March 2022 — Indiana Connection

s e e B

KEEPERS OF THE

Protecting pollinators is rewarded with bountiful harvests and honey

pages 19-22

MARCH 2022

from the editor

DOWN AND DIRTY I remember eating dirt as a preschooler totally oblivious to the fact that it was, well, dirty. And, in the not-so-distant past, though I certainly washed my hands throughout the day, I rarely used disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. I would, I suppose, when I wasn’t near a faucet before digging into my French fries at lunchtime. But I certainly never did before grabbing and pushing a shopping cart at the grocery store.

Nowadays, most of us are on high alert for germs, and we think twice before touching anything on which nasty bacteria may be lurking.

But how do you know exactly where those germs are lurking? As it turns out, it may be places that you may not even consider.

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Our workplaces are germ-filled minefields. We might want to carry a canister of wipes wherever we go, wiping down door handles, office equipment, telephones, and breakroom appliances whenever we touch them. Desktops are apparently the filthiest places in our offices, harboring 21,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi per square inch.

That’s 400 times more than a toilet seat. A telephone is even worse with 25,000 germs per square inch.

At home, kitchens and bathrooms are the main areas germs thrive. A favorite haunt for E. coli, mold, salmonella and other bacteria: dish sponges — since they stay wet and moist. You can reduce the germs by microwaving the sponge for 30 seconds every five to six days.

Although I’m not a fan of scanning QR codes at restaurants to view their menus on my phone, I read once that restaurant menus (and salt and pepper shakers) are germ magnets (since they’re handled by so many but so rarely cleaned). I’m fine with forgoing menus. But if a restaurant does provide you with a menu, be sure you wash or sanitize your hands after you order and never lay your silverware on top of your menu.

When I’m at a restaurant, I usually plop my purse on the floor since I’ve heard purse snatchers can easily grab it if you hang it on your chair. But floors are dirty places so I need to remember to wipe the bag with mild soap or disinfectant every few days and let it air dry.

I mentioned shopping carts earlier. If there are cart wipes near where you grab the cart at the store, use them. Those cart handles could contain 11 million microorganisms! A swipe of a disinfectant wipe will kill nearly 100 percent of those germs.

Bottom line: Though we’ll never be able to avoid all germs we can be more vigilant about keeping them at bay. Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect!

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org

On the menu: June issue: Summer salads, deadline April

1. July issue: Fresh from the garden recipes, deadline April 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Giveaway: Enter to win a $30 gift card from The Mean Bean Bistro and Brew in Bremen. Enter the contest at indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests.

Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, event listings, letters

and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606.

VOLUME 71 • NUMBER 9 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 304,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership.

CONTACT US: 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Randy Kleaving President Steve McMichael Vice President Dr. Richard Leeper Secretary/Treasurer John Gasstrom CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Ellie Schuler Senior Digital and Layout Design Specialist Taylor Maranion Senior Brand and Visual Design Specialist Lauren Carman Communication Coordinator Chuck Snider Director of Communication and Creative Services Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

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MARCH 2022

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contents

MARCH

10

16

energy

food

03 FROM THE EDITOR

12 INSIGHTS

05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative.

14 COUNTY OF THE MONTH Spotlighting Jay County.

10 ENERGY

16 FOOD Potato chips: Out of the bag and into readers’ recipes.

Continuing to explore EVs.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection

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26

cover story 18 INDIANA EATS Mean morning (and midday) meals at Mean Bean Bistro and Brew.

20 COVER STORY Keepers of the bees.

safety

24 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS 25 DIY Join the outdoor improvement boom.

26 SAFETY Be prepared for spring’s fickle foul weather.

On the cover A frame pulled from a beekeeper’s hive teems with honeybees — a sight to behold. But over the past 16 years, especially, honeybees and native Indiana pollinators have all faced challenges that threaten their survival that include widespread pesticide use, parasites, loss of habitat, and viruses that spread hive to hive.

PHOTO BY ESTHER BOSTON PHOTOGRAPHY

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MARCH 2022

THE SEASON

to clean

Many of us take advantage of longer daylight hours by doing a little spring cleaning. Take your clean routine to the next level with our tidying-up tips.

Break out your dust rags, sponges, brooms, vacuum cleaners and vinegar — and then turn the page for cleaning advice you may not have considered.

Spring ‘things-todo’ to save on energy Adding a few items to your list of spring chores can help make your home more energy efficient and deliver electric bills that won’t make you sweat when temperatures soar.

START WITH YOUR AIR CONDITIONER. Spring and early summer are good times to make sure that your air conditioning unit is ready to work when you flip the switch: • Get help from a professional who can inspect and service your unit.

• Give your air conditioner a do-it-yourself cleaning.

Shut the unit off, and clear away leaves and yard debris outside.

Inside the unit, clean or replace filters that can restrict air flow and reduce overall efficiency by making the air conditioner work harder on hot summer days. Dust the fan blades if you can do so safely. Make sure air can flow freely over the inside and outside coils. Vacuum registers to remove any dust buildup.

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MARCH 2022

• Check weatherstripping.

When using window units, ensure that weatherstripping is in place. Placement should be between the middle of the top windowpane and the bottom pane.

Also check for loose or leaky panes and identify single-paned windows.

These energy no-no’s allow cool air to escape from your home during the summer and steal heated air during the winter. That can raise your utility bill no matter the season. Replacing old, inefficient windows now is an investment that will pay for itself in energy savings.

CHECK OUT YOUR ROOF. See how well your roof has weathered the winter. Few things can shorten the life of your home faster than a roof leak. Even a minor one can damage your attic insulation before you know it. A roofing professional can assess and repair things like loose or missing shingles, repair leaks and clear gutters.

Bye, bye, rotten refrigerator If you have leftovers from last Tuesday lurking in your refrigerator, now’s the time to pull on your latex kitchen gloves and clean them out. You could be putting your family at risk for food poisoning should somebody decide to snack on the smelly scraps.

It’s true a refrigerator operates more efficiently when fully stocked. But if it’s full of the remains of once-healthy, useable food, you need to remedy the wrong.

Try these tips to clean out and organize your refrigerator: Gather the kids for a total fridge cleanup. Arm them with large trash bags and have them throw away old leftovers. Make sure they check the expiration dates on rarely used condiments

and salad dressings, and toss out any past their prime.

If you store foods in the fridge and they spoil before you eat them, vow to freeze them in the future.

Adjust the height of each shelf so food is easier to see and reach. This could free up space. Designate a space for fruits, vegetables, meats and drinks so nothing is “out of sight, out of mind” and left to rot.

Store leftovers in transparent containers and label them with the date the food was prepared so children won’t eat spoiled food when they raid the fridge.

Cool hot foods before you put them in the refrigerator to save energy.

itself. Still, once a month or so, run an empty load on the hot cycle with about a cup of white vinegar. When the cycle stops, wipe down the inside of the machine to get rid of any leftover scum and germs. Let it dry thoroughly.

VINEGAR IN THE MICROWAVE, TOO. Fill a glass bowl with

Don’t forget to clean your appliances While you’re spiffing up the house this spring, don’t neglect your appliances:

heavy use can absorb more heat and ultimately reduce its efficiency.

DUST THE REFRIGERATOR.

CLEAN THE DISHWASHER. Even

Refrigerators exchange heat through a system of coils. A buildup of dust and pet hair will make the unit run longer to have the same cooling effect and use more electricity. Vacuum the coils on the back and underneath to increase efficiency.

a cleaning machine needs a good cleaning every now and then to remove food, built-up detergent and other grime that could prevent your dishes from getting their cleanest and your appliance from working efficiently. Empty the dishwasher and place a bowl of distilled white vinegar on the top rack.

Run a full-length, hot water cycle. Next, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run it again.

Finally, leave the door open for a while to dry it out.

DUST THE LAMPS. A buildup

of dust on lightbulbs and lamp shades can reduce the amount of light given off, maybe causing you to turn on more lights. Keeping them dust-free will let lights shine as intended.

water, distilled white vinegar and a sliced lemon. Place it inside the appliance and microwave on high for three or four minutes. When you open the door, steam should pour out. While the inside is still wet, wipe it down with a dry cloth.

CLEAN COUNTERTOP APPLIANCES.

You probably clean your coffee maker, juicer, food processor and toaster every time you use them, but do you clean them thoroughly?

Make time to do that now.

Take apart any pieces that detach and wipe them down with a clean, damp cloth. Run the appliance with a white vinegar and water solution so the inner workings get clean, too.

Thoroughly dry all parts immediately.

CHANGE YOUR FILTERS. The air

filter on your furnace/heat pump should be checked monthly for signs of dirt and changed every threesix months, depending on dirt accumulation. Buildup CLEAN THE OVEN. Cleaning obstructs air flow and RUN VINEGAR IN THE WASHING your stove/oven can actually MACHINE ONCE A MONTH. When makes your HVAC system save energy. A range or you wash your clothes in hot less efficient. oven that is darkened from water, the machine cleans

CLEAN YOUR DRYER. Lint

buildup can prevent your clothes dryer from running efficiently. To clean the vent, first unplug the dryer. Then remove the tubing from the back and vacuum in and around it. If you are able to remove the front panel of your dryer, vacuum inside it as well.

If you don’t have access to the dryer vent tubing from the dryer to its outside vent because it’s in a wall or ceiling; cannot dismantle, clean and reassemble the sections yourself; or just don’t want the hassle of doing it yourself; hire a professional maintenance technician to clean your dryer vent annually — more or less frequently depending on how much laundry you do. A vent closing up with lint will cause the dryer to leave clothes damp or make it run longer. Too much buildup of lint can pose a fire hazard.

AUDIT YOUR HOME. With

warmer temperatures coming, now is a great time to consider taking your energy savings to the next level. Most electric cooperatives have energy advisors who will come to your home and conduct a thorough inspection to identify both large and small things you can do to improve its energy efficiency. Give your co-op a call.

MARCH 2022

7

Spruce Up The Garage Clean up your cords If you were to pull your desk or your TV cabinet out from the wall, you’d probably find a tangle of cords, cables, wires and plugs.

That tangle isn’t so good for your electronics.

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Besides creating a tripping hazard, a mess of electrical cords could lead to a fire if they’re all plugged into the same overloaded power strip.

Here’s how to untangle — for safety’s sake: 1

2

8

Unplug everything — your computer, scanner, phone charger, TV, speakers and printer. As you do that, you’ll likely find cords that aren’t attached to anything — maybe they once were. Weed out those unneeded cords.

Remove all extension cords. They are not designed for permanent use. And they’re unnecessary if your plug or power strip is close to your devices.

MARCH 2022

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Dust the remaining cords, vacuum the floor and wipe down the wall around the outlet.

If you have more than one power strip plugged into a single outlet, move the extras to other outlets.

You can overload a circuit and tax your electrical supply. If you don’t have enough outlets, call a licensed electrician to add a few more.

