local train depots, often thought to be people waiting for loved ones who rode away but never returned.

18

Home and Hearth

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

Recipes...

No one knows what the weather is going to do over the next few weeks, but, we can look at the calendar and we know autumn is coming. And with it the delicious crispness that requires more hot, yummy food from the kitchen!

In this issue we are all about bread and cookies! The following rich dinner roll recipe has a dual purpose in our house. Not only does it produce amazing dinner rolls, but small balls of the dough, rolled flat like a tortilla and quickly fried in a cast iron skillet yields an amazing flat bread for sandwich or taco fillings!

Rich Dinner Rolls Yield 2 dozen small rolls

1 cup scalded milk 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup butter (no substitutes) 1/2 cup warm water 2 pkg. active dry yeast 2 eggs, beaten 5 cups sifted flour (can split 1/2 white - 1/2 whole wheat) 1-2 Tablespoons crushed herbs (optional) In a 1 quart heavy saucepan scald the milk. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, salt, and butter. Stir to melt butter. Let mixture cool.

In a large mixing bowl stir together warm water and yeast. Let yeast sit for 5 minutes.

Add eggs to the cooled milk mixture and blend. Ad egg mix to the yeast mixture and stir gently.

Add flour one cup at a time, stirring well after each addition until all flour has been added.

Turn dough out onto a clean, floured counter and knead for at least ten minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl to rise. After dough has doubled in size, punch down and divide evenly into 24 pieces. Form rolls and place them in a greased baking pan. Cover and let rise for another hour.

Bake at 375 degrees just until the tops of the rolls are browned and tapping on the top yields a hollow sound.

Serve hot with butter and home made jam.

SAVE

600

Basic Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Blend together with an electric mixer in order: 1 cup butter (no substitutes) 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 large eggs 2 cups flour 1/4 cup plus 3 Tablespoons baking cocoa 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts.

Grease and flour a sided cookie sheet. Pour brownie batter onto cookie sheet and spread out evenly. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts evenly over the top of the batter.

Bake 25 minutes then check for doneness with a butter knife. As soon as it comes out clean remove the brownies from the oven. DO NOT over bake.

Let brownies cool slightly in the pan, just until cool enough to handle.

Cut and remove to a serving plate.

Can also be served hot with whipped cream and coffee for a true dessert.

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20

The Great Outdoors

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020

Volume 20 Issue 6

Time to Gather and Create

RIDDEN BY EVERYDAY RIDER ROSS LARA

For wreath makers of all sorts autumn is a great time to get out into the world and start collecting items for the autumn festival of wreath making. And Nature is full of all sorts of things to use. It is free and there is likely nothing much like it in the craft stores anyway. Nature is far more creative.

My favorite time to gather is as soon as the field grasses begin to dry. I will cut bunches of them about the same time I harvest my flowered herbs I no longer need. Both the herbs and the grasses are hung up to dry in preparation for trimming and bunch tying to go into wreaths.

Along country roads and certainly in older pastures one can find St. Johnswort which can sometime be coaxed into holding the beautiful yellow brown flower color if it is dried at the right time.

In a few weeks the maple trees will begin to change color. Some maple trees in this area turn a vivid burgundy in the fall. Choosing leaves from these trees to add to the orange and yellow of common maple can make a striking contrast.

Back in the forest and along road sides Oregon Grape is abundant as well as Bear Berry or Kinnikinnick. These evergreen low growing shrub like plants offer a deep green when dried at the right time. Oregon Grape, sometimes called Idaho Holly, often will turn purple late in the season. This is yet another color variation that can add depth to a wreath. And don’t forget that pine cones, which are often included in wreath decor come in many, many different sizes and shapes! And they can be adorned all by themselves with a bit of adhesive spray and “snow” or flocking, or even glitter if you are so inclined.

When it comes to wreath making we can all let our imaginations run wild. So get out there in the Great outdoors and collect!

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22

Economics

The CO-OP Country Round Up September / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

What is a Safe Harbor 401(k) PLan

By Judy Baird Vice President Branch Manager Mountain West Bank

On a brief note, most of us are adjusting to the many changes brought about by social distancing and the new ways of conducting our day to day lives. For those of you with children who have been home due to COVID, or those who have children who are home schooled, you may be looking for options for them this summer.

Check out the Financial Foundations education program on Mountain West Bank’s website www.mountainwestbank.com. At our website, under Education, the Financial Foundations Portal provides links to self-paced interactive game-based lessons for families based around character development, mental wellness, financial readiness, and career exploration. Beyond the program for families, there are also Financial Foundation portals with programs for adults, small businesses, students, and a credit builder program. Best of all, these programs are free.

In my articles, it is never my intent to provide financial advice through this column but instead, it is my hope to share information that may either answer questions or generate interest in certain financial topics.

A small business owner recently called me to ask about safe harbor 401(k) plans, an example of something that is not familiar to most of us.

A safe harbor 401(k) retirement plan is a type of tax-deductible (401)k plan that ensures all employees at a company have some set of minimum contributions made to their individual 401(k) plans, regardless of their title, compensation, or length of service. Either plan provides a tax-advantaged way for employees to save for retirement and can be used by an employer of any size. The annual contribution limits for a safe harbor 401(k) are the same as traditional 401(k) limits.

Any business who currently has a 401(k) plan can offer a safe harbor match, or an employer matching contribution plan. Safe harbor plans are particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, especially if employees want to actively contribute to the company 401(k) plan.

