Country Minute - Summer 2012

Summer 2012 News and notes on living the good life...

CountryMinute

Making the most of your land– People purchase vacant land for many different reasons. From a potential home site to recreation, vacant land offers a wide array of options to owners. This time of year, many outdoorsmen and hunters begin thinking about where they will be hunting during the upcoming season. Owning a parcel of vacant land can offer flexibility to hunters and provide a sustainable habitat for the wildlife they choose to hunt.

Once you have decided to purchase vacant land, it is important to

determine what you plan to use the land for. Do you plan to use the land simply for hunting, or would you also like to build a vacation home on the property? Determining whether you want to use the land for a single use or for multiple uses will also help you decide on an appropriate size parcel to purchase.

Another important item to take into consideration when making a vacant land purchase is who is buying the land. Are you the sole purchaser of the land or is a hunt club or small group buying the

Get Up and Get Out: Go for a Walk Finding the time to get active, particularly during the busy months of summer, can often be a challenge. Staying active is important and provides many health benefits. In addition to helping trim your waistline, exercise also helps improve your overall mental health.

Continued on page 3...

property? If a hunt club or small group will be buying the land, you may want to consider forming an LLC that will allow for easier transition if someone should decide to leave the group.

Once the property has been purchased many people start habitat improvement projects. Habitat projects are a great way to attract wildlife to your land. Creating food Continued on page 3...

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and the Green Bay Packers. There is, as you might guess, so much more to do and see in greater Green Bay and the Lakeshore. You’ll want to step inside the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field, but also tour the wineries, take in a museum and see a show. Enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including: golf, boating and biking during a beautiful Wisconsin summer. There are festivals during every season, and events to tempt the curiosity of all ages. For more information, visit: www.greenbay.com.

Vacationing Local Summer is upon us and many people are looking for a place to get away. Vacations are a great time for families to relax, reconnect and spend quality time together.

Here are some great, family-friendly getaways that aren’t far from your backyard.

• Traverse City, nestled at the head of beautiful crystal-clear Grand Traverse Bay, is a welcoming destination that combines breathtaking natural attractions with a rich blend of adventure and relaxation. Known for its 180 miles of sugar-sand Lake Michigan shoreline and an abundance of inland lakes, beaches, bays and dunes, Traverse City offers a setting perfect for families. It’s also home to award-winning wineries and championship golf courses.

AOL Travel News named Traverse City one of America’s Top 10 Beach Towns, TripAdvisor.com called it one of America’s Top 10 Charming Small Towns and Bon Appetit magazine called it one of the country’s Top Five Foodie Towns. For more information, visit: www.traversecity.com.

• Mackinac Island is suspended in a forgotten, more innocent time.

Relive the simple pleasures of life: A leisurely carriage ride on silent, uncrowded streets. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the front porch of the Grand Hotel. Visit Fort

Mackinac and learn about how soldiers lived during their time on the island. Or enjoy a bike ride around the island’s shoreline and through the state park. Mackinac Island was named one of the top 10 islands in the world by Conde Nast Traveler; visit and find out why.

For more information, go to: www.mackinacisland.org.

• A t The Henry Ford the exploits of America’s heroes come alive in fascinating, breathtaking and educational ways. Model T rides.

Ragtime music. Historic baseball games. Climb into the cab of the world’s largest steam locomotive.

Or explore the bicycle shop where the Wright brothers first gave us the power to fly. Sip tea amid the splendor of a genuine English garden. Or sit in the very bus where Rosa Parks showed us what it meant to be a hero. Going to The Henry Ford is like stepping into a giant encyclopedia that is alive with threedimensional storytelling. For more information, visit: www.hfmgv.org.

• When

you talk about what Green Bay is most famous for, it’s not difficult to think football, Aaron Rodgers

• If you’re looking for non-stop fun for every member of the family, Wisconsin Dells is the perfect vacation choice!

With so much natural beauty and man-made fun, finding something everyone will enjoy is never a problem.

The Wisconsin Dells has attractions that fit every season and every adventure style! For thrill seekers, the water parks and rides are sure to get their adrenaline pumping, while scenic tours and animal attractions are offered for those looking for a more relaxing getaway. For more information, visit: www.wisdells.com.

Source: www.michigan.org and www.discoverwisconsin.com.

Your privacy is important to us GreenStone continues to hold your financial and other personal information in strict confidence. We do not sell or trade our customers’ financial or personal information to marketing companies or information brokers.

Since 1972, Farm Credit Administration regulations have forbidden the directors and employees of Farm Credit institutions from disclosing personal borrower information to others without borrower consent, and we hold to it.

For more information on privacy and security, visit www.greenstonefcs.com.

...Vacant land continued

Recipe Corner

plots, clearings, ponds, and logging may be activities which could help attract more wildlife to your property.

There are many creative ways to help offset the cost of your vacant land purchase and habitat improvement projects. Tillable farmland can be rented out to a local farmer for production, and mature timber can be harvested.

Also, there are many government programs that offer financial and cost share assistance with habitat improvement projects on your land.

For example, farmland can be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) serviced through the local Farm Service Agency in your area. Through CRP, you can receive cost-share assistance and annual rental payments to establish warm season grasses on eligible farmland. This creates a winwin situation where the landowner can improve wildlife habitat and get paid for it. There are also cost share programs available through the United States Forest Service to create permanent wetlands on vacant land.

If you have been interested in owning more property, now is a great time to take a serious look into vacant land ownership and the many benefits it can provide. There is nothing like owning your own hunting paradise!

Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce Ingredients 4 large heirloom tomatoes 1/2 cup pine nuts

Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, bring water to boil in another pot that will hold all of the tomatoes. With a knife, cut an “X” on the bottom of each tomato that just breaks the skin. Cook tomatoes in the boiling water for two minutes, or until the skin starts to break away from the flesh. Remove the tomatoes. When the tomatoes cool enough, remove the skins.

Fresh basil, marjoram, thyme 1/4-1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, to taste Sea salt & freshly cracked pepper 1 cup parmigiano reggiano, finely grated 1 clove garlic, thickly sliced 1 asparagus bunch 1/2 lb farfalle pasta

Put the pine nuts in a small nonstick pan over medium heat to toast for a few minutes, and set aside. Discard the bottom third of the asparagus and slice on the diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a sauté pan and add the garlic. Cook the garlic for 1 minute and add the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 minutes until al dente.

Place the tomatoes in a food processor. Pulse briefly to mix. Add the fresh herbs. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the tomato mixture. Add 1/2 cup of the parmesan and mix again.

When the water is boiling, cook pasta until al dente, drain and mix the pasta with the raw tomato sauce, the sautéed vegetable, and the toasted pine nuts. Garnish with the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan.

Serve hot or cold.

Source: www.lettherebebite.com

...Walking continued

Exercise does not have to be difficult, an activity as simple as walking can provide many healthful benefits such as: • Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) • Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) • Lower your blood pressure • Reduce your risk of, or manage, type two diabetes

• Manage your weight • Improve your mood • Stay strong and fit All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of brisk walking. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. And you can forget the “no pain, no gain” talk.

Research shows that regular, brisk walking can reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging.

Walking is a great way to jump start your exercise routine, and transition to a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

For more tips on how walking can improve your health, visit: http:// www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/ HQ01612/.

Source: Mayo Clinic

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CountryMinute Inside this issue: - Making the most of your land - Pasta with raw tomato sauce - Walking benefits - Your privacy - Vacationing local - Member notes

Greenstone member notes Customers who receive the Country Minute do not receive GreenStone’s agricultural member publication, Partners.

Therefore, the following is a snippet of news and feature stories found in the most recent issue of Partners. More information and complete articles can be viewed at www.

GreenStoneFCS.com by selecting “Publications” found under the “News and Media” drop down.

Online Banking Upgrade GreenStone Online Banking customers noticed an appreciated change to the system when it underwent an upgrade in late May. Experience it yourself; logon or enroll by selecting “Online Banking” under “Account Access” on our website: www.greenstonefcs.com.

Welcome Interns GreenStone is hosting six student interns this summer, providing each with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in their respective career field.

Loving the Land Our producers care about the land, water and air for the coming generations, and they strive to ensure their children have a better future.

Hear from your Directors how they are preserving the environment on their farm for today and tomorrow.

All in the Family Family is the glue that holds this operation together, but it took some searching for Matt Hamlin to realize his future. Learn more about the tale of this young farmer and blueberry producer.

www.greenstonefcs.com

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