Invest in a few inexpensive, Velcro cable ties. Bunch your remaining few cords together like a bouquet of flowers and wrap the tie around them. This will keep them neatly together.

Drill a hole into the back of your computer table or TV cabinet big enough for all the cords to pass through.

That will keep the cords together and off the floor.

If your garage doubles as a catch-all room for junk you haven’t gotten around to getting rid of, your house has a its own den of hazards waiting to happen.

If you want your garage to be safe for your family to park cars, retrieve sports equipment or even root around for lost stuff, clean it up.

Here are eight ways to make your garage safer:

1

Keep power tools, extension cords and adapters unplugged and stored out of the reach of children.

2

Ventilate your garage with fans or ceiling vents.

3

Keep raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rodents out of the garage by storing garbage and uneaten food away from it. Such pests can nest in air intakes and vents and chomp on wiring.

4

If you must store fuel in the garage, keep it in proper containers that are free from corrosion and sealed tightly.

5

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the garage.

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Clean up spills. They could be flammable or dangerous to children and pets.

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Discard old batteries by taking them to a recycling center.

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Check with your insurance agent to make sure the contents of your garage are covered in case of fire or other damage.

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— charge them with solar

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build a robust charging infrastructure and automobile manufacturers

How do you dispose of the used batteries?

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in inclement weather or

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several responses after a

ion batteries can be

during demand spikes in

$25 to $33 per month if you

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recycled, and one company

the electrical grid.

drive 1,000 miles.

so we want to explore some

is reclaiming the elements

of those questions in a

from batteries to transform

While this information

follow-up article.

waste into high-value

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material for future batteries.

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MARCH 2022

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ENTER CALENDAR CONTEST THIS MONTH

The deadline to enter artwork in the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest is March 18.

This is the 25th anniversary of the contest and calendar.

First place winners in grade divisions kindergarten through grade 12 will each receive $200. Their winning artworks will illustrate the calendar’s cover and the 12 months of the year. One “artist of the year” will also be selected and will earn an additional $100. In addition, the judges will select honorable mention winners whose artwork will also appear in the calendar. They will receive $75 each.

The contest is open to Indiana public, private or home-schooled students.

They must be in grades kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2021-22 school year. A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at indianaconnection.org/for-youth/art-contest.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ENJOYS THE MAGAZINE

Painting the town Send us your mural photos for June feature

Our June issue will focus on photos of murals taken by you, our readers! Do you have a favorite mural in your hometown that you marvel at whenever you see it?

Is there a mural that best represents your hometown’s or state’s spirit? The murals can be painted either indoors or outdoors.

When submitting your photo, please indicate where the mural is located and include any background information you may have about the mural and what you like most about it.

Submit your photo by April 15. If we publish your photo, we will send you a $50 check. One randomly selected submission will also receive $50. Our address: Indiana Connection, Murals, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240. You can also send us your photo online at indianaconnection.org/painting-the-town.

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MARCH 2022

I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoy this publication! I look forward to receiving it each month and save many of the stories, recipes, and travel destinations. So many of the stories are heartfelt and inspirational. Who knew that I would be crying when reading a magazine from my electric cooperative! Thank you and your staff for all that you do to make the magazine possible!

Laura Duwel, via email

SETTING THE EV RECORD STRAIGHT I want to set the record straight about the article on electric vehicles in the January issue. I am an engineer in the IC engine and power industry and this article does not represent the facts. The biggest issue I see with the article is that it failed to mention the efficiencies associated with the coal-fired power plant. This ranges anywhere between 33-35% according to multiple sources (i.e. 65% or more of the energy is lost in the process).

There are also electrical transmission and distribution losses. For the state of Indiana, these losses average around 6%.

Also, the modern automobile internal combustion engines average around 30-35% efficiency (not 20% as stated in the article). Finally, coal has one of the highest CO2 emissions per BTU of energy released (from burning). If you take all this into account, a car engine operating on gasoline actually emits almost half the CO2 compared to an EV deriving all its power from coal.

Please don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of EVs. The message just needs to be clear that we need to focus on renewable forms of electrical energy like solar, wind, hydro-electric and nuclear.

Joe Reynolds, Memphis, Indiana

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county feature

Jay County Jay County, which sits along on Indiana’s eastern edge with Ohio, is a portal into significant passages of Indiana geography, history, and culture. To name three: The Wabash River. Indiana’s official state river enters Indiana through Jay County. The river’s origin is just over the state line, and the Wabash meekly flows in along Jay County’s northeastern corner, south of the tiny burg of New Corydon. Then, the river draws a wide inverted “J” shape as it loops some 500 miles around the state — upward and westward through northern Indiana and then sharply southward to form the state’s southwestern border with Illinois.

Two-thirds of the state’s landmass lies within its watershed.

The Salamonie River, a tributary of the Wabash, originates near Salamonia in southeastern Jay County and flows northwestwardly into Blackford County before joining the Wabash River in Wabash County.

Native Americans. Jay County is home to the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture. NCGLNAC is not-for-profit organization whose mission is to continue and preserve traditional Great Lakes Native American art, history, and culture by passing those traditions on to Native people and educating the general public about its importance.

The area was home to Woodlands peoples and is within traditional Miami territory. Nineteen years ago, the Jay County Fair Board donated 30 acres of wooded land north of the county fairgrounds in Portland to NCGLNAC. The site includes a

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MARCH 2022

cleared grassy area, a variety of woods and wetlands, and a small lake.

Though it is not developed, an ambitious master plan for the site includes a cultural center.

In the meantime, NCGLNAC continues hosting an annual gathering of Native American nations at the Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Association Grounds, which are adjacent to the county fairgrounds. The pow wow is scheduled for June 11-12. On April 2-3, NCGLNAC hosts Cultural Arts Classes Session 1 at the Lions Civic Center in Portland. Session 2 will be May 21-22.

Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve.

Said to be named for the original Miami word for “stinking river,” Loblolly is 440-acre restored wetland in northern Jay County that was once was part of the large Limberlost Swamp. The swamp covered some 13,000 acres straddling the JayAdams county line just south of the Wabash River.

The swamp attracted international attention in the early 1900s thanks to Hoosier writer, photographer, and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. She visited the swamp from her nearby home in Geneva to photograph and write about the Limberlost’s flora and fauna. Discovery of oil and natural gas in the area, along with the desire to increase farmland, led to the draining of the swamp at the very

Jay County is home to the 19th Annual Jay County Fiber Arts Festival, March 11-12 in Portland. Learn more at fiberarts.visitjaycounty.com.

County Facts FOUNDED: 1835

NAMED FOR: John Jay, co-author of The Federalist Papers, Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, and first Chief Justice of the United States. It is the only county in the United States named for Jay. POPULATION: 20,478 (2020 estimate) COUNTY SEAT: Portland INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 38

time Stratton-Porter was using it as the backdrop to her beloved novels.

In the early 1990s, the land for Loblolly was purchased from five different landowners who entered their land into the Wetland Reserve Program and work began to restore parts of the historic wetland. The return of the natural habitat has brought a resurgence of the natural insects, birds, and wildlife to the restored area. It helps complete the story of Stratton-Porter that begins at her Geneva home, an Indiana State Historic Site. Writing about the wetland restoration and Stratton-Porter in the March 2020 of Smithsonian Magazine, Kathryn Aalto, a historian and educator, noted the “the greatest tribute to her by far is the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve.”

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food

POTATO CHIP BROWNIES Kathi Tooley, Berne, Indiana

2 sticks butter, melted 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 t. vanilla 1 cup flour 1 t. baking powder 3 T. cocoa powder 1 cup potato chips, broken into pieces 1 cup milk chocolate chips

F O O D P R E PA R E D B Y IN D IAN A C ON N E C TION S TA FF P HO TOS BY TAY L OR MA R A N ION

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MARCH 2022

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 9-by-13-inch pan.

Line with parchment paper. Combine melted butter with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Whisk until the chocolate is melted. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Fold in flour, baking powder and cocoa powder.

Spread half of brownie batter into the pan. Top with potato chips. Spoon remaining batter over the potato chips. Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool. Melt the milk chocolate chips. Drizzle over the cooled brownies.

(If desired, you could sprinkle more potato chips on top at this point.) Refrigerate until firm (20 minutes).

Cut into squares.

food POTATO CHIPS: OUT OF THE BAG AND INTO READERS’ RECIPES

Chip Chip-Hooray!

POTATO CHIP COOKIES

Alberta Millikan, Plymouth, Indiana

1 cup brown sugar

2⅔ cups flour

1 cup white sugar

1 t. baking soda

1⅓ cups butter (2 sticks plus 5 T.)

2 cups crushed potato chips

2 eggs

2 cups butterscotch chips

2 t. vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream sugars and butter. Add eggs and vanilla, then add rest of ingredients. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 350 F.

HOT HAM SALAD

Doris Ann Kahlert, Berne, Indiana 3 cups diced ham

½ cup sweet pickle relish

2 t. minced onion

2 t. prepared mustard

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 cup diced celery

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 T. lemon juice

¼ t. salt

1 cup crushed potato chips

¼ t. pepper Combine all ingredients except potato chips. Place in a casserole dish.

Sprinkle potato chips on top. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes at 425 F. Yield: 8 servings.

MARCH 2022

17

Indiana eats

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Panino Italiano Sandwich

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that an Avocado Toast calling my name?) And, for the lunch bunch, Mean Bean has perfected the three midday menu “S’s”: sandwiches, soups and salads.

Sandwiches are served in half and whole sized portions. Meat lovers shouldn’t miss the Panino Italiano, a tasty combo of ham, pepperoncini, and provolone.

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favorites. Mean Bean also serves

Through the years, owner Kim

seasonal salads and a variety of

Wilcox’s menu has delighted both

soups.

through the quaint northern Indiana town.

When it comes to “brews,” choose between a variety of popular coffee styles and flavors, including plain

Everyone from the hungriest eaters

drip coffee and a cup of strong Red

to those who crave just a light bite

Eye coffee. Chai, iced and hot tea,

should start their day at Mean Bean.

hot cocoa, Italian soda, smoothies,

Favorites include the Big Daddy

lemonades and other soft drinks

Biscuits (homemade biscuit, hash

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chocolate, a not-to-be-missed treat,

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eggs), pancakes (three special

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pepperoni, salami, tomato, onion,

Indiana Sen. Ryan Mishler, a

local diners and those traveling

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ABOUT STATE SEN. RYAN MISHLER: Sen. Ryan Mishler has represented District 9, which includes Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties, in the Indiana Senate since 2004. He chairs the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Health and Provider Services, the Tax and Fiscal Policy and the State Budget committees. Mishler is president of both Mishler Funeral Homes and Bremen Monument Company. He serves on the Bremen and Kosciusko County chambers of commerce and is a member of the American Legion Post 191, the Masonic Lodge 414, the Scottish Rite of South Bend, and the United Methodist Church.

s e Be

KEEPERS OF THE

Protecting pollinators is rewarded with bountiful harvests and honey

BY RICHARD G. BIEVER

P HO TO S BY ES T H E R B OSTON P H OTOGR A P H Y

Between a drought and a lack of pollinators, the Community Share Gardens at Lebanon’s St. Peter’s Episcopal Church had little harvest to share in 2013. But help soon came from above — on the wings of … not a snow white dove … but honeybees.

From the church’s small but active congregation (weekly attendance is 30-some adults and children), two parishioners in particular, Chuck and Sandy Dailey, looked into what could improve the then 2-year-old garden ministry. The husband and wife team of now-retired Rolls-Royce engineers spent 2014 researching options, including beekeeping. By the spring of 2015, the St. Peter’s Apiary ministry was born. Chuck Dailey, now the ministry’s senior and a certified master beekeeper, has overseen up to nine hives on the church’s 8-acre grounds.

“Once we got the bees, our gardens became so much more,” Dailey said.

“The harvest is so much better.”

But he noted honeybees don’t pollinate everything. By making their

gardens safe for their honeybees — by practicing natural pest control methods and no longer spraying pesticides — it also brought back native pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies. “The native pollinators have really been bountiful because of our honeybees.”

The cornucopia the church began producing on half-acre plots and raised beds allowed the church to share its wealth of produce with the larger Boone County community, and beyond. Produce went to the food pantry run by St. Joseph’s, the Catholic church in Lebanon. Produce went to the Shalom House, a Saturday soup kitchen in town for seniors. And through beekeeping, St. Peter’s also connected with the Indiana Black Farmers Co-op.

Members of the cooperative grow gardens where they can in Indianapolis for those living in Indy’s food deserts where fresh healthy produce is harder to come by. Four groups from the co-op accepted an offer from St. Peter’s in 2020 to come north to Boone County to farm a halfacre plot the church provided. They then take the produce they grow there back to the markets in Indy.

“We’ve been really trying to expand our ‘Care of Creation’ ministry,” Dailey, 63, noted. “That is taking watch over what we’ve been given and being good stewards of the earth and everything that we have.” continued on next page MARCH 2022

19

continued from page 19

Plight of the humble bees Honeybees play essential roles in pollinating plants that humans and animals rely on for food. Declines in bee populations — including 20% of honeybee colonies per year in Indiana — threaten that food supply.

Insecticide exposure, loss of flowering plants and nesting habitats, disease and parasites like varroa mites, and poor hive maintenance are all factors in the decline.

The national media has been abuzz with the plight of honeybees on and off for some 16 years. Dubbed “Colony Collapse Disorder” in 2006, the syndrome includes widespread honeybee deaths and the mysterious abandonment of hives by worker bees. Since then, much research has been directed at honeybees that help pollinate three quarters of the grown food we consume.

Overall, the number of honeybees kept in the United States has been declining since 1950. The Department of Agriculture said there were some 5.6 million honey-producing colonies then. Today, there are around 2.8 million. In Indiana, it’s estimated there are currently over 6,000 honeyproducing colonies.

Most colonies will have around 60,000 bees which include the workers we most often see gathering the nectar, the male drones that mate with the queen, and the one queen who lays the eggs.

While culturally honeybees appear everywhere symbolizing natural goodness — from breakfast cereals to perfume to even alcohol (mead) — most people who slather golden honey across their breakfast biscuit or drop a dollop in their midday tea may not realize that honeybees are not native to North America. They are imports from Europe. The first colonists

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MARCH 2022

P H OTO C OU RTESY O F ST. PETER’ S EPI SCO PAL CHURCH

Children from the summer Caring Hands Camp suited up to get a close up look at beekeeping at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon. The camp is an annual program of the Boys and Girls Club of Boone County.

brought domesticated honeybees with them in the early 1600s for the natural sugar and the wax they provide.

analysis, 28% of North America’s 47 bumblebee species “face some level of extinction risk.”

The plight of the honeybee is real, but honeybees are hardly at risk of extinction. “They’re not a native species. So, they’ll never be an ‘endangered species’ in the United States,” said Kathleen Prough, chief apiary inspector with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “In Europe they can be but not here.”

They don’t get the media attention, but native pollinators — bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds — also pollinate plants that grow into the fruits and vegetables we eat. And some of the same issues affecting honeybees, especially pesticides, is affecting native pollinators. Many, like bumblebees, nest in the ground. Any pesticide on the ground can kill them.

In fact, more honeybees are on the planet today than at any time in history noted Alison McAfee, a honeybee researcher at North Carolina State University, writing in Scientific American. “For some reason, maybe because they are small, honeybees are not generally viewed as the massively distributed livestock animal that they are.”

Scientists, meanwhile, know little about the population status of most indigenous bees. Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicates that many species are declining. Of particular concern: bumblebees. According to a 2015

“The biggest thing I tell people,” Prough said, “is if you plant flowers, the more native flowers you plant the better because they’ll attract native bees. And the honeybees will show up, as well.”

She also noted a large variety of native flowering bushes and trees that attract both honeybees and native pollinators.

For folks interested in becoming a beekeeper, Prough, 60, who is retiring this month from the DNR, suggests connecting with other beekeepers at their local meetings. “Talk to the beekeepers, go out with a beekeeper

into their hives,” she said. “You have got to get used to bees flying around you. That freaks some people out even with a hat and veil.”

Healing power of bees “The Keeper of the Bees” was the last work of famed Hoosier writer and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. Published originally as a magazine series shortly after her December 1924 death in a vehicle accident, the story was pollinated with her common theme of nature’s power. The piece spoke of reconciliation and healing for a wounded World War I veteran, an aging ailing beekeeper and a precocious child who come together through beekeeping.

Stratton-Porter seemed to foreshadow how beekeeping would come to be used to heal the afflicted. Veterans suffering PTSD, people with all kinds of physical and mental conditions find relief in bees. “They’re getting veterans into beekeeping because once you get in the hive, you just calm right down,” Prough explained. “You don’t want to be super hyper when you’re in the hive because the bees will know. You just calm down and just go slow and watch the bees.”

Ross Harding, 36, an Indianapolis-area beekeeper who makes his living keeping bees and selling the honey, noted humans and honeybees have been working together since the days of the Old Testament. “It’s a special relationship we’ve had for thousands of years, a long, long time. So, there’s all this folklore about people talking to bees, and how statistically beekeepers live longer …. It’s weird ... it’s like that all across the world,” he said.

The ancient Greeks spoke of a special healing power in bees. And Harding noted “apitherapy” — that uses honey, pollen, bee secretions like “royal jelly,” and bee venom — is a thriving alternative medicine for many people in the U.S. Apitherapy is considered a traditional medicine in some parts of Europe and Asia.

stewards of the Hives and the earth It’s apropos that the apiary at St. Peter’s has become a ministry. St. Peter’s likes to note that most all churches offer coffee and doughnuts. But what other churches can offer coffee, doughnuts, and honey — especially honey that’s harvested on the church grounds? continued on next page

YOUR PERFECT LAWN COULD BE KILLING POLLINATORS Once upon a time, running barefoot through the yard meant treading carefully for fear of stepping on a bee making its way from one flowering white clover to the next and getting stung.

And there was a time kids put dandelion and clover flowers into old jelly or peanut butter jars and then caught honeybees. They’d watch the bees up close and hear them buzz around next to their ear for a bit before opening the lid and letting them fly away.

Throughout much of suburbia and even down country lanes, those are cherished memories younger generations never experienced. That’s because at some time between “once upon” and now, Americans started spending $75 billion a year for the perfect lawn. But in getting rid of clover and dandelions, we also rid our yards of honeybees and native pollinators.

While those flowering “weeds” may be unsightly to you, it’s important to remember they’re food to bees and other pollinators, said Doug Richmond, a professor of turfgrass entomology and applied ecology for Purdue’s College of Agriculture. He joined other researchers studying the impact lawn care practices have on pollinators several years ago. These researchers created a pollinator-friendly guide for lawn care that includes:

Wait until May or June to apply pesticides if you need to use them at all. Early-season pollinators and colonies of bees are still recovering from winter stress in March and April.

Use granular formulations of insecticides, which fall to the ground and avoid direct contamination of flowering portions of blooming plants.

If you must spray, mow first to remove the flowers and the presence of pollinators.

Establish plots of diverse, pollinator-friendly native plants that bloom from early spring to fall. Check with your local Master Gardeners for ideas on what to plant.

Source: Purdue University

MARCH 2022

21

Ross Harding looks over a frame of bees pulled from a hive. Harding, a professional beekeeper for about 10 years, cares for hives around urban and suburban Indianapolis.

He sells the honey he collects to numerous restaurants and venues.

PHO TO BY ESTHER BO STO N PHO TO G RAPHY

continued from page 21 Dailey noted that while honey is a beneficial byproduct, “Our main focus is teaching beekeeping.”

Last year, the ministry welcomed over 200 individuals, adults and children, who visited its hives to learn about the importance of pollinators. “We suit them up and take them in,” he said.

The church offers regular tours of the apiary twice a month. But if someone just stops by the church, Dailey said he and Sandy, who live nearby, are there about every day tending the hives or working in the gardens.

Dailey is also the education chair for The Beekeepers of Indiana. With local groups all around the state, the association brings beekeepers and those interested in beekeeping together to share information and insights. Dailey regularly gives talks across the state on beekeeping, including at the Indiana State Fair.

In the meantime, St. Peter’s developed another new ministry — “The Harvest House Community Center” — led by Sandy Dailey, a certified master gardener.

In an 800-square-foot teaching kitchen beside the church, the

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MARCH 2022

Daileys and a member of the Boone County Master Gardeners lead young people from the community through activities based on the Junior Master Gardeners curriculum. They teach the basics of gardening, the need for pollinators, and basic canning and food preparation techniques. The food grown by the youth at the church is either used by the youth themselves or donated to local food pantries.

“And so we’re trying to be good stewards, we try to be good teachers,” said Dailey.

And the church tries to be good neighbors, too. A bottle of honey is given every year to those who live alongside the church. “A lot of them grow fruit trees and different vegetables and things,” Dailey said.

“That’s just more food sources our bees have.”

pollinators back … back here, anyway.

Bumblebees are huge here. They’re probably one of the hardest working pollinators.”

The Care of Creation ministry uses pollinators as a teaching tool to youngsters about the fragile balance in the greater circle of life. And Dailey said the humble honeybee and other pollinators highlight humankind’s role.

“We’re placed here to leave the earth better than we found it,” he said. “I have my ‘Masters Certification’ in beekeeping, but we’re placed here as stewards, not as masters. And not just honeybees, but native bees. They’re all important to us because our food source really depends on these guys.”

Richard G. Biever is senior editor of Indiana Connection.

Was it just honeybees that turned St. Peter’s gardens around after that one rough harvest in 2013?

For more information about beekeeping, visit The Beekeepers of Indiana website: indianabeekeeper.com.

“No,” Dailey said. “It was a combination of honeybees and being very conscientious about what we do.

Our realization that ‘hey, stop putting stuff on plants that kills pollinators’ has really brought our native

For more information about St. Peter’s Apiary Ministry and the other “Care of Creation” ministries at the Boone County church, visit churchthatgrows.org/.

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Wabash Valley Power news

Hardened House:

Unique alternative to traditional wood framing offers several advantages for homeowners

Noble REMC energy advisor Brian Hawk worked with high school students pouring concrete in a project that taught even him valuable lessons.

air where you want it). ICF’s R-value can mean lower costs to heat and cool the home while keeping occupants comfortable during extreme weather.

Hawk helped the students set forms and pour a basement using insulated concrete forms (ICF). ICF blocks are made from a foam exterior with rebar placed on the inside, which has connective plastic webs, before concrete is poured in between. The concrete dries and the blocks together form the exterior structure walls. While ICF has existed for decades, it has gained attention in recent years from people building more energy efficient structures. Also, as lumber prices skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people have considered

ICF as an alternative to traditional framing.

“They are a lot more versatile than what contractors are willing to find out,” said Hawk, who worked with a vocational program in Noble County to pour the concrete into the ICF forms. “That’s probably why I geek out so much over them.

If a high school team can put it together, why aren’t more experienced contractors doing this?”

By combining a foam exterior with concrete, ICF has a more consistent – and frequently higher – R-value than traditional framing, which can allow for more heat transfer than ICF (the greater the R-value, the greater ability to keep conditioned

“It has definitely gained more attention,” Hawk said of ICF. “More and more homeowners are demanding efficiency when they build a new home.”

The ICF system is comprised of blocks that can be “formed” over several days – less time than traditional framing processes.

The concrete walls also will not have the same moisture issues as wood framing, which can lead to a more resilient structure that will last for decades, Hawk said.

He has seen several homes built with ICF, including one in

Northeast Indiana as part of the Power Moves Home program.

Homes in the program are at least 20 percent more efficient than traditional homes, and come with an energy efficiency report and HERS score, as well as a heating and cooling cost guarantee.

“We have seen multiple ICF homes in the last few years,” said Dan Phillips, senior analyst of grid innovation and energy efficiency at Wabash Valley Power Alliance, which administers the Power Moves Home program. “The advantages that ICF brings make it very appealing, and new homeowners incorporating ICF into their new homes have been pleased with the results.”

Hoosier Energy news

CLIMBING TOWARD THEIR DREAMS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS GRADUATE FROM LINEMAN TRAINING SCHOOL Whether it was first grade or eighth grade, the dream began early.

On Dec. 17, 2021, that dream became reality for Jasper, Indiana’s Mitchell Werner and Greensburg, Indiana’s Waylan Case as they graduated from the North American Lineman Training Center.

Both claimed their diplomas from the school in McEwen, Tennessee, with the help of a scholarship from Hoosier Energy.

Werner and Case are the inaugural recipients of the W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial scholarships, respectively, a tribute to more than 35 years of dedicated service to Hoosier Energy and its members.

THIRD GENERATION CAREER It is a third-generation dream come true for Werner, whose grandfather, Eugene, and father, Matthew, also worked as linemen.

And he knew it early on in life.

“In first grade, we were asked, ‘What

24

MARCH 2022

do you want to be when you grow up?’”

Werner recalled. “I drew a picture of a lineman because of my dad and grandpa.”

However, where his father broke into the business by signing on as an apprentice, the son opted to attend lineman school.

“It shows that you’re not messing around,” Werner said. “You spent (a lot of money) already, so they know this is something you want to do, that you’re serious about it.”

Now he has his first job, working for Duke Energy in Bloomington.

FROM THE POWER LINES TO THE BREAKER It’s a similar story for Case, although his dream began a little bit later in life.

His father, Alex, is an agricultural seed salesman whose clients are sometimes both farmers and linemen. So, when Case showed interest in the electrical field as an eighth-grader, his dad mentioned the possibility of becoming a lineman.

“I was interested in welding or electrical work, but welding was being inside too much for me, so I decided to pursue the lineman thing,” said Case, a graduate of Greensburg High School and member of Decatur County REMC. He also had uncles who worked as electricians, so Case got some experience doing wiring. But he wanted to do more than go from the breaker to the outlets; he wanted to go from the power lines to the breaker.

Earning the scholarship was a bonus.

“Anyone who goes to school is hurting for money or has a loan, so this was a good opportunity to help keep me afloat,” Case said. “It sure helps a lot.”

So will the job Case begins for Brink Constructors, a traveling contractor. Case will head to Colorado to begin his career and perhaps pursue his interest as an avid outdoorsman between shifts.

do-it-yourself

JOIN THE OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENT BOOM Many folks have rediscovered the importance of home improvement, and that’s led to a renewed focus on enhancing their outdoor spaces. Young homeowners today are taking more pride in their yards, largely bypassing paid services for a DIY approach. Whether it’s a basic cleanup, adding pizzazz to your next backyard gathering, or improving curb appeal, we’ve got some tips for getting your piece of the outdoors in shipshape this spring.

spots a lawnmower can’t reach. A leaf blower can quickly disperse wayward grass clippings.

growth. If it’s all in good condition, simply turn mulch over with a rake to give it new life.

CLEAN UP — If your driveway,

GREEN UP — Several

sidewalks, and paved walkways are looking dingy, a pressure washer easily cuts through the grime.

The same goes for vinyl siding, especially on the north side where algae can form. Enhance it with an application-specific detergent that’s safe for kids, pets, and plants.

POWER UP — When yard

Clear debris from your landscaping and ditch old mulch and dead foliage.

Lay a new sheet of weed control fabric with cut-outs to accommodate plants and shrubs, then spread fresh mulch. Pruning shears and hedgers help redefine shapes, keep the overgrowth from blocking sunlight near windows, and spur new

varieties of grass seed are available for large areas or small bare spot repair.

Multi-step lawn fertilizers, weed inhibitors, and disease control products are great preventatives that do require consistency. Prep for dry summer months with multifunctional lawn sprinklers and sprayers, and keep hoses tidy with a wheeled or fixed storage unit or wall hanger.

work requires extra oomph, invest in some key pieces of outdoor power equipment.

Many tools — including lawnmowers — have gone cordless as consumers seek greener options, and that’s resulted in even longer-life batteries. Gas-powered equipment is still plentiful: just make sure to buy the right oil for mixing if necessary.

Chainsaws and pruning saws make quick work of dead trees and limbs. Trimmers clear out weed overgrowth and do double duty as an edger and grass trimmer in

by

GUSSY UP — Even a small connection to nature makes your home more inviting and improves curb appeal when selling. Try some perennials, annuals, or bulbs in porch or windowsill plant boxes.

Or create a large planter to anchor your patio with a colorful focal point. Handheld

garden tools like a cultivator, trowel, and bulb planter will get you started.

Hardscaping materials like river rock, decorative stone pavers, edging, and border walls take a little more muscle but are very achievable DIY. Decking, pergolas, fencing, and outdoor lighting add a “wow factor” that takes your outdoor space to another level!

LIVEN UP — Before inviting guests to gather, freshen up your patio furniture with a cleaner and some elbow grease. Or upgrade to a decorative chat set with comfy padded chairs and a festive patio umbrella.

Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest. com for thousands of the best home improvement products.

Brian Baker

Brian Baker is the owner of Builders Lumber and Hardware in Shelbyville.

He’s a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based cooperative of thousands of hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards throughout the U.S. and around the world.

(This article is for informational purposes only. Indiana Connection and Do it Best Corp. assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)

MARCH 2022

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safety

BE PREPARED FOR SPRING’S FICKLE FOUL WEATHER

TIPS FOR SAFELY CLEANING UP AFTER A STORM •

Wear proper safety material.

As you are cleaning up, wear proper protection to prevent injury. Work gloves, safety

S

pring is a fickle season that brings nature’s renewal of buds and blooms to the trees and fields and also brings dark, powerful rolling storms that can wreak havoc. From 2016 through 2020, the National Weather Service recorded 28 deaths, 133 injuries and over $64 million in property and crop damage from weather events in Indiana alone.

Weather disasters can occur yearround, but most of the worst storms Indiana receives come in the spring.

“While not all damage can be prevented, being prepared can minimize damage and reduce injury or death,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Here are some tips from your electric cooperative for staying safe before and after a storm hits.

BEFORE THE STORM • Make sure your cell phone is charged. Consider purchasing an external battery charger for your phone to charge it without electricity.

• Have a battery-operated radio available so you can stay updated on the latest weather watches and warnings.

• Unplug appliances and other electrical items, such as computers.

Damage can occur from power surges caused by nearby lightning strikes.

26

glasses, heavy-duty work shirt

• Have an emergency kit ready and create a family communication plan.

with long sleeves, work pants, and steel-toe work boots are a good idea if you are clearing large amounts of broken,

FOLLOWING THE STORM • If you are driving and come upon fallen power lines, turn around.

Never drive over or around fallen lines.

splintered or sharp debris.

•

Always assume a downed power line is live. Downed

• If a downed power line falls on your vehicle, stay in the vehicle.

Call 911. Exit only if your life is in immediate danger from a fire or other reason. Then, jump clear of your vehicle being certain to never touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time; then shuffle away keeping your feet together at all times.

• While checking for damage outside your home, be aware of hazards from exposed nails, broken glass, and broken tree branches dangling on other limbs.

Stay away from power lines.

power lines pose a particularly dangerous threat in areas where individuals are clearing fallen trees and branches from roads and lawns. Let the professionals handle this job. It’s not worth the risk. If you see a downed power line that is sparking or on fire, call your electric utility immediately.

•

Stay away from damaged buildings or structures. If a building has been subjected

• To avoid the chance of a fire or explosion, use a flashlight, instead of a candle or torch, to inspect your home in the dark.

to flood waters or high winds,

• Since downed power lines could still be energized, do not touch them or any objects in contact with them. Call 911 to report the downed lines.

until professionals can

When the spring storms arrive, know how to keep yourself, your family and your property safe from harm during severe weather.

it may not be structurally safe.

It’s best to stay away from these types of structures assess the extent of the damage.

•

Never operate gasoline-powered equipment indoors.

Gas engines emit carbon monoxide — an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas you should never breathe.

MARCH 2022

There's more to 811 than

SUBMITTING A TICKET You know you need to contact 811 before you dig—but did you know that there is much more to safe digging than that, and contacting 811 is just the first step?

Quick 811 Spring Tips: • Submit your free locate request at Indiana811.org at least two full working days before you plan to start digging for your spring projects.

• Working days are every day except Saturday, Sunday, and state and national holidays.

• If a contractor is needed for the project, request they contact Indiana 811 before they start digging.

• It’s fast, easy and free.

As always, please follow the Five Steps to Safe Digging:

PLAN YOUR PROJECT

CONTACT INDIANA 811

Follow us for damage prevention news and tips. @IN811

Indiana 811

WAIT FOR THE MARKS

CONFIRM THE MARKS

DIG WITH CARE