An employer may want to adopt a safe harbor provision in its 401(k) plan for several reasons but primarily, one of the main benefits is that a safe harbor 401(k) plan can simplify the administration process for a company looking to roll out a retirement plan to its employees. Remember the government really wants to encourage and incentivize 401(k) plans by offering tax benefits to both employers and employees, however, it also wants to make sure that employers aren’t taking advantage of these benefits while excluding employees. This is why the IRS administers 401(k) nondiscrimination testing. A safe harbor plan was designed to help make it easier to pass testing.

For example, in traditional 401(k) plans, the company must test its plan to ensure that it does not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees relative to lower-paid workers. A safe harbor 401(k) plan can help a company avoid some of the compliance challenges in exchange for contribution to its employee’s retirement accounts and keeping them informed of changes to the plan.

The safe harbor 401(k) also requires that an employer contribution be fully vested when made, regardless of whether the money is a matching contribution, is limited to employees who contribute or is given to employees whether or not they contribute to the retirement plan. The employer contribution to the employee’s account can take three forms.

The employer must contribute at least 3 percent to the plan, regardless of whether the employee contributes anything; or, the employer must match 100 percent of an eligible employee’s contributions on the first 3 percent of deferred compensation plus a 50 percent match on deferrals between 3 percent and 5 percent; or, the employer must be at least as generous as the basic matching for any contribution level.

A safe harbor401(k) is one of several options that small businesses (up to 100 employees) can use to help their employees save for retirement and earn tax credits for starting a new retirement plan. Some smaller companies may find it more advantageous to utilize other plans that simplify the process including a Simple IRA (a good option for companies with no more than 100 employees), the SEP IRA, and a solo 401(k) (great for one or two person businesses).

One of the many things that has come as a result of COVID is a renewed interest in savings, investing, and planning. As a business owner, if your employees are asking or you are thinking about investing in their future, your accountant, CPA, or attorney are your best advisors when it comes to decisions regarding employee benefit offerings. Investing in yourself, your company, and your employees is always a good thing.

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 November 20, 2020 Contributors : Jim Haynes, Ann Warwick, Judy Baird, Dr. Gabrielle Duebendorfer, Chase Youngdahl, Hannah Combs, Matthew Bambach, and Joe Smith 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

The CO-OP Country Round Up Setember / October 2020 Volume 20 Issue 6

23

State of the Real Estate Market: Prices Continue to Increase Jim Haynes, Associate Broker, Realm Partners

Real estate prices continue to strengthen both nationally and regionally even in the presence of Covid 19 (See real estate statistics table on this page). Nationally, median1 home sales prices were up 7.2% since the beginning of the year when compared to the same period the previous year. The three northern Idaho counties all experienced significantly higher appreciation. Boundary County median home sales prices were up 18% year over year. Kootenai County and Bonner County experienced increases of 11% and 14% respectively.

The number of homes being sold is down nationally when compared to a year earlier by 7%. Locally, it was a mixed bag with Kootenai and Bonner Counties selling approximately the same number of homes this year when compared to last year. Boundary County experienced a whopping 29% decrease in the number of homes sold.

Nationally, the upward trend in prices is attributed, in large part, to the tight inventory of houses for sale. Over the last three years the national year over year price appreciation has averaged 4.7%. Monthto-month inventories have averaged approximately four months over that time. Six months of inventory is considered healthy. The inventory in Boundary County is 2.2 months and in Bonner County it is 2.8 months. Kootenai County’s inventory is a mere 1.7 months. All three counties have inventories significantly tighter than one year ago. This tight inventory has put upward pressure on prices resulting in price increases in the three northern Idaho counties that are two to three times the national average over the same period.

What does this mean going forward? Nationally, real estate prices should continue to increase modestly given the tight market and improved interest rates (currently 3.0% for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage compared to 3.8% one year ago). Locally, indicators are that we will continue to see near double digit increases in prices. Inventory continues to be a challenge and north Idaho continues to be a bargain when compared to other western states. In north Idaho, the median sales price is near $350,000 while in the western region of the US the median home sales price is approaching $430,000. If you are considering the purchase of a home now is a good time as interest rates continue to remain near historic lows. Inventories of properties are tight so consult your real estate professional to help you find the property that is right for you.

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

Kootenai County * Bonner County * Boundary County *

Kootenai County * Bonner County * Boundary County *

2013 2,971 645 150

2013 $184,216 $199,000 $152,750

2014 3,162 736 155

2014 $198,838 $225,000 $159,900

2015 3,758 775 188

2015 $215,000 $235,000 $172,450

2016 4,124 837 174

2016 $230,323 $257,000 $175,000

2017 4,299 881 157

2017 $257,665 $280,990 $199,900

2018 4,512 999 217

2018 $292,000 $305,000 $194,000

2019 4,415 912 222

1st 7 Months % change from 1st 2020 7 Months 2019 2,430 0.1% 456 -1.1% 94 -29.3%

1st 7 Months % change from 1st 2019 2020 7 Months 2019 $320,000 $350,000 11.1% $334,000 $355,850 14.1% $234,000 $275,000 18.0%

* Homes, condominiums and townhomes (existing and new) Source: Coeur d'Alene MLS and the Selkirk MLS (1/1/13 to 7/31/20, information deemed reliable but not guaranteed)

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Ponderay, Idaho

208-263-5138 208-263-5138 208.263.5138 SANDPOINT FURNITURE STORE HOURS: 208-263-5138 208-263-5138 208.263.5138

Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday 401 Bonner Mall Way, Idaho 401 Bonner Mall Ponderay, Way, Ponderay, Idaho

401 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay, Idaho

SANDPOINT FURNITURE STORE HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm | SatSat 9am-5pm | Closed Sundays Